When you sync a Garmin activity to Hikingbook, you might notice that distance, elevation gain, and other metrics don't match exactly with what's shown in Garmin Connect. This is normal, and here's why:
1. Different calculation methods
When Hikingbook syncs your activity, we import the raw GPS track and recalculate distance and elevation using our own algorithm. Different platforms use different calculation methods, which leads to variations in results. This design ensures all activities on Hikingbook are calculated using consistent standards.
2. Different recording devices
Even within Hikingbook, "activities synced from Garmin" and "activities recorded directly with the Hikingbook app" may show different numbers. This is because Garmin watches and smartphones use different GPS chips with different reception capabilities. Since the raw GPS points captured are different, the final calculations will naturally differ.
What's considered normal?
As long as your track route is generally accurate without obvious GPS drift, jumping, or sudden data spikes, minor variations in the numbers are within normal range.
When should I report an issue?
Please contact support if you notice:
- Severe track deviation from your actual route
- Unreasonably inaccurate distance or elevation
- Missing or interrupted activity data