Fitbit Incorrect Distance

David___D
David___D Posts: 76 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I put this post on the genral help section then realised this is probably the place it should go.......anyway
Just thought I would put up something I noticed recently.
During my running I continue to use my fitbit, but I also wear my heart rate monitor with a built in GPS, anyway have recently noticed after a run first thing in the morning my fitbit will say I have run 3.8k based on my steps. yet the more accurate GPS will give my distance as I planned as 5k.

This also happens during a 10k run, again fitbit saying I have only gone 7.8k based on my steps.
Thought I would make people aware just in case you thought you were going a shorter distance than you actually are.

What a bonus!!

Replies

  • redwoodkestrel
    redwoodkestrel Posts: 339 Member
    Do you have your stride set correctly on your Fitbit? Obviously though, stride is different between walking and running, but if you haven't set it at all that might help.
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    There is a place in fitbit to put your step distance. If you are running, the steps will be longer than a normal step. I'd say that is why :smile:
  • ashleyjohnstonn1
    ashleyjohnstonn1 Posts: 359 Member
    Yay! Guess I'd rather underestimate than overestimate :)

    But I figured it underestimated because I am a server and some days it says I only walk about 2,000 steps which is impossible! But on really busy days I easily go over the 10,000 so I'm sure it's more than the 10,000 it'll say too :p
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    it's measuring number of steps and it sounds like you have the wrong stride length programmed in there. i'm not positive the math works this way, but i don't think you're going to get bonus calories or whatever once the stride is adjusted. it's still the same number of steps and ostensibly a similar amount of effort, so only the distance will change.

    umm...i think
  • Samstan101
    Samstan101 Posts: 699 Member
    1) Set run stride as well as walk stride
    2) Add a Run activity for the time you were running and either let the Fitbit database set the calorie burn or add it manually from your HRM data.

    This should then make sure you have the correct number of steps, distance and calorie burn. I log all non-walking activities this way so I get an accurate TDEE. Its working for me so far :smile:
  • David___D
    David___D Posts: 76 Member
    Thanks for all the replies, I didn't even know it was possible to change stride lengths.

    As they say you learn something new everyday :-)

    Thanks again

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