I’ve mentioned before that since moving somewhere that actually has a winter, I’ve been having a hard time getting myself to get up and go out there for a run—but recently, Tazim picked up an Ozeri 4x3motion Digital Pocket 3D Pedometer. It was supposed to go in my stocking, but like the bad boy that I am, I wheedled my way into early access—and I’m glad I did.
I’ve used a simple keychain-fob style pedometer from in the past—we liked it well enough but wondered what we’d get if we spent $5 more. The answer: the “Tri-Axis” technology in this Ozeri unit. Most pedometors work solely on a vertical axis, meaning that you have to be particular about how you position it, but this Ozeri unit doesn’t fuss if it tilts sideways or tips over. The result is that it keeps a more accurate step count. This means that I have a better idea of how far and how hard I’ve run.
It’s a simple piece of kit. It has a seven day memory, and a split mode for single trips, but doesn’t provide the perfect accuracy of a GPS based device—instead, it’s straightforward. When you first turn it on you enter the date, your weight, and your stride length. From there, it’s ready to pick up and use. Based solely on your movement and body weight it attempts to track your Kcal usage (how much energy youve burned through walking), your total number of steps, the time you’ve spent moving, and your distance and speed. Its important to note that because there is no heart-rate-monitoring going on, the Kcal feature is a guesstimate at best—but we’ve been pleased enough with the accuracy of the distance and speed readouts. Because I’m a creature of habit, I usually run the same 8km circuit, and the pedometers readouts match those I used to get the old fashioned way (using the distance on Google maps and my watch to check my pace).
I think that when you’re first starting a new activity, whether it’s counting how many steps you take in a day, or you’re just getting into running, it’s a good idea to take baby-steps, and I think this is the perfect way to get your feet wet in terms of tracking your results. Where the Garmin Forerunner I covet is going to knock me back $300 when I finally cave—for now, this little fellow (~$18 on Amazon), gives me enough data to keep an eye on myself and keep motivated.
My two favourite features:
1) It has a split mode to keep track of single trips (for example if you’d like to have the data for your run separate from the data for the day). It’s a little tricky to access, and for the first few days I needed to keep the manual on hand to access it—but it works well enough and is a feautre many cheap pedometers don’t have.
2) It has a backlight! Great for checking your pace on runs before the sun is up.
And a tip:
The Ozeri 4x3motion Digital Pedometer comes with a lanyard strap—but it’s made out of a soft nylon, and if you were it around your neck, it’s bound to bounce about and miscount your steps. For better accuracy, just shove it in a pocket!
