How accurate are step counters?

[legendarytroy]

How accurate are step counters? When I get 10,000 steps, how many steps am I really getting? I'm asking because I've noticed that if I just swing my arms my fitness tracker counts this as taking a step, yet when I mow the lawn (which actually involves me taking steps) it barely tracks anything. Is this just my tracker or is this a thing?

[bigbobby]

I think they're all wonky like that. I would say they are about 80% accurate. There's no science behind that, but considering, as you said, you just have to swing your arms around for it to count as a step, they're not really an ideal way to track you exercise progress. They essentially give you a general idea and not much more than that. Use them as a basis but not as fact. If it says you've reached 10,000 steps, it's probably more like 8,000 unless you know you were actively walking for most of the day.

[madscientist]

I think they're all wonky like that. I would say they are about 80% accurate. There's no science behind that, but considering, as you said, you just have to swing your arms around for it to count as a step, they're not really an ideal way to track you exercise progress. They essentially give you a general idea and not much more than that. Use them as a basis but not as fact. If it says you've reached 10,000 steps, it's probably more like 8,000 unless you know you were actively walking for most of the day.

Wow, really? They are that inaccurate? I find that a little difficult to believe. I know that sometimes they can count your wrist movement depending on how much you swing your arm, but usually you need to swing it with a big of force. I think they're more accurate than 80%. Maybe the device you have is faulty?.

[kellykatt]

Wow, really? They are that inaccurate? I find that a little difficult to believe. I know that sometimes they can count your wrist movement depending on how much you swing your arm, but usually you need to swing it with a big of force. I think they're more accurate than 80%. Maybe the device you have is faulty?.

I agree. I don't think they're way off. They should definitely be used as a guideline and not as the rule, but if your counter is off by like 80%...you might want to invest in getting a new one for sure. Investing in a Fitbit or one of those other bigger name brands is a good idea. Yeah, they may cost more but they also come with better guarantees and warranties so if something goes wrong you can exchange your device.

[Nelly]

I agree. I don't think they're way off. They should definitely be used as a guideline and not as the rule, but if your counter is off by like 80%...you might want to invest in getting a new one for sure. Investing in a Fitbit or one of those other bigger name brands is a good idea. Yeah, they may cost more but they also come with better guarantees and warranties so if something goes wrong you can exchange your device.

I dunno, I kinda agree with bigbobby. I've tried a bunch of different fitness trackers, both expensive and cheap ones from different brands and they all kinda suck at tracking data. They're very inaccurate. Yes, they're okay as an overall guideline, they're good for alerting you to get active and they can be a great motivator...but just like calorie counters on exercise machines, they are not accurate...I mean, seriously, a machine cannot tell you how many calories you've burned, nor can a gadget like a fitness tracker, which also can't really track how many steps you take considering if you don't swing your arms it can't tell you're moving...

[tammybear]

I think they're okay for counting steps, but I wouldn't use them for tracking sleep...Good step counters are actually great tools, even the ones that are kinda crap. I mean, to be fair, you should have a general idea if you're close to reaching a 10,000 step goal without even using one of these things. You're body will feel it. If you've been sitting down for most of the day or standing in one spot without much movement...you can pretty much guarantee your falling shy of 10,000 steps. Basically, if you've walked for an hour - really walked not strolled - you've pretty much got your 10,000 steps or close to it.

[speeddemon]

I think they're okay for counting steps, but I wouldn't use them for tracking sleep...Good step counters are actually great tools, even the ones that are kinda crap. I mean, to be fair, you should have a general idea if you're close to reaching a 10,000 step goal without even using one of these things. You're body will feel it. If you've been sitting down for most of the day or standing in one spot without much movement...you can pretty much guarantee your falling shy of 10,000 steps. Basically, if you've walked for an hour - really walked not strolled - you've pretty much got your 10,000 steps or close to it.

Oh yeah got to agree with you there! Using them for tracking sleep is a bad idea. Mine tells me that I get up and walk around in the night...and no, I'm not a sleep walker...

[legendarytroy]

LOL wow...that'a a lot of opinions about step counters. I have to agree that the sleep tracking isn't very good, but I'm glad to see that some of you think that they are a little more accurate than I thought. I think I might invest in a better one. mine is a super cheap one I got off Amazon and it's buggy to say the least.