Pedometer Review

Pedometers need to be accurate

If you are looking for a way to measure your activity level, track fitness goals and motivate yourself to stay active, pedometers are inexpensive and don't require much expertise. You simply hook these devices on your wrist or waistband (some allow placement in a pocket or bag) and start walking. Depending on their internal mechanisms and features, pedometers can also be accurate at measuring calories burned. Pedometers that allow you to input your height or stride length can also calculate distance. Some pedometers even link to a computer for more options, like charting historical data or comparing calories consumed to calories burned.   

There are two kinds of pedometers. Those that use an accelerometer can differentiate between everyday steps (like walking to the fridge) and aerobic steps (like power walking). Because these pedometers -- known as piezoelectric pedometers -- differentiate between activity intensity, they are more accurate at calculating calories burned. Depending on the type of accelerometer, it may not need to be clipped on the hip to work properly; some are pocket pedometers that don't have a clip. If you walk 10,000 steps a day, this type of pedometer may need the battery replaced before a year is up.

The other type of pedometer uses a spring-suspended lever arm that registers a step when the up-and-down motion of your gait triggers a "click" against the contact. Research shows that these pedometers can be very accurate, but they must be positioned vertically on the waist to function properly. However, consumers who have a protruding belly may have problems with these pedometers. The reason: The pedometer may tilt forward, an action that reduces its accuracy. In addition, these devices aren't ideal for those who walk very slowly (less than 2.5 mph) because there might not be enough vertical movement to register a step. Traditional pedometers can't detect changes in exercise intensity; however, the batteries can last up to three years, which is far longer than pedometers with an accelerometer.

Overall, we found the most recent and comprehensive comparison of pedometers at ConsumerReports.org. Editors test six pedometers using a control to assess accuracy. The one model that performs well at high and low speeds is named the best buy. Two others also receive excellent ratings for accuracy. Results are presented in an easy-to-read chart, along with separate ratings for ease of use and features.

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, the journal of the American College of Sports Medicine, includes four relevant studies that test the accuracy of pedometers. The most comprehensive pedometer review compares 13 pedometers to a control during routine daily activities. Another study compares 10 pedometers during a 400-meter walk around an indoor track. Though these studies are several years old, many of the pedometers tested are still on the market. Two other studies test three models of Omron pedometers for accuracy.

NEA Today, the magazine of the National Education Association, also reviews five pedometers.  Writer Gini Kopecky Wallace enlists opinions from associate professor Scott Crouter, who conducted two of the studies in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, and a panel of reviewers. The panel's comments primarily relate to the user friendliness of the design.

Among mainstream publications, Good Housekeeping magazine editors test 10 pedometers using 17 participants. Additionally, we found interesting but less detailed reviews at CNNMoney.com, the Los Angeles Times, Health magazine and About.com. We also read insightful reviews for a single model of pedometer at Runner's World and Redbook magazines.

Additionally, a product testing engineering firm rates more than 20 pedometers at Pedometers.com. Separate ratings are given for accuracy, reliability, mechanics, usability, size, battery life and durability, and it's easy to quickly identify strengths and weaknesses of these models. The information doesn't appear to have been updated recently.

For owner-written reviews of pedometers, no other retail site rivals Amazon.com, where popular models have more than a thousand individual reviews. Many pedometer owners also post opinions at Walmart.com and Drugstore.com. Across the board, Omron pedometers have accumulated more reviews than other brands.

Pedometer iPhone apps

As pedometers have become more popular, manufacturers have incorporated pedometer functionality into a wide variety of consumer products, including the Apple iPhone. The Apple App Store has many pedometer applications available for download for a nominal fee. These use the iPhone's built-in accelerometer to track steps, speed, distance and calories. Because of limitations of the iPhone, these apps cannot run in the background while using the phone's other functions -- they are intended to only measure steps during a specific activity.

For example, the Viaden Media's All-In Fitness Pedometer is a free app that receives mostly favorable reviews from 275 users at the App Store. Users like its accuracy and their ability to see graphs of their data right on the phone. One really nice feature is that it lets you set different stride lengths for different intensity levels for more accurate distance tracking. For about $5, users can upgrade to the fully functional app that allows daily goal setting, historical data tracking and other options. Although it doesn't count steps when using the phone's other options, it will automatically resume when your call ends.

Edovia Inc. developed Steps (*Est. $5) around the time the App Store was launched in 2008. At that time, writer Mathew Shulman at U.S. News & World Report said it was his "least favorite application in the healthcare and fitness category." Shulman says the accuracy was subpar -- registering only one step out of two or three. After reading reviews in the App Store of Steps, the accuracy issue doesn't appear to have been fixed. Some users say it only counted about half their steps. Also, it's too easy to accidently press the stop button, which should be designed as a slider button.