ANT+ Bluetooth Heart Rate Monitor: Dual-Band Buyer's Guide

Short answer: an ANT+ Bluetooth heart rate monitor is a "dual-band" strap that broadcasts on both wireless standards at once. ANT+ can send your heart rate to several receivers at the same time (a watch, a bike computer and Zwift together), while Bluetooth pairs with one app or device. For anyone juggling a mixed kit of Garmin, Wahoo and Zwift, dual-band is the difference between one strap for everything and a drawer of half-compatible gadgets.

ANT+ vs Bluetooth: what is the difference?

Bluetooth is what your phone and Apple TV speak, and it is a one-to-one connection — great for pairing a strap to a single app. ANT+ is the standard built into most bike computers and sports watches, and its trick is broadcasting: one strap can be read by many ANT+ devices at the same time. A dual-band strap gives you both, so you are never blocked because a device only offers one protocol.

Can it connect to my Garmin watch and Zwift at the same time?

This is the question every multisport athlete asks, and the honest answer is: yes, using ANT+. Because ANT+ broadcasts, your Garmin watch, a Wahoo head unit and Zwift on a PC can all read the same strap simultaneously. Bluetooth is one-to-one, so if you rely on Bluetooth only, one app will grab the strap at a time. In practice you set the receivers that need to record (watch, head unit) on ANT+ and use Bluetooth for the phone — everything gets fed.

Built for triathlon kit

A triathlete's week rotates through turbo, treadmill, road and pool, and every device wants heart rate. One dual-band strap covers the lot: ANT+ to the bike computer and watch outdoors, Bluetooth to Zwift or the phone indoors. Instead of buying single-protocol sensors that only half-work together, you standardise on one strap and one clean data stream into your training log.

Durability: the part reviews forget

The strap that lasts is the one that survives sweat. Heavy indoor sessions and rain rides are where cheap monitors die, usually at the battery contacts. Look for an IP67 rating (protected against sweat and rain) and a standard CR2032 coin cell you can replace yourself in seconds — no proprietary packs, no waiting for a special battery. Rinsing the strap and drying the electrode area after sweaty sessions is the simple habit that stops corrosion and keeps the signal clean. If your old strap keeps dropping out or eating batteries, a dependable replacement with a common cell ends the cycle.

Quick buyer's checklist

• Dual-band ANT+ and Bluetooth support.
• IP67 sweat and rain resistance.
• A standard, user-replaceable CR2032 battery.
• Compatibility with your watch, head unit and indoor app.

For platform-specific setup, see our heart rate monitor for Zwift guide, and if you are still deciding between the wrist and a strap, read chest strap vs wrist heart rate monitor.

The CardIQ dual-band chest strap

The CardIQ heart rate monitor chest strap is built for exactly this. It is a dual-band strap that broadcasts on both ANT+ and Bluetooth, reads your heartbeat from an ECG-type electrode sensor rather than estimating it from the wrist, and is IP67-rated against sweat and rain. It pairs with Zwift, Garmin and Wahoo head units and a free phone app, runs on a common, user-replaceable CR2032 coin cell, and costs £29.33 inc. VAT (£24.44 ex. VAT). It ships the same day from our UK warehouse with free UK delivery, 30-day returns and a 12-month warranty with UK-based support, and is rated 4.8/5 across 200 reviews.

Frequently asked questions

Can a heart rate monitor connect to ANT+ and Bluetooth at the same time?

A dual-band strap broadcasts on both. Over ANT+ it can be read by several devices at once, such as a watch and a bike computer, while Bluetooth pairs with a single app at a time. Setting your recording devices to ANT+ lets everything read the strap together.

Will this work with my Garmin watch and Wahoo head unit?

Yes. Both Garmin watches and Wahoo head units support ANT+, and ANT+ broadcasts to multiple receivers, so one dual-band strap feeds both at the same time. Bluetooth then covers a phone or tablet app.

What battery does the chest strap use?

A standard CR2032 coin cell, the same type most chest straps use. You can buy one in any supermarket and swap it yourself in seconds, so you are never stranded waiting for a proprietary battery.

Is the strap waterproof enough for sweat and rain?

It is IP67-rated, which means it is protected against heavy sweat and rain. Rinse and dry the electrode area after sweaty indoor sessions to keep the contacts clean and the signal stable.