The Nike + iPod Sport Kit is now available

I purchased the Nike+ sport kit a few days ago but was reluctant to buy the Nike+ running shoes to go with it. I have run for many years and have honed into particular brands of 'real' running shoes. The biggest problem for me as a trail runner is obviously the tread on the new Nike+ are very minimal having been designed for the road going runner. I'm sure Nike will in time release new styles of shoes for different applications or simply modify exsisting shoes.

Having this problem brought me onto this site and is the very reason why I am letting you guys know of my own findings.

Starting off with finding a place to locate my sensor without hacking a hole in the sole of my new trail shoes was the first encounter. I decided that maybe slipping the sensor into the top of the tongue in my shoe was a good idea? Cutting carefully across the top of the tongue, inserting the sensor and stitching up the cut was an easy task.

Apples included instructions mentioned the sensor and receiver was accurate out of the box, so I decided to trial the kit without calibrating... First mistake! A particular 'well known' route to me was chosen as I have ran this route for years. It is approx 6 miles and I know this because the route was done by myself on a calibrated sensor attached to my bike some years ago.

I selected the basic workout for the first test. Making a point of not actually pressing the centre button whilst running was also a bad choice as at the end of the run I found myself dissapointed, knowing the distance of the actual run and getting the female voice low down upon completion. The ipod told me that I had ran a total distance of 2.66 miles with a really high average mile count. I felt sick when I heard that feedback!

So, with that test complete. I decided that the sensor location and non calibrating made for a realy bad result. I'm going to try again with the sensor calibrated and in a different location tommorow. My local running store has a tread mill, so I shall try to get the equipment running accurately and locate the sensor to a place that best suits it. More than likely, I shall end up purchasing some nike+ shoes just to see if they work any better? Would be a waste of cash for me though as I could not possibly run my routes in Nikes slippery soles....!

I own a pair of Air Jordan XX1 basketball shoes and they have two very interesting features that may be related... The shoe comes with a replaceable heel cushion plug that is accessible under the insole, they include an extra set of heel plugs. It also has a pouch in the tongue (presumably) for tucking in the laces. The laces are definitely not at home in this pouch, but from the look of it the Nike sport sensor would be a perfect fit. Could nike perhaps be looking to adapt the sensor for other sports? Maybe in order to accurately track a complex sport like basketball or baseball, a separate sensor is needed as well.

Picked it up after work. The Apple sales person made it a point to ask if I have the appropriate Nike shoes, I replied yes of course. Got home, cut a hole in my asics sole and inner liner. Works perfectly!

I also tested it with non-Nike shoes. As far as I could tell, it worked fine tucked under the laces of my Sauconys. It was slipping out a bit, and if I didn't tape it down, it would have likely fell out. Next time, I plan on tucking it to the left side of the right shoe's insole, around the arch of my foot. As someone said before, it's an accelerometer, and it's not pressure sensitive.

Now muggers can more easily identify people to target for both their shoes *and* their ipods.

great!i like it

okay wrote and acted too soon. well not fully. this morning i checked online and my pre-order for the kit wasn't even on nike's page. so i called and they said they were going to ship it this morning. so being upset that i didn't get it drop day i posted above about not getting it drop day even though i (a) pre-ordered and (b) even paid expedited shipping. then i actually went to go buy one at the apple store (only $30 and i'm that impatient). i come home and in front of my door is a ups package containing my pre-ordered nike kit! if nike had only emailed me shipping info (or even a thing saying i could expect it today) i could've saved me some trouble. oh well, if it's nice i can give it to a friend or i can just keep it for when the battery on mine eventually dies...

From ilounge.com

"We have also confirmed that the Sport Kit is, at least for the moment, incompatible with all iPods save the nano. Connecting it to the 5G iPod brings up a screen that says, “The currently attached accessory is not supported by this iPod,” the same message that appears on an un-updated nano. Earlier iPods do not visibly recognize that the device has been connected."

Anyone remember Roos? Those shoes had a pouch on the side. They might just be PERFECT for the sensor!

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/4107310/c/12898.html

David, your idea for the any shoe kit could be done already with this kit, you could just make a pouch, or just slip it in between the shoe laces and hope it doesnt fall out or tape it. Puting the piece in that part of your shoe might screw up the accuracy of it, though, because I think it is supposed to go in your heel.

-Spil

PS- i dont see why it wouldnt work on any 5g iPod, i just think the resolution might be mesed up on the screen.