Walking regularly provides incredible health and fitness benefits – from lowering disease risk, controlling weight, improving mood, and beyond. An easy way to motivate more movement in your day is by using a wearable step counter. These nifty devices track your daily steps taken, distance covered, calories burned and more to keep you moving.
Here’s an overview of how step counters work, why they can be so useful for boosting activity levels, and which gadgets rank as the best options on the market today.
What Step Counters Do
Step counters, also called pedometers, are wearable devices that use acceleration sensors and advanced algorithms to detect your body motion and track data like:
- Steps taken
- Distance covered
- Calories burned
- Active minutes
- Sleep tracking
Advanced models sync to apps on your smartphone or computer to provide interactive displays and in-depth analytics of your fitness activity.
Top step counters are worn on your wrist, ankle, arm, hip or bra. The motion sensor inside detects the arm or leg movements of normal walking motion to increment your step count. Sophisticated processing avoids counting false steps from other motions.
Benefits of Using a Step Counter
Wearing a step counter offers many perks that can boost your daily movement:
- Quantifies activity: They provide objective data and goals for steps, distance and calories to motivate you.
- Reveals activity patterns: The data helps you identify low-activity periods to improve and find optimal exercise times.
- Promotes accountability: Tracking your daily steps adds accountability to hit certain goals and improve over time.
- Encourages movement: Simply wearing one often leads people to walk more throughout their day to increase their step count.
- Versatile and convenient: Step counters are versatile for any activity and convenient since they’re worn on your body.
- Engaging feedback: Getting real-time step totals and seeing progress provides rewarding feedback.
Top Step Counters for 2022-2023
The step counter market offers numerous options at various prices. Based on expert testing and reviews, here are 5 of the top step counters available:
1. Fitbit Charge 5
Fitbit sets the standard for fitness wearables. The Charge 5 stands out with its slim, stylish design and robust app. It tracks steps, heart rate, sleep, stress and more. The bright AMOLED display is easy to read.
2. Garmin Vivosmart 5
For a slim and sleek band, Garmin’s Vivosmart 5 packs impressive utility beyond just step tracking – from workout profiles to blood oxygen monitoring and strength training support. Battery life hits 7 days.
3. Samsung Galaxy Fit2
This affordable, entry-level tracker still provides great accuracy and an eye-catching AMOLED display. The Galaxy Fit2 offers activity goals, sleep tracking and smartphone notifications. Perfect for casual users.
4. Amazfit Band 5
Waterproof with an incredible 15-day battery life, the Amazfit Band 5 rivals leading brands at a fraction of the price. Health and fitness tracking covers all the basics along with blood oxygen monitoring and stress analytics.
5. Oura Ring Gen3
For a unique high-tech option, Oura’s latest ring tracks steps, calories, activity goals, sleep phases and health metrics using infrared LEDs and temperature sensors. It even detects COVID onset. The minimalist ring design is discreet.
While step counters motivate more movement, be sure to also follow dietary recommendations and get regular intensive exercise. Walking alone has limits for fitness. But paired with other healthy habits, a step counter provides an engaging supplement to keep you active. The technology has come a long way in recent years – give it a try!
