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HR zones Garmin connect calculation method huge differences.

TOMSI91
over 4 years ago

Hi,

I was playing with correct setup of HR zones. Without measuring the lactate threshold, I have two choices of calculation: from max HR and from rst.

My rst is around 55 and max around 205. When I select method zones from max, the first zone starts on 103 and goes up by 10 percents of max, it looks quiet accurate to my feeling.

The other method from rst, which was mentioned as more accurate, it counts from my 55/205 values something like zone 1 form 130 to 145, zone 2 to 160,...

God this zone setup is killing me!

So, questions for Garmin - number 1:

how is this possible that the HR zones are off by 30 BPM with two calculation methods in connect. It proves there is something wrong in one or both of those methods. My max HR around 205 is measured in field so it's approximately ok ( I can't use the age calculation, in that case I should have something like 190 max HR in my 29 years of age.) Isn't there error in the calculation? I set it by connect mobile app.

Question number 2 for public:

Based on your experience, is it normal to have zone 1 starting from 130bpm in general? I need to go up around 75bpm from the resting HR only to get to zone 1. In my eyes, it's badly wrong calculated and I don't trust this calculation.

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    My understanding is that the zones are only for you. It does not influence Firstbeat algorithm, which makes its own analysis of your HR long term. I don't think there is one correct way of setting it up. One thing that zones can influence is when intensity minutes are counted.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Marbuel

    Still my running training load is completely based on my HR zones I'm in, not on pace etc., so I would like to see correct zones to run under the correct load which I want.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to TOMSI91

    No, your training load is not based on your zones, it's based on intensity as %HRmax and duration, so just make sure your HRmax is set correctly.

    There is no right or wrong in how the zones should be configured, it's all about which training philosophy you believe in, or what you want to use the different zones for.
    One common "scale" is the one Garmin uses as standard which is 5 zones, starting at 50%HRmax with 10% increments up to 100%HRmax. Other philosophies uses 6, 7 or even 8 zones. Again - it depends how deep into the details you dig and how specific you want your training to be.

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    These are just two different metrics. The commonly used is based on max HR and thats what most training programs refer to when talking about HR zones.  The one based on rest HR might be more accurate, since it take into account you "heart rate reserve" but the zones will not match.