Will there be a forthcoming fix to the Fenix 5, where it can accurately track steps when trekking poles are used? As of now, only about 30 percent of the steps are tracked, which is really inexcusable for a premium "Outdoor Recreation" wearable, especially for long-distance hikers and backpackers that use poles. Looking at past posts and talking with friends, Garmin has been aware of this issue for some time. Will it be fixed?
You'll see the same thing on other Garmin devices, and the same thing if you are pushing a stroller or a shopping cart.
What's happening is the watch counts steps, and when you hold on to the poles…
Yep. I was thinking about the foot pod, which also seems quite water resistant--per written specs. That way the rest of the watch activity tracking (HR, intensity minutes, etc.) will be maintained.
You can also put the watch into the pocket, or attach it to the backpack strap. If you need to record the HR, then you can use a chest strap, or attach the watch to the ankle (but then it may not be easy…
Side note, I just noticed Garmin doesn’t have an activity totals section for hiking activities
Have a look at the Progress Summary in Reports of Garmin Connect Web:
I just had a look myself, and Garmin does have Hiking as an activity under Reports | Progress Summary
Re poles and step counts, there was an app that I seem to have instigated called Pole Steps that used a user-define multiplier to better display true steps. You could use for example “1.5” with tha value depending on how you used the poles. The problem with that is that the field steps was a fine estimate, but that is separate to the Garmin Steps value. A disconnect. All that said, I do think it would be easy for Garmin to use the movement sensors to give a fair estimate of true steps when using walking poles.
I am in a walking club with ~1000 members and I would estimate that at least 30% used poles. There is no doubt that they save hips, knees and ankles. 
