Running Sensors-table
Device Cost Status Location1 Analysis2 Realtime3 Carry Phone4 Export13 Symmetry Cadence GCT VO Impact7 Braking Pronation Foot Strike Other Technology14
Running Dynamics v2 $100 Highly Recommended Chest Web/App/Export Watch
Detailed Yes Yes Yes Yes
3-axis
Running Dynamics v1 $100 Highly Recommended Chest Web/App/Export Watch
Detailed
Yes Yes Yes
3-axis
RunScribe $200 Highly Recommended Footpod Web/App
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Foot Foot Yes Yes
9-axis
MilestonePod $25 Highly Recommended Footpod App
Summary
Kinda6
Yes
Yes
Foot ROI8
Yes
Leg Swing
3-axis
Moxy $770 Worth Considering Calf Export Watch
Detailed
SmO2
IR SmO2
TgForce $145 Worth Considering Ankle App/Export Phone & RTAF Yes Detailed
Yes
Tibia11
3-axis
Moov Now $60 Worth Considering Ankle App Phone Yes No No Yes
Tibia11
Leg Swing 3-axis
Wahoo TICKR Run $80 Worth Considering Chest App/Export Phone5 Yes Detailed
Yes Yes Yes
3D Smoothness12
3-axis?
SHFT $300 Worth Considering Foot & Chest App Phone & Audio Coaching Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Yes Toe-off angle, Watts, Body Angle 9-axis
Lumo Run $80 Not Recommended Waist App Phone & Audio Coaching No No Yes Yes
Yes
Body
9-axis
Stryd $200 Testing Footpod Web Watch & Phone No Yes No Yes Yes Yes15
Power, Leg Spring
9-axis
Sensoria $200 Avoid Sock/Ankle Web/App Phone & Audio Coaching Yes No Yes9 Yes Yes10
Foot10
Yes10
Pressure + 3-axis
BSX $300 Avoid Calf Web/App/Export Phone & Watch Yes Detailed
SmO2
RUNTEQ Zoi
150 EUR
Untested
Foot & Chest
?
Phone
?
No Yes Yes Yes Foot Body Yes Yes
RPM2 $500 Untested Insole ? Phone Yes
Yes Yes Yes
?
Yes Yes
Pressure
Kinematix TUNE $200 Untested Insole + pod App Phone Yes ? Yes Yes Yes
Yes
Propulsion time
Pressure + 3-axis
Where does the sensor go? What are your options for analyzing the results? Can you see the data in real time? This makes a huge difference if you’re trying to improve your biomechanics. “Watch” means you have real time information so on the watch which is one of the ideal approaches. “Phone” means you get real time data shown on the phone display, which if it’s done right can show an awful lot of data. “Audio Coaching” means you get periodic audio messages which I find more annoying than useful. “RTAF” is Real Time Audio Feedback, which means that your hearing an indication that you’re past a threshold. For example, the TgForce will be if your impact is higher than a given threshold, and it will be part of every footstep. Do you have to carry your phone with you? I hate carrying a cell phone when running, so this is a factor for me. Phone needed to get anything beyond HRM. You can use two pods and compare the data, but the system won’t compare the results for you. Impact can be measured in various places, such as the foot impact, the lower leg (tibia), or the chest. The impact can be measured as peak acceleration (g’s) or as rate of change of acceleration (AKA “Jerk”). This is Rate of Impact, which is slightly different to simple impact g’s (see review for a few more details). The $200 kit only comes with one sensor, so you’d need to by a second. The Sensoria measures a number of metrics, but it does so remarkably badly. This is a measure of the impact on the lower leg, which excludes the impact that the foot as absorbed. This is the rate of change of acceleration (AKA “Jerk”) in three separate axis: up/down, side-to-side, and left/right. A sensor that doesn’t allow for data export locks you into the vendor’s tools. A 9-axis sensor can detect twisting motions through its gyroscope, in addition to the acceleration measurement of a 3-axis sensor. Measuring Vertical Oscillation from a footpod is a dubious proposition and the results seem unsurprisingly poor.
