Nike+iPod Sport Kit review roundup

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). You'll also have to shell out for a new armband to secure your nano, as most currently available options (except for those from Nike, of course) won't hold the combination of iPod plus wireless receiver. Overall, it doesn't seem like the kit alone is compelling enough to encourage more folks to snatch up a nano, but if you already own one of these diminutive DAPs, it's a cheap way to give it some extra functionality -- especially if you forgo the special pair of $100+ Nike sneakers for a quick and easy DIY mod to your current kicks.

Read - CNET
Read - Shiny Shiny
Read - Tewks
Read - iLounge
Read - WSJ

[Patrick Haney @ Jul 17th 2006 6:39PM]

I wrote a little review of my own:

http://patrickhaney.com/thinktank/2006/07/14/ikicks-nike-ipod-review

Like you said, the Nike+iPod kit is definitely motivating me to run, and I really hate running. The stat tracking, community challenges and goal setting on Nike's website is great, not to mention the iPod software with voiceovers.

[Dan Bedford @ Jul 17th 2006 6:48PM]

Apple states that the receiver lasts for 1000 hours, not miles. If you factor in for a runner who runs 1 hour every single day then that obviously equates to 365 hours a year. Should last @ 2.7 years at that rate. See here:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303934#faq11

Click question #11 if it doesn't auto scroll.

Also, you don't really need to actually take it out of your shoe every run to save battery. It goes to an "inactive mode" when there is no movement. BUT, you will prevent the sensor from turning on when just moving your shoes or whatever if you do take it out and put it to sleep by holding the sleep/wake button for 3 seconds.

[Joan DiMicco @ Jul 17th 2006 6:56PM]

I love this little gem of a running gadget. Except I ran my 3 mile loop this morning and it told me I completed 3.5 miles. I am not using Nike shoes (DIY mod to my Brooks). I'm a 5' 3" woman so my running stride is probably shorter than average, so I'm thinking that might be the issue. I'm hoping calibration fixes the accuracy problem, especially since I think I'm addicted to using it.

[Frank Lopez @ Jul 17th 2006 7:02PM]

Hey Patrick love the review, love your whole layout dude.
just got my ipod + kit will give it a try brb with thoughts.

[Jake @ Jul 17th 2006 7:13PM]

I was just thinking that a friend of mine just had the same problem of it registering 3.5 miles on a 3 mile course. Guess it wasn't such a coincidence!

[eugene @ Jul 17th 2006 7:14PM]

i calibrated on a treadmill and it was fine on the treadmill, but running outdoors it said i ran almost 0.5 miles more. dunno, maybe the hills? i do know my gait is more clipped on a treadmill, but that should make my outdoor run "shorter" no? hahah, and maybe it was the weather, but unlike all these reviews i'm reading my pace was all down from like 10 minutes in (of course maybe it was because i was on the basic workout and it doesn't provide autofeedback or the heat... and now i have to figure out a power song... mine did not help at all!)

[billflu @ Jul 17th 2006 7:50PM]

I rarely run new courses, so I already know the distances I ran. Whenever I am going for a new run I either use a GPS unit or the handy http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/

I have a feeling this thing is going to be kicked aside like a New Year's resolution, for most people :-p

[RisingSunofNihon @ Jul 17th 2006 8:18PM]

This kit has definitely motivated me to run more often than usual, so I guess it has paid off. As Patrick said above, the community pages on Nike's site really make all the difference. Without the challenges and so forth, I probably wouldn't be as diligent about everything.

[Podophile @ Jul 17th 2006 8:28PM]

After posting the shoe mod that's linked in the article, I got a lot of email from people who were inspired to start running. As a follow up, I've posted a few tips for new runners so that everyone can start as safely and successfully as possible:

http://podophile.com/2006/07/17/5-essential-tips-for-new-runners/

Get off your butt and run!

[Afiba E @ Jul 17th 2006 10:10PM]

Notice the size of the transmitter? could this be a clue to the width of the next nano? Ha.

[Frank Lopez @ Jul 17th 2006 10:10PM]

wow just ran 45 minutes felt like superman when my powersong came on (Good god (warp brothers remix) overall i love this it makes my 1gb ipod nano feel like 1 million bucks..

i recommend it to anybody.by the way how do i join challenges from other people?
all i see is start a tournament but i dont have but 3 friends :( (i don trust human beings :).

[rSm00th @ Jul 17th 2006 10:26PM]

I picked up the Nike Air Zoom+ and iPod attachment the day they hit stores, and fell in love with the setup the second I plugged my nano in after my first run. It's super easy to use and the Nike website interface is top quality.

[Uriel @ Jul 18th 2006 6:03AM]

Ok so the only complaint is that it only last 1000 hours or 1000 miles (who cares both are a long time). Did Evan Blass forget that this product is only 29 dollars? I ordered this product with a smile that Nike and Apple are not charging 99 dollars for this product. Also runners buy sneakers all the time so I wouldn’t consider buying another pair of sneakers as an expense.

[Wanax @ Jul 18th 2006 9:21AM]

Uriel,

Yes, avid runners by sneakers all the time, but a shoe is like religion to them. Once they find one that fits perfectly for them, they'll stick with it. All the shoe brands have different sizing so Nike shoes may not fit as well as an Adidas shoe for a person.

Overall, looks like a great product, but it seems Apple could have done alot better if they'd have skipped the Nike cross-licensing and made the product applicable to any shoe.

[Bryan @ Jul 18th 2006 10:35AM]

NUMBER 1....PATRICK

You mention in your review that you bought the silver Nike+ Moires, you do realise that they are the womens version of the shoe don't you? The Black moires are the mens version.

Just thought I would mention it, but then maybe you enjoy cross dressing as well as running.

[Mike @ Jul 18th 2006 1:43PM]

1) Running shoes should be replaced every 6 months (maximum, less if you use them as everyday shoes, too).

2) The 3 different cases I have for my nano (I use one from DLO most often) all fit the transmitter with no problem.

3) (yes, mentioned earlier, but I'm reiterating in hopes someone will amend the original post) You DO NOT have to turn off the transmitter. It is activated by walking around and deactivates after an idle period.

4) This thing will probably last as long as you'll have your nano before the nano either dies or you upgrade to a new player. And at $29, replacing it once every couple of years probably won't break the bank.

[Cowboy_X @ Jul 18th 2006 2:46PM]

re: Even if the the Nike+iPod Sport Kit were inaccurate, unintuitive, and uncomfortable to wear -- which it doesn't seem to be... 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

So are you saying that it's not nonfunctional, or is it not advertising as unadvertised?

[Byrd @ Jul 18th 2006 6:22PM]

This thing is about as useful to a runner as a Nano to a techie (remembering that the high capacity iPods were initially positioned as more than a music player - portable storage). Interesting way to cash in on how hip it is to work out, and how hip it is to have an iPod... and have an iPod when you work out. Genuis, actually. More serious runners won't use this in favor of units actually built for runners (no music, units with HR monitors, etc.). Boring, huh? Those runners aren't concerned with being that hip. Yeah... we're dorks. Anywho... On the flipside - Really cool to see Apple and Nike broadening the appeal of running though... perhaps we can have more interest in the sport outside of the Olympic Games. Would be nice.

[Muddboggr @ Jul 18th 2006 8:28PM]

Byrd: You obviously don't have one if you think this isn't useful to a runner. After years of running, this is the most FUN I've had doing it in a long time. (Yes...running should be fun) And I haven't been this motivated daily since I was competitive. I love the online aspect. This is like an online video game for runners.

This is one of those products that you just can't judge without using it.

[Byrd @ Jul 18th 2006 9:14PM]

Muddbogger: Fair enough. But a matter of priorities, I'd say. I investigated the iPod/Nike thing for a bit, but wanted to track my heart rate in addition to pace/distance so I went for a more complete tool. Music didn't play much of a factor in my decision. It's been argued heavily, and many coaches would agree, that heart rate over a specified duration or a particular run is a better indication of strength/performance. That said, I opted for a Polar monitor. I'm also assuming that folks would want a more complete aid in training, as opposed to something that would just give distance and pace. The music is an appealing benefit though. And there isn't a more complete tool out there with a better online experience. I guess I'm the "square" PC guy when it comes to this since I track my data in Excel. Happy to be, though... I still run exclusively in Nike's though if that counts for anything (waiting for the mob of "hardcore" runners out there to trash me for running in Nike's). :)

[Jim @ Jul 19th 2006 1:24AM]

Bryan,

Patrick bought the silver Men's Nike Moires. The men's come in three colors - black and red, black and blue and silver and brown/grayish-blue. Look it up!

[Joan DiMicco @ Jul 19th 2006 8:57AM]

Although Nike+iPod pushes the nikeplus.com website for tracking your runs, it is a little heavy on flash and light on actual tools runners need for tracking workouts. Nikerunning.com on the other hand is an excellent site with a lot of flexibility.

The good news is that sometime between Monday and today they figured out how to integrate the two and if you upload you data to nikeplus.com, it will now automatically show up on the nikerunning.com site. The best of both world!

[James @ Jul 25th 2006 10:39AM]

I actually use this with my polar heart rate monitor. Call me crazy but the more info I can get about how I'm running the more it motivates me. I don't know if its really about being "hip".

[Eric @ Sep 13th 2006 2:05PM]

I have a video ipod, which i run with, has anyone come across a hack to allow ipods to use the nanos kit. There is no physical reason why an ipod can't be used, its just an alteration of the software.

[DG @ Jan 3rd 2007 5:25PM]

I am in the exact situation. I have an ipod video and would like to try using the running kit but can't because of apple's restriction to only allow "Nanos" to be compatible. Has anyone found out if their is a way around this?

[Carrie @ Dec 7th 2006 6:45PM]

Has anyone tried this thing after its calibrated itself for accuracy? I'm training for marathons and running up to 60 miles a week alone, and want something to make sure I'm on pace, but cant afford the fancy heartrate monitor things. People have said its half a mile off at the end of their run and that doesnt seem so great

[Julie Currie @ Dec 31st 2006 2:27PM]

How does this device compare to the Sony Flash Sport MP3???

[DG @ Jan 3rd 2007 5:45PM]

I have an ipod video and would love to know if there is a way to get around apple's decision to limit the running kit's use to only "Nanos". I paid a lot more for an ipod video and now I'm being out done by the Nano. I doesn't seem fair.

[FRED @ Jan 18th 2007 3:17PM]

At this time, I don't think there is a way to get the kit to work with a non-nano ipod. That being said, a buddy of mine picked up a 1 GB Nano on ebay for $55 dollars. 240 songs is all you need when you run so it works our great, and doesn't break the bank. If you don't want to buy the Nike shoes ( I still have 3 or 4 months of use left in my asics) there are lots of options for clipping the senor to your shoes. See the links below:

http://www.shoepouch.com/

and,

http://www.switcheasy.com/

[CJ @ Apr 19th 2007 12:48PM]

People keep commenting on how it's close to accurate on a treadmill and "off" on a road run. Don't forget you on average, depending on distance, run an EXTRA half a mile if not more on a road run because you're not always running on a straight line! All the times you go on and off curbs, crossing streets, natural weaving through sidewalks to avoid people and fire hydrants... all those extra steps add distance to the run. You can't just drive the course and think you're going to run it the same way your car drives it..

[CS @ Jun 18th 2007 10:08AM]

Just got my Nike+ipod but I dont have the +shoes with the "pocket". Anyone with a tip or can help me with how to place the sensor into my shoes without pockets? Saucony-Grid Shadow '06

[jenn @ Aug 25th 2007 4:12AM]

im pretty mad because i have an ipod video, the 80 gb one. i spent 400$ on it and the ipod nano which is like 150$ works with that and not the video one, why couldnt they make it with the video to? dosent it have more on it then the nano? this is the first time im dissapointed in Apple

[Lisa @ Oct 4th 2007 2:18PM]

In regard to the question about the shoes with a pocket, a shoe pouch is available through www.ipodfitnesscenter.com. It is also a great site for people with ipods and nike plus links - a social site.

[Rick D @ Mar 11th 2008 2:36PM]

https://www.wfs.org/trend2mj07.htm

There is much to be said about the Nike+IPOD. But you best be careful when you use it. This article from The Futurist explains. Rick D:


THE FUTURIST
A magazine of forecasts, trends, and ideas about the future
May-June 2007 Vol. 41, No. 3

Search THE FUTURIST Archives

Technology

Wireless Devices May Compromise Privacy
By Patrick Tucker

Trendy gadgets may say more about you than you think.

A shoe that clocks your mileage for you and talks to your iPod probably seems like a great idea, but users of the popular Nike+iPod may be surprised to learn that their digital music player is broadcasting sensitive information about them, such as where they are and where they've been.

The Nike+iPod stores and plays digital music files: more than 450,000 units have been sold since its August 2006 release. A chip that joggers slip into their shoe works as a pedometer, measuring speed and distance. The Nike+iPod also comes with a receiver that fits into an iPod Nano device and stores information that has been transferred wirelessly from the shoe. Runners who use the device can listen to tunes on their iPods while they jog, and then upload the data from their shoe sensors onto their computers in order to measure their distance, speed, and calories burned.

Fun gift idea? Not so fast. According to Tadayoshi Kohno, Scott Saponas, Jonathan Lester, and Carl Hartung of the University of Washington, the shoe sensor in the device emits a signal that can be easily detected by other iPods that have been only slightly modified. Using easily obtained and inexpensive tools, the researchers assembled several homemade devices and were able to pick up the sensor's unique signature.

"Scott and I were talking one day about possible research projects for my fall graduate computer security course," recalls Kohno. "We both shared a common interest in the security and privacy of medical and health-care devices, and he observed that the new Nike+iPod Sport Kit is probably the first and most prominent example of the next generation of personal, ubiquitous electronic health-care accessories. The next morning I brought a stack of Nike+iPod Sport Kits to the lab for Scott, Jonathan, and Carl to study. By 2 p.m. that day, Scott e-mailed me with some new discoveries. He found that the serial numbers of the sensors are stored on the iPod Nano's hard disk in plain text (i.e., unencrypted and readable by anyone). He also discovered that, if a sensor is being used by one Nano during a workout, another Nano can still detect the sensor and get its serial numbers. I think that was a Eureka moment for all of us. In less than a day Scott discovered that the Nike+iPod Sport Kit could be used as a tracking device. All we had to do was make it cheaper and easier to do so."

According to the team, potential stalkers could create their own Nike+iPod detector easily and then learn the unique signature of their target's iPod simply by walking their intended victim to his or her car. One of the team's inventions connects a receiver from the Nike+iPod kit to a laptop's serial port. The screen displays all of the other Nike+iPods in range, making it possible for a would-be stalker to track several people at once using GoogleMaps. According to the research group's technical report, this could allow someone like a professional thief, mugger, or predator to observe a large group of people and select a target among them based on such criteria as how late the person worked, when he or she left the house, where the person went, etc. An assailant could even modify the system to send out an e-mail or text message when something significant was about to occur with one of the surveillance subjects.

To address these issues, the team recommends that owners of the Nike+iPod turn off their gadgets when not using them. They've also recommended that both Nike and iPod take steps to correct the problem. Finally, Kohno suggests that consumers exercise caution when buying trendy gadgets that may compromise privacy.

"There is a constant tussle between the lures of new technologies and privacy," says Kohno. "As our study shows, the privacy issues with new technologies may not be immediately apparent. But our study also shows that it is technically possible to significantly improve the privacy-preserving properties of some of these new technologies. People should therefore remain vigilant, not in spite of but rather because of the fact that many of these new devices can compromise privacy in unexpected ways."

Source: "Devices that Tell On You: The Nike+iPod Sport Kit" by T. Scott Saponas, Jonathan Lester, Carl Hartung, Tadayoshi Kohno, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle,Washington 98195. Web site www.cs.washington.edu/research/systems/nikeipod/tracker-paper.pdf