Things You Can Do To Make The Blaze More Accurate

[bcalvanese]

It is known that the Blaze has some issues that need to be resolved as far as accuracy of distnce, pace, step count, GPS, etc... and I think fitbit is working toward improving these issues.

First, let me say that out of all the devices I have tried, fitbits have the best app, the best community, the best chalenges, and the most fun experience out of them all.

And over the past year or so, I have tried the following devices...

• jawbone up24
• garmin vivoactive
• garmin fenix3 (still own)
• garmin fenix3 hr
• garmin vivoactivehr
• polar m400
• polar v800 (still own)
• polar a360
• basis peak
• tomtom spark cardio + music
• mio alpha 2
• microsoft band 2
• apple watch
• fitbit charge hr
• fitbit surge
• fitbit blaze (still own)

Lets face it. We all need motivation to be more active, and fitbit delivers that in a fun, intuative, and easy to use environment where you can do everything you need all in one place.

Sure, their devices have some issues, but there is no "perfect device", and all the devices listed above have their issues too.

While we are waiting for these issues to get resolved, there are some things we can do to get the best out of our deveices, and it seems like the main issues with the Blaze are...

• step count
• distance
• pace/speed
• gps

I think that all these things go hand in hand. For example, if the gps loses the signal at certain times during an activity, it uses your step count and stride length to calculate the distance while it is trying to find the gps signal again. So what that means is, if your step count and/or stride length is off, it will not calculate the distance correctly. And what that means is, it will not calculate your pace/speed correctly either.

Here are some things we can do to get more accuraracy out of our devices...

1. Step Count: I walk very fast (power walking at 4+ mph) and my Blaze only counts about half the steps if I swing my arms as though I was walking normally. But, if I swing my arms in a power walk style (elbows kept at a ninety degree angle) it counts every step. You can easily start a walk activity and adjust your walking style while watching your steps count on the device to get an accurate step count. This combined with an accurate stride length setting should yeald an acceptable distance if your gps cuts in and out during an activity that uses it, and also yeald an acceptable distance for activities that don't use gps (biking, treadmill, etc...)
2. Stride Length: Even though I am 5'8" tall, my stride length is about 32+ inches when I power walk. I assume that fitbit bases your setting on your height, but that may not be the case. You can walk a known distance and multiply 63,360 by that number. Then count your steps for that distance (and make sure your device is getting the correct step count), and divide the above answer by that number to get your stride length. For example, one lap around my apartment complex is .31 mile, so 63, 360 * .31 = 19,642. I take about 600 steps in that one lap so... 19,642 / 600 = 32.74 inches for my stride length. Do this several times and tweak as needed, and use the same method for your running stride length if you are a runner.

If you get these 2 things fine tuned you should get acceptable distance, and since speed/pace is just a calculation of distance and time, those numbers should come out to acceptable as well.

As far as heart rate accuracy goes, optical heart rate sensors are not as accurate as chest strap heart rate monitors, and there seems to be a lag in time when ever I compare the two, but for steady state stuff and just daily heart rate they seem to be within a couple beats of each other if worn properly.

Anyway, these are some things that I have learned so far, and if you have anything to add please feel free to do so.

thanks,

[FerdinandFitbit]

Another great post @bcalvanese. Good to see you around and thanks for taking the time to share  this with the Fitbit Community!

Happy Stepping

[MikeS1971]

The only way I've found for the Blaze to count steps close to accurate is to not wear it on my wrist at all. Even then, it's off by hundreds of steps by the end of a long walk instead of thousands.

[bcalvanese]

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@MikeS1971 wrote:
The only way I've found for the Blaze to count steps close to accurate is to not wear it on my wrist at all. Even then, it's off by hundreds of steps by the end of a long walk instead of thousands.

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I have tested mine on many many power walks, and if I swing my arms keeping them at ninety degrees, it counts every step every time. I have done this for probably hundreds of miles by now.

Have you tried this?

There may be other ways as well, but I figured if I'm power walking I may as well swing my arms as a power walker would...:)

[MikeS1971]

I've actually tried that a couple times since you posted it. Step accuracy didn't really change. It was also awkward for me to try to walk that way.

One problem is that the inaccuracies often can't be exactly repeated while doing the same thing multiple times. You can walk a certain way and have it be off by hundreds of steps. Then walk the exact same way for the same distance and have it be off by thousands of steps the next time. It's not consistent with its inability to work correctly.

I'm pretty sure this will be my last FitBit product. The only good thing FitBit has going is the social aspect of the app in being able to connect with friends for challenges and such. But I know of a couple different individuals working on apps that will allow users with fitness trackers from different companies to be able to "connect" in the same way. Heck, the company I work for has fitness challenges throughout the year where we log into an internal website and can link our fitness trackers to join team and compete in challenges. Even that has the ability to collect data across several manufacturers.

[bcalvanese]

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@MikeS1971 wrote:
I've actually tried that a couple times since you posted it. Step accuracy didn't really change. It was also awkward for me to try to walk that way.

One problem is that the inaccuracies often can't be exactly repeated while doing the same thing multiple times. You can walk a certain way and have it be off by hundreds of steps. Then walk the exact same way for the same distance and have it be off by thousands of steps the next time. It's not consistent with its inability to work correctly.

I'm pretty sure this will be my last FitBit product. The only good thing FitBit has going is the social aspect of the app in being able to connect with friends for challenges and such. But I know of a couple different individuals working on apps that will allow users with fitness trackers from different companies to be able to "connect" in the same way. Heck, the company I work for has fitness challenges throughout the year where we log into an internal website and can link our fitness trackers to join team and compete in challenges. Even that has the ability to collect data across several manufacturers.

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Strange because mine works that way every single time, and have done it with multiple Blazes. I wish I could see how you are swinging your arms lol. Maybe you have a defective one.

I have also had several Garmin devices that act the same way and count correctly when I swing my arms like in power walking. My Polar V800 counts correctly no matter how I swing my arms though.

The thing about step count with the Blaze though is that it can affect your distance if it uses step coount and stride lenght.

[meresydotes]

The best way I've found to get my blaze to count my steps accurately while working out is to keep my hand on my body. It's the same as keeping it in a pocket, but you still get the heartrate. It's not too bad. When I'm walking, I keep my hand touching my upper thigh. When I run, I keep my thumb on my chest.

[WoodlandM]

Thanks. I have a One which isn't ideal (it counts car journeys and I would prefer a wrist band with HR). I'm thinking about the Blaze but have been concerned by some of the "issues" raised. It's really helpful to acknowledge there are no perfect devices out there and how to get the most out of any device in the way that most supports personal motivation. 🙂