Best Pedometers

Pocket pedometers allow placement flexibility

Pocket pedometers have more than one sensor that allows them to count steps at any horizontal angle. Instead of solely being worn on the hip, individuals can obtain an accurate count of steps while the device is stored in a pocket or bag (although there are usually restrictions outlined in the user manual for better results).

The internal mechanism on these products is an accelerometer, which has some advantages over traditional spring-lever pedometers.Although many pedometers track calories expended based on your entered weight and number of steps counted, accelerometer pedometers can detect changes in activity intensity and, thus, more accurately measure calories burned. If you want a pocket pedometer that also tracks distance, you'll need to look for one that allows you to enter your height or stride length.

Another key benefit of accelerometers is that they don't require a pronounced up-and-down motion like spring-lever sensors. Consequently, they tolerate some forward tilt, making them a better choice for overweight individuals with protruding waists, according to experts at the American College of Sports Medicine. Generally, pedometers are less accurate if your pace is less than 2.5 mph, but a 2004 study conducted at the Center for Human Nutrition, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, concluded that accelerometer pedometers had greater accuracy overall than spring-lever pedometers.

Most accelerometer pedometers have some standard features in common. They include a clock that resets the step count and other functions back to zero at midnight, and it's ready for use the next day. Before this happens, the day's totals are automatically stored in memory. Most pedometers store information for the last seven days. One downside of an accelerometer is the battery life may be less than a year.

Scott Crouter,  a professor at the University of Massachusetts, recommends the Omron GoSmart Pocket Pedometer HJ-112 (*Est. $25) for its accuracy regardless of position. It has dual-accelerometer sensors, and it doesn't need to be clipped to the waist to function accurately (except when jogging). The manufacturer recommends placement in an upper jacket pocket, not a pants pocket or a tightly held bag. It can also tolerate a forward tilt of up to 60 degrees, making it a good hip pedometer for individuals with protruding stomachs. This pedometer tracks steps, aerobic steps, calories expended and distance.

A research study published in the April 2009 issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, which is the journal of the American College of Sports Medicine, tests the accuracy of the Omron HJ-112 pedometer on nearly 100 walkers of different body sizes. Even at slow walking speeds, the Omron HJ-112 proves to be highly accurate in this test. Researchers say the pedometer gets the most accurate step counts when clipped on the waist, hung around the neck or placed in a shirt pocket. It is less accurate when placed in a pants pocket. After testing by a major consumer organization, the Omron HJ-112 pedometer scores an excellent rating for accuracy at fast and slow walking speeds.

Other reviewers also have good things to say about the Omron Pocket Pedometer HJ-112. Wendy Bumgardner, About.com's guide to walking, picks the Omron HJ-112 as her favorite; though she says it's a little large and bulky. She likes the seven-day memory and says the pedometer operates silently with no clicking--a common complaint about spring-levered pedometers. A downside noted by Pedometers.com is that battery life is only about six months if logging 10,000 steps a day.

Owner-written reviews confirm that the Omron GoSmart Pocket Pedometer HJ-112 is accurate and easy to use. There's no shortage of owner feedback at Amazon.com, where more than 2,700 owners give it a good rating of 4.6 stars out of 5. It also earns a near-perfect rating from the more than 475 reviews on Walmart.com and a 4.6-star rating from about 200 reviewers at Drugstore.com. The main complaints are its bulky size and a clip that doesn't keep it secure enough. Because there's no protective cover, a few owners say the reset button was accidentally pushed when walking.  

If you want more progress-tracking capability, the Omron GoSmart Pocket Pedometer with PC Software HJ-720ITC (*Est. $35) includes Omron Health Management Software. It is nearly identical to the HJ-112, but stores 41 days of data in memory and has a USB connection for uploading this data to a Windows-based PC. (Only the last seven days, however, are available on the pedometer's display.

A research study published in the March 2009 issue of Science & Medicine in Sports & Exercise finds that the Omron HJ-720ITC is very accurate, concluding that the pedometer demonstrates "validity and reliability at various mounting positions"--even for overweight adults. Good Housekeeping also picks the Omron Pocket Pedometer HJ-720ITC as one of the best pedometers. They recommend it for tech-savvy walkers who want to track their exercise data and progress on their computer. The Omron HJ-720ITC also wins a pedometer field test at CNNMoney.com, scoring a 99.3 percent accuracy result and an overall A- rating. Wendy Bumgardner, the walking guide at About.com, confirms that the Omron HJ-720ITC highly accurate, even when tilted.

Owner-written reviews are generally in line with these expert opinions, and the Omron HJ-720ITC scores above-average ratings in more than 1,000 reviews at Amazon.com. Reviewers say the pedometer counts steps accurately (especially when clipped to the waist or hung from a lanyard) and they love having the ability to track their progress on their computer. However, a few owners say the data upload stopped functioning properly after a few weeks, and researchers also warn that the Omron HJ-720ITC is not as accurate when placed into a backpack. In addition, multiple owners say the belt clip is poorly designed.

Both models of Omron pocket pedometers include a security strap to ensure the pedometer doesn't get lost when clipped to the waist. They also come with a small screwdriver for installing the CR2032 battery. Omron covers its pedometers with a one-year warranty.

Hip accelerometer pedometers

Hip accelerometer pedometers can differentiate between low- and high-intensity steps like pocket pedometers, but a single sensor limits placement to the waist for accurate step counting. Still, they remain accurate at a slow pace or when tilted forward by a protruding waistline. They typically track distance and calories expended, in addition to steps, and can often store a week's worth of data in memory. They also usually have a clock that resets values back to zero each day at midnight.

A pricier pick, the New-Lifestyles NL-2000 (*Est. $70) Accelerometer has some good design features that are lacking in the Omron GoSmart pocket pedometers. The clip is made of a sturdier metal, and it has a protective cover that prevents the buttons from being inadvertently pushed. Furthermore, the cover contains the display, which is clearly visible from above when opened. It is top-rated at Pedometers.com, although the estimated battery life of 11 months is shorter than some models.

The New-Lifestyles NL-2000 is expensive, but serious walkers say it is packed with helpful features. First, it calculates your basal metabolic rate (BMR), or the calories your body burns at rest; which is based on your entered weight, height, gender and age. Each day it calculates total calories expended based on your BMR and activity calories, plus the thermic effect of food, which is the calories your body burns eating and digesting (about equivalent to 10 percent of calories consumed). It also allows you to set a target goal for calories burned and calculates a running total of steps and activity calories for the week. One downside is that it doesn't allow users to input stride measurements for tracking distance traveled.

In two studies published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, the New-Lifestyles NL-2000 was among the most accurate during daily activity and a 40-meter walk on an indoor track. In another expert comparison, it receives the highest rating for accuracy, but receives a lower rating than the Omron GoSmart Pocket Pedometer HJ-112 for ease of use, our top Best Reviewed model for its accuracy and placement flexibility.

Contrary to these findings, a test of five pedometers by CNNMoney.com reveals that the NL-2000 to be too sensitive, which results in overcounting steps. In fact, the test finds that even the smallest movement (like opening the case to view your totals) can count as a step. Overall, CNNMoney.com gives the New-Lifestyles NL-2000 a C-minus rating. Though they generally like this pedometer, testers for the National Education Association also find that it overcounts their steps.

In addition to top-ranked pocket pedometers, Omron also makes some hip pedometers that have only a single sensor and require placement at the waist. The Omron GoSmart Hip Pedometer HJ-151 (*Est. $20) performs particularly well in expert and owner reviews. It costs significantly less than the NL-2000, but it is found to be accurate in the same study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. Their test included about 50 adults walking at slow, moderate and brisk pace. Some of the participants were overweight, yet the tilt from a protruding stomach didn't affect accuracy.

The Omron GoSmart Hip Pedometer HJ-151 doesn't compile totals for the week or compute total calories using your BMR like the New-Lifestyles pedometer, but it calculates distance. Distance is based on a person's inputted height measurement, which isn't as accurate as the stride measurement that the Omron pocket pedometers use. It has four dual-display modes: steps, aerobic steps, calories and distance in miles. The aerobic steps mode also displays the number of minutes spent at moderate intensity, and the other three modes show the current time. This round pedometer has a diameter of 2 inches and weighs 1.25 ounces. It is covered by a one-year warranty, but it doesn't include a security strap or a screwdriver for changing the CR2023 battery.

Like other Omron pedometers, we found no shortage of owner-written reviews for the HJ-151 at Amazon.com, Walmart.com and Drugstore.com, where it averages ratings  4.4 stars (out of 5) or better. At Amazon.com, more than 100 owners say it's more accurate and easier to use than other pedometers they have owned. More than 40 reviewers at Walmart.com agree it's easy to use and has a lot of features for the price. Drugstore.com reviewers highly recommend this uncomplicated pedometer. The main complaint is the clip isn't particularly secure, and the pedometer is apt to fall off and get lost or damaged because there's no security strap. 

Basic pedometers

Before accelerometer pedometers emerged on the marketplace, spring-lever mechanisms were the best option for counting steps. Today, these pedometers are still favored by many consumers for their accuracy and ease of use.  Spring-lever pedometers rely on a pronounced up-and-down motion to register a step, and they must be clipped to the waist and positioned without vertical tilt for the most accurate step detection.

Some drawbacks noted by the American College of Sports Medicine: Because of the pedometers design, overweight individuals with a protruding stomach (that tilts the pedometer slightly forward) may have difficulty receiving an accurate step-count reading. These devices are also less accurate at a walking pace of less than 2.5 mph. In addition to limited placement options, spring-lever pedometers do not differentiate between the intensity of your steps. Consequently, any calorie-counting functionality will be less accurate than pedometers with an accelerometer that does detect aerobic activity. This mechanism also makes a clicking sound, which may be bothersome to some.

Nevertheless, the Yamax Digi-Walker SW-200 (*Est. $20) is considered by experts to be the most accurate pedometer in this category. It is a simple device that has one function -- it counts steps. With only a single button that resets its step-count, users say this pedometer is very easy to operate. It measures 2 inches by 1.5 inches and weighs less than 0.75 ounce. The manufacturer's estimated battery life of three years is considerably longer than top-rated accelerometer pedometers.

In comparison testing, the Yamax SW-200 is used as the pedometer to which others are compared, and many university researchers consider it to be the gold standard of pedometers. Editors at Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter write that the SW-200 is "respected for its excellent reliability and accuracy." Scott Crouter, a professor in the Department of Exercise and Health Science at the University of Massachusetts, recommends it as an inexpensive option for "normal-weight individuals." The entire SW-series gets a near-perfect rating at Pedometers.com, which is sponsored by an engineering firm that conducts product testing.

The Yamax SW-200 comes with a protective cover and security leash. Note that Yamax licenses its technology to others. Private label-brands include the New-Lifestyles SW-200 Digi-Walker Pedometer (*Est. $20) and Accusplit Eagle AE120XL (*Est. $20). In 75 owner-written reviews at Amazon.com, the Accusplit Eagle receives an average rating of 4.1 stars out of 5 for being easy to use, and reviewers like its protective cover that helps prevent accidental resets. In general, these reviewers say it is fairly accurate, but they recognize that placement is important. Many reviewers are also impressed with the five-year warranty (no proof-of-purchase required). On a negative note, multiple owners say they wish the Accusplit Eagle pedometer could be calibrated for individual stride length.

Reviewers also like the Yamax Digi-Walker SW-701 (*Est. $30), which is identified as one of the most accurate pedometers in two controlled university studies. In one test, the accuracy of 13 pedometers was evaluated against a control during routine daily activity. In the other test, 20 participants walked around an indoor track while a researcher counted their actual steps taken. However, results of a more recent test published in the same journal find that the Omron HJ-112 pedometer is more accurate than the SW-701, which was used as the control. The Digi-Walker SW-701 is comparable to the Omron GoSmart Pocket Pedometer HJ-112 pedometer's features (it measures distance and calories expended).

Again, the Yamax brand isn't widely available online, but it's marketed under New-Lifestyles, Accusplit and other private-label brands. At Amazon.com, about 40 owners give the Accusplit Eagle AE170XLG (*Est. $25) an overall rating of 3.9 stars. Those who got it working say it's accurate, but some people complain that its set-up process is too difficult. It is identical in size and weight to the AE120XL and is covered by the same five-year warranty.