Fenix 5 and foot pod

I have a question too, if the distance and pace can come from the footpod and considered some times better than the GPS, do treadmill runs whilst using the footpod count towards VO2max calculation?

Hi!

I'm looking at Garmin RD, Garmin Foot Pod or Stryd (are there others worth checking out...?)
Stryd seems quite expensive and maybe overkill for my needs but I'm willing to pay if there's a big difference.

Well, am I correct looking at these products? Any inputs?

It depends what you're looking for. The Garmin RD is not foot pod. Instead it is a device that duplicates the advanced Run Dynamics that you can get through the newer Garmin HRM straps. This includes cadence (which your watch can give you without any other devices), ground contact time, stride length, vertical oscillation, vertical ratio. This does NOT include pace or distance.

The Garmin Foot Pod does not provide any of the advanced run dynamics but does provide pace and distance data.

The Stryd provides a bunch of data relating to power, as well as cadence, GCT, vertical oscillation, pace, and distance. According to many people on these forums, the Stryd is more accurate than the Garmin Foot Pod across a greater range of paces. In other words, you can calibrate the Garmin Foot Pod to be accurate at one pace, but if you run at a different pace, the accuracy may suffer. That said, I haven't used the Stryd or the Garmin Foot Pod myself to vouch for their relative accuracy.

Some people also like Milestone, which may not be as accurate as the Stryd, but it certainly a lot cheaper.

It depends what you're looking for. ....

Thanks for a great reply!
Hmmm I think I want both metrics and pace... I'll look into milestone and Stryd! :)

Does anyone have any thoughts as to why the foot pod so negatively affects your Vo2Max calculations though, I was wearing my foot pod since I got the Fenix 5 for all my runs and my Vo2Max was showing unusually low and keeps dropping even further, now I decided to stop running with the foot pod to see the effect and my Vo2Max is slowly creeping back up to the Fenix 3 levels i've previously seen for the last couple years. I am normally always wearing a HRM-Tri strap for all my activities so even without the foot pod cadence should be pretty solid still.

Is this a foot pod calibration issue or is the GPS pace artificially screwing the calculation giving false higher numbers, basically which one to believe the foot pod paired Vo2Max calculations or without. What are other people seeing with this?

Martin

Hi!
I have a Fenix 5 and I'm thinking about upgrading it with a Pod for more running Metrics.
But I don't quite understand what Pod to go for...? :confused:

I'm looking at Garmin RD, Garmin Foot Pod or Stryd (are there others worth checking out...?)
Stryd seems quite expensive and maybe overkill for my needs but I'm willing to pay if there's a big difference.

I'm interested in current pace, stride length, SPM and GCT to be able to perhaps vary som things in my running.
Also ability to use on Treadmill to get better pace/distance indoors (though I haven't tested the F5 alone on a Treadmill yet, I believe it will be inprecise like other devices...?)

Well, am I correct looking at these products? Any inputs?

I am in exactly the same boat. Have a Fenix 5 and have just been looking at the various footpod options. I'm just an amateur but I find the data quite motivating. My main interest is in more accurate pace/distance/cadence on outdoor runs, as well as getting such info on the treadmill.

As pointed out above the Garmin Running Dynamics Pod and HRM-Run/HRM-Tri options provide all the running dynamics but not pace and distance.
Garmin Footpod provides pace and distance but not running dynamics.
Stryd and Milestone Pod provide both.

From what I have read (and no personal experience myself) Stryd is the best option all round, but is just too expensive for my own amateur use.

I'm currently trying to decide between Garmin footpod and Milestone Pod. In terms of what they can show on the watch itself in realtime (with Milestone Pod beta firmware), I think they are the same i.e. pace, cadence, distance. Then the milestone pod also offers various running dynamics via their phone app, synced afterwards. Stuff such as footstrike positioning etc sounds interesting to me. So for the price the Milestone Pod seems really tempting and the hardware decent. My only concern is some unconfirmed issues regarding privacy of the data acquired, see here, although for the price it is still pretty appealing.

I'm also keen to try a chest strap, mostly for the HRV data, although I have the Scosche Rhythm+ OHR armband and like it. So overrall I am still confused what to get :-)

Is this a foot pod calibration issue or is the GPS pace artificially screwing the calculation giving false higher numbers, basically which one to believe the foot pod paired Vo2Max calculations or without. What are other people seeing with this?

Martin

i think that is the GPS pace artificially screwing the calculation giving false higher numbers. The same is happened to me: without foot pod i have had 40 as Vo2Max, now with foot pod giving speed and cadence my Vo2 max dropped to 37

Regards

Footpod and drops

I paired up the F5 with my Garmin Foot pod 4 running activities ago.
all 4 activities have data drops in the running dynamics graph both on Garmin's webpage and on the mobile app.
Puls and cadence data is fine, its just the running dynamics from the HRM that have drop outs.

I have set the foot pod to all be used for pace bot in and outdoor.

I guess I will go back to not using the foot pod again, since activities with out the foot pod, were all fine with no drops.

Triggerhappy

I am in exactly the same boat. Have a Fenix 5 and have just been looking at the various footpod options. I'm just an amateur but I find the data quite motivating. My main interest is in more accurate pace/distance/cadence on outdoor runs, as well as getting such info on the treadmill.

As pointed out above the Garmin Running Dynamics Pod and HRM-Run/HRM-Tri options provide all the running dynamics but not pace and distance.
Garmin Footpod provides pace and distance but not running dynamics.
Stryd and Milestone Pod provide both.

From what I have read (and no personal experience myself) Stryd is the best option all round, but is just too expensive for my own amateur use.

I'm currently trying to decide between Garmin footpod and Milestone Pod. In terms of what they can show on the watch itself in realtime (with Milestone Pod beta firmware), I think they are the same i.e. pace, cadence, distance. Then the milestone pod also offers various running dynamics via their phone app, synced afterwards. Stuff such as footstrike positioning etc sounds interesting to me. So for the price the Milestone Pod seems really tempting and the hardware decent. My only concern is some unconfirmed issues regarding privacy of the data acquired, see here, although for the price it is still pretty appealing.

I'm also keen to try a chest strap, mostly for the HRV data, although I have the Scosche Rhythm+ OHR armband and like it. So overrall I am still confused what to get :-)

If You can wait a week or two and I'll get back with my opinion on Milestone :)
I pulled the trigger yesterday and ordered one... The price was so low it's a risk I'm willing to take.

I do use a footpod with my F5, but only for indoor, treadmill running, and it is spot on. I used auto calibration on a couple outside runs to get it in the ballpark then switched it to manual and adjusted it to my treadmill. I have no clue which is correct, the treadmill or my F5, I just don't like ending up a run with one or the other 0.5 miles ahead or behind. I'm not a competition runner, and really don't care much about pace. I'm in it for the calorie burn. :)

Cheers
Bill

Same for me.
I wear it always, but only let the Indoor App use it.

Tim

If You can wait a week or two and I'll get back with my opinion on Milestone :)
I pulled the trigger yesterday and ordered one... The price was so low it's a risk I'm willing to take.

I couldn't wait :-) I have ordered one too... BTW they recently posted a setup video for Fenix 5:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_CJ-dIVQ84