Walking is the easiest way there is to get some exercise, since you can do it any time and any where, but it’s always more fun if you’ve got a buddy to go with you. If you have a dog, you probably bring him or her along with you on your walks.
Walking after dark can be dangerous, though, at least if there are any cars around. You can improve your chances of being seen by wearing reflective clothing, but there are also some gadgets you can get for your dog. Consider glow-in-the-dark collars, leashes, or perhaps something like this blinking LED collar light.
“Pet Blinkers give you the added security and peace of mind knowing you and your pet(s) are visible at night. Whether you’re going for a jog with your pet or if you just want extra attention, attach the Pet Blinker to your pet’s collar and be seen a half-mile away! These eye-catching, multi-color L.E.D.’s accessorize any pet!”
The lights cost $10 from Tails by the Lake.
If you’re a walker or a runner and you like to head outside even in the winter (after all, those treadmills at the gym aren’t very exciting, are they?), then you have to worry about snowy and frozen sidewalks and streets. I’m not sure how well these “STABILicers” work, but it looks like a pretty smart concept.
They attach to the bottom of your shoes and the “18 replaceable steel cleats in a rugged Vibram™ sole greatly reduce the risk of dangerous slips and falls.” The product description promises they’re lightweight and rugged (I guess that’s code for they won’t break the first time you go running) and great for hiking, running, shoveling the driveway, or walking the dog in winter conditions. The “snow tires for your shoes” cost $40 from Brookstone.
I know quite a few people who’ve gotten and started using pedometers in the last year. It makes keeping track of how far you’ve walked in a day easy, and it’s fun to think of all those steps you take at work (or at least in the parking lot walking into work) as a means toward a goal. A pedometer itself isn’t very motivating though. If you want something a little more interactive (i.e. something that speaks your results to you), you could check out a talking pedometer.
The one shown here literally tells you the distance you’ve walked and the number of steps you’ve taken. It also has 7 built in melodies with different tempos it can play to help motivate you to pick up your feet. Remember, the more steps you talk the more calories you can burn, so this is a good gift for a dieting friend.
From Life with Ease for $10.
I guess it’s pet week here at Fitness Gadgets, because I keep finding things for dogs (also see: Bicycling with Your Dog). This tent may look like a normal pop-tent at first glance, but it’s actually dog-sized, the “dog dome.” This way if your hiking plans include an overnighter, you’ve got a place for Fido to stay. That’s the theory anyway (every dog owner knows Fido would rather stay in your tent with you).
This is one of several doggie accessories available over at REI (if you get one of the canine backpacks, Fido can carry his own tent, food, and water). Worth checking out if you take your hound with you on all your adventures.
I’m old enough to remember the 80s when every punk teenager was walking around with a massive boom box on his shoulder, terrorizing the neighborhood with loud music (I was young enough to wanna be just like them…). Well, now you can do it a little more subtly.
The Skullcandy LINK Backpack lets you play your favorite music (you can plug in your cell phone or your iPod) through amplified 60mm speakers, which are embedded in the upper straps. If you’re into hiking, you can entertain your whole group (and the birds, squirrels, and other wildlife). Or you can just stroll around campus with tunes coming out of your backpack.
Available from SmartHome, the backpack will cost you $130: Skullcandy LINK Backpack
Here’s a GPS tracker for you hikers out there who just can’t disconnect from your technology (go into the woods without an mp3 player, are you joking??). The Delphi NAV200, scheduled to be out in late October, features a 3.5-inch color LCD touch screen that can do a lot more than show maps and your current location. This mini entertainment center includes a movie player, a music player, and a picture viewer. Now, if you get injured on your hike because you were too busy watching the latest Harry Potter flick to notice the huge, angry bear stomping out of the forest at you, you can’t blame me… (well, you can, but I don’t have any money, so it’s no good suing).
If you know a tech-savy hiker that you have to hook up this year for Christmas, you can pre-order the Delphi at their site for $380. Just don’t forget to put me on your gift-giving list too.
Here’s a bit of a twist on your basic pedometer: the strollometer is for walking with a stroller. It’s designed to make it easier to monitor your walking workout when you’re trying to get off a few post-pregnancy pounds (although I suppose it could be helpful for dads too). It measures speed (current, max, and average), distance traveled, ambient temperature, trip time, and current time. At the end of the day, I’m not sure how the strollometer is much different from a traditional pedometer, except that it is designed to strap to a stroller, and it measures wheel rotations instead of actual steps. But if it interests you, the gadget is $40 and comes in three colors, so you can color coordinate with your baby stroller.