You might be training for an event or race, following a workout or training plan that requires specific distances, or you simply want to log your distance and pace and compare your progress over time. Learn about the pros and cons of different technologies that can measure walking distance to determine which one is right for you. In the ancient past as in, just a few years ago you needed a special GPS unit to measure walking distance via satellite technology.
But now GPS is built into your smartphone and is used by walking apps that can track your speed and distance , such as MapMyWalk. Mobile Apps Pros. These apps couldn't be more convenient since it's likely you'll bring your phone along with you on your walk.
Besides knowing how far you've walked, you can also see the route you've taken, which can help you navigate back to where you started. Many smart pedometers and fitness bands, such as Fitbit , are linked to apps that have an exercise-tracking function that will use the phone's GPS to map and measure your walk.
In addition to measuring total distance, you often can review your route on a map, and some apps allow you to save and use the same route again.
Mobile Apps Cons. The accuracy of GPS distance measurement depends on several factors. This is because your phone must have frequent communication with multiple GPS satellites. If your phone doesn't have a clear view of the sky, it won't be locking position with as many satellites.
If your phone loses contact with one or more satellites, you can see a sudden jump in distance. If you look at your route as plotted on a map, you can see this "GPS jitter" and the errors it introduces.
If you are walking in an area with many tall buildings, in a deep valley, or next to a hill, you may see more GPS inaccuracy and loss of signal. Plus, GPS is often lost and doesn't work well indoors. It won't measure your distance on the treadmill because your position isn't changing. For better distance accuracy, you can walk the same route several times and compare the distance each time.
More and more smartwatches and fitness bands are incorporating GPS for distance and speed readings, such as the Apple Watch and the Fitbit Sense and Versa. These allow you to leave your smartphone behind during your walking workout and still get GPS speed and distance measurements.
These often display both your speed and distance and may link with heart rate monitor straps or have LED pulse detection built-in. GPS Watch Pros. These are easy to wear, provide a lot of data and information. They may be more convenient for checking on the fly compared to your mobile phone app.
GPS Watch Cons. GPS smartwatches are generally expensive and are also subject to GPS failures, which means they may not always provide the most accurate measure of your walking distance.
GPS watches have the same drawbacks as your mobile phone GPS for losing contact with the satellites and not working indoors. Using MapMyWalk online, you can create and measure a walking route. The website allows you to draw the routes and get a distance reading.
MapMyWalk has both street view and a satellite view. You can zoom in on portions of the route that use a sidewalk or path that isn't along a street. With a premium subscription, you can print out maps and directions and export them to your phone app to use while walking.
Other online map services include Mapometer , a map-based route planner that calculates the distance and elevation of your walks, tracks your progress, and monitors the calories you burn. Similarly, Plot a Route is another route planner and activity tracker for walkers, runners , and bikers as is On the Go Map , which also tracks your distance and elevation and allows you to share your route with others. Online Map Pros. Depending on the program you choose, you may be able to save and reuse your routes.
Online Map Cons. You might not have the time to figure the distance out and get your run in. Many of us have a history as track athletes in high school. So running on a track can come with some nostalgia, whether good or bad. They are ideal for speedwork, and ideal for exactly measured distances. Tracks are great because you get that exact distance measurement. Indoor tracks are smaller. Whatever the measurement, it lets users know how far they need to run in order to get that mile in.
Obviously, running around a track especially a smaller one can get boring quickly. Fortunately, such devices are fairly inexpensive. He discovered that if he moved his leg a certain way while sitting on the couch, the tracker would still register that as a step. One of our editors has discovered the motions of rolling pizza dough get counted as steps, too. Not that we are encouraging substituting pizza for exercise, folks. For that reason, fitness trackers and pedometers while they can give you a good ballpark are the least accurate option of measuring distance.
Additionally, all of these options, particularly a mechanical wheel, are quite accurate, and the car option is super easy. Set your trip odometer to 0 and then drive your route.
Once you get done, your car odometer will tell you exactly how far you have gone. Unfortunately, all of these options require additional time that you may or may not have, and the mechanical wheel which is the wheel-on-a-stick that coaches and race directors use to measure the distance of a course is especially so.
They are designed after consultation with walkers in Walking Newsgroups who agreed on a common consensus for the average walker.
These parameters are:. If you feel that 3 miles an hour is your average walking speed then simply deduct some time from the walk. From my experience you will have to be moving quickly and not enjoying the scenery of the walk to maintain 3 mph throughout the whole walk. Anyway, so now you know the calculator settings go ahead, choose a walk and then calculate the walking time. So now you've worked out your walking time for your chosen excursion all there is left to do is to get out there and enjoy the walk!
I am always pleased to received feedback on the structure and content of the website. I also welcome suggestions on how I can improve the website which may include new areas to cover, new walks or route alterations to existing walks. Thank you. Note: Walking without proper preparation can be dangerous.
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