Wareable Tech Awards 2018 nominee Zwift has launched its new RunPod, making it a more affordable option to get a key part of the virtual training platform setup.
The RunPod, which is attached to the laces on your running shoes, syncs wirelessly to the running mode on Zwift. Once you're on a treadmill and get moving, it will then track and broadcast speed and distance data to get you moving in the virtual realms.
Essential reading: I went on a virtual run with Zwift
The foot pod wearable weighs in at just 13g, so you're not going to notice it as you move. It's also powered by a standard CR2032 battery (the kind you find inside of watches), meaning you should get a decent amount of run time out of it before you need to swap it out for another one.
Design-wise, it looks identical to the Milestone Pod we've already been running with in the real world. That has a little something to do with the fact that Zwift acquired the company in the summer. When the running version of the platform launched, the Milestone Pod was one of the few foot pods optimised for Zwift along with Stryd's wearable. But things have changed to make it better optimised for the platform to ensure it's better suited for indoor run tracking.
While Zwift was primarily designed for cyclists, the introduction of a running mode this year has seen a bunch of new features added for those who prefer treadmill time to bike time. There's now runner-only routes, more training modes and a greater variety of virtual places to get some miles in.
The Zwift Runpod is available to buy now for $29.99 from Zwift's website. That makes it significantly cheaper than the $100 Stryd Live that was launched earlier this year, although that was technically a limited edition and is a little harder to get hold of now.
How we test
By Michael Sawh
Michael Sawh has been covering the wearable tech industry since the very first Fitbit landed back in 2011. Previously the resident wearable tech expert at Trusted Reviews, he also marshaled the features section of T3.com.
He also regularly contributed to T3 magazine when they needed someone to talk about fitness trackers, running watches, headphones, tablets, and phones.
Michael writes for GQ, Wired, Coach Mag, Metro, MSN, BBC Focus, Stuff, TechRadar and has made several appearances on the BBC Travel Show to talk all things tech.
Michael is a lover of all things sports and fitness-tech related, clocking up over 15 marathons and has put in serious hours in the pool all in the name of testing every fitness wearable going. Expect to see him with a minimum of two wearables at any given time.