Podophile » Nike+iPod FAQ

Nike+iPod FAQ

December 2nd, 2006 by Podophile

Clicking around the web, I’ve noticed a lot of questions about the Nike+iPod Sport Kit popping up over and over again. While the answers to most of them can be found within this site, it sometimes takes a little digging. To help save you time, I’ve compiled a list of some of the most common Nike+iPod questions and answers below.

Do I need to buy the special Nike+ shoes to use the Nike+iPod Sport Kit?

No. The Nike+iPod can be used with any pair of running shoes. The only thing “special” about the Nike+ shoes is a small compartment in the shoe’s insole which holds the Nike+ sensor. As long as the sensor is properly and securely attached to your shoe, you will get the same results that you would with the Nike+ shoes.

How do I attach the Nike+iPod sensor to my shoe?

There are several methods for attaching the Nike+iPod sensor to your shoe, ranging from free do-it-yourself projects to moderately priced retail products specifically designed for the job. See my list of Nike+iPod Shoe Hacks and Accessories for details.

I don’t own an iPod nano. Can I use the Nike+iPod Sport Kit with my iPod video / iPod classic / iPod mini / iPod shuffle?

Nope. The Nike+iPod Sport Kit only works with the iPod nano at this time (1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation). It’s widely thought that because regular iPods use hard drives, which can freeze or skip if jostled, Apple doesn’t want to officially encourage people to run with them. The iPod shuffle doesn’t have a standard dock connector, which is required for attaching the Nike+iPod receiver. The iPod mini was discontinued before the Sport Kit was released, and probably won’t see a software update to make it compatible with the Sport Kit. Apple is in the business of selling new Pods, after all.

Does the Nike+iPod Sport Kit work with the iPhone or iPod Touch?

No. Even though the iPhone and iPod touch use flash memory (like the nano), Nike+iPod isn’t supported at this time.

How accurate is the Nike+iPod Sport Kit?

Surprisingly accurate. Results vary from person to person, but there’s rarely more than a couple hundredths of a mile difference on my three-mile run from day to day. Since the time and distance are being measured accurately, I can only assume that variations in my pace are being measured accurately, too.

At the Nike Store I was told that the Nike+iPod sensor is more accurate when used with Nike+ shoes. Is this true?

No. The Nike salespeople want to sell you Nike shoes, and they’re stretching the truth when they say this. It is true that if you attach the sensor to your shoes loosely or incorrectly, it will give you inaccurate results… but it’s pretty simple to do it the right way.

Isn’t is true that you need to step on the sensor for it to register your footsteps?

No, that’s a myth that started soon after the Sport Kit was announced. The sensor is not a pedometer, it’s an accelerometer which measures your foot in motion and at rest, and from those measurements it can calculate your stride, speed, and distance. A look inside the sensor suggests that it reads vibrations from your foot hitting the ground, but not from actually having any pressure applied to it.

I don’t run. Does the Nike+iPod Sport Kit work for walking, too?

Yes. The Nike+iPod Sport Kit measures walking as accurately as it measures running. There’s even a calibration setting especially for walking.

Can I use the Nike+iPod Sport Kit on a treadmill?

People report mixed results when using the Nike+iPod Sport Kit on a treadmill. Personally, I found it to be much less accurate than on solid ground. The difference between the treadmill mileage reading and the Sport Kit mileage was over 10%, which I don’t find to be very useful. One reason may be the difference in mechanics; On a treadmill, both feet are always moving - the one on the belt backward, and the one in the air forward - while your body remains stationary. When running on the ground, one foot remains stationary while your whole body moves forward.

Can I use the Nike+iPod Sport Kit on a bicycle or elliptical machine?

No. I have yet to find any reports of people getting accurate readings when on a bicycle or elliptical machine. One thing the sensor reads is the vibration produced when your foot hits the ground, which doesn’t happen when using either of these two contraptions.

I just went for my first run with my Nike+iPod Sport Kit, but the mileage results were way off. What’s wrong with this POS?

If you’re getting wildly inaccurate readings from your Nike+iPod Sport Kit, it’s probably due to one of these two things: 1) Your sensor isn’t attached to your shoe properly. The sensor needs to be logo-side up, relatively parallel with the ground, and positioned length-wise on your shoe. In addition, it needs to be attached tightly, with no room to move, shift, or bounce around during your run. If you’ve checked all of that and you’re still having the same problem, then 2) You have a defective Kit. Take it back to the Apple store and ask for an exchange. Apple has been very good about exchanging poorly functioning Sport Kits.

How can I improve the accuracy of my Nike+iPod Sport Kit?

The Sport Kit has a built-in calibration mode which helps to fine-tune the accuracy based on your individual running style. Here’s an in-depth guide to calibrating your Sport Kit.

This list is a work in progress. I’ll be adding to it regularly, so check back from time to time. If you have a question that you think should be addressed here, or have any feedback you’d like to share, feel free to post below.

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56 Responses to “Nike+iPod FAQ”

on 21 Dec 2006 at 3:03 pm B

Very, very helpful information. I have been hesitaing on this purchase because the only Nike I like was the Durham, long ago replaced. I prefer Asics now and was hoping I could use this with them (although the Nike Pegasys look similar, but still does not have the + system. ) Thank you for your posting, B
on 23 Dec 2006 at 9:04 pm rob berreth

is there anyway to post non-recorded workouts? For example, this morning I did a trail run and didn’t get all wires up with my nano but still want to record the workout. Any thoughts?
on 29 Dec 2006 at 9:09 am Christopher

Is it possible for two people two share the same Nike+iPod sensor and Nano?
on 30 Dec 2006 at 12:22 pm Todd

Merry Christmas! Guess what I got! ;)

Thanks alot for this FAQ. It was a great help for shoe mounting options and the kit itself. However, I’m getting stumped finding case alternatives for the Nano 2G with the Nike+ receiver. So far, I’ve only found the Marware Sportsuit Relay. But I have alot of doubts about the comfort after several miles of “neoprene and rubber” and those nasty-looking seams on the back.

Does anyone have alternative Nano cases that can handle the Nike receiver?
on 01 Jan 2007 at 4:28 pm Quack

hey, does anyone know if this will work with rollerblades?
on 04 Jan 2007 at 1:41 pm Craig

I have one nano. Can I buy a nike+ for me and my wife and use it on the same nano?
on 05 Jan 2007 at 10:41 am Kari PÃ¤tilÃ¤

I had my first trial run this afternoon, and the kit worked great. I had a pair of almost brand new Nikes, non-plus ones, so I just slipped the transmitter under my laces and after 8.5km it was still there. In fact, it hadn’t moved a bit, but that might be because of the firm structure of the shoes, which are meant for running on snow and icy surfaces. Still, I’m going to make a pouch for it, since you can’t buy one here in Finland.

What I’m really interested about is whether it’ll still work after the temperature drops to -15 degrees Celsius (if that’s even possible during this unbelievably warm winter).
on 10 Jan 2007 at 3:21 pm Phil

How long is the battery suppose to last?? I bought a show pouch and it would be very inconvenient to unstring to turn off every time I use it??
on 02 Feb 2007 at 7:23 pm Mcbeev

Im working on a site that tracks the data from Nike Plus files. Anyone is welcome to use it. It lets you do whatever you want with your data. Add and modify runs as you need. Export the data out to excel, and even create your own RSS Feed with it. Check it out at http://www.workoutdump.com. It is still a work in progress though.
on 09 Feb 2007 at 1:49 pm Patrick

Hi,

is there anyway to get the raw data from the iPod after a run?? I have a little pc application written that I use to track my runs and so on an would like to load my Nike+ runs into the system atomatically…

Patrick.
on 12 Feb 2007 at 8:44 pm Devon Rueckner

regarding the inaccuracy on a treadmill:

“One reason may be the difference in mechanics; On a treadmill, both feet are always moving - the one on the belt backward, and the one in the air forward - while your body remains stationary. When running on the ground, one foot remains stationary while your whole body moves forward.”

This is not quite true. In fact, relative to the belt, the mechanics are exactly the same (your body is moving, and your feet are alternately stationary). Accelerometers measure *change* in velocity, which (from your foot’s point of view) is the same as if you were running on solid ground.

So why doesn’t it work so well? I would guess it’s because the flexibility and bounciness of some treadmills interferes with the calculations.

It would be interesting to try jogging around on something bouncy - I bet the distances would be completely off.
on 12 Feb 2007 at 8:48 pm Devon Rueckner

On the other hand, your treadmill could be way off because of belt slippage.
on 12 Feb 2007 at 11:17 pm Podophile

Devon-

Thanks for your comments. I’ve tried the Sport Kit on several treadmills and the results have never been as accurate as on the ground. Many other people report similar inaccuracies when running on treadmills.
on 14 Feb 2007 at 3:46 pm Jenn8

I am wondering if anyone else has had difficulty with their Nike +ipod in very cold weather? I have experienced problems on three occasions.
Any suggestions would be helpful.
Thanks
on 14 Feb 2007 at 6:15 pm Kenn

My iPod+Nano has worked great ever since I bought it about four months ago. However, last weekend, on a long run, it went flaky. I was trotting along at a fairly even 7:30 (min/mi) pace for several miles, when suddenly it started telling me I was barely moving, though I was most definitely running. It went back and forth between reporting speeds of around 7:30 to speeds of around 32 to not moving!

It was about 12F (-7F) out, and was the first time I’d used the kit in below freezing temps. So, I suspect maybe its inaccuracies were due to the low temperature.
on 16 Feb 2007 at 8:23 am Jennifer

My nike + ipod has been freezing and locking up when I run in the mornings. It doesn’t save any of the miles I’ve logged on when that happens. It’s very fustrating (I enter nike challenges and it cost me my last one. I came in second by 2 miles, I would have won it if my ipod hadn’t acted up). It’s been below freezing when I run and I wonder if that’s what’s causing it to act like this.
on 16 Feb 2007 at 12:51 pm Slothrunner

Daniel,

Thanks for the great Site. I’ve had my Nike+ for about a month, I initially used a shoe hack on the tongue of my New Balances, but I noticed the accuracy was sometimes way off (even though I calibrated on a track the first time). I initially suspected cold weather, but after I purchased the Marware pouch, the device has been right on, even in cold weather (a couple of 15F runs in Massachusetts). My guess in my case was that my shoe hack method did not keep the sensor stable enough or aligned properly.

Question: Why no mention of the recently added Mapit feature to the Nike+ site?
on 15 Mar 2007 at 6:11 pm peliason

Great site– just got my Nike+ and couldn’t give up my asics so I used your velcro idea and did a little sewing.
on 26 Mar 2007 at 12:32 pm Brian

Thanks for the FAQ. I use the sports kit daily on a treadmill and it works flawless. After a 5 mile run on the treadmill, the ipod usually reads 4.98-5.02 miles.

A lot depends on how consistent your running form is during your run. For example, I can slow my ipod pace by simply high stepping or taking longer strides on the treadmill. Or I can speed up my ipod pace by taking smaller quicker strides. So if you are not consistantly using the same running form I could see inaccuracies being present. But I have never had any issues on the treadmill or outside.
on 07 May 2007 at 4:52 pm Bobby

Is it possible to edit the run data? I just finished a race and forgot to end the work out as I crossed the finish line. I realized it a few minutes later, but now my run info wrong. Can I manually delete the last few minutes of the run?

Thanks!
on 16 May 2007 at 1:52 pm Scott

I am thinking of Buying the new nike ipod plus and want to find out everything i can both good and bad things about the ipod plus. i was wondering if i am running in wet weather and my sensor/ shoes get soaking wet,(which can often happen if im running in rain or walking normally and its raining via puddles etc) will this stop the sensor from working and is this covered on the warrenty?
on 27 Jun 2007 at 11:26 am Patrick

I had the same issue as Jennifer above. Got back from a 6km - menu froze up - unresponsive - no Congratulations from Lance, and no logged workout. missed one of my monthly goals because of it. No cold weather here either, and since it happened the continous play & shuffle icons both appear in the now playing screen. My nano is a 1st gen.and i’m wondering if it has ‘hit the wall’. B4 this both Nano and nike + worked perfectly, and has been a huge motivational tool in my training program. Thanks for the post.
on 17 Jul 2007 at 10:39 am Milos

Great website,and my only question is… whats the range of the nike+ipod thing? I mean if i leave my ipod nano on a shelf in a restaurant and put the sensor in my shoe is it going to work properly? It’s not a big restaurant, maybe 20m x 20m?
on 17 Jul 2007 at 10:46 am Podophile

The range of the transmitter is supposed to be about 50-60 feet (15-18m). It wouldn’t hurt to try your idea, but you should expect some dropouts. You’d probably be better off just keeping the nano in your pocket.
on 27 Jul 2007 at 8:58 am bud

I want to use my Nike+ kit to track mileage walked an entire day versus just for a workout. Any way to do this?
on 27 Jul 2007 at 5:05 pm Kyle W

I was just wondering if the run data took up much room on the iPod, as I have a 2BG nano and it is full of music, and I still have more. So I am trying to decide if I should update to a 4BG or 8GB.

Thanks,
Kyle
on 17 Aug 2007 at 9:02 am babacrash

I would be interested to know if someone tried it with rollerblades?
on 25 Sep 2007 at 6:51 am Marco

“I donâ€™t own an iPod nano. Can I use the Nike+iPod Sport Kit with my regular iPod / iPod mini / iPod shuffle?”

Can you tell me if the Nike+ is working with an Ipod touch? I really wanna buy this one but also want to use the Nike+.
on 19 Nov 2007 at 9:33 am Pete M

Has anyone tried the nike + with an ipod touch. I want an ipod touch for xmas, but may get a new nano if it doesn’t work with the touch.

Thanks, Pete
on 08 Dec 2007 at 3:30 pm TParrill

Be careful about the placement of your sensor on your foot. I used a “lacelid” to keep my sensor in place on the top of my shoe. I got a stress fracture in my 3rd metacarsel/tarsel(–sorry for the spelling!). I didn’t originally blame the sensor until when I started running 3 months later, I placed it on the other foot in the same place and started to feel the same pain I had with the other foot. I think it’s because it was on there so tight that it didn’t allow for any movement of my foot. Something to watch… OTher than that, now that I’ve placed it somewhere else, I LOVE IT! I do find that the reading is totally off on the treadmill. Today was so cold that I ran 10 mile on my brand-new, well-calibrated treadmill. My ipod had me at 9.25 miles. I’ll claim the 10!
on 24 Dec 2007 at 10:41 am Paul

Is the Nike + adapter and software compatible with a 5th generation video iPod. I know it’s intended for use with the nano, but I haven’t had any problems with the hard drive on my iPod so I’d prefer to use it with Nike + if possible.

Thank you for the FAQs!
on 02 Jan 2008 at 11:05 am bleach802

I read on amazon that the nike + ipod is only compatible with a 1, 2 or 3g ipod nano. Is this true? Or does it matter the capacity as long as it is a ipod nano?
on 07 Jan 2008 at 4:37 pm Matt

I am getting a message saying that my receiver’s battery is low. I can’t figure out how to replace the battery or the receiver, any ideas?
on 06 Feb 2008 at 3:37 am Heleen

do you think that it is going to be possible to use nike+ with the ipod touch? i know you can’t use it now, but are they going to make it later?
on 15 Feb 2008 at 2:12 pm NEVERTOOOLD

When I use my Nike+ the verbal distance is correct but the distance on the screen is way off. Example today it verbally told me I went 3.6 miles but the screen said 6.1 miles. I tried calibrating it but that didnt help. Ideas?
on 01 Mar 2008 at 9:05 pm tri.rider

How dose the sensor deal with water/mud I do mostly trail runnuing.
on 16 Mar 2008 at 1:56 am candycx

hi Podophile,

i have one question that i wish u can help me. i just bought the sport kit. is the sensor on itself already? or do i need to press the on button? when im not using it, do i need to off it?
how to know if its on or off?
thanks so much..
on 17 Mar 2008 at 8:50 am emdee

iPod Classic - I wonder if anyone here found a hack which would enable to use the Nike running gadget with iPod Classic. Now I heard about the flash/hard drive difference, but I also got in talk with Apple Certified Techitian and basically there could be problem with the hard drive while runnning, but as the iPod grabs the MP3 it loads about 5 minutes woth a play before loading another bunch. And it has to be bit shock proof anyway, otherwise you could not use is while walkeing either.
on 26 Apr 2008 at 9:49 am rachel

You said the it cannot be used with the ipod mini as there isnt an update. However when i plug it into itunes it automatically updates so i now have catergories such as videos even though i couldnt play them. Any chance the nike plus could work with the mini?
on 26 Apr 2008 at 5:44 pm dimitry

I THINK THAT MY SENSOR’S BATTERY IS EMPTY. HOW DO I GET A NEW ONE? or can I reload the sensor’s battery?
on 30 Apr 2008 at 1:39 am Rachel

I just bought this Nike Amp+ which is a remote for the ipod. I also bought Nike+Ipod all together. But then it’s says if I press the button on the left of remote it will play the power song automatically but then it won do anything. Even the ipod. I set it up the song to be played as a powersong but everytime I press play button it will just play the playing list and that’s it. What should i do?
Where should I go and ask? I bought this all at the nike except the ipod. should I go to nike to ask about this?
on 02 Jun 2008 at 9:47 pm Ilka

Hey,
I returned my first nike+ thinking that the battery was empty since the receiver could never detect a sensor. The second one worked, until I turned it off to get on a plane. Now again, after turning it off and on several times, the receiver can’t detect the sensor. Did anyone have the same problem, and does anyone know whether there is a way to find out when the sensor is “on” or “off”?
on 16 Jun 2008 at 9:44 pm Bob Bowers

Nike+ Sensor & iPods: does it work with the new Classic or not?

One website, someone said in a word, “Yes”.

One of the FAQs implies it depends on the “generation” of the iPod device.

Nike+ Sensors or Nike+ Sport Kit … please clarify.

Thank you.
on 16 Jun 2008 at 11:58 pm Podophile

Hi Bob: In a word, no. The Nike+ipod Sport Kit only works with the iPod nano. Not the classic, not the touch, not the mini… just the nano.

The Nike+iPod Sport kit includes a sensor (or transmitter), which goes in your shoe, and the receiver, which plugs into your iPod nano.
on 17 Jun 2008 at 6:44 am Purpleness

I have used Nike+ on the treadmill and found that it was more accurate than the treadmill itself. After reading blogs and testing both for several weeks I find that treadmills don’t give accurate readings, they give approximations when you are working out depending on the settings you put in. I ran the same distance and time on flat ground and got the same results with the Nike+ as I did when I use it on the treadmill. Where I burned 350 calories according to Nike+, the treadmill stated that I only burned 150. This is after 30 minutes of running.

Nothing is wrong with running on the treadmill, it’s not as accurate as I thought it would be.
on 18 Jun 2008 at 11:53 am Kyle

Same questions as Bob earlier. Is it possible to edit your run data? I pressed the menu button after my run but forgot to press end run afterwards and my run went for another 4 minutes before I stopped it, thus dragging down my mile/min.

Kyle
on 30 Jun 2008 at 4:11 am alex

Hi all,

Has anyone found a hack to charged an empty sensor???

About to buy another one (3rd). And no i haven’t run for 2000 hours, but somehow the batteries run out of energy.

regards
on 23 Jul 2008 at 8:22 pm Andy

Hey, my Nike+ sensor went dead again after about 600 mi so instead of buying a new one I found a site that gives you step by step instructions on replacing the battery. It’s MUCH simpler than I thought and it works great. I’ve been running with it for 4 months without a problem. The site is:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Replace-battery-in-Nike-receiver-for-under-5/
Hope this helps!
on 14 Sep 2008 at 6:38 am fabien

hi,

I have a nike armband to stick my ipod in when i go running.
I found that the ipod gets wet in the back. Is it dangerous for the ipod (dont think so cos its stainless steel) and is there a solution to prevent that ?

thanks

ps : can u reply on my email address too ?

thanks
on 02 Oct 2008 at 12:42 pm Chris Hutcherson

Love the new Ipod Nano 4 style, but this version seems very flimsy. Anyone else think so ?