Suggestions for the best fitness tracker/GPS device for hiking
Kilika735
Posts: 63 Member
I do a decent amount of hiking from spring to late fall and I was wondering for those who hike if they have any suggestions for a good fitness tracker, heart rate monitor or gps device that works well for calories burned? I know they aren't exact, but I'd like to keep track of heart rate, distance and effort of the hike. Thanks in advance for your response! 
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Replies
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Garmin...
You can go with an entry level device, or one of their premium offerings.2 -
stanmann571 wrote: »Garmin...
You can go with an entry level device, or one of their premium offerings.
Awesome, thanks for the advice!0 -
For hiking most people prefer a hand-held unit, which will have better GPS accuracy, a larger screen, and a map.
I'm using a Garmin Fenix 5X watch which is plenty usable on the trail.
Also great for cycling, swimming, running, etc.2 -
NorthCascades wrote: »For hiking most people prefer a hand-held unit, which will have better GPS accuracy, a larger screen, and a map.
I'm using a Garmin Fenix 5X watch which is plenty usable on the trail.
Also great for cycling, swimming, running, etc.
If you're actually wanting to use it for navigation, a handheld device is definitely more useful, but if you're just looking to track your movement, even the "entry level" Vivoactive is sufficient... I get 12 hrs of GPS use per charge. 5-7 days on standby1 -
cheapest option is to use your smart phone with an app like gaia gps and then buy a bluetooth HR monitor. I do this in the summer for up to day outings. Well, I did it before I bought my fenix. But, I'll still use the smart phone/gaia combo in the summer for day outings.
In the winter, because of the potential of more adverse conditions, cold temps killing battery life and getting stuck for an overnight, I use a handheld which can take AAA batteries.1 -
stanmann571 wrote: »NorthCascades wrote: »For hiking most people prefer a hand-held unit, which will have better GPS accuracy, a larger screen, and a map.
I'm using a Garmin Fenix 5X watch which is plenty usable on the trail.
Also great for cycling, swimming, running, etc.
If you're actually wanting to use it for navigation, a handheld device is definitely more useful, but if you're just looking to track your movement, even the "entry level" Vivoactive is sufficient... I get 12 hrs of GPS use per charge. 5-7 days on standby
You have no idea how useful the navigation in those watches is. It knows before I do when I walk off the end of a switchback at 4 am trying to get to the meadow for sunrise.
Does the Vivoactive have maps that include trails? We were able to follow the Lookout Creek trail through deep snow (see pic), using the 5X for navigation:
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NorthCascades wrote: »stanmann571 wrote: »NorthCascades wrote: »For hiking most people prefer a hand-held unit, which will have better GPS accuracy, a larger screen, and a map.
I'm using a Garmin Fenix 5X watch which is plenty usable on the trail.
Also great for cycling, swimming, running, etc.
If you're actually wanting to use it for navigation, a handheld device is definitely more useful, but if you're just looking to track your movement, even the "entry level" Vivoactive is sufficient... I get 12 hrs of GPS use per charge. 5-7 days on standby
You have no idea how useful the navigation in those watches is. It knows before I do when I walk off the end of a switchback at 4 am trying to get to the meadow for sunrise.
Does the Vivoactive have maps that include trails? We were able to follow the Lookout Creek trail through deep snow (see pic), using the 5X for navigation:
No, it doesn't... If I was doing trail work I'd just buy or borrow a handheld.0 -
Always like @NorthCascades posts. I do a ton of trail running and my watch has gotten me out of a number of jams. A handheld is ok and could just drop it into the front pocket of my pack, but the instant feedback on your wrist when you get off trail is great. (it vibrates) The other functionality I love is the ability to tie to various sensors to keep your goals on track, and the funnest thing right now that I am excited about, but it is kind of dumb is that I can track time until Uber will pick me up to take me back to my car when doing a point to point trail run. Fenix 5X also.1
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For lower intensity exercises like walking or hiking, an HRM is not going to provide an accurate calorie burn. HR based calorie burns are only reasonable for steady state, moderate intensity cardio such as running. And even then there are caveats and limitations to the accuracy.
I'll second that a good phone app or handheld unit for offline navigation would be more appropriate. A GPS watch with navigation like the Fenix will work but it's WAY overkill for the application plus you are working with it's tiny screen for navigation. If you desire a GPS watch for tracking instead of an app, something like the Garmin Vivoactive HR would be more than enough.
I have a Garmin 920xt GPS watch for running/trail running/biking/snowboarding, but something like that really isn't necessary for tracking activities like hiking.1 -
I have a Vivoactive (without HR), and it does not have a specific setting for hiking. There's a third party app for hiking you can download, but it's not great. It also does not map or provide any elevation gain information until after the workout is uploaded. When I hike, I usually set my watch to the walk setting to keep track of mileage in real time, but I also run an app on my phone in my pack so that I can access elevation gain or course information if I want it as I am hiking. I also run, and the watch is great for providing quick access to mileage information for that, but I find that my phone is better for hiking.0
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Any device with GPS will do distance, and most will do some calculation to estimate calories burned. So with those 2 as the basic criteria, almost any GPS enabled device will work.
"effort" of the hike will be hard to get at, but some will attempt to approximate it. Given the intensity and duration of some hikes, I wouldn't put a lot of credence to those numbers, but that's me.
Beyond that, it gets down to what else you want from the device. Do you want any sort of navigation capabilities? Do you need maps, or just a compas? Do you care about accuracy of elevation? What about battery life?
If I wanted advanced metrics, I'd go garmin all the way, probably the Fenix 5 series.
If I wanted basic data, I'd go suunto for reliability.
If I wanted a budget option, I'd probably go, I dunno... probably with a garmin fitness band/tracker (not the watch) with wrist-based HR and GPS... I think that's the vivofit.
If I was just curious, I'd buy a battery backup device for my phone and use it's GPS with some kind of hiking/walking app.1 -
stanmann571 wrote: »No, it doesn't... If I was doing trail work I'd just buy or borrow a handheld.
Not doing trail work, hiking on a trail. Sorry, I'm too selfish to do trail maintenance, I donate to groups that do it instead. (Washington Trails Association and Backcountry Horsemen.) There are too many trails and not enough time to hike all of them, so spending a week working on one particular trail just isn't in the cards.0 -
I sold my hand-held GPS after I bought my Fenix 3.
I'd clip the hand-held to my pack strap, it would hang there, and I'd grab it for a look when I wanted to see the map, or some piece of data. It's more convenient to just look at my wrist.
The Fenix series has a fantastic altimeter. A lot of our trails here are up hill every step, from the end of the road to a mountain pass or the edge of a glacier or something. If you know your altitude, you can find your position on the trail (on a map) quickly and easily, and unambiguously. That was obviously more useful on the F3 without maps. I used to program in waypoints for the F3 (here's a water source, here are the peaks, etc) to have an idea where things are around me, but I'm not finding that necessary with the 5X.0 -
NorthCascades wrote: »stanmann571 wrote: »No, it doesn't... If I was doing trail work I'd just buy or borrow a handheld.
Not doing trail work, hiking on a trail. Sorry, I'm too selfish to do trail maintenance, I donate to groups that do it instead. (Washington Trails Association and Backcountry Horsemen.) There are too many trails and not enough time to hike all of them, so spending a week working on one particular trail just isn't in the cards.
To be clear, I didn't mean cleaning/clearing/blazing, but simply hiking a trail that might not be appropriately/effectively marked.
The stuff I've got within a reasonable distance is really well travelled... I got "lost" more than a couple times when I was younger... not so badly that I couldn't backtrace(I've got a fairly good sense of direction and memory) But these days if I was doing some of those routes I'd definitely want more than just my Vivoactive to tell me direction to start... which it will do... distance/direction.. but no maps.
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To me, it sounded like the OP was mostly looking for something to estimate calorie burn more-so than for navigation.
For navigation: I use orienteering paper maps where available (we've surveyed and mapped most of the good for hiking large local parks) - these are better quality than what I can get electronically. For state/national parks, I typically use backcountry navigator on my phone (with a backup paper map) (I can switch between a variety of maps, including topo from 2 sources - one of them is often out of date on some features and not necessarily the same one always on the same hike-, cycling, satellites, etc.; and they have an excellent interface for selecting areas to pre-download in advance), and zooming in/out capability which is obviously missing on a paper map.
I have eyed the Fenix - I would love to have a basemap on my watch. Do you know if you can you load multiple base maps and switch between them?1 -
When I hiked from Cascade Pass to Stehekin, I planned to spend 5 days on the trail, really take my time, enjoy the scenery, explore a lot. I wound up doing the hike in 3 days instead.
This was when I carried a hand-held hiking GPSr. They took AA batteries in those days. For a long day on the trail, I'd need two sets, so 4 AA batteries. Plus the GPS unit itself. the GPS was about 10 oz and I don't remember what AA batteries weigh but it's not insignificant especially for a long trip.
My F5X gets 20 hours of GPS time to a charge, which is two long trail days. The battery is about 300 mAh, so the $10 Anker battery pack, the 2.5 oz one, will charge the watch about 10 times. Meaning you get 22 long days on the trail for about 6 oz, or roughly half the weight of a hand-held GPSs without power.
This was part of my reason for getting a Fenix 3, it saved me pounds of pack weight on thru hikes.I have eyed the Fenix - I would love to have a basemap on my watch. Do you know if you can you load multiple base maps and switch between them?
You can. Only on the 5X model. The F3 and F5/F5S don't have the concept of maps.0 -
I do think the maps on the fenix are hoaxy. That's not to say others can't derive some utility from them or have a differing opinion. It could probably help me out once in a while. And I would love one, but it's not a cost I'm willing to pay right now. I wouldn't consider the fenix 5x a dedicated navigation source for serious hikers. Certainly nothing I would hop backcountry and bring it as my sole source of navigation. I couldn't imagine trying to base major navigational decisions off a 1.5 " screen.
Of course, I'm the guy who has a phone (camera and to run earthmate), Delorme in reach, garmin etrex30x and a fenix 3. All add up to more than my summer sleeping system (pad, bag and shelter) which is right at 2 lbs.
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I do a decent amount of hiking from spring to late fall and I was wondering for those who hike if they have any suggestions for a good fitness tracker, heart rate monitor or gps device that works well for calories burned? I know they aren't exact, but I'd like to keep track of heart rate, distance and effort of the hike. Thanks in advance for your response!
As above HR is essentially meaningless in the context you're talking about.
Criteria of be looking at would be battery life and a barometric altimeter. From a Garmin perspective that limits you to the Fenix range, the Epix, the Forerunner 920XT, Forerunner 935 and (I think) the Forerunner 620/ 630.
I'd veer away from a phone app due to unpredictability of battery life, particularly in poor mobile coverable areas.
Suunto also make good devices for this type of context. I wouldn't touch Polar or TomTom at the price points you'd need to think about.
Handheld has a place, but nowadays the mapping capabilities of higher end watches are extremely good, although I've personally a map and compass preference for tactical land navigation.0 -
MeanderingMammal wrote: »I'd veer away from a phone app due to unpredictability of battery life, particularly in poor mobile coverable areas.
Typically not a problem as long as you [1] don't forget to put the phone into airplane mode and [2] bring a spare battery or 2 (or 4 as is often the case if I go backpacking - they're pretty light).
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MeanderingMammal wrote: »I'd veer away from a phone app due to unpredictability of battery life, particularly in poor mobile coverable areas.
Typically not a problem as long as you [1] don't forget to put the phone into airplane mode and [2] bring a spare battery or 2 (or 4 as is often the case if I go backpacking - they're pretty light).
I guess it becomes a question of what compromise you want to make, although it just occurred to me that mobile phones don't have barometric altimeters either. They'll do post-processed elevation, so you then get into working out which is the least unreliable app for elevation.
Personally I'd rather go for a dedicated device, though for a multi-race event that means carrying an external power supply to top up the electronics. That does make a difference to the bergan though.0 -
Most modern phones have barometric altimeters.
http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-iphone-6-has-barometer.html
https://www.howtogeek.com/254603/how-to-use-your-phone-as-a-barometer-or-altimeter/
A local weather professor thinks this will revolutionize forecasting and save many lives.
To forecast fine-scale weather features (like thunderstorms), you need a fine-scale description of the atmosphere, and the current observational network is often insufficient. We need millions of observations per hour over the U.S. to do the job. Same situation in China, Europe, and the rest of the world
And pressure is the perfect surface observation: it reflects the deep structure of the atmosphere and has less exposure problems than temperature or wind. Pressure can be measured inside our outside a building, in your pocket or hanging on your belt. A number of number experiments have shown that surface pressure measurements alone can produce a very good THREE-DIMENSIONAL description of the atmosphere. Almost sounds like magic.
That was written in 2014.0 -
MeanderingMammal wrote: »I do a decent amount of hiking from spring to late fall and I was wondering for those who hike if they have any suggestions for a good fitness tracker, heart rate monitor or gps device that works well for calories burned? I know they aren't exact, but I'd like to keep track of heart rate, distance and effort of the hike. Thanks in advance for your response!
As above HR is essentially meaningless in the context you're talking about.
Criteria of be looking at would be battery life and a barometric altimeter. From a Garmin perspective that limits you to the Fenix range, the Epix, the Forerunner 920XT, Forerunner 935 and (I think) the Forerunner 620/ 630.
I'd veer away from a phone app due to unpredictability of battery life, particularly in poor mobile coverable areas.
Suunto also make good devices for this type of context. I wouldn't touch Polar or TomTom at the price points you'd need to think about.
Handheld has a place, but nowadays the mapping capabilities of higher end watches are extremely good, although I've personally a map and compass preference for tactical land navigation.
The Garmin Vivoactive HR also included a barometric altimeter.1 -
NorthCascades wrote: »Most modern phones have barometric altimeters.
But are they integrated with GPS tracking? The materiality is around correlating it with forward movement to inform the estimation of effort.
Fwiw I haven't used mobile phone based tracking for several years, largely as they hammered battery life and were relatively unsophisticated in terms of available data. None of the main ones did reliable elevation, which is a real issue as a trail runner.0 -
I love my Garmin Oregon handheld for hiking, cycling, routing and geocaching. It is way more accuate on where I am, can be used for navigation better and has many other possibilities, but I don't need it all the time only on occasion.
For calorie, HR etc I use my fitbit Charge HR and that suits me fine or those things as I want that contineous.
As much as I love my gadgets and integration Some things IMO are just better separate.1 -
MeanderingMammal wrote: »NorthCascades wrote: »Most modern phones have barometric altimeters.
But are they integrated with GPS tracking?
That depends on the software you choose.
A friend of mine showed me the software he uses to track his hikes on his phone, it ties GPS together with barometric data. He waved his phone up and down then blew up the graph to demonstrate how sensitive it is.MeanderingMammal wrote: »The materiality is around correlating it with forward movement to inform the estimation of effort.
For hikers, it's also often crucial to be able to know your altitude (in "real time"). Fire regulations depend on altitude - no fires about 3,000 feet - and it's our responsibility to know. In poor visibility (fog, etc) you can usually navigate by altitude alone in the mountains if you also have a topographic map.1 -
I wonder how far beyond OP's need this conversation has gotten. Lightyears?3
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I wonder how far beyond OP's need this conversation has gotten. Lightyears?
Hahaha! Just a few light years!
It has been very helpful to hear everyone's reviews and opinions on what has worked for them. I really wasn't interested in the GPS aspect as a top priority, but I thought about how often I've gone off trail maybe I should consider it more! My phone can't be trusted to last more than 5-6 hours with the location on and I know map my walk/run isn't giving me the best calculation on effort, only distance. And even this last weekend I tried pulling up a map online and I had no service, so.... that's no good.
I live in the North East and some trails are not very well marked even when I have a map with me so I will be comparing all the options everyone mentioned. Much appreciate and happy hiking! 1 -
bwahaha- you have no idea how many people have gotten to our "Learn & Practice" beginner orienteering events an hour late because they (stupidly) tried to car navigate to deeply rural parks using google or iPhone maps. (side note: A decent topo program will have a good interface for pre-downloading selected map data).1
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I use Garmin VivoActive HR with GPS and there is a custom hike app that i love. Calculates everything includes walking speed, average speed, elevation gain and loss and much more. Totally recommend it1
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