Product Description: SUUNTO SS011246000 FOOT POD LIGHTWEIGHT, WIRELESS ENHANCEMENT FOR T6 THAT ENABLES USER TO MEASURE and RECORD SPEED and DISTANCE INFORMATION FROM RUNNING; ATTACHES SECURELY TO SHOE WITH CLIPS; MEASURES EACH INDIVIDUAL STRIDE SEPARATELY WITH 2 BUILT-IN ACCELERATION SENSORS, ENSURING HIGHLY ACCURATE MEASUREMENT EVEN WHEN STRIDE LENGTH VARIES; DATA IS SENT FROM FOOT POD TO T6 DIGITALLY WHICH ELIMINATES INTERFERENCE FROM OTHER DEVICES IN THE VICINITY; WATER-RESISTANT TO 100 FT; LAP DISTANCE and AUTOMATIC LAP TIMES; INCLUDES 1 AAA BATTERY FOOT POD
Amazon.com Product Description: Joggers who adhere to specific training schedules will delight in the Suunto foot pod transmitter, which attaches to a shoe to measure a runner's speed and distance, and then transmits this information to the Suunto t6 wristwatch computer (sold separately). Using the t6 and its accompanying PC software, a runner can then perform a complex training analysis complete with graphic illustrations. The foot pod is wireless, so users needn't worry about cumbersome wires or cables, and it features a sizable transmission range of up to 30 feet whether worn outdoors on a trail or indoors on a treadmill. In addition to calculating average speed and distance, the pod also measures lap times and includes a speed limit alarm to keep runners from overtraining. Get the most from you t6 wristwatch computer with the Suunto foot pod, which runs on a single AAA battery (included).
What's in the Box Foot pod transmitter, one AAA battery, user's manual.
Great addition to T6 I have had my foot pod for a little over a month now and have enjoyed it. I have not had any problems connecting it with the T6 (yet!). It IS a little confusing at first to figure out how to calibrate it, but once that is done you never have to do it again. It fits nicely on the shoelaces, but sometimes slips off to the side (it is not as accurate if it is not level and pointing straight ahead), but it has not posed much of a problem for me; however, I am not a "serious" runner, only recreational!
Very exact After some adjustments running different distances on a 400 m track I was running 21100m and the difference was 10 meters, nothing actually.
Good for short distances, but calibration problems were evident during a marathon At first I was pleased with the foot pod, it is very light and easy to run with. However, when running on a track, I tried to calibrate the unit to a precise 1.0 mile. The setting wouldn't save properly and kept changing to either 1.1 or 0.9 and didn't seem to have systematic reason why. To be safe on my pacing, I set the unit to 0.9 and trained with it for 5-10 miles run satisfactorily for a few weeks.
During a marathon, I tried to keep my pace based on the footpod reading. After mile 10 I realized the footpod wasn't accurately hitting the mile markers. After running the 26.2, the footpod indicated that I ran well over 28 miles. My race results indicated that I ran at a perfectly even pace, despite the fact that, according to the footpod, I increased my pace a half minute per mile over the last six miles. It turned out that the calibration unit was set to 1.0526, a value that I certainly never entered.
The bottom line is the calibration function on the unit I have is flaky. I'm going to see if I can get it replaced.
Great Product Purchased the foot pod as part of the Duathlon set for the T6. It's a really great training tool, but you need to understand what you are getting and not get totally caught up in the "accuracy" factor
PROS - much lighter than it looks - really don't notice it on your shoe. Easy to clip on your laces. It works - the ANT transmission is really reliable. It lets you run anywhere and gives you a pretty accurate record of how far and how fast you ran. It's very accurate out of the box and even more accurate after calibration. It's very durable and has good water resistance (I've used it without problem in rain and snow but don't do water aerobics with it). Uploads all the distance and speed info to the T6 on the fly for later download to a PC.
CONS - it measures differently depending on the speed you run, the type of shoes you wear, the grade you are running, the foot you have it on, and the position it sits on your laces. For best accuracy, you should do a half mile calibration warm up at the speed you intend to run, calibrate it and then start your run. That will give you an amazingly accurate distance count for that run, but accuracy will still drift a little if you change your pace a lot or if you say run a really hilly cross country track. However, don't get hung up on 100% accuracy. This device gets so close it hardly matters, and unlike a GPS, you can use it indoors (track or treadmill), in the forest and on windy tracks. This device is all about being able to run anywhere and get a pretty accurate measure of how far you have gone. The only other "con" I have with the pod is that while the average speed results are very accurate, the on the fly speed indicator it sends to the watch can often vary wildly, making it difficult to get a sense of exactly how fast you are going. As the device works on kinetic force measurement, it may all depend on the position and momentum of your foot when the pod transmits to the watch, but the overall average is always accurate.
One day someone will invent a device that gives 100% accuracy without any calibration needed. When that device comes out I will give it 5 stars. Until then, it only gets 4 stars, but make no mistake - this is the best product of its type out there and is certainly not a gimmick.
Works as advertised The Suunto footpod works as advertised. Once you calibrate it according to your running/walking stride it is dead on. I calibrated it at a track by running 800 meters. If you if have the Suunto T6 and want to be able to track your distance and your pace speed get it.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Tailipoe
Trevor
