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Run Club / by Staff

Gadgets

There might be as many running gadgets as there are runners, and like runners some gadgets are newer than others. Our gadget category selected two of the hotest new gadgets to break down the good, bad and the ugly before you pull out your wallet.

BEATS BY DRE Powerbeats3 WIRELESS


Wireless headphones are a godsend. There’s no going back to wires once you’ve tried them. These Beats surpassed my expectations. They paired within 30 seconds of taking out of the box. They felt invisible on the run which is exactly what you want from your earphones.

The Good:
No wires.
No slipping out of the ear, even in rain or sweat, thanks to the hook design.
Easy to pair, easy to use, easy to charge.

The Bad:
They’re an expensive accessory to lose, keep tabs on them.

The Verdict:
I prefer to run without music so if I’m wearing headphones I’m usually listening to talking podcasts. They land on the expensive side of the spectrum, but not without justification. They do their job better (read: make your life easier) than the competition across the board. The Powerbeats3 Wireless met every single one of my needs, I only wish they had a ‘Find my headphones’ option for tracking them down right now.

Rating: 4.5/5

NIKE+ APPLE WATCH SERIES 2


The Nike+ Apple Watch series two has been a real game changer for my running. Being able to track my pace, distance and duration in real time thanks to the GPS integration has allowed me to more closely monitor my progress without having to lug around my huge iPhone 6+.

The watch face is waterproof which gave me the confidence to not only run when the weather was fair. It stood up to rain, snow and sleet problem free. To make sure your run is correctly logged, be sure to use the droplet mode (disables touch on the watch face) when conditions are wet!

The wristband was easy to adjust, comfortable and breathable.

Like many athletes, I enjoy listening to music while out on runs. The fact that music could easily be added to the Nike+ Apple Watch allowed me to leave my phone behind. There is no headphone jack, so you will need a pair of Bluetooth headphones to use this feature.

The NRC app continuously fed my competitive nature by sending daily reminders based on my friend’s kilometers. “4.23 km to catch Mike. Are we running today?”

The Good:
GPS tracking without your phone.
Waterproof.
Weatherproof.
Easily adjustable wristband.
Possibility to sync music.
Motivational messages from the NRC app.

The Bad:
Expensive for a non-essential.
Can accidentally end runs if not using the droplet mode.
Short battery life.

The Verdict:
Essential to winter running? No. Critical to my motivation? You bet!

Rating: 5/5

There might be as many running gadgets as there are runners, and like runners some gadgets are newer than others. Our gadget category selected two of the hotest new gadgets to break down the good, bad and the ugly before you pull out your wallet.

BEATS BY DRE Powerbeats3 WIRELESS


Wireless headphones are a godsend. There's no going back to wires once you’ve tried them. These Beats surpassed my expectations. They paired within 30 seconds of taking out of the box. They felt invisible on the run which is exactly what you want from your earphones.

The Good:
No wires.
No slipping out of the ear, even in rain or sweat, thanks to the hook design.
Easy to pair, easy to use, easy to charge.

The Bad:
They’re an expensive accessory to lose, keep tabs on them.

The Verdict:
I prefer to run without music so if I’m wearing headphones I’m usually listening to talking podcasts. They land on the expensive side of the spectrum, but not without justification. They do their job better (read: make your life easier) than the competition across the board. The Powerbeats3 Wireless met every single one of my needs, I only wish they had a ‘Find my headphones’ option for tracking them down right now.

Rating: 4.5/5

NIKE+ APPLE WATCH SERIES 2


The Nike+ Apple Watch series two has been a real game changer for my running. Being able to track my pace, distance and duration in real time thanks to the GPS integration has allowed me to more closely monitor my progress without having to lug around my huge iPhone 6+.

The watch face is waterproof which gave me the confidence to not only run when the weather was fair. It stood up to rain, snow and sleet problem free. To make sure your run is correctly logged, be sure to use the droplet mode (disables touch on the watch face) when conditions are wet!

The wristband was easy to adjust, comfortable and breathable.

Like many athletes, I enjoy listening to music while out on runs. The fact that music could easily be added to the Nike+ Apple Watch allowed me to leave my phone behind. There is no headphone jack, so you will need a pair of Bluetooth headphones to use this feature.

The NRC app continuously fed my competitive nature by sending daily reminders based on my friend’s kilometers. “4.23 km to catch Mike. Are we running today?”

The Good:
GPS tracking without your phone.
Waterproof.
Weatherproof.
Easily adjustable wristband.
Possibility to sync music.
Motivational messages from the NRC app.

The Bad:
Expensive for a non-essential.
Can accidentally end runs if not using the droplet mode.
Short battery life.

The Verdict:
Essential to winter running? No. Critical to my motivation? You bet!

Rating: 5/5

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