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Leaving FITBIT to Garmin. Major step differences

NIZZ
over 3 years ago

Hello all.  I have been a FITBIT user since 2015 and currently on a VERSA2.

I just got a GARMIN 245 and will be switching to GARMIN.

I am wearing BOTH watches right now, FitBit on left, GARMIN on right.  As of right now the steps are WAY OFF between the two.

FB currently says 3282 steps.

Garmin says 2578 steps

Any idea why this is and which one is more accurate?  That is a massive discrepancy and I imagine will be a much higher delta at end of day.  Thanks.

  • 0 over 3 years ago

    First off all: Have you told your Garmin watch, that you are wearing it on your right wrist? This can be configured in settings and could influence the interpretation of your movements.

    Secondly, consumer tests have always shown, that fitness trackers are not really precise, when it comes to steps. But in a test of a german consumer magazine I read, the FR245 was rated quiet good, just behind Apple Watch 5.

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to Grumpy from dawn till dusk

    Hello.  Yes, I have told the watch it is on my right wrist.  Current step count is

    FITBIT 4,910

    Garmin 3,742

    Quite a massive diff.

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to NIZZ

    Fitbit is known to be heavily optimistic in the step count so they tend to overestimate the numbers quite a bit.

  • +1 over 3 years ago

    I switched from a Fitbit to a Garmin a couple of months ago. I remember with the Fitbit I could "win the hour" in the car by jiggling my arm at stop lights, and that making dinner, polishing shoes and scratching my nose all counted as "steps." Garmin is not so easily fooled. Try putting them both on and going for a walk, actually counting the steps to 200 or so, then stop to scratch your head and retie your shoes, and see which one is more accurate.

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to Aviatrix

    That is super funny and totally accurate.  I am now 100% Garmin 245 and the Fitbit is in a drawer.   Still learning the Garmin but for running it is LEAPS beyond the Fitbit.  I also have the yellow pod to clip at my center back.   Thanks all.   

  • 0 over 3 years ago

    Start an activity on both watches then run/walk for a while and count the steps and compare it with the watches. Note that depending on the watch face / data field it might not refresh the steps count in real time (maybe it's once in 10 seconds or once a minute). If that's the case then you need to start the activity, but not move until it passes let's say a minute, refreshes the step count and then start walking. And after you counted a few hundred steps stop and wait until the step count is refreshed on the watch screen.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to NIZZ

    Your still walking the same amount. Just because there is a higher number doesn’t mean your moving more. That’s actually not a big difference since they are all off anyway 

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    For steps to count on Garmin you need to do a minimum number within a set amount of time. I'm not sure what the actual values were but let's say it's roughly 10 steps in 10 seconds. If you don't do the minimum it doesn't seem to count.

    With fitbit every step is counted even single steps. Unfortunately this includes lots of false steps. I used to be able to get hundreds of steps in while commuting in my car or by train while sitting down.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to MMMM

    I’m definitely talking real steps. I’m at lease 30,000 in by the end of my days. I don’t drive much at all . I’ve always thought garmin was lower steps than even polar Or coros too

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to nikkers41

    I think the minimum steps is just to avoid the jiggling false steps.

    I am curious just how many real steps I do a day that don't get counted.