Instinct/Treadmill Calibration

As for the treadmill calibration for the future runs, you have to do it directly on the watch. If you did not see the instructions, you can find them here:

https://www8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/instinct/EN-US/GUID-86541696-B60E-44BC-9A46-4349C86A1CD8.html

Otherwise, in Garmin Connect, you can change the recorded distance to the value reported by your treadmill, if it did not match. It won't have any impact on the calibration, though.

Calibrate & Save after a Treadmill activity has never worked for me. Yes, C&S updates the distance to match what the treadmill reports. But it doesn't change the internal calibration of the Instinct when working out on a treadmill. Even when I do a C&S after every session for months, the distance reported remains random.

The only thing that does seem to affect the internal distance calculation is how often and how vigorously I swing my arm. 

Perhaps my Instinct is defective. I've reported this to Garmin at least a couple of times. They insist the watch is working as designed.

trux said:

There is now a simple Connect IQ data field app TxActivitySteps that saves a differently calculated distance estimate

According to the linked article, Compatible Devices tab, this applies only to the Instinct 2. So evidently Garmin acknowledges that C&S doesn't work properly for Treadmill and other indoor activities, but can't [or won't] address it on Instinct 1.

Yes, the calibrated stride length is always being adjusted by the detected cadence and acceleration. So if you run slower (with lower cadence and intensity), or make more pauses, the estimated distance will be lower than at the last calibration (and vice versa).

Bylo Selhi said:

this applies only to the Instinct 2

Yes, you are correct, I did not notice I was on the Instinct forum. I removed the original post, it was indeed irrelevant here.

Bylo Selhi said:

So evidently Garmin acknowledges that C&S doesn't work properly for Treadmill and other indoor activities, but can't [or won't] address it on Instinct 1.

BTW, the CIQ app was not developed by Garmin, so no, they do not acknowledge their method is not perfect 

Most apps in the Connect IQ store come from 3rd party developers. They add functionality to Garmin devices supporting the CIQ technology (the old Instinct does not).