There’s no doubt that music is a great motivator and, when we do indulge in pounding the streets, we’re never without our trusty MP3 player. We’re also keen to know just how far we’re running, the pace we’re keeping and, of course, the all important calories we’re burning (we don’t just run for fun, after all). Usually this would involve carrying a separate device, which only weighs us down. With the Nike + iPod Sensor system, however, we can have it all.
Nike+ will then record your run progress – how far you’ve gone, how long you’ve been running and how many calories you’ve burnt off – and even relay your progress to you in voice form over the earphones. Other than just running free, you can also choose workouts based on time, distance or calorie goals.
A real triumph of Nike+ is just how simple it is to use. The interface is pretty and intuitive, while the mid-run display shows the basic stats of your run in an easily digestible format.
There’s not much evidence of Apple’s typically impressive design here. The receiver that plugs into the base of your nano looks exactly like the head of the charger lead — it couldn’t be more utilitarian. The transmitter, which inserts under the sole of your Nike trainer, is a small, flat lozenge.
The pedometer does not have a replaceable battery, so the device has a finite lifespan. Nike and Apple say the pedometer will last for 1,000 miles, and this approximates to one year for the typical user. Admittedly the kit is cheap at £19, but it seems unforgivably wasteful that two of the world’s leading brands should be so blasé in their attitude towards the environment.
Unless you’re up for hacking a hole in your existing trainers, you need a pair of Nike+ shoes (we picked up a pair of black Air Zoom Moire), which has a small recess under the left-foot insole. This is plugged by a small foam placeholder when it arrives, but once removed perfectly houses the lozenge-shaped transmitter, so that the activation button points down towards the road.
The kit’s second half is a small receiver, about the size of a postage stamp and slightly slimmer than a nano, the only iPod with which it will work. Plugging it in adds a new Nike+ iPod entry to the menu, through which you select your work-out type.
Now that apps are available that use your iPhone’s GPS to track your run, Nike+ is in some ways a lesser option. However, dive into the running community that thrives around Nike+ and the accuracy issues fade away somewhat. You can upload your run data to Nike’s servers and track your progress, and then compare it with friends – or strangers – online.
The Nike + iPod Sensor informed us when we had completed our time, calorie or distance goals, then allowing us to end our workout by pressing the centre button twice or to continue with our workout. After a workout, data can be uploaded to the Nike + website in order to track progress and set further goals. Alternatively, progress can be measured on the iPod itself.
Like the best technological innovations, though, this is a system that will grow as you do. As you become more confident, you’ll be trimming the settings so that they are accurately calibrated to your stride length and weight for a more precise gauging of your fitness routine. You can also use the same receiver with more than one sensor, either because you’re rich enough to buy several pairs of Nike+ shoes, or you live in a house full of fitness freaks, each with their own pair of iPod-compatible trainers.
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