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fēnix 5 Series Calorie over estimation by 3-4x

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Calorie over estimation by 3-4x

Former Member over 8 years ago

I've done two road rides with my new fenix and I'm not thrilled with the estimated calories.... I'm riding with a garmin HR strap and also have powertap C1 power meter. My edge 520 gives me the same reasonable numbers I'd expect for these two rides, matching up closely with strava's estimation. whereas the fenix 5 is estimating around three times that amount. HR and Power data both look the same in Connect and Strava.

for instance, on a ride tonight the 520 estimated 1,054 calories, strava puts the ride at 1,175 calories and the fenix 5 estimates 4,233 calories. of course I'd rather have the extra 3,000 calories in pizza and ice cream, but I don't think that'd end well....

The numbers were similar for my other ride. Again, I've re-entered my HR zones and verify they are the same for the Fenix and the 520 and still no luck. Anyone experience this?

full disclosure -- I'm also having an issue where the fenix 5 is not picking up accurate cadence from the powertap c1, but I don't see any path where that could be related as HR and PWR look good. (I'll be making a separate post for that issue)

activity links, same ride, same sensors.
fenix 5 - https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1673882513
520 - https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1673871864

edit: also worth noting that my fenix replaces a 920xt which always had a very similar calorie estimate to the 520 on rides where I compared their data.

edit: adding links

thanks

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

Make sure the Fenix isn't set to Kilojoules

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

Make sure the Fenix isn't set to Kilojoules

hmm, I'm not sure what setting you're referencing. I can't find that anywhere in the menu, nor reference to it in the manual. and, the total Kj on these rides as been around 900. am I missing something?

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

hmm, I'm not sure what setting you're referencing. I can't find that anywhere in the menu, nor reference to it in the manual. and, the total Kj on these rides as been around 900. am I missing something?

i'm just saying 1054 calories = 4410 Kilojoules which is pretty close what the Fenix 5 is saying, maybe the Fenix 5 display unit is set to kilojoules instead of calories

0 carl.andersson over 8 years ago

I'd say Terryible has got it right, but just to confirm - do you have the activity on the Garmin Connect site? If you do then can you check what the activity details say for calories, and perhaps share the links here (and make sure you make the activities public)

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

I'd say Terryible has got it right, but just to confirm - do you have the activity on the Garmin Connect site? If you do then can you check what the activity details say for calories, and perhaps share the links here (and make sure you make the activities public)

here are the links. same ride, same sensors.

fenix 5 - https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1673882513
520 - https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1673871864

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

i'm just saying 1054 calories = 4410 Kilojoules which is pretty close what the Fenix 5 is saying, maybe the Fenix 5 display unit is set to kilojoules instead of calories

ah, I see what you're saying. I don't see where that would be set though, there is no option for that in units, and it's not just on the watch, the app and connect get the same number from the fenix.

0 jim_m_58 over 8 years ago

Are you sure you're not comparing the cals from an activity with your all-day calories (which is based on BMR will be increasing all day and other calories added to that)

Oh, I see - it's the activity cals. That's very odd. Could your weight, etc, being wrong on the f5?

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

Oh, I see - it's the activity cals. That's very odd. Could your weight, etc, being wrong on the f5?

yes, it's the activity calories.

I've quadruple checked that my weight is correct, it is synced daily via my Garmin Index scale. Height, max hr, LTHR, HR zones, etc all look as expected and match the 520 as appropriate.