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

Feature request - Backpacking weight feature

Flaydin
over 1 year ago

Hi I do not know if the developers monitor this blog, but I have a suggestion for an important feature. I primarily do backpacking hiking, and an important part of that workout is the weight of the backpack which contains your tent, food, water, etc. A 20km hike with 400m of elevation gain will be much harder with 40lbs of weight being carried. However, there is no method to input the weight of gear during an activity. This, my activities always underestimate my calories and physical fitness. If this could be added that would be greatly appreciated.

  • 0 over 1 year ago

    Recent thread (now closed) about this on the Garmin Express forum - How to add the backpack weight to a training session.

    For added features/suggestions use the Garmin Share Ideas site.

  • 0 over 1 year ago
    Flaydin said:
    there is no method to input the weight of gear during an activity.

    No need…

    Body mass is used to estimate basal metabolic rate (BMR) the amount of energy burnt by a body at rest.

    When you carry more weight during an activity your work rate usually increases as a function of the increased weight. This is reflected in the heart rate measured during that activity. Your heart rate during activity is used to estimate energy burn during that activity. 

    Therefore changing the amount of extra weight you carry during an activity will be reflected in the change in heart rate due to the change in effort. There is no need to make changes to the body mass entered on the device.

    Total energy burn for an activity is the sum of the BMR and energy burnt during an activity,

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to bluefish

    Heart rate does not measure calories burned. Calories burned is measured through oxygen usage. There is a relationship between heart rate and oxygen usage and so heart rate monitors use equations to give you an estimate. However this is only accurate for steady state cardio exercises where the relationship between heart rate and oxygen uptake is consistent such that the equation can be used. Any other exercises or your heart rate just jumping randomly is erroneous in giving calories burned.