Which mileage app do you use

hmhill17
hmhill17 Posts: 283 Member
edited December 22 in Fitness and Exercise
This morning I had three apps going at once, Nike, MapMyRun, and RunKeeper. I got 3 different run times, 3 calorie counts, and 3 different distances. I know Nike pauses automagically if I stop, haven’t checked the other 2.
Which apps have you tried and which seems to be the most accurate?

Replies

  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,692 Member
    Strava
  • Jthanmyfitnesspal
    Jthanmyfitnesspal Posts: 3,522 Member
    Garmin.
  • lporter229
    lporter229 Posts: 4,907 Member
    Garmin.
  • jjpptt2
    jjpptt2 Posts: 5,650 Member
    Garmin
  • pondee629
    pondee629 Posts: 2,469 Member
    edited August 2019
    I use Map My Run to map my runs (ha ha) and my Garmin Forerunner to track my actual runs and monitor my miles.
    BTW, how far off are your three systems in the miles run?
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    Do you have all the apps set up the same with your ht wt stats etc?
  • mbaker566
    mbaker566 Posts: 11,233 Member
    garmin
  • aokoye
    aokoye Posts: 3,495 Member
    If you want an app that you'll be using while you work out, Strava. If you want a device, Garmin.
  • hmhill17
    hmhill17 Posts: 283 Member
    All of them have the same height and weight numbers. All started within a span of 3 seconds. Mileage is within a 10th of a mile. Times are 40 seconds different. Calorie counts differ by about 30 and I always use a lower number than the apps give me. It's mostly just academic/curiosity/OCD at this point.
  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
    i personally don't think it matters -just pick one and stick with it - every device has some error rate - so its more about the consistency
  • pondee629
    pondee629 Posts: 2,469 Member
    hmhill17 wrote: »
    All of them have the same height and weight numbers. All started within a span of 3 seconds. Mileage is within a 10th of a mile. Times are 40 seconds different. Calorie counts differ by about 30 and I always use a lower number than the apps give me. It's mostly just academic/curiosity/OCD at this point.

    Can't imagine why time would be so far off, unless one program stops when you are not moving. My Garmin reports this separately, total time/moving time. Mileage is probably just inaccuracies in the device, which is why I get a different distance for the same route. Calories are pretty much guesswork from any device or program. The mileage and calorie differences are pretty minor.
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    Garmin.
  • firef1y72
    firef1y72 Posts: 1,579 Member
    I have a garmin 735xt that then automatically uploads to strava. Appears to be pretty much on point with what I've plotted out on mapmyrun create before I start
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    App = Strava
    Device = Garmin Edge for cycling.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    My Garmin bike computer
  • Duck_Puddle
    Duck_Puddle Posts: 3,237 Member
    I use runkeeper because of the audio prompts and the live tracking is considerably more reliable than the LiveTrack on my expensive Garmin.
  • hmhill17
    hmhill17 Posts: 283 Member
    edited August 2019
    pondee629 wrote: »
    Can't imagine why time would be so far off, unless one program stops when you are not moving. My Garmin reports this separately, total time/moving time. Mileage is probably just inaccuracies in the device, which is why I get a different distance for the same route. Calories are pretty much guesswork from any device or program. The mileage and calorie differences are pretty minor.

    I did discover the other two apps do have an automatic pause function so I turned that on. I had to stop and retie a lose shoe and pace at 4 intersections, so that might have impacted time.

    Like I said, just my personal OCD.
  • kirstymn
    kirstymn Posts: 90 Member
    Garmin which is linked to Strava
  • ritzvin
    ritzvin Posts: 2,860 Member
    For a phone app (if I didn't have a Garmin), I would go with Strava (but mostly because segment alerts would be nice and it's the app I mostly check for data afterward). Apps usually give you some choice of whether to auto-pause int he settings (or will report all of elapsed time, activity time, moving time).

    Like the majority of those above, I use my Garmin, and Strava, ridewithgps, etc auto-pull the data from the Garmin server as soon as my phone sends the info over from my watch.

    My personal preference for Strava (and probably most who use it) is based on the social/group aspects (rather than increased accuracy or anything like that).
  • ritzvin
    ritzvin Posts: 2,860 Member
    hmhill17 wrote: »
    All of them have the same height and weight numbers. All started within a span of 3 seconds. Mileage is within a 10th of a mile. Times are 40 seconds different. Calorie counts differ by about 30 and I always use a lower number than the apps give me. It's mostly just academic/curiosity/OCD at this point.

    I would say that is definitely from differences in the auto-pause settings. Some apps also default to displaying "Moving Time". If memory serves, for my Garmin watch, you actually specify a threshold speed at which it will assume you are stopped and auto-pause if enabled. 1 app may not auto-pause, and another may trigger quicker than the other one that auto-pauses.
  • RunsWithBees
    RunsWithBees Posts: 1,508 Member
    iRunner app, it’s served me well with consistent results for about 5 years now.
  • ritzvin
    ritzvin Posts: 2,860 Member
    edited August 2019
    Strava defaults to moving time for both running and cycling, which is annoying and unchangeable. (I think most cyclists prefer it, as do I; but many runners, myself included, do not).

    ETA: exception being for workouts tagged as a race... it properly defults to Elapsed time in that case.
  • TheRayOD2014
    TheRayOD2014 Posts: 26 Member
    Run keeper

    Strava doesn’t give real time pacing
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    I use MapMyHike just for the fun map and distance, not for calories. I don't have it synced to MFP. I think the crazy high calories I see in the app are due to it including my BMR (?)

    It uses GPS so if I lose the signal in the woods I get odd results.
  • mandeebur
    mandeebur Posts: 13 Member
    Nike plus
  • slade51
    slade51 Posts: 188 Member
    I’ve been using MapMyRun / MapMyFitness (main activities walk/hike/run) for the past 6 months. I started going to the gym 2x a week to add exercises.
    Tried Strava, didn’t like it although it seems like a favorite here. Recently started Runkeeper and like the User Interface better but not sure which is best for integration with MFP and iPhone Health.
  • H_Ock12
    H_Ock12 Posts: 1,152 Member
    Strava
  • SchweddyGirl
    SchweddyGirl Posts: 244 Member
    Garmin linked to Strava (I have a Garmin watch). But if for some reason I don't use my watch that day then I use MapMyRun/Fitness. I mainly use Strava for Strava Summit to track my training progress.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    hmhill17 wrote: »
    pondee629 wrote: »
    Can't imagine why time would be so far off, unless one program stops when you are not moving. My Garmin reports this separately, total time/moving time. Mileage is probably just inaccuracies in the device, which is why I get a different distance for the same route. Calories are pretty much guesswork from any device or program. The mileage and calorie differences are pretty minor.

    I did discover the other two apps do have an automatic pause function so I turned that on. I had to stop and retie a lose shoe and pace at 4 intersections, so that might have impacted time.

    Like I said, just my personal OCD.

    Running multiple apps is part of the source of error. They're competing with one another for processing capacity.

    Personally I use Garmin devices and use the Connect app for analysis
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