Two strikes... It Has Almost Struck Out
Written: May 27 '03 (Updated May 31 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Easy to use and read with a tight clip.
Cons: It doesn't like all waist bands & is a little picky at times of placement.
The Bottom Line: I do recommend this pedometer, but recommend you purchase yours locally so you can exchange it if you should receive a defective one.
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| sgentile's Full Review: Sportline 350 Electronic Pedometer |
**** See UPDATE at the bottom of this review!
Having been bit by the 10,000 step challenge bug I bought two of these SPORTLINE Electronic Pedometer 350s two weeks ago; One for myself and one an early Father's Day gift.
What Influenced My Purchasing Decision?
Truthfully I did a little research; asked friends, looked online and in a few sports stores. Finally I decided to buy locally rather than order online and pay shipping costs and not have an easy way to return this product if it should prove defective. Am I glad I did (see "What Went Wrong").
Features
The most important feature for me was that it recorded the number of steps that I took. This one did that, and what's more it shows Distance, Calories, Clock, and Timer. These are set and reset easily enough by pressing the little buttons at the bottom of the unit. The digital reading is large enough to see clearly too. The SPORTLINE Electronic Pedometer 350 will not credit you any steps until 5 consecutive steps have been taken; this is to eliminate recording any jostling you might experience while driving.
There are instructions located on the cardboard panel packaged with the pedometer. ** Be careful how you open this packaging or you might damage those instructions.
Description
The SPORTLINE Electronic Pedometer 350 is approximately 2 inches in length and one inch wide. It's lightweight, and has a very tight clip. I have been wearing a pedometer for a week now and the only times it has fallen off is when I pick up my 3 year old and his feet push it off.
In order to read the pedometer you place one thumb on the top of the clip, and use your other thumb to push it open (much like a closed change purse).
My Experiences
I immediately clipped my SPORTLINE Electronic Pedometer 350 on and take it off only to sleep and shower. The first two days I was impressed by my step readings (so easy to open the unit and check the digital display). It is so exciting to see how many steps you use to do ordinary things like feeding your kids and running up the stairs a few times to do laundry. The pride you feel earning 2000 steps a mile of walking and even more for running and doing exercise videos is almost euphoric. And the best reason to wear a pedometer is that IT GETS YOU MOVING! When a lazy day creeps up on you and you see you have barely reached 5000 steps with very few hours left before the evening slow down, you may actually be motivated to get up and move.
What Went Wrong
This honeymoon phase I described started to fade in less than a week’s time for me (two different times). Every day my numbers seemed to have trouble keeping up with me. Now if you will recall I bought a SPORTLINE Electronic Pedometer 350 for my father too (and gave it to him early). My father hadn’t worn his yet, so his was brand new. He and I walked around his 1-mile block together; he registered 2000 steps, and I got approximately 1000. Now I realize that our strides are likely to be different lengths, but it is highly unlikely that he had 1000 more than me; my strides are shorter. Having discovered this I started to “test” my beloved SPORTLINE Electronic Pedometer 350; I felt so betrayed. Sure enough my pedometer was NOT recording all of my steps.
If at 1st you Don’t Succeed… Try Try Again
That afternoon I went to the sports store where I purchased my SPORTLINE Electronic Pedometer 350 and was given a replacement, without any trouble. Again I was rewarded with high step counts and was happy once again. Today is 3 days later… This morning I did TWO exercise videos (I wasn’t impressed with my numbers after the 1st one so simply popped in another one since my kids had joined me) and took a walk this afternoon. I should have well over 10,000 steps recorded but only have 8009 recorded. I have somehow managed to get another defective unit. I plan to get it replaced one last time tomorrow. If this pattern repeats itself the SPORTLINE Electronic Pedometer 350 will have struck out with me, and I will move onto another brand.
Please note I am rating this product with 2 stars now. If the 3rd unit works better I will revise this review.
UPDATE
It is a few days after I originally posted this review and I have made a wonderful discovery (causing me change my rating of this product from 2 to 4 stars). This pedometer requires you to become "familiar" with it a bit before you can really rely on its reliability. What I mean by this is that it seems to dislike certain waist bands. Clipping it to your underwear band in the morning while you are still in your nightgown just doesn't get a reliable reading; but add a pair of bike shorts under your gown and clip it there, it will work.
Also be careful that it is parallel to (when clipped on so it is horizontal) the ground at all times. You might want to "test" it before forgetting about it; say march in place for a count of 20 and see what the number reads. If it is a few steps off, that is ok because it sometimes "catches up."
All in all I am now enamored by my pedometer. If not this model, you must get whatever model you can find that records "steps." I can't emphasize enough the importance of purchasing your pedometer at a local sporting store so you can return and/or exchange any defective ones.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
sgentile
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Location: New England, United States
Reviews written: 249
Trusted by: 476 members
About Me:
I'm a mother who focuses on safety, fun, & value. I write from experience.
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