Stryd distance issue

Hi,

First of all it is hard to follow the exact tests you have done, but I find Stryd very accurate when calibrated correctly. Unfortunately most of my tips are probably the ones that you don't want, they are probably very similar to what Stryd support suggested and will also make your distances shorter.

Raw Stryd data and the Garmin activity is not comparable. For the Garmin activity distance is accumulated while the activity timer is running, no more and no less. For Stryd raw data distance is accumulated as long as your Stryd still thinks that you are running which will be longer than the activity.

I would not consider the maps, and drawing a course on the maps, accurate enough for calibration.

Find a segment, 3-4 km, that you know for sure has the distance and run with as few deviations as possible. Don't assume distance on an oval course unless it is measured correctly. I use measuring segments on the roads which are measured with good accuracy and in a straight line, it doesn't have to be an oval track.

My calibration factor is 99.1 and my distance is often shorter than what other GPS watches say (even F6) except in trail where I get slightly longer distance.

Calibration factors of 6-12% as you use sounds way off...

Also verify that 3D speed and distance is turned off on the F6.

Hi,

Stryd is not perfect but I agree with TobiasLj that that deviation is too large. A calibration of 1-2% is more reasonable and the deviation between runs is very likely within 1%.

I think an important point to consider is having the Stryd firmly attached to the shoe. Put as many laces as possible to have a tight attachment.

If nothing works you can still use Stryd for pace and GPS for distance.

I’m surprised you are seeing a difference between the watches, unless Garmin has down something weird with fenix? I would just use one watch and add the calibration from there either on track (like you have down) or road. Stryd is consistent out the box but probably inaccurate (well that’s what I found).

One thing to consider is the pace you were running, when I was calibrating my Stryd pod on the track I would run a lap easy and next time I crossed the start line I would press the lap key, then do two laps from my easy pace 5:00 min per km down to 5k pace of 3:30 min per km. 10-20 sec diff between laps, then do a couple of slow curves and fast straight, followed the inverse. Manual lapping on every time I got to the start line.

what I found, my form or what Stryd thought my form to be meant different calibration probably due to different stride length, cadence etc. So I set my calibration to an average of all actual vs expected distance,

Trouble is to need to do it for each shoe you run in! My next % calibration was is 0.6 different to other shoes which are generally 0.1-0.3 diff from each other.

If track is difficult, find a straight road and work out the distance between two points on it and repeat running different paces between them and take an average.

Oh and Stryd hates walking/hiking cadence pace as it breaks the calibration (well that’s what ive found) hence you see complaints from some trail runner on their forum (sometimes the posts are removed too) which Stryd haven’t resolved in 3/4 years! They are a small company and so invested in their product I think something they don’t/can’t take the time to resolve the issues so first state user issue and hope for the best

> They are a small company and so invested in their product I think something they don’t/can’t take the time to resolve the issues so first state user issue and hope for the best

Sure, but then they shouldn't advertise Stryd as something perfect.

BTW. I didn't know that they are differences between shoes. I actually have 5 pairs for easy runs, 3 for tempos and 2 for speedwork, LOL. For Stryd pace calculation should be just measuring with accelerometer movements in X, Y and Z axis and then do some math on this, not big deal, so I am really suprised that such "perfect" product can't deal with it :/ 

I'm using Stryd (already my 2nd one because I lost the first on a trail) since many years now with different watches (including Suunto).

It was always very accurate with reproducible results (e.g. when running the same route, the distance was very close to each other. GPS alone showed a higher deviation). I'd say with the correct calibration-factor it's within 1%.

What I learned is: you actually need to find a calibration-factor (and turn auto-calibration off).

None of my two Stryd's had 100. There  first one was 98.x and my current one is even over 103!.  

Luckily I have access to two AIMS measured courses (a local 10k and a local 10miler). The km-marks are permanent and that's what I used to calibrate the Stryd (and when running along that route: re-check if it's still ok. It always was ok :-) ) 

The differences that you describe are way too high. That's not what I'd expect (GPS alone would be better in that case I guess).

Maybe you can reach out to Stryd, they've always be very helpful to me.

ReliefPL said:

BTW. I didn't know that they are differences between shoes

I don't notice any difference between shoes but I wouldn't say it doesn't matter. The amount of damping and running style will definitely impact the accelerator.
I run with 4 different pairs, Saucony Guide, Saucony Peregrine, Salming OT Comp and Salming iSpike all with almost identical distances on the same course.

Just out of curiosity I just ran my "calibration segment" four times (4x1km) and got 4009.67m with my calibration factor of 99.1: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/7040022994

Last time i got 4036.61 with calibration factor 100: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/5451947607

With that I should change to 98.9 but I rather keep the distances on courses I run for consistency and it is such a small change within margin of other errors (such as taking a step extra or two when changing direction).

Did you check the 3D settings?

Ok, I had the same issue and here is how I fixed it. 

What you need to absolutely make sure is that the Stryd is connected through ANT+ and not BLE.

If it's connected through BLE it will LOOK like it's connected but i will NOT give pace distance/pace from pod but from GPS. I ran with this for like half a year without understanding why the pod was no better than the GPS.

To check if the Stryd is connected through ANT+ not you need go to System->Sensors -> Your Stryd and go to About.  If it says ANT+ it’s OK , but If it says BLE you need to disable this sensor so it does not gets paired.   Look at the screenshot belows

BLE Will only give Power measurements. ANT+ WIll give both SPEED/PACE (Foodpod sensor) and Power (Power sensor)

Secondly you should not need to use Calibration factors.  It should be set to 100.

Thirdly, you need to make sure that the Stryd is placed in line with the motion of  your foot strike. So if you are running in shoes where the lacing is not aligned with the motion (like the Nike Vaporly) you need to read this:

https://support.stryd.com/hc/en-us/articles/360044274654-How-do-I-attach-my-Stryd-pod-to-the-Nike-Vaporfly-4-and-Nike-Next-

knixen said:

Secondly you should not need to use Calibration factors.  It should be set to 100.

I used to think that, too. And that's what Stryd has always said as well.

But I can conclusively say that, at least in my case, I absolutely needed to change my calibration factor for it to work correctly. I set mine to 106, because it was regularly under-reporting my distance and pace by about 6%.

Now it works great.

Just no, out of the box calibration is all over the place, don’t believe Stryd with their it’s perfect don’t change. 

this YouTube clip of four uncalibration Stryd, ok it’s on a treadmill and two at the bottom and two at the top of the laces but…,

https://youtu.be/cMsru129e3c