Pedometer Reviews

Nike+iPod Sport Kit 

The Nike+iPod Sport Kit is a programmable pedometer that slots into the pocket of Air Zoom Moire running shoes. While you are running it transmits details of the run to your iPod, which broadcasts to you your progress in real time. The data can also be transferred to a computer for analysis and storage.

Apple has detail about it at its corporate website.

USA Today wrote:

I'm not much of a runner. But I am rather passionate about listening to music on an iPod. So, it took the wireless Nike + iPod Sport Kit I've been testing to push me to the starting line. The clever kit may provide the inspiration required to get you off your duff. More serious runners can use it to monitor their progress and set goals.

Nike + iPod records the time, distance, pace and calories burned in real time as you run (or, in my case, power walk). You can track those results on an iPod Nano and, after connecting the Nano to a computer, on the Nike+ website

...In some ways, Nike + iPod leaves you begging for more. I'd love it to monitor your pulse and heart rate. But then, I'm guessing it would cost more than $29. I also wonder if Apple might add a GPS component so you could monitor where you're running, instead of just how long. That, too, would add to the cost — and complexity.

Also, the nikeplus.com website could be friendlier to navigate. Moreover, while it does display graphs of your runs, it would be nice to be able to type in a few notes to indicate, say, what the weather was or how you were feeling during workouts.

Still, you can establish goals through the site (such as how many times you want to run over a particular period) and set distance, speed or other challenges for up to 50 friends you invite via e-mail.

I'll have to do a lot more training before I invite anyone to compete. Having the Nike + iPod kit at least makes it more fun.

Walter Mossberg wrote in the Wall Street Journal:

We tried inserting the sensor into our old running shoes, tucking it under the laces in a secure spot toward the front of the shoe. Both of our sensors fell out after we each ran or walked for a little while, but if we had used Velcro, we assume they would have stayed put. Apple and Nike say that this kit wasn't designed to work with other shoes, and that it won't work as well overall, but we didn't notice any inaccuracy while our sensors were in place on the non-Nike shoes.

We hope this product can improve in the future to do other things like distinguishing walks from runs, automatically triggering your PowerSong when you slow down or incorporating heart-rate monitoring. But the Nike + iPod Sport Kit is a great first effort. It's easy to understand, and its audible encouragement is helpful.

PC Magazine concluded:

Overall, for $29, the Nike + iPod Sport Kit is well worth the price. My only wish for improvement is that the kit came with a little adhesive patch to put over the iPod's Select buttons for easier operation when you're tired and sweaty, though that's also a very easy and inexpensive DIY job. It might also be nice if you could use the Sport Kit with iPods other than the nano—perhaps iPod shuffle and mini versions, since those are both popular exercise companions.

Running isn't always fun—especially when you're really pushing yourself—but the Nike + iPod Sport Kit adds an extra element that can actually inspire and motivate you more than simply listening to music and timing yourself. And with the excellent community features, you may find some friends online at nikeplus.com to challenge and swap musical recommendations with, too.

A review round-up from Engadget commented:

Even if the the Nike+iPod Sport Kit were inaccurate, unintuitive, and uncomfortable to wear -- which it doesn't seem to be -- the handful of reviews we've read so far all agree that it possesses at least one attribute that might still make it a worthy purchase: it actually motivated the reviewers to run harder and more often than normal.

Fortunately for people who also like their gear to function properly, the wireless pedometer cum personal trainer sounds like it does indeed perform as advertised, offering runners and joggers an easy setup, useful mid-workout statistics and updates, and perhaps most helpfully, a polished online interface to plot one's progress against personal goals or compare esoteric stats with exercise enthusiasts around the world.

There are a few downsides here, though, not the least of which is the fact that this is basically a disposable product; the non-rechargeable, non-replaceable battery will supposedly crap out after about 1,000 miles or a year of regular use (and that's assuming you remember to reach into your stinky shoes and turn off the transmitter after each run).

CNet said:

The good: Good workout companion for Nano-using runners; voice feedback; measures useful data such as distance traveled and calories burned; special Nike + shoes are not a requirement; excellent hardware and data integration with Nike + Web site; PowerSong.

The bad: Pedometer battery is not replaceable so you'll eventually need to buy a new Sport Kit; available only for iPod Nano.

The bottom line: Maybe it's not the reason to buy a Nano, but the useful Nike + iPod Sport Kit and the data-centered Nike+ Web site will appeal to runners who already own a Nano.

* Get the Latest Price on the Nike+iPod Sport Kit.

July 24th, 2006
Updated: November 7th, 2007

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