Pedometer Woes...

[Lynn B]

I read somewhere recently (CL? Health? Fitness?) that a good goal per day is 10,000 steps. Hmmm. Coupled with the walking that I do, and the running that DD is doing... I thought a pedometer would be a good idea and a fun toy, right?!

Wrong!!! Got one at Dick's... it's a blue "SPORTLINE 347" ("The Professional's Choice" -- hahaha) touchpad pedometer. Endorsed by the American Hiking Society, no less. Supposed to measure distance, steps, speed, and have a timer, clock and alarm.

What a piece of junk!!!!! I am serious! We followed the directions exactly, measured our strides... the stupid thing counts 3 or 4 steps for every step. Can't measure a marked mile... and is totally worthless!!! (No need to wonder how I really feel about it, eh?!!) ;)

I am definitely returning it (it was only $20, but still!) but my question is this... do any of you have any experience w/ pedometers and/or have any that you recommend? All advice/tips/suggestions welcome!

THANK YOU!!!! :)

Lynn

[Sara Emily]

Lynn, I hesitate to suggest this after your very disappointing and frustrating Sportline experience, but DH and I have the Sportline 360 and LOVE it!! I've never tried any of their other models, so can't tell you the differences, but we've found ours to be right on target as far as being accurate. It is normally about $40.00, but we have found it on sale many places for about $32.00, and it's worth every penny of that to us. In fact, after we found out how much we liked it, we ordered three extra - one spare in case either of us lost or damaged ours and the other two to share with special friends.

You may, however, be understandably "Sportline shy" :o at this point, so perhaps others here will have recommendations for other companies. In any case, please don't give up until you find one you are happy with. It's a great motivator! :)

[Lynn B]

Sara Emily,

Thank you for the response and the recommendation! I think I saw that $40 model at the sporting goods store. I would certainly re-think buying another Sportline. Maybe I just got a lemon?! I am certainly open to that possibility. Or maybe the lower end model just isn't the same quality as the higher end model? But whatever... I will definitely check out the 360 next time I am at Dicks. BTW, is it easy to use?! I'm somewhat electronically-challenged!!! :)

Anyway, thanks again!

Lynn

[Shirley Panek]

Lynn -

I'd have to agree with you. I've got 2 pedometers (1 a cheapie that was my mom's and another not so cheap one). I have yet to get either of them to work properly. I guess, like you I am pedometrically challenged. :)

Shirley

[GayeC]

Lynn -- I have a DigiWalker and am very happy with it. It was given to me so I don't know the cost but it is fairly basic. It counts steps and you can program it to do miles and calories, but I never do that. I just go for a minimum of 10,000 steps a day, and really shoot for 12,000-14,000 right now since I am trying to lose weight. I hope you can find one that you like because they can be really helpful (and fun to use!).
Gaye

[aggie94]

I am very happy with my Accusplit pedometer, although it was like pulling teeth to actually get it (shipping problems from the company). After I got mine, DH decided he wanted one, so instead of going through all the shipping problems again, we bought him a Sportline (don't know which model) pedometer that he returned within a couple of weeks. He hated it. We ended up ordering another Accusplit for him, and we've both been really happy with them. We don't use it for accuracy on distance, only for steps, so I can't comment on that, but if you measure your stride accurately and then make adjustments based on a pre-measured distance, like the instructions tell you to, there's no reason it shouldn't work for you.

[Hollister]

WE have a Radio Shack that works just fine for distance or steps. I'm a water aerobics instructor, so handsome husband uses is and has been pleased. Or so he says.

Hollister

[Sara Emily]

Lynn, the 360 IS easy to read and easy to use in terms of measuring your distance (as Aggie said - you have to program your stride into it), your number of steps (MY primary concern right now), etc., and even has a walk/run feature.

That said, it does have about five other things it can do, including programming your results for seven days. Like you, I feel pretty electronically challenged, so I was somewhat intimidated by learning how to use all these features, but once I got the hang of it, I felt so proud ..... and COMPETENT!

Let us know WHAt you decide. We would love to know!

[Lynn B]

Thanks, everyone, for the "pedometer input"! :)

I don't live near a Dick's... have to go to Pgh or Erie... so I haven't gotten back there yet to do any kind of an exchange. But hopefully soon.

BTW, did anyone else have any trouble measuring their stride? DH and I went out on our road and I took 10 steps, and we got one measurement. Did it again, got another! Did it a 3rd time and got still another (different!) measurement! So we averaged it all out and put THAT # into the pedometer.

But I'm curious... did anyone else find that (stride measuring) a bit perplexing?!! I find it hard to imagine that ALL my steps are consistently such a different length?!! Any advice or input on this from the more experienced?!?

(EEK... :eek: :eek: :eek: maybe the pedometer's OK... and it's just ME??!!!) :)

Thanks!

Lynn

[aggie94]

Lynn,

I agree that your stride probably can't be really accurately measured, but the instructions that came with my Accusplit suggested walking a set distance (i.e. one lap of a mile track) and then adjusting your stride length accordingly so that your distance comes out accurately. So if you input your stride length, walk a lap, and then find that your pedometer is showing that you walked .4 miles (instead of .25), you need to adjust the length of your stride in the pedometer to make it shorter. Obviously, the longer the distance you use, the more accurate it will be, but all that trial and error could require a lot of walking!

Honestly, I don't bother, though. I only use it to gauge my steps.

[Lynn B]

Eva,

Thanks for the insight and advice. BTW, what do you mean that you only use it to "gauge your steps"? Do you mean "count" them?

(That stupid pedometer I have will count 2 or 3 steps while I'm not even moving!!! :rolleyes: )

Thanks!
Lynn