Review: Omron Pace/Distance Tracker
As you may remember, Omron was great about sponsoring us at the Disney Princess Half Marathon, and as part of that had sent us some GoSmart Pedometers to review. They recently contacted us about testing one of their GoSmart Pace and Distance Trackers, and you know me and new gadgets! :)
Of course it arrived during my hiatus from running, but I had to open it up right away. First, it’s like they listened to me about the packaging because it was MUCH easier to get into than the GoSmart. No cutting, no maiming myself with scissors…just open the top and everything (including a little screwdriver, which I also griped about last time!) was right there, ready to go. The battery was even already installed, and I only had to push a button to “wake up” the unit.
Initial Impression/Setup
Setup of this one is at least as easy as before, and possibly even easier. The directions are clear, the buttons are easy to push (but not so easy that you’ll accidentally hit them), and once you get your height, weight, stride length, and time set you’re basically ready to go. My only complaint with this process is that the screwdriver provided is too big to fit in the reset button on the back IF you have to reset it. Oh well, a pen works just fine. Come on, I can’t let it go without complaining about SOMETHING!
The other thing I noticed right away was the way it attaches to your belt/waistband. I LOVE the way they did it…rather than clicking into the belt clip, the tracker slides in and is held VERY securely with a little rubber frictiony thingie. I’m pretty sure that’s how their engineers called it out on the spec sheet. It feels much more secure than any pedometer I’ve used, and there’s no way it’s sliding out of the belt clip accidentally.
Playing around with it was my preferred way to learn that the display shows two bits of information at once, and you can easily cycle through the screens to display:
- Total time with distance
- Total calories burned with pace (minutes/mile)
- Total steps with time of day
- Total calories burned with total FAT calories burned
It saves your last 7 workouts so that when you return home light-headed and ready to pass out, you don’t have to remember to write anything down. Or is it just me who might forget?
Using The Pace/Distance Tracker
Anyway, the key to using this is getting your stride length right. I know my walking stride length, but not my running one, so my first run back, I wore this and my Forerunner 305 to get the calibration right…and boy, is my running stride longer! So once I got that calibrated (an easy process), I took it with me again on my flat 5K route and the calibration was perfect. Both my watch and the tracker showed 3.1 miles, a promising start! The next time I did the run, once again both agreed.
While the total calories were different between my watch and the tracker, the value was right in between what my watch calculated and what dailymile calculated, so I call it a good estimate. I’m not sure how it’s calculating fat calories, so can’t comment on that.
I took it out on my 5 mile run, and this is where things were a little sketchy. When I got back, my watch showed 5 miles (the actual value), but the pedometer showed 5.3 miles. So what gives?
The tracker is counting steps, and multiplying by the stride length I entered. On my 5 mile run, there’s a long steep hill…and I have to shorten my stride A LOT to get up it. I’m running with a significantly shorter stride length, but the tracker doesn’t know that, so it calculates that I’m going farther than I really am. This will also happen if you drop to a walk, since your walking stride will (probably) be shorter than your running stride. This isn’t Omron’s fault…it’s simply the way this kind of tracker works.
Conclusion
I like the features Omron added to the pace/distance tracker – it’s nice to see your pace, and I think the controls are far superior to the usual raised rubbery buttons most pedometers have. The belt clip is secure, calibration is straightforward, and operation is easy. And you don’t have to be too careful with which way it is pointed…it’s got nice sensors in it.
The only downside is the same that pedometers have – there’s no way to tell it mid-workout that your stride length is changing. I know that with devices like the Nike Plus, you calibrate both a running and a walking stride length, but you also need to have a iPod which, if you don’t already have one, brings the total cost up just a bit. *cough*
Anyway, if you’re looking for a walking or running pace/distance tracker, this is a good one to look at…as long as you can live with the limitations. But if you have an iPod/iPhone (and don’t mind dragging it around on your runs) I’d give the Nike Plus a serious look as it’s cheaper, and it has more functions. And if you’re looking for even more features, you know I love my GPS.
Note: Omron sent me the HJA-301 Pace and Distance Tracker, as well as the HJ-203 Pocket Pedometer with Activity Tracker with no guarantee that I’d give a good review, or even post about it.
WANT TO WIN ONE OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED DEVICES? Leave a comment by Sunday July 18, 2010 at midnight (eastern) telling us how you’d put it to good use. If you are one of the randomly selected winners, I’ll send you one of the two I received, as well as some other Omron goodies they sent to me. Since I’m footing the bill, I have to limit it to U.S. addresses only…
I can’t enter, obviously, but this does sound great. I liked their basic pedometer, but having pace on there does help, I imagine especially for run/walkers or beginning folks who don’t want to necessarily make the leap into a GPS.
Interesting observations about the pace and distance though. I actually need something like this for when I run outside again.
i would love one. i’m just starting to run so this would come in handy. thanks!
this looks great i would love this clip right on to my waistband, love running hands free
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jillian's Bitches, Kristen Chase. Kristen Chase said: Giving away 2 cool pace & distance pedometer from Omron at #shredheads. Worth checking out if you're a walker/runner. http://ow.ly/2cmcd [...]
Ooo, that might be nice to have to keep track of everything I am doing.
I’d give it to my mom! She doesn’t own a Garmin, and is doing Couch to 5k to lose weight. I really hope she’ll stick with it, and I think this would be a huge help!
I love Omron pedometers, but I’m always accidentally resetting them because of the raised buttons or breaking the clip. The new features on this one sound like they’d help eliminate those problems. I haven’t been exercising lately, and I need a new pedometer so I can work on increasing my movement. When I used one before I was pretty consistent at getting at least 10,000 steps and I’d like to start again.
Amy, the buttons on the HJ-203 (the yellow one shown) definitely eliminate the accidental stop/reset issues. To start/stop it you have to hold the button for a few seconds, and it has a little display on the screen that shows you how much longer you have to push it for the action to take effect.
See, I love the fact that my Nike+ can be downloaded to the Nike Running website and I can see everything about my run (minus heart rate because you need one of those new fangled heart rate monitors that work with it). I can see my speed per km and where I am strongest in my run and everything.
Sounds like a neat little gadget, and we all love gadgets, don’t we? LOL
(Oh, I’m in Canada so don’t pick me, m’kay?)
I’d love to have this! I can’t afford a Garmin, but would still love to track the distance of my outdoor runs. Sometimes it’s hard to gauge how far I’ve gone if I’m trying out a new trail.
Kristen,
After a winter of shredding, I stopped working out cold turkey, basically because I went back to work after maternity leave AND because I was so sick of looking at TV for working out when the sun was shining outside.
So I’ve just started walk/running again. I don’t get the same workout in the same amount of time as shred, but I do get fresh air and a renewed sense that it doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
I’m still grateful to you for motivating me and reminding me that there is fitness after 3rd baby. I need a new pedometer and this one sounds AWESOME.
Thanks!
Jenny
I too stopped shredding once it go hot outside. Being inside exercising in front of the television just made no sense. I’ll probably start up again once the winter comes. Also trying to convince my hubby I need a treadmill for the winter. I’m fragile. These cold Canadian winters would do me in. LOL
I’d use it on days I’m not running to keep track of how much I’ve been around with the kids so I’d have a good idea of whether I should try to fit a walk in before bed or whether I can collapse into the pillows and call it good.
I’d be willing to give this a shot, although I’m more interested in calories burned.
i love jillian. losing it? i LOSE IT every time i watch….anyway, i need this little baby. it would give me a super boost of motivation for my next half marathon!!
I’ve been looking into getting a pedometer and this one sounds awesome! How would I put it to good use? As a part of my recent efforts to get healthy I’ve begun running. Also, I am signed up to do the Susan G. Komen 3-Day in Philly in October and this would definitely help me train!
I’m training for my first 5K coming up in September, this would be a great way to improve my times.
I recently started walking with a goal of 30 minutes daily. I’d like to set a goal of so many steps, too. A pedometer would come in handy!
I think having a gadget that could help me track my running would motivate me to get back into running (I’ve been on kind of a break–unmotivated since I ran a 10-K in June)!
You guys continue to ROCK!!!
I would love a pedometer that works!!! I have used others with very discouraging results. I am working towards better health and fitness. I love tracking and charts to see how far I have come and would love to use this as a tool for my fitness goals.
Crossing my fingers!!!
I’m a beginner and would to track my runs/walks!
I would love one of those!
i’m trying to lose the baby weight (and then some) from the twin boys I had in December. I’ve been putting some good mileage in with my double jogging stroller with three kids packed in it and a pedometer would be just the thing to keep track of this busy Mom of three workouts!
I would totally use it to help me keep my pace up when running.
I would love to have a new pedometer so I can let my husband keep my old one, which he’s been borrowing ever since he fried his by jumping into a pool with it TWICE!
Now with #3 on the way, I really need to get back into exercising, and this would be perfect for helping hold me accountable.
I’ll just make sure to keep it away from the pool…
wow! i would totally use it to track my progress. i have only ran 5ks before but i’m hoping to a 10k in a few months.
Oh, nifty! I’d love to be able to monitor the pace of my runs along with distance.
[...] Review: Omron Pace/Distance Pedometer | Shredheads [...]
I am new to all this tweet twittering stuff…but would love to try out a pedometer because aftr my runs I have to get in the car and go back re-trace my route 2see how much milage I put in.this wld eliminate that n that would b great,I cld also keep track whn I am just walking n maybe not running…this wld b gr8!!!
This looks fabulous! I’m a relatively new runner & definitely new to the 30 Day Shred. I love both! I think this handy gadget would help so much as I train by myself and it would be great for my motivation.
[...] Review: Omron Pace/Distance Pedometer | Shredheads [...]
[...] Review: Omron Pace/Distance Pedometer | Shredheads [...]
Now that I am pregnant, I’ve turned to walking for most of my cardio. Having the pedometer would help me keep track of my progress!
It would be so nice to know how many calories I’m burning.
If I won this pedometer, I would use it to keep track of the way I run around all the time and I would treasure it because it’s yellow. I would whip it out at cocktail parties and say “Look at my yellow pedometer.”
Would LOVE to have this to see how much I run around during the day chasing the little one, and then challenge myself to up that amount every day. Not only would that help my fitness – it’ll also tire the little man out more and help him sleep better!
I would absolutely LOVE to own this pedometer. I have only ever owned a freebie pedometer that came inside a box of Special K! I’m doing miles and miles of stroller walking now trying to lose the last of the baby weight (11 weeks post-partum). Thank you!
I am not a runner–never have been. This gadget would get me started on a new exercise regimen!
Dear Bill. Where’s the yellow pedometer I won. I won, right?
It’s right next to Christopher Walken’s gold watch.
[...] With great fanfare, we’re ready to announce the two winners of the Omron goodies from last Friday’s post. [...]
[...] Review: Omron Pace/Distance Pedometer | Shredheads [...]
[...] Review: Omron Pace/Distance Pedometer | Shredheads [...]
[...] Review: Omron Pace/Distance Tracker | Shredheads [...]
[...] Review: Omron Pace/Distance Tracker | Shredheads [...]
[...] Review: Omron Pace/Distance Tracker | Shredheads [...]
[...] Review: Omron Pace/Distance Pedometer [...]
[...] Review: Omron Pace/Distance Tracker | Shredheads [...]
[...] Review: Omron Pace/Distance Tracker | Shredheads [...]
[...] Review: Omron Pace/Distance Tracker | Shredheads [...]
[...] Review: Omron Pace/Distance Tracker | Shredheads [...]
[...] Review: Omron Pace/Distance Tracker | Shredheads [...]
[...] Review: Omron Pace/Distance Tracker | Shredheads [...]