Best Non-GPS running devices

MattNorrisUL
MattNorrisUL Posts: 100 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
For whatever reason, our neighborhood has pretty shoddy GPS signal and even cell signal for that matter. I'm looking for a device that might most accurately measure calories burned since I can't get a reliable GPS signal to monitor how far I run and then calculate calories burned. ( I hope that makes sense) Any suggestions?

Replies

  • _nikkiwolf_
    _nikkiwolf_ Posts: 1,380 Member
    How about using a Footpod instead of GPS to track the distance?
    Those are little gadgets (with an acceleration sensor inside) that you can attach to your shoe and couple (via ANT+ or Bluetooth) with your heart rate monitor.
    Pretty much every one of the large companies that produce sports watches offer one of these.
  • MattNorrisUL
    MattNorrisUL Posts: 100 Member
    Cool thanks. Never heard of those.
  • MattNorrisUL
    MattNorrisUL Posts: 100 Member
    anything else?
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    BaltarVK wrote: »
    For whatever reason, our neighborhood has pretty shoddy GPS signal and even cell signal for that matter.

    Do you mean lots of vegetation, or lots of steep hills? Both of those will limit your GPS reception as they'll attenuate the signal or reduce the numbers of space vehicles that your device can see.

    Do you mean that you're struggling to get GPS lock or you're not able to download mapping/ imagery while you're out.

    Phone based GPS will improve accuracy by polling off mobile antennae, but they're not essential.

    It may be that you just need a more sensitive GPS device, rather than using a phone.
  • msf74
    msf74 Posts: 3,498 Member
    BaltarVK wrote: »
    I'm looking for a device that might most accurately measure calories burned since I can't get a reliable GPS signal to monitor how far I run and then calculate calories burned.

    I might be getting a little thick in my old age but if your primary concern is calculating calorie expenditure why do you need GPS at all?

    Calorie expenditure is calculated mainly due to body weight x intensity of exercise x duration. You don't need GPS for any of that. You could use a HRM monitor (which has limitations but no method is perfect.) You can get one that works off your phone or get a separate watch etc.

  • MattNorrisUL
    MattNorrisUL Posts: 100 Member
    MeanderingMammal wrote: »
    BaltarVK wrote: »
    For whatever reason, our neighborhood has pretty shoddy GPS signal and even cell signal for that matter.

    Do you mean lots of vegetation, or lots of steep hills? Both of those will limit your GPS reception as they'll attenuate the signal or reduce the numbers of space vehicles that your device can see.

    Do you mean that you're struggling to get GPS lock or you're not able to download mapping/ imagery while you're out.

    Phone based GPS will improve accuracy by polling off mobile antennae, but they're not essential.

    It may be that you just need a more sensitive GPS device, rather than using a phone.

    We're in a valley surrounded by a forest
  • MattNorrisUL
    MattNorrisUL Posts: 100 Member
    msf74 wrote: »
    BaltarVK wrote: »
    I'm looking for a device that might most accurately measure calories burned since I can't get a reliable GPS signal to monitor how far I run and then calculate calories burned.

    I might be getting a little thick in my old age but if your primary concern is calculating calorie expenditure why do you need GPS at all?

    Calorie expenditure is calculated mainly due to body weight x intensity of exercise x duration. You don't need GPS for any of that. You could use a HRM monitor (which has limitations but no method is perfect.) You can get one that works off your phone or get a separate watch etc.

    I thought I explained it but maybe I wasn't clear. if I can't determine the distance and speed I was running, I couldn't figure out an accurate calorie burn. Thanks though. I wanted a recommendation that wasn't using GPS to calculate distance because it's unreliable so I was looking for recommendations like specific brands of heart monitors or other devices.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    BaltarVK wrote: »
    We're in a valley surrounded by a forest

    OK, Garmin receivers are far more sensitive and would potentially give you what you need. I used mine in Afghanistan without any significant issue, admittedly a handheld rather than a watch.

    Notwithstanding that, I'd support the suggestion above that you just use time and rough distance to give you a calorie count. Spurious accuracy doesn't help you. I used to use a Polar FT60 HRM, it tended to be a bit higher than the MFP count, and a bit lower than the GPS measures. The level of discrepancy wasn't huge though.

Categories