Saturday, November 22, 2008

Deciding Which Pedometer to Buy

By Ron Packardy

One of the best pedometers on the market today is the HJ 112 from Omron. It manages to combine features, price and usability into a package that will be suitable for just about anyone.

I don't know how it manages it, but this pedometer somehow keeps an accurate record of your steps, distance and calories, even though you keep it in your pocket! The manual mentions something about dual sensor technology, but that's a bit technical for me.

It has a very clear and easy to read display, with decent sized buttons that you can operate comfortably on the move. If you'd rather fix it to your belt it comes with a detachable belt holder, along with a rugged and strong security strap.

It uses a replaceable lithium battery which should last for about 6 months. Assuming an average of 10,000 steps per day that works out to be quite a lot of walking on one battery!

I must admit I found this to be a brilliant pedometer. I did look at other models, but when I compared the price, features and ease of use, I personally thought this one came out the winner. The HJ 112 and the HJ 720ITC are both new type pedometers that you can keep in your pocket, and to be honest the only reason I picked the HJ 112 was because I didn't have any need for the software that comes with the 720 ITC.

In case you are wondering, yes, this pedometer can be used for jogging. In fact I use it for jogging now, although I never intended to when I bought it. It's surprising how much fitter you get after a few weeks of regular exercise!

I have a little circuit that I take, but after a month or two I started jogging for small distances and then walking again, but now I jog for almost the whole time. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have done that without the HJ 112.

So, if you need a good pedometer that won't let you down in a hurry, then the HJ 112 is probably as good a choice as any, especially if you don't need all the extra software and stuff.

Don't worry if the pedometer is not for you, it's still a great idea for a gift. It's very easy to use and has all you need to keep accurate track of your activity.

Also, in addition to it being a bit of a cool gadget gift for someone, it's also a very practical and useful gift that will actually help them get or stay healthy. I don't know if there is a better way of showing someone that you really care about them. - 16752

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