The Best Gadgets To Help Runners Accurately Measure Their Pace
Learn about the best running gadgets up to the task of tracking all of your vital running metrics.
This article is more than 2 years old
Running is one of the simplest yet simultaneously exceedingly beneficial types of exercise that one can opt to partake in. Running is an innate ability that showcases the marvel of the human form. For runners, nothing compares to the exuberance felt when their sneakers pound the pavement, dirt, sand, or grass. Runners are intrinsically satisfied when careening through the atmosphere around them as they push their bodies to move further, faster, and longer. If you are a runner then you can attest to that unique exhilaration that goes along with tackling new trails and reaching new goals. That being said, by nature, runners love to keep track of their progress. Measuring metrics like pace and cadence helps to inform runners about their performance and how to better curate each run itself. Thankfully, there are a lot of great running gadgets to aid in tracking those vital running metrics.
The best running gadgets serve to paint a complete picture of a runner’s overall performance during their run. Because of continuously advancing technologies, it has never been easier to track things like distance, power, pace, heart rate, and cadence. As a result, the market is flooded with potentially beneficial running gadgets. Needless to say, with so many options out there it’s easy to be both confused and overwhelmed as to which ones would benefit you most. Hence, through a combination of extensive research and decades of firsthand running knowledge, we’ve narrowed down the best ones so you can run more and worry less.
STRYD
Why It’s The Best – This running gadget is an absolutely invaluable asset for any runner, from amateur to pro, to own. Weighing in at not even one ounce, Stryd is a tiny clip that attaches to the lip or laces on the front of your shoe. As you run, this little powerhouse of a device will measure your speed, slope, and overall running form. It also factors in surrounding environmental factors, such as wind resistance, that can impact your overall running performance.
What’s more, is that Stryd is designed to work in tandem with a compatible fitness tracking watch, like Apple Watch, so you can look at your real-time data as you run. This integration is exceedingly useful in helping you to make real-time adjustments throughout your run so you can hit new targets and goals. In addition to real-time data, Stryd users can also view all of their running statistics within the Stryd app so as to best inform future workouts. Few running gadgets provide such a comprehensive picture.
Price – $219 at Stryd
GARMIN FENIX 6X PRO
Why It’s The Best – The Garmin Fenix 6X Pro is a running gadget that will serve as a runner’s ultimate companion. This watch can really do it all. In addition to accurately tracking data such as pace and distance, this watch can also measure Pulse Ox and VO2 Max. The latter stats are exceedingly useful for runners, especially long-distance runners, who need to be aware of their cardiac health. Those measurements can relay when you may be pushing yourself too hard or too long.
The GPS capabilities on this watch are also quite remarkable, which perhaps is to be expected considering Garmin’s long-standing solid reputation in the world of GPS devices. Still, even taking into account Garmin’s industry knowledge, the GPS functionality is nothing short of overtly impressive. The watch has the capability to display clear route maps down to even pointing out trees that might obscure your path. It also outputs turn-by-turn directions, so no matter what route you are running you’ll never lose your way. However, by far what might just be the most impressive feature about this watch is the battery life. This watch can last days on a single charge. If you opt for the solar model, it can go even longer. Some users have gotten over 6 days of battery life out of the Fenix 6 Pro. If you happen to be a runner who likes to frequent remote locations and trails less traveled, then this running gadget is a non-negotiable must-have.
Price – $516.93 on Amazon
ARION SMART SOLES
Why They’re The Best – If you are a runner who not only wants to track your pace and other statistics but also wants to get a full picture of how you actually run, then you need to add Arion Smart Soles to your running gadgets arsenal. The pressure-sensitive insoles are outfitted with technology capable of measuring the minutia relating to your footstrike, cadence, and even how long your foot stays in contact with the ground before you lift it to take another stride. They also map the places on your foot where you apply the most pressure as you run. Information such as this can help you to make small adjustments to your overall running technique so you can begin to perform better than you ever have before.
The Arion Smart Soles have a value that is absolutely unmatched by other running gadgets in its class. There is, however, a slight tradeoff in being able to glean such a compressive running performance picture. The soles themselves work in conjunction with accompanying pods that you have to attach to each of your sneakers. The whole setup is a little cumbersome and adds to the overall weight of your running shoes. Still, the added weight is a small price to pay in order to have access to running metrics that are so precise.
Price – $269 at Arion
APPLE WATCH
Why It’s The Best – The Apple Watch is the ideal running gadget for runners of all levels that have an iPhone. On its own, the Apple Watch is capable of recording real-time data relating to pace, heart rate, distance, and cadence. For more advanced runners, it can also be paired with a whole host of peripheral running gadgets that can relay even more precise statistics. Newer Apple Watch models can also provide pretty accurate measurements of oxygen saturation and VO2 Max. Conveniently, all this data is kept in the native health app directly on your phone.
What’s more, is that Apple Fitness+ members can also enjoy guided runs provided by the members of Apple’s Fitness+ team. The extra coaching and motivation could be exceedingly helpful for new runners just starting out and learning how to best find their groove. The cellular models are also great for those not wanting to lug their phone along with them on runs.
Price – From $399 at Apple
RUNVI SMART SOLES
Why They’re The Best – Runners World touts these soles as an impressive enmeshment of everything that’s great about Stryd and Arion’s smart soles. Like Stryd, they track integral stats such as pace, distance, and cadence. However, because RunVis are insoles, that data is reflected to a degree of much greater precision. The RunVi Smart Soles are also much lighter than the comparable Arion Smart Soles. Conveniently, this running gadget delivers real-time stats as you run because it pairs seamlessly with your watch or phone. What’s really unique about this particular gadget is the fact that it gives you coaching tidbits alongside the real-time statistics it relays so you can learn how to adjust yourself as you run in order to improve. That kind of unique insight easily rivals many other running gadgets. The one downside is that RunVi is the brainchild of a Kickstarter, so you might have to wait a while to get your hands on a pair.
Price – Various pricing tiers via Kickstarter can be viewed here.
THE CONCLUSION
The best running gadgets can serve as priceless assets for any runner looking to improve their stride. The top-performing gadgets above will effortlessly provide meaningful insight into the data most important to runners. Arm yourself with any of the aforementioned devices to take each and every one of your runs to the next level.
