Semi
Trail Wise!
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Post by Semi on Jan 4, 2017 19:02:26 GMT -8
including walking to the toilet, which you already do I don't know about that....I've upped my fiber and water intake so those 15,000 daily trips to the bathroom really start adding up! JK. I'm not crazy about the step-tracking as I am about tracking mileage or time. On hikes that are no more than 15 miles a piece, I'll use the "Hiking" feature from S-Health to see my distance, average speed, elevation gained, and save the weather information for that session. Since using the GPS is a real battery-drainer, for anything longer than 1 day or 15 miles, it's all about the pen and scratchpad to log my progress instead. Never had any technical difficulties with that tried and true method! |
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Post by tipiwalter on Jan 5, 2017 5:42:10 GMT -8
Everybody walks, even in America, if they can walk. I don't see walking or dayhiking miles of much importance. My important number is Bag Nights---the days and overnights we spend in the backcountry. Walking of course is a part of getting our bag nights. There's also more of a trend nowadays to pull Done-In-A-Day trips---with no overnights.
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tigger
Trail Wise!
Posts: 2,547 
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Post by tigger on Jan 5, 2017 7:38:44 GMT -8
The only reason I currently would be interested is if I were out of shape and needed a motivation. I get plenty enough exercise in my daily routine. Between keeping up on my house, running my two primary businesses, playing with my kids, and volunteer work, I am not concerned about how far/calories burned. I move around each day until I feel like must stop and even then tend to push it a bit more. When hiking, I am off-trail wandering around, climbing over trees, crossing creeks, clambering up scree fields or sliding down ridges. I don't know exactly how many calories I burn during a typical weekend hike but it's got to be up there. I don't see how a fitbit or similar device would be able to give an accurate assessment of my energy output.
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reuben
Trail Wise!
Gonna need more Camels at the next refugio...
Posts: 11,169
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Post by reuben on Jan 5, 2017 7:45:29 GMT -8
I keep some track of hours, but not calories or distance. An hour of hiking is different from an hour of lifting weights, but at a high level it's all good.
I'm waiting for the device that can keep track of Cheez Whiz and cupcakes.
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foxalo
Trail Wise!
Life is infinitely stranger than anything the mind could invent.---Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Posts: 2,359
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Post by foxalo on Jan 5, 2017 9:00:16 GMT -8
I've got a FitBit. It serves as a good watch. I'm always surprised when I hit my 10,000 steps and it vibrates on my wrist. I don't remember when I last synced it. My husband is OCD about his and loves to talk about which badge he's earned and how many steps he's walked this week. I'm more interested in my beer badges on Untappd. Keeping track of steps lost appeal when my feet started hurting and walking long distances make for very uncomfortable evenings. I hope to get back on track this year though.
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Post by hikerchick395 on Jan 5, 2017 9:43:23 GMT -8
I still keep a record on paper. Just miles usually. Also elevation gains when it is applicable. And I usually check mileage (and elevation) that I don't know AFTER I go out. A hike is when I carry a pack, otherwise it's a walk. I've kept paper records of hikes since 1976 and that's all I think I need to know.
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VAN
Trail Wise!
Posts: 133
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Post by VAN on Jan 5, 2017 12:26:50 GMT -8
I got a fitbit last holiday season (2015) and tracked consistently until about October, when I got a new phone and forgot to put the app on there (whoops!). It's back on there now. I sit at a desk so I set it to get me up and moving every hour, with a longish walk at lunch and another one in the evening. Also considering a standing desk. I tried the 5:45am gym thing for about 6 months and much prefer to sleep in thank you very much. A lot of my activity in the summer involves water (swimming, surfing) so I don't wear my fit bit for that.
This year I would like to focus more on lowering my resting heart rate and incorporating more yoga/meditation. I was able to get off blood pressure meds this year and I plan to keep it that way. I also plan to be less anal about the numbers/steps/miles and go for more balance in types of activities. Focusing on being active in general 4-5x a week for at least an hour.
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Post by hikingtiger on Jan 5, 2017 13:57:10 GMT -8
This year I would like to focus more on lowering my resting heart rate and incorporating more yoga/meditation. I was able to get off blood pressure meds this year and I plan to keep it that way. I also plan to be less anal about the numbers/steps/miles and go for more balance in types of activities. Focusing on being active in general 4-5x a week for at least an hour. Way to go on the bp meds.  |
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jan 6, 2017 1:13:48 GMT -8
Awareness of ones activity is a very good thing. Cardiac problems from too sedentary a lifestyle has long term negative health implications for far too many.
However that's arrived at is useful.
Though I'm aware my Apple Watch and also my iPhone have those features I've only casually looked at the data. Usually more as entertainment while touristing than at other times. I can really rack up the miles wandering around Manhattan in a sunny day. Lol
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swmtnbackpacker
Trail Wise!
Back but probably posting soon under my real name ... Rico Sauve
Posts: 4,886
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Post by swmtnbackpacker on Jan 6, 2017 6:43:11 GMT -8
I try but I suspect my built-in app gets it wrong giving me more mileage than is due sometimes (I'll double check my mileage against a map ever so often). Doing more biking, I'll likely switch to a traditional fitness journal.
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Post by hikerchick395 on Jan 6, 2017 9:43:58 GMT -8
I'll add that I'd rather underestimate, than overestimate personal mileage and elevation gains. On a hike in Death Valley a couple of months ago, we did a hike that was four miles round trip and 800' elevation gain. A guy's app said that they did 5.5 miles RT and 1000' elevation gain.
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walkswithblackflies
Trail Wise!
Resident terrorist-supporting eco-freak bootlicker
Posts: 6,934
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Post by walkswithblackflies on Jan 6, 2017 11:43:08 GMT -8
I got a FitBit as a surprise gift for Xmas. Been wearing it for about a week now. I don't really care for tracking steps, but it is interesting how much more I walk around on weekends opposed to being in the office during the week.
I really like tracking my pulse, and the FitBit makes it super-easy. I figure it will come in handy when I start overtraining (increased pulse is one of the warning signs).
The connection to my phone (Connected GPS feature) sucks... so I don't record walks or runs with it. I'm certain it is a fault with the phone, not the FitBit. So I rely on my Garmin Forerunner for that (which doesn't have a pulse feature), and somehow the FitBit gets linked to the runs I track on my Garmin (I think the common connection is through Strava... all I know is it works).
I find the sleep patterns feature interesting, although I never have trouble sleeping.
I also like that I can track workouts, such as P90X. My goal this year is to be more varied in my exercise (rather than just aerobic activities), and this will help me track my efforts.
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