About VO2 Max. Estimates

VO2 max. is the maximum volume of oxygen (in milliliters) you can consume per minute per kilogram of body weight at your maximum performance. In simple terms, VO2 max. is an indication of athletic performance and should increase as your level of fitness improves. The fēnix device requires wrist-based heart rate or a compatible chest heart rate monitor to display your VO2 max. estimate. The device has separate VO2 max. estimates for running and cycling. You must run either outside with GPS or ride with a compatible power meter at a moderate level of intensity for several minutes to get an accurate VO2 max. estimate.

On the device, your VO2 max. estimate appears as a number, description, and position on the color gauge. On your Garmin Connect account, you can view additional details about your VO2 max. estimate, including your fitness age. Your fitness age gives you an idea of how your fitness compares with a person of the same gender and different age. As you exercise, your fitness age can decrease over time.

VO2 max. data is provided by FirstBeat. VO2 max. analysis is provided with permission from The Cooper Institute®. For more information, see the appendix (VO2 Max. Standard Ratings), and go to www.CooperInstitute.org.

Getting Your VO2 Max. Estimate for Running

This feature requires wrist-based heart rate or a compatible chest heart rate monitor. If you are using a chest heart rate monitor, you must put it on and pair it with your device (Pairing Your Wireless Sensors).

For the most accurate estimate, complete the user profile setup (Setting Up Your User Profile), and set your maximum heart rate (Setting Your Heart Rate Zones). The estimate may seem inaccurate at first. The device requires a few runs to learn about your running performance.

1. Run for at least 10 minutes outdoors.
2. After your run, select Save.
3. Select to scroll through the performance measurements.