Step Tracking Accuracy

brianpperkins

shell1005 wrote: »

brianpperkins wrote: »

shell1005 wrote: »

brianpperkins wrote: »

You're actually counting steps during runs? Impressive.

Didn't say that. I said I checked accuracy. This Thursday, I went for a 4 mile run. When I left the house my FitBit said I had walked 0.2 miles. My runkeeper used gps to track the distance run. I ran 4.2 miles. When I got home my FitBit said I walked somewhere around 9000 steps so far and that my distance was 4.55 miles. That is accurate to me. If it isn't too you....then it's probably not the device for you.

.35 miles off on a 4.2 mile run ... not that accurate. That's assuming your phone is accurate ... a bold assumption.

Then again, Fitbits are step counters.

Not quite. I started with 0.2 before I left, I ran 4.2...I ended up with 4.55. That's not off by 0.35 by my math. I'll take it. Seems pretty spot on.

I also know the distance I ran and so my phone is not inaccurate. That's accurate enough for me. It should be for most. If it is not for you, cool. FitBit shouldn't be your tracker of choice.

You admitted that you have no clue if your step counter accurately counts steps ... then claimed it was accurate.

BasicGreatGuy

From my experience, the iPhone 6 is not good at all at counting steps accurately. Just thought I would mention that for those who have been relying on the phone for such counting.

kiela64

Pittgirl3 wrote: »

so I recently bought my first Jawbone Up fitness tracker and I woke up to check my stats in the morning and it said that I had already taken 500 steps

I have been having a similar issue with my misfit flash. When I wake up (it tracks sleep, supposedly well by following reviews but I've found it to be not that great at tracking sleep) it tells me I've burned 700+ calories! And I have it synced to MFP, so then before I've even moved for the day MFP says "you've earned 260 calories from exercise today" ....no, I haven't....

I guess that it adds ~300 extra calories a day, but MFP is known for overestimating exercise calories and when I work out my misfit usually adds ~400 more than MFP does. So I just don't know anymore. I'm debating whether or not to unsync it, myself, because trying to figure out what my MFP-only exercise calories are, then eating back only half of those - it's just too much math for me, lol.

Unknown

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earlnabby

brianpperkins wrote: »

n=1 testing versus controlled tests ... I'll take the controlled every time.

brianpperkins wrote: »

shell1005 wrote: »

brianpperkins wrote: »

You're actually counting steps during runs? Impressive.

Didn't say that. I said I checked accuracy. This Thursday, I went for a 4 mile run. When I left the house my FitBit said I had walked 0.2 miles. My runkeeper used gps to track the distance run. I ran 4.2 miles. When I got home my FitBit said I walked somewhere around 9000 steps so far and that my distance was 4.55 miles. That is accurate to me. If it isn't too you....then it's probably not the device for you.

.35 miles off on a 4.2 mile run ... not that accurate. That's assuming your phone is accurate ... a bold assumption.

Then again, Fitbits are step counters.

So I am not accurate even though I count steps, and shell is not accurate by not counting steps. We get it, you are not a fan of trackers. Don't get one.

brianpperkins

I compared your n=1 study to controlled tests. If you want to misquote me, that's on you.

The Fitbit fanclub makes me laugh ... a device that the makers concede counts steps to a 90-95% accuracy, counts steps rather than actually measuring distance ... yet it's adherents swear it does more.

For those wanting to get a broad assessment of overall daily activity, they can be useful. That's about it.

Tahlia68

I have a Fitbit charge and I find it to be very accurate!! Best thing Ive ever brought for fitness ect.