Many hikers like to know how far they have covered during a hike and even track the distance covered as they go along their route. For this, some people use pedometers.
But is it really a good idea? Is the value indicated by the pedometers reliable? My answer tends to start and end with an “n”, but we’ll see that there are exceptions. 😉
Before going any further, I will quickly present what a pedometer is for those who do not know.
What is a Hiking Pedometer?
A pedometer is used to measure the number of steps a person takes – that is really its basic function.
There are all kinds, simple or sophisticated with more or less options. We find in particular that give the time, the distance traveled, the calories expended, the heart rate, etc. There are some that are worn on the belt, others on the wrists, some are integrated into smartphones, sticks, shoes, etc. Some pedometers are even “connected”.
How Hiking Pedometer Works?
It is important to understand how a pedometer works to better understand its possible uses and limitations.
The step count
There are different systems for counting steps, but the main ones are:
- An oscillator (small pendulum or a ball that moves for example) to detect (in theory) the movement of each step. This is what is generally used in fairly standard basic pedometers.
- An accelerometer. This is what is generally used in more sophisticated pedometers and in smartphones.
The step count is more or less precise depending on the device used and the terrain (we will come back to this a little later).
Distance measurement
Measuring distance using a pedometer is often the source of heated discussions within groups of hikers – especially when compared to other methods of measurement (which we will discuss a little later).
Distance on a pedometer is measured using step counting. The number of steps is multiplied by the average length of a step to calculate the distance. The average of a step must be entered beforehand by the user because it is specific to each person.
But, what happens when you’re tired? When does it go up? When your bag is heavy? When the terrain is uneven, cluttered? etc
In these cases, your steps are smaller than the average entered during pedometer calibration and the distance covered is overestimated – the pedometer will show you a greater distance than you actually walked.
Conversely, when you take larger than average steps, the pedometer will show a shorter distance than you actually walked.
This is why distance measurements with a pedometer are inaccurate and you have to be careful.
Why a pedometer is generally not ideal for hiking
We have just seen that the distance measurements are not precise, especially when there is a drop or when the terrain or hiking conditions are changing.
In addition to that, the step count is not extremely precise when hiking, because the steps are often irregular – in particular because of the obstacles to be overcome, the changing terrain and the parasitic movements. The pedometer therefore sometimes registers too many steps or not enough.
If you want to accurately measure the distances you cover during your hikes, I do not recommend using a pedometer (with some exceptions).
When a pedometer can be useful while hiking
There are a few exceptions where a pedometer can be useful while hiking:
- If you want to know the approximate number of steps you take. It is the only tool that will allow you to do this (with more or less precision depending on the conditions and the pedometer). Some people like to know this information.
- If you always hike in the same conditions – especially on flat, even ground and with a constant pace. In this case, pedometers are well suited and can be quite accurate (if calibrated correctly). I am thinking in particular of Nordic walking or equivalent practices.
The advantage of a pedometer is its fairly low cost for basic models and real-time distance measurement. Honestly, if pedometers were expensive (especially compared to their alternatives), I don’t think they would be good for measuring distance.
What alternatives?
To measure the distances of your hikes, there are many more reliable alternatives to pedometers:
- Route planner software. These software allow you (among other things) to calculate distances on routes. This alternative has the advantage of being free, but requires you to draw your routes and the measurement is not done in real time (unless you note distance intervals on a map). Here is for example how to use Openrunner in video.
- Smartphones. There are apps that can accurately measure the distance traveled in real time – using the built-in GPS. I grant you, not everyone has a smartphone and it is not cheap. 😉
- GPS or GPS watches. The distance measurements are quite precise and are made by taking your position at regular intervals. Measurements are also made in real time.
- The cards. It is possible to use pins planted in a map (with a cardboard underneath) along the route and then go around the pins with a string. Otherwise, it is quite possible to use a curvimeter – a kind of tool that you “roll” along the route. These two methods are a bit tedious on the other hand, especially if you want to be quite precise.