Step Counter during Walking/Hiking Activity

Hello fellow Instinct users,

I've been using my Instinct for one week. So far I've been using it mainly for smaller evening walks and hiking. Not very thrilling, but good to learn about the new watch.

I’ve found the option to add a step counter to my main screen, which I’ve noticed only resets at midnight.

I use the Walking Activity to record a set of data and tried to customise the datafields to suit my needs. It works great so far, however, there is 1 option I can’t seem to find:

I’d like the Walking Activity to record my step count as well. I’d like to see it in the data fields together with my speed, HR, timer and distance walked. It should also reset each time I start a new walking activity (like every other parameter).
Right now I have to remember the amount of steps already done during the day and then after my walks do some math to figure out my stepcount. It's not deal-breaking ofcourse, but it would be nice.

So I guess there will be a global non-resettable step counter (on the main screen) and a second resettable step counter (within the walking activity).

Is there any way to achieve this?

If not: how can I let Garmin know so they could add this, I think, small and easy feature?

Thanks a lot!

0 Dan.Boilermaker over 4 years ago

I don't know of a way to record steps within a specific activity. Steps is not one of the data fields. Sounds like a great idea, however. You can make a suggestion at this link:

https://www.garmin.com/en-US/forms/ideas/

0 trux over 4 years ago

PQ. said:
I’d like the Walking Activity to record my step count as well.

That's available only through a Connect IQ plugin, but since Instinct does not support the Connect IQ technology, you cannot have it. You can try requesting it from Garmin as Dan.Boilermaker suggests, but the chances it gets introduced are slim, because practically all other recent Garmin models support the Connect IQ technology, hence there is little need for such a global change, already available to almost all Garmin watches.

0 tess over 4 years ago in reply to trux

trux said:
chances it gets introduced are slim, because practically all other recent Garmin models support the Connect IQ technology, hence there is little need for such a global change,

Maybe not. I used to use a Connect IQ app for steps on my 945, but I believe it was two FW updates ago that it was added as an optional datafield. It's possible it may be added to the Instinct later.

0 PQ. over 4 years ago in reply to Dan.Boilermaker

Thanks for the suggestion! I have made a suggestion... here's to hoping they hear my prayers :)

0 PQ. over 4 years ago in reply to trux

Ok, thx, I made the suggestion to Garmin as D_Estes suggested... the more people ask for that small feature... :)

0 PQ. over 4 years ago in reply to tess

Good to know, I'll keep lobbying for that extra feature :)

0 trux over 4 years ago in reply to PQ.

If you really want to see the steps done during the activity, it is now possible with the use of the GCOverrides

And if you do not feel like installing the GCOverrides, you can calculate the number of steps in the following way. The GCO uses a more accurate data and math, but the following formulas will be very close to it anyway:

Activity steps = Avg Cadence [spm] * Time [min]

Alternatively, when the Stride Length is shown (at Run activities), you can calculate it in this way (it may a little bit more accurate):

Activity steps = Distance [m] / Avg Stride Length [m] (if using imperial units, add the conversion to have the same unit at both values)

0 PQ. over 4 years ago in reply to trux

Thanks for the GCOverrides suggestion... I'll try to get it running to see what it can do.

While waiting for Garmin to (hopefully) implement my suggestion, this could be the next best thing. Thanks!

0 trux over 4 years ago in reply to PQ.

PQ. said:
While waiting for Garmin to (hopefully) implement my suggestion

Usually, they implement new suggestions when they receive thousands of similar requests, and when it fits their plans and schedules, so I would not hold my breath while waiting for it

0 PQ. over 4 years ago in reply to trux

Hope springs eternal, Baldrick... :)