Top 9 Pedometers To Get Your Steps In
Walk your way to better health.
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There’s no better way to tally your daily steps than with a pedometer, which tracks each time your feet hit the pavement. Using one helps you get a sense of your physical activity throughout the day, says Daniel Destin, A.C.S.M., exercise physiologist and manager of the Shipley Fitness Center at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Massachusetts. He tells clients to aim for 7,000 to 10,000 steps each day. “Even if they don’t reach their target, it gets them to move more,” Destin says.
That motivation from a pedometer—the competition to walk just a bit further each day—is a powerful force. In fact, a large review of research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that people using a pedometer were more active, had healthier weights, and decreased their blood pressure compared to those who didn’t. Take a look at our favorites below.
When it comes to a basic step counter, you can't go wrong with this model. Not only will it accurately measure your steps, but it's also super easy to set up and use and works in literally any position. You can wear it in your pocket, clip it to your waist, wear it around your neck on the included lanyard, or even place it in your bag.
If you're looking for a device that'll track your steps, monitor your heart rate 24/7, and calories burned plus a whole lot of other features, the Fitbit Versa 2 is the smart watch you'll want in your life. Away from tracking your steps, this works in 15 exercise modes to provide accurate statistics during your workout while also automatically recognizing your activity (like swimming or running). It also monitors your pace and distance in real time, fits comfortably on your wrist, oh, and it also notifies you of texts and calls. 🙌
If you want you to take your pedometer to the next level, you need a fitness tracker with all the bells and whistles. This one is a great choice—it's budget-friendly, wears comfortably like a watch, and even lets you see calls and messages on your wrist. When it comes to health and fitness, this tracker counts steps, tracks your heart rate, has sleep monitoring, comes with 14 exercise modes, and much more.
Don't want to strain to see your every step counted? Pick up this pedometer with an extra-large display. It's simple to use and makes keeping track of your daily step count that much easier. Even at a glance—or in harsher daylight—you'll be able to see where you're at.
This pedometer by Bellabeat is for those of you who want to track your steps without looking totally obvious. It's a health tracker, but it looks like jewelry to make keeping up with your fitness goals that much more stylish. The pendant can be worn as a bracelet, as a necklace, or clip it to your top like a pin. You'll love that it tracks your activity, as well as your stress levels and even your reproductive health.
You don't have to spend a lot to get a quality pedometer. In fact, this one comes in under $15, and it's both durable and accurate. It'll last you for years, and those who don't want anything too complicated will appreciate the simple and straightforward design.
Keep this tracker on 24/7 and you’ll learn all about the number of steps you take, the calories you burn, your active minutes, and even your sleep quality in a day. Connect with friends on the Fitbit app, and you can compete to see who hits the most steps, along with other fitness goals. Bonus: It reminds you to move each hour, so you won't stay stagnant while working from home for too long!
With its large numbers and simple screen, you’ll be able to see your step count for the day at a glance—without fumbling for your reading glasses or cycling through a confusing series of settings. The OZO Fitness SC1 tracks steps, and you won’t have to remember to charge it, since this pedometer comes with a battery that goes into low-power mode when not in use.
For some people, the spirit of competitiveness or a love of data makes them want to be able to compare their step count over wide swathes of time—more than the typical 30-day memory on basic pedometers. Enter smartphone apps, which track data and creates engaging visualizations so you can see your steps over time (as well as your sleep and other exercise activity). With the Garmin Vívofit 3, you can sync the data on the device to a free smartphone app (for both iOS and Android) through Bluetooth—so no cords required!
Sienna is a Deputy Editor at Hearst, where she oversees coverage of style, beauty, lifestyle, and more. She lives in California with her husband and two littles.
