Nike+ SportWatch GPS powered by TomTom

August 5, 2014

The Nike+ SportWatch GPS powered by TomTom(R): Never Run Alone Again. THINK LESS, RUN BETTER: Put on your Nike+ SportWatch GPS, go outside and run. The Nike+ Sensor is optional. Tap the screen to mark laps and activate the backlight during your run, and personalize the data that you want to see during your run. For direct connect, USB contacts are built into the watch strapjust plug the watch directly into a USB port on your computer to upload run data and recharge the battery. ENHANCED ACCURACY: Using GPS by TomTom with the Nike+ Sensor, you can start tracking your run instantly, and get accurate speed and distance information, indoors or outeven if the GPS signal gets interrupted. The Nike+ SportWatch GPS by TomTom tracks your time, distance, pace, heart rate and calories burned. It also shows your mapped route, with pace data, and changes in elevation on Nikeplus.com. And it’s heart-rate monitor compatible with the Polar Wearlink+ Transmitter. YOU’LL NEVER SLACK AGAIN: View your Nike+ history (up to 50 runs) and PRs, and set automatic Run Reminders when a run hasn’t been logged in the past five days. Run a personal best, receive an Attaboy. You can also find new routes, set personal goals and access training programs on Nikeplus.com.

$ 0.01

Customer Reviews

462 of 503 people found the following review helpful

Has some flaws, but gets the job done, July 14, 2011

B. Wueste (Boston, MA) – See all my reviews

First word of advice – do not buy this watch on Amazon.com until the product is available for the MSRP of 9.99 that it is currently selling for on the manufacturer website.

Initial Setup

The packaging for this watch is compact and easy to open – very similar to how Apple packages their nanos and related products. The box contained the watch, a foot pod, cord, and very very brief instructions. The instructions basically tell you to plug the watch into your computer and download the user guide (and then this is repeated in 15 different languages). The edge of the watchband serves as a USB port so you literally just plug the watch right into the computer. This port has a plastic hinge which I’m already afraid will break, but so far so good. Once plugged you download some software and either set up a nikeplus account or login using your existing nikeplus account. While your watch is charging you can customize your settings giving you a display that most interests you (i.e. average pace, distance, clock, etc.)

Nikeplus.com

If you’ve been using nike+ products with your iphone or your ipod nano then you can simply login with your same username and life is good. If you’re new to nikeplus you have to set up a free account. Nikeplus has some issues like it’s not great on Macs and sometimes it repeatedly asks you to login, but once you’re in it’s a pretty user friendly basic site. Runs are tracked showing mile splits and you can set up goals, challenges, or training plans. The GPS feature adds some really new and beneficial features to nikeplus where you can see your run mapped out and it shows you the spots where you ran the fastest and the slowest.

I don’t understand all the reviews completely bashing the website – maybe they’re all Mac users? It’s annoying that it always asks you to login every single time, but the data displayed on the GPS route is everything I need (mile/lap splits, elevation, fastest/slowest point, etc.)

Running Experience

So far I’ve had no problems connecting to GPS and the watch has measured out extremely close to what my previous nike+ shoe sensor (and mapmyrun) was telling me. The watch is definitely less bulky than some of those older Garmin models and it fits very well. The plastic fittings make me a little nervous, but better than having hot metal against you skin I suppose. I have big clumsy fingers and I can press the buttons no problem in order to cycle through the stats that I want.

I’ve gone on about 30 runs and 26 of those time the watched linked perfectly and worked flawlessly. 2 times the watch never could link to a satellite so I was stuck running with only the footpod, which yields slightly different results than using GPS. Another 2 times about 5 minutes into the run my average pace would start to sore up into the 4:00/mile pace, which clearly was faster than I was actually moving. Ending that run and starting another fixes the problem, but you have to delete that messed up run from the website or all of your records will be skewed. (The GPS map of that messed up run showed me running straight through a mountain and a lake – clearly a satellite issue). I also lost a few runs in the beginning because of some issue connecting the watch to my computer, but that issue has not happened again thankfully.

Final Thoughts

The watch itself is great and so easy to use and see while running. You can easily take the data from the watch and track your progress in Excel, which isn’t a bad idea given some of the website issues/bugs. I wasn’t willing to spend twice as much on a new Garmin so I’m willing to accept some of the risks that come with this product. As a novice/intermediate runner this has really helped me get more out of my training, particularly my interval and tempo workouts where I can set laps in minutes or meters and really make sure I’m training appropriately.

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79 of 83 people found the following review helpful

As a veteran runner, and one who has used every gadget, Nike hits the mark on this one…, August 4, 2012

Cmodman – See all my reviews

This review is from: Nike+ SportWatch GPS Powered by TomTom (Black/Volt) (Sports)

I’ve been running for almost 15 years, have used every product under the sun for running, from foot pods, HR monitors, GPS devices, etc.. and when it was time to retire my Garmin 406 I wanted something new. Garmin has always been good to me, and even have an extensive website function sort of like Nikeplus.com. The problem with Garmin, is the fact most of their watches are boring looking or too big. Being a Nike person, from clothes to shoes, I figure I would give Nike a try, even though I was skeptical since they only recently entered the “gadget/GPS” market. I’ll break it down for you guys…

Packaging
Almost Apple-like packaging; sleek, simple, not crowded unlike the overabundance of pamphlets you get in the Garmin boxes.

Pre-use setup
Now, I know some people, aren’t completely “wired” via iPhones, computers, whatever, but if you want to get the full benefit out of this Nike watch, and with any Garmin you buy, you need to try to use that laptop of yours. You’ll want to download the software from the link they provide prior to plug in, and you’ll want to plug the watch in (via a USB that’s in the band) before actually using it. I know some impatient people will want to just take the watch and go, but you’ll wind up frustrated and then come on here prematurely bashing it before really utilizing it correctly. I am a Mac person, so set up with Apple software for the Nike was easy and fast. Now I don’t know if this would be a cause for some people having issues, but my friend who has the same exact watch as me (bought it after seeing mine) has been having the “time” issues and updating issues, but he has been plugging into a Windows 7 based computer. I don’t know if its a PC thing, or what, but he’s been having a harder time getting it going than I have with it attached to my Mac… After you download software, plug it in, get all the updates, let it charge (set up your Nikeplus account) and boom you’re good

Nike Plus site
I love the Nike site. Garminconnect.com was a little boring, though functional and very professional. Nikeplus’ site reminds me almost like the dashboard for my Xbox 360. Very sleek, almost game-type functionality and easy to read and fun to read. After every run you do, plug in the usb, let the software you download automatically upload your run and BOOM go to the website and you can check out your stats and compare to previous runs. Its a very motivating tool, you see what you’re doing, you plan your next run, can even set goals on the website that has a status bar showing your progress. Like my recent goal is to run 90 miles in 6 weeks, and the status bar on the website keeps me updated on how many miles I have left, and how I have been doing, pace-wise, speed-wise and weekly wise..

Now the RUN!
I use the Nike+ sensor in conjunction with the GPS (I have a nike+ ready lunarglide Nike shoe, though my friend has been able to tie his sensor to the tongue of his Asics) Now you don’t need the sensor, the GPS works fine, but I found that with both in use, the accuracy is 10-fold better. So pretty much, when you’re ready, hold the nice big green button for 3 seconds, my GPS has picked up satellite and sensor data within 5 seconds without fail every time. And boom, you’re ready to go. The big portion of the screen is the miles you’ve run so far (you can change this to, but I like to keep track of my distance and see that all the time) the top half is a little smaller, but you can scroll through or have the watch auto-scroll through your pace, mph, clock, time elapsed, calories burned etc… (keep in mind, to auto-scroll or what you want to see on the top-half, you’ll need to set this up on your computer software). The only con I’ve found, is to get the watch to light up for those early morning or night runs, you really gotta tap real hard fast. Nike says its like this to prevent from accidental taps.

Life of the battery and the watch itself
I have had m watch on Standby for weeks without charging with running 5-6 days while using it inbetween. So the battery last long, and you only really need to charge it every 8 runs (or 8 hours or use). Charging is via the USB connection to your computer, though I’ve used my iPhone charger with the USB extender that’s provided to charge with no problems. The actual watch itself is very sleek. I got the black on volt (green) and it looks good. The display is very bright and easy to read. The glass covering the display almost feels like that thick gorilla type glass you find on some phones and other devices. The band fits real well, secure, and doesn’t slip very easy if you like wearing the watch loose. The smaller overall interface and look is a nice change from the clunky and boring color Garmins.

Summary
Don’t get me wrong, I love the Garmin watches, and if for some reason you’re just not convinced with the Nike brand or this particular product from Nike, you…

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217 of 239 people found the following review helpful

Nike Plus for Marathon Training, December 4, 2011

Maxximus 76 – See all my reviews

Verified Purchase(What’s this?)

This review is from: Nike+ SportWatch GPS Powered by TomTom (Black/Volt) (Sports)

I’ve run 6 marathons so far (a little over 1 per year), and always love to have new technology to play with during training. I bought the Nike Sportwatch shortly after it came out. I was not impressed. It really liked a lot of critical features, and the website was constantly having issue.

Multiple months and 600+ mileson it later, I’m happy to say that I really enjoy it. Nike has been incredible about this launch. Every couple of months they’ve continuously added more and more new features. The website is still slow, but they are launching a new one in ealy 2012. The new features on this watch put it among the best out there.

New features:
– Walk/Run timer (interval timer as well)
– Avg, Pace
– Improved Mapping
– Set time on the device (no computer needed)
– Incredibly fast satellite connection (even in the city)
– Auto calibration of foot pod
– Faster upload speeds to add your runs
– Integration with Facebook

All in all, a great watch. This one will work for new runners and advanced runners. The only people that this isn’t a great choice or is ultramarathon ruuners. Battery life with GPS is 8-10 hours…not long enough for a 50-80 KM.

Having owned Polar RS800, Polar RCX5, Garmin 305, Garmin 310XT, and Garmin 210, I would put this up there as one of my faorites. The website is the best one out there, and the sites detailed training programs are worth using to achieve your best time yet.

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