New-Lifestyles NL-2000

*Est. $65

Reviewed July 2008

Easy to use and quiet
Accurate at counting steps at slower speeds
Suitable for those with larger waist sizes
Counts calories and metabolic rate

Can overcount steps
Expensive

Our Analysis

In tests, the New-Lifestyles NL-2000 pedometer has proven to be very accurate in counting steps for people who walk at speeds of 2.5 mph or less. (The accelerometer mechanism used in the New-Lifestyles NL-2000 is less sensitive to body movements.) This device is also accurate for people with waist measurements of 40 inches or more. In addition to counting steps, the New-Lifestyles NL-2000 also counts calories. If you program in your weight, height, age and gender, this device can also calculate your basal metabolic rate. The accelerometer is quiet because it has no moving parts, but some reviewers find it a little too sensitive. One field test finds that even opening the case to view your totals can register as a step.

Many expert reviewers test this pedometer. A medical journal and the National Education Association rate the New-Lifestyles NL-2000 highly, as do Prevention and About.com. CNNMoney.com also tests the New-Lifestyles NL-2000 pedometer. However, owner-written reviews are scarce. New-Lifestyles pedometers are only available from the manufacturer, so they are not as widely available as some other well-rated models.

Where To Buy

Buy the New Lifestyles NL-2000 direct from New Lifestyles

Our Sources

1. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

A study at the University of Tennessee compares 12 pedometers to the Yamax Digi-Walker SW-200, which was the control pedometer. Only accuracy is evaluated, but the New-Lifestyles NL-2000 excels in these tests.

Review: Pedometer Measures of Free-Living Physical Activity: Comparison of 13 Models, P. Schneider, S. Crouter, D. Bassett Jr., Feb. 2004

2. NEA Today

Scott Crouter, a professor of exercise and health science, offers his professional feedback on five pedometers. He describes New-Lifestyles NL-2000 as the "gold standard" and says it is accurate for all body sizes and at slow walking speeds. Crouter also likes that this pedometer automatically updates the step counter at the start of each day.

Review: Picking a Pedometer, Gini Kopecky Wallace and Scott Crouter, Jan. 2008

3. Prevention Magazine Details/Subscribe

Prevention tests nine pedometers in this older review. The New-Lifestyles NL-2000 is the most "user-friendly" according to the testers. Their tests indicate that it is very accurate, especially for those with large waists. The internal clock automatically resets itself each day, and it comes with a security strap.

Review: We Test It: Pedometers, Denise Foley and Tanya Beers, Aug. 2006

4. CNNMoney.com

Charles Passy tests five pedometers, and the New-Lifestyles NL-2000 gets the lowest ratings. It is considered to be the least accurate of the five because it consistently overcounts steps more than the other pedometers. Although it does not fare as well in these tests, it is still 94.4 percent accurate.

Review: Field Test: Pedometers, Charles Passy, July 2007

5. About.com

Wendy Bumgardner, About.com's guide to walking, compares 10 pedometers and says the New-Lifestyles NL-2000 is accurate for self-paced walking and for treadmill use. She also likes the seven-day memory, but does point out that you cannot measure distance with this pedometer. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two do not share an editorial affiliation.)

Review: Top 10 Best Pedometers, Wendy Bumgardner, March 1, 2009

6. Pedometers.com

More than 20 pedometers are reviewed here, with ratings based on independent research studies. Every pedometer is rated in seven categories. The New-Lifestyles NL-2000 gets a perfect score for accuracy, reliability, durability and mechanics.

Review: The Anatomy of a Pedometer, Editors of Pedometers.com, 2004