Blaze treadmill exercise steps correct, distance way off

[lcdearman]

I have already read the other posts about treadmill accuracy but my situation seems different. I have updated my walking and running stride lengths and my normal daily walking seems to be calculating a distance using something close to what I entered as my stride length. When I do a treadmill exercise however, the step count seems right but the distance is not even close. Here is an example:

Steps taken for the day, not counting the treadmill exercise: 3994

Blaze measured distance for just those steps: 1.56 miles

Stride length calculated from those numbers (1.56 X 5280) / 3994 = 2.06 feet per stride

Walking stride length setting: 2.5 feet per stride

Running stride length setting: 3.25 feet per stride

Steps taken on 2 mile walk/run on treadmill: 3578

Blaze measured distance for the treadmill exercise: 0.35 miles

Stride length calculated from the Blaze numbers (0.35 X 5280) / 3578 = 0.52 feet per stride

Stride length calculated from the real treadmill distance (2.0 X 5280) / 3578 = 2.95 feet per stride

Unlike others, I am getting a reasonable number of steps counted with my Blaze. I do not hold on to the bars when I run on the treadmill. It just does not use a reasonable stride length when I select the Treadmill Exercise option.

I have not had a chance to get out and do a Run exercise with connected GPS yet. Maybe that will update the stride length for a Treadmill exercise, but if so that should be documented.

Other than this issue, I really like the Blaze. It fits on my small wrists as good as any watch I have ever owned, the notifications are great, and I really like having heart rate info. I look forward to trying this on the bike too and having it link the heart rate data into Strava.

UPDATE: I did a walk on the treadmill today and selected the Walk Exercise and turned off GPS. The distance measured by the Blaze was exactly the number of steps multiplied by my stride length. Not sure why treadmill exercise does not do that, but at least there is a way around it.

[EmersonFitbit]

Treadmills can be a bit tricky sometimes, with differences in measurement methods, holding of the rails inhibiting arm movement, etc. 

I'd recommend taking a look at these two help articles for looking at accuracy with steps in distance. It sounds like you're seeing a bit more accuracy now, which is great!

[lcdearman]

Thanks for the comment. As I stated, the issue is only when selecting "Treadmill" as the exercise. It properly counts steps but does not seem to apply stride length so the distance is WAY off. If I select "Walk" and turn off GPS and walk on the treadmill, then the steps and calculated distance are correct.

The issue is not caused by being on a treadmill, since the Blaze is properly counting steps. It seems that when selecting "Treadmill" as the exercise, the stride length is not applied when calculating distance.

[Baltoscott]

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@lcdearman wrote:

Thanks for the comment. As I stated, the issue is only when selecting "Treadmill" as the exercise. It properly counts steps but does not seem to apply stride length so the distance is WAY off. If I select "Walk" and turn off GPS and walk on the treadmill, then the steps and calculated distance are correct.

The issue is not caused by being on a treadmill, since the Blaze is properly counting steps. It seems that when selecting "Treadmill" as the exercise, the stride length is not applied when calculating distance.

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That is interesting @lcdearman.  I agree with you that "walk" with GPS off and "treadmill" ought to give similar results from your Blaze (i.e., calculate mileage based on stride-length whether you are walking on a treadmill or outside).  Strange that doesn't seem to be the case for you.  

[lcdearman]

I rebooted my blaze again the other day, then did a treadmill run and for some reason, the distance was right on the money! Not sure if the reboot helped or not, but the problem is now solved. I just wish I could give an accurate report of what fixed it.

FYI, I bought my wife a blaze (she had a Charge HR) and it showed accurate distance right off for treadmill exercise.

[lcdearman]

Well, just did another treadmill run. 2.25 miles on the treadmill, but it only registered at 0.25 miles. The steps were correct though. Not sure why it does this, my wife's blaze works fine on treadmill. Oh well...

[lizzyS]

Hello! I seem to be having the same issue.  I updated my walking stride and running stride.  When I use the GPS to run outside it is accurate because of GPS.  When I walk outside it also seems accurate, though I dont do this often enought to track it.  When I use the treadmill and use "Treadmill" it is way off.  I ran 1.2 miles today and it registered .65.  I similar issues with using cross trainers such as the elliptical and stair climber, but the running is my main concern.  Have you tried using the "Run" feature with GPS off to see if that makes a difference?  I might try that next.  Or we are just not supposed to use treadmills.... ever, that might be what FitBit is trying to tell us :0)

[lcdearman · Accepted solution]

Not sure if the latest firmware update fixed my treadmill distance, but now it is right on the money. 2 runs, both were exactly as the treadmill showed. I guess this is solved!

[picasso66]

Hi, I'm having the same problem. Could you explain how you "turn off the GPS" using the walk function?

[lizzyS]

Hello - I either cancel out while its connecting to my phone (gps) or not have my phone on me. Sadly it doesn't seem to calculate my mileage properly. I received two software updates in the past couple weeks (one on 4/28) and I am hoping that maybe it will correct the issue. Other than this I do like the phone. Still use my garmin for runs though.

[CMichelle]

Hi, everyone!  I've been trouble shooting my Blaze for a while now and seem to have it all locked in except for this treadmill thing.  I used the Exercise function and walked 3 miles in about 47 minutes and it only gave me 3,300 steps.  Now, if our stride isn't set right in Settings, then our distance could be off but steps should not be and 3,300 is WAY too low for 3 miles - should be more like 6,000!

I have heard things like take the Blaze out and put in it your pocket but that defeats the whole purpose of tracking your heart rate.  I never hold on the rails either and swing my arms just as I would on a regular walk.  Any other suggestions on what I may be doing wrong?  I could try using the Walk exercise but I too would like to hear how you can turn the GPS off.  Thanks!

[SunsetRunner]

There is a Gear icon on the lower left of the "Walk" screen. Tap on it and you'll be able to turn "Use Phone GPS" to off.

[picasso66]

Thank you!! @SunsetRunner

Patricia
Sent from my iPhone

[shushu]

Thank you for this suggestion. I have been using the treadmill recently and my runs and walk distances have not been matching. I will try using the walk/run without GPS from now on to see if that helps. 

[Pennys3333]

This may be a dense question but Where is the walk screen?

[Rich_Laue]

You might need to add it.

[adv1213]

Turned off the GPS and used the Walk feature this morning.  Still not accurate.  When is FitBit going to actually acknowledge that this is an issue???

[Umdkevin]

Agreed, these are all work arounds at best. There is still a defect bug with the "Treadmill" exercise shortcut capability.

[Rich_Laue]

If the steps are correct, and tye stride setting is set for tye users stride for tye speed that the treadmill is set at, the distance will be accurate.

If the distance is short by say 20% then the stride needs to be increased by 1.25 or 100/80. Doing the math ive helped many get an accurate distance reading on their tracker.

Note that when the speed changes it usually means the stride needs to change if only to keep the balkance and your free running stride most likely will not be your treadmill stride.

[aob76]

was it more accurate on the treadmill distance when you used walk/run versus the treadmill option?