Customer Reviews

Nike+ Stand Alone Sensor Kit

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

In world where tracking the awesomeness of your run seem to be more and more imperative - actually, I don't even know what that means.

The Nike + technology includes this little device that fits in a little hollowed out area beneath the insert of your favorite Nike shoe. The device is essentially a pedometer that is pretty darn accurate. It transmits information to either a Nike armband/wrist band or an iPod nano and helps runners or walkers track their distance, time, and speed.

First, you won't feel the device in your shoe. I read a review on another website in which a nice lady was complaining bitterly about how she could feel it in her shoe. Chances are, she failed to remove the little foam patch that currently occupies the little area where the Nike + sensor is supposed to go. Once removed, the sensor will fit in that hole and is flush with the bottom of the inside of the shoe. Once you put the insert back in over the sensor, you'll never know it's there. I also read someone else indicate that they could feel a weight difference once it was in the shoe. This is, in a word, absurd. If your body is so finely tuned that you can detect a weight difference between the shoe with the device and the shoe without it, you are truly an amazing human being, and I suspect you have x-ray vision and can run faster than a speeding bullet.

The reason the product gets 4 stars and not 5 is this: The website is less than impressive. The sensor transmits information to your wristband or iPod and can then be used to track your performance on Nike's website. It's nice that you can do this. The device comes, right out of the box, essentially "accurate" for the average runner, but it can be fine tuned for those that want even more accurate results. Where the website fails though, is its inability to provide some fairly basic information about a run. It can tell you your pace at a number of graphed points on your run, but it doesn't tell you - and this is really sort of nuts - how fast you ran each mile. Rather, when you click on the point on the graph at each mile marker, it tells you your pace at that moment in your run.

There are alternative websites that apparently can provide the "rest of the story" and give you the information you are seeking, and a simple internet search will provide you with their names.... but it is rather odd that Nike hasn't fixed this aspect of the site.

The Nike+ community is, overall, very supportive and pleasant. The site is useful to track your runs, set goals, participate in challenges, etc.

I've compared the accuracy to a gps running watch and I believe that the accuracy is essentially the same. I found that I could access some of the information on the gps watch a little easuer than Nike + but, I found the gps watch to be a bit bulky. I do like how with Nike Plus, you have the option of wearing a wrist band or an iPod Nano, in your pocket or strapped to your arm. This allows users to select an option that is best for their comfort. There are adaptors available that will allow you to use Nike + with other shoe brands. I have NOT tested those.

Another helpful tip.... Nike has finally gotten with the program and made running shoes in a variety of widths. Accordingly, if you, like me, could "never own a pair of Nike running shoes" because they were "too narrow and I have Fred Flinstone feet" take another look. Now that shoes come in different widths, you will be pleasantly surprised. This means the Nike + technology can appeal to a wider clientele - like those of us that are not built like sleek, running machines.

One final note.... I took the Nike + on a hike and found that in steep sections, the device could not be accurrate. This is because you must move at a certain pace with a reasonable stride for the device to work. When hiking a mountain, you often take short steps and move slower than the device can record (or, coming down, longer strides, etc) so don't expect the device to accurately capture that kind of a hike. As for gps technology on mountain hikes, it's a mixed bag by the time you factor in tree cover, pace, stride, etc. Just FYI.

I recommend Nike + I use it, and I like it, and I've been using it for about 5 months now. As a beginning runner, it's accurate enough for me, it's motivating, in a sense, and well worth the investment. With website improvements, this is a 5 star device.

If you have questions, post them in the comment section and I'll answer.... Thanks.

I love my running stats, and I haven't found an easier way to track distance and pace than the Nike+ iPod Sensor.

I don't own Nike+ shoes, but the sensor is secure on the tongue of my Saucony shoes with the help of a velcro "sticker" backing that I attached.

Calibrating the sensor was simple as I ran a known distance and let Nike+ know how far it had been. I then ran the distance again and the sensor was on the money. Since then, I've run a 10k and the race's mile markers were on the money with what Nike+ was telling me.

I'm now rather addicted to checking my pace and distance via the one-touch feedback of the iPod. A click of the home button mid-run gives you your time, distance, and current pace. Seeing stats after the run is nice - progress (or regression) is clear. Then the uploading that information to NikeRunning.com is easy (after initial setup) and motivating - I'm working on several goals and "competitions". Fun stuff.

As for cons, I find it annoying that the battery isn't replaceable in the sensor. A few bucks for a new battery would be better than twenty bucks for a brand new sensor. And it's also too bad that settings can't be saved for multiple runners. My wife and I use the same iPod when we run, but only one of use can be calibrated and saving stats with Nike+.

As other reviewers have noted, this sensor didn't work. It is the second sensor I purchased in order to replace the original sensor. I first bought the Nike + iPod 4 years ago and used the original and one replacement sensor. However, after this experience of throwing away $40 on non-working items, and recognizing how difficult this was to calibrate to my individual stride, I have chosen to upgrade to a GPS trainer.

I've been using the sensor for about a week now with my iPhone 4S, and while it's worked just fine I was very disappointed to discover that it's absolutely obsolete if you own any of the iPhones that have GPS technology (iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4s). Those devices only require that you download the $1.99 Nike+ iPhone application. Many reviews of that application (actually, most reviews) have stated that it's even more accurate than using the sensor. This includes indoor runs, as well, since the $1.99 app also uses the accelerometer when GPS signals are poor or unavailable.

So for those people using this with iPods or iPhones without GPS, it's been a great product. I only wish Nike was more clear about the fact that its sensors are now completely unnecessary in many cases.

I'd also suggest reading reviews about the Nike+ website before purchasing this. When it works, it's fantastic. Along with the sensor or the iPhone app, it makes running much more stimulating and fun. But the website often fails, certain pages load very slowly, and sometimes not at all.

I will start by saying that I love the idea of this system. When it works, I find that the sensor is pretty accurate, and it's fairly easy to sync my runs and all that. My big beef with it is that I have now had two of these sensors, and both of them lasted less than 6 months. I only run around 10 miles a week, and I take the sensor off my shoe when I'm not running. This is absurd! I think Nike has quoted somewhere that the sensor is supposed to last 1000 hours. I don't think either of mine made it more than 50 hours. That's 5% of the stated battery life! I know I am not the only one with this problem--a simple Google search shows that it is common. Then, instead of making the battery replaceable (so it would cost maybe $5 to replace), you have to buy a new one for $19!! Can I still recommend the system? I guess. But people need to be aware that these things often don't last.

I recently purchased a pair of Nike+ because they were on sale, and my iPhone 4 already has the Nike+iPod app preinstalled. I later realized I also needed the sensor to complete the package. Prior to purchasing it, I read a number of mixed reviews, so I figured the only way to really know how it works was to try it out myself. As soon as I received it, I inserted into the compartment in the sole of the shoe (after removing the temporary foam insert), opened up the Nike+iPod app and started walking around to activate the sensor. Within a matter of seconds, it was activated and I was ready to start my workout. I was using the Nike+GPS app before, and I've found that the actual sensor is a lot more accurate; I've tested it on the treadmill and got almost identical readings [on both the equipment and the app].

Because there isn't an option to replace the battery, I would recommend using the sensor ONLY when you want to record your workouts; if you're using the Nike+ sensor inside the shoe, either remove the sensor and replace it with the foam when you're not exercising, or have a second pair of sneakers that you wear on a more regular basis or for other types of workouts.

My wife loves running with her ipod sensor so she can track all of her progress on the cool website that Nike hooks you up with. The only problem is her last sensor only lasted about a year and she only runs 3-4 times a week. Make sure you take out the sensor when you aren't using it or it will chew through the battery of your sensor faster is what a Nike employee told her.

The iPod tells you when the battery is getting low. I went at least another 10 miles before the new one arrived. I got about 800 miles with the first one.

Does not work well. I lose the data for about 1/3 of my workouts because the program pauses itself or freezes. I've lost so many workouts that the stats are completely inaccurate, which defeats the purpose. If Nike let you manually input data ( they don't let you do this because it would mess up their challenges, which I couldn't care less about), then I would begin using it again.

I've long been a fan of the Nike+ system... it's not flawless but it is incredibly easy to incorporate into your running regime. These little guys are so easy to just pop into your Nike shoes... although, there is one of it's inherent flaws... you should be comfortable in Nike shoes. Yes, they make little rubber holders for non-Nike+ equipped shoes but that means just another thing you have to buy.

The sensor links up with your ipod or iphone INCREDIBLY easily - I was actually shocked at how easy it was to get started using this.

I'm not sure how accurate this thing is without calibration. I ran with this for over 6mo training for the Nike Women's marathon and thought it was great. It was so nice to see my pace and progress throughout training. When I was in the race I kept relying on it for pace info and distance info and realized it was off! I suppose I should've taken the time to calibrate the sensor with my iPod but I did not realize that it would be off by 30-45sec/mile! All was fine in the end, but it wasn't until the race that I realized how inaccurate this could be.

The battery life kind of sucks. And there is no warning when it dies... you can just be running and suddenly realize that nothing is recording. I would be okay with this given there is no way to really turn it on or off, but you have to buy a whole new sensor! Why can't you just replace the battery?? Or perhaps the sensor can be turned off from your device or a bit sooner after inactivity...