Luxe is not tracking my steps accurately

[Penny51159]

My husband and I both have the luxe. We both go to the gym together. Today on the treadmill I had at start over 150 steps more than him after workout we checked our stats. On the treadmill I went 1/2 mile more, but on the luxe he had more steps, like over 1000 more steps but I walked farther and longer.

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[MarreFitbit · Accepted solution]

Hi there, @Penny51159. Welcome to the Community Forums. Thanks for the details provided in your post. I understand where your concern is coming from. 

As a first approach, I would like to clarify that it's normal that you see a difference when you are comparing your data with another person; this is because Fitbit trackers record your data based on your personal information (age, gender, weight and height). 

On the other hand, please note that your Luxe may not detect the number of steps if your arm is not moving. If you walk with a normal arm swing on the Treadmill/Elliptical, it should count the proper number of steps and calories. Take a look at the article: How does my Fitbit device calculate my daily activity? 

Also, remember that if you are using the Treadmill exercise mode on the Luxe it will use the Walking Stride Length and not the Running Stride Length for calculating distance from the number of steps. This will cause the distance to be off substantially. So, if you are running on the Treadmill/Elliptical, it is better to use the Run exercise mode, assuming you have correctly set up the stride lengths for Walk and Run. However, keep in mind that it is important that your arms swing freely in order for the Luxe to count steps, and not held next to the body.

To properly update your stride length, track a run with GPS or measure your stride length manually. For more information, see Can I change my stride length in my Fitbit account?

Hope that helps. 

[JohnnyRow]

Adding to @MarreFitbit's post, your experience could be explained if you were holding hand rails more than your husband.  With tracker on wrist,  it detect steps from normal arm swing as in walking, and cannot detect steps with wrist held steady.  Same thing is often observed pushing baby carriage or shopping cart.

A few options:

1. If possible without losing balance, don't hold hand rail, or hold only with non-Fitbit hand, though of course safety should come first.
2. Hold hand rail as needed, knowing will probably not get full steps and distance, but calorie burn based on heart rate will still be good.
3. If steps are more important to you than heart rate, can probably get good step count putting tracker in pocket, but lose heart rate data.
4. Some people get good results wearing tracker just above ankle, usually with a third-party band extender, such as available from Amazon.  That should give good step count, and maybe heart data, depending on where exactly wear it and individual differences.