Adjustments needed for using trekking poles

[NewMexJoan]

I use trekking poles in both hands on my daily hikes. My husband does not. I plant each pole approximately once every other step. Today my hike showed up as 5.38 miles and 13,333 steps with a really low steps-per-minute rate on my new-to-me fitbit. My husband's fitbit showed 7.4 miles, 17,000 steps, and almost 600 steps per-five-minute rate. We did the hike together! How can I adjust my fitbit or profile so that it more accurately shows my hiking miles, steps, rate while using poles? Otherwise, my fitbit is pretty useless.

[SteveCoatney]

I would guess you should adjust your arm motion when using the poles to be more like a normal walking motion.  Even if you don't plant the poles every step, keep your arms moving (at least, the one the tracker is on).

You will find similar issues with pushing a shopping cart.   It won't measure your steps accurately if both hands are just pushing the cart.   I will sometimes just push the cart with the other (non-tracker) hand if I want my steps counted more accurately.

[USAF-Larry]

@NewMexJoan, I am not sure there is much you can do to adjust it to get a more accurate step count while using the poles.  After my spine surgery and I moved from using a walker to using a cane to using a walking stick, the tracker was not able to accurately count steps while using a cane or walking stick - the arm just does not swing naturally when holding something like a cane, walking stick, or trekking pole.  A body-worn fitness tracker such as the Fitbit One, Zip, or Flex 2 with Pendant, would be more accurate than a wrist-worn tracker.

[SteveCoatney]

I think she could adjust her arm movements when using poles to match a walking gait.   She'll have to experiment with it.    You can't just hold your arms out in front of your body and expect the steps to be accurate.   They have to move back and forth.

Another thought is to use one trekking pole in the non-tracking hand, letting the other hand do its normal thing.

And as you said, a Fitbit One or similar body tracker would also work.

[NewMexJoan]

I am recovering from a multiple leg fracture and, unfortunately have to use both poles on rocky NM trails. It just looks like fitbit isn't for me. What a shame. 😞

[SteveCoatney]

So sorry about your injury, I hope you continue to recover from it.  As Larry said, one of the body-worn trackers will likely be a better solution for you if you can't adjust your arm movements.   They don't rely on arm movements.

[mathmom243]

I have two replaced knees and also use two trekking poles especially on trail hikes. I have and love jog tracker.  So I turn it on.  Then at the end of my walk or hike manually put in distance and time.  Fitbit then updates my steps etc.  Or,  from jog tracker you can sync jogs.  That also works. The ONE thing that is not accurate is heart rate.  For some reason the jar of the arm when planting the pole makes the tracker think your heart is beating much faster. I decided to ignore this discrepancy. Wish Fitbit had a trekking option under exercises.  Sometimes I use walk and sometimes hike because I live in a very hilly area. 

[mathmom243]

When using trekking poles,  the arms are in motion swinging with each step. However the planting of the pole does throw off heart rate. 

[mathmom243]

I track with jog tracker then sync.  That is much more accurate. 

[mathmom243]

Use jog tracker then sync your walks.  Much more accurate! 

[D2M2Z]

I had the same issue - I was hiking with 2 poles and realized my steps seemed very low. I read this forum and thought about it for awhile. There seem to be 3 different issues:

(1) How can the GPS for the miles be different if there is a GPS built in (which is a question for Fitbit)? 

(2) There is no adjustment for hiking with poles.

(3) And, I also realized when I hike with 2 poles, especially on an uphill, it is definitely easier and I am not sure the Fitbit deals with this unless it is in the calorie adjustment based on exertion.

It did force me to not be so reliant on my poles and on familiar hikes to use only 1 pole (as much for steep downhill as uphill as I have no desire to slip and fall at this stage in life).

I also recently started using Strava in addition on my hikes to see the miles and elevation profile and how it compares to what the Fitbit shows. In the end, I accepted this is only a tool to guide me, and not an absolutely perfect one. However, it would be nice for Fitbit to offer more exercise options and to have GPS be accurate.

[NewMexJoan]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. It's frustrating as I just cannot go without using poles in the mountains, especially on steep uphill and downhill slopes. I try to not use them on relatively even grades. I guess I will just hope that Fitbit will figure out an adjustment for those of us who use sticks or find a company that can accommodate us. ...sigh...

[FloKnudsen]

i wonder if just putting the Fitbit in the pocket of your pants or skirt would work 

[AngusHDay]

I think the next time I try to walk using trekking poles I will activate the GPS location feature of the Fitbit app. Then start the exercise logging and end it appropriately and see if it translates it into steps. I'll post here if it does.

Otherwise you could just log in the distance walked and time in your app for the time you used the trekking poles.