Apple Nike + iPod Sport Kit for iPod nano 1G, 2G, 3G by Apple Computer
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Digital camera reviews of Apple Nike + iPod Sport Kit for iPod nano 1G, 2G, 3G
Digital camera Review: Best thing to happen to my runs
Summary: 5 Stars
I believe this product can be accurate. I ran a half marathon a few months ago, and assuming the course was accuratley measured to 13.1, my little Nike+ was only off by .3 miles, saying I had run 13.4 miles. Sure, it was a little disappointing to think that I was nearly finished when I still had a third of a mile to go, but think about it...it's a stinkin' pedometer, not a GPS, and over 13.1 miles it was off by .3...normally when I run for 3 - 6 miles it's pretty dang accurate.
I did have to do two things to get to that level of accuracy, however. The second is the obvious one: calibrate it. The first thing, though, needed to be first in order to get an accurate calibration. And it was less obvious.
I do not have Nike shoes. At first I heard all sorts of reports of Nike+ success with non-Nike shoes, so I was optimistic. My first few runs, though, were definitely not accurate. I suffered the same inaccuracy bemoaned by other reviewers here...a 3 mile run according to Yahoo maps clocked in at 0.25 miles. And half of that was an "intensity" of 0. Yeah...not so good.
But that's when I started experimenting with how I attach the transmitter to my shoe. I found that placing it at the bottom of the laces, on top of my foot, in as level of a manner as I could manage, produced more reliable results.
What I believe happened was that my early attempts involved putting the transmitter in my shoe in such a way that it was angled in one direction or another. And the transmitter doesn't like that. The Nike+ shoes allow the transmitter to be flat in relation to the sole...I think the transmitter works best if it's level like that.
Also, it seems that if I ever don't secure the transmitter down well enough and it has some wiggle room, I'm also liable to get inaccuracies.
So, figure that out first -- I'm definitely thinking of just buying some Nike shoes. But once that's taken care of, calibrate the thing, and do it carefully. Go to a track so you can be assured of the distance. Also, calibrate a few times, because when you actually start calibrating and when you actually stop calibrating involves several button presses. I found it helpful to put some music on that matches my stride speed, get it started, run half a lap to get "in the groove", be ready to calibrate, which as I mentioned involved several button clicks so get right up to that last button click, then press that last button at a lap marker. Then be ready to stop calibrating in the same way; it takes a few clicks, but try to figure it out so that you'll hit that last click RIGHT on the lap marker. It took me a few tries, but once I got it, it's been really accurate.
The Nike+ website is the best part of all. It's really fun and encouraging for me to look at my runs in that way...I can watch my progress. I can set goals, such as "I want to run faster, so I want to run 4 runs in the next month that are X:XX per mile or faster." Plus you get little "awards" for various milestones. Oh, and Lance Armstrong or Paula Radcliffe might congratulate you at the end of your run if you hit some personal record.
All in all it's the best $30 I've spent on my running (I already had the iPod).
Digital camera Review: Better baby this thing
Summary: 2 Stars
I can't say I hated this thing by any means, in fact it's the only reason I dared to try an Apple product at all (after many unpleasant experiences suffered by my parents at the hands of this company). Anyway, I picked this up with a new Nano to try and track my runs. The first run it worked great; I had previously g-mapped my running routes and all of the unit's measurements were spot-on with the online pedometer's. I even uploaded the run stats to the Nike website without any trouble whatsoever. The product is designed well, with plenty of different display and run options, and it's fairly integrated with the music on the Nano.
Unfortunately, at the conclusion of my next 6.5 mile run, I noticed I had only traveled 3 miles according to the device. Hoping it was a fluke, I tried using it again the next day and discovered that the sensor was no longer registering with my Nano. My best guess is that some sweat must have gotten into the piece that plugs into the charger slot and corroded something, but I'm not quite sure. I'm probably going to buy another one because it's a truly innovative product, but I still couldn't believe it could be this easily ruined. I've owned two other mp3 players that can make it through pouring rainstorms without malfunctioning. At least the Nano still works.
As a quick side note, it's too bad the sensor has to be used exclusively with Nike shoes (since they provide the online site to manage your data). I did manage to squeeze the sensor between my laces, but that's not really an ideal situation for people who prefer other shoe brands or have too narrow of a foot for Nike products.
Digital camera Review: Compete Against the World
Summary: 5 Stars
This Nike + iPod sport kit is excellent. I got it and it was ready to use out of the box. It was synchronized already and the only time it does not seem synchronized is when I run on the treadmill. I do not have the special Nike shoes, but I just put the sensor in the side of my shoes and there has been no problems when I run. I do take it out, however, when I play basketball. I have the very first version of the Nano, so I had to download some updater software, but it is easy. I like the Nike+Plus website, but I have heard some people note that it could be better.
PROS:
-Update your runs on any new version iTunes (Mac or PC).
-Voice reminders about distance remaining, pace, time run, etc.
-Don't necessarily need Nike shoes
-Synchronized and ready to use out of the box
-Compatible with any iPod nano version
-Adds no weight or discomfort to the Nano
-Great motivational and competition-inducing tool
CONS:
-Only available with the Nano
-Sometimes seems unsynchronized (treadmill)
-You cannot do battery replacement yourself
-Potentially easy to lose if you leave it lying around
-Need to go back to a previous menu to end runs
Digital camera Review: Cool Gadget!
Summary: 4 Stars
Great idea Nike! I must admit I'm a bit of a gadget freak! :-) & I love the idea of this - its great to load up all your runs onto Nike+ to keep track of your progress & see the runs visually. I also like the feedback during the run and the fact that i can pace my self - but be warned :-) you can no longer enjoy any misty self-delusions!
I've found changing music during the run to be a bit awkward - but its easy to compile a good run selection.
I'd prefer it if Nike was more "sharing" with this kind of technology - as its a bit of a pain if you've got another brand of shoes. That aside its a top idea & I like the information it gives me. - just add a heart rate monitor with it & I'd be pleased as a pig in poop!
Digital camera Review: Cool factor is way up there on this.
Summary: 5 Stars
I think this is a great product and recommend it to everyone that owns a nano. I don't own Nike shoes so I had to purchase the shoe pouch to keep the transmitter in and have no troubles with it. The device is pretty accurate out of the box. I am 5'8" so although I calibrated it after I owned it for a couple of weeks it didn't get much more accurate.
This works well is difficult to mess up and using it with [...] is sweet.