There is no better and simpler exercise than walking, but some people lack motivation when it comes to getting started. This is where getting a pedometer that tracks your daily steps can serve as an excellent motivating tool. It is possible to wear a pedometer every day, all day and record the number of steps you take or you can just use it when you go for a walking workout. Pedometers have been in use for years and the initial ones had to be worn in a certain position and only counted steps when you moved in a specific rhythm. Technology has greatly advanced since then and the best walking pedometers have numerous features these days.
The wide array of choices has also led to confusion as it makes it difficult to decide what pedometers are best for walking purposes. There are app-linked pedometers that use sophisticated programming and accelerometer chips for detecting motion and there are also old-school pedometers that have different mechanisms like accelerometer, hairspring mechanism and coiled spring mechanism. You can do a search for best pedometers for walking, but every individual has a different definition of best. So, how to choose?
First, you need to decide how you will wear your pedometer. There are waistband and pocket pedometers that use spring mechanisms. These old-style ones have to be worn in a vertical positions to count steps accurately. There are pedometer watches available these days like Apple Watch that can track your daily steps and perform a ton of other functions. You can also download pedometer apps on your phone and it will count the steps you take. You can also check out the best wrist pedometers for walking as there are some popular options like Fitbit available and they come in a variety of styles.
The next thing you need to consider is what you want your pedometer to do. You can find simple pedometers that will only count your steps, display them and the distance covered. These are some basic models to be found. However, there are other kinds like ones that are especially designed to be used for workout tracking and can track specific workouts. There are also some advanced pedometers you will come across in the market that don’t only count steps, measure distance, but can also tell you the calories you have burned, monitor your pulse, help you set goals, compare past days, monitor sleep, track specific workouts and have tons of other features.
You need to decide what features are useful for you and make your choice accordingly. Last, but definitely not the least, distance accuracy is also a concern when considering the best pedometers for walking. As compared to spring models, accelerometer chips and accelerometers are more accurate. It is essential to bear in mind that you will need to test the pedometer once to judge how accurate it is because stride length has to be used for calculation purposes and this can vary according to the user’s height.
Consider these factors and you will be able to choose the best pedometer for your walking needs.
