Related
This discussion has been locked.
You can no longer post new replies to this discussion. If you have a question you can start a new discussion

Elevation profile WAY overestimated using Garmin Connect

DrFishy
over 4 years ago

I know this has been an issue in the past but wondering if others are still dealing with this?

When I import a GPX file into Garmin Connect and then send to my watch, it will WAY overestimate how much elevation gain there is on my mtb courses. 

As an example, I rode a 10 mile course the other day, I know the gain on this route is about 1400 feet. The GPX file I exported from Strava corroborates this, as does other GPS devices I have used in the past. When I import this same GPX file from Strava to Garmin Connect, for some reason Garmin thinks this same course has 3500 feet of elevation gain...? The elevation profiles of these tracks are useless when imported like this. 

I have not tried just "starring" this route on strava and importing it to my watch that way, not sure if Garmin will screw up the file if I do that too or not.  Hard to believe, Garmin is really a 'leader' in some of this stuff but how is this an issue for them still?

Anyone else having this same issue? It happens on every one of my courses.

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    I face the same problem and there are many posts on this forum regarding this issue dating few years back. All the other tools out there (strava komoot etc.) estimate the elevation gain correctly (similar to what you get from your device after the ride is finished) but the garmin connect estimation is way off because of the algorithm they are using. This makes all my courses created in garmin connect web useless. I don't understand how they can ignore this problem for so many years.

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    Hi, this problem has been around for years. Here is one example, where we discussed it in detail and also possible workarounds. 

    https://forums.garmin.com/apps-software/mobile-apps-web/f/garmin-connect-web/213915/garmin-connect-courses-elevation-gain-grossly-overestimated

    I personally opened a ticket with support, not heard back from Garmin for a year, then asked about it again, and just got the answer that they are "working" on it. i would not count on anything changing there soon. i would advise you personally to use komoot for route planning and the komoot connect iq app for importing the course. also you can just put the file on the watch/ device via cable old school style. Garmins route planning and import is just a joke. all the features climb pro, pace pro are getting useless on the device, when you have a Course with very bad elevation data. They should work on the basics first before pushing out ever new features, built on no solid foundation.