Some fitness trackers are inaccurately measuring running distance, according to research from the consumer watchdog Which?It found that the least reliable was the Garmin Vivosmart 4, which underestimated the distance by 10.8 miles – meaning the researcher actually ran 37 miles.It described the Vivosmart 4 as an “all-round smart fitness tracker” and suggested that marathon runners use its Forerunner range which is GPS-enabled.
“Our tests have found a number of models from big-name brands that can’t be trusted when it comes to measuring distance, so before you buy, make sure you do your research to find a model that you can rely on,” said Natalie Hitchins, head of home product and services at Which? “With regards to running indoors, as this particular test was carried out on a treadmill," he said."The algorithm of Huawei Watch 2 Sport calculates the user’s stride length from the acceleration sensor data while running at different speeds."Testing devices in the real world, rather than on treadmills, would provide more accurate results, experts saidthat all the trackers they tested overestimated the number of calories burned during activity.
"This is a real shame as a real world test would have been more useful for consumers," said Dr Dale Esliger, senior lecturer in physical activity and health at Loughborough University.
About as accurate as BBC reporting then! The Brussels Broadcasting Corporation!
This is incredibly misleading, nobody expects a tracker to be accurate on an indoor treadmill.
Astro_Dav just like you said and what I’ve been finding with mine. Maybe not to the extremes in this report though!!
Marathons are not ran on treadmills.
This has to be one of the most poorly thought out “tests” I’ve seen. Testing distance accuracy of fitness trackers on a treadmill. 🤦🏼♂️ If you want accuracy, get a GarminUK GPS watch and go outside. You’ll be pleasantly surprised! fitnesstrackers
When did the BBC become a clickbait broadcaster. Your reporting and infomercial behaviour is appalling. You're as bad as RT.
What an absolutely ridiculous article. Anyone with an ounce of running knowledge knows that pedometer (not GPS) watches are unreliable when it comes to distance.
BBC are dismal for attaching a headline like that to this truly stupid report. Garmin gps fitness trackers are completely accurate. Obviously those based on step counts and average stride length can not totally accurate, especially on a treadmill.
what a poor study to have on the front page of the technology section. Anyone remotely interested in this area knows accelerometer based info is just educated guessing. Even social runners would track with their phones gps rather than a band that simply 'measures' steps
I’d say running this test on a treadmill instead of outside was not realistic or appropriate for the questions they’re trying to answer. Almost makes the results ignorable
Isn’t a marathon a set distance?
I find it strange that fitbit was not included and also testing on a treadmill which is not really what they are for is wrong.
Fitness trackers track your position and share it without you know it. 🤣🤣🤣 Fitness app Strava lights up staff at military bases - BBC News
Whose idea was it to test it on a treadmill? 🙄 Do they test car GPS in a driveway? 🙄
So pleased I don’t run marathons. I’d be livid.
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