Distance

[Tonymarris]

I have changed from Versa 3 to Sense.  Sense shows distance walked much longer than Versa 3.  Why?

I don’t use GPS.   Versa 3 distances are more realistic. 

[JohnnyRow]

If you really are not using GPS, and are talking about specific walks, rather than all-day stats, then distance =  step count times stride length.  Were you getting similar steps count for same walk on both devices?

You can see stride length on phone app:

Profile pic > exercise tile > gear icon (top right) > Stride Length

but that shouldn't have changed because of device change.

[t.parker]

@Tonymarris you should at least once use GPS to let the watch measure your stride. It won't be always perfect because stride isn't constant but may get you closer to real distance. Right now, I test Sense 2 without GPS and it does overestimate distance of my runs by 700 to 800m on 8km distance. It's more accurate with GPS because the GPS corrects data coming from accelerometer. Without GPS it's just a gamble as your stride length will change depending on speed, cadence, elevation grade etc.

[Tonymarris]

Thank you for explaining. My stride length has shortened, new medical difficulties. That will be reason for change.

Sent from my iPhone

[JohnnyRow]

Glad you got the reason figured out.  Fitbit sets a default stride length based on your physical characteristics, but you are free to adjust that as you wish.  If you have access to a track, quarter mile or 400 meters, you can get step count per lap and calculate stride length there, but that likely won't be same as when out for longer walk, maybe with hills.  If have a standard walk you know the distance, you can adjust your stride length and check what distance you get for the walk, then keep adjusting it until you get the distance as close as you can, understanding it will always change a little as your stride length varies with speed and how you feel.