how do i measure my stride length?

[Fittest]

how do i measure my stride length?

[Malcolm · Accepted solution]

Measure out 20 metres/yards in the backyard, walk and count 3 times or more and average your no of steps.  For me I cover the 20 metres in 25 steps, so the rest is just math.  20 divided by 25 = 0.8 metres per step/stride.  

[Doug]

The official help page is here, but I think it is better to measure over a longer but exact distance.  My preference is using a high school track, which should be exactly either 440 yards or 400 meters long on the inside lane.  Use the activity mode to count the steps for you, or just subtract the beginning step count from the ending step count.  A 400m track is 15748 inches long, so divide that by your step count and you'll have an accurate average stride length.

[cph]

I always thought two steps is a stride but here it references one step is a stride.  I find different defintions depending on the web site I go to.  Based on the distances people are referencing here it looks like it should be measures as two steps equal a stride.  A step being defined as one placement of your foot in front of the other and not two movements of your foot so that the same foot is in the lead.  Is this correct?

[slysam]

For fitbit purposes, you want the 'stride" to be one fitbit counted step. The distance estimate Fitbit uses is basically your steps multiplied by the stride--it does choose between your walking and running stride so that can complicate things a little. When I do intervals of walking and running it does recognize the running as faster, more vigorous activity than the walking, but I am not sure how small of intervals it will apply the stride to. But it can switch back and forth depending on your movement. The method I found most effective was to walk and then run a flat, measured route where you know the actual distance. I used a running track. I walked one mile and ran 1/3 mile for the two stride settings. I plugged the actual distance and the fitbit counted steps into a formula to come up with my average stride length. The formula I used was: 63360 * actual distance in miles / fitbit counted steps = average stride in inches

[cph]

Thanks....I used a 1/4 mile track and by walking and running it a couple of times took the Fitbit count and was able to calculate my stride lenght for both walking and running.  It seems to be fairly accurate unless I run a lot of hills and then I am in too much pain to really care:)

[mighty-mouse]

Has there been any consideration to using the phone "track your exercise"  gps function to assist you to calibrate the stride length ? That would be a very handy function, as we get in shape, and our stride length changes over time.

Thanks

[jeanette36]

I always set mine to 0 as im not really good at worrying about it. im not good at this thing it might not be totally acurate but it is close enough

[ag88]

this is an old question, but just adding my 2c:

- i install a gps logger / tracker app

https://play.google.com/store/search?q=gps%20logger

- start an activity / exercise on fitbit

https://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/1935

(after that sync the fitbit & review the steps for the exercise/activity)

stride length = distance from gps logger / fitbit counted steps

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i think this would be the same as fitbit app's mobile run feature/function

https://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/2099

now my question about mobile run, if i turn off data and bluetooth during the exercise/walk, leaving gps on (to save battery) and only turn it back on when i do the sync, would mobile run still work correctly?