The Garmin leak is further down in the post, I will just quickly put this in context first.
I speculated a while back that Garmin was due to release ANT+/BLE-enabled sensors. My speculation was that there would be a HRM and a new footpod. It wouldn’t then be too much of a leap to expect a new bike speed and/or cadence sensor.
In that context, the Garmin Running Power algorithm developed for CIQ looks like a starter in Garmin’s quest for Running with power dominance. ie Why not put running power meter functionality into a new, more accurate footpod?
Clearly, companies market research departments LONG AGO identified the trend for increasing usage of running with power. Hence we have the Polar Vantage V with onboard power.
The Leak
Source (Spanish Language): https://www.planetatriatlon.com/garmin-nueva-tienda/ Interview with Natalia Cabrera, Commercial Director, Garmin Iberia. Published 30Sep2018.
Google translation: “There is a very big novelty at the potentiometer level . Something very novel, which is not in the market and at a very affordable price,” she says. And they want it to be available to everyone. “Many people can take advantage of this technology in their training.”
Google Translation: “In 2019 will come great developments at the potentiometer level”
To me that sounds like a, possibly cheap, running power meter pod in Spring 2019 and maybe a new competitor to STRYD
Last Updated on 19 March 2026 by the5krunner
Small things I always use
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin from any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
- Body Glide: The blue anti-chafe stick swimmers and runners carry. I use it.
- Speedo earplugs: Fewer ear infections and no cold-water dizziness. I use them.
- Dryrobe Advance: My winter changing robe for open-water swims. I use one. A cheaper option is the AONYIYI changing robe.
- Maurten: Race fuel that stays easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Garmin charging puck: The quickest way to top up before a session. I use one.
- Injinji: Toe socks that stop rubbing, so you run more. I use them.
- Ultimate toe protectors: Stop black toenails on long runs. They work. I use them.
- Compressport R2 v2 calf sleeves: My calf sleeves of choice. I use them.
- Cellucor C4: My pre-workout before hard sessions.
- TPU tubes: Schwalbe Aerothan, Tubolito and Pirelli SmarTube. Light, tiny spares. I use all three.
- G8 insoles: Adjustable insoles that are good. I use them.
- Cycplus Cube: A 97g electric pump that gets a road tyre rideable in two minutes. I carry one. 5% off with code THE5KRUNNER.
Watches and sensors
- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
- Polar Verity Sense: My backup arm-worn HR sensor.
- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used.
- Tymewear: Accurate heart rate and reliable ventilatory zones. I use it to pace endurance rides over an hour.
- Garmin Forerunner 970: A pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: I’ve just bought one.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions.
- Helmets: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 for road riding, and Rudy Project Wing for TT-style races. I use both.
- Ravemen FR300: A front light that mounts under your Garmin or Wahoo. I use one.
- Wahoo TRACKR Radar: I use it on one bike and Varia on the other. They perform the same.
- Garmin Varia RTL515: Radar that warns you of cars from behind. I use this model.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3: The bike computer that’s easy to use. I use mine on most rides.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2: Accurate power pedals that swap easily between bikes. I use this model.
Home and indoor training
- NPE Runn: Makes my basic treadmill smart, sending more accurate speed and distance to my watch and Zwift. I use it.
- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
- Apple TV 4K: Zwift on the big screen. I use two.
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): My video doorbell, running in both Google Home and Apple Home. I use it.
Health, recovery and sleep
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet.
- hDrop: Measures my sweat loss in summer and indoors.
- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
- Kineon MOVE+: Red light therapy for niggles. It works.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
Reader-Powered Content
This content is not sponsored. It’s mostly me behind the labour of love, which is this site, and I appreciate everyone who supports it.
Support the site: Follow (free, fewer ads) · Subscribe (paid, ad-free) · Buy Me A Coffee ❤️
Written by real people, with AI assistance. Fact-checked and verified for originality. See the Editorial Policy. FTC: Affiliate Disclosure — some links pay commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. ID
And there it is, there is the reason Garmin doesn’t support Styrd power natively. I want to say I’m surprised, but I’m not. It was only a matter of time, and who knows? Maybe having an in-house system of sensors will be superior to pairing outside products with their line of watches. I liked using my TickrX HRM with my old 235, but the HR chart didn’t always look nice. Once I went to the HRM-Tri, it seemed better (both in the chart and arguably in the reported data).
Maybe that’s what is going to happen; maybe we get something extraordinary, maybe we get a bunch of junk numbers. Either way, I’ll be waiting the requisite six months before I look into buying one.
Any news about this?
Good good and good 😉
Still waiting.
2 months in 2020 and no garmin releases…unheard of!
shareholders will be very angry
apparently existing footpods are 100% oos on garmin.com
the new one could just be a ble and ANT+ footpod with no power.