Adjusting stride length for Treadmill function

[Lekaminski]

Does anyone know whether the Treadmill function on the Charge 2 uses the walking or running stride length? It's frustrating that we only have two options for stride length since I like to power walk on the treadmill, which is presumably a different stride length than a casual walk or run stride (which I also do). So if I'm going to adjust my stride manually, it would be helpful to know which stride applies for the Treadmill setting. 

I tried to use a non-GPS run on the treadmill this morning to test the run stride and distance, and it changed it to Treadmill for some reason. I'm not sure why. And the distance was way off compared to what the actual treadmill is reading. So I at least want to know which stride to adjust if that's going to keep happening. Thanks!

[HeydyF]

Hello @Lekaminski, welcome to the Forums! 🙂 Yes, on your Fitbit account you can only enter your walking or running stride length, and based on that information, the Fitbit will give you more accurate mileage. Now regarding the non-GPS run that you used to track your running, could you please tell me, when you say that it changed, does that mean that it automatically changed to "treadmill" when you synced? 

Catch ya' later! 

[Lekaminski]

So can you tell me whether the Treadmill activity is using the walking or running stride length? Does it default to the walking stride? If so, I'll enter my corrected "treadmill" stride length for the manual walking stride before I use the treadmill and then change it back when I'm done for regular non-treadmill walking. As a future enhancement, it would be nice to have the option to have a treadmill stride as a 3rd stride.  

Regarding the non-GPS run, I don't remember whether it changed before or after it synced. But that hasn't happened again. So maybe I just happened to hit the Treadmill exercise shortcut without realizing it and didn't notice it until I was done.

Thanks! 

[Rich_Laue]

Normally the fitbit uses the run/walk stride based on what it detects that your doing. This is independent of the actual mode your using.

As f9r treadmill, im not sure, but for accurate d8stance your going to have to determine your str8de and setit.

My thought is to set tue walk strode, if it foxes the distance  you have your answer.

If not try sett8ng tye r7n stride.

[SunsetRunner]

I to am having an issue with treadmill monitoring:

1) did walk outside and hit correct mileage 2.4 miles - and I'm guessing di my auto stride of 29

2) Then afternoon did treadmill for 4.5 miles @ 4.2 miles per hour while swing my arm charge 2 only read 3.4 miles when done?

All remaining below holding treadmill bars, 4.2 Miles/HR, variable hill.

3) Next day selected treadmill - made my stride 36, walked 1 mile on treadmill still only read 0.5 miles on treadmill.

4)figured if I doubled the 36 I'd get one mile and match treadmill, set stride to 72walked 1 mile on treadmill got 0.78 miles on charge 2.

5) went all out and set stride to 108, walked mile, charge 2 read 1.5 miles.

6) set stride to 85, walked mile, and charge 2 read 1.2 miles.

RAn out of steam trying to figure out how to match mileage displayed on treadmill & charge 2

Any help would be appreciated, I think it's because of the speed walk fast 4.2 miles/Hr ?

Moderator edit: format.

[Rich_Laue]

I see no mention of steps, which is wjat the ttacker can count, everthimg else is calculated.

While holding onto the bars, most steps will not be detectsd

[Lekaminski]

I don't hold onto the bars, I always do the same distance at the same speeds (it's a set workout on my treadmill), and my step counts only vary by about 50-100 each time. I realize that it's the step count and stride length that is used to calculate the distance, and I've taken that into consideration with trying to estimate my stride length. I've even counted the number of steps over 0.1 mile on the treadmill at various speeds and then done the calculations for stride length. But there is too much variability to be able to successfully "game the system" to get close enough to the correct distance.

So that's why I've resorted to using a non-GPS run with my best guess at my manual run stride length (which I've been playing with over the last couple of weeks), and then I can at least edit the overall distance in the record after the fact. The Treadmill option won't let you edit the distance, unfortunately.  

In taking this approach, I suppose step counts are accurate. But calories burned and overall distance are not accurate, which is frustrating. This is a definite shortcoming for this tracker and I hope that future updates or models will take this into consideration. Speed walking on the treadmill is my primary form of exercise, so I feel like I'm missing an opportunity here to really track my exercise.   

[SunsetRunner]

Agree'd if I can find the right stride length even though exaggerated I think you can match distance recorded. To bad you can not input treadmill speed in app - as I'm speed walking on variable hill incline so kind of like holding on to handles - I'm also thinking ur missing some steps if ur not swinging your Fitbit arm. Oh well .... Will experiment.

[Rich_Laue]

OK do this

- Put the tracker into some mode either treadmill or run without GPS. 

- Go for a mile run according to the treadmill

- Stop the tracking mode

- Record the treadmill distance

- Record the steps the tracker displays

- Go to https://www.walkingwithattitude.com/fitness-tools/stride-length

- Put in distance and steps

- This is your stride setting

[Lekaminski]

Thanks, Rich_Laue. When I do the math, I come up with a slightly longer stride than what this calculator gives me. So either the calculator is factoring in something else, or it's rounding. Regardless, neither figure for stride length gets me close enough (according to the tracker's calculations) to the actual distance during my workout. Trust me, I've tried all of this, as well as pure and simple trial by error with shifting my stride slightly each workout to hone in on the closest approximation of stride length. I think I will just have to accept the inaccuracy for what it is and wait for Fitbit to update their systems.   

[SunsetRunner]

Thanks all....disable auto stride & set walk stride to 40 and got a mile match with treadmill at 4.2 mph swinging my arm. Tried again holding bars without swinging my arm Fitbit read 0.82 miles so you do lose steps. So next time I'll set stride to around 42 so I can hold bars with both hands...I think that's the best I'm gonna do on this subject .... Thanks for the replies!

[ChrisRanToday]

Hi, I ran 21 km on treadmill today and have same problem as it only says 15k and my VO2 score went down accordingly 😭 please Fitbit add in a treadmill specific stride length and make our lives easier😁. Remember if you’re running on a treadmill the general view seems to be to use an incline of 1.0 to make it comparable to flat road running👍

[Rich_Laue]

Before looking at distance, we need to confirm step count accuracy. 

If step count is good then the stride looks as if it should be increased n 40%