In
doing a walking pedometer comparison, first consider the main reasons
that you want a pedometer. This review is about finding a walking
pedometer that is best for you not about finding the best pedometer.
All of these pedometers are great. They all work
fairly well.
Usually the most inefficeint part of the pedometer is the person
estimating things such as how many feer per step they take.
Probably
the most important think to concider is: Will I have it with
me when I
need it. If you only want a pedometer when you take an official walk
and always wear the same shoes, then a pedometer that fits on your
shoes may be best. If your cloths do not usually have pockets
but you
wear a watch, then a watch pedometer may be best. If you are
like me
and usually have pockets, then the pocket pedometer may be best.
Ok,
I am going to start with the pedometer that I choose.
Omron HJ-113 Digital
Pocket Pedometer
Product
Description:
This
pedometer can be carried in a pocket, bag or attached to a belt.
It has a large display with a clock and it measures
steps,
aerobic steps, minutes, calories used and miles. One can see a week of
exercise with a seven day history. This pedometer automatically resets
at midnight so it is ready to go every morning.
Pros:
Easy
to carry it can be attached to a bag or to a belt with extra safety
strap so it will not be lost.
Can
also just be put in your pocket where no one sees it.
It
automatically resets at mid night
Records
steps, miles, aerobic steps, calories used, and has a clock.
Simple
with no computer, yet has a 7 day history.
advantages
over HJ-112 are: safety leash,7 day aerobic steps and miles
storage, slightly smaller, measures fat grams.
Cons: If
your cloths do not have pockets, you may have to clip it on. Some
prefer a watch or shoelace attachment
Who
is this for? This
is for the person that has clothing with pocket, a pocket book or
something they alway have when they walk. It is for the
casual walker as well as the runner. It is for
keeping with you
all day long to try and get your 10,000 steps in.
Who
is this not for? This
is not for the runner who does not have pockets and may be annoied at
having something attached to their waist. It may be a little
difficult to read while running. It does not give speed, and pace.
Mike
Keenan Says (thats me):
This
pedometer is perfect for me. At 59 I love to run, but not too fast.
Distance is more important than speed. I hope to get more
10000
step days in the future; I am a jogger and walker. it is so much fun.
I can get my exercise in at any time and at any place.
This
is perfect for someone with a busy schedule. Every time I
find
myself waiting....I get up and add a few more steps. My wife
is
not a runner, but she is really jealous of this toy.
Omron HJ-720ITC Pocket
Pedometer with Advanced Health Management Software Product
Description:
This
pedometer includes the Omron Health Management Software which
allows you to analyze your results on a computer. This software
provides a blood pressure and pulse graph that lets you see how your
values are trending over time. A morning vs evening comparison graph
tracks your morning and evening systolic and diastolic blood pressure
and heart rate. You can also view your most common values and identify
variations by time frame with the frequency distribution graph. The
software is simple to use, and it supports multiple users. With just
one click, you can download data via the HJ-720ITC's USB connection and
see graphically displayed measurements on your computer screen in
seconds.
Pros:
Includes
Health Management Software with USB connection
Large
display with clock
Can be
carried in pocket or bag
Measures
steps, aerobic steps,calories and distance
Software
tracks days, weeks, months and years of esercise
Automatically
resets at midnight so it is ready to go in the morning (Just put on
your pants)
Includes
detachable belt holder, security strap, clip, cable and CD-ROM
Cons:
If
you do not use it regularly, you may lose it
Does
not give speed
Must clip it
or put it in your pocket
Who is this
for?
This
is for the person that wants to get in more walking exercise but has
trouble working it into their schedlue. This is for the more casulal
walker and
runner who wants to exercise on a regular basis, but may want to walk
or run in
different locations or with different shoes. This is for the person
that wants a simple device to know how they are doing at any given time
of the day ,but may want to record their results every now and then on
the computer to see how they are doing over time.
Who
is this not for?
This
is not for the serious runner who needs to know their speed at all
times. It is not for those who would be better off keeping their
pedometer on their shoes so they do not lose it.
This
is what Dan had to day:
I
have not used pedometers much, but really like this unit for a number
of reasons. First, it is quite compact and can comfortably fit in a
pocket and not feel bulky (you can wear with a clip too or hang it from
a cord off a belt). Second, it really seems to accurately count steps.
I tried it a few times by counting 50 or 100 steps with the unit in my
pocket and it seems to be right on target as a step counter. To measure
distance, I walked a 100 feet a couple of times to set my stride. With
the stride in place, the distance measure seems pretty accurate. I
walked a known distance (about a mile and a half) and then looked at
both the step count and distance. The distance was a little short,
which meant I needed to make a slight adjustment to the value of the
stride. I made the same walk again and got the calculated distance was
exactly on target.
Conclusion: This is an accurate
pedometer in terms of counting steps and estimating distance.
I
also really like the software. You simply attach the pedometer to your
computer....
Product
description: This
pedometer watch was made for runnig, so might not be as good for
walking. Works great for a walking workout, but does not do as well on
an all day basis. This Casio Watch
(#SGW200-1VCF) has a built-in pedometer to help keep tabs on
distance, calories used, average pace, and number of steps. Other
functions include a stopwatch and countdown timer, five daily alarms
and a calendar, and a backlit display with Afterglow technology. Not
only intended for runnig, this Casio pairs well with office and casual
wear. Other fashion highlights include a brushed silver-tone metal
bezel, a black resin case, and raised resin buttons. With reliable
Japanese quartz movement and a black resin band with a traditional
buckle clasp, this watch is water resistant to 330 feet (100 meters).
Pros:
1.
Better Than a Pedometer - Get Accurate Results Every Time
2. Records: Steps, Miles, Stride Rate, Shoe Wear
3. Battery life 5 to 6 years 4.
Waterproof, Lightweight .05 oz, Makes no noise
5. Stride Rate Feature is like having a personal coach, gives you
feedback on every workout, helps prevent injuries,
6. Automatically tells you when to replace your shoes, never have to
keep track of shoe miles again 7. Light
weight
Cons:
A watch
may be uncomfortable for some.
Is a black watch
really your style.
If it is not your style, you
will not use it all day long.
If you do not use it
all the time, you may lose it.
Who is this
pedometer for? This
watch is for those who prefer to wear a watch rather than something in
their pocket or on their shoe. It is for someone who only needs a
pedometer for running and not for walking.
Who is
this not for? Not for those who do not like wearing a watch.
Not for someone who also needs a pedometer for walking. M.
Oshea says: "Even
without adjusting the settings for stride length, this watch was pretty
much dead on right out of the box. It may be that the default settings
are set for an average person. I'm 5'8 and went on a run on a known
distance course. When in the mode that showed step count, it picked up
every step.
Seems to be geared for running, on
page 55 of
manual it says that the watch is designed to count steps while you are
running. It will not count steps correctly while walking.It seems to
work fine for steady walking while your arm is moving. But breaks do
"confuse" it a little. My experience with pedometers is
limited. For running though, it works well. Have
used it for a few months now, very accurate. Used it on a 2 mile marked
course and it was right on. Figured out how to switch between displays,
so previous post was corrected. Overall a pretty good alternative to
the GPS and/or foot pod setups .
Whether
you're a backpacker, an avid runner, or simply looking to count your
doctor's recommended 10k steps a day, this watch fits the
bill.
Advanced accelerometer technology provides highly accurate readings
of speed, distance, and caloric expenditure via a simple
wrist
watch sensor, eliminating the need for funny looking foot pods or belt
clips. Accelerometer technology is 95+% accurate, and much more
dependable than traditional pendulum based pedometers. GPS-based
running products are expensive, complicated, and are not reliable for
indoor training or under heavy tree cover. The Accelerator Series is
the perfect combination of accurate readings, simplicity of use, and
stylish design.
Pros:
Stylish
women's fitness wristwatch with built-in accelerometer for gauging
distance
Produces highly
accurate readings of user's speed, distance, and caloric expenditure
Adjustable
step counter accounts for walking style, stride, terrain, and pack
weight
Built-in stopwatch
and countdown timer; powerful 7-day, 10-week memory
Clock
with 12/24-hour time, date, and daily alarm; 1-year warranty
cons:
A
watch may be uncomfortable for some.
Is this watch
really your style.
If it is not your style, you
will not use it all day long.
If you do not use it
all the time, you may lose it
Turns off after 30
minutes of not using
Whos is this for? This
watch is for those who prefer to wear a watch rather than
something in their pocket or on their shoe. It is for someone who only
needs a pedometer for running and serious walking.
Who
is this not for? This
watch is not for those who do not like to wear a watch while running.
It is not for those who might lose the watch if they do not wear it
often.
M. roper says: "First of
all, I do agree that
calibrating the pedometer is tough and frustrating. But, once you get
it done right it's wonderful and accurate. There is an online tutorial
that is helpful...I also called Silva directly and they were courteous
and helpful.
On reviewer wrote that if over counts
steps due
to its sensitivity. There are 5 levels of sensitivity so you can find
your right setting. The pedometer does not always count step by
step...the pedometer can "differentiates between ancillary movements
and actual steps. This feature provides users with the most accurate
results by delaying calculation until it has registered 10 steps." So,
this is probably one reason one reviewer thought it was over counting.
Just
like any new gadget, there are always quirks to figure out. For me, it
was worth persevering and getting the settings right. When you get your
watch, open the packages and put the direction aside and head straight
for the online tutorial ...
Did I mention that Consumer Reports also rated the best pedometer cell-phone apps. For Android they suggested Accupedo and for iPhone Pedometer Pro GPS+. For GPS Watches, Nike+ SportWatch GPS