Import error: fit files from Strava to Garmin Connect Web

Not sure I understand correctly - are you trying to import activities registered by a Garmin device, or activities registered just by the Strava app on the phone? Neither of it gives me any sense - activities registered with a Garmin device should be already in your Garmin Connect account (so no need to import them), and activities registered solely by the phone cannot be properly exported in the "original" file format (FIT), since they were not registered by a Garmin device (the FIT file format is a proprietary format of Garmin). Or perhaps Strava can export those phone-only activities in the FIT file format, but apparently the file is then missing some important parts, that Garmin requires (like for example the device ID for an existing Garmin device).

Well, you could try passing those files through the Section Remover of the FIT File Tools (without removing aything) - it usually fixes diverse FIT file inconsistencies and corruptions. If not sufficient, you can try assigning a device to the file, using the Device Changer on the same page.

Thanks for the very quick reply. I am trying to import a FIT file originally recorded in the Strava app for iPhone into Garmin Connect web. The FIT format does seem to be native to Strava (maybe licenced from Garmin, but it is a FIT file that is created when I “export original”). However, maybe the FIT file format is only partially implemented, if Garmin Connect does not recognise it.

I exported the chosen activity from the Strava website, via the option “Export Original”, ran the resulting FIT file through “Fit File Tools” to add a device (I selected “garmin” as Manufacturer and “edge_820” as Device Type). Imported the resulting file into Garmin Connect: same error.

I then ran that file through Fit File Tools’ Section Remover, but it did not give me any graphical display as per the introductory video. I hit “Go” anyway, but the resulting file was also rejected by Garmin Connect.

All further suggestions most welcome!

In that case someone with the FIT File Repair Tool may need to have a look at it, to tell you what is wrong with the file

That would be great! Unfortunately, I am Mac-only, and don’t have space to install Bootcamp/Windows, but I will gladly pass on the FIT file if anyone does have this app.

And actually, this very page, fitfilerepairtool.info, lists exactly why I want to import the FIT files from Strava, and not just resign myself to GPX: because FIT seems to be the most comprehensive of all of the different formats, FIT, TCX, HRM and GPX, so I really do want to crack it. And then once I have, maybe Fit File Tools could add a new button for “import FIT file from Strava to Garmin Connect” 

martinreed said:

I will gladly pass on the FIT file if anyone does have this app.

Yes, please zip the fit file and insert it into your post.

Sorry, I missed your answer at the time. Would be very grateful if the offer still stands. Newly attached to the original post is a ZIP file containing the original FIT file exported from Strava. It is 29 repetitions of a short hill climb, with the following statistics:

Distance: 57.31 km
Moving Time: 4:48:14
Elevation: 1,501 m
Average Speed: 11.9 km/h
Max Speed: 42.5 km/h
Calories: 3,998
Elapsed Time: 7:32:57
Estimated Average Power: 207 w
Energy Output: 3,586 kJ

Not sure of which of these values are stored in the FIT file and which are calculated by Strava for display on the activity page, but the above are the values that are displayed for the activity in Strava. Original activity can be found at https://www.strava.com/activities/3608617156.

And just to reiterate, the reason that I want to do it is that, from the comparison chart between the various file formats shown on fitfilerepairtool.info, only FIT retains all of the original information. GPX and TCX both lose some of the info - I have already seen in Garmin Connect that I lose the calorie info, and who knows what else - and the only export options from Strava are "Export Original" and "Export GPX".

Many thanks in advance!

martinreed said:

I exported the chosen activity from the Strava website, via the option “Export Original”, ran the resulting FIT file through “Fit File Tools” to add a device (I selected “garmin” as Manufacturer and “edge_820” as Device Type). Imported the resulting file into Garmin Connect: same error.

Here's the repaired file with Edge 820 as the device - 5342.2020-06-13-09-55_All_Day_Hill_Climb_Dulliken_Lehmgrube_x_29_chasing_Kate_Courtney_-fixed.zip

I believe the export/import process has stripped some of the metrics.

That is great, thank you very much. However, you are right in saying that the export/import process has stripped some of the metrics, because when I import this repaired file into Garmin, it still shows "calories zero", which was the whole reason for me wanting to use the "original" (FIT) file from Strava in the first place, rather than exporting as GPX.

Maybe calorie data (and who knows what else) is something that Strava stores internally in reference to this activity and doesn't export either in the GPX or in the "original". Quite disappointing. Really appreciate your effort though!

I wonder if you have found any solution as I struggle with similar problem. for some time my solution was using app called RunGap to sync different sports for which I used different apps.. when I measure basketball using sports tracker I get time, heart rate, calories and some equivalent to number to other sports. The same goes for running with strava, and cycling with Garmin. Rungap synced all over the apps and in the end I had all apps with all data. Now I don't want to use 3 apps as I bought Edge 530 for cycling and Fenix6 for running. I ended up with the issue strava not syncing to garmin. So ..I am unable to measure basketball with phone and I will have to measure basketball with Fenix watch. As Garmin doesn't have any tracking app for iPhone I am considering going back to my setup using sports tracker app just to get data from basketball ... using Fenix watch for basketball is not an option as I could injure some players.