How is Hiking Workout Different?

[parseckadet]

Does anyone know how the hiking workout is different than the outdoor walk? Does it use the heart rate monitor differently/less? I ask because I typically think of hikes being several hours, and it seems like it would be good to use the sensor less to preserve the battery more. I know you can turn off the sensor for outdoor workouts in the settings, but then you have to remember to go turn it back on when you're done.

 

[Julien]

All exercise Workouts use the HR sensor unless you turn it off.

 

[perezr10]

I think it gives you more calories burned.

 

[NT1440]

Does anyone know how the hiking workout is different than the outdoor walk? Does it use the heart rate monitor differently/less? I ask because I typically think of hikes being several hours, and it seems like it would be good to use the sensor less to preserve the battery more. I know you can turn off the sensor for outdoor workouts in the settings, but then you have to remember to go turn it back on when you're done.

My guess, and this is totally unsubstantiated, is that it samples the data from the barometer a bit more often than on a walk to get elevation data into the workout algorithm.

 

[ftaok]

Ineresting idea about the barometer.

Personally, and I don't have any true insight in this, but I think that hiking would use a different algorithm to calcualate calorie burn. If it used the same as outdoor walking, I could see getting less credit since you typically hike at a lower speed than a walk, yet exert more effort.

But then again, I guess the higher HR would be used to determine effort as well.

EDIT - perhaps it uses a higher MET standard for times when the HR sensor is off (or not reading).

 

[johnyslats]

From Apple's website it would appear to use elevation data to adjust the calories burned algorithm

 

[aviddk]

I had a Polar heart rate monitor, many years ago, that asked the weight of your pack to help calculate calorie expenditure. I was hoping that might be an option with the new hiking workout.

Another activity that needs its own menu is yard work. Currently I use the Play designation when yardworking.

 

[parseckadet]

Another activity that needs its own menu is yard work. Currently I use the Play designation when yardworking.

Yes please! I could see something where it relied less on accelerometer and more on the other sensors (GPS, heart-rate) since a lot of lawn equipment produces a lot of vibration.

 

[Julien]

Yes please! I could see something where it relied less on accelerometer and more on the other sensors (GPS, heart-rate) since a lot of lawn equipment produces a lot of vibration.

It already does this and all you have to do is run Other to get this (sans GPS but you may not be moving much anyway and don't need a track). You can also give it a name (or not) and there are quite a few to choose from. Here is a list I made a couple of years ago and more have been added.

Also Apple should probably put an editor in the iPhone Watch app so you can create your on Other activities names. Since if Apple added Yard Work someone else will want Wife-Carrying.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-watch-workouts.2006561/#post-23716936

Archery
AUS Football
Badminton
Barre
Baseball
Basketball
Bowling
Boxing
Cross Training
Curling
Dance
Downhill Skiing
Functional Training
Golf
Gymnastics
Handball
Jump Rope
Kickboxing
Martial Arts
Mind & Body
Mixed Cardio
Paddling
Pilates
Play
Racquetball
Rolling
Rugby
Saling
Skating
Snow Sports
Snowboarding
Step Training
Strength Training
Surfing
Table Tennis
USA Football
Volleyball
Wrestling
Yoga

 

[parseckadet]

It already does this and all you have to do is run Other to get this (sans GPS but you may not be moving much anyway and don't need a track). You can also give it a name (or not) and there are quite a few to choose from. Here is a list I made a couple of years ago and more have been added.

Also Apple should probably put an editor in the iPhone Watch app so you can create your on Other activities names. Since if Apple added Yard Work someone else will want Wife-Carrying.

View attachment 778843

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-watch-workouts.2006561/#post-23716936

Archery
AUS Football
Badminton
Barre
Baseball
Basketball
Bowling
Boxing
Cross Training
Curling
Dance
Downhill Skiing
Functional Training
Golf
Gymnastics
Handball
Jump Rope
Kickboxing
Martial Arts
Mind & Body
Mixed Cardio
Paddling
Pilates
Play
Racquetball
Rolling
Rugby
Saling
Skating
Snow Sports
Snowboarding
Step Training
Strength Training
Surfing
Table Tennis
USA Football
Volleyball
Wrestling
Yoga

That’s what I’ve been doing, but I just don’t trust the Other workout as much. The fact that you can turn it on and then fall asleep on the couch and get full exercise credit has always bothered me.

 

[Julien]

...I could see something where it relied less on accelerometer and more on the other sensors (GPS, heart-rate) since a lot of lawn equipment produces a lot of vibration.

... The fact that you can turn it on and then fall asleep on the couch and get full exercise credit has always bothered me.

Contradiction: You can't have an algorithm that DOESN'T rely on the accelerometer/gyroscope sensors AND won't give credit if you are not moving.

 

[Sackofnickels]

It already does this and all you have to do is run Other to get this (sans GPS but you may not be moving much anyway and don't need a track). You can also give it a name (or not) and there are quite a few to choose from. Here is a list I made a couple of years ago and more have been added.

Also Apple should probably put an editor in the iPhone Watch app so you can create your on Other activities names. Since if Apple added Yard Work someone else will want Wife-Carrying.

View attachment 778843

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-watch-workouts.2006561/#post-23716936

Archery
AUS Football
Badminton
Barre
Baseball
Basketball
Bowling
Boxing
Cross Training
Curling
Dance
Downhill Skiing
Functional Training
Golf
Gymnastics
Handball
Jump Rope
Kickboxing
Martial Arts
Mind & Body
Mixed Cardio
Paddling
Pilates
Play
Racquetball
Rolling
Rugby
Saling
Skating
Snow Sports
Snowboarding
Step Training
Strength Training
Surfing
Table Tennis
USA Football
Volleyball
Wrestling
Yoga

Surprised they didn't include chess or poker.

My guess would be hiking includes elevation changes, may take into consideration, climbing over things, drastic heart rate changes depending on terrain, etc.

For example, when I spin at the gym I get a workout, but when I road cycle or mountain bike on an actual bike I get a much better workout. Using more muscles, elevation changes, wind resistance, rolling resistance, everything is different. My wife can run circles around me in spin class, but she gets winded faster if we mountain bike. Using different muscles.

 

[parseckadet]

Contradiction: You can't have an algorithm that DOESN'T rely on the accelerometer/gyroscope sensors AND won't give credit if you are not moving.

Heart rate.

 

[Julien]

Heart rate.

HR by itself is NOT an accurate indicator of exercise effort or caloric burn unless you were doing consistent cardio (like running). Hundreds of factors unrelated to activity can cause or contribute to an elevated, lowered or varying HR. So using just HR would offer no more accuracy than the standard Other algorithms without having accelerometer/gyroscope info to base it on. HR monitoring is more about determining fitness level than caloric burn.

Here is some related info from Apple:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204516

 

[parseckadet]

Notice that I didn’t say it should IGNORE the accelerometer, I said rely on it LESS. Big difference there. Sure, maybe I could have been more specific before, so let me clarify. A yard work workout should take vibrations from lawn equipment like lawn mowers and string trimmers into account. And you’re not going to convince me that the other workout doesn’t have drawbacks. They have to do something where you don’t get minute for minute exercise credit when using other even if you aren’t exerting yourself in any way. It needs to be smarter than that.