Reviews for Nike + iPod Sport Kit

The first time I bought this was great. It was one of the reasons I bought a Nano. I had no problems with the device. It was pretty accurate and this was without Nike shoes.
After about 2 years later my Nano couldn't pick up the sensor. I figured the battery was dead so I bought a replacement sensor. I still wasn't able to pick up the new sensor. I figured that I needed to get the whole kit. With the new kit it did work for sometime. However, the accuracy was off compared to the first time I bought the kit. No amount of calibration made it better.
Recently, my Nano hasn't been able to recognize the receiver. Playing around with it hasn't solved anything. Sadly, I have given up on the product all together which is a shame because it is a great product when it works.

108 of 142 people found this useful

I love this and have no problem recommending this to others who are into running and music.

For those who keep complaining about the lack of 5th gen use of this, you're not supposed to run with hard drive based IPods, which is why it's only available for Nano which is flash based.

95 of 117 people found this useful

I love Nike and I love Apple. That being said, I gave two starts for a rating.

Pros:
The new nano is awesome
It is made for Nike shoes (Nike Rocks)
Has a stop watch
Verbally informs you of your progression during the workout
Compiles your workout data to the nikerunning website

Cons:
Inaccurate at measuring distances. (I ran around a 400m track which is about .25 of a mile (.24 on some tracks), and it kept logging .35 or .32 of a mile. When I ran the same loop, it was almost 1/3rd the distance off. I would run two miles, it recorded 3.6 miles, etc. I calibrated it several times, but with no success.

Nike electronics (watches, mp3 players, ipod kit, etc) always drain batteries so expect the item to not last as long as you would another brand. I used to work for Nike, so please take this advice seriously.

I've also noticed that most runners who are serious or tend to run at varied paces or runners who tend to run faster than the average: this product probably won't meet your needs as they haven't met mine and many others. Runners who run varied paces: this product doesn't seem to adjust for that!

I use this product but only as a stop-watch and mp3 player.

109 of 147 people found this useful

Unfortunately this device is only accurate if you run on flat terrain at a constant pace. This means no tempo runs, no intervals, no fartleks, no hills, etc -- unless you don't care if the distance is not accurate. Furthermore, you can never really evaluate PRs because you never know how far you go. I've noticed discrepancies of over 10% (ie, if I go for a 10 mile run, it may be off by an entire mile). This device is definitely economical and sleek, but the bells and whistles just don't make a difference if it doesn't work well.

If you really want to track your distance, pace, etc. go for a Garmin Forerunner (I would recommend the 305 over the 405).

97 of 124 people found this useful

Thankfully I only purchased this item because it happened to coincide with my shoes of choice.

The shoe/sensor combo works great until you go to wirelessly upload your data and get to the nike+ login screen... and you get to the login screen... and you get to the login screen... and you get to the login screen... Yes you guessed it, you cannot login from your iphone to upload the data and ITunes no longer supports a manual upload for 3GS and up--supposedly it still works with a nano.

After further research this occurrence has been taking place for months with no fix from Nike in sight--Nike keeps insisting that you clear out your cookies and change your language, or suggests that you try all browser platforms available (yes that is right, they keep switching the issue from a mobile login issue into a browser issue... sigh)

So, after plunking down $29 for a defective product, it turns out that the free nike+ gps app, available at the app store, works great--you can actually login to the nike+ site and upload your run data! This being said, the perk of having a analog sensor in your shoe, is that you can compile off the grid data where one's GPS enabled phone cannot go...just do not expect to track it on the website.

80 of 91 people found this useful

Well, I have to say that I found this product to be a disappointment for the following reasons:

(1) Once I start a workout I can't switch between playlists. If I am listening to a podcast and want to change to my workout playlist I can't unless I stop my workout and start a new workout. Once I have started a workout, the only music I can change to is the first song in my song list (ABC!). Why can’t I switch to another playlist during my workout?

(2) I can’t select when I receive verbal feedback. I receive no verbal feedback until the half way point of my distance but then near the end of my run I receive feedback every few seconds. Why isn’t there a way for me to select how often I want to receive verbal feedback during my run (eg each 0.5/1 mile)?

(3) There is no way of knowing if my sensor is turned on by looking at the sensor (such as a red led light), no proper on/off switch and no way to change the battery in the sensor. Which means the sensor stays on the whole time and then you have to buy a whole new sensor.

(4) I wanted to buy coaching tracks through Itunes where I could have professional athletes talk me through the various stages of my run. Unfortunately there is barely a handful of coaching tracks in Itunes and you can’t just buy the coaching tips, you have to buy the athletes’ music collection as well. Why aren’t there coaching/motivation tips from more athletes and why can’t I receive these tips whilst listening to my own music?

All in all, this is the only Apple product that I have bought that I have been disappointed with.

75 of 83 people found this useful

If I'd written this review 6 months ago then it would be full of praise but sadly I didn't. I've just returned from a run to discover that my sensor has run out of juice and before I tried to force my fingernail between its almost invisible seam, in the hope of replacing the battery, I thought I'd better read the instructions for a change. Well I've now read them. I'm not happy. I'm disappointed and feel cheated. Both Nike & Apple need to make it CLEAR on their product description that the sensor has a limited life and will need replacing anywhere between 4 - 12 months. Better still design the sensor with a replacement battery compartment - surely you can manage that. Both of you are renowned for your sophisticated and intelligent designs - so what happened here?

Surely this is environmentally questionable too.

(from the UK)

125 of 183 people found this useful

I used the kit 2 times before it stopped working. Make sure you turn off the sensor if you're going to carry it around in a backpack, car, etc. But those two times I used it it was great!

76 of 86 people found this useful

I found this product to be TOTALLY inaccurate. I mapped a 2 mile course with a gps unit. When I ran the course with ipod+nike using a new touch. It said I had walked (not ran) 1.18 miles.Off by Nearly 50%. It would not let me adjust it by calibrating for more than .5 miles still leaving it off by .3 miles. I am very disappointed that Nike and Apple have produced such a lame product. I plan on returning it and using a good old fashion stop watch!!!

86 of 107 people found this useful

Lovely product. My only gripe is that the sensor battery runs out and I have just had to buy the whole kit again for the 3rd time (in 2 years). Apple should sell the sensor separately and ensure than their stockists don't keep the product in stock for years as it appears the battery runs down.

73 of 82 people found this useful