Treadmill accuracy issues

[MassDAD]

I have been using my Fitbit Charge HR for a couple of weeks now, and while I am finding so many aspects beneficial I have been encountering issues with accuracy regarding treadmill workouts.

Both step count and mileage in grossly under reported by my Fitbit, for instance today I did 3.83 miles of inclined walking and my Fitbit only recorded 5,608 steps and 2.4 miles.  I do not hold on to the rails at any point in my workouts and my arms swing naturally.  Every workout I've had on the treadmill I have had to delete the entry and manually enter the correct distance values, which then updates the step count.  It is winter in new England and not many brave souls are out logging miles in freezing conditions, I use my treadmill daily for workouts.

However, now I do not get credit for my manually enetered steps for daily challenges or badges.  

How can this Fitbit be so innacurate on both distance and step count on one of the most common methods of excercise?

[Aamir005]

It is not just the treadmill. Fitbit is unable to calculate walking speed or distance on a indoor track.

Even on the road there is over a 10% variation in step count depending on walking speed. If I do 6 miles walking fast I get a 1000 fewer total steps compared with the same distance walking slower!

[Rich_Laue]

When a person walks faster, the person needs to leanthen their stride to keep from falling on their face. A faster walk will increase the stride and therefore fewer steps per mile.

Since indoor distance is based on stride times steps, changing your speed, without changing the stride setting will give an inaccurate distance reading.

Speed equals distance per hour, if distance is off, then speed will be off

[silveradohd2002]

I appreciate your response and information, however my biggest frustration
isn't about distance, but rather about the steps on the FitBit not matching
the steps on the treadmill. A step is still a step regardless of the length
of stride.

Thank You

Moderator edit: personal info removed

[Rdwarrior]

I am a senior and need the bars for stability, while putting my Fitbit in my pocket gets me steps, it doesn’t record my heart beat or intensity of my workout. Any suggestions for me

[Rich_Laue]

Maybe move the Fitbit up the arm 

[peugh314]

There is an easy fix if Fitbit will simply use this method to calculate the distance and speed.  First, my Fitbit accurately stored the stride length, the number of steps, and the time.  The distance can be calculated using the stride length and the number of steps. The mph measure is this distance in miles divided by the time in hours.  When I performed the calculations as described, the distance was 0.76 miles instead of 0.05 miles.  Furthermore, the speed was calculated as 3.5 mph which then matched the treadmill that I used more closely.  The treadmill was set on 3.4 mph.  You would then have accurate results and could stop having an app that is inaccurate to the point where people don't get the merit badges that they earn.  The device is great.  As an app developer, the app is unacceptable as it is and needs to match the quality of the device. 

My Fitbit accounted very accurately for my steps.  The app is miscalculating. 

Moderator edit: merged reply

[Rich_Laue]

Is your fitbit'sset stride match your calculated stride? 

Please be aware that when the speed changes, so will the users stride. 

I don't have a treadmill but without GPS my distance is almost always close. 

[peugh314]

Yes, my Inspire HR is set on automatic and measures 28.2 inches currently. I am satisfied with that number.  I am not satisfied with the calculation of distance and speed as I have described previously.  

[Heysuze]

I’m 60 and have balance issues as well. That is not an acceptable answer to this question as everyone is different and has different issues. I walk outside when I am able, and on a treadmill when the weather is bad, I live north, I loose about 3000 steps on the treadmill vs street, and I count my steps as I am pairing it with a diet app. It’s extremely frustrating and I too am upset I wasted 100$ on this Fitbit 

[debby24]

Hello,
My Fitbit lasted just over a year and I didn’t replace it. 1 it is so uncomfortable and sweaty especially on my small wrists and 2 I got tired of checking it when steps don’t matter in the scheme of things. Changing my way of eating has produced the best results and increased my muscle mass significantly.
Have a great day.
Debby

[BridgeSC]

I walked on the treadmill last night for the first time since having my fitbit.  I walked for 25 minutes and my watch only logged like 50 steps.  But it counts every step I take when using my under the desk elliptical machine which is odd.  Super frustrating for it not to pick up on treadmill steps.

I will use the treadmill function on my watch tonight to see what happens.  It's a learning curve I suppose!

Moderator edit: merged reply   

[Rich_Laue]

@BridgeSC that is odd, your Fitbit looks at arm motions to count the steps your feet take. 

On a treadmill, holding the support rails may cause the tracker to not count steps correctly. When it comes to an elliptical machine, the user does not take steps. Your tracker is really counting the movements of the arm. These movements are probably in sync with the legs. 

[Paula.S.M]

I agree 100%! How can the miles I walk on the treadmill not count at all? 

[BridgeSC]

It's so strange! I have a little bike that goes under the desk and my watch counts those as steps but still doesnt count the tredmill steps!?!

[Rich_Laue]

@Paula.S.M I'm not sure what you mean by the distance not counting. Are you using the manual start mode for treadmill? 

@BridgeSC if your tracker is still on the arm, it is not counting the movement of your feet, but the movement of your arm. 

[BridgeSC]

Hi @Rich_Laue .  I have the tracker on my arm for both the treadmill and the under the desk elliptical.  The tracker counts steps for the elliptical but not the treadmill...even if I swing my arms on the treadmill it doesn't count.  That's really ok with me though. I don't really care for the treadmill so I don't use it much anyway. 🙂    Thanks for responding!

[twillabme]

Then why not either fix the problem, or allow editing of distance, and calculate steps for distance to have it count for challenges?  I spend 40 minutes on a treadmill and go about 2.5 miles at a reasonable walking pace.  My Fitbit only records 2 km and shorts me about 2000 steps compared to road walking. Why can this not be changed and still count for challenges when it’s a known issue?  If you can’t fox the tracker, fix the app!

[Rich_Laue]

Then go ahead and fix it @twillabme. however, since we also are only fitbit users, at best, we can only tell you what works or doesn't work for us. 

For me, if I'm not holding on, I burn up to 60% more calories and if my arms swing in a natural way, I get steps. 

Holding on can cause more problems then most users will want to experience. 

[Keherndon]

• I want to use my treadmill for the challenges, so what do I do for that?

[CindyMFitbit]

Hi everyone. Thanks for stopping by @Keherndon. 

I appreciate your participation in the Forums. Note that at this time only steps registered from your Fitbit device or MobileTrack count towards a challenge. Your Fitbit device uses the sensor in it to detect movement and will translate this movement into steps. If you hold on to the handlebars then you won't be moving your arms as with a normal walk and steps won't be counted. Ideally you won't use the handlebars so all your steps will be calculated. Keep in mind that you need to be actually walking so your tracker can register all your information. You can check the article: How does my Fitbit device calculate my daily activity? and What should I know about Fitbit challenges? for more tips.

Hope this helps.