Apple Nike + iPod Sport Kit for iPod nano 1G, 2G (Old Version)

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Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
The Nike+iPod Sport Kit lets you tailor your running experience for the ultimate workout. Just put the sensor into a special pocket in the Nike+ midsole, then plug a receiver into the Dock connector onyour iPod Nano. The sensor&receiver give you instant feedback on your performance, through the iPod and its screen. You'll be able to track distance, time, pace and calories burned. You can also set up PowerSongs -- access teh tunes that get you pumped instantly. It's everything you need to manage your workout AND enjoy it more.

Customer Reviews: Read 55 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars

Excellent, but not perfect August 10, 2006
194 out of 195 found this review helpful

First Impressions: The kit is very small and lightweight. Setup is trivial, although I would recommend calibrating the unit. The voices are nice, and it decreases the music volume during announcements to keep a constant listening volume. My main reasonable complaint is that you need to see the screen when starting/stopping. This sounds obvious, but the nike armband (only one available at that time which holds the nano with the nike receiver connected) does not allow you to see the screen. The first problem I encountered was; after changing in the locker room I set the screen where I only had to press the center button to start my workout (no screen necessary for that!). But my the time I stuck it back in the armband, left the locker room, got some water and left the building, it automatically went back to the main Nike+ menu so I had to remove the nano again and go through it again _right_ before starting my run. Along these lines, if you do not memorize how to end your workout with the menu (multiple button presses and menu movements) or don't take the nano out of your armband at the end of the workout to manipulate the menu, it is possible to "end" a run without the run actually being recorded as a run (e.g. after my second run, the total mileage had increased by almost 5 miles, but the "previous run" menu still only showed my prior day run and when connected to my computer, no new run was uploaded).
Note: To remedy this, I now just pause my workout when I'm through and wait for the system to automatically end it for me!

Shoe pod: I do not wear Nike running shoes but I have high arches. I am able to stick the pod underneath my insole just at the bottom of my arch and it doesn't bother me while I run. Also, make sure the pod is flat in your shoe and oriented with the long axis along the length of your shoe. If it isn't snug and oriented properly, your distance will be really off (my first run of 42 minutes was "2.05 miles"). I have more recently cut a recess in my insole right at the base of the arch and now I don't even feel it. Again, be careful and please don't cut into the bottom of your shoe, remember it should be snug because you don't want it sloshing around while you run.

Calibration: People have reported good calibration out of the box, but mine was off. After a couple of weeks I calibrated the system 4 times around lane 1 of a 400-meter track (1 mile) and a course that had previously been 4.76 and 4.69 miles turned into 5.54 miles (much closer to what my map was telling me).

Accuracy: After running for months with it, this unit is much more accurate than I expected. When my GPS works, there's nothing better, but it's very inconsistent in a cloudy city like Pittsburgh. I really like the consistency of this unit. You should be aware that even after calibration, the unit will show longer distances when you run faster, but since most distance runners are fairly consistent during most training runs, this isn't a huge issue. As long as the shoe pod is snug and it's been calibrated, I get better than 95% accuracy, even on hilly courses (better on flats). You probably wouldn't want to use this to determine your 10k race time, but it's wonderful for normal training.

Pros:
1. Very motivational!
2. Works fine out of the box and easily [...].
3. Distance isn't dependent on clear skies and barren land like a GPS (i.e. works fine in downtown areas as well as tree covered trails and cloudy/rainy days).
4. Don't _need_ nike shoes to make it work well.
5. It allows you to "experiment" more on runs, because now you can say "hey I wonder where that leads" and not have to worry about wondering how far you actually ran.
6. Decreases music volume while it tells you your run statistics.

Cons:
1. You almost _need_ to see the screen to work the start and end workout menus. It is possible by touch, but sometimes when your fingers are sweaty the thumb wheel doesn't move as precisely as one would like. It is sort of strange that the only armbands designed to integrate the nike receiver (the nikeplus armbands) don't actually allow you to see the screen, even though it's necessary to use the nikeplus features!
2. No Auto-Pause feature: The entire purpose of this thing is to track your speed and time. You would think that you could set it to pause the time when you stopped moving! I completely don't understand why that is not an option.
3. The pause function needs to be longer. If you pause your workout for more than a few minutes it will automatically end your workout. I am not sure if this has anything to do with the auto-off/sleep function of the Nano, but I have found no settings to control this, after 4-5 minutes it will automatically end your workout.
4. The information announcements could be a little shorter. It's fine, but there should be a "short announcement" option that leaves out "completed", "current pace" and "distance" which is all pretty obvious.

[...].

Final thoughts: This is a great little addition for runners. It actually convinced me to upgrade to a Nano (from a Shuffle) and I can't say I'm disappointed. Although there are improvements I would like to see, I think this is a great offering that many runners would thoroughly enjoy and utilize to help them achieve their running goals. I'm also glad to see Nike is continuing to upgrade the web interface and software features of this device! Keep up the good work!

5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant! July 15, 2006
50 out of 53 found this review helpful

Just got back from my first run with the Nike + iPod and I am impressed. The sensor seemed very accurate and a pleasant female voice gave me time, distance and average pace at the push of my Nano's center button. Using the Nano in a Nike armband made it a little hard to find the center button while running at full speed, but I was pressing it a lot, for the sheer novelty of it. Also, data integration with Nike's website was as easy as synching my Nano with iTunes and clicking "yes" to a screen prompt. I was immediately seeing my run's info in a very cool flash based site. Can't wait to add more runs to my datebase.

It may be hard to believe, but this thing actually makes you want to run more. Brilliant!

4 out of 5 stars

I can't believe I'm using it - it rocks! October 22, 2006
17 out of 17 found this review helpful

When this first came out, I gotta say, I rolled my eyes. I'm not known for my athletic prowess... my most frequent exercise is waddling to the fridge... but after I was fortunate enough to attend a demo w/ the travelling Nike van, I became a believer. Packaging genius - you have to buy the shoes, the sport kit and the Nano... but it's a sweet package once you really start using it.

The nano itself is light weight and has no moving parts - so it makes sense to be the iPod of choice for exercising. I don't run unless something I truly fear is chasing me - so I use this for walking with occasional bursts of brief jogging.

Uncalibrated, the pedometer function is 92% accurate... if you calibrate it using a measured walking track, it is 98% accurate. If you do calibrate it, you need to do so once for walking and once for running, as the different gaits have different strides.

After your first run (or in my case, waddle), hooking up your Nano to your Mac (or PeeCee if you must), immediately connects you to the NikePlus website, where your run is graphed. Any place you ran, shows an upswing in the graph. You can challenge other users around the country if you so desire.

I really like the voiceover that very subtly quiets the music to announce "you're at the halfway point - ____miles to go" it's nice to not have to look at the display every few seconds - you can just focus on breathing, avoiding stray dogs, butterflies, etc... with the pseudo coach telling you your stats.

My less than perfect rating is that you have to look at the display to set up your 'run' before you can go. I like the Nike armband (not included in this kit), once it's already on - but I have to select my workout, then walk around to connect to the insert in my left shoe - then start the workout - THEN cram the thing into the armband, then fasten the thing around my fat arm. Since you can't see the display, you have to have the iPod out of the armband, then you have to cram it back in. It would be nice if you could just control it from the armband where the voice would read out the menu listings.

I hear Nike is working on another armband design - but I'm not going to shell out even more $ for an armband only to put this one in a drawer... the armband is ok - they just need to change/update the software so that it reads out the menu items so even a blind person can use it.

I also don't like the fact that if you stop moving long enough, it just stops the workout... it would be nice if it paused (or if you had the option to set it up for this in the settings dialogue) automatically. As I waddle around my neighborhood, I run into neighbors and stray dogs that require a greeting, petting or a defensive posture and I can't always walk uninterrupted. How frustrating to lose your data if someone stops you long enough!

Despite these shortcomings, the combination of feedback during the run, the accuracy level of the pedometer and the online experience is pure genius. My hat is off to Apple & Nike for really getting an awesome product together.

The module that fits in the left Nike+ tennis shoe is waterproof - so you can sweat like a hog or run through a puddle in the pouring rain and the module should (in theory) still be intact. The module is guaranteed for 1000 hours of playing time before it needs to be replaced. The module is 'asleep' when not in use... so it doesn't waste battery life. You 'wake' it by accessing the appropriate menu on your iPod. Because each module and connector have a unique id, you do not have to worry about someone else nearby activating your shoe or vice versa - it's a bit like a bluetooth headset in that fashion.

If you're riding the fence as to whether to invest in this, rest assured that Nike claims that all the shoes they make will eventually be Nike+ capable - so it's not like this is a fad that's going to go bye-bye anytime soon. I'm old, fat and I don't run - but I feel like I can get back into shape with the aid of this gizmo.

5 out of 5 stars

Ipod Sport Works Perfect with My Shoewallet! Love it! August 7, 2006
13 out of 15 found this review helpful

I can't run with Nike shoes because of ankle problems. I slipped the Ipod Sport Chip into my Shoewallet (can be purchased at Amazon, key word shoewallet) on my Asics Gel Kayanos and it worked perfectly. I love the information the Ipod Sport provides and I love how seamlessly the chip fits into my shoewallet accessory. I would highly recommend this product.

5 out of 5 stars

Great motivator! Outstanding product! A++ July 28, 2006
12 out of 15 found this review helpful

Wow! I just finished my second 5k daily run with the Nike + iPod Sports Kit and now I can't imagine running without it ever again! It's so simple to use and provides so much information both during AND after each run. The Nike website that's linked to my iTunes program whenever I synch my iPod Nano is outstanding. It allows you to set personal goals, track your progress, and even to get your friends involved in a running contest. The Sports Kit could not have been easier to set up and yes, it does work with non-Nike+ shoes. I just stuck a small piece of velcro on the tracking device and sewed the other part onto the tongue of my running shoes under my shoe laces and it works perfectly. It is worth every penny and once you get it, you'll soon discover the many benefits of keeping track of your mileage, average time per mile/kilometer, and distance left to meet your goal for the run. Great job, Nike and Apple!

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