Device needs an update like yesterday

[SunsetRunner]

Okay. So I get that Fitbit is #1 when it comes to fitness trackers. Really I have only been keeping track of my steps. But I finally started working out. Yay go me!! While doing my workout routine I KNOW via the machine I did 1 mile my Fitbit blaze only shows that I did .8 miles. Now look I spent $200 on a device that is supposed to be SPOT ON, not off on everything that I do at the gym. I am VERY disappointed in this product now. I want my money back or I want this thing to work properly. Seriously this is ridiculous.

[jmattwood · Accepted solution]

Fitbit calculates distance either by GPS, or by extrapolating it from the known stride length you take and the number of steps counted. If your stride length is set too short, the distance will be over calculated. If it's too long, an under calculation occurs. If you use a treadmill for your workout, don't hold the rails, or perhaps turn HR off and put it in your pocket, or down your underpants [the Blaze, not the treadmill :-)]. I leave HR on and wrap it wound my ankle (formerley cankle) and hold it in place with my sock.

Anyway, be happy that you're being more active.

Be happy if you have to work slightly harder to make the stats show 1 mile. It will only do YOU good.

Be less disappointed.

(Have you accurately set your stride lengths in your profile?)

[SunsetRunner]

How do I figure out stride length. I'm 5'5"? I was on the elliptical actually. HR was reading at different level as well.

[jmattwood]

First of all, take a look here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segal%27s_law

The first couple of times on a treadmill, I divided the treadmill's distance measurement by the number of steps my Blaze had counted to calculate a reasonably accurate stride length.. Then tweaked accordingly - if I up the speed, my stride length goes up slightly.

[Heather-S]

If you were holding on the rails on the elliptical to get your heart rate, that could be why your mileage was off too.  You shouldn't hold onto any rails because it throws off steps, miles walked, etc.  

I find the HR to be very accurate on the Blaze.  My husband had to get stitches at the hospital recently and while he was hooked up to the blood pressure/heart rate monitor, he compared his HR data to the hospital's machine -- it completely matched the hospital's heart rate monitor.  

[Rich_Laue]

An elliptical is not walking freely outside.. If you want the Fitbit to read the same miles you'll first have to determine how the imaginary miles that the elliptical reports are callculated. Now set the Fitbit up for the same imaginary stride, of course this will mean your outside walks will be reported wrong. 

[SunsetRunner]

I know an eliptical is not walking freely outside I'm not stupid. I used the setting in the Fitbit Blaze for eliptical and it didn't track correctly on my Fitbit VS machine reading. I walk freely outside as well. I'm active in the gym and outside the gym. I'm saying it should match. If I walk 3 miles and my phone GPS tracker records correctly so should my Fitbit.

[Rich_Laue]

Not sure what the definition of correctly is, it will not, and its in impossable to count the miles correctly. Your not stepping so I'm unsure if they will be correct, this setting is mostly for caloric burn. I very much doubt that this will match the machine either, most companies purposely over exaggerate the calories reported burnt to make the user feel better. 

[bbarrera]

Yes it is possible to convert elliptical strides per minute, or revolutions per minute to distance. Basic math, easy to search Internet for the answer. Stride length on elliptical is often around 20 inches, less than walking stride for most people, therefore you need more strides on elliptical to cover a mile.

[Rich_Laue]

I agree it is possable, but there is no way to add the elliptical stride to be used only during the elliptical time. 

Now if somebody wants to continually be changing their walk or run stride I guess that may work. 

But if the distance is based on the spinning wheel and you are coasting, IE: the wheel is spinning but the feet are not moving or have slowed down then the stride will give a low distance count.