# Phone step counter vs. treadmill **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 4, 2017, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-step-counter-vs-treadmill/776290 "2017-01-04T02:42:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-step-counter-vs-treadmill/776290/1 "2017-01-04T02:42:41Z")
To see how the two compared, I put my phone in my pocket and walked 3 miles according to the treadmill readout. I don’t see why it would matter, but I walk at inclines that range from 2% to 10 % and I walk at 5 mph, obviously faster than if one is just walking around. The phone readout said 4.1 miles vs. 3 miles on the treadmill. Is the phone readout being messed up by the way I am walking on the treadmill? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-step-counter-vs-treadmill/776290/2 "2017-01-04T02:54:23Z")
It depends on how the phone is measuring distance. I have a GPS running watch that I use on the handcycle that includes a heart rate monitor. Just for fun, I slept one night with the monitor on to see my HR pattern during sleep. As I was indoors, the GPS had some problems getting a solid fix on the watch. By morning, I had “traveled” just over a mile. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-step-counter-vs-treadmill/776290/3 "2017-01-04T06:42:30Z")
I wonder if the treadmill is out of calibration? I mean, 5 mph? That’s 12 minute miles on an incline yet, seems really fast to this old runner. Dennis ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-step-counter-vs-treadmill/776290/4 "2017-01-04T07:39:04Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > I wonder if the treadmill is out of calibration? I mean, 5 mph? That’s 12 minute miles on an incline yet, seems really fast to this old runner. > > Dennis That’s fast, but fairly commonly doable for short periods. North Korean commandos are famous in certain circles for their superhuman ability to travel fast. > [@](#): > > Physical training, again, that bordered upon the sadistic. An ability to move 100 miles a day cross-country while carrying a 65 pound pack was stressed. [http://militarythoughts.blogspot.com/2006/10/this-is-coolbert-north-korean-124th.html](http://militarythoughts.blogspot.com/2006/10/this-is-coolbert-north-korean-124th.html) ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-step-counter-vs-treadmill/776290/5 "2017-01-04T11:18:21Z")
In the British Army, The Rifles are famous for their fast march pace - 140 paces a minute rather than the standard 120. > [@](#): > > In addition, by doubling five paces and then marching five paces, it was found that distances could be covered quickly. The Light Division was famous for its march to Talevera in 1809 – covering 250 miles in six days. At the Battle of Fuentes De Onoro, the Light Division was able to outmanoeuvre the French cavalry, whilst under fire by its speed of withdrawal under fire and then rapidly form squares from their column of route using classic Light Infantry tactics. Try blowing a bugle and marching at this pace… [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUtzzFxU\_q8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUtzzFxU_q8) ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-step-counter-vs-treadmill/776290/6 "2017-01-04T13:01:51Z")
The phone is counting your actual footfall steps and the treadmill is measuring distance based on movement of the tread. They could both be inaccurate. Unless there’s a place in the phone’s app to enter the measurement of your stride, it’s using a pre-set number for the distance between each of your steps. If that’s based on some average that you’re below, then the phone will think you’ve traveled farther. I have very short legs and am probably 30% behind the distance my phone thinks I’ve traveled based on number of steps. The steps are accurate - the distance is not. You may also be taking smaller steps when on a treadmill compared to striding down the street or sidewalk. ---
**Author:** ![Hi\_Medlo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hi\_Medlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hi_Medlo)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2017, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-step-counter-vs-treadmill/776290/7 "2017-01-04T13:01:53Z")
I’m not too impressed with the step counter on my iPhone. This past spring I ran a half marathon and my phone said I had taken something like 3,600 steps, which works out to around 19 feet per stride. I suspect where you carry the phone (mine was in a small pocket in the center of the small of my back) which affects the accelerations the phone feels. ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-step-counter-vs-treadmill/776290/8 "2017-01-05T22:14:27Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > I wonder if the treadmill is out of calibration? I mean, 5 mph? That’s 12 minute miles on an incline yet, seems really fast to this old runner. > > Dennis Just had someone come by and test the calibration and do maintenance on the treadmill and everything is fine. To finish up my workout I walk 5 mph at 10% incline for half a mile. Its pretty intense but doable. I’ve tried 12% incline at 5 mph, but my heart rate goes into the “red” zone, so I stick to 10%. I’m 64 next month. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-step-counter-vs-treadmill/776290/9 "2017-01-06T05:30:19Z")
Put it in a small airplane. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-step-counter-vs-treadmill/776290/10 "2017-01-06T06:10:20Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > By morning, I had “traveled” just over a mile. Never wake up feeling tired? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ZurBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/71e660/32.png) [@ZurBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZurBob)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-step-counter-vs-treadmill/776290/11 "2017-01-06T12:34:19Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > …I slept one night with the monitor on…By morning, I had “traveled” just over a mile. Sleep walker…:eek: ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-step-counter-vs-treadmill/776290/12 "2017-01-06T17:24:47Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Put it in a small airplane. And put a smaller airplane on that treadmill.