Using the new series 2 which includes gps I have transistioned it into my primary running watch. But using Nike plus is terrible. What is the best running app out there?
Using the new series 2 which includes gps I have transistioned it into my primary running watch. But using Nike plus is terrible. What is the best running app out there?
I've tried a bunch of running apps on my new (series 2) apple watch, which I got right when it came out (so I've been using it for several months). Unfortunately, I can't recommend any of them. The least bad, for my purposes, is Apple's own Workout app. Runtastic Pro and iSmoothRun might also be worth a look. I've got a Garmin 620 and was really looking for similar functionality, but failed to find it. Many of the running apps for Apple Watch seem to focus on the social aspect or "coaching" or playing music, rather than the basics (distance, pace). And yeah, Nike's is a complete dumpster fire, despite their partnership with Apple--very disappointed that Apple didn't insist that Nike improve the app or at least fix some of the bugs.
Garmin - don't bother with Apple
I don't mind the Nike app but it just seems so inaccurate
FTO wrote:
Using the new series 2 which includes gps I have transistioned it into my primary running watch. But using Nike plus is terrible. What is the best running app out there?
The app is secondary to accurate pace, distance and hrm. The AW2 is cool, but for a serious runner, even old cheap garmin will do better.
Jak Cok wrote:
I don't mind the Nike app but it just seems so inaccurate
Inaccurate at what?
MyTwoCentz wrote:
And yeah, Nike's is a complete dumpster fire, despite their partnership with Apple--very disappointed that Apple didn't insist that Nike improve the app or at least fix some of the bugs.
Improvements and bugs such as...?
FTO wrote:
Using the new series 2 which includes gps I have transistioned it into my primary running watch. But using Nike plus is terrible. What is the best running app out there?
You paid money for an Apple watch? 🤣
How many Gu packets do you typically consume on an average "training" run?
I have a series 2 Apple Watch which I wear most of the time and like. It's hardly essential, but if you enjoy gadgets there's a lot of cool stuff you can do with it. However, for running I still use a Garmin. Garmin is more accurate, easier to use while running, and more focused on the functions runners need.
There's probably a market out there for an Apple Watch app for serious runners and not just casual joggers who really just want an activity tracker, but if that app exists, I'm not aware of it. I also doubt that the Apple Watch is the right kind of hardware for a serious runner because multiple hard buttons work so much better when you are running and covered in sweat.
runningapp wrote:
Jak Cok wrote:I don't mind the Nike app but it just seems so inaccurate
Inaccurate at what?
At distance tracking.
Jak Cok wrote:
runningapp wrote:Inaccurate at what?
At distance tracking.
By how much? Your argument is not helpful without more detail. Can you give us numerical examples?
Like i run the same route every day and according to nike it's like 8 miles but when i drive it and track it through my car. It's like 6 miles
If you can get the app from the guys at the Red Sox, use theirs ...that way you'll know when to run, and when to stay on base
I have an Apple Watch 2 Nike+ Running watch and use Nike Running.. it has gotten worse than when I used it with my iPod touch. Almost unusable but I use my Garmin FR935 as a serious running watch. I love my Nike running shoes but the Nike+ Run app/AW2 sucks.
So I got the apple watch 3. The GPS seems to be much more accurate than reports in the past.
What is the best running app you guys have found? I really just want time, distance, mile-splits, maybe rolling average pace, maybe HR tracking if I feel it. Emphases on clear time/distance/mile splits.
I used a bunch of running apps over quite a few years recently, and then one day I found my old Garmin 305 in a drawer and decided to use it again for a run. I never used an app again, because I realized there wan't a point in fixing something that wasn't broken.
Garmin. Cheaper. Better.
AppleIsNotForAthletes wrote:
Garmin. Cheaper. Better.
Single purpose.
Here's a lengthy post for anyone interested in some detail. But it reaches the same conclusions than most posts on this thread.
I've been training with the apple watch since it came out (2.5 years ago?). I built an app a few years ago for the iPhone but so far I haven't extended it to the apple watch. I will eventually, too much running/work/life is getting in the way for now. So in the mean time I've been running with the watch it as a secondary device so that I can experiment with its quirks and flaws.
If I wasn't lazy I'd put this in a blog post, but off the top of my head here are a few of the main things I've picked up from it over the years:
1) Other people have been correct to have touched on that most of the apps have more of a social or coaching aspect. And for good reason - that's where the greater number of users are. There is a place for an app as primarily a good Garmin-esque training tool, but it's hard for a developer or startup to find the motivation when only like 100 to 1000 hardcore runners will be using it. I'd like to eventually try to figure something out because I'm more interested in catering to the more serious type of runner. Being just a voluntary hobby though, it just depends on when/if I get time.
2) Apple's own running app is the best, and I default to that 99% of the time. Mainly because as touched on above, it's the most bare bones basic and social free app. It gives me an average heart rate reading without me needing to swipe through 100 different places, and personally, that's all I need it for. The problem is that Apple's app doesn't sync to Strava or Garmin or anything else that you need. So that comes back to the original problem of needing to find a 3rd party app like runkeeper, etc.
3) Most watch apps are more inaccurate than Apple's app for 2 reasons:
- they don't calibrate the GPS accuracy enough in their development, and
- I'm almost certain that Apple uses a kalman filter to improve accuracy in THEIR OWN APP ONLY, and this filter unfortunately is not available to 3rd party apps.
Touching on the first reason, most apps like Strava get their main activity from people's own devices, not their own app. Their primary goal is to be a platform, not a training tool. The cost to perfect their GPS accuracy is high vs the amount of people that would find value in it (trust me, it takes many hours of testing and awkward "live tweaking" to figure out how best to calibrate the GPS readings that the iPhone sends to the app. I've already done this to a limited amount, but I could easily spend 500 hours on GPS algorithm refinement alone).
Regarding the latter reason, I've closely examined the GPS outputted from Apple's app many times, and the smoothness is matched to the level of top of the line Garmins, Polars, etc. Basically Apple has to be using a kalman filter, just like the big brand running watches have started doing. But because this filtering isn't available to their platform, 3rd party apps are largely only dependent on manually tweaking their algorithms to improve the accuracy. Nothing is going to beat a kalman filter.
4) As also touched on previously, less physical buttons on the apple watch than a Garmin is a huge hindrance. I love touch screens but they're just not best suited to high intensity running. Once again, this is just Apple catering to the mass market. The scenario of shrivelled cold fingers after running a half marathon in heavy rain would likely be considered an edge case by Apple, because the "majority" of recreational runners would just roll over in bed and do their run on another day, or aren't worried about saving a second here or there when taking splits. In addition to this, a lot of the touch points are physically too small for a real world person on the run, especially under a stressful race or workout. So the watch hasn't really passed the high performance test IMO. But I doubt that Apple really gives a cr@p, serious runners are a tiny market.
Personally, these shortcomings are an occasional pain but so far haven't affected my training overall. If these shortcomings are minor factors then go for it. Otherwise it's honestly not going to surpass a Garmin at this point, the main reasons being because of an erratic touch screen, and apps that are best suited to beginner runners.
I tried multiple and stick with Strava. Main benefits are the analytics on their site and, more importantly, the Km infos for the last split and total average. Exactly what I was missing in most any other app, including Nike+