Name: Total Ascent
Rating: 3.8 (9 reviews)
Author: flowstate

Total ascent is displayed in metres or feet, depending on the altitude units in your device settings. Please read notes below before downloading this app.

NOTE 1: https://www.reddit.com/r/running/comments/11di1qs/garmin_barometric_altimeter_elevation_vs/jaalsbm/
"Barometric altitude is much more accurate than GPS or terrain maps for relative changes in altitude. The sensor in your watch is sensitive to about 10cm in elevation change, although the software smooths that out a little bit. It's the gold-standard in altitude measurement for moving objects and it's why planes still use barometric altimeters in preference to GPS systems for altimeters."

NOTE 2: This data field displays the total ascent, as *provided by the watch*. It does NOT calculate anything. If your watch does not have a barometric altimeter, then the data Total Ascent displays will not be reliable or trusthworthy. If your watch does have a baro, then you probably don't need this app, since your watch probably already has a native Total Ascent field.  

Why does this app exist? Because Garmin hides elevation information, including total ascent, for watches which lack a barometric altimeter, but some people wanted to see it anyway. If your watch doesn't have a baro (e.g. FR 245), then this information will probably NOT be accurate or useful, as Garmin tracks the uncorrected GPS elevation during the activity. It's only after you sync your activity that Garmin Connect (and Strava) can correct your elevation and show you useful information.

This app was created by user request, not because I think it's especially useful. I legitimately wish it were more useful.

To be clear, for watches without a baro:
- The elevation that Garmin tracks during an activity is GPS elevation, which is known to be inaccurate
- Garmin hides GPS elevation during an activity, because GPS elevation is inaccurate
- Garmin Connect (and Strava) automatically correct GPS elevation data after you sync your activity, on their servers (not on your watch)
- Total Ascent shows you Garmin's idea of total ascent during an activity, whether or not your watch has a baro. If your watch doesn't have a baro, then you probably won't be very happy with what Total Ascent shows you.

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