Nike + iPod Sports Kit on Your Own Kicks

I extensively reviewed the Nike + iPod Sports Kit without holding back any information from you. But one question that came to mind while working on the review, was the Nike + iPod Sport Kit's ability to work with non-Nike shoes.

For one thing, some runners prefer different brands of shoes. Using the Nike + iPod Sports Kit would mean you are stuck with Nike + Ready shoes if you want to use the sports kit. So I've been testing how results compare when using the sensor tucked behind the shoelaces as well as inside the shoe pocket, and have been recording my time and distance. The results are very close. Overall, the first two tests came very close:

Day 1 

Sensor tucked behind shoelaces: 1.23 mi 22:22
Sensor inside shoe pocket: 1.23 mi 22:11

Day 2 

Sensor tucked behind shoelaces: 1.26 mi 23:35
Sensor inside shoe pocket: 1.26 mi 23:17

Since I just walked the distance, tucking the sensor behind the laces worked for me, except when it slid too far inside the shoe, and it became uncomfortable.

For off-road runs or longer runs, you may want to follow Podophile's advice, and attach some velcro to the back of the sensor. He also ran a series of tests, and his results were well within the same range.

So there you have it, now you know you're not totally excluded from joining the Nike + iPod Runner's club because it's too expensive. Now if you don't have an iPod nano, there is nothing I can do for you. The kit only works with the iPod Nano.