Which tech to trust

[Sarahf40]

So my Fitbit versa and Strava on my phone seem to show different distances, which do I trust.

Tonight I did almost 30 mins (wk8 run2) my watch said I did 4.45 km and Strava said 2.14 miles which is obviously not the same (even though I turned them both on at the same time)

It would be nice to know how far i am away from the 5k. Anyone any advice?????

[Peter44 Graduate]

Ummm, that's interesting, my daughter also has a fit bit watch, which doesnt agree with strava, or nrc, which i now use together, pretty sure her fit bit is not right, even clocked a run, with car, was same as strava, but she wont have it!!! 🤣

[Helm108 Graduate]

Does your watch use GPS? It's possible that it is simply using an estimated stride length that is longer than your actual stride - hence the greater distance overall.

Strava is probably more accurate as it uses GPS to track your route and show it on the map.

[Rising60 Graduate]

My Strava does not tally with my daughter's, even if we go for a walk together. I think it may be a function of how often your phone updates the GPS data, but I haven't found a way to change that. If I look at the map Strava generates it shows me running through lots of front gardens, not along the road, which overall means it cuts a lot of corners on my route. I go home and draw my route on my laptop using mapometer to get a more accurate idea of the distance.

[Speedy60 Graduate]

Fitbit is probably estimating by stride length and therefore less reliable. The strava app is using the gps on your phone, so it is the quality of your phone, not strava, that determines how accurate it is.

[FurtherFaster]

I use MapMyRun (online route plotting) to sense check distances so you could go on that and see which is closest?

[Fazwaz Graduate]

I had the same problem with my Fitbit and Strava so I just use Strava now.

[ClutchingAtStraws Graduate]

I would say Strava is more accurate. I have had a number of Fitbit devices and I am sorry to say that they have all been less than perfect (I am being polite!). I have a couple of Garmin watches and they are very accurate.

[Jell6 Graduate]

I run with Strava and a Versa 2, I haven't connected them though as that created havoc!For months the Fitbit was erratic with what a km is, but at some point, and I don't know why, it started to record very similar distances to Strava. Today for example Fitbit recorded 5.04 km and Strava 5.09km.

The km buzzes seem within moments of each other for around the first 3 km, as I get more rural Fitbit seems to drift a little. Close enough for me though

[Maz1103 Graduate]

I have a fitbit versa and also use either Adidas running or NRC. Sometimes my fitbit loses gps constantly and the 2 are way out, but mostly they are pretty close. Today (adidas) the 2 buzzed for each kilometre with a couple of seconds of each other and total time over 10k was 3 seconds different so today was good. Can't really pinpoint what creates the problem sometimes!! Cloud or atmosphere maybe.

[Curlygurly2 Graduate]

I've run with two Garmins, one on each wrist, and had quite different distances. KInda makes a mockery of PBs ....all I can suggest is you choose one method of recording your runs and stick to that one...