Does a Fitbit count steps when you are shooting a gun?

[FMA11]

I am a firearms instructor and I am new to the Fitbit game. I am curious if my Fitbit will count step while I am shooting a gun. I don’t want to be getting credit for step I don’t take. 

[SteveH]

You might get some steps recorded in error - but I wouldn't think that many. Your fitbit tracks steps by detecting movement in the tracker i.e. your wrist, and then working out whether that movement was the result of a step or just random arm movement. Sadly, it's not a precise science and sometimes it gets it wrong.

However, there are other times when it might miss some steps if your arms are not swinging normally and, generally speaking, it all tends to balance out. The best thing to do is to focus on trends rather than the details. 

Fitbit's thoughts on the accuracy of their trackers is documented here: https://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/1136/

[N8teGee]

It's quite possible it might, I think it would depend on how many shots fired and how often (there is a buffer to filter out arm movements as steps) as to whether it thinks the movements are steps.

You could start a workout whilst doing your training, and then once finished you could edit it and change it to driving. This would remove any step accumulated. 

[Rich_Laue · Accepted solution]

The best way would be to test it yourself.

As @N8teGee says, Fitbit has a buffer and does some tests.

They look for 5 consecutive steps before they give credit for and start couning steps. 

If your shots are not consecutive enough, or the arm movements don't look like the feet are walking, your good.

In short this type of question will only be answered by the asker, through real world testing .

[Mrs_Magoo]

Fitbit does count some steps when shooting a gun! A rifle at least. It will count it as a sport if you are doing it for at least 15 minutes.

[Rich_Laue]

Ok, I do not regularly shoot guns, but understand how the step counting a plus work. 

Your tracker is designed not to count steps until 5 steps in a short period of time are counted. Once these 5 steps have been counted, the unit starts counting after adding these 5 steps. 

So in theory unless 5 shots are taken within a few seconds, no steps will be added. 

One more thought, how many shots does a person take in a day, would a few hundred extra steps really matter? 

[CindyMFitbit]

Hi everyone. It's good to see you participating in the Community Forums. 

In addition to what @Rich_Laue has mentioned, please note that Fitbit devices have a finely-tuned algorithm for step counting. The algorithm is designed to look for intensity and motion patterns that are most indicative of people walking and running. When working at a desk, cooking, or performing other activities with arm movements, a device on your wrist may add some steps. When you’re doing activities that involve arm movement—such as working or cooking—you often walk a few steps in-between stationary periods as well, so the device tries to give you credit for those steps. For most customers, the number of extra steps added by arm-based movement isn’t significant when compared to your overall stats. For more information, see How does my Fitbit device calculate my daily activity?

Hope the information is helpful.