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How does each activity mode calculate calorie burn? - Other isn't even close

Former Member over 6 years ago

Are there any paddlers here? Or anyone who engages in a sport or activity that doesn't match with any of the available modes...

What setting do you use on the VivoSport? (the choices are run, walk, strength, cycling, cardio or other)

Does anyone know the difference between how these modes calculate calorie burn?

I love getting the map, moving time/speed and distance, but the calorie burn is WAY off.

During Saturday's 7 1/2 mile outrigger practice in which there was an hour and a half of moving time, paddling at speeds of up to 9 mph (which is race pace and then some) after which I was physically exhausted, reaching 83% of my max heart rate and my entire body from Hamstrings to shoulders sore for a couple of days, my VivoSport said I only burned 358 calories. There is NO way that is correct.

Being a fitness band and not a watch, the VivoSport doesn't have the option of additional apps to make it paddle specific and changing the type of activity after the fact on Garmin Connect does not change the calorie burn.

Does anyone know how the different exercise modes calculate calorie burn? What should I be using? Other isn't cutting it.

0 Former Member over 6 years ago

I have the same problem, but it's with HIIT workouts (Crossfit, specifically). Looking at these forums, it seems that it's a long-known issue that may or may not be fixable. It looks like that exercises with a lot of varied arm movements throw off the calibration of the HR sensors. In my case, comparing the HR on my VivoSport vs a manual 10s count has my HR off by about 30 BPM. That is, the VivoSport routinely shows me at 110 when I'm more like 140. I'm a 46-year-old male and today I did a workout that consisted of 50 air squats, then a descending (25, 20, 15, 10, 5) series of 20" box jumps, 20lb wall balls and 53lb kettlebell swings and then closed off with 50 more air squats. Took me 21 minutes. The VivoSport recorded an "other" workout with an average BPM of 110 spiking to 138. I tested my heart rate AFTER I was done and it showed me at 138. I'm sure that during I was more like 168 at points.

I even tried wearing it on the INSIDE of my wrist (no hair, more visible veins) and that didn't help.

I'm pretty disappointed with it for this purpose... I suppose it will be good for running/walking/daily steps/stairs, but I was really hoping for a HIIT calorie meter. :(

0 AllanOlesen67 over 6 years ago

As a sea kayaker, I just sit here wondering how you paddle an outrigger.