Charge 3 Not Recording Swimming Stats Correctly

[LouiseWilliams]

I used my new Fitbit yesterday swimming for the first time swimming 2400 metres freestyle with one stop for less than a minute.....it took 54 mins.

However the stats showed I had swam only 1600 meters and it took 67 mins!

Moderator Edit: Updated Subject for Clarity

[SantiR · Accepted solution]

@LouiseWilliams Welcome to the Fitbit forums! Thanks for taking the time to post the situation you are experiencing with your Charge 3 while tracking swimming. 

There are some factors that may affect swim data:

• Stopping to rest midway across the pool
• Resting for longer than 60 seconds after completing a pool length
• Changing stroke type midway across the pool
• Swimming with a kickboard or not using your hands
• Swimming less than the minimum duration set to be auto-recognized
• The units for the pool length setting don't match the units you use for your Fitbit settings. For example if you measure length in feet and inches, and specify a pool length in meters.

By any chance, did any of those happened when you were swimming? Check more details on this helpful article.

Hope this helps. Keep me posted! 

[LouiseWilliams]

Hi Santi

Thanks for your reply. I have checked all of the possible explanations you described and none of these apply to my swimming.

I swim 2400 metres several times a week, taking one rest for less than a minute and swim freestyle not changing strokes. 

Every time I have swam the stats are completely wrong.....the distance calculated is too little and calories burned 150 on average which can't be right!

Please let me know when you expect to have a fix for this as this is not satisfactory. 

Many thanks

Louise

[SantiR]

@LouiseWilliams Thanks for your reply and for confirming that none of those situation apply to your swimming.

In this case, have you tried performing a restart on your Charge 3? This helps when your tracker is not recording data correctly.

Try that out and let me know if you notice any changes on this! 

[Jyin]

Hi. I’m to Fitbit. I was previously using another exercise HR tracking device but switched to Charge 3 cos of the swim tracking function. I tried swimming non stop for 30min using a consistent breaststroke, and Ised the tracker at start and close of swim. The distance logged was correct but the calories burnt was 24 (with 0 active minutes) which is too out of whack considering the effort. 

I ran yesterday and the stats look right. So other than restarting, is there other solution pls. I’ll be disappointed If this problem can’t be solved cos it defeats the purpose for me buying the device. 

Thanks all. 

[LouiseWilliams]

Hi there - I will be interested in the response you receive from Fitbit regarding the swimming stats. Mine are never right, I swim freestyle four times a week and the distance recorded is not correct and the calories burnt far too low. As you say it is disappointing as seems Fitbit have released the Charge 3 before testing properly.
If it is not sorted out soon I am considering sending mine back as like you bought it for the advertised swim feature.
Thanks
Louise

[MikeWise]

I tried out my fitbit today and swam 2400 meters, 400 of it kicking in about 1 hr 17min (yeah, I am out of shape...), and set the pool length beforehand to 50 meters. Then I was pretty disappointed when it registered 300 meters, and correspondingly a calorie burn that basically was the equivalent of a very slow walk. Why is there a setting for pool length if it cannot really count the laps? Sure I know getting the velocity reversal from that accelerator data can be difficult, but if you can't do it you should not say you can.

It also stopped recording my heart rate during that time which was annoying too. Ok, maybe it doesn't work when it is wet? But I got the feeling it was me starting the swim functionality that stopped the heart rate recording)

I think for now I will go back to manually logging my swims. 

I do like some things about the Charge 3 (sleep tracing is cool), but I am not sure I am going to keep wearing it on my wrist, I might end up putting it in my pocket like I did for my beloved One (before I lost it last week). I wish Fitbit would admit there are people out there that just don't want to wear stuff on their wrist.

[SunsetRunner]

Hi Louise, did you ever get the Charge 3 to record your distance correctly? I'm not very happy with mine...

[RaphPR]

Hi Louise

I tried my new fitbit today for swimming and got wrong stats as well... Swam 60x25m (1500m) but the app showed 2400m.

It seems that the Charge 3 is not that promising to track this activity unfortunately....

Best,

Raphaele 

[SunsetRunner]

Hi Raphael, good luck, but FWIW I've given up on it. Fitbit support has been no help, just sends me back to the same "help" page. The Charge 3 just doesn't count laps properly.

[Fitat60Somethin]

Received my fitbit3 for Christmas  I am frustrated with the swimming tracking

pool length 25 m I’m not super fit, trying to do 12-16 lengths registers 24+ and one day 48!! Any suggestions?  Also tracking stairs is way off some mornings I show 3-4 flights after I’ve walked from house to car, car to pool ..... no stairs involved

[SunsetRunner]

Hi Fitat60Something, you could try the things in the help article - https://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/2087

However you may find as I did that the end result is that it just doesn't work properly.

[Fitat60Somethin]

Thx I will check it out. 

[KA2018]

So I go for a swim once a week every week ~(sometime twice) completing 64 lengths (1600m) in around 35-40mins. I have had the charge 3 for 2 weeks now. The first swim I did it recorded the lengths perfectly. The second time I went swimming it only recorded 750m but had the correct amount of time. The third time was today and again it only recorded 750m. What I find most annoying is that it had it correct the first time I used it. It is particularly annoying that it can't record this properly and I have also had to resort to entering the details manually. Not impressed.  

[Fitat60Somethin]

I wrote Fitbit, they are “aware” of the issue, no solution but I’m hoping future updates solve the problem. Annoying* since that is one reason I got it .
I also find it intersects that my stairs climbed are way out of whack when I driv3 to thevpool !

[Lavenderjo]

Hi, I have the same problem. Incorrect recording of lengths swam and also says I did outdoor cycle for 20 mins in the middle of my swim ! Crazy or what?

[Lavenderjo]

Hi, I agree totally as this was bought for me a a present in order to track my lengths without having to employ a personal trainer.  I feel duped. Mine will be returned unless I hear a satisfactory reply to my email.

[Fitat60Somethin]

Not sure it’s tracking heart rate properly either, quite frustrating

[Roached]

My wife and I have each been swimming with the Fitbit 3 for 8 weeks now. It always overcounts laps by a wide margin and yes we have read all reasons why it may not track correctly and none of them apply to us. Seems like it needs some work before it’s performing as advertised.

[Lavenderjo]

HiMy Fitbit Charge 3 rarely records my swim and if it does it under estimates lengths done.Thinking of returning it but t was a gift from my children and feel guilty.Waste of money In my mind.JoSent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.