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| Nike+ ?? (Read 700 times) |
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posted: 1/28/2008 at 2:10 PM |
A friend of mine asked me about the Nike+ system the other day, and I didn't have much to tell him since I haven't actually heard from anyone who has tried it out. So, specifically, if you've tried the Nike+ setup what do you think about:
The shoe selection
The accuracy (it's basically a pedometer, right?)
The connection between the little pod and the receiver
The information and interface you get from it all (in and out of iTunes I suppose)
Cost/Value
Also, any other thoughts that you might have.
I can imagine being concerned about the battery life, the weight of the shoes, wear and tear, can you actually feel that little thing down there under your foot?, and a bunch of other things.
I'll admit that I'm intrigued by the thought if it really does work and gives accurate data...but at the same time, I don't own a Nano, and would be loathe indeed to give up my Shuffle. It's really nice for running.
Thanks! |
~J |
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Just Be |
posted: 1/28/2008 at 3:27 PM |
Hey, where in the Bmore area do you live? We might be close if you're on the west side, especially outside 695! 
A friend of mine had the Nike+ for about 3 months and it broke. He got it from a non authorized Apple distributor and someone had already registered the product over 1 year ago, so when he called to claim the hardware warranty it had already expired and Apple/Nike told him to hit the road (dumb pun intended  ).
His opinions of it based on the short convo I had with him about it were that it was extremely inaccurate, even after thorough calibration, and annoying to use (not sure why, I'd have to ask him the details on that one.
I'm not sure if the Nike+ footpod is based on a pedometer design or an accelerometer, I'd guess the latter.
I'm using a Polar RS200sd heart rate monitor which utilizes an accelerometer based footpod, and I've found it to be extremely accurate, even with hilly terrain, which by its nature should cause distance errors, but I haven't noticed any yet. Only complaint with that is that the auto calibrator doesn't work well, you need to manually calibrate it at a 1600m track by running at least 1 mile in lane 1 and adjusting the calibration number accordingly.
Check out my website, http://designfate.com. Most of the data there was imported from my Polar heart rate monitor. Quite handy! |
| My Running Log | Blog of Running Lore |
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Older and Slower |
posted: 1/28/2008 at 4:18 PM |
I used the Nike system just for fun last year. I had all the stuff except the little sensor, and I got it new and cheap on ebay. It was fun to have Lance encouraging me and telling me my final time, but the thing was NOT accurate. I use a Garmin (am actually addicted to it), which is extremely accurate.
Also, I bought one of thos little cases to put the sensor in (the Nike) for use with non- Nike shoes. It kept coming open and dumping the sensor out onto the road! Stick with Garmin. |
| "It's not who wins the workout..." |
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posted: 1/28/2008 at 8:53 PM |
Since I didn't even know what a garmin was until last year and since I am not ready to cough up the dough for a Garmin, I have the Nike+. I got it maybe a year and a half ago and I use it with the orignal Nano. I don't like Nike shoes so I just got a little case to hold the "pod". I found that most the time it is reasonably accurate if you callibrate it correctly. It is handy because it is your music, watch, and disctance/pace calculator in one. I of course would love a garmin, but for the time being this works for me.
The shoe selection: any shoe, have a little case that attaches to my laces that holds the pod
The accuracy (it's basically a pedometer, right?): accelerometer...reasonably accurate
The connection between the little pod and the receiver: no problems with connection
The information and interface you get from it all (in and out of iTunes I suppose): ok, but I stopped using it when I found RA
Cost/Value: I would say it is a fair price for what you get |
~Sara
Goals: 1st marathon (under 4:00:00) | 1-2 HMs (under 1:50:00) | 10k (under 46:00) | 5k (under 23:00) | stay injury-free | keep running
BMO Vancouver BC Marathon 05/04/2008 3:51:43!! |
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posted: 1/28/2008 at 9:36 PM
modified: 1/28/2008 at 9:37 PM |
| Quote from smalcolm on 1/28/2008 at 8:53 PM: Since I didn't even know what a garmin was until last year and since I am not ready to cough up the dough for a Garmin, I have the Nike+. I got it maybe a year and a half ago and I use it with the orignal Nano. I don't like Nike shoes so I just got a little case to hold the "pod". I found that most the time it is reasonably accurate if you callibrate it correctly. It is handy because it is your music, watch, and disctance/pace calculator in one. I of course would love a garmin, but for the time being this works for me.
The shoe selection: any shoe, have a little case that attaches to my laces that holds the pod
The accuracy (it's basically a pedometer, right?): accelerometer...reasonably accurate
The connection between the little pod and the receiver: no problems with connection
The information and interface you get from it all (in and out of iTunes I suppose): ok, but I stopped using it when I found RA
Cost/Value: I would say it is a fair price for what you get
Ditto all this.
I've been using mine a lot less lately for one reason. I have ventured away from music and into audiobooks and podcasts. My podcasts are 38 minutes each and the audiobooks tend to be around 1 hour for each "section" (I burn them off CDs checked out at the library). I have not been able to determine a way to seamlessly go from one podcast or chapter to the next -- the nano will simply start over the podcast/chapter at the beginning. I have to stop my workout and pick the next podcast/chapter and this drives me bonkers. Overall my complaint is rather stupid and menial, but that is my one complaint. Other than that I really like the Nike +.
I don't have use for a Garmin yet because I only run outside one day a week. |
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Cynthia |
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dj steve boyett Reluctant Scrooge |
posted: 1/29/2008 at 2:44 AM
modified: 1/29/2008 at 2:45 AM |
For $30 it's fun, but after a while you'll realize you have paid for a device that measures what you already know. If you're someone who logs runs a lot, it definitely gives you some useful yardsticks. I mostly liked mine while I used it and found it motivating, and after a while I found I didn't need its motivation.
But there ain't a chance I'd buy Nike shoes to go with it (or a chance I'd buy Nike shoes, period). I slipped it under the front laces of my New Balances and never had a problem, and there are several inexpensive Velcro holders made specifically for it.
The software was a tad buggy (it put you in a few endless loops when you tried to change music in midstream under certain conditions, I can't remember what) but they may have addressed that by now. Celebrity athletes talk to you on it after your runs, which I find more hilarious than inspiring. ("Gosh, Lance, you DO care!") |
Steve Boyett
Podrunner: Free, nonstop, fixed-BPM workout music mixes.
Podrunner: Intervals - Free, varied-BPM workout music mixes! |
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dj steve boyett Reluctant Scrooge |
posted: 1/29/2008 at 2:47 AM |
| Quote from clhagan on 1/28/2008 at 9:36 PM: I've been using mine a lot less lately for one reason. I have ventured away from music and into audiobooks and podcasts. My podcasts are 38 minutes each and the audiobooks tend to be around 1 hour for each "section"
They aren't mutually exclusive, though -- you can laugh through all the funny parts of Cormac McCarthy's The Road while running with your Nike+ lozenge. |
Steve Boyett
Podrunner: Free, nonstop, fixed-BPM workout music mixes.
Podrunner: Intervals - Free, varied-BPM workout music mixes! |
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posted: 1/29/2008 at 4:29 AM |
| Quote from smalcolm on 1/28/2008 at 8:53 PM: Since I didn't even know what a garmin was until last year and since I am not ready to cough up the dough for a Garmin, I have the Nike+. I got it maybe a year and a half ago and I use it with the orignal Nano. I don't like Nike shoes so I just got a little case to hold the "pod". I found that most the time it is reasonably accurate if you callibrate it correctly. It is handy because it is your music, watch, and disctance/pace calculator in one. I of course would love a garmin, but for the time being this works for me.
The shoe selection: any shoe, have a little case that attaches to my laces that holds the pod
The accuracy (it's basically a pedometer, right?): accelerometer...reasonably accurate
The connection between the little pod and the receiver: no problems with connection
The information and interface you get from it all (in and out of iTunes I suppose): ok, but I stopped using it when I found RA
Cost/Value: I would say it is a fair price for what you get
I too have to ditto all that. Eventually I really really want a Garmin, but until then I like my $30 nike plus. |
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BearcatRunner view logHappy Today 3:30 Maratho |
posted: 1/29/2008 at 1:18 PM |
Well I am a guy who tried the Nike+ system four times because I really wanted it to work. I found it to be not as accurate as I would like. I think it all depends on how accurate you really need your run to be. For the money it is a great buy. I had real problems with it finding the sensor. It would drive me crazy with its inaccuracy. The voice is great when everything is right on but when it is off or won't start it will drive you insane.
What finally made me stop was that I was on a 20 mile run one day and everything was working okay when all of a sudden it skipped like 5 miles. So it started telling me only 10 miles to go when I had 15 miles still to run. After a mile it was driving me crazy and I just turned the thing off. I have never used one again. I'm a garmin person now and never have once had a second thought about that purchase. I love the gaminator. Ironically I used to wear Asics when I had the Nike+ and now I wear Nike Peagus! Go figure.
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2008 Goals:
Run Sub 22 5K
Run Marathon under 3:44
Get down to 145#
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posted: 1/29/2008 at 5:53 PM |
Since everyone else has covered the shoe stuff, I'll talk about the data collection and websites.
The Nike+ website is terrible. Apparently, it hasn't seen any new features for quite a while, so I'm not sure how much longer Nike plans to support it. You can see charts of your runs, but they're not very helpful -- they don't label the axes, so you can't see your pace, and they smooth out pace changes a lot. The goals are fun -- I went running this morning so I could hit 30 miles in January. The challenges are kind of stupid -- it's "which do you like better, cats or dogs?" kind of stuff. Or it's a personal challenge to see who runs the most miles in N amount of time, and assholes training for ultras come in and ruin the fun.
Runner+ allows you to see higher detail charts, but they still don't label the axes. They're trying to do a social network, web 2.0 sort of deal, but they haven't hit critical mass. I wonder how much longer they'll be around, considering that it looks like the guy who operates the site has stopped running.
Slowgeek.com has more detailed charts, but they're not operating a community.
I don't know of any other sites that use Nike+ data -- please share if you do. |
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posted: 1/29/2008 at 8:06 PM
modified: 1/29/2008 at 8:07 PM |
| Quote from hathorne on 1/29/2008 at 5:53 PM:
The Nike+ website is terrible.
I loved the website.
If I could have integrated with this place, I'd probably still be using it.
Each to his own, I guess.
Quote from BearcatRunner on 1/29/2008 at 1:18 PM: I found it to be not as accurate as I would like.
Did you actually calibrate it? At a track?
Out of the box, it was off by as much as 10-15%.
After calibration, it was off by no more than 100 yards in 26 miles. |
E-mail: JakeKnight2002@aol.com
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posted: 1/30/2008 at 1:56 AM |
| I've been using mine for a few months now. I like it. It's reasonably accurate, even when it has reset a couple of times and I ran without calibrating it. I use a little pocket designed to be strapped to the laces of a shoe instead of using Nikes. |
| Raleigh Area Runners | Rocky Mount Endurance Club |
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dj steve boyett Reluctant Scrooge |
posted: 1/30/2008 at 5:17 PM |
Quote from hathorne on 1/29/2008 at 5:53 PM:Since everyone else has covered the shoe stuff, I'll talk about the data collection and websites. The Nike+ website is terrible. Apparently, it hasn't seen any new features for quite a while, so I'm not sure how much longer Nike plans to support it. You can see charts of your runs, but they're not very helpful -- they don't label the axes, so you can't see your pace, and they smooth out pace changes a lot. The goals are fun -- I went running this morning so I could hit 30 miles in January. The challenges are kind of stupid -- it's "which do you like better, cats or dogs?" kind of stuff. Or it's a personal challenge to see who runs the most miles in N amount of time, and assholes training for ultras come in and ruin the fun.
Totally agree about the Nike site -- the navigation is awful, it's very nonintuitive, the functionality is mostly stoopid graphic displays, and it loads slower than glaciers race. |
Steve Boyett
Podrunner: Free, nonstop, fixed-BPM workout music mixes.
Podrunner: Intervals - Free, varied-BPM workout music mixes! |
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I was excited about getting this device....... 
since the last 12 times I've used it I've been grumpy with it.