Versa Footstep count miscounts to easy??

[Spills51]

I just p/u the Versa the other day and it is my first watch of this type.

So as I imagine most do I was ripping through all the settings etc and trying to learn all the benefits the watch offers. 

I love it!!!! BUT...

At work I was walking and counting my steps and keeping an eye on the watch tracking it so I could adjust my stride to pinpoint the accuracy better.

Easy enough. 

I forget the number but for simplicity sake lets say the steps on my watch were 50. 

I looked at it after sitting back at my workspace and about a minute later I glanced down and see: 

Steps: 64???

I was trying to understand how that happened and then it dawned on me...When I sat down I did a little goofy rhythm with my hands (think like a drummer does but just doing it at my desk, making impact against the desk creating a short "beat" kinda) 

So I checked the steps and repeated...sure enough now I apparently walked to 76 or so. 

I then just took both hands (while still sitting) and flailed them up and down motion at my desk (people started looking like "Is he having a seizure?? OMG! LOL) 

Still 76. 

Ok, so then I realize it is the IMPACT against the desk that causes the stat to register. 

I then do the drum beat with my RIGHT hand and still the steps are at 76.

I then take only my LEFT, the one wearing the watch and repeat....88.

Mind you im not smashing the desk or anything just a simple motion with contact to the desk a few times.

Also I wanna make clear the rest of my body is seated and my legs are completely still.

So simply using the hand that's wearing the watch I can slap against practically anything and it counts toward the stepping stat. 

(I am writing this in bed on my laptop and just took my left hand and did a few hand slaps on the mattress...It registered as steps 😞 

Anyway, I wish the Versa took more into account with the recording of steps then just the hand Im wearing the watch on....It seems to easy to trigger false steps and even being aware of it I would imagine there will be far to many times of just everyday things triggering steps that haven't actually happened. 

Besides that Im pretty happy with everything else and tbh the steps stat isn't all that important to my particular agenda.

Sorry if this is considered common knowledge as again I am new to the whole "fitness tracker" thing.

Just thought I would share and make others aware if they weren't.

Have a great day! 

[NellyG]

Hi @Spills51 You are correct, of course. Wrist worn trackers track steps by tracking ARM movements when worn on the wrist so you do get some extras by moving your arm. However it will also miss some steps (for example when you are carrying something awkward or not moving your arm when walking for some reason (though it does feel foot fall vibrations to a certain extent, these are muted when it is on your arm). The result is a suprisingly accurate step count when you view a whole days steps, or a week or a month. So dont get too hung up on the extras you see under normal circumstances. There are times when it is best not to wear a wrist worn tracker for example if you actually do a lot of drumming, strumming a guitar, or horse riding (it counts the horses steps!)