How accurate is mileage and step tracking?

[SunsetRunner]

Hi All

I got a fitbit charge 2 to replace my Sony smartwatch 3 which has become a bit dated. I still have the google fit app on my phone and looked at the data to compare to my fitbit data.

I am a postwoman so do a lot of miles.

Today my google fit app (which uses GPS from my phone) logged 24339 steps and 8.95 miles.

My fitbit charge 2 is showing 29177 steps and 12.74 miles?

There will be a very small discrepancy as I didn't have my phone on me at home this evening but not 5000 steps and 4 miles worth!

Any thoughts anyone?

[JohnnyRow]

One factor we would need to know is how you tracking with Fitbit.  Are the steps and distance just looking at the daily totals?  Or are you looking at a walking exercise session?  If an exercise session, was it just automatically recorded (SmartTrack autorecognize mode), or did you use Multi-sport mode, starting and stopping exercise with side button?  If you used multi-sport (side button) mode, were you using connected-GPS?

[SunsetRunner]

Hi

I have just been looking at daily totals. I don't use and exercise mode for work as I am driving and walking. With my previous watch and Google fit app I have also just looked at daily totals.

Thanks

[JohnnyRow]

One possibility that might explain it:

Sometimes people get extra steps logged while driving, especially on bumpy roads or with stiff transmission or other situations causing a lot of vibration.  It might be that your phone is less affected by this than the fitbit worn on your wrist.  There is a way to cancel those steps for continuous drives but that would not be helpful if you are often switching from driving to walking.

Here is a section about accuracy, including a part on riding in vehicle.

[SunsetRunner]

Hi

Thanks for his info. Much appreciated. I have been doing some little testing today whilst out and about and the fitbit does log a few steps whilst driving but minimal impact really. Oddly today the Google fit app show a couple of hundred more steps than the fitbit. The mileage is more on the fitbit but the  I've had a small brainwave. I run my phone in power saving mode due to a battery issue and it affects any phone recorded Strava activity I do (it misses whole sections out and shows me going across fields) unless I switch it off. Realised that it's probably affecting the Google fit app. I don't think I shall worry about this anymore and just concentrate on fitbit results.

Thanks for your help and the link about accuracy. Much appreciated.

[JohnnyRow · Accepted solution]

One thing to add concerning distance: As long as you are not using GPS, the distance is just number of steps times stride length. Fitbit assumes a default stride length based on your measurements, but it is something you can change.  For myself, I just pay attention to step count and mostly ignore distance, figuring it's measuring the same thing as steps.

[Stowie]

 I would accept that answer except for one thing which is unexplained. I have an iPhone 6 which has an app built-in that shows steps and miles. I am comparing this with my Fitbit. Same hike I do every day.  My Fitbit yesterday showed 10 miles The iPhone showed 6. Now please someone out there try to explain that! I also have GPS so you think that something would be accurate!

[nrnoble]

One thing a person can do is go local HS track and do a few laps and check the results. One thing we all need to keep in mind is about doing the work, not about the numbers. A Fitbit just helps track the work, it does not produce the results. 🙂