It’s tricky to say whether STRYD or Garmin Running Power (CIQ app) are the leading running power meter solution at the moment. Sure, the free Garmin Running Power app has more single downloads but how many people then really go on to use it in training? Sure, STRYD has more total downloads of all its apps and data fields but how many users use more than one?
- Garmin Running Power: 20130
- STRYD Ciq: 17794 , 11447 , 5534.
- Runscribe: less than 1000
Current CIQ downloads shown @7Sep2018
These figures exclude other platform usage (zero in Garmin’s case) and do not reflect inactive users. So maybe STRYD is the market leader for ‘running with power’. I would have thought that is the case.
What next in our shared crystal ball of running futures?
Here are a few options
- RunScribe are being very cautious with moving beta functionality out of beta and formally on to the live product. Round about now the Sensor Fusion algorithm for their most accurate pace determination should finally be going live. No doubt this will soon lead into their running power algorithm following suit. Might this action then see more of a market interest in dual-sided power from ? RunScribe and an uptake in their fortunes in the running with power market? Maybe. RunScribe are probably generally more likely seen as, simplistically, the best running gait tool.
- STRYD have already produced STRYD Live (no power but it can be upgraded). Might they produce a totally new STRYD pod or change the apps and infrastruvture to support dual-sided power via two pods? Might they introduce a means of accounting for wind? I don’t know but they have external funding to do all these thing and more should they be so inclined.
- Garmin Running Power – Garmin are due to produce new joint BLE/ANT accessories including a new footpod; even if just to play ball with Zwift without the use of an ANT+ dongle. Might new Garmin hardware provided some formidable competition directly for STRYD? Maybe…I don’t know.
- Suunto – I can’t see them investing in a new footpod. It’s possible a 3rd party might produce something via Movesense but I doubt it. I would imagine they would be keen to keep on integrating STRYD’s data.
- Wahoo or Polar – yep. they are both good contenders and somewhat ‘dark horses’ when it comes to the future of running power
- SHFT – there are at least two other gait tools that also produce some estimate of power, including SHFT. No doubt more of these will follow.
- Something else? … yep there will certainly be something else that I haven’t directly mentioned here 😉 Those of you who have heard of Google will, no doubt, know more than me…
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Just my two watts here: I think/hope that Garmin makes running power meters native to running mode in the next year so Q4 ‘19 and wahoo might release a watch that also has this. Stryd definitely has something in the lab to account for wind but that will take time to fully mature. Maybe they will also update their treadmill mode interface while they are at it
Random tidbit: The app download numbers (as of April anyways) also included *updates* of the apps. Each time an updated app is incremented, . Thus effectively inflating the crap out of them.
aaaaaah. useless then? although perhaps vaguely indicative.
For me, there are only 2 running power options out there worth mentioning: Runscribe STRYD In the respective functions that they advertise–, they deliver. With both, you paid for functions, and they do what they say they do. There will always be room to make those number better, but you get what you paid for. Garmin power as it exists now also follows this pattern. You get what you paid for–which was nothing (other than the purchase of the strap or running dynamics pod). I tried the Garmin option and yea, erroneous values that not only do not align with my Stryd patterns (a given) but also not possible for humans to produce (unless I have mistaken my pre-run drink with the super soldier serum). I know the point of the article is to compare and contrast, but Garmin has built a reputation on putting out a new function built upon outstanding hardware to do things it might not have been created to do said function (like trying to squeeze another puzzle piece into a completed puzzle). Which leads to…unique outcomes. Whatever Garmin does either later this year or fresh after CES, let it be a device dedicated to the… Read more »
What next in the market tho?
From Garmin? Like I said, hopefully, a multifunctional foot pod(s) that gauges running power. They introduced power internally and desperately need a refresh on the foot pod. As for everyone else? I guess it depends. Not everyone is sold on running power as a useful metric, and some play nice with current hardware (Suunto natively support STRYD for example). If the sector is booming with lots of interest, yea everyone will put out their own. I don’t think it’s prevalent. Hell, I think most people use Stryd for the accurate instant pacing more than for the power metric (on Garmin, maybe not so much with Suunto since it’s a native metric and Suunto’s GPS tend to be better). With the chest strap based power though, it’s not good (or just stable). And you’ve said it yourself: crap numbers in-crap numbers out. I’m paraphrasing, but it’s the point you were making. Out of the two big ones though, I think Runscribe is one the right track (pun intended?) Power and instant pace is the backbone, but those additional things, like footfall/gait. Are they true? I don’t know, but their existence is intriguing to me. If anything, I’d expect both to simply… Read more »
Surprised you have missed the Polar Vantage V. It is just around corner to be released (during this month to be exact). Will have running power from wrist and also optical sensor combined with direct contact measurement. The info has already leaked from retailers.
http://gpsrumors.com/polar-vantage-v-pictures
I’ve been aware of it. Polar keeps dropping me emails about how “the wait is almost over.” I am skeptical about any running power metric not coming from a pod though. STRYD initially was a strap if I’m not mistaken and wasn’t that accurate.
Then again, this IS Polar we’re talking about. They always seem the company that won’t put something out unless they have really committed to it doing what it says it can do. If this is running power from the watch, I will give them the benefit of the doubt they have exhaustively tested the function to death.
Just about ready to start running again after a bad ankle break in the summer, wondering about the runScribe and the fact it records both sides for gait analysis etc. and while I’ve seen mention of it for injury prevention if any thoughts about using it to help with recovery overall
yes it would probably be the best one to get for you. i’mnot sure how it can specifically HELP recovery but yo ucould, for example, certianly analyse impact forces on each side and if/how that varies from shoe to shoe. get your cadence up too and you can use all that to minimise liklihood of re-injury I guess