My wife wants one, but switching to Nike’s running shoes isn’t an option for her. Has anyone tried putting the sensor thingy into another brand of shoes?
I will let you know in about a week. I have Nike shoes but not the Nike + ones with the special insert for the transmitter in the sole. I have read that it works just fine without that but you have to attach it to the laces or elsewhere on the shoe of course.
My Ipod and Nike + package is coming soon so when I get it I will report back.
Jim
You can definately use it without the Nike shoes. All I did was get some velcro tape. Use the male side of the velcro tape and stick it onto the little device then slip it between the laces and tounge of the shoe. I have had no problem with it coming out.
My experience with the Nike+Ipod thing is a mixed review. I really like having the information told to me while running and it is some what accurate for a relaxed run BUT if you plan to run hard or change up your pace from work out to work out or do speed work with the device it will not be accurate enough for those types of work outs. example… I have a known 5 mile loop I do quite often, If I run with the device at a nice easy pace I have no problem the device works quite well, but the other day I ran the loop harder and the device measured my run at 4.8 Miles. Nike\Ipod say the device is accureate for 90+ % which is fine I guess for most people but if your a serious runner wanting to know exactly what pace and how far your running it’s probably not the best thing for that. If you do a search on google you will see that people have the same experiences as mine. I hope they make it more accurate in the future but for me once the battery dies on it I will not purchase another. BTW… when the battery dies you do have to buy another unit…
Also search this forum for more info on this device, it’s here.
It sounds like it is sensitive to changes in stride length - which would make sense.
As for the shoes, I think you’ve answered that queston too. If I’m reading mortaaay’s solution correctly, it sounds like your foot doesn’t have to actually land ON the thing, it just picks up movement/impact of the shoe wherever IN or ON your shoe it may be. I’d love to hear back from you cyclejim to see if you have a similar experience.
Thanks guys.
I made a small incision in the tongue of my Asics and inserted the sensor. There is a loop in my neighborhood that i have measured and the distance reported by the Nike + was pretty damn close.
I just tucked it under my laces and then covered it with a big piece of painters tape (so that it would peel off easily). Worked perfect. I liked it. And you don’t need to land on it - works via the motion of your foot - exactly the saem as a Polar footpod (or the old Nike Triax watch foot pod). I figure for nice long runs, it will work fine but if i do some speedwork, it might not. Thing is, when i"m doing speed work, I’m less worried about pace and distance since i’ll use a set length loop and just pick it up for sections (or do my speed work at a track and use my watch). Either way, it was pretty cool and seeing as I already run with a Nano, the extra info was nice (and for $29, it was worth it - just to have Lance tell me i did my longest workout to date last night!)
I used the velcro tape method on top of my shoe and it works fairly well. Like people have been saying it’s not stepping on it but the motion/velocity of your foot that triggers it. I have not calibrated it yet but I plan to. The other day I ran until it read 3 miles then re-traced my steps back to work and it only recorded 2.78 miles on the way back. There was more downhill on the way back and I may have run slower towards the end not sure what caused it.
Nice little solution. Thanks.
It definetly does not require the Nike “Plus” shoes (the shoes with the cutout). Nike (and others) sell a “shoe wallet” that tucks into your laces. The sensor goes into that fairly securely, and is about as accurate as it is in Plus shoes.
In our testing, the Nike sensor wasn’t as accurate as the Polar or Suunto footpods. But it’s about 1/10th the cost, and it’s accurate enough for the price.
Lee Silverman
JackRabbit Sports
New York City