VO2max Discrepancy (Garmin vs Firstbeat)

Agreed, and just about every one of them (except garmin) have a VO2max of 30 for my age as average or above average.

Garmin. Please fix your VO2max rating, so regular normal people like me don't have to feel inferior.

As I said, pick the chart that you're happy with. I think it's a stretch to say

just about every one of them (except garmin) have a VO2max of 30 for my age as average or above average.

when even a quick look will find one that would be disliked - https://www.healthline.com/health/vo2-max#averages

and not much longer to find one that would be liked - https://www.topendsports.com/testing/norms/vo2max.htm

Ignore Garmin's chart if it's not to your liking.

Thanks, and I know all that too, but it's just discouraging when I look at my metrics every day and see that poor VO2max on the gauge... lol

I think if I do the run/walk intervals more often, and lose some weight

Indeed, if your VO2 Max decreased *because* of a temporary drop in activity compounded by an increase in weight, this should be reversible to some extent, notwithstanding the inescapable decrease due to aging. 

I am a big fan of the run/walk method as it will allow you to maintain a good training load while optimizing recovery. Jeff Galloway is recommending to run not more than 3 running days a weeks for people  between 60 and 70. It is better to do longer runs on running days than to try to run more often.

Also keep in mind that increasing your VO2 Max will eventually require more low and high intensity volume. You will end up hitting a limit anyway.

"Running until you're 100" by Jeff Galloway, Meyer&Meyer sport.

Thanks, and I know all that too, but it's just discouraging when I look at my metrics every day and see that poor VO2max on the gauge

Yes, it sucks when reality strikes and you find you're not where you think should be.

Use that sense of disappointment to train harder and bring that figure up.

2529455 said:

Yes, it sucks when reality strikes and you find you're not where you think should be.

This is little to do with the VO2max score as such but more to do with the different interpretations of that score from different sources. The number is the same, just the classification differs. As I suggested, ignore the classification table you don't like and find a table that you do like.

and lose some weight

This will likely have the most effect as the units for relative VO2max are ml/min/kg.

The other factors that affect VO2max are much harder to change as they depend on central lung capacity/ability to get oxygen into the blood and peripheral capillaries to get the blood into the muscles. Not to mention the ability to get oxygen into and create those nice little mitochondria in the cells for energy production. 

All of which are much harder to do when we're not as young as we once were.

I think that Garmin has simplified the Firstbeat table. Instead of the 7 performance classes in the Firstbeat table (Excellent, ..., Very Poor), there are only 5 performance classes in the Garmin table (Superior, ..., Poor). In addition, the percentiles (0-40, 40, 60, 80, 95) are not evenly distributed, but shifted to higher performance classes. Unfortunately, these adjustments result in your performance class being shifted downwards.

The algorithm for estimating VO2max and fitness age is based solely on the dependence of HR on speed. For submax workouts, HR is extrapolated linearly to HRmax to calculate vVO2max. There are therefore two ways to increase VO2max
1. increasing the speed at the same heart rate and/or
2. lowering the heart rate at the same speed

Because of the extrapolation of HR to HRmax it's crucial to set HRmax most accurately. If HRmax is set too low then VO2max is estimated also too low and vice versa.

Dr Phil said:

This will likely have the most effect as the units for relative VO2max are ml/min/kg.

I assume you were joking.

Yes, the unit for VO2max is ml/min/kg. This is because VO2max is normally measured for the whole body in a spiro lab test. To make it comparable to other athletes with different weights, VO2max is normalized to body weight.

This means that if the body weight is reduced, the VO2max in a spiro lab test increases, or it also increases if the weight reduction leads to an increase in speed in workouts. However, reducing weight alone does not change Garmin's VO2max, as weight is not included in the estimation formula.