Pedometer Reviews

Pedometers are becoming popular recently because of the apparent health benefits of “walking”. Our objective with this article is to review the available pedometer types, models and brands in the market so that individuals who are planning to get into that healthy, fit, lifestyle would be able to make the right choice when purchasing his or her pedometer.

First of all, what is a pedometer and why do we need it? By definition, a pedometer is a mechanical or electronic device that counts the number of steps a person takes when walking or travelling on foot. A simpler definition would be, a pedometer is basically a step counter. Now, why do we need it? Actually, we dont’t.

Humans have no inherent need for pedometers. If a person wants to walk for fitness, he or she can do so without a step counter at hand. If you are not concious of the number of steps you have walked in a day, there is no need for such a device. But, just because you have no innate need for pedometers, it doesn’t mean that it is a useless tool. On the contrary. This item, although it has a very simple and basic function, has useful purposes as well.

In modern society, people who are suffering from illnessess related to the heart, blood and excessive fat mass have been increasing. This is due to the lifestyle that we are living. We have been accustomed to an easy and comfortable lifestyle that we have taken for granted the condition of our bodies. A lot of people have become lazy to work out or do any type of exercise to maintain fitness. Even the most basic of exercises is sometimes avoided through modern devices that could substitute its function. It is ironic that in today’s fast paced lifestyle, many have opted not to walk. A lot of people would rather take a cab or ride a car instead of walking four blocks to buy ice cream. This is understandable of course since “time is of the essence.” But, by saving time, we are compromising our health conditions especially if this becomes a habit.

Walking is the main or basic mobilizing or commuting means of any land creature including humans. But, even if it is one of the most basic daily physical activities performed by humans, walking could provide significant health and fitness benefits. Body movements require muscle activities and muscle activities use up or burn energies stored in fat cells within our body. Therefore, body movements burn fat cells in the body. And since walking is the basic physical activity of any person, walking is the most basic of exercises anyone can perform.

There are recommendations from a lot of websites, health magazines and articles saying that to live that fit and healthy lifestyle, a person must walk at least 10,000 steps per day. There hasn’t been any proof or study that supports this recommendation definitely but this is a good number to start with.

If you plan to follow this recommendation, how would you know that you have walked 10,000 steps already? This is where peodmeters come in. Like we said in the beginning of this article, there is no inherent need for pedometers but if you are concious of the number of steps yo have taken, an dif you want to monitor your daily physical activities, using a pedometer could be beneficial to you.

There are three available types of pedometers in the market right now:

Spring-Levered - These are pedometers that make use of spring suspended lever arm that moves up and down simultaneously with your movements. The lever strikes an electric circuit as whenever it moves. Every strike on the electric circuit will register as a step on the pedometer. This type of pedometer should be in an upright position or perpendicular to the ground when being used. If it is tilted, the pedometer’s accuracy will be compromised.

Accelerometer or Piezoelectric - Accelerometers uses a material that causes or creates an electric charge when deformed due to inertia. This material known as strain gauge also measures how fast you are moving. a voltage, proportional to acceleration will be released by the material during movement and this voltage will be used to record the steps. Since accelerometers measures the number of steps and the accelaration of the step, it is considered to be more accurate than spring-levered pedometers. This type of pedometer consumes battery more than the spring-levered type.

Global Positioning System (GPS) - Technically, this type of device doesn’t fall under pedometer types since it doesn’t measure the number of steps a person takes but rather the distance he/she has travelled. Althiugh it technically isn’t a pedometer, GPS are used or sold as substitutes for pedometers since it is the most accurate in terms of measuring the distance one has travelled while walking. The only downside with using this device is that a the GPS device should be in contact or in plain view of at least three of the twelve satellites circling the earth. If by chance you are in an area with high rise buildings, the satellites may lose its connection with your GPS receiver and affect the data it will register.

With these types of pedometers available, manufacturers have become creative with their products and designs by adding additional features. Various additional features that measures other factors related to “walking for fitness” include:

Distance - This is basically the computation of your number of steps multiplied by the lenght of your stride. Since your stride length and your pace varies, there could be inaccuracies in the calculation of this factor. If you walk slower, the calculations may be overestimated and inversely, if you walk faster, the calculations may be underestimated.

Calorie Burn - This feature shows how much calories you have burned by calculating your metabolic rate with the number of strides you have made. Genereally, pedometers with Calorie Burn counters have a high margin of error depending on the activity you are performing.

Speed - This is the measurement of your distance travelled over time. Some pedometers have this feature and can be useful especially for athletes who are developing new techniques.

Pulse - Some pedometers measure the user’s pulse rate. Usually these features are used with a heart rate strap. This is helpful in measuring your calorie burn and finding out how strenuous your activity was.

Timer - Not all pedometers have this feature. But timers are useful in determining whether the user is following the recommended time required fro exercise.

Others - There are other features that could be added to the pedometer. But be reminded that additional features will add to the devices weight, consumption of energy (battery), and may compromise accuracy.

Pedometers are designed to measure number of steps a person takes. This is the function this device is most accurate with. Other features are not the main purpose of the step counters so it is possible that the calorie count, the pulse rate or the distance that it measures or registers may be inaccurate with a large margin of error. If you are planning to just exercise while walking, it is advisable to use or purchase pedometers with only its basic function: to count steps.

If you still can’t decide which step counters to use, we have suggestions listed below with some descriptions of the items just in case you get across them:

New Lifestyle NL-2000 - The most accurate of all pedometers that are available today.It’s an accelero meter that is why the calculations are accurate but even amongst other piezoelectric pedometers, this model is much more reliable. This model is also the most expensive of the available pedometers in the market, which is understandable since it is the most efficient.

Yamax DigiWalker - This brand is considered the standard of all pedometers. This is a Japanese made pedometer that subjects itself to Japanese standards in terms of pedometers: margin of error should be under 3%

Ohmron HJ-112 - There are differing comments about this unit. It has two sensors and because of this, Ohmron HJ-112 has two sensors that could calculate or register steps accurately within a 2% margin of error. But there are others saying that despite the two sensors used by Ohmron, it undercounts when used on daily activities. Good for jogging and working out but not for daily mundane activities.

In terms of step counting accuracy, most Single Lever Type Pedometers lag behind Accelerometers. This is because most spring lever types make use of hairsprings to control the vibration of the lever arm. Hair springs are thin rods of metal that are coiled or spiraled and are usually used for clocks and watches.

For purposes of accuracy in step counting, Hairsprings are qualified since they are used in mechanical watches and therefore are meant and have been proven to provide accuracy. The problem however is not it’s ability to be accurate but rather it’s ability to be accurate over time. Since Hairsprings are just thin metal coils, constant wear and tear will eventually weaken the the spring thus, compromising it’s accuracy.

In this regard, Yamax Digiwalker pedometers have addressed this issue by using a more durable and more dependable type of spring. Yamax Digiwalkers make use of Spring Coils rather than Hairsprings. These are relatively thicker and stronger than hairsprings. Being thicker and stronger, it can maintain its accuracy longer than hairsprings. This is one of the reasons why Yamax Digiwalker pedometers are considered the most accurate step counter available in the market.

Yamax also considers the balance between the lever arm and the spring it uses on their Digiwalker pedometers. Well balanced components will ensure the accuracy and sensitivity of the step counter which will result to impressive performance.

Out of all the single Lever Type pedometers available in the market today, those that are made by Yamax are considered to be top of the line. Only Yamax Digiwalker pedometers could compete with the accuracy of Accelerometers. In fact, Yamax Digiwalkers outshines all its competitors including most Accelerometers in terms of step counting accuracy. Digiwalker is actually believed to have the most accurate line of pedometers and are considered to be the “Golden Standard”.

In Japan, where Yamax Digiwalker pedometers originate, there is a law stating that pedometers manufatured in Japan should have at most, 3% margin of error. This means that any pedometer produced that has more than 3% margin of error is considered substandard. This is a huge thing to consider since most of its other competitors could only claim to have 5-10% margin of error. Only Yamax Digiwalker has ever claimed this much accuracy in its performance and a lot of researchers and independent reviews have attested to this accuracy.

Digiwalker pedometers are indeed the best in the market in terms of step counting.

Now, you might be thinking that there are a lot of Digiwalker series and models available and are wondering what their differences are. Actually, the only thing different from one Digiwalker model to another is the features and the aesthetics that goes along with it. But the mechanisms inside the step counter is the same with every other digiwalker model. The internal sensors are the same for all Digiwalker pedometers, which ensures the accuracy to all the models.

If you are wondering what Digiwalker models are available, we have listed some samples for you and their corresponding features. These aren’t all the models so you might want to search for other models as well. Here are the samples:

DIGI-WALKER　SW-200

• Considered to be the most accurate of all the other pedometers; betters even the more popular brands available
• Spring Lever Type
• Single Function (No Added Feature)

DIGI-WALKER　SW-500/501

• Spring Lever Type
• Count Steps
• Measures Distance
• Has Clock

DIGI-WALKER　SW-650/651

• Spring Lever Type
• Measures Distance
• Has Clock
• With Stop Watch

DIGI-WALKER　SW-700/701

• Spring Type Lever
• Measures Distance
• With Calorie Expenditure Counter

DIGI-WALKER　SW-800/801

• Spring Lever Type
• Measures Distance
• With Calorie Expenditure Counter
• With Speed Monitor

DIGI-WALKER CW-200

• Spring Lever Type
• Step Counter (Measures up tp a million steps)
• With Clock
• Dual Display (Shows Step Count and Time and the Same Time)

DIGI-WALKER CW-300

• Spring Lever Type
• Step Count up to a million steps
• Clock
• Dual Display
• Measures Activity Time (time covered while walking or jogging)

DIGI-WALKER CW-600

• Spring Lever Type
• Step Count up to a million steps
• Clock
• Dual Diplay
• Measures Activity Time
• Seven Day Memory for Stats
• Memory of Total Stats for Two Weeks

DIGI-WALKER CW-700/701

• Spring Lever Type
• Step Counter up to a million steps
• Clock
• Dual Display
• Seven Day Memory for Stats
• Memory of Total Stats for Two Weeks
• Calorie Ependiture Counter
• Measures Distance

These are just some of the available Yamax Digiwalker pedometers available in the market. Like what was mentioned in this article earlier, All these models have the same sensors and the same mechanisms internally. The only difference is the additional feature from one model to another. Now, always remember that you can’t expect pedometers to be accurate in measuring calorie expenditures and distance travelled. Pedometers, including Yamax Digiwalkers, are designed to count steps. You could expect Yamax Digiwalkers to have accurate step counts but there might be a larger margin of error in terms of measuring all the other stats.

Another thing you should remember is that Yamax Digiwalkers are Spring Lever Type pedometers. This implies that it should be used in an upright posithion in order to count steps accurately. In this regard, for individuals with higer BMI or individuals who are obese, it might not be advisable to use Yamas Digiwalkers. Studies have shown that since pedometers are positioned on the waistband, people with protruding midsections tend to wear them slightly tilted. When Single Lever Type pedometers are worn tilted, its accuracy to count steps may be compromised.

With this in mind, it is advisable for individuals with higher BMI and with obesity to use accelerometers rather than a Yamax Digiwalker. But for those who have no trouble wearing their pedometers upright, this is the best and most highly recommended pedometer for you to use.

Now you can leave your reading glasses at home when you jog in the morning since talking pedometers are available now.

The problem with LCD’s is that when the sun is too high, the figures or the images on the LCD are difficult to read. The visibility of the characters is compromised when read out doors.

This is a problem or at least an inconvenience to more mature users of electronic gadgets or to people with poor eyesight. That is why talking pedometers would be beneficial or appropriate for them to use.

Talking pedometers have voice announcements of the information it has registered. This is a convenience since you don’t have to look at your pedometer every time and again just to check the number of steps you have made.

The most popular of these talking pedometers are:

Voice Zone Talking Pedometer – This pedometer announces the number of steps you have taken, the number of calories you have burned, the distance you have traveled and it keeps track of the time you have jogged or walked.

It has an automated voice prompt that will inform the user the whenever he has taken 1,000 steps, burned 500 calories, walked half a mile, and when you have been walking for 10 minutes.

This model counts actual steps and ignores false steps which may cause under counting if the user is walking slow or taking subtle steps.

Oregon Scientific Talking Pedometer with FM Radio – This pedometer is a fusion of pedometers and portable radios or Walkmans.

Just like every pedometer, this model counts the person’s steps taken everyday. It also measures the number of calories the user have burned and the distance traveled by walking.

It has a seven day memory for recording the number of steps and number of calories a person has burned in a week, a useful feature for people conscious of their health and their work out stats. It can count up to 99,999 steps before it rolls over back to zero and it has a 24 hour clock with alarm.

Since it has an FM radio feature, there is also a jock for ear phones. The stats of your work out are announced through the ear phones.

This is a great companion for people who get bored when jogging or walking. It counts the steps of the person and at the same time, provides entertainment by the use of the FM Radio.

These talking pedometers impressive since it provides voice prompts and voice announcements of the user’s statistics. But there is a downside to this type of model. Imagine having this kind of pedometer, especially the Voice Zone talking pedometer (without headphones) and you’re in a meeting. This kind of pedometer could cause distractions and may be irritating especially if you’re doing a presentation and you’re moving a lot.

Therefore, this type of pedometer is inadvisable to professionals who don’t like being disturbed during presentations and meetings. At least, professionals shouldn’t wear talking pedomeneters during meetings and presentations. This is recommended to more mature users though.

Also, there hasn’t been any good review for these kinds of pedometers pertaining to its accuracy when it comes to step counting. Although it is convenient for people with poor eyesight, the accuracy may be compromised especially if the user really wants to keep a healthy lifestyle. We’ll be on the look out for more accurate Talking Pedometers in the market.

Regarding battery consumption though, you could expect that talking pedometers would consume batteries quicker that regular pedometers. We weren’t able to gather information pertaining to these models’ battery lifespan but since it has added features, battery life should be shorter compared to normal step counters.

Individuals with an active lifestyle will have different requirements with their pedometers that only Watch Pedometers could provide.

Pedometers are usually worn on belts. There is no problem with this kind of pedometer assuming that the only activity you will be doing is walking and running. But what if you are a sports climber or a mountain biker or a dragon boat rower or a hiker or a basket ball player?

A step counter on your belt could be a hindrance or a distraction for you if your pedometer is on your waist and you are doing sports. How many athletes have you seen with electronic gadgets or accessories on their waist? Usually, athletes have their accessories either on their foreheads, knees or wrists.

For this kind of market, the most suitable type would be the digital watch pedometers. Watches are the most secure accessory for athletes and are the least distracting since we are all used to wearing accessory on the wrist.

Just like every pedometers, Watch Pedometers measures and count steps, calorie expenditures, distance traveled and of course, most of watch pedometers have clocks.

Samples of these Watch pedometers are:

Tech 4 O Accelerator Series – This is a practical watch pedometer. It counts steps, measures the distance you have traveled, the number of calories you have burned and it could even tell your speed.

This is advisable for those who have an active lifestyle or are athletic.

New Balance 50007 VIA Wrist Pedometer and Chronograph Watch – This is impressive in terms of the feature it has. Just like every pedometer, it counts steps. The added features are also the same as most pedometers, it calculates the number of calories you have burned, distance traveled and it since it’s a watch, it has a clock.

The most useful addition that was added to this pedometer is its 50 m water resistance feature.

For people who are into water sports, this watch is the best recommended pedometer for you. It’s not certain if the calorie counter is accurate during your water sports movements though. But it is still a great gadget for water sports.

Garmin Forerunner 201 – Of all the watch or wrist pedometers available, this is the most accurate although it doesn’t count steps. The Garmin Forerunner is actually uses GPS technology, which means it doesn’t count steps but rather counts the distance traveled. As added feature, it measures your speed and calorie burns.

Of all the pedometers that make use of GPS technology, the Garmin Forerunner 201 is the most affordable although it is still relatively expensive.

The downside to this model is the same as every GPS type pedometer. It doesn’t work inside buildings, foliages and high rise structures could block the satellite signal and it’s too bulky for a wrist accessory.

If you are planning to live a healthy and active lifestyle, wrist or watch pedometers are recommended for you. There are numerous and various watch pedometers available to you in the market. Just look for the model that fits you the most wit the features that you think yo need most. As a reminder, please don’t purchase pedometers with too many features that you don’t actually need. Added features contribute to the consumption of the batteries. Identify what you need and so yo would know which one you should use.

Helping people improve one’s wellness, health and lifestyle is the goal of Sportline. This is why Sportline have spent a lot of effort in providing consumers, health enthusiasts and simple everyday people with accurate and high performance gadgets and devices to measure your everyday personal efforts.

The most popular line of products Sportline produces is it is pedometer line. Sportline manufactures various digital pedometers with a lot of features added to assist and motivate people who want to get in shape. In fact, their designs come in different shapes and sizes. They have almost every kind of pedometer that you could think of. They’ve got pedometer watches, credit card thin pedometers, pocket pedometers and the usual clip-ons.

The great thing about Sportline pedometers is that they look cool and modern. Unlike most pedometers that are available in the market, Sportline designs are sleek and trendy. With something like this, it is very possible that even kids and teens could be enticed to do the recommended 10, 000 step per day exercise.It is obvious perhaps that the target market of Sportline Pedometers include the younger age group.

But if we think about it, the aesthetics of pedometers is not the main concern of the user. The main concern would be its accuracy and durability. It is imperative that when designing a product, both form and function are considered by the designer.

What we need to identify is whether the form or the design of Sportline pedometers co relate to the accuracy and performance of its function or is it just a mirage, or a diversion for the user to not notice if it is not true to its purpose.

We have listed a couple of models designed and created by Sportline with their corresponding features. We have gathered some information, comments and reviews on some of the products regarding their performance, accuracy and durability.We will be listing them down as well:

Sportline 340 Step Pedometer - Designed to count your steps and the distance you have traveled.

Features:

* Count up to 99,999 steps
* measures up to 1,000 miles
* Patented Advanced Pendulum Design
* adjustable stride length
* large, easy to read display

Comments:

* Compact design, which is good
* Light weight, which is good
* Simple Controls, which is good
* Inaccurate, which is bad
* Poor Clip grip, which is bad

ShrinQ Pocket Pedometer - Smallest pedometer ever manufactured so far. Designed to fit inside pockets and still keep counting.

Features:

* Digital Motion Sensor
* Count steps and measure distance traveled
* Measures Calorie expenditure
* English and Metric units option

Comments:

* Fits pocket perfectly, which is good
* Compact design, which is good
* Sleek and trendy design, which is good
* Clear and readable display, which is good
* Too sensitive, which is bad
* Inaccurate (over counting), which is bad

ThinQ Pocket Pedometer - Thinnest pedometer available. Designed to fit inside pockets or wallets

Features:

* Measures Distance
* Measures Calorie Expenditure
* Included Timer
* Thin and fits wallet or pocket
* Counts up to 699,999 steps
* Metric and English units option

Comments:

* Can fit in pocket or wallet, which is good
* Does not cramp fashion style, which is good
* sleek and trendy, which is good
* Clear, easy to read display which is good
* Buttons are not shielded or protected (could be accidentally reset), which is bad
* Could be easily misplaced, which is bad
* Inaccurate (over counting), which is bad

330 Step Pedometer - Simplest of all Sportline Products. Designed of easy use.

Features:

* Counts up to 99,999 steps
* Patented Advanced Pendulum Design
* No programming required
* Easy reset button
* Single Function (doesn’t measure anything else other than steps)

Comments:

* Big easy to read display, which is good
* Easy to reset, which is good
* Easy to use, which is good
* Counts waist movement as steps, which is bad
* Inaccurate (over counts), which is bad

So far, none of the data we have gathered would support the claims of Sportline to be a manufacturer or producer of accurate and high performance health and fitness gadgets. It may just be a coincidence or lack of independent reviews available but the products that we have seen so far by Sportline have failed to satisfy its users. In terms of aesthetic design, Sporltline is indeed the leading brand when it comes to pedometers. Unfortunately, as we have mentioned, form without function is useless to any design. So far, Sportline hasn’t been able to prove that their designs are both functional as well as aesthetically sound.

This review does not end here though. We’ll still try to dig up more information and independent reviews for you on different models of Sportline pedometers. Perhaps the accurate, efficient and high performance models that this company has produced has not been reviewed by us yet. We will find out if Sportline is true to its goals in providing and manufacturing high performance sport gadgets.

One of the most popular brands in the market that produces and manufactures Pedometers is Omron. Actually, Omron is a manufacturer of a lot of digital and electronic health care products. It is not surprising that this company would join the walking for fitness bandwagon by producing pedometers for walkers and health enthusiasts. This company has produced product lines that would specifically target people who have decided to walk for a healthy lifestyle.

With the company’s reputation as producer of quality medical equipments, it is very easy for Omron to gain a huge market share. The name of the company itself is enough to gather many patrons that would buy and use their products. But, reputation alone is not enough to assure us of quality performance and accuracy in counting steps. This is the reason why we have gathered information and independent reviews on various models of Omron Pedometers to prove whether their products actually work.

When we looked for Omron pedometers available in the market. We have found a lot of models of different types and designs. What we noticed was that Omron produces stylish and trendy electronic gadgets. Aesthetically, their products are very attractive that superficial buyers would surely be enticed into buying these models. But do they actually function the way they are expected to or do they just look good?

The flag bearer of Omron Pedometer models is the Omron HJ-112 Pedometer. It has made a name for itself in terms of precision, durability, reliability and performance. Also, this model made a big buzz since it’s the HJ-112 was the first ever pedometer to make use of dual accelerometer sensors. In fact, only Omron produces pedometers with dual accelerometer sensors. No other company or step counter manufacturer has ever tried to imitate or duplicate the mechanism used by Omron.

The secret of Omron’s success perhaps comes from the dual accelerometer sensors that they use. The company claims that because of the mechanism that was introduced by Omron HJ-112, the step counting accuracy of their pedometers has become reliable. It can still accurately register steps whether the pedometer is positioned vertically or horizontally. But then, these are just claims of Omron and Omron pedometer distributors.

What we intend to do is to verify whether these claims are reliable. Also, we would like to educate the market and let them know of what actual users of Omron has to say about the pedometers they have produced. We have listed some of the models available in the market together with the independent reviews that we have found on them. Hopefully, these reviews will be helpful to a lot of people:

Omron HJ-112 Pedometer - This model has been getting a lot of good reviews because of the accuracy of its calculations. Pedometers are usually worn or attached on the user’s belt for it to count accurately but, the Omron HJ 112 can count steps just as accurately even when kept inside the user’s pocket, bag or purse. This is possible because of this model’s dual sensors.Most pedometers would undercount your steps if they are slower or subtler than brisk walking. But due to the unique feature of the Omron HJ 112 (having two electronic sensors) even the slightest walk or step could be counted. That is why even when kept inside your bag or pocket, this model could still count steps accurately.

Features:

• Dual Accelerometer Sensors
• Count Steps
• Measures Distance
• Counts Calorie Expenditure
• 7 Day History
• Automatic Reset (Set at midnight)
• Large, Readable Display
• Clock
• Detachable clip

Comments:

• Manual is available online, which is good
• Fits pocket or bag perfectly, which is good
• Highly Accurate , which is good
• Works quietly, which is good
• Weak Clip Grip (falls off easily), which is bad
• Display and pedometer body can get scratched easily (No protective layer, shell or cover), which is bad

Omron HJ-720ITC Pedometer - There hasn’t been much reviews about this model yet. But we found and gathered some comments that were available. this model is designed to count steps accurately whether positioned vertically or horizontally. This is one of the newest and highly advanced pedometer available that comes with a software that will allow you to record and store your progress in your computer.

Features:

• Dual Accelerometer Sensor
• Includes Omeon Health Management Software to keep track of progress
• Count Steps
• Separately counts Aerobic Steps
• Measures Distance
• Measures Calorie expenditure
• Clock
• Automatic Reset
• 41 Day Memory

Comments

• Computer Software is easy to use, which is good
• Program still have some bugs, which is bad
• Highly Accurate, which is good
• Weak Clip Grip, which is bad
• Size is relatively bigger than other pocket pedometers, which is bad
• Doesn’t count side steps or kicks during aerobic workouts, which is bad

Hip Pedometer HJ-150 - Most basic accelerometer pedometer produced by omron. There aren’t many reviews about this item yet. But some independent reviews were available and we gathered them to help in determining the reliability of this product by Omron.

Features:

• Single Accelerometer Sensor
• 7 day memory
• Automatic Reset
• Clock
• Step Counter

Comments:

• Can be kept in pocket or placed in waistband and still count accurately, which is good
• Accurate step counting, which is good
• Weak Clip Grip, which is bad

Hip Pedometer HJ-151 - A more advance version of the HJ-150. Has additional helpful and useful features to keep track of user’s progress. Same as the two previous models, this model hasn’t gotten too much attention yet. Not too many reviews could be gathered but there still are available independent reviews that have been gathered.

Features:

• Single Accelerometer Sensor
• Step Counter
• Counts moderate steps separately
• Measures distance
• 7 Day Memory
• Automatic Reset
• Clock

Comments:

• Easy to use, which is good
• Easy to read, which is good
• Lightweight, which is good
• Weak Clip Grip, which is bad
• Questionable Durability, (stopped working after two months perhaps do to falling), which is bad

Obviously, based on the independent reviews that we have gathered, Omron’s designs and product line have met the standards and expectations of pedometer users. They also live to the promise that they produce accurate pedometers. The only problem with Omron pedometers, as reviewed by actual users, is that the grip of Omron pedometer clips are weak.

This is an important function or feature that was overlooked by the designers of Omron. As a basic feature, the clips must be durable and strong enough to hang on to belts or elastic bands. With the poor clip grip of the current designs, Omron pedometers could fall off or get lost easily which is an inconvenience to users. Also, frequent impact due to falling off could affect the sensors and the mechanisms of the pedometers.

So, if you are planning to purchase or buy and Omron pedometer, you could expect reliable accuracy in its step counting but be sure to secure your Omron pedometer to avoid dropping or losing it.

If there’s a pedometer brand that constantly competes for the title of “Gold Standard” in step counting accuracy, it must be New Lifestyle. The pedometers or accelerometers that this company produces have always been considered top of the line. The performance has always been well noted and it’s accuracy is recognized by researchers, users and independent reviewers.

The most popular model that New Lifestyle ever produced is the NL-2000. The New Lifestyle NL-2000 is an accelerometer that accurately counts steps. This model is the first model of any pedometer or accelerometer that challenged and rivalled Yamax Digiwalker pedometers.

As an accelerometer, New Lifestyle pedometers are expected to be more accurate than single lever type pedometers. But of all pedometers, Yamax has maintained its position as the leading pedometer brand. With its margin of error being kept under 3%, Yamax Digiwalker enjoys the prestige of being the best in the market. That is until New Lifestyle released the first ever pedometer to match the accuracy of the Digiwalker.

New Lifestyle NL-2000, is the first pedometer to rival the Digiwalker. It is said to be accurate in counting steps even at speeds below 2.5 miles per hour. This is a huge achievement for New Lifestyle since not all pedometers could accurately register steps under this speed.

Being able to Count slow steps alone will not be able to get any pedometer brand to rival the “Golden Standard” that simple. The actual reason why NL-2000 was able to position itself on top of the rankings is because of an independent scientific test that was made involving New Lifestyle NL-2000 and Yamax Digiwalker SW 200. The test was conducted in a controlled environment where numerous people were asked to walk on tread mills at various paces and speeds. For people of normal weight, the competition, to determine which was the most accurate, was close and almost a tie. That is until the pedometers were tested by overweight people and those with obesity.

Because the subjects were bigger than normal weighing people, when the pedometers were positioned on their waists, the pedometers tilted which caused the Digiwalker to count inaccurately. When the results from the pedometers were gathered, it was noted that the data registered in the New Lifestyle NL-2000 was more accurate than that of the DIgiwalker. It was then concluded that although Digiwalker is the most accurate pedometer with only 3% margin of error at most, it is still a Single-lever Type pedometer. Its accuracy will be compromised when its position changes.

After this experiment, New Lifestyle NL-2000 was then considered a competitor to the title of “Golden Standard”.

Of course, this product is not perfect. Just like everything else, the NL-2000 has bugs that the manufacturers may have overlooked. That is why we gathered comments and reviews from various users so that we’d know what to expect of this product if ever we owned one. Also, We would be listing the other New Lifestyle accelerometer models that we could find and their additional features. We’ll try to include gathered comments and reviews as well if we could find any.

The Popular New Lifestyle models are:

NL-2000 - The most popular model. This is the model that allowed New Life Pedometers to be ranked as one of the best pedometers available. First pedometer to rival Digimax in terms of accuracy.

Features:

• Metal clip which has stronger grip than most pedometer clips
• Counts Steps
• Measures Calorie Expenditure
• Automatic Reset
• English and Metric Unit Oprions
• Computes Basal Metabolic Rate

Comments:

• Quiet (No ticking sound), which is good
• Light weight, which is good
• Accurate in counting slow steps, which is good
• Metal Clip is secure, which is good
• Tilting does not affect accuracy, which is good
• Cover could be tricky to open, which is bad
• Doesn’t Measure Distance, which is bad
• May be too sensitive sometimes (over count) , which is bad

NL-1000 - Makes use of the same internal mechanism as NL-2000. Step counting accuracy is the same. Only features are different.

Features:

• Clip is a hybrid of metal clip and plastic clip
• Counts steps
• Measures Distance
• 7 Day memory
• Automatic Reset
• English and Metric Unit Options
• Measures Activity Minutes

Comments:

• Quiet (No clicking sound), which is good
• Big number display, which is good
• Activity Minutes Calculation is helpful, which is good
• Tilting doesn’t compromise accuracy, which is good
• Accurate, which is good
• Competitively accurate, which is good
• No Calorie counter, which is bad

NL-800 - Just like its predecessors, NL-2000 and NL-1000, NL-800 makes use of the same internal mechanism that ensures it accuracy and reliability.

Features:

• Counts Steps
• Hybrid Clip
• Automatic Reset
• 7 Day Memory
• Big Display

Comments:

• Clip Grip is Strong, which is good
• Quiet (No clicking sound), which is good
• Accurate, which is good
• Tilting doesn’t affect accuracy, which is good
• Single Function (doesn’t measure distance or calorie expenditure), which is bad

These are the popular models of New Lifestyle pedometers. Based on the comments and reviews of users, this brand produces accurate and high performance pedometers. Of, course, like we said, there are still bugs in the mechanism which may cause it to over count a little. Also, if you’d notice, our comment on NL-800 having just a single function is bad. This is because New Lifestyle pedometers are one of the most expensive pedometers available. You’d expect this since its accuracy and reliability is verified by independent testing. But even though it is highly accurate, being sold at such a high price should include additional helpful options.

Nike and Apple, two of the biggest brands known to provide stylish products have collaborated to create a system that will keep count of your steps wile playing your favorite songs during your morning jogs. This highly fashionable system is known as the Nike + iPod sports kit.

This system comprises of one small accelerometer which you could mount in a pocket type cavity on the sole of the shoe. This accelerometer will gather the data of your walks and jogs and send the information through a wireless connection to a receiver that you will attach to your iPod Nano. Your iPod Nano will store the information it receives and when you get home, you could upload these information on line or in your computer for monitoring.

These made a fuss when it was first launched in 2006. Some people liked the product while a lot were unsatisfied because of some kinks with the system that needs improvements. But looking at the kinks, the improvements that most users or consumers are thinking of might not happen. To give you a clearer picture of what our speculation means, here are the pros and cons of the product that you might want to know.

Pros:

• Sleek, stylish and modern design that will match most outfits

• Pedometer doesn’t hang on waistband of pants so there’s not too much distraction when running

• No wires needed to connect the accelerometer to the receiver

• The accelerometer is small and light so you wouldn’t feel it that much

Cons:

• The receiver only works with iPod Nano. This system won’t work with other iPod, MP3 or MP4 models

• Since the accelerometer is supposed to be inserted to a depression on the shoes’ sole the system requires a special Nike+ shoes designed solely for the Nike + iPod sports kit

• The accelerometer’s batteries can’t be replaced. This means that when the batteries run out of juice, you’ll have to purchase a new accelerometer.

• The margin of error of the accelerometer is 10%

The whole Nike + iPod sports kit system is flawed. Although it looks fashionable and can really motivate you to work real hard in burning your adipose tissues, the very purpose of the accelerometer is not even close to perfect. For an accelerometer to be considered effective, its margin of error should be within 5 %. 10% is just to big of a margin of error especially if you are serious in monitoring your daily steps.

You could also be frustrated to find out that only iPod Nanos work with the system. So if you already have a different iPod model, you still won’t be able to use the system because you are missing one important component of the system which records your walking and/or jogging data.

It is also obvious that this is a money making scheme for both companies since the system is designed to work with a specific model of nike shoes. This means that even if you have a pair of Nike shoes, if they don’t have the slot for the accelerometer, it still won’t work. But in terms of this dilemma, the kinks have been answered by some other company by designing a pocket for the accelerometer. Which you could attach on your shoe.

The kink on the accelerometer though, only Nike or iPod can do something about it. Since you can’t replace the batteries, you will be forced to purchase a new accelerometer when the batteries run out. This is obviously a marketing strategy by the manufacturers to gather and earn more sales in terms of selling inaccurate accelerometers.

The most basic principle of design is to consider the function first before form. In this case, the designers of the sports kit may have committed a fault by focusing on the form too much rather than the function. The brands have also focused too much on higher sales volume than providing good service.

Using this sports kit is inadvisable if you’re a practical user or consumer but if you are someone who likes to look good before anything else and has the money for it, then go ahead and purchase your own Nike + iPod sports kit.