If you read our previous post titled Got Music? You will recall that we use Garmin “Smart” Watches which allow for the installation of applications like Spotify and Windy and pair with Bluetooth headsets.
For our recreational session tracking we’re using the built in GPS tracking functions of those watches and syncing them with the Relive App on our phones. We reference “recreational tracking” because there are several really advanced systems out there that provide much more statistical detail than this combination.
Here is an early Relive Video made in Alaska after snowkiting downwind to Portage Glacier, and a grueling upwind return!
Relive has a free limited version, and a plus (paid) version.
Using data from your GPS device (like the Garmin Watches) the free version of the Relive app turns your outdoor activities, like your kite, wing & parawing sessions, into 3D video stories. It maps your route on a 3D satellite map, shows your stats like distance and speed, and lets you add music, and your own photos to the video.
Main Features
- 3D Video Stories: Creates a short video of your route over a 3D landscape.
- Activity Tracking: Records your walks, runs, or rides using your phone’s GPS.
- Photo Integration: Adds the pictures you took along the way into the video timeline.
- Stats Display: Shows your total time, distance, and speed.
- Sharing: Lets you share your created videos with friends on social media.
Limitations of the Free Version
Editing Limits: You cannot change the video speed, style, or music much after it is made. (Those require the paid Relive Plus subscription).
Video Length: Videos only show a short preview or limited highlights of longer activities.
Music Choices: You get a basic selection of background music.
Garmin Watches with GPS, track and record the following data points:
Time & Distance: Timer, lap time, distance, lap distance, time of day, sunrise/sunset.
Pace & Speed: Current pace, average pace, lap pace, speed, max speed.
Heart Rate: Heart rate, average heart rate, heart rate zone, % max HR.
Elevation & Navigation: Elevation, total ascent/descent, grade, heading, GPS accuracy.
Advanced Dynamics: Cadence, stride length, vertical oscillation, training effect, power.
Not all Garmin watches have GPS, A quick search indicated that the Instinct, Forerunner, Enduro, Epix, Vivo Active, Venus, Approach and the Fenix series of watches do.
The Relive app can automatically pull GPS and activity data from a wide variety of popular third-party fitness trackers, smartwatches, and training platforms. Some of the supported services you can connect directly to Relive include:
- Garmin Connect
- Apple Health (Watch)
- Wahoo
- Suunto
- Polar Flow
- COROS
- Ride with GPS
- Runkeeper
- Under Armour (MapMyRun, MapMyHike, MapMyRide, MapMyWalk)
- Zepp (formerly Amazfit)
- Rouvy
- Bryton
- Lezyne [1]
BONUS Info: Garmin Smart Recording & Every Second Recording
Some Garmin watches offer Smart and Every Second Recording. Smart Recording captures key data points as changes occur in direction, speed, heart rate, or elevation. This method is recommended as it saves space on your device and has no negative impact on GPS accuracy. This setting will also be the most beneficial to your battery life. Every Second Recording will record a GPS point once per second, regardless of direction, speed, heart rate, or elevation. Every Second Recording can produce more detailed tracks of your activities. A more detailed track will lead to more accurate speed and distance data but uses significantly more memory and battery life due to tracking data points more often.
