Jan 25 2010
miCoach: adidas’ answer to Nike+
(This article is updated with the latest pricing of the products.)
It has been over three years since the Nike+ was introduced to the world. The Nike+ ecosystem incorporates Apple iPod Nanos, iPhones and its own SportBand along with Nike+ enabled Nike running shoes to give runners workout information like distance travelled, pace and calories burned via their headphones or screen displays. You can sync the information to the Nike+ website.
adidas, Nike’s fiercest competitor, strangely refrained from entering this blooming market for the longest time. Now, adidas has finally launched its own miCoach system.
miCoach is very much similar to Nike+, with an interactive website that provides your workout information, coaching and training goals. miCoach has two gears in its arsenal right now: the miCoach Pacer and the miCoach Zone.
The miCoach Zone is a wristband LED display that provides real-time coaching with the help of a heart rate monitor, in order to help you train at the right intensity.
adidas miCoach Zone
The miCoach Pacer consists of a stride sensor, a heart rate monitor (which Nike+ lacks) and a main control unit, which collects the workout information like pace, heart rate, stride rate and calories burned. You can sync the information to the miCoach website by connecting the main control unit to your Mac or PC.
The complete miCoach Pacer system
Sounds familiar? Not really. First, you can use miCoach Pacer with any shoes and any portable audio player (as long as it has a normal headphone jack). Yes, you don’t need an iPod or a pair of Nike+ enabled shoes. You can even use miCoach Pacer with your Asics or Brooks as the stride sensor is clipped onto your shoelaces.
miCoach Pacer Heart Rate Monitor and main control unit (strapped on arm)
The other significant difference is that the miCoach Pacer will provide you with real-time feedback to increase or decrease your intensity level at the correct interval so that your heart gets a “proper pumping”.
I gave the miCoach Heart Rate Monitor a go and felt that it’s much more comfortable than the previous one I had. The miCoach Stride Sensor also seems to be quite accurate during my initial runs with the miCoach Pacer.
For a detailed review of the adidas miCoach Pacer, stay tuned to TODAYonline.
However, if you can’t wait to grab one of these, both the miCoach Pacer system ($219) and the miCoach Zone ($119) will be available at all adidas Sports Performance Concept stores and participating outlets from this Thursday onwards.
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