What is the best pedometer for you part 2

In part 1 of What is the Best Pedometer For You, we talked about the basic features to look for in a pedometer. Now, we’ll talk about some of the extras you can look for.

Extra Features
You should consider anything beyond counting steps an extra feature.

Here’s a list of some of the ones you should consider:

Cover: A cover is nice because it keeps your pedometer from accidentally reseting itself if you bump against something. The drawback to a cover is that you have to open the pedometer to see how many steps taken.

Distance: Some pedometers allow you to put in your stride length. They then multiplied this by number of steps you’ve taken to figure out how far you’ve walked. This is only an estimate though, because your stride lengthis not the same when you’re walking slowly around the house as it is when you’re walking quickly outside.

Calorie counter: Some pedometers calculate how many calories you firmed while walking. At best, this is a rough estimate since everyone’s metabolism is different. It’s nice to see though if you’ve walked enough to burn off some of the calories in your lunch.

Memory: Some pedometers have a memory that keeps track of how many steps you’ve walks over the past week. Some just give you a running total, while others break it down day-by-day. This is a nice feature if you are keeping a pedometer log and forget to write down how many steps and you walked one day.

Radio or MP3 player: These let you listen to music as you’re walking which may help you to walk faster or walk farther. It means you don’t have to carry a separate radio or MP3 player on your walk. However I’ve found that most pedometer radios don’t work that well. They don’t pick up stations well, unless you live in an urban area. I’ve never tried the Oregon scientific pedometer with an MP3 player, but you’re probably better off just getting a dedicated MP3 player.

Pulse meter: This lets you check your pulse by putting your finger on a sensor. They vary in accuracy and don’t work very well if you try to measure your pulse while walking. I think you’re better off taking your pulse with a finger and a watch.
So what’s the verdict? My choice is the Omron HJ-112. Itis the most accurate pedometer I’ve ever owned. While it’s not the smallest one on the market, it doesn’t have to be worn on your belt, and it will fit in your pocket or purse and still accurately count steps. The 7 day memory, aerobic steps, distance and calories burned are great added features. If you’re buying your first pedometer, or looking at upgrading, you can’t go wrong with the HJ-112.