Wearable tech is a red-hot category in running. A variety of newfangled products allow you to track, analyze and compare training and racing data in ways never before possible, except maybe in a lab setting. What can we expect from running tech in 2016? Here’s a closer look:
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Stryd Powermeter
Power is the key metric for measuring performance in cycling. Stryd is the first true power meter for running, a tool that will ultimately measure a runner’s efficiency. The Stryd chest strap sensors track a variety of data, delivering heart rate, movement, form, altitude and power values to its app and many smartwatches. Why is power important? Power is your actual effort. Heart rate climbs beyond your performance potential with increasing temperatures. Heart-rate sensing lags with rapid terrain and pace changes (think intervals or hills.) On longer steady state runs, maintaining consistent power will keep you dialed into true effort. Stryd’s power value is in real time, with no data lags like most heart-rate monitors. ($199; stryd.com)
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Lumo Run
This sensor and app offers real-time lab-grade running form metrics focused on the pelvis and hips. Lumo Run is waterproof and machine washable, has a long battery life, multi sensors and sits comfortably in the waist band of the Lumo shorts or 3/4 tights. It records or live transmits detailed bounce, brake, rotation, tilt, stride length, cadence, ground contact and hip drop information to the Lumo app. The app has real-time audio cues, and yes, you can focus them on one area needing particular work to prevent info overload. After the run you can review a graphic representation of your form and the data. We did a short test and clearly need to work on pelvic rotation, tilt and drop! Available April 2016. (Lumo shorts or ¾ tights with sensor $150; lumobodytech.com)
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Epson RunSense SF-810
This is Meb Keflezighi’s training tool of choice. It’s all about serious workouts, with no phone notifications, step counting or sleep tracking. Meb uses it to focus on cadence and stride length. It has very accurate distance from a calibration of GPS and stride length for tunnels, indoors, and twisting trails with poor GPS strength. We appreciate a very nifty feature that allows setting multiple auto lap distances (like at 5K, 10K, 15K in a half) in addition to every mile/km as well as a target pacing within a range. The screen is not particularly large or bright, so for older eyes setting no more than two data fields per screen is advised. ($230 (SF-710 without wrist heart wrist rate monitoring) or $300 (SF-810 with wrist heart rate monitoring) epson.com/Runsense)
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Altra Running IQ Powered by iFit
One of the world’s first tech-enhanced running shoes, the IQ is a zero-drop running shoe with an integrated chip for sensing metrics of foot strike, cadence, impact force and form. The required companion app or iFit watch will provide simple form cues to act on the data while on the run. The platform has progressed considerably toward its 2016 launch from what we could see in a live demonstration. (altrarunning.com )
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RunScribe Pro
Whereas many of the new run data technologies are focused higher on the body, RunScribe focuses on capturing data where the rubber hits the road—at your feet. Two tiny pods clip to your shoes and record motion data for analysis later. There is no real-time feedback or display to look at the data on the run, but there is a considerable amount of data available after being synched. For the technically minded and those involved in fitting shoes, coaching and preventing and treating injuries, you can derive a wealth of biomechanical information. Beyond the basics of pace, cadence, stride length and contact time, advanced metrics such braking, impact, footstrike and pronation along with stance velocity and excursion are available. Graphically compare runs for any factors, and examine metrics for your different shoes. It’s a bit overwhelming for most but powerful for some. ($149 (RunScribe Pro, single pod) or $239 (RunScribe Pro2X); runscribe.com)
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Suunto Ambit3 Vertical
The name says it all. It’s everything but the kitchen sink for the vertically minded runner, cyclist and triathlete. It displays real-time ascent, descent, incline percentages and vertical speed. It adds another dimension to trail running, mountain running or skiing. Load and then follow a route and the Vertical will keep you informed on your climb and show what’s next. Afterward, easily create and share a 3D topo map movie of your journey, complete with key data and pictures taken along the way. Run “power” metrics can be displayed on the watch using the optional, new Stryd Powermeter chest strap. ($469, $519 w/HR strap, suunto.com)
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Soleus Signature Series Collection Watches
Soleus is releasing some fun red, white and blue pro model signature watches as its sponsored athletes pursue their 2016 Olympic quests. Signature watches include the Kara Goucher GPS One ($89), Nick Symmonds Contender ($75) and Alysia Montano Chicked ($65). Available February 2016. (soleus.com)
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UnderArmour SpeedForm Gemini 2 Record Equipped
UnderArmour has entered the growing high-tech shoe business, announcing the late-winter launch of the SpeedForm 2 Gemini Record Equipped. The shoe, embedded with a sensing chip, tracks a plethora of data in real time while tethered to a watch or phone or it can be used device-free. The data is automatically synched to the Under Armour Record app. The neutral-oriented Gemini 2 Record Equipped has a 10mm heel-toe offset and weighs about 10.4 oz. (for a men’s size 9.0) and carries a $150 price tag (about $20 more than the standard Gemini 2). Photo: Steve Godwin
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Polar A360
Polar recently launched the very sleek and stylish A360 (pictured), a color screen heart-rate sensing, activity and sleep band. A comfortable 24/7 companion, the A360 ($199) has smartphone notifications and can feed data to the Polar Flow training platform. The M400 GPS run watch ($230 with HR strap) now includes access to the higher end V800’s Training Load and Recovery Status metrics on the Polar Flow app and website. We found the Polar Flow platform to be a superbly designed and a comprehensive training and activity platform. The M400 and V800 recently were upgraded with Strava integration and support for Android in addition to iOS smart notifications. The M400 now comes in pink and blue. The V800 ($520 with HR strap) was updated for open water swim metrics. (polar.com)
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Garmin fenix3
Garmin introduced three new fenix 3 models at the CES show: a titanium bezel and band version, a version with interchangeable leather and nylon straps, and most interestingly, the first fenix 3 with Garmin’s new Elevate wrist based heart rate monitoring ($600). Fenix heart-rate users will be able to track their activity and heart rate 24/7 along with their intensity minutes from the wrist with no chest strap required. Through a software update, all fenix 3 users get access to Garmin’s Run Dynamics and physiological measurements when using the optional HRM-Run or Tri ($50) chest heart rate band. (garmin.com)
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Ambiorun
Ambiorun is a foot pod that captures metrics such as stride length, cadence, strike type, ground contact time, impact load and rotation. Its app also calculates recovery and optimum time until the next training activity. In addition to pace and heart rate, it also claims to factor the effects of joint loading into your training load and recovery. We liked that in addition to live app-based feedback, Ambiorun can be used stand-alone and programmed to provide vibration form feedback alerts. It will be available in April. ($179, ambiorun.com)
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Mio Fuse
The Mio Fuse heart-rate band has been updated with activity tracking and, coming soon, sleep tracking. It’s now more of an all-day companion. Mio is one of the original developers of optical heart rate sensing, with their technology powering sensing for several other products. The Fuse is a great add-on to get into heart rate-based training as it pairs to hundreds of apps and watches, including many Garmin models. All Mio wearables now can use the new PAI (Personal Activity Intelligence) app. Your PAI score is a personalized, scientifically based, heart rate and demographics based “score" of your body’s response to activity.($99, mioglobal.com)
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adidas miCoach FitSmart
FitSmart is a reliable, heart rate-focused activity band that can also be paired to run apps and Bluetooth GPS watches (but not Garmins). We liked its very accurate indoor distance accuracy calibrated via the Train and Run app’s GPS. More than just an HR/activity/distance tracker, it can also coach you through heart-rate focused run training, strength, and flexibility programs. ($150; micoach.adidas.com)
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Garmin VivoSmart HR
An activity band for Garmin fans that can serve as a wrist-based heart-rate monitor with the ability to receive call, text and other phone notifications and do more with your phone. It seamlessly sends heart rate data to your workout on Garmin watches. No chest strap or set up required, just turn on the simple “rebroadcasting” mode. ($150, garmin.com)
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Oakley Radar Pace
Oakley and Intel previewed Radar Pace, a voice activated coaching system embedded in glasses. Ask "What's my pace?" and Radar will answer "7:30 per mile which is just right".
The system looks at the athlete's data and claims to do more than just present the facts. Radar Pace will actually respond to your workout in data real time, like having a coach who knows what your day's goals are, right next to you. It is unclear at this time if Radar Pace will require a connected phone app to function; be paired to a small pod with GPS, the workout intelligence elements, and speech recognition; or be entirely embedded in the glasses. It is scheduled to launch in late 2016. Photo: Courtesy of Intel
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Sensoria Apparel
Sensoria launched in 2014 with tech-enhanced running socks infused with textile sensors and it has since expanded its line to include running a shirt for men and a sports bra for women. Using the brand's mobile app, a runner can get running form feedback (cadence, foot landing details, foot contact data) and a variety of performance metrics (distance, pace, altitude, speed, heart rate, cadence, etc) directly in real-time during a run. The data can be seamlessly downloaded to your computer to charge progression and performance over time. Prices range from $49 for two pair of socks, $139 for the sports bra to $389 for an entire package. (sensoriafitness.com) Photo: Brian Metzler
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TomTomSpark
We took a look at a new family of well-priced, attractive GPS run watches from TomTom just now coming to market. All the Sparks have GPS, activity and sleep tracking, intervals and multi-sport mode. The Sparks focus on simplicity with an elegant interface and single “joystick” button operation. The Spark Cardio +Music ($249) has wrist-based heart rate and can store and play up to 500 songs through Bluetooth headphones. The Spark Music ($199) leaves out the wrist heart rate but keeps the tunes. The Spark ($149) is a straight GPS watch. Narrower and 37 percent lighter than the previous TomTom line, they have interchangeable color straps. (tomtom.com)
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FitBit Blaze
Fashion meets all day and any activity. The Blaze includes sleep-tracking and animated on-screen FitStar workouts. The high-resolution color screen tracker unit comes with a silicone band and can be personalized with watch faces, different frames, several colors of leather and even a stainless steel band. Recognizing that many carry a phone while exercising, Blaze connects to your phone for GPS-based distance and pace along with text, call notifications and music control. SmartTrack detects activity type and combined with multi-sport algorithms and 24/7 heart rate monitoring claims to give a more precise total picture of exertion and movement intensity. ($199 and up; fitbit.com)
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Mio Global PAI Index, Slice HR Activity Band
Mio Global introduced the Personal Activity Intelligence (PAI) index at CES along with the Slice Activity Tracker. Based on research on more than 60,000 people over 20 years, the PAI index, 100 being the target goal, is highly personalized based on your demographics, activity levels and especially your heart’s response to activity. PAI claims to take into account far more than the usual step count and distance to set your PAI. We see the PAI index as potentially helping guide decisions on upcoming workout intensity based on more than just the “schedule”. PAI will be available in January as a metric in the Mio Go app for existing Mio bands. PAI will be displayed directly on the new Slice Activity Tracker when it launches later in 2016.
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