soft steps = Ionic not counting steps

[Quizno]

I understand that Fitbit doesn't want you to cheat on your step BUT, as I walk normally, I have very little "bounce" in my step and I've noticed my Ionic counts about 1/4 of my steps, especially if I have something in my hand (coffee cup, as an example). Does anyone else have this problem? Is there anything I can do about it?

I'd like to recalibrate it while walking as I vaguely remember doing before with a new Fitbit (walk 100 steps, tell it you've completed, walk another 100 and tell it how far off it is and then it's good to go) but can't remember how to force it. 

Help!

[Odyssey13]

Hi @Quizno  there is no true calibration. You're automatically set for stride based on gender and height. You can manually input your stride, which is why the walking and measuring part you remember. As for these devices, they are wrist based and you need to be moving your hands for it to register at times. You can always manually log those steps you feel were missed while holding something in your hand, pushing a cart or anything else that keeps your arms from moving. 

[Quizno]

makes sense but I didn't have this problem with my Charge 2. Oh well. Thanks for the response!

[Barbotus]

This is actually kind of humorous to me. I've had a couple of FitBits over the years (most recently and currently Ionic) and I have exactly the opposite problem. Which was discussed to death in other threads. Apparently I have an "arm swing" issue when walking that causes the FitBit sensors to undercount my steps by around 30%. The only way that I can reliably get it to track accurately is by carrying something with a little weight (like a water bottle) in my left hand. Apparently it dampens the arm swing and translates to a more accurate count. 

Go figure that it's the opposite for you!