Have you seen Striiv yet? I first heard about his little device way back in August during BlogHer. I was fortunate to be invited to breakfast with The Blogging Angels and it was at that breakfast that I was introduced to Striiv. It sounded like a great little product but then I had to wait… and wait… and wait until the big launch to received mine.

Striiv Device

So last week it arrived and I was over the moon excited. My first impression was that it was much smaller than I thought it would be. For some reason I expected it to be a little larger… and was pleasantly surprised to find out it was as small as it is. It fits in my pocket… or on my key chain and it’s seriously effortless to program. Unlike a pedometer, you don’t have to set anything up. You just charge it up and go.

I kept Striiv in my pocket and went about my daily business. At the end of the day, it figured out the number of steps I took (including a separate measurement for stairs), the energy I burned, the calories I burned, the miles I walked. It was amazing. AND, I didn’t have to reset it for the next day. It automatically knew that a new day was starting and reset itself back to 0. Awesome!

But Striiv is much more than a pedometer. It’s also a gaming device. I have to admit I am NOT a gaming person. I have no interest in Nintendo DS’s and although I love doing my Wii Fit and Just Dance, I don’t like playing the other games we have for it. I don’t even play games on my iPhone (other than the very addictive Words with Friends). Gaming just isn’t my thing. I wasn’t sure how interested I would be in the gaming aspects of Striiv but they are completely different than I thought they would be. The games are based on how much you are moving. The more steps you take, the more involved in the game you get.

I love the challenges. You spin the wheel and can complete any of the challenges it gives you. They are small, easy challenges like walking a certain distance in a certain time, climbing steps, or taking an amount of steps. Plus… when you complete certain goals, you can connect the Striiv to your computer and Striiv, along with other businesses, will make a donation on your behalf to charitable organizations. That in of itself is enough to keep you moving.

This weekend, you can purchase Striiv on HSN (Home Shopping Network) for only $99 for the Striiv Device AND Belt Clip, Key Ring and Screen Protector. It’s a pretty good deal considering they will let you make 3 payments of $33.31. That definitely makes it a little more reasonable.

I have had comments complaining about the cost. Yes, it’s a little pricey for some, but think about how much you spend on health/exercise products. Personally, if I count up all the exercise videos, weights and yoga mats I’ve bought this past year, it well surpasses the price of the Striiv.

This really is the perfect gift for anybody who likes to be active or is thinking about starting a new exercise program. No gym memberships, no monthly fees, no effort… really, you just go about your daily business and Striiv adds up the points for you. You’ll be surprised how much activity (or how little) you get in a day. You might even find yourself walking a few extra steps, or taking the stairs, or doing some of the challenges.

I received a complimentary Striiv through my affiliation with The Blogging Angels and Zebra Partners. I was under no obligation to write about it. All opinions are my own.