Home » Technology

This Byron Bay fitness tracker reckons we’re walking wrong

evolve mvmt ankle tracker on feminine legs, walking parallell to the camera on the coast

Pictured: EVOLVE MVMT walking and running tracker

// Step up 2 the streets

By Anula Wiwatowska

Jan 09, 2024

1 min read

Published on January 08, 2024

Byron Bay based EVOLVE MVMT promises to enhance your walking technique for $499USD.

Unveiled at CES, the ankle monitor tracker guides the user to improve their stride through what it is calling “light walking”. While the website doesn’t actually define what “light walking” is, it does say that the prompt “enables you to walk the way we were designed to walk”. According to EVOLVE MVMT, walking in this way can increase muscle activity, burn 36% more calories, be gentler on your joints, and improve posture.

On paper these are pretty interesting propositions, but it is a shame that the monitor makes it look like you’re under house arrest. The all black ankle monitors are the antithesis of Byron Bay style, bearing a striking resemblance to court-mandated versions. While the website doesn’t give any specs, or dimensions, the monitor looks to be about the same size as a chunky men’s watch according to promo photos. It’s not a subtle look.

Wearing it on your ankle is crucial however, as the tech evaluates your walking technique in real time. MVMT’s patent for the monitor states that the technology can indicate the strength of the impact of the foot on the ground, the angle of the foot strike, and the stride length.

MVMT EVOLVE ankle monitor on male ankles while stepping towards the camera wearing black running shoes

A buzz on the ankle indicates a subpar step, but there is a more detailed breakdown available in the accompanying app. Like the monitor, the app is designed to be used in real time so you can’t just slide your phone into your pocket, or take a phone call on your walk. It is all feet, and thumbs on deck.

Notably the app concentrates purely on running and walking form over metrics like calories burned. I’m open to any kind of fitness tracking that deprioritises calorie or kilojoule tracking, and I would hazard a guess that this one doesn’t get angry at you for taking a rest day either.

Promotional images show users with a black strap on each ankle, but it isn’t clear as to whether having two sensors is recommended or whether this was just an aesthetic choice. Each order comes with a single sensor, a charging unit, a charging cable (USB-A to USB-C), and a strap. There are no technical specifications available at this time.

\\ More from Reviews.org

Nathan Lawrence

21/05/2024

The best JBL speaker picks

Anula Wiwatowska

20/05/2024

Kmart vacuums compared: Are the low prices worth it?

Nathan Lawrence

20/05/2024

How to stream every ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup 2024 match

Anula Wiwatowska

20/05/2024

Dyson’s trade-in trial can score you $150 off an Airwrap

Graphic of Foxtel iQ5 box, Foxtel remote and a Television showing the Foxtel menu

Brodie Fogg

20/05/2024

Foxtel packages for new and existing customers compared

Written by

Anula Wiwatowska

Anula is the Content and Social Media Editor within the Reviews.org extended universe. Working in the tech space since 2020, she covers phone and internet plans, gadgets, smart devices, and the intersection of technology and culture. Anula was a finalist for Best Feature Writer at the 2022 Consensus Awards, and an eight time finalist across categories at the IT Journalism Awards. Her work contributed to WhistleOut's Best Consumer Coverage win in 2023.