Nike+ Vs. Garmin Forerunner 305

I have tried out a couple new running gadgets this spring. The Garmin Forerunner 305 is a watch-like device that uses GPS to track speed and distance. The Nike+ system uses a shoe mounted accelerometer to track speed and distance using an iPod.

Accuracy:
The Forerunner 305 is much more accurate than the Nike+. You can calibrate the Nike+ (which I did using the accurate distance from the forerunner.) However, I found that once calibrated, the Nike+ will give inaccurate readings if you run at a different pace than usual (over 10 percent off.) The Forerunner is consistently accurate to the extent that any variations between runs are unnoticeable.

Coolness:
The Nike+ should win this. It has a nice voice that tells you about your run while you're on the move and has a cool website that it uploads your running data to - on which you can compete in challenges with other runners. The Nike+ blog widget was fun to add to this site as well. However, the battery in the Nike+ shoe sensor is not replaceable. So if the battery dies a new $20 sensor must be purchased to continue using the Nike+ system. My first sensor lasted about 10 miles (a couple weeks in February.) I thought maybe I just had a dud, so I bought another one. The second sensor lasted about a month this spring for an additional 25 miles. That is not fun or cool. I am not buying another Nike+ sensor.

Usability:
Both products work quite well. The interface for the Forerunner is not as advanced as the Nike+ interface on my iPod Touch (way not as advanced.) But even though the interface is not especially slick, the Forerunner is easy enough to use and does way more than the Nike+.

Features:

Nike+

• It has work out settings for Time, Distance or Calories. (You tell it your goal for the run and the Nike+ will verbally let you know your progress.)
• It stores your run history on the iPod and on the Nike+ website.
• It will play your music for you from within the Nike+ app on the iPod. (Although, I found this feature to be limited compared to the iPods normal music playback capabilites. For example, I couldn't figure out how to get the Nike+ app to shuffle a playlist. I got pretty tired of 80s tunes that start with 'a'.

Garmin Forerunner 305

• It tracks 32 different types of data that the unit can display during a run. (I just use 6 - time, distance, heart rate, average pace, pace, and calories burnt.)
• It comes with a heart rate monitor, which is very consistent. It is comfortable and works great.
  
• It can actually lead you back to where you started if you get lost. I don't usually get lost in Nappanee, but I do see how this could be useful.
• It has a backlit display.
• It has alarms that can be set to alert for time, distance and heart rate. (I have mine set to ring every quarter mile and every nine minutes.)
• It has training options to help you keep a certain pace. You can also setup a workout to race against one of your earlier times for a specific run.
• It has nice charging cradle that works with USB or a regular electrical outlet.
• It downloads run data to your computer, where software stores all your run data. Sweet!

The Garmin Forerunner 305 sells for around $175. The Nike+ sensors are around $20. The Forerunner 305 is by far the better value. The Forerunner does more and does it better. I was on my way to spending over $100 on Nike+ sensors this year. If the battery trend continued, I would have had to spend that every year to keep the Nike+ working. While the Forerunner 305 was more expensive to start with, it is rechargeable and should last for years and years and years with no additional cost.

The Garmin Forerunner 305 is way better than Nike+ and probably way less expensive in the long run as well.