Elliptical vs Fitbit Charge 3

[Mlinkjinoz]

The Fitbit Charge 3 does not accurately track steps and miles using Elliptical. Very disappointing.

[MarreFitbit · Accepted solution]

Welcome on board @Mlinkjinoz, it's nice to see you around! Before getting started, I was wondering if you're comparing your Charge 3 and the Elliptical machine? 

Fitbit devices calculate distance by multiplying your walking steps by your walking stride length and multiplying your running steps by your running stride length. We estimate your stride lengths using your height and sex. Track one or more runs using on-board or connected GPS, we evaluate that data to automatically update your running stride length. For best results, run at a comfortable pace for at least 10 minutes.

If you prefer to measure your walking and running stride lengths yourself and enter them manually, see How do I measure and adjust my stride length?

Your device may register movements or restlessness as steps when you're wearing it while you sleep. The number of steps typically measured during these periods is minimal, and should not offset your overall fitness progress. Any steps taken to and from other rooms during the night will also be tracked. Equally, it's possible for the algorithm to undercount (not meet the required acceleration threshold). Examples here include walking on a very soft surface such as a plush carpet.

For information about specific conditions see How accurate are Fitbit devices?

Hope this helps, I'll be around if you need further assistance! 

[Mlinkjinoz]

Yes, I am comparing the Charge 3 to the Elliptical. 

My elliptical data was 21 minutes and 3 miles run 

My Fitbit Charge 3 data is .78 miles, 21 minutes, pace 27'22'', and steps of 1,725 

Can I assume a more accurate step total would be 5175 since I actually ran 3 miles versus .78 miles?

Thanks

Mike

Moderator Edition: Format

[AlexandraFitbit]

Hello @Mlinkjinoz! Thanks for your reply and for all those details provided. Please note that the Charge 3 and the elliptical have different formes to register de information, as on the elliptical you are not really moving from the same place. As for the accuracy issue with the miles, in order to be sure that everything is fine, I recommend you to do the same test but walking instead of running, to see the results. 

Let me know how if goes! 

[WriterDiane]

This is similar to my problem. Using an elliptical (or treadmill) if your hands are on the rails is similar to using a rolling walker or grocery cart. Your arms don't move. So how can I get my Charge 3 to register my steps while using a walker or cart?

[seantnash]

You can't unfortunately @WriterDiane - but that's true of all wrist-based step trackers not just the Charge 3.

It's not that it won't give you any steps - but it's unlikely to record every step.

As for the eliptical issue @Mlinkjinoz this is an oddity of fitness equipment. You're not actually walking and you're not travelling either. Whilst the eliptical knows this and can give you proper statistics a step tracker - Charge 3 or otherwise - won't.

What you could do is start an elliptical session directly from your Fitbit.

First you need to add it as an exercise shortcut. In the app go to your account (ID card style icon in the top right) then click on the Charge 3. Now scroll down to exercise shortcuts.

You can only have six listed there at any one time so, if there's more than six, left swipe on one to remove it.

Now click on "+ exercise shortcut" and choose elliptical. Then sync your Charge 3.

Once you're about to start an elliptical session swipe left on your Charge 3 and choose exercise and then choose elliptical and follow the on-screen instructions.

I've no idea how much more accurate it will be for you but hopefully it will be an improvement!

[bonesetter]

I have also had an issue getting my Charge 3 to accurately count elliptical steps. I have had my device for about 10 days, and before this I tracked steps using a pedometer. Thus, I was not relying on the elliptical to tell me my step count.

When I use the elliptical I do not use the "arms". I put my fitbit into my front pocket. In my initial elliptical experience while on vacation, this seemed to yield an accurate count. I returned home to a different machine, and the fitbit step count seemed to be about half of what I usually do for the time and intensity of my workout. Today I put the pedometer on my hip and the fitbit into my pocket. The fitbit counted half the steps of my pedometer.

My guess is that this has to do with the way each elliptical trainer is set up for stride length and height.

Any ideas? I want an accurate reflection of my activity

[Mlinkjinoz]

Very interesting analysis of pedometer versus Fitbit Charge 3. I would like an accurate representation of actual but it seems Fitbit is not capable of accurate analysis. I believe it is actually lower by half per your analysis. 

[bonesetter]

Perhaps the moderator has a solution for this. Can I adjust the fitbit settings? put the device somewhere besides my front pocket?

When it tracked accurately during my trip, it recognized the activity as a run, not elliptical.

[Mlinkjinoz]

You can adjust your settings. You go to advanced settings and at the bottom it it will say stride length. You can set walking and running stride length. You will have to measure your stride length and input the actual. 

[bonesetter]

I get that you can adjust....my issue is that my fitbit counts steps differently on different elliptical trainers.

[MarreFitbit]

Thanks for stopping by @bonesetter! I'd highly recommend to check the information I've posted above. 

 As @Mlinkjinoz advised, see How do I measure and adjust my stride length?

All the information about the accuracy of your Fitbit trackers can be found by clicking in this help article: How accurate are Fitbit devices?

Let me know if you have any questions.

[bonesetter]

Unfortunately I still don't have an answer to my question.

[MarreFitbit]

Hey there @bonesetter! As mentioned in the help article I shared above with you, with wrist-based devices, if you move your body a lot and not your arms (or vice versa), you may see a slight difference in step count than you would see if wearing a clip-based device on your torso. 

If you feel that your step count and distance are inaccurate, first make sure the wrist placement settings are correct. Next, double check that you entered your height correctly. Since we use height to estimate your walking and running stride lengths, you may want to measure and manually adjust these values if your legs are longer or shorter than average.

Sometimes, when you start walking you may notice that your steps may not update on your device right away. After about 10-15 continuous steps, you'll notice the steps catch up and start updating in real-time with each step you take.

Fitbit devices use a 3-axis accelerometer to understand your motions. An accelerometer is a device that turns movement (acceleration) into digital measurements (data) when attached to the body. By analyzing acceleration data, our devices provide detailed information about frequency, duration, intensity, and patterns of movement to determine your steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned, and sleep quality. The 3-axis implementation allows the accelerometer to measure your motion in any way that you move, making its activity measurements more precise than older, single-axis pedometers.

Fitbit devices have a finely tuned algorithm for step counting. The algorithm is designed to look for motion patterns that are most indicative of people walking. The algorithm determines whether a motion's size is large enough by setting a threshold. If the motion and its subsequent acceleration measurement meet the threshold, the motion will be counted as a step. If the threshold is not met, the motion won’t be counted as a step.

Other factors can create enough acceleration to meet our threshold and cause some over counting of steps, such as riding on a bumpy road. Our engineers have worked diligently on your tracker's algorithms to make sure that it does not pick up false steps or activity recordings while in a car. Unless you are driving in a car with a stiff transmission or on back country roads, your tracker should not give you credit for any work that you don't do. If you do pick up some steps while driving, see How do I edit or delete Fitbit data and activities? for instructions on removing steps.

Your device may register movements or restlessness as steps when you're wearing it while you sleep. The number of steps typically measured during these periods is minimal, and should not offset your overall fitness progress. Any steps taken to and from other rooms during the night will also be tracked. Equally, it's possible for the algorithm to undercount (not meet the required acceleration threshold). Examples here include walking on a very soft surface such as a plush carpet.

I'll be around if you need further assistance! 

[GL369]

If I understand the above solution, I vote for adding "elliptical or free strider" to the manual settings, so that you can adjust stride for this exercise.  I am reluctant to adjust walk/run for the arm movement on my free strider.

[Mlinkjinoz]

Excellent recommendation! 

[StacySL]

How does using the elliptical exercise shortcut work?  I tried this and after an hour on the elliptical my Fitbit measured something like 20 steps.  I tried putting it on my ankle so it might register movement and it still didn’t get my steps.  Someone in support told me that the exercise shortcut should calculate my steps based on the time I tell it I’m on the elliptical, but it didn’t do that either.  Help?

[alysonbrooke]

I too have had the same issue with the Charge 3 not accurately tracking distance on an eliptical using both the auto detect feature and starting the exercise on the Fitbit itself. I understand that it isn’t an exercise that involves actual steps or physical distance, but I feel that there should at least be a way for us to edit the distance. The edit button only allows you to edit the start and stop time.

[Frd94light]

I cannot believe that after reading this thread Fitbit STILL has not given anyone an acceptable solution.  I am so disappointed by this.  I have been loyal to Fitbit since day 1.  I have always been outdoors or on a treadmill so I didn't realize this issue until recently when an injury led me to the elliptical for less impact on my joint.  Since working on the elliptical I do realize that obviously it must be a bit different since I was doing 3 miles in about 34 minutes on the treadmill and I can do 5 miles in 40 minutes on the elliptical.  I don't expect to get 8-10k steps as I would on a treadmill, however I would like to see more than 5500 which is what Fitbit logged today for the 5 miles.  My Charge 3 has been recognizing my treadmill workouts as elliptical since I got it but I really didn't pay attention to it since I am "step goal" conscious.  Even the calorie burn is wrong in I add it manually, it just asks for time and not distance.  I could do a mile in 40 minutes or 5 like I actually did.  This is SO frustrating.  Contemplating adding a mile or 2 walk to help compensate but I don't want to "cheat".  Like I said I am new to the elliptical so I am not even sure if 5 miles (on level 3-- I don't have incline or resistance on the Life Fitness machine) is good.  It feels pretty equivelent with my heart rate from when I was on the treadmill.  ANY INPUT MUCH APPRECIATED!!!

[Mlinkjinoz]

No resolution and I have the same challenges as you. I assume that this is to challenging for the Fitbit software developers to figure out.