Ionic Inaccuracy Level - Expected or Not

[JerryB01]

I have a Fitbit Ionic and have noticed that my step count is consistently underestimated by about 10% (I go for a walk and count my actual steps and then compare this to the number of steps recorded by the Ionic). In addition, I've found that when I'm doing treadmill exercises, the distance recorded by the Fitbit is off by 90% (actual distance: 5 miles; distance reported by Ionic 0.52 miles). I realize that tracking the distance covered when running on a treadmill can be difficult but are errors of these magnitude in both regular step counts for everyday walking and the distance covered when running on a treadmill to be expected? What's the value in having an expensive fitness tracker if the data is totally unreliable?

[wmchapman · Accepted solution]

Definitely undercounts steps on a tread mill since the running style is a bit stiffer than when you have to physically move your body forward, even in the "Real world" if you are doing a lot of 180s or tight curves the steps are undercounted @JerryB01 - 10-12% short is about right.

You can always manually add an activity log entry after each treadmill run to make up the deficit if you want to "balance" to the treadmill indicator; just keep in mind their distance recording isn't absolute either since the belts can stretch and shrink with a lot of use.

The advantage of outside running is you can take advantage of the most accurate GPS distance recording and your calorie burn is higher since you have to actually propel your body forward. After a mile or two run outside with GPS, your Ionic will autoset your stride for you which could bring those distance totals a little closer over time as well. No autoset for walking (yet), you have to manually divide distance covered in inches by number of steps in the final report to get the proper walking stride value to manually enter.  A walkers stride is not as consistent as a runners since it is less practiced.

You can also try relaxing a bit more on the treadmill and you may see the two devices get closer if there isn't the time for manual logging perceived shortfalls.  In short it is your body, not the devices that determine your actual health, the treadmill and trackers are simply tools to help push your goal(s).

[Baltoscott]

I don’t use the treadmill much, but a very common reason for step and distance undercounts on treadmills is because hands (and arms and elbows) are resting/leaning on the rails. As you might expect, that results in undercounting steps. In my gym, the only users I see that have hands completely off for the whole time period are the runners.  

[SunsetRunner]

I’ve been checking mine, regularly, I walk around 5.5 miles each morning.  I’v Only seen 1 time, since I got mine, where the error was more than 3%, and then it was only about 8%.

When I count I count for a full 100 steps.  I have noticed that the Ionic seems to lag a bit behind on the count, when I stop it continues to count to catch up.

[Baltoscott]

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@SunsetRunner wrote:

I’ve been checking mine, regularly, I walk around 5.5 miles each morning.  I’v Only seen 1 time, since I got mine, where the error was more than 3%, and then it was only about 8%.

When I count I count for a full 100 steps.  I have noticed that the Ionic seems to lag a bit behind on the count, when I stop it continues to count to catch up.

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Yes, there seems to be a slight delay between taking the step and then displaying the step.  Similar to other fitbits.

I was in a challenge once where we were trying to make poker hands from our daily step counts (example: 22222 would be 5 of a kind).  I was using my One and unless you took at least 5 or 6 steps it would not register any of them (presumably to reduce random "noise" steps from just standing or sitting).  There was also a slight delay in screen update.  So when I would get close to the target number my wife would just start rolling her eyes watching me walk 10 steps or so across the room and then waiting for the screen to update.  And since you can't step backwards to reduce the count, the stakes were high.  Going for 5 of a kind, and aiming for 22222, missing and hitting 22231 means you are stuck with 3 of a kind, a few more opportunities over the next few minutes at a full house, and then nothing but 4 of a kind as high card opportunities unless you are willing to suck it up and try for 33333. 

[Melphx1]

Went walking all over San Francisco. We walked 17,946 steps and it showed .75 of a mile . My husbands iPhone registered almost 7 miles .steps were accurate but distance definitely not 

[TerryLiindsay]

I get that that the Fitbit Ionic can’t properly read miles or steps on elliptical machines if I have a half hour workout at 3 miles per hr. I go 1.5 miles which for me would be 3000 steps for me.

My Icon would track this at .09 miles and 1500 steps so I miss so many steps it’s totaly annoying that I can’t just edit this after workout !

[Melphx1]

My ionic was off by 10% on distance and I called the Help desk and did a factory reset and it has been corrected