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?

[Bbgun007]

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[SP0921]

I too encounter treadmill accuracy issues! Today I wanted to time 5.5 miles because I joined Run/Walk the Year and need to log 2,020 miles by the end of 2020. I wanted to do it according to my Fitbit (Charge3 here), because that is what is synced to the challenge tracker. By the time I hit 5.5 miles on my Charge I was at 8.371 on the treadmill. I have measured my stride length, at speed, on my treadmill using paint on the bottom of my sneaker. My arms always swing freely. Just a fitbit issue.

Moderator edit: format

[Rich_Laue]

There is a much easier way to adjust the stride. 

Real stride = current stride * (real mileage / Fitbit measured mileage) 

[Bbgun007]

If my FitBit is inconsistent in counting my steps then your formula does not correct for this problem. Because of the gross inaccurate data reported by my FitBit I gave it to the neighbor kid. It is only a toy anyway, not a real fitness device. 


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[Rich_Laue]

As mentioned above a device that looks at the movement of the arm to determine what the feet are doing has certain limitations. If the arm is not moving, the tracker on the arm will not be able to tell if the legs are moving. This goes for every arm based tracker from every company, including the company that starts with an"A"

[Bbgun007]

The fitness tracker made by a company that starts with “G” does a much better job than FitBit. Just my personal experience. 

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[Rich_Laue]

And even that "G" even though they do have a special calibration for treadmills, they warn that it is useful if holding on. Also it is easy to find many complaints. 

[Tros]

I have a Versa 2 and it’s seriously inaccurate. Why even enter treadmill if you can’t get an accurate step and mileage count???

[Rich_Laue]

I have tried several times and for 500 steps on the treadmill I'm well within the Fitbit accuracy. 

As for the virtual made up mileage. Once the virtual speed is adjusted for your outdoor stride setting. Fitbit should have a.clozer idea 

[Tros]

Well how do you readjust?

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[Rich_Laue]

As mentioned adjust the speed your stride changes with the speed of the treadmill 

[Bbgun007]

Welcome to the world of FitBit. Inaccurate data is their specialty. Have you noticed the count of stairs climbed being inaccurate too?  If it cannot count stairs or steps how can you trust the calorie count?  Heart rate?  


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[Bbgun007]

“Within the FitBit accuracy”?  What is that?  My experience is not within my accuracy. If I walk 10,000 steps I would like my FitBit to record at least 9,500 of them. 


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[Rich_Laue]

I've done tests throughout the years, we had one firmware in the Surge that continually was off 10-20% no real issues with others. 

Bi have done several counts of 500 left steps giving a total of 1000 rarely is it off by more than 10 steps. 

As for stairs, seeing that they are about changes in air pressure. Not very accurate but still pilots use this for main readings. All it takes is a breeze across the arm to change the air pressure. 

[Tros]

How do I do that?

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[silveradohd2002]

I just got my Fitbit HR as an incentive from our Health Insurance to achieve 3 walking goals each day and make money while I do it. So far it has proven to be a great motivator for me to walk. However, the treadmill I ordered just came in today. I too was quite frustrated with the fact that the steps don't match my Fitbit.

Manually entering is not a viable option for the program I am participating in. None of the other solutions I could find worked for me. However, when I took the Fitbit off of my wrist and secured between my palm and closed fingers (slight fist) I found the steps matched almost exactly.

Still a bit frustrating, but hopefully this work-around will continue to allow me to use the treadmill to help accomplish my daily goals.

Good Luck!!!

[briezentil]

Currently having the same exact issue. Logging far fewer miles than my previous treadmill workouts at the same speed of 3.5mph (same treadmill) and length of time each day. Nothing has changed about my workouts, but for a 45 min workout at a steady 3.5 mph wall, not holding rails and having gone through the stride length update 2x through, its logging 1.44 miles when I've travelled double that, and estimating my calories burned as 537, when it had already logged 288 by the time I woke up..this means my 45 min walk burned a little over 200 calories? Any tips on tweaks that will make my Fitbit work accurately again?

[Rich_Laue]

@briezentil I see nothing mentioned in the post about step count accuracy. Steps really are the only thing your Fitbit is able to actually count while on a treadmill. All the other data you are comparing is computed from the steps Fitbit has counted. 

[JackAugustin]

My previous Fitbit (Charge HR) had the same problem exactly as you described. To improve it's accuracy, I strapped the Fitbit around my ankle inside my socks while on the treadmill. My new Charge HR 3 does NOT have the accuracy issue while on the treadmill and so I am able to wear it on my wrist 

[FalmingoGirl]

I find that wearing  my Fitbit around my ankle when on the treadmill it keeps better accuracy. (I too go between 3.5-3.8 with a 12% incline). I don’t swing my arms as much at that incline. My only question is the calories burnt.  My treadmill is usually about 3-400 higher than my Fitbit!