Comments on: New study quantifies accuracy of Garmin Vo2Max readings

By: Doug Bonestroo

Doug Bonestroo — Fri, 21 Oct 2022 02:26:49 +0000

Great article and I enjoyed the comments. I am 62 with a VO2 max that varies between 50 and 52 on my Garmin 45. My most recent 5K time on a USATF certified, chip-timed course was 21:48. Most of my running is on flat courses in SC and NC.

By: John

John — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 20:58:20 +0000

In reply to Mario. Legend what info

By: Ian Pipe

Ian Pipe — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 17:27:52 +0000

In reply to Ian Pipe. Snap. I run 5 days a week and capture only two or three of them on my phone.

By: Mario

Mario — Mon, 05 Sep 2022 10:30:19 +0000

In reply to R. P.. The Garmin documentations states this. You should select trail mode so it doesn’t calculate your v02 for runs on those terrains.

By: Greg Gerardy

Greg Gerardy — Sun, 04 Sep 2022 17:42:05 +0000

In reply to Richard Dewis. I would also add there is probably a scale factor missing in the equation used by Garmin in their calculation of VO2. In the small study there seems to be consistent results above and below the median that suggest a non-linear scale.

By: R. P.

R. P. — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 18:50:23 +0000

In reply to Richard Dewis. You have to be careful with the measurements. I'm 65, and when I run on nice, flat streets, I measure in the 46 range. However, most of my running is on rocky, rooty, hilly trails, where I'm much slower and have a higher HR . Then I measure around 35. It doesn't know anything about your efficiency due to running conditions.

By: Wim

Wim — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 06:15:27 +0000

In reply to Paul.

True that! It’s just another convenient tool which just is not a fully equipped lab but amazing in its own right – imagine this 20y ago! Whichever modern decent quality sports watch you pick will probably do for recreational use for 95% of the users IMHO, as a sort of crude guideline at least and you could optionally even tune it by setting your heart rate zones correctly after a professional lactate test in a lab if you really want to max out the capabilities. Comparing too much between brands and watches while working out is rubbish as there will always be discrepancies. Just pick one you like and stick with it as a reference I’d say 🙂

By: Claus

Claus — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 05:05:16 +0000

Good and relevant topic for an article.Much appreciated! It is important we keep monitoring the quality of this type of data as it is more and more ofte used for diagnosis. And this medical use seems to be justified according to the above and the 2 other referenced articles. I have a Garmin Fenix 7x sapphire solar – and its the best watch I’ve ever had!! Works perfectly.

By: Boyce

Boyce — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 02:59:45 +0000

In reply to Ian Pipe. User error? Fenix6 sapphire works great???

By: Boyce

Boyce — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 02:58:08 +0000

In reply to Richard Dewis. Yup