Versa’s distance tracking is very different from Strava’s

[HY-SD]

First of all, I tried very hard to sync my Versa data with Strava. I could not do it. So I started tracking my runs with both. And recently, the distance tracked by each are more and more different. I believe Strava is more accurate because I usually run the same routes. How do I solve this issue?

[JuanFitbit]

Hi @HY-SD , a warm welcome to the Community!  I apologize for the delayed response. Thank you for the information provided. 

Could you please specify if you are using GPS when tracking your distances?

In order to sync the Data from the Versa to Strava , you must link your Strava account to you Fitbit Account . Sync the Versa with the Fitbit App and the  Data will be transferred to Strava. 

If you used connected GPS when recording your activities with the Versa, take into consideration, not to use another App with GPS as this could lead that the Connection for the record gets lost. In order for you to receive better results, Fitbit makes an average ifthe data recorded with GPS does not match the one tracked with the watch. 

E.g. With you Versa you got 15 miles (Step counted) and the GPS recorded 17 miles you 'll be shown that you ran 16 miles. 

I suggest you also to personalize your stride length to get better measurements. 

Also I recommend you to have a look at this article; 

How accurate are Fitbit devices?

Please let me know if you need more assistance

[HY-SD]

Dear Juan Fitbit,

Thank you so much for getting back to me! You are right.I tracked my runs simultaneously with my Versa and Strava on my phone. And it looks like I am getting an average of the 2. I did this because no matter what I did, my Versa refused to sync up with Strava. Since I would like to be in the Strava community, I started to run with my phone and track my distance and pace with the Strava app. The reason I also track my run with Versa at the same time was because so I can track my heart rate. Even that, I wasn't sure how accurate the heart rate tracking is.

Either way, I now have a more serious problem. A couple days after I posted my question in the community, My Versa suddenly went black during my run, only 2 days after I charged it. Charging it didn't seem to do anything. So I let it sit for a day. When I tried to charge the next day, it was awakened. Well, a few days later, again, 2 days after the watch was fully charged, it went black during my run. So I just put it back on the charger. However, this time, it was not able to come alive. It's been 36 hours. Do you know what's going on?

Thanks,

HY-SD

[AB2389]

Good morning,

I am having the same problem - recently my Fitbit is recording less and less accurately. I recently ran 6.9 miles according to my Fitbit, but my friend, who  ran the whole distance with me, measured 8.2 miles on hers. We later checked on the Strava manual route mapper, which confirmed that it was really 8.2 miles. This also affects the pace measurements - it is showing that I am running a slower pace because the distance isn't being recorded. 

I am recording the runs on my watch, connected to GPS with my phone. I keep my phone on me for the whole run. I do not record on Strava or another GPS app on my phone at the same time. I have tried restarting my watch but this has not made a difference. Can you suggest anything else?

Thank you!

[t.parker]

@AB2389 there isn't a lot you can do. It is a design choice made by Fitbit to provide rough approximation of the distance rather than actual distance. Even if you use GPS the distance is computed using your stride length multiplied by steps which will provide variadic accuracy - it is just approximation. It isn't possible to run with fixed stride all way (stride will differ on hills, flats, when changing pace etc.). When you use Strava you will see the distance computed using the GPS waypoints which will be closer to the real one.

[AB2389]

How annoying! I hadn't realised that connecting to GPS didn't really measure using GPS. I suppose it's just to get a map of where you have run. Thanks for the info, I will start mapping in the Strava app rather than through the phone.

[t.parker]

@AB2389 it is easy to see that. Try to skip in place during run and you will see the distance is increasing despite you are not moving. It has been there since ever and I believe it is a legacy thing from time when there was no GPS support but the watch somehow had to estimate rough distance.

[JuanFitbit]

Hi @t.parker @AB2389 , a warm welcome to the Community! Thank you for your comments and information provided. 

I cannot tell, how Strava measures the distance, as they have their own algorithm for it. 

As @t.parker mentioned Fitbit measures the distance with help of the the amount of steps and stride length. Another part of the statement that is right is "stride will differ on hills, flats, when changing pace etc"

That is why we recommend the use of Connected GPS, and the average is made of both measurements . 

This helps, when the stride length is not constant and if the GPS looses connection. 

@HY-SD , thank you for reply and further information. In oder for you to see your data on Strava you need to pair the Fitbit Account to your Strava account you cannot pair the Versa directly to Strava.  More information can be found here: How do I connect my Fitbit account with another app?

Regarding your situation with the display turning of, if you haven't done so, please restart your watch and if you  are using a non Fitbit clock face, change it. Some non Fitbit clock faces, haven't been optimized for the new firmware update. 

Please let me know if you have further questions.

[HY-SD]

Thank you Juan Fitbit. I restarted my Versa and it's working now. I also
connected it to my Strava account. I will find out how it works. So if I
track my run with both apps, which one will be taken?

Thanks,

HY-SD

[JuanFitbit]

Hi @HY-SD , thank you for your reply! I'm glad that the Versa is working again after the restart. 

Regarding your question, if you track an activity with both (Versa or Fitbit App and Strava) you might see both records on the Fitbit app. 

Be aware of my first post, using both apps might show you inaccurate measurements, depending if your phone supports 2 GPS connection at the same time. 

Let me know if you need more assistance

[Teezigi]

I just did a run and my Fitbit records it as a 6.19km run while MapMyRun records it as 7.73km, that is a very wide variation and now not sure which to trust.

I checked on google maps and definitely MapMyRun is more closer to what google says, so can someone explain why Fitbit is so wide off the mark