One Step At A Time; Pedometer Basics
by Barbara Bietz
Pedometers, small devices that are worn on the body and count the number of steps taken by its wearer, are all the rage among the health conscious. Even McDonald’s got on the bandwagon in 2004 when it offered an adult “Happy Meal? complete with bottle of water and a pedometer. There are even companies that are purchasing them for all employees to boost fitness in the workplace.By keeping track of daily steps, a pedometer encourages more walking. The suggested guideline for healthy walking is 10,000 steps each day. Most adults walk only half that amount or less. Ideally, simply wearing the pedometer will provide a person with the motivation to walk more throughout his or her day.
Pedometers come in many styles and price ranges and have varying features. Some simply count steps; others calculate mileage and calories burned. Some can monitor heart function. Information can be transmitted visually in some and by sound in others. One of the major drawbacks to the use of a pedometer is the accuracy. The biggest complaint about pedometer accuracy is inconsistent measurement. This is often the case when the wearer partakes in activities other than walking or jogging. For the most accurate reading, the pedometer should be clipped securely to the hip area. Some models include an option that enables the user to program personal data into the device, such as height and weight, which can also help improve accuracy.
Most pedometers operate with a spring-style mechanism. For those who become passionate about the pedometer lifestyle or are simply gadget lovers, it might be worth considering a pedometer with GPS (Global Positioning System). GPS pedometers are highly accurate and likely to cost more than $100. However, in order for the GPS to work effectively, the device needs to be used outside. This is a wonderful product for outdoor activity, but not at all effective for indoor use.
The right pedometer can determine how successful the wearer will be at incorporating the device into a fitness program. It pays to do a little homework. There are many consumer comparisons available on the Internet that can help shoppers determine desired features and costs. Although this is an affordable device, prices range from downright cheap (under $10) to somewhat pricey (over $100). Expensive does not necessarily mean better. In most cases, the more expensive pedometers offer more features. If accuracy is a primary concern, expect to pay $20 or more. Comfort is also key. In order for the pedometer to be effective, it must be able to clip securely onto clothing. If it wiggles too much, it will not work correctly. Careful shopping will ensure a good decision, but given the difficulty with pedometer accuracy, it would be wise to make sure a pedometer can be returned or exchanged if its performance is not satisfactory.
Pedometer technology is always advancing. Newer models have been created to attach to shoes, and some companies are even selling shoes with built-in devices. There is a pedometer for every lifestyle and every budget. Don’t hesitate to give one a try.
OH Magazine’s Pedometer Challenge
OH Magazine asked members of the NooMee support group in Louisiana, coordinated by ObesityHelp member and volunteer Frances Spencer, to try four pedometers during and after their walk for the March of Dimes. The participants rated the various pedometers on a variety of factors and gave us their feedback. Participants ranged in weight from 365 pounds to about 125 pounds and varied in levels of fitness. In this March newsletter, we share with you their reviews of the products.
Eddie Bauer
Brand: Eddie Bauer Pedometer with FM Radio RATINGS Rank on a scale of 1-5
Retail: Amazon.com Ease of use: 3.6 Feature: 3.6
Price: $29.99 Accuracy**: 3.6 Value for price: 3.5
Feature: FM radio Comfort: 4.3 OVERALL: 3.6
Pros:
• Very comfortable on the ears
• Easy to read, change modes and open
• Radio is great if walking alone
• Looks cool and is attractive
• Very comfortable on the ears
• Easy to read, change modes and open
• Radio is great if walking alone
• Looks cool and is attractive
Cons:
• Lots of info to put in that takes time to set
• Noisy—some don’t care for the radio
• Not good for paired walkers
• May distract from traffic, dogs
• Lots of info to put in that takes time to set
• Noisy—some don’t care for the radio
• Not good for paired walkers
• May distract from traffic, dogs
Oregon Scientific
Brand: Oregon Scientific Pedometer with Panic Alarm RATINGS Rank on a scale of 1-5
Retail: Oregonscientific.com Ease of use: 4 Feature: 4
Price: $24.99 Accuracy: 4 Value for price: 2.6
Feature: Distance/Panic Alarm Comfort: 4 OVERALL: 4
Pros:
• Easy to use
• Nice panic button cord
• Panic alarm good feature in urban, high-crime areas
• Display on top, so no need to bend and point unit upward to read while walking
• Display offers lit screen for low-light walking
• Easy to use
• Nice panic button cord
• Panic alarm good feature in urban, high-crime areas
• Display on top, so no need to bend and point unit upward to read while walking
• Display offers lit screen for low-light walking
Cons:
• Too easy to accidentally reset
• Not accurate for sporadic daily-life walking
• Somewhat hard to program and set
• Takes work to personalize for weight and stride variations
• Too easy to accidentally reset
• Not accurate for sporadic daily-life walking
• Somewhat hard to program and set
• Takes work to personalize for weight and stride variations
Prevention
Brand: PREVENTION Digital Step Pedometer RATINGS Rank on a scale of 1-5
Retail: Amazon.com Ease of use: 4.5 Feature: 2
Price: $16.95 Accuracy: 4.5 Value for price: 4
Feature: Choice of Colors Comfort: 2.5 OVERALL: 3
Pros:
• It’s simple—just clip and go.
• Best unit for counting steps
• Works at any pace
• Does one thing and does it well
• It’s simple—just clip and go.
• Best unit for counting steps
• Works at any pace
• Does one thing and does it well
Cons:
• It lacks features
• Looks cheap and is not attractive
• Walkers need to do math equations for distance and calorie data
• Doesn’t provide much feedback
• It lacks features
• Looks cheap and is not attractive
• Walkers need to do math equations for distance and calorie data
• Doesn’t provide much feedback
Walkers’ Pick!
Sportline 343
Brand: Sportline 343 Talking Pedometer RATINGS Rank on a scale of 1-5
Retail: Sportline.com Ease of use 4 Feature 4
Price: $25.99 Accuracy 3 Value for price 4
Feature: Talking/Distance Comfort 5 OVERALL 4
Pros:
• Fairly easy to program
• Won’t rust or tarnish
• Talking feature is addictive and encourages more walking
• Clip designed for easy snap on and removal
• Fairly easy to program
• Won’t rust or tarnish
• Talking feature is addictive and encourages more walking
• Clip designed for easy snap on and removal
Cons:
• Not very accurate for unsteady, slow walking
• Awkward to read from above because of screen angle
• Seems to add more miles than actually walked
• Not very accurate for unsteady, slow walking
• Awkward to read from above because of screen angle
• Seems to add more miles than actually walked
Prices listed are the prices we paid. Shop around and you may find the same item for less. Pedometers may be best purchased online since most sporting goods stores seem to keep a very limited range of models available for in-store purchase.
*A note on pedometer accuracy: while none of the pedometers tested were spot-on accurate, our trial coordinator, Frances Spencer, found that when walking the same route, the pedometers registered total steps walked differing by less than 100 steps.
Editor’s Pick! Featured Pedometer
One of our editors did some informal independent testing. This is the pedometer that came out on top after several thousand steps.
This little pedometer has an advantage over some of its competitors in that it actually allows you to gauge the heart rate you have achieved during your workout. If you are trying to achieve the best cardiovascular results or are attempting to work at a level that will help you burn maximum fat, this pedometer provides a way to measure if you are working at the right intensity. Check with your physician to find out what heart rate you should achieve when you exercise.
Oregon Scientific Pedometer with Pulse Monitor—Model number PE316PM
Available at Amazon.com for $19.99.
Pros:
• Sensitivity switch that is simple to use allows for better accuracy
• Features easy-to-use pulse monitor
• Includes clock and calculates time, calories and distance
• Backlit screen for walking in poor light
• Function “cheat sheet? located on the pedometer
• Sensitivity switch that is simple to use allows for better accuracy
• Features easy-to-use pulse monitor
• Includes clock and calculates time, calories and distance
• Backlit screen for walking in poor light
• Function “cheat sheet? located on the pedometer
Cons:
• Folds in half and display is inside—you must stop and open it to use features
• The cover can be somewhat tough to open
• Has many functions, so it can take a few uses to learn how to do everything
• Small and light, but slightly bulky in design
• Folds in half and display is inside—you must stop and open it to use features
• The cover can be somewhat tough to open
• Has many functions, so it can take a few uses to learn how to do everything
• Small and light, but slightly bulky in design
Tell us about your favorite pedometer below! Click here to visit the OH Exercise & Fitness Forum.
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