Pedometers & Speed and Distance Devices

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Major Manufacturers

Everyone knows that walking is good for the heart but not everyone is able to track exactly how far they have walked -- unless they have a pedometer. Take the guesswork out of walking with a pedometer  that tracks the number of steps you take in a day or in a trek. You can quickly get a better impression of how much you are really walking and whether you are meeting your fitness goal. In the long term a pedometer can be a useful tool for maintaining or increasing physical fitness.

Choosing a Pedometer

Pedometers are quite inexpensive and most cost between $10 and $30. Just because you see one that costs more doesn't meant that it will be more accurate. It just means that you might get extra features, such as a calorie counter,  radio  or heart monitor. Whether you want extra features really depends on what you want from your pedometer. For tracking how many steps you take in a day, a basic model will suffice. If you want a built-in radio, you'll spend less than $50 but for an MP3 player  or integrated GPS device  expect to dish out more than $100. Calorie counting monitors fall somewhere closer to the bottom end of the scale.

For anyone interested in doing more than just walking (like aerobics, biking, or other cardiovascular sports) a heart rate monitor may actually be a better choice than a pedometer. Heart rate monitors  offer a wide range of features and are actually better at monitoring overall fitness.

Important Features

  • The most important things to look for on any pedometer is a comfortable fit. Most are belt clip style (worn slightly below the waist) and on the thigh (for walking). Some can be worn on the wrist, upper arm or shoe depending on the model type (these types are usually for running). Keep in mind that if worn incorrectly, either because it is uncomfortable or not the right style for your type of activity, accuracy of the device suffers.
  • Stopwatch function allows you to time yourself.
  • Backlit display makes reading results much easier. Big, clear numbers and graphics also help.
  • An input for Age/Height/Weight/Gender is standard on a calorie counting pedometer.
  • A warning beep to keep you in your target heart rate range is important to have on a pedometer that tracks heart rate too.

About GPS Models

GPS models track your movements to give you your location as well as the total distance you run or walk, plus speed and overall pace. These models are great for people who like to hike or for serious runners and trainers. Keep in mind that GPS models usually don't work indoors and that they often have the ability to transfer your data to your PC for tracking progress. GPS models are also known as speed and distance devices.  Most are usually quite costly (running from $100 to $200 or more) but the extra features make them worth the extra money should you want those features.

Related Buying Guides

Heart Rate Monitors

Personal Fitness

Running Shoes

Treadmills

Bathroom Scales

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