The Top 5 Pedometers for Walkers & Runners

Pedometers are invaluable tools whether you walk, run or jog. By showing you in concrete numbers how far you have gone, pedometers both motivate and assist in establishing a healthy program of exercise. But sometimes, choosing the right one can be a bit daunting. What, exactly, does each one do, and how much will it cost? Below are five of the best pedometers for walkers and runners, complete with all of the information you need to know.

Omron HJ-112 Pedometer ($19.99 - Drugstore.com)

This silver and brown pedometer is relatively inexpensive, and provides you with several accurate measures of your progress. You can check out how far you've gone in steps, miles or calories burned. But this handy little pedometer doesn't stop there. With a built-in clock, the Omron HJ-112 Pedometer retains seven days worth of information, resetting for every new day at midnight. It even counts aerobic (or high-impact) steps separately from regular walking steps, so you get a realistic reading every day.

Sportline Fitness Pedometer 360 ($29.95 - RYP Sports)

This little blue pedometer features a double-line display, compact size and an automatic built-in sensitivity adjustment. Great for walking, hiking or jogging, the Sportline Fitness Pedometer 360 shows you how far you've gone in several ways. You can keep track of your progress in steps, miles/kilometers, steps per minute, miles per hour and calories burned. Saves money by conserving battery power, as it shuts off when you're inactive and turns back on when you start moving.

Yamax Digiwalker SW-200 Pedometer ($18.40 - Step Into Health)

Although this pedometer only counts steps, its strength lies elsewhere. According to About.com, it's one of the world's most respected due to its reliability and accuracy in counting steps. Plus, it's simple to use and perfect for the technologically-challenged. There's only one button - Reset - so it's hard to mess up.

Omron HJ-720 ITC Pedometer ($29.99 - BFeMart)

This compact pedometer can be worn on your belt or dropped in your pocket, so you'll hardly know it's there. Comes complete with top-of-the-line features like a CD-Rom that allows you to upload pedometer data to your computer, and measures your progress in numerous ways. You can keep track of your exercise using this pedometer in terms of steps or aerobic steps taken, distance, calories and fat burned. An extra security strap helps ensure that you don't lose the pedometer during exercise.

Yamax Digiwalker CW-701 Pedometer ($29.90 - Step Into Health, Inc.)

Like several other pedometers, the Yamax Digiwalker CW-701 retains data for seven days. Unlike many others, however, it keeps a handy total of your exercise data for two weeks. In addition to a myriad of other features, this pedometer lets you know how much time you have spent being active in a given day, which gives you a unique and helpful perspective when it comes to increasing your activity levels. Also comes with a protective cover to help guard against accidental resets.