Incorrect Elevation Gains Apple Watch

[RonHuizenga]

Hi All,

I use Strava on my Apple Watch Series 6.  For the past few weeks (since last OS update), elevation gains (outdoor ride) have been way off, reporting at least double what they should be.  Is anyone else experiencing the same?  I removed and reinstalled Strava on my watch and phone, but that hasn't made any difference.

[EugeneKim87]

Just adding a fresh comment (6-19-2024) that this issue HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED!!! Jane the moderator has responded over at least two different threads over the course of the last 18 months stating that it’s fixed or an update is available or we can calibrate our watches instead. These are all dodging the larger systemic issue. Strava attempted a roll out of a difference manner in calculating metrics and is forcing their obviously incorrect algorithm onto our profiles and refusing to allow the devices to override with presumably the correct information. 

Strava team please either revise your baseline calculation methodologies or give us the option to permanently refer to our Apple Watches Health derived data instead. This 18-24 months long issue cannot go any further. 

[Schüri]

I consistently have wrong readings. My Apple Watch Ultra is very precise with measuring elevation. Strava is off by 50%. Why can it not simply use the data provided by the watch? All analysis like SAT is of as well (obviously). This makes Strava in-usable. A Fenix user has same height data as the Apple Watch Ultra. So it is a Strava problem. AW: 485m, Strava: 324m

[David-N]

Hi Jane, 

The problem still exists. There has been no improvement sincce I logged this issue. For example, today I went for a 26km ride. I recorded it with my Garmin 830 and my Apple Ultra 2 watch. The ride metrics between both devices were slightly different, but not concerning - except for the ascent data for the Apple Ultra 2, The Garmin 830 recorded a 419m ascent while the Apple Ultra recorded a 410m ascent. When the rides from these devices were imported to Strava the ascent figures for both devices are as follows. Garmin 830 has a 419m ascent (no change), while the Apple Ultra 2 shows a 446m ascent (increase of 36m or 8.8%). This clearly shows that Strava is modifying the Apple Ultra data upon import, but not the Garmin import data. Modifying the data is clearly unnecessary and throws the accuracy of Apple devices out by a significant margin. It means that you cannot trust the ascent data from Apple devices in Strava, but you can trust this data on the Apple devices. Note: this issue is not limited to the Apple Watch Ultra 2. I have found the same issue when I have recorded activities with my iPhone. Given Apple devices are how I typically record my activities I am considering not renewing my Strava membership unless this issue is resolved ASAP. 

[margles]

I'm also having exactly the same issue. Strava keeps increasing the elevation of activities (hikes, runs, rides) that I record on my Apple watch and are then imported to Strava. 

[David-N]

Just letting you know that this issue has not been fixed. Surely the fix is simply to not modify the imported data from Apple Watches?

[David-N]

Hi Jane, on 22 Dec 2023 I recorded a ride with Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Garmin Edge 830.

Apple Watch workout recorded 569m altitude gain. Garmin Edge 830 recorded 566m altitude gain.

Both recordings were imported into Strava.

In Strava App the Apple Watch workout showed 694m altitude gain.

In Strava App the Garmin Edge 830 showed 566m altitude gain.

The Apple Watch import shows Strava (incorrectly) increased the altitude gain by 125m.

Also, I am unable to adjust the elevation to fix any incorrect altitude readings for the workouts imported from my Apple Watch, but I am able to adjust the elevation of the correct altitude gain readings from workouts imported from the Garmin Edge.

[Onkelonken]

Yes it seems to work. Data is displayed again as before.

Thanks very much!

[RonHuizenga]

So in other words it's a fix on the back end when posting rather than a fix that is downloaded to the code on the watch (and/or the phone the watch is paired to).  A little more detail in the explanation goes a long way.

[Jane]

Hello Everyone,

Thanks for your patience with this.  A fix has been rolled out in the latest update.  If you haven't done so already, please update your watch and let us know if you continue to have any problems after that.

[margles]

Hi Jane,

I'm having trouble with Strava increasing the elevation of activities that are recorded on my Apple watch (with the Fitness app) and then imported to Strava. This is happening with runs, hikes, walks and rides. It's pretty frustrating and I'm not sure what's causing it to happen. Thanks for looking into this!