If you like games, you’ll love Striiv. That’s because this lightweight keychain gadget, which comes with a built-in accelerometer and altimeter that measure not just the number of steps you’ve taken, but also how many stairs you’ve climbed and how fast you’re going, gives you points for every step you take. You can then use the points to play a game built into the $99 device.
The goal of the touchscreen game, called MyLand, is to re-inhabit a lost land by growing plants and building things like water fountains and coliseums. And the only way to do that is by having enough energy to build and grow them. It’s a surprisingly good gimmick. Some days I found myself walking around the block a few times just so I could earn enough energy points to finish growing a bougainvillea bush or build a quaint little fishing pond.
I also liked the charts that recorded exactly how many steps I took each day and compared them to the national average. Whenever I went more than two days without taking enough steps, just seeing my inactivity charted onscreen helped motivate me to put on my exercise clothes and head to the gym.
One problem: Striiv’s sensors aren’t very good at measuring movement on stationary machines like a Stairmaster or rowing machine. And on days when I played the game too much, the batteries would drain in just a few hours. But overall, Striiv’s novel approach to fitness was a fun motivator.
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