Pedometer/FItness tracker..which do you recommend?

shells0715
shells0715 Posts: 102 Member
edited November 8 in Introduce Yourself
Hey everyone,
I am looking into getting a pedometer or fitness tracker device. I want to try and reach
10,000 steps a day plus possibly track calories etc with it too. For those who have one of these devices, which one do you recommend and why? I've heard of Garmin vivofit, fitbit, Jawbone and Omoron. Would love to hear some feedback on any of these or others out there or even feedback if you use a regular pedometer. Thanks in advance :)

Replies

  • 47Jacqueline
    47Jacqueline Posts: 6,993 Member
    I had a couple of activity trackers - Fitbit and Jawbone, but there are a lot of problems with them still so I stopped using them. I now use a phone app called Argus, which works as long as I am carrying my phone, but not if it's sitting on my bed while I putter around my apartment. It lets you add activities as well - either while you do them or log them after. There's a paid version, but I have the free app. It doesn't sync with MFP, so I add my workouts manually.

    I'm actually relieved not to be tracking my sleep any more. Especially since these things only really track your prone position, not actual sleep.

    I'm planning on getting the Apple watch next spring, or whenever it comes out.
  • shells0715
    shells0715 Posts: 102 Member
    Thank you for the info :)
  • fbref9
    fbref9 Posts: 74 Member
    I purchased a FitBit last year and used it sporadically until a couple of months ago. The device is not perfect, but I do find it helpful. Since I wear it all day, it is a reminder that I need to get up an move. It also motivates me when I am working out because I am pushing a little more to increase my steps, etc... The FitBit syncs with MFP, so that is a plus which eliminates double entry for your food and exercise diary.

    Good luck!
  • shells0715
    shells0715 Posts: 102 Member
    Thank you!
  • shells0715
    shells0715 Posts: 102 Member
    Anyone else use these?
  • TuffChixRule
    TuffChixRule Posts: 190 Member
    I have a regular pedometer that just tracks my steps. It's a New Lifestyles Digi-Walker and most days I average about 6500 steps. That equals about 2.5 to 3 miles of walking a day, depending on the length of your stride. It's small, clips to the pocket of my pants, and accurate. I like it because I don't have to worry about cellular signals at work, because my office has little or no cell phone reception.
  • rocknbam
    rocknbam Posts: 11 Member
    I use the garmin vivofit....love the device! Garmin and myfitness pal are working out the kinks and will be syncing again soon! It did sync for a few days and then quit. I wrote to garmin and they said it should be fixed in a couple days. It is a great motivational tool and estimate of calorie burn/steps. Not everything is perfect, such as vivofit I find does not count the steps while pushing something such as a cart/lawnmower. But its fairly accurate, customize the color of band, battery lasts for a year, water proof, lets me know how I slept, can tell if I'm working out, its a watch, has visual display as well as syncs to my phone, sets my goals for me accordingly, and gives me a red bar if I have been sitting too long! The pros out weigh the cons by far!!!
  • shells0715
    shells0715 Posts: 102 Member
    Thank you both for the responses!! Both of those sound great :) Do you both have a goal of 10,000 steps a day? I sometimes worry about the wireless ones but have heard they r harmless.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    I love my fitbit zip. I wear it during the day, every day and it syncs. I have worn cheap pedometers and the fitbit is far superior to those. I've noticed some in my running group using the Garmin. I suspect they are using it to track their pacing, etc. An app I am getting a lot of use out of these days is IntervalTimer. It allows me to run the various C25K routines from week to week. I am also experimenting with it to run HIIT routines.
  • shells0715
    shells0715 Posts: 102 Member
    Oh neat! Will have to check that out! I am also doing treadmill couch to 5k
  • Serendipity5215
    Serendipity5215 Posts: 190 Member
    I am a huge fan of FitBit.. I have the One, the Flex, and am hoping to upgrade to the Charge HR in a few months :)
  • McBoffin
    McBoffin Posts: 76 Member
    I have the Fitbit flex and the firbit Aria scales. Both work well with MFP.
  • shells0715
    shells0715 Posts: 102 Member
    Does the fitbit differentiate from when you are doing an aerobic activity to when you are walking around doing day to day tasks?
  • ralph124c41
    ralph124c41 Posts: 17 Member
    I tried a couple of pedometer apps. None of them worked well with my phone. On a counted walk of 500 steps they all logged about 130 steps. Since other people do seem to find that they work, I assume the problem is with the sensor in my particular phone (Moto G).
    So digging through the junk drawers I found an old simple Sportline pedometer. Luckily the battery hadn't corroded too badly and I was able to get it working. Over that 500 step walk I consistently get readings between 480 and 525 steps. That is acceptable accuracy for me. Models similar to mine are available for $5-$10.
  • shells0715
    shells0715 Posts: 102 Member
    that's great!!
  • shells0715
    shells0715 Posts: 102 Member
    do people find these tools motivate them more? Any successes?
  • lfrazier2482
    lfrazier2482 Posts: 82 Member
    Another vote for the Fitbit. I have had the One for awhile. It is pretty accurate in tracking my steps and it syncs to MFP. I track my calories here because I think MFP does a better job than their interface. Those calories do show up on the Fitbit site.
    I do find it motivating. If I don't have my 10,000 in yet I usually get off my a** and get them in.
  • shells0715
    shells0715 Posts: 102 Member
    Sounds great! Hoping it will motivate my husband and I
  • srcurran
    srcurran Posts: 208 Member
    Had a Fitbit but returned it because it wouldn't charge. Now using Jawbone Up and like it. No perfect, but for me better than just a pedometer. I also like the app for Jawbone better than Fitbit.
  • shells0715
    shells0715 Posts: 102 Member
    I decided on the Sportline Synccalorie. It is basic but does what I need it to. My husband also got one. It is not wireless..it tracks steps, calories, km's etc and then it sinks with mapmywalk app. So far we like it and is great reminder to move.
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