How to track treadmill runs

[Kristen81]

I’ve searched for an answer, but no luck. On a Fitbit charge 2, how do I accurately track runs on the treadmill? Right now it only tracks the GPS run which obviously is not accurate. Where in the settings can I change the run to treadmill and back again when it warms up and I run outside? 

[SunsetRunner]

Hi @Kristen81. As long as you swing your arms on the treadmill, the movement should register on your Charge 2. But if you keep your arms on the handles while on the treadmill, then do what I do — put the device in a pocket or around your ankle in your sock. This is not an official, Fitbit answer, but I find is works for me. I also use this trick when pushing a shopping cart. 

[MrMarv]

@Kristen81 -

For walking around the store with a shopping cart, using @SunsetRunner's suggestion about putting your device in your pocket, wouldn't be too bad of an idea, as the calorie burn calculation wouldn't be too far off to worry too much about. I do it often when following my wife around playing "lorry driver".

But on the treadmill, with the probably much increased heart rate which is a very important part of the calorie burn calculation, I wouldn't do it. And I wouldn't manually book an exercise either - even Fitbit advises against it when you are wearing a heart rate sensing device. Unless of course you take a very careful look at the calorie burn at the beginning and end so you can book the appropriate calorie burn. Then you get the exercise classification you want, another activity booked, very close to the correct active minutes posted (maybe off by one or two minutes) and a good calorie burn track.

Just my thoughts/opinion. Of course, the only opinion that really counts is yours!

Good luck - and welcome to the boards.