Nordic walking set to debut on Amazfit watches with pole tracking
We took a deep dive into the latest Zepp app code and spotted some interesting things coming soon. Nordic walking is finally making an appearance, with rucking and mountain hiking also getting ready to launch. Support for the new Balance 2 XT has been added as well.
Nordic walking is coming to Zepp Health
We dissected the latest Zepp APP – version Zepp 9.11.1 (August 17) . The spotlight in this update falls squarely on Nordic walking. For the first time, users will soon be able to log these sessions with dedicated support, complete with pole tracking and new activity metrics.
For those not in the know, nordic walking is a style of walking that uses a pair of poles to help propel you forward, making it a popular choice for boosting cardio benefits and reducing joint impact. Anyone who prefers walking with poles, whether for extra fitness or to support their knees and hips, will finally get the tracking tools they need.
The config files show Zepp Health has added unique data fields like pole count, stride frequency and stride length. With these new data fields, Zepp devices will not just log your distance or time. They will actually count your pole plants and measure how efficiently you use them. This gives Nordic walkers a much more detailed look at their workouts, making it easier to track progress and fine-tune technique in ways that standard walking modes simply cannot match.
Rucking and mountain hiking get a step closer
Two more activities are moving up Zepp Health’s priority list. First mentioned in an app update about a week ago, rucking and mountain hiking now show up much more deeply in the app’s core data and UI. This suggests these modes are on the cusp of release. The company appears to be tying up the loose ends needed for a full rollout.
Rucking, with its focus on walking with a weighted load, will include dedicated metrics such as weighted load, distance, and duration. Mountain hiking will also get its own unique charts and options. This kind of tracking has always required a lot of manual tweaking or workarounds, so proper, built-in support is long overdue.
Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets
These new sport modes are being wired through the entire Zepp Health system, from the app’s tracking pages to the on-watch interface. If you are looking for better tracking options for outdoor fitness, this update is shaping up to deliver exactly that. Keep an eye out for these modes to arrive soon on your Amazfit device. Presumably this will happen when the firmware update for the supported watches rolls out.
The Amazfit Balance 2 XT, which is already available for purchase from Best Buy even though it has not been officially announced, is now included in the smartphone app. That means support for this new watch has been added behind the scenes. Zepp Health is holding an event on the opening day of IFA in Berlin, so we might see an official reveal there. No other new watches are mentioned in the code.
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