More and more people are wearing some kind of smartwatch when they go into the backcountry. While you may think you know about smartwatches in backcountry skiing, there are probably many uses and functions you don't actually know about. We've picked out Garmin, which has recently been gaining attention among backcountry enthusiasts, and our reader reporter asked the manufacturer for insight into how to use them in depth
Do you use a smartwatch in the backcountry?
Many people probably wear a smartwatch when they enter backcountry fields. Among those I know, the Apple Watch is by far the most popular, while those who climb in any season tend to use Sunto or Garmin. I myself always use a Garmin smartwatch, both in my daily life and in the backcountry, but I haven't yet found the best way to use it. How do
BC enthusiasts use their smartwatches? While many people think they know how to use a smartwatch in the backcountry, they often don't fully utilize it. So, we wanted to know exactly what uses and potential it offers! So, we spoke with Taniguchi and Sakai from Garmin Japan's Marketing Department about the benefits of using a Garmin in the backcountry.
Q. Please tell me about Garmin wearable devices.
A. Garmin was co-founded in 1989 by electrical engineers Gary Burrell and Min H. Kao. The company name, Garmin, comes from the names of the founders, Gary and Min. The company
initially introduced GPS positioning technology to navigation systems for airplane pilots. It then expanded into the marine field, working on fish finders and other products, and evolved from GPS positioning technology into technologies that utilize a variety of data. Today, this technology is incorporated into the Garmin wearable products that you see today, and has expanded into a variety of sports and fitness fields.
The use of wearable watches has been particularly notable in the field of sports, particularly among runners, and by combining GPS measurement technology with heart rate sensors that grasp physical condition, they are able to record not only the wearer's progress but also various life log data, including heart rate at the time.However
, the data provided by the GPS and various sensors is merely data, and the true value of wearable devices lies in how they can be used by users to improve their daily conditioning and create conditions for optimal performance based on the data they have accumulated.
"We believe the true value of Garmin's wearable watches lies in their ability to help you perform at your optimum when you want to unleash your potential, using Garmin's unique 'Body Battery' which shows your body's remaining energy, as well as life log functions such as sleep tracking and exercise management functions,"
said Taniguchi.
fēnix 8 Sapphire AMOLED | Flagship GPS Watch
This is the flagship model "fēnix 8" recommended by Garmin Japan for backcountry users. It
boasts excellent visibility, battery life, and durability, making it tough enough to withstand the rigors of outdoor use. It's a perfect fit for rugby player Michael Leitch. Its
stylish design is also appealing, both in appearance and for everyday business use.
GARMIN
Official website: https://www.garmin.co.jp/
Q.What features can be used in the backcountry?
A. "Garmin wearable watches can record over 100 different activities, from running and swimming to mountain climbing. Due to the wide variety of activities they can record, they are popular with athletes who combine various sports, such as triathletes and adventure racers.
Backcountry is a hybrid activity that combines mountain climbing with skiing and snowboarding, and by combining various sensors, you can track a variety of scenes. Also, with activities like these, battery life is extremely important. Depending on the model, some can run for nearly 84 hours in GPS mode (in the case of the fenix 8 51mm), so another feature is that you can use them with confidence in the field."
① Route tracking using highly accurate GPS
GPS tracking is a familiar feature of smartphone hiking apps, but Garmin's GPS devices are unique in that they are very accurate
This is data on the activities of a backcountry skiing trip to Mt. Gassan in April 2024.
Information on the hike and transition runs is accurately recorded on the map.
The data graphically displays elevation difference, hiking and skiing time, speed, etc.
When combined with a map, it becomes clear at a glance what activities were taking place.
② Tracking log data such as elevation change, heart rate data, and calories burned
Data unique to wearable watches can be accumulated as logs, such as heart rate data during activity, elevation gain, and calories burned during activity. In particular, data such as training effect and calories burned can be obtained to determine how much strain a workout is compared to regular exercise, how many calories are needed for an activity, and other information that can be used as reference for your next activity
This shows how much of an impact a seven-hour mountain trip had on me.
My exercise load during a week living in the city during the off-season is about 150. In comparison, it's 280, meaning that one day in the mountains exerts more strain on me than a week of everyday life.
If you want to make mountain climbing more comfortable, you will realize that you need to be more conscious of increasing the load you can handle on a daily basis
, the amount of energy consumed can be seen based on the elevation change.
Over the course of about seven hours, 2,360 calories were consumed, and the estimated amount of sweat lost was about 6 liters. This shows that the calories consumed the day before were necessary to support this amount, and that calories were also needed while active.
It was a hot day, so I probably sweated a little. I also didn't have much water with me. I was pretty tired that day, so I suspect I was actually a little dehydrated
Q.What are the benefits of using a wearable device?
A. "Just tracking your activities and checking the data with a Garmin wearable watch is fun, but Garmin also uses this data as a conditioning tool to help you perform at 100% of your potential during future activities. This is why
Garmin's smartwatch lineup is so diverse, ranging from stylish models for everyday use to athletic models for serious sports. Garmin's unique feature,
"Body Battery," analyzes data such as sleep and stress and expresses it as a number between 5 and 100. By tracking your daily physical condition and activity, you can grasp trends in your physical condition and use it as a reference for daily conditioning in preparation for days when you want to be active. I think this is a major advantage and unique feature of Garmin wearable watches."
Obtaining " sleep data
Garmin wearable watches provide a "sleep score" that rates your sleep quality out of 100, as well as sleep stages (light, deep, REM, and awake), and nap tracking. Knowing your sleep allows you to gain a deeper understanding of your physical condition
By reviewing your sleep patterns and the behavior you perform before bed based on your sleep score, you can identify the behavioral patterns that will give you the best sleep possible. By the way, drinking alcohol before bed is a big no-no
Let's take a look at the actual data collected. By wearing the device while sleeping, you can obtain sleep data like this
Of course, the quality of your sleep is greatly influenced by your actions before going to sleep, and it's clear at a glance that your quality can change significantly depending on your actions. The data below is from a day where you were active all day the day before, and from a day where you drank alcohol for a long time and then slept. The difference is obvious
This is data from a day where I was active the previous day and got a good night's sleep. The only time I woke up was when I woke up
Sleep data from a patient who had been drinking alcohol for a long time the previous day. Intermittent awakenings occurred during sleep
" Body Battery " helps you understand who you are "here and now"!
"Body Battery" is a unique feature unique to Garmin that measures your "remaining body battery level" on a scale of 5 to 100. The higher the score, the more energy you have available for that day's activities and exercise
Conversely, a lower score indicates a need for adequate rest to conserve and recover
Body Battery is linked to sleep data and daytime activity. Good sleep replenishes the battery, while poor sleep doesn't. During the day, the device records your stress level using your heart rate variability (HRV), and if this is high, it consumes your Body Battery
Body Battery for the Day After an Active Day
It seems that sleep greatly restores the body battery, and that it is rapidly consumed during the day by commuting to work, going to the gym, etc
Body battery after a long drinking session
Even during sleep, stress is present, and working when your body battery is not fully recovered is difficult, and this is reflected in the data
Even just looking back at some of this data, we can see how how we spend our daytime activities affects our sleep and our daytime energy. It's easy to overdrink at night, especially on long-term backcountry tours, but if you want to stay energized and perform to your full potential, you need to limit the amount of alcohol you drink. The same is true
in everyday life. If you run out of energy, you can't function. Recharge before you lose energy. This data is truly useful for protecting your health, as it provides evidence that "the body doesn't lie."
Summary: and lessons learned from using wearable devices in BC
When we think of smartwatches, we tend to focus on their log-like use, collecting data during activities and using it to improve our next activities. However, after listening to the talk by the two people from Garmin, we realized that there is another way to use them
By tracking your daily health data, you can review your daily activities and prepare for the day when you want to demonstrate your potential. This type of use is not limited to the world of sports and hobbies, but is also accepted on a daily basis by business users, and I personally felt that there were various benefits to using it in this way
Of course, in the backcountry, by taking in more calories than you burn each day and improving the quality of your sleep before heading out, you can stay in top condition and have fun, whether on a long road trip or a tough one-day tour
[Finally, my review as a Garmin user]
I've been a Garmin user for over two years now. At one point, I started having trouble getting enough sleep, and after hearing that a smartwatch could measure my sleep, I bought an entry-level model from Garmin
After wearing my Garmin for a while, I discovered that my sleep problems were caused by my long-standing habits of working on the computer right up until bedtime, drinking alcohol, and eating dinner late. Drinking alcohol and eating before bed, which puts a strain on the body, significantly reduces the quality of my sleep, and working on the computer also significantly reduces the quality of my sleep because it takes time for the brain to calm down from an excited state. My work and life rhythms were significantly reducing the quality of my sleep and my daily performance
Since then, my trust in Garmin has skyrocketed. I bought the Decent MK3, which is suitable for diving, mountain climbing, and backcountry skiing. This single device handles everything from managing my daily work and life rhythms to logging my field activities. Managing my daily rhythm has been extremely helpful in maintaining my performance, even on long backcountry tours, and of course at work as well.
Why not take a peek into the world of data-driven performance management with Garmin?
It may open up a new world for your daily life and the mountains!
Interview cooperation: Garmin LTD.