Now that the Polar bluetooth sensor is available, and by my research, is the only Bluetooth stride sensor on the market at this time, I gave it a try. My first impression coming out of the package is that THIS THING IS HUGE! Runners used to the Nike foot pod or Garmin foot pods that fit neatly in that pocket in the sole of your shoe, or discreetly clip on to your laces will be taken aback by this very large Bluetooth stride sensor. Not only is it large in size, but has considerable mass as well. I noticed a slight but still perceptible weight and even windspeed resistance of the foot to which this sensor was attached. I’m not sure a serious runner could tolerate such a device. I wonder if the new technology required such a large sensor or if it’s just a design flaw by Polar.

The clip to attach it to your laces must actually have the laces passed through it, so it takes a moment to attach, and does not easily clip on and off so that you might switch it between your various running shoes. The attachment unit is not really a clip so much as a “harness” for its massive sensor payload. I do a lot of obstacle racing and trail racing. Though the attachment harness is sturdy, I could imaging weeds or branches that I’m running through easily snagging on or banging against the sensor.

As for it’s function, the sensor did accurately measure my stride and cadence and was accurate in the woods, where the GPS becomes useless for tracking my distances. I did some 4 mile trail runs with it and it was spot on in the distances.

Thus, for function, I’d give it 5 stars. For it’s cumbersome size and weight, I’d give it 2 stars. For it’s difficulty in attaching to the shoe and switching between shoes I’d give it 3 stars. Average, 3 stars.

Customer Video Review Length:: 5:55 Mins

Moved me from can’t run, to marathon runner

*Please check out my video for more information*

-I want to start off by telling you WHY I bought this product (If you do not want to hear about this, please scroll down):

This sensor in conjunction with the Polar H7 Bluetooth Smart Heart Rate Sensor honestly changed my life. I have always been in good shape, but running more than a mile or two was A SERIOUS TASK! I never knew why I was so awful at running and why I always ran out of breath after just a few minutes of running but I could do sprints for days. My first realization came into play when I was at the gym running on the treadmill and I decided to place my hands on the heart rate sensors. I’m 21 and my heart rate was about 195 after just 1.3 miles running at about 7mph. For people who don’t know, that is EXTREMELY HIGH!! I decided to look around to figure out what was going on and I purchased Polar H7 Bluetooth Smart Heart Rate Sensor. This monitored my heart rate and I was able to better control my speed to keep my heart rate at lower level. Then someone told my that my cadence was way off. I honestly had no idea what that meant until I looked it up. Ideally, you want to have an even time division between strides.

The stride sensor relays information to your phone through the Polar Beat app that can help your realize that your running form is wrong. For myself, once I corrected my form I felt like I could run for days without getting tired. What was happening is that my body was using all of this extra energy doing weird motions and accelerating/decelerating all the time. It also allows you to track information like how fast and long you are running.

After correcting this, running became more fun for me. I started looking forward to running and a good friend of mine decided to run a marathon with me. Good things happened and we ended up running the Columbus Marathon together at just about 10mins/mile.

A lot of people (including myself) have used the Nike+ shoe pods and hated them. I always had issues with them not connecting or stating connected and the distances seemed way off. Because the Polar Stride Sensor is connected with bluetooth instead of a radio frequency, there will be almost zero interference or reason for the pairing to fail. Another huge reason that I love this is that it is much more accurate than GPS. If you want proof, take out your phone and try to have your GPS locate your exact location. Chances are that it will only be able to get it within about a 30 foot radius even with good cell signal. This creates problems in estimating your pace because it’s not exact. By having a sensor mounted directly on your foot, you get a much more accurate measurement for your pace which will help you train better and more efficiently.

-What does this stride sensor do?:
-Measures
-cadence
-stride length
-distance (if you are inside or don’t have GPS available )

-Pros:
-lightweight
-shock resistant
-water resistant
-black (so it won’t look dirty)
-easy to change battery

-Cons:
-Takes a while to change it to different shoes

Overall:
A lot of people say that this pod is way too big and cumbersome however I honestly forget that it is there when I run. This is something that runners of all levels will appreciate if they run with their phones. There is anything better out there.

I have another product from Polar that I use during cardio routines like Insanity or P90X that I love and recommend to people who do not like carrying their phone around with them. Polar FT4 Heart Rate Monitor

Here is another video from Polar about how to get it all set up: […]

I’ve heard a few people say this sensor is big and bulky. This is my first foot pod, so I have no basis for comparison, but its not big enough for me to feel when running or be a bother.

I wish there was an easier way to take the sensor off instead of unlacing your shoes, but I’ll live.

Now I’m fully BLE for my run/bike gear, woohoo!

Update 26-Oct;

Wahoo officially added support for this sensor in their latest app release. I did a few calibration runs this past week. The app tracks distance well once calibrated. However, the pace is all over the place – I think the data used is too noisy, hopefully they can get this corrected. I think its just the way Wahoo is looking at the data and not a function of the sensor itself, so still a 5 star product.

Otherwise, great support for this cool little sensor just in time for the treadmill season!