Elliptical vs Fitbit Charge 3

[Mlinkjinoz]

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

[Frd94light]

This is SO frustrating, I had made a post about this over the weekend and got a terrible response from Fitbit so I was pretty much ready to give up.  I am glad I am not the only one but I really wish that there was a way to calculate this better.  I am really about to "cheat" at this point.  It's after 5pm and I just hit my step goal after doing 5 miles at the gym today.  That would only make snese if my step goal was around 20k.  It's 12k...........  UGHHHH.....

[StacySL]

I don't understand why this discussion is marked "solved."  It clearly has not been solved.  I've given up trying to count steps on the elliptical anymore, but it's very disappointing as I no longer meet my step goal...I just sort of have to "Trust" that I've worked out today, and that defeats the whole purpose of paying for a Fitbit at all.

Someone said something about this being too difficult a problem for the programmers to address...but couldn't the "elliptical" exercise automatically adjust, or calculate steps based on time?  That doesn't seem like a difficult update, but I'm not a programmer either so...

[bonesetter]

Are use elliptical trainers because I have bad knees and can’t run very well anymore.

My solution to this problem has been to leave the tracker on my wrist, but to not hold onto the elliptical handles or the arms. In the trainer that I use most frequently at our gym, the simulates running about as best as I can do it. I have compared to a pedometer to when I’m tracking on my wrist and they are actually very close.

When I travel and use a different type of elliptical, one with the longer stride length, that I’m forced to put the tracker in my pocket. This usually under counts my steps quite a bit, usually about 60%.

I’m not sure why the intelligent people at Fitbit can’t solve this problem. Elliptical trainers are extremely popular mode of exercise, especially people with issues with their joint to need to do lower impact activity.

Sent from my iPhone

[Frd94light]

I feel the same way, it shouldn't be that hard if the time and distance are entered to closely estimate the staps a lot better than it currently does.

[tainith93]

I wanted to let you know that I appreciate this forum. I was able to find the answer that I was looking for. I just barely got my NordicTrack Elliptical this week and for some reason I couldn't get it to sync properly. I had to manually enter information and even then it was wrong. I will test it tonight when I work-out and I will keep you posted. Thanks again. 🙂

[Mlinkjinoz]

Thank you! Keep us posted on results. 

[makragic]

Did anyone figure out how to fix this? 

I can't believe I paid 160 euros for this piece of garbage. Nothing works. 

[makragic]

I just measured and it counts 50% of my steps. Truly unbelievable. 

[Frd94light]

That's the most accurate thing about it.....  It's EXACTLY 50%.

[makragic]

Oh and btw, if you don't use bars, that is use your hands as if you're running then step count is about right. But if you use bars (which for me is sole purpose of elliptical, then it's 40-50% of total steps)...

[Frd94light]

I use the bars as well.  My balance isn't good enough to go without them.  But I have already used the center sationary handles and gotten the same 50ish%.

[bonesetter]

I use the elliptical to simulate running as I have lousy knees.

On the machine I do most often, I do not use the arms or the center grips. This gets the right number.

When traveling, I often put the fitbit in my pocket. This seems to work.

kp

[Frd94light]

Good to know!  I am going to try this!  Thanks!

[FatherJ0hn]

Has anyone tried a long band and strapping to the ankle?

[StacySL]

Yes I bought an ankle strap just for the elliptical - registered zero steps.  The flex 2 worked great on my ankle, the charge 3 nothing.

[Gwennie_]

I’m glad I’m not alone in my frustration! My elliptical machine counts my steps and I had nearly 4 thousand counted in a session and my Fitbit counted only 1 thousand. Disappointing.

[sko_tang]

Our winters are 5 months long and cold, with temperature easily close to -20 C before factoring into windchill, so elliptical is a good indoor alternative to outdoor exercise.

My 30 minutes or so sessions usually result in around 3000 steps as recorded by Charge 3 when I manually selected the elliptical exercise mode.  It most likely is under-reported but then for those days I choose to aim at 30 active minutes every day.  So I will focus on achieving at least 150 active minutes in a week (5 days x 30 minutes) with elevated heart rate for those winter months, instead of focusing on achieving 10000 steps a day.

[SimiValleyGuy]

If I use an elliptical stepper, enter my weight, step for 15 mins., the machine shows I've "traveled" 2.3m.  Can the elliptical data be added to my log in/workout menu, so that it would give me the equivalent of 2.3m. by stepper in "Fitbit real steps"?

[jeannewman]

I am very unhappy about this problem with the elliptical as well. I bought my first Fitbit (One) in 2014. I could attach it to my shoelace and do the elliptical and treadmill and get full credit for my steps. I don't need all these bells and whistles in the Charge 3. I had 2900 strides on my elliptical today and it gave me credit for 440! Something's gotta give. I'd gladly return the Charge 3 for the old fashioned One, which unfortunately I lost at the Cleveland Clinic.

Fitbit was a small company in 2014 and was very helpful to its customers. I know it's a huge business now but I am one dissatisfied customer because they seem to be making no moves to fix this issue. The Charge 3 is basically useless to me.

[Mlinkjinoz]

Yes! FitBit does not seem interested or motivated to solve this issue. I purchased the Charge 4 and it has the same issue.