Just in time for your resolutions, Consumer Reports has tested and rated treadmills, and pedometers and pedometer apps. Here is how they stacked up.
Best Treadmill: Precor 9.31 (Compare Prices): This non-folding treadmill is also on our list for top premium treadmill, and was nominated for the Walking.about.com Readers’ Choice Award in 2011.
What do you do when you don’t have a pocket to carry your cell phone and the belt clips they sell seem to have it dangle precariously from your waistband? Hipzbag is a solution - a stylish redesign of the fanny pack for the iPhone age. Hipzbag Review
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If you’re starting to feel cabin fever, here are the winners of my yearly poll of AVA walkers to choose the best walks in the USA from among over 1800 year-round walking routes offered by local clubs. Top 10 Walks in the USA of 2011. All of these routes are offered this year, 2012, although some are seasonal and don’t open until spring. These walks are everywhere, and if you aren’t in the loop, here is a search for AVA year-round walks. I’ve done six of the top ten walks — how about you? This year the AVA has a new trail rating system.
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The Consumer Electronics Show 2012 gave Innovations Awards to fitness gadgets that walkers may find useful. I’ve already tried two of them.
Gaiam Touch Heart Rate Monitor SE336 from Oregon Scientific: The watch has a sleek, buttonless thin design you don’t mind wearing all day. It pairs with a chest strap heart rate monitor. It has fairly basic heart rate monitor functions, but is aimed towards users who just want to know if they are in the right zone and burning calories. Review| Compare Prices. I actually prefer their strapless model, the Touch ECG SE338 (Compare Prices), which looks similar and only takes your finger pulse.
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When it comes to walking socks, I’m like Goldilocks, I need things “just right.” I’m looking for socks that aren’t too tight but that fit closely and just right. I’m looking for socks that aren’t too padded, but padded just right to provide a little cushion. All I want are things just right. And, of course, they have to be made of sweat-wicking fabric to help keep my feet dry and prevent blisters. Plus, they can’t shrink up to gnome-size the first time I wash and dry them. I’m looking at YOU, Wrightsock! I was blissfully happy with Wrightsock’s Racer sock until they changed the weave so it shrank horribly.
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Autumn starts Friday. Don’t let cooler weather and lack of the right gear be an excuse to stop walking. I’ve updated my top picks lists for plus-size walking clothing for cooler weather. No, jeans and a cotton hoodie are not the right gear, especially if you run into any rain or mist. If you are new to exercising outdoors in the fall, here is how to layer your clothing to stay warm enough, cool enough, and dry inside and out.
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For my entire walking life, I have been told to walk on the side of the road where you face oncoming traffic (if there is no separate sidewalk.) In the US, this means walking on the left side of the road. In fact, it is my top walking safety rule. I just returned from a great charity walk in France where the leader had us consistently walk WITH traffic on the right side of the road. I felt disconcerted, but rather than challenge the leader, I went with it. Had I been wrong all these years?
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