Counting Miles on Fitbit Charge 5

[MrBou]

Yesterday I was out on a walk with my wife who has an apple watch. Using the phone app - I tracked the walk and it counted 5.43 miles. My wife's watch counted 4.4 miles. She measured one mile using the sign posts on the capital crescent trail. Her measurement was spot on - mine was off by about .17 miles. Any thoughts?

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[SilviaFitbit]

@MrBou Hi there. Thanks for the detailed information shared. 

Note that Fitbit devices multiply steps for stride length and get the distance travelled. When you track an activity with GPS, your device calculates your distance using GPS data rather than steps. If you begin moving before you get a GPS signal, your device calculates distance using your steps until GPS connects.

I'd like you to confirm you're following these tips when tracking walks or runs with GPS on your Charge 5. 

Hope this helps. 

[MrBou]

Thanks for the info. I tested the process again. I walked on a trail with mile markers every half mile. I used the fitbit and waited for it to say connected. It measured the distance as .69 - .19 over !!!

[SilviaFitbit]

@MrBou Thank you for getting back. 

The best way to get help for this problem is to chat with us online or give us a call. Click here to get connected. 

See you around. 

[DarylEby]

I have tested my mileage tracking on the "walk" function by comparing it to a route that I have measured by driving and measured by plotting the route on Google Earth. All three measurements are the same.
Is it possible that the trail markers are placed in error? 

[MrBou]

possible but unlikely