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THE SKINNY

 
Published Nov. 16, 2004|Updated Aug. 28, 2005

The ubiquitous pedometer (some with lights, radios and alarms) has become a standard accoutrement in the 10,000 steps a day fitness regimen. Store shelves teem with them, but we wanted to know: Are pedometers that cost less than $25 a worthy investment? Or would we wish we had shelled out big bucks for an expensive model?

Five testers wore a pedometer for one or two days. The report cards here by St. Petersburg Times staffers provide the details.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you are a stickler for step accuracy and want a pedometer with some "extras," consider paying more. If you just want to get someone off the couch, you'll find inspiration for less than $25. But remember: You get what you pay for!

_ TIMES STAFF WRITER

STEP DIET COUNTER

Functions: Counts steps.

Features: This counter comes with The Step Diet Book by James O. Hill, John C. Peters and Bonnie T. Jortberg (2004, Workman Publishing)

Price: $22.95 (book and counter)

Did it correctly calculate steps? It was usually accurate to within one or two steps.

Ease of use: Very easy to use. Press the button (apply a good bit of pressure) to bring the counter to 0; then put it on your waistband about 2 to 6 inches on either side of your navel. Then step off.

Fun factor: It is cool to be able to get a fairly accurate reading of how many steps you take in a day. The one downside is that it does make a little noise as the steps are being counted.

Would you buy it?: Yes, and the book gives great tips on how to count steps instead of calories to help lose weight. The book also includes a chart on how to convert such activities as cycling, swimming or weightlifting into step equivalents.

Overall comments: After initially thinking it was too sensitive to most movement, the Step Diet counter has won me over. You might be shocked by how many steps you really do take in a day.

Grade: A

_ SHERRY A. ROBINSON

EVERLAST TALKING

Function: Announces step count and distance; plays seven melodies in synch with exercise tempo

Price: $17.99

Features: Talking clock and alarm with four sounds; real-time voice updates.

Did it correctly calculate steps?: Seemed to be fairly accurate once step length was entered.

Fun factor: It's cool to push the "talk" button while you are walking and hear how many steps you have taken and how far you've walked.

Would you buy it? Would comparison shop first.

Overall comments: The voice feature would be helpful for people with sight limitations, since it announces the number of steps taken, the total distance walked and the current time. You can use it without having to read the tiny display on the unit.

Grade: B+

_ JEANNE GRINSTEAD

SPORTLINE STEP & DISTANCE

Functions: accurately measures walking, hiking and jogging distance

Features: measures up to 100 miles; adjustable stride length; easy to read display; one-button reset

Price: $12.99

Did it correctly calculate steps? It was fairly accurate. When taking 100 steps it was off by four or five steps. Once you get into the rhythm of walking you can actually hear the mechanism rattle and know that it's recording the steps.

Ease of use: The directions aren't the easiest to follow. I had to set it to either miles or kilometers and then calculate my stride length. I worried that I hadn't done it correctly. There's a graphic on the instruction card showing how to set the stride, but even that was confusing.

Fun factor: This one didn't have bells or whistles, but it would motivate me to try to walk greater distances each time.

Would you buy it?: Most likely.

Overall comments: I was fairly satisfied with the way it worked. Once I stumbled through the directions, there wasn't much to it electronically.

Grade: B+

_ NIKKI LIFE

BELL DIGITAL

Functions: Counts steps and calculates distance traveled, displays time.

Features: Alarm clock; stop watch.

Price: $7.99

Did it correctly calculate steps? No.

Ease of use: HARD to use.

Fun factor: None.

Would you buy it?: No.

Overall comments: VERY difficult to program. It took two calls to customer service, which was friendly but not very helpful. The directions for setting the clock were not clear. The clock didn't keep time well and kept switching modes of its own accord. The battery appeared to be dead, but neither the written directions nor the pedometer itself provided any clue as to how to open the case to find the battery. I had to use a tiny screwdriver to remove five tiny screws to take the back off and replace the battery. If vision or eye-hand coordination are poor, doing this will be difficult, if not impossible. Cheap plastic case felt lightweight and flimsy.

Grade: D

_ JUDY STARK

DIGI-WALKER SW200

Function: Counts steps.

Features: Has handbook on walking; flip case to prevent accidental reset.

Price: $23.99

Did it correctly calculate steps?: No. The Digi-Walker must calculate giant steps. It differed by about 50 to 60 from my count on a variety of walks.

Fun factor: Knowing I wouldn't spend $23.99 on this device.

Would you buy it?: See above comment.

Overall comments: I had the Digi-Walker

clipped to the waist of my jeans, resting against my body. Because of the possibility that I may not have used it properly, I can't write it off as a total failure. Still, I have to wonder: How useful to walkers is a device that just counts steps?

Grade: D

_ PETER COUTURE