DMC-03 Multifunction Pedometer

Suggested Retail Price: $2.99

Rating: 4/10

Product Features

• Measures steps, calories, and distance
• Counts up to 100,000 steps
• Used by clipping to belt

Product Specs 

• Uses a flip-top case
• Runs on a lithium battery
• Comes in several different colors
• Advertised as 98% accurate

Disadvantages

• Higher rate of failure than most models
• Often inaccurate
• Stride length is predetermined

Review

Note that this pedometer, the SWOO DMC-03, is almost identical to the SM2000 pedometer.  They have the same manufacturer, and if you are thinking about buying either model, realize they are essentially interchangeable.  Although both are extremely cheap, they are of a much lower quality than a more expensive pedometer.

The DMC-03 comes with a surprisingly high number of features, although they are not all that well implemented.  Not only will it measure steps, but it also measures distance and estimates how many calories are burned.  One problem with the distance feature, however, is that you can't set your personal stride length.  The pedometer comes with a preset stride, so unless you happen to match it exactly, the distance number will not be accurate.  Similarly, the calorie counter does not factor in any personal information, such as age or weight.  Therefore, it's only going to be giving you a rough estimate, so be warned.

What really can be a problem with the DMC-03 pedometer is that it can give wildly inaccurate step counts.  Although SWOO claims that it is a 98% accurate model, they do little to prove this.  There are stories of people walking 20 steps, and finding that it has recorded 100 steps.  Also, some people have observed step counts for when they were sitting down!  It seems the problem is that the step sensor in this pedometer is way too sensitive, so it may exaggerate your actual activity.

Despite these seemingly severe problems, every once and a while, the DMC-03 will function correctly.  Some people will get lucky, and will get a more or less accurate step count.  Additionally, this is a simple to use pedometer, as it is very easy to figure out how to use.  It doesn't need very much power to run, so expect a long battery life.  But by far the biggest appeal is the dirt-cheap price tag.  You can buy a whole case of DMC-03 pedometers for the same cost as a single more expensive pedometer.  And many people do just that, since this model is often aimed at people who want to buy these in bulk to be used by a large group of people.  Just be warned that you usually get what you pay for.