For those who are actively involved in or just beginning a fitness regimen, a pedometer is a great and reasonably priced investment to aid in a healthy lifestyle. A pedometer is a small, stop watch like device that you wear daily to count your steps to tally your daily distance. Since most experts recommend that you walk an average of 10,000 steps per day to maintain a healthy lifestyle, a pedometer will help you track the steps taken in the course of your daily life to help keep you motivated and on the right track towards your fitness goals. Pedometers range in technology from simple step counters, to more sophisticated versions that actually track the input and output of calories expended. Recently, pedometers have even become integrated in personal electronics devices such as cell phones, mp3 players, and even handheld gaming systems. Since there are a lot of pedometers out there, how do you know which one is for you? Here is a list of pedometers currently available on the market, ranging from simple to sophisticated at all different price points along the way to help aid in your decision making process:
On the low end of the technology (and price!) spectrum, there’s the Sportline Strider Pedometer. Priced at under $10 at Sears, this is a pedometer at it’s simplest. It’s electronic display counts your steps up to 99,999, and includes a personal stride adjustment feature for step accuracy. If you’re looking for a basic pedometer model, this is the one for you.
For a more high tech pedometer with more features, there’s the Omron HJ-112 Digital Pocket Pedometer. Priced at around $25 at Amazon.com, this pedometer not only logs your daily steps, it can also be used to measure calories burned during your workout, as well as the distance you've traveled. It’s seven day storage capability allows you to look back at your weeks workout history. If you’re just beginning a fitness program and a diet regimen, then I’d suggest this is the pedometer for you.
Further up the pedometer spectrum we have the Sportline – Solo 960 Digital Pedometer Heart Rate Watch which is available at Best Buy for under $100.00 This innovative pedometer combines pedometer technology with a state of the art heart rate monitor all in a handy wristwatch style. It’s “accelerometer” detects motion to accurately track movement in steps, distance, speed and calories even while swimming. If you’re a serious, multi activity fitness buff, then this is definitely the pedometer for you.
On the high end of the pedometer spectrum, we have the bodybugg which is really in a category all by itself. Sold at most fitness retailers including 24 Hour Fitness, the bodybugg is an armband that tracks the calories you consume and burn at up to 90% accuracy. If you’re serious about beginning a long term diet and exercise program, the Body Bugg is one of the simplest and most motivating tools out there to help you succeed. This is a customized system that syncs your daily exertion information directly to your own profile on its accompanying web based nutrient program, the first six months of which is included in the purchase of a new bodybugg. Oh yeah, and it tracks your daily steps too!
Check out this short video for more information on how the bodybugg technology works.
