What to choose for amateur running: Runkeeper, Strava, Google Fit or Xiaomi Mi Band 1S

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 22:45

Runkeeper, Strava, and Google Fit calculate distance, net time, average pace, and calories burned differently. This is evidenced by the results of 11 runs with simultaneously running applications. From our article you will find out which one to give preference to if you are aiming for maximum results or their objectivity. And at the same time, you will understand whether you can trust the Xiaomi Mi Band 1S bracelet.

At the end of 2015, Google seriously updated its proprietary physical activity app. Among other things, Google Fit has learned to track running workouts. I did not fail to try this function in practice. I liked the first run: the voice assistant encouraged me with its tips, and the statistics pleased me with completeness. Moreover, every kilometer I started to run an average of 15 seconds faster. I thought it happened in a state of euphoria. The second and third workouts made it clear that somewhere there was a catch: too quickly I began to dissect the space, without making any effort. This had to be dealt with.

Next time I launched Google Fit and Runkeeper (my regular tracker) at the same time. It turned out that the applications calculate the distance traveled and the speed of movement differently. I shared this information on Twitter, where one lovely reader advised me not to stop and continue testing. I also want to tell you about the results.

To begin with, I will give a summary table of all the races. From top to bottom: total time, distance, running pace, calories burned.

Among the contestants was the vaunted Xiaomi Mi Band 1S, though not in the category. I had complaints about the first generation of the super popular bracelet. I wonder if the improved version can surprise you? We will talk about this at the very end.

	Google fit	Strava	Runkeeper	Mi Band 1S
1	43:41 8, 1 5:22 632	43:13 8 5:23 704	43:38 7, 77 5:37 584	43:00 7, 84 – 558
2	42:48 7, 9 5:24 616	42:11 7, 7 5:25 683	42:28 7, 58 5:36 568	36:00 6, 71 – 478
3	26:50 5, 4 4:57 419	26:45 5, 3 5:01 467	26:48 5, 22 5:08 391	18:00 3, 38 – 230
4	48:25 8, 5 5:39 668	48:32 8, 3 5:50 732	48:29 8, 24 5:53 619	48:00 8, 82 – 626
5	43:43 8 5:28 623	42:59 7, 8 5:30 685	43:36 7, 63 5:43 573	28:00 5, 13 – 358
6	42:01 7, 8 5:24 605	41:55 7, 6 5:28 671	41:58 7, 47 5:37 564	41:00 7, 65 – 539
7	47:30 8, 6 5:30 672	47:31 8, 5 5:35 746	47:33 8, 29 5:44 617	47:00 8, 74 – 621
8	37:34 7 5:24 542	37:33 6, 9 5:26 605	37:36 6, 78 5:33 508	20:00 3, 84 – 261
9	43:09 7, 6 5:39 596	42:50 7, 5 5:41 659	43:11 7, 43 5:49 568	43:00 7, 8 – 560
10	36:54 6, 9 5:18 540	36:54 6, 9 5:21 605	36:58 6, 77 5:28 510	36:00 7, 01 – 484
11	41:19 8 5:08 622	40:55 8 5:05 704	41:13 7, 83 5:16 587	22:00 4, 33 – 316

»

Before each training session, I made sure that all the applications reliably "grab" the satellite and correctly determine the starting point. During this preparation, the bracelet was lying motionless so that it would be easier for it to fix the beginning of the movement. Synchronization between apps and bracelet has been disabled.

For the purity of the experiment, each run took a new route: there were almost straight sections, and running in a circle, and ornate distances. The speed varied depending on the strength. From time to time I stopped at traffic lights, which perfectly imitated untied laces and other unexpected hitch.

Google Fit's distance is always the longest

In every workout, the Google Fit app recorded the maximum distance. Only twice did Strava show the same results, but mostly it gave out something in between.

	Google fit	Strava	Runkeeper	Xiaomi Mi Band 1S
10	36:54 6, 9 5:18 540	36:54 6, 9 5:21 605	36:58 6, 77 5:28 510	36:00 7, 01 – 484
11	41:19 8 5:08 622	40:55 8 5:05 704	41:13 7, 83 5:16 587	22:00 4, 33 – 316

»

In turn, in all attempts, without exception, Runkeeper recorded the smallest distance.

The difference between the first and third values jumped from 130 to 370 meters.

	Google fit	Strava	Runkeeper	Xiaomi Mi Band 1S
5	43:43 8 5:28 623	42:59 7, 8 5:30 685	43:36 7, 63 5:43 573	28:00 5, 13 – 358
10	36:54 6, 9 5:18 540	36:54 6, 9 5:21 605	36:58 6, 77 5:28 510	36:00 7, 01 – 484

»

It can be assumed that the greater the distance, the greater the difference. However, this dependence is not completely correct: at the same distance, the spread was different (for example, from 170 to 330 meters at 7.5 kilometers).

	Google fit	Strava	Runkeeper	Xiaomi Mi Band 1S
6	42:01 7, 8 5:24 605	41:55 7, 6 5:28 671	41:58 7, 47 5:37 564	41:00 7, 65 – 539
9	43:09 7, 6 5:39 596	42:50 7, 5 5:41 659	43:11 7, 43 5:49 568	43:00 7, 8 – 560

»

What's the matter? The situation is clarified by the developer of the smart lock screen for reading news, which we have already told you about.

Andrey Sharipov Founder and CEO of Corgi Software LLC It should be taken into account how often the current coordinate is determined. The accuracy of the route depends on this. For example, it might happen that the application cuts off a corner. Secondly, each tracker has its own algorithm by which it calculates the path length.

Of course, Google has eaten more than one dog on mapping services, so its app should be considered the best. At the same time, it is difficult to say whether this is really so.

Output. If you want to see as far as possible on the smartphone screen, use Google Fit. Looking for easy ways? Install Runkeeper. Strava is a sweet spot.

Strava always burns more calories

Many run to lose weight. Such people closely monitor their calorie expenditure. They will be interested to know that Strava is 10-12% more fat burning than Google Fit. This is best seen with the same path length, although the same result is obtained when interpolating the results of other trainings.

	Google fit	Strava	Runkeeper	Xiaomi Mi Band 1S
10	36:54 6, 9 5:18 540	36:54 6, 9 5:21 605	36:58 6, 77 5:28 510	36:00 7, 01 – 484
11	41:19 8 5:08 622	40:55 8 5:05 704	41:13 7, 83 5:16 587	22:00 4, 33 – 316

»

Runkeeper shows the smallest values over and over again. As you can see, the calculation formula is quite different here as well. Just in case, I will mention that in all applications the same information about gender, weight and height was displayed.

Output. If you are motivated by the energy expended while running, install Strava. The Google Fit app is less generous on calories, and Runkeeper is generally greedy.

Strava is the most accurate pause

Unfortunately, Google Fit does not register stops: you need to pause manually or just let go of the time. Runkeeper has auto-pause, but for some reason it is not enabled by default. Because of this offensive nuance, five more workouts did not get into my statistics (I did not immediately recognize the catch). Strava's auto-pause works out of the box and is much more sensitive than Runkeeper. The most revealing here is the second workout, where I caught about half a minute of waiting.

	Google fit	Strava	Runkeeper	Xiaomi Mi Band 1S
2	42:48 7, 9 5:24 616	42:11 7, 7 5:25 683	42:28 7, 58 5:36 568	36:00 6, 71 – 478

»

What's the difference? Take the fifth run, for example, when I was hit by three traffic lights. The difference in running time between Google Fit and Strava was 44 seconds.

	Google fit	Strava	Runkeeper	Xiaomi Mi Band 1S
5	43:43 8 5:28 623	42:59 7, 8 5:30 685	43:36 7, 63 5:43 573	28:00 5, 13 – 358

»

Take this time away, and the average pace of movement, according to Google Fit's calculations, would increase: every kilometer I would run 6 seconds faster, which is quite a lot. Google Fit and Runkeeper data is best not to compare at all.

Output. If you're struggling to be objective about your speed, Strava rules for you. The Runkeeper app could be faster, but Google Fit needs to close a significant gap.

Xiaomi Mi Band 1S is not ready yet

As for the well-known Chinese, its three-axis accelerometer can be an excellent competitor to the GPS sensor. Maybe, but not always wants: serious misfires happen and a smart gadget registers a distance that is not at all like the truth. And this happens with an enviable frequency: 4 out of 16, if we take into account all the runs. I don't know how to explain the bracelet's blatant failures in multiple workouts. In theory, a sharp change in the vector of movement, turns, running in the stadium, frequent blowing of his nose and overcoming bridges should not bother him at all. What is left then?

It can be assumed that the bracelet gets confused when the speed drops in the middle or at the end of the workout. However, it is not. I looked at the failed mile runs for Mi Band 1S and saw that the pace dropped very insignificantly, by an average of 10-15 seconds between the first and the last segment. At the same time, at the end, it was equal to 5 minutes and 30-40 seconds per kilometer, which cannot be called walking.

The second possible reason is stoppages. Like ran, rested a little and went / went home. But it is not confirmed by practice. Two out of four misfires occurred during non-stop training.

I note that I used Mi Fit from Google Play, and remind you that a different version of the application is available in the Mi Store, Xiaomi's own content store. It has a special Running mode, which is tailored specifically for running: GPS data is processed and heart rate readings are taken. It would seem that this is the ideal, but the Chinese version of Mi Fit crashes with every attempt to look at the workout statistics. I am sure that after some time everything will work as it should, but for now this is just a groundwork for the future.

Conclusion

My experiment is over. Objectively speaking, the Strava app won it. It is it that normally processes the route and fixes the pause in time. Plus, in my opinion, he has the most digestible reporting. The only drawback, if I can even mention it at all, is that this app is for triathletes, not runners.

The Google Fit app in general is also good, but its maximum readings are somewhat alarming, and, of course, there is not enough auto-pause. Oh, yes, it would be nice for a voice assistant to speak in a human way.

Runkeeper doesn’t seem to stand out, but there are no flaws in it. Therefore, I stay with him., let's run together.

Have you noticed flaws in my research, or is there anything to add? Write comments. Perhaps everything will repeat itself with a different set of applications or with more specific conditions.

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