Versa 2 Not Counting Treadmill Steps

[PamPartain]

Very frustrated. I upgraded from a Charge 3 to a Versa 2 when my Charge started cheating me on treadmill steps. Now Versa is doing the same thing! I do use the handrails on my treadmill so strap the Versa 2 onto my shoe. Treadmill says I went 2.08 miles; Versa said .48. I will return Versa 2 for a refund if I do not get a satisfactory answer. This is PRECISELY what I got the Fitbit for!

[JohnnyRow]

But what does Fitbit say about your step count?

[SunsetRunner]

My Versa 2 doesn't count all the treadmill steps either. I walk a mile and it says .586. Two different treadmills! What's the deal?

[Heather-S · Accepted solution]

The Fitbit is only estimating your miles.  Because you really aren't moving, you're moving in place, the Fitbit has to guess how far you're actually moving based on your stride length.  It will never match the treadmill.  I would assume your treadmill is probably the accurate mileage, but you will never find a match to the treadmill mileage on ANY wrist-based fitness tracker.

Putting it on your shoe will also register inaccurate steps.  The best thing you can do is not hold on to the treadmill and walk normally on the treadmill with your arms swinging as it would during any normal walk or run.

However, if you must hold on to the treadmill for balance, I suggest you hold on with the hand that you do not wear your Fitbit on, allowing your Fitbit arm to swing naturally with your movements.  

@PamPartain @SunsetRunner 

[SunsetRunner]

But the steps are under-counted too. Which ruins the whole idea of wearing a Fitbit and working toward improving my stats.

[Heather-S]

Are you holding on to the rails, because then it will under-count the steps.  How do you know it's being under-counted?  I'm genuinely curious.  I have a treadmill at home that I use daily for walking and I've never noticed it under-counting steps.  Are you counting the steps in your head?  What do you think it should be counting?    @SunsetRunner