I'm in doubt about buying a Garmin footpod to use with my Fenix 5x when running in a closed environment (indoor use). Is it necessary to get a footpod or the Fenix 5x can make de read of the distance and pace by using its acelerometer when the GPS is not possible to use? Is the result the same?
I purchased the Garmin Footpod to use when I run on a treadmill because the pace/distance info given by the 5x without the aid of the GPS is pretty much garbage. For example on a routine 5 mile treadmill run the watch would usually be at least 1 mile off from what the treadmill says. Once I got my footpod and let it auto-calibrate a few times and even messed with the calibration factor myself to get it to match the treadmill it has been flawless. Yesterday I ran on the treadmill, the machine said 7.51 miles and my watch said 7.49. I'd say that's pretty close! In my opinion it's a necessary purchase in order to get any accurate information. I also run outdoors with it and have the watch display instant pace from the footpod but the mileage/lap pace comes from GPS and it works great to stabilize the ridiculous spikes that so many including myself complain about. I highly recommend it
i would say its best to get the HRM strap as it has the footpad dynamics built in and not that much extra. I didn't realise this and i'm pretty certain i'll loose the pod at some point!
I don't think you ever get pace or distance from the HRM-Run, so while you do get some running dynamics, you do not get pace/distance info which is what the OP is looking for on a treadmill
nmyeri is correct - HRM strap does not provide pace or distance. Garmin or another compatible footpod (and there are a few) is needed. Alternative, but tough on the budget, is the Stryd pod that along with power provides very accurate pace and distance ( and some other dynamics). Although it does depend on your training needs, hats to beat a footpod for pace once calibrated. GPS will rarely match it for accuracy. Stryd pods are reported as very accurate even without calibration.
I agree with razmichael and nmyeti that the HRM strap will not provide the pace or distance data that you would get from a footpod. Perhaps v3nt was thinking about Garmin's recently released Running Dynamics Pod? The RD Pod ? which is not a footpod ? sits on the back of your shorts and provides the running dynamics data that you would otherwise get from the HRM-Run or the HRM-Tri heart rate straps. The RD Pod combined with a watch with an optical heart rate sensor will give you the same data you'd get from the HRM (albeit probably less accurate). The RD Pod, however, will not give you pace and distance; you still need a footpod for that. I pulled the trigger on the Stryd, and have found it to be noticeably more accurate (but not perfect) than GPS during my track workouts.
Stryd is SPOT-ON with the distance & pace measured. Recommendation is NOT to calibrate it and you have to disable autocalibration. Also set speed and distance to footpod always. I use GPS only to get the track recorded.
