Garmin devices, renowned for their fitness and outdoor capabilities, often accompany users on runs, hikes, and bike rides. But what if their GPS functionality could extend beyond structured workouts? One user wondered about repurposing their Garmin, specifically a vívoactiveHR, for tracking activities outside the realm of fitness, like boating or off-roading in a car. This idea sparks an interesting question: can you program a Garmin GPS for car use and other non-exercise scenarios?
The original poster highlighted practical examples where GPS tracking would be beneficial without the associated fitness metrics. Imagine using your motorboat on a lake; capturing the GPS track, speed, and timer could be valuable, yet you wouldn’t want it logged as a calorie-burning exercise. Similarly, when driving off-road to a campsite, recording the route and speed traveled could be useful for navigation and trip logging, distinct from a fitness activity.
Currently, Garmin devices are designed with fitness in mind. When you engage in an activity, they record metrics like heart rate, calories burned, and distance covered, all feeding into Garmin Connect as workout data. While there are map and GPS apps available for Garmin watches, they primarily focus on displaying maps on the watch itself. The user’s core idea is to have a simplified GPS tracking mode, similar to the running screen, but without the fitness-centric data being recorded and uploaded. This would allow for basic GPS functionality – track, distance, speed – to be captured during activities like driving or boating, offering a new dimension of utility to Garmin devices beyond their typical fitness applications.
While Garmin’s primary focus remains fitness and athletic performance, exploring the potential for customized GPS tracking opens up exciting possibilities. The ability to program a Garmin GPS for car use, or similar non-fitness activities, could enhance its versatility and appeal to a broader range of users who appreciate GPS data for various aspects of their active lifestyles, both on and off the beaten path.
