

STRYD after 10,000 km, a Runner’s Review from 2015 to 2024 – Running Power Meter Pod
The STRYD Footpod ‘Bible’ is a highly detailed review of over 10,000km of my training with the STRYD running power meter. This comprehensive review considers every aspect of running with a STRYD power meter, from running power plans to how Stryd works on your Garmin or Apple Watch.
Let’s start with a quick summary of some of the review’s key points. Please use the table of contents to skip ahead to the STRYD feature sections that most interest you. If you have come here for a STRYD discount, you will most likely be out of luck. Your best bet for a STRYD discount in the USA, UK, or EU is around Black Friday when you might get 20% off Stryd Duo or a cheaper membership—try this link to stryd.com for their Black Friday deal.
10,000km? Easily at 30 km/week
In Brief
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Price
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Apparent Accuracy
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Build Quality & Design
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Features, Including App
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Compatability
Awesome running power tool to help race pacing, training efficiency, and injury prevention
STRYD Review Summary
Among runners, STRYD is a popular foot pod that offers a new and accurate way of training. With significant advancements from 2021 to 2024, the STRYD platform offers everything from training planning to race execution and workout analysis.
Using power as a metric for training allows for a more accurate and effective way of measuring effort, and the STRYD pod delivers a precise pace, even more so than the latest dual-frequency GPS watches. The pod is compatible with almost all sports watches and apps, making it easy to use and understand. Whether you’re looking for quick wins or want to dive deep into power training, STRYD has you covered. Additionally, STRYD offers a range of features and insights for those who want to take their training to the next level.
The PowerCenter, available for free, provides detailed analysis and insights into your running performance. Additionally, STRYD is compatible with several other sports data platforms, such as Final Surge, Training Peaks, Garmin Connect, and Intervals.icu, Xert, Runalyze, Polar Flow, the Suunto app, and the Coros app, allowing for even more comprehensive training and planning options.
Overall, STRYD is a versatile and powerful tool for runners of all levels looking to improve their training and performance. STRYD also provides a subscription-based service that offers advanced features such as personalized power-based training plans, real-time power-based pacing, and more data analysis options to help you better understand your running performance.
With STRYD, you can track your running power, form, cadence, ground contact time, and more. This will give you a holistic understanding of how you run, which can help you identify areas for improvement and reach your running goals faster. Another great feature is that this device is easy to use. Pair it with your watch or phone and start your run. It doesn’t usually require any calibration, and you can use it right out of the box.
Another benefit of using STRYD is that it gives you a more accurate measure of your running effort; this is important because it allows you to train at the right intensity, which is critical for making progress and avoiding injury. Unlike pace or heart rate, power doesn’t vary with external factors such as temperature, altitude or terrain, making it a consistent metric to track your performance. Also, you can use it in any running conditions; whether on a treadmill or outside, on a flat road or hilly terrain, you will still get accurate data.
Furthermore, STRYD provides detailed information about your running form, which can help you identify any gait issues that may be causing you pain or preventing you from running efficiently. This device will help you improve your running economy, reduce your risk of injury, and ultimately run faster, longer, and more comfortably.


To sum up, STRYD is an advanced and versatile device that offers a range of features to help you improve your running performance. It is easy to use, accurate and compatible with a wide range of sports watches and apps. Whether a beginner or an experienced runner, STRYD can help you take your training to the next level.
Finding a Stryd Discount is rare. There’s usually a 10% Black Friday deal, but that’s about it.
More: at stryd.com


Pros
- The most accurate pace and cadence, indoors or outdoors. Period.
- Pair, clip and go
- Supported by all new medium-to-high spec sports watches – dedicated Garmin & Apple apps
- Free power training plans
- Seemingly accurate power numbers – even in windy conditions on nearly all ground types
- More accurate info covering speed, distance, power, and form.
- Simple to use, pair-and-go with calibration rarely required
- Running power has simple uses and profoundly deep uses for training and analysis for advanced runners.
- Great for multisport who already understand training with power concepts
Cons
- The price seems expensive for a pod. But add in the great smartphone app, web ecosystem and watch-based apps, and I reckon it’s good value overall.
- Stryd DUO doubles the price but doesn’t double the value. It’s a nice to have.
- Garmin need to improve native support for the running power metric (STRYD’s CIQ functionality is a great workaround)
- Stryd Membership is optional at $100pa. It’s not routinely needed, and I don’t use its 3D-Footpath visualisations, workout library, or workout builder.
- Extreme ground conditions give inaccurate results.
- Treadmill incline is not automatically detected.


How STRYD has changed my running
I’m a 90% convert to running power. I use it to quantify my workout performances and frequently use it as a sanity check for extended, steady-state efforts. For speedwork, I still like to see the time of my track laps or the pace out on flat roads. Of course, even when targetting pace, I always use the accurate instant pace figures that the STRYD pod produces.
I used STRYD at my last IM, my last HIM and at my last 5k parkrun. It’s on my foot for nearly all of my runs as either a standalone run or as part of a duathlon/triathlon. Take that as a recommendation!
The best aspect of the STRYD Footpod is that it integrates into all my sports ecosystems. For integration with most sports platforms, STRYD ‘just works’, and for Garmin, it ‘just works’ once you add the STRYD Zones data field to your watch.
Does it measure power in WATTS? I’ve no idea, but STRYD claims it does! Whatever it measures, it is a good proxy for form-related effort.
There are many ways that STRYD could help your running; I use it for these
- Improved, effort-based pacing on undulating ground
- Super-accurate pace.
- STRYD Power curve – to check for power-duration PBs and track my power improvements
- I use the Garmin STRYD Zones Data Field and STRYD’s watchOS app on my Apple Watch (check the review).
- I analyse my running power data in Golden Cheetah and STRYD’s Powercenter
- I follow structured workouts from a plan with power alerts

A Brief History Of Running With Power
Stryd is the most-used Running Power platform and is based on a footpod. Stryd has patented aspects of the power footpod approach, and no competitor can offer a direct alternative.
The first iteration was a clip-on pod for the waistband and then came a chest strap. Stryd considered a footpod the best and most accurate hardware approach to determine power, so it changed its product format. It was subsequently refined to add a wind sensor and a dual-sided option.
The competition’s more recent approaches are based on calculations made within watches, but that is a calculation of convenience and not a better or more accurate approach. Garmin started the wrist-power trend five years ago, with Apple (2022), Polar, Coros, and Suunto all following suit.
Running power can probably never be directly measured, so algorithms are used to calculate it. There is no accepted standard for that calculation, so two broad approaches are used. Stryd is validated against the ‘metabolic cost’ of running and probably uses the External Energy Summation Approach (EESA), whereas others use the Gravity Ordered Velocity Stress Score (GOVSS). Neither is accepted as correct, and each produces significantly different results. Every GOVSS approach has different results, although some are similar.
All the sports watch makers offer a ‘native’ solution, meaning their proprietary power is incorporated throughout their platforms with features like power-based running plans. However, Coros, Suunto, and Polar also support Stryd as a fully integrated alternative to their proprietary power. Neither Apple nor Garmin natively allows Stryd power as an alternative, but both allow Stryd’s excellent app to work with their watches. If you use Stryd on any watch, its data is comparable, i.e., you can switch watch brands and keep your Stryd history.
Stryd has a smartphone app and caches each run’s data on the pod. Almost every possible recording option exists, except that there is no mainstream solution for Google’s Wear OS/Fitbit platform, but 3rd parties offer alternatives that work with Stryd.
Running power is mainstream. Stryd’s approach is versatile.
Alongside this, numerous apps claim to calculate and display power in various ways without using Stryd. Some are rubbish, and some are OK.
Thus, we are in a situation where no accepted standard defines power nor ANT+ standards to integrate it into Garmin watches. Considering hundreds of thousands of people probably use running power, this is a strange situation—a situation of Garmin’s making.
In The Box
STRYD comes with two shoe-lace clips (one orange and one black) and a wired charging cradle. If you want dual-sided power, you must buy two identical pods.
Packaging is identical for Next Gen and Next Gen Duo models.
Watch Compatibility – STRYD Review Basics
STRYD is compatible with almost every sports watch over £/$200 from Polar, Garmin, Coros, Suunto and Apple.
But what kind of compatibility do you get?
- Running Power – You want this. With Garmin and Apple, you install a free app on the watch.
- Pace & Distance from STRYD – this means treadmill compatible
- Pace & Distance from STRYD with GPS enabled to record your route means you can override one or both of Pace/Distance when used outside, and Stryd may also auto-calibrate pace/distance.
- Extra STRYD Data – Able to view the extra STRYD form/efficiency metrics ON THE WATCH or in Stryd POWERCENTER
- Polar, Coros, and Suunto have native compatibility from either Stryd or their calculations. Apple and Garmin have their ring-fenced proprietary options but allow free Stryd apps.


The watches that I would say are FULLY COMPATIBLE FOR POWER and TREADMILL are:
- Garmin (2015 onwards – Forerunner, Fenix, Vivoactive/Venu) – F5, F5s & VA3 have connectivity issues. Fenix 5plus/6/7/7 Pro/8/Epix/ Epix Pro/935/945/955/965 and beyond are fine.
- Apple Watch – via the STRYD app for Watch OS, also iSmoothRun
- Polar – V800, Grit X (+Pro), Vantage M/M2 & Vantage V (+Titan), Vantage V2, Pacer Pro
- Suunto – Ambit 2 & Ambit 3
- 3rd party Samsung Gear apps are also considered the Gear Tracker app.
- WearOS apps –Sporty Go app and Ghost Racer (use on Suunto 7)
You might want to read this article for the following Suunto watches as you may need to bypass Suunto’s FusedSpeed
- Suunto 9/9Peak, Suunto 5/Vertical/Race and earlier SPARTAN models (the Suunto 7 requires a 3rd party Wear OS app)
For Gait efficiency metrics on watches use the STRYD app (on Apple or Garmin)
Any doubt? Detailed clarification at stryd.com


STRYD Review – Model History
As of August 2024, only the next-gen STRYD model is available, although you can buy two to get dual-sided features.


- STRYD v1 – A clip-on pod for the waist
- STRYD v2 – Chest strap, also called ‘Pioneer’
- STRYD v3 – The third iteration, footpod, iteration had three variants, all effectively the same except…
- STRYD Summit – power model, no charging cradle, QI-compatible wireless charger
- STRYD Live – non-power but upgradeable with charging cradle
- STRYD Everest – power model with charging cradle, QI compatible
- STRYD v4 – Introduces the ability to handle WIND effects.
- STRYD v5 Next Gen – Available Q4 2022 here
- STRYD DUO November 2023 – two Next Gen pods.
STRYD – Physical Changes In The Wind Pod?
new Stryd Duo – Dual-sided running power pods – First Thoughts
How Do you use STRYD? Using Running Power 101
There are several practical ways to use STRYD, but perhaps you want to understand how to use POWER most.
- It’s a clip-and-go product. You get the most accurate PACE possible. That can instantly improve your ability to execute pace-based workouts correctly.
- Power and speed/pace represent the same thing on a flat indoor running track. Elsewhere, pace/speed is ‘wrong’. Once you know what power you need to run at, you can do it anywhere—up a hill, down a mountain, or into the wind. It’s ALWAYS right.
- Knowing the correct training power is as difficult or easy as knowing the correct training speed/pace to run at. Runners look at ‘Daniels Tables’ (and similar); Power Runners would look at a Power Curve to find THEIR maximum power for any duration and then target a certain percentage of that or target a certain percentage of their hour-power (also called CP, rCP, CP60, rFTP, FTP, threshold power, baseline power – remember those terms)
- A simple way to start understanding your power levels is during your weekly long run. Get to your desired flat pace, look at the corresponding power figure and then target that power as the wind and terrain vary over the next hour or more. Use a similar approach at other speeds to get a ‘feel’ for your ‘forever power’, ‘maximal 5k power’ and maximal 1-KM power; these markers initially help you put other efforts into perspective just as they would do with pace/speed on an indoor track.
- Constructing a power-based training plan for yourself as a novice is NOT easy. You should follow one of the free plans from STRYD.
- STRYD will automatically determine your baseline power. From that, STRYD will give you power training zones, and you can train based on those exactly as you would: heart rate zones or pace zones. Power zones represent a similar effort but will be different, i.e., the zone boundaries probably will not match up.
The following sections give you an idea of how to install, pair and sync your STRYD.
Pairing & Preparing to Run
This section covers putting STRYD on your shoe, pairing STRYD with your running watch, and configuring the display on your running watch for Suunto, Garmin, and Polar.
Q: How do you attach Stryd to your shoe?
Precise shoe positioning IS vital for newer, wind-enabled pods, as there is a hole that cannot be obscured. This image roughly shows how you should install Stryd onto your laces for ALL versions of STRYD. It must point forward and be placed near the toes, like this.


Try to get as close to that position as possible, even with shoes like AlphaFly and VaporFly that have off-centre lacing, and you might end up with positioning like this.


Putting the effects of wind to one side, I have changed STRYD between countless pairs of shoes and have not noticed any differences in readings based on different stack heights/cushioning and between different lace positions. I still seem to get consistent results.
Moving the pod to the other foot CAN give different results depending on the degree of asymmetry to your running gait. Don’t do that or buy the Duo version.
I often use elasticated laces, which tend to be thick, but STRYD handles this perfectly and still allows 2, 3, or 4 lace lengths to be spanned. Try to span as many as sensibly possible. The STRYD pod firmly attaches to its cradle and feels like it won’t come out once clicked.
The device may move a bit if you don’t use thicker laces. Try packing out the gap. On the STRYD forum, I saw a Velcro-based solution to reduce space. Set against this, I found that tight-fitting racing shoes coupled with a tightly-fitting STRYD caused foot discomfort. Solution: move the pod!
After recharging, be REALLY sure that the STRYD Footpod is correctly re-inserted into the prongs on the cradle to avoid loss. A cool feature is that the STRYD Zones data field will buzz if it loses connection ie if Stryd has become detached or has run out of battery.
Pairing – STRYD Review
For first-time usage, ensure that your weight and height are set in the STRYD SMARTPHONE APP and synchronised to the STRYD pod.
Those of you using the Apple app will find that weight & height can be synchronised from Apple Health – disable synchronisation – #ItsComplicated, just turn it off!
The INITIAL setup is not as simple as pairing a new HR sensor for the first time.
Quick Pairing Overview
- iOS/Android: Pair to the Stryd app, then pair and link a second one if you have Stryd DUO.
- Garmin: Install the Stryd Zones CIQ app on the watch, and STRYD will silently pair itself!
- Apple Watch: Install the STRYD watchOS app (it should be automatically installed, but that can take a few minutes after installing on your iPhone).
Pairing legacy watches can be easy or tricky, depending on the watch—pair by ANT+ to your Garmin or by Bluetooth SMART to the app on your smartphone. As a rule of thumb, pair STRYD as a FOOTPOD, not a POWER METER.
- Recommended: For newer Garmins, pair STRYD as a footpod (optional), then set STRYD as the source of pace and distance. Do NOT pair as a power meter, and DO not pair as an RD-POD if given either option.
- For Wahoo ELEMNT Rival – just pair it
- Polar Vantage V/V2/V3, M/M2, Pacer Pro & Grit X – just pair it
- Suunto Spartan, 5 or Suunto 9 – pair as a footpod, NOT as a power pod
- Some 3rd party CIQ data fields for Garmin, such as DATARUN, require you to pair STRYD as a POWER METER.
- Pairing to any other watch model, e.g. Coros or Garmin 920XT/935/645M, should be as a footpod.
- Pairing to the STRYD smartphone app: Do this from within, not the Bluetooth General setting on your phone.
- Polar V800 – pair as a power meter
- Legacy Suunto: With AMBITs, you pair them as a POWERPOD and use them in RUN mode.
- Legacy Polar, you pair as “other device.”
If you are investing £/$200 in a running power meter, I would suggest you also invest in a watch that properly supports power indoors and outdoors ie it will DISPLAY and RECORD power. Have a look at these that I’ve used over the years.
Running Preparation – Garmin
Use Garmin Express to download STRYD Zones data field from CIQ, or you can use Connect IQ Mobile App.
You configure the averaging calculation performed by the ‘STRYD Power’ data field in either Garmin Express or the Connect app on iPhone. I use ‘Real-Time Power’ or one of several longer average power durations. I mostly use Real-Time Power and like its responsiveness to real-world changes. There are perfectly sensible reasons for wanting to show the longer averages if that is how you choose to pace yourself. It’s your call.
The ‘Stryd Zones’ data field ALSO AUTOMATICALLY RECORDS THE RAW, UN-AVERAGED POWER DATA into the FIT file. It does not record the average you have chosen for display PRECISELY what it should do.
Running Preparation – Coros
Coros natively supports STRYD. All you have to do is pair the STRYD sensor to your watch and the rest is already there. Coros has the most complete NATIVE STRYD integration, sadly Coros only gets this single line because it’s all so easy to get working…
Running Preparation – Suunto (AMBIT, SPARTAN, Vertical, Race and Suunto 9)
With Suunto, the situation is different and better than with Garmin in the sense that Running power is natively supported by the watch.
Pairing as a footpod is simple enough; you know how to do that. You can pair a Stryd and a bike power meter simultaneously.
Suunto Device Configuration – Suunto App – STRYD Review
The Suunto smartphone app lets you create a custom running profile to change the appearance of Stryd’s power data. It also has pre-configured power-running pages.
Running Preparation – Polar – STRYD Review
Running with power with Polar’s Vantage models (Vantage V3,V2/ V) or older M2, Pacer Pro, Vantage M, Grit X or V800, is easy because running power is native to Polar
Simply STRYD to newer Polar models and as a power meter for the older V800. You then configure your running profile/data screen via FLOW on the app or online and run. The Vantage V2/V3 also has its internal version of running power with readings taken partly from wrist movements and GPS—use STRYD in preference to Polar’s native power. Whichever you choose, your watch will use the same data fields.
Flow Configuration
Your Polar watch can be configured either in the FLOW app or the online FLOW platform.
Polar has a nice full-pace running power screen and a unique (excellent) zone lock feature. You have about 12 running power metrics, which is a decent choice.
How do you calibrate a STRYD power meter footpod?
Source: STRYD
Most STRYD users will NOT need to calibrate STRYD. STRYD’s internal sensors accurately calculate the displacement of every stride responsively and accurately. But there are some nuances to this.
Users who require calibration
The minority of you who do require calibration should look at this post (link to STRYD.com).
The phrase “Don’t do this” probably applies to you who are reading this now and contemplating making things ‘just that little bit more accurate! I’m usually one of those people. Please don’t do it! I warned you ;-).
Stryd’s raw values are only affected by your weight and height, which are stored on the pod. A calibration or scaling factor can be applied to the watch, either a manual override made by you or a dynamically adjusting one as determined by the watch (usually by GPS distance). For this reason, you might get different distance and pace readings on other watches with the same Stryd pod. It’s an issue with the watch scaling factor, not Stryd.
Watches that over-ride calibration:
Garmin, Suunto, Coros and Polar all have auto-calibration as an option
GPS autocalibration can give good results. However, if you run in areas with poor GPS reception or if your watch has inaccurate GPS, autocalibration is a bad idea.
It’s best to entirely override your watch’s view of GPS pace/distance, and I would do that on a Garmin watch by adjusting the properties of Stryd when paired as a footpod:
- Set speed & distance to always be from STRYD
- Set calibration to manual.
- Set the calibration factor to the Stryd out-of-the-box default of 100 (on Garmin) or 1.000 (Coros, Apple, Polar and Suunto)
Watches that can’t be manually calibrated:
As of 2023, it’s only Suunto watches that cannot manually override/calibrate Stryd
Calibration Factors Vary By Sport:
The Polar Vantage products store a Footpod calibration figure for each sport. So you will potentially need to set them all to the same value


How to Run With Power
Simplistically: Use POWER as a simple metric and base your training on that rather than pace or HR. After all, it is just a number on a different linear. You have to get used to the scale.
You run your 5k one week at 300w, then try for 302w next week. That’s neither a scientific nor overly fruitful approach to improving. Still, if you went from one flat parkrun 5k course to another muddy and hilly one the next week, you may appreciate the advantage of pacing by your 5k-power level more than your running buddy pacing off HR or PACE. Whilst you will achieve a slower time on that new & more demanding course, you SHOULD be able to do the same average power level.
You can also mix up your training and get a new kind of PB/PR. If you do a variet of weekly 5k parkruns on different courses then the difficulty of the courses vary, only your 5k average power is comparable across them all.
Power-time PBs might sound trivial but they are real markers of physiological breakthroughs as well as a way to mix up your training.
That concept hold true for any distance or any duration. There are lots of breakthrough-PBs to be had to keep the motivation levels up and be reassured that these breakthrough sessions do indicate meaningful markers of running improvement.
Benefits of Running With Power
Here are seven tangible benefits you get from running with power and a link to an article covering a more comprehensive range of benefits in more detail
- Objective Measurement: Takes out the guesswork with direct and objective measurement.
- Consistent pacing: regardless of variations in terrain, weather, or fatigue.
- Training Zones: Supports easier-to-understand zone-based training
- Analysis: an easier way to compare and dissect performance, with the ability for highly advanced analysis
- Long-term Progress Tracking: Easily quantifies progress and improvement
- Perfect pacing strategies
- Running Efficiency Improvement: Allows for identifying running inefficiencies and areas for improvement in form or technique.
Remember that a running power meter’s effectiveness depends on the user’s understanding of the data and its integration into a comprehensive training plan. It’s a tool that can complement other metrics and aspects of training for a more holistic approach to improving running performance.
Running Power – 10 Reasons To use It over Pace and HR
How to Run With Power Zones
Most people would want a more rigorous approach based on different levels of power/durations that the body can bear. Running in these ‘zones’ will cause the body to experience different physiological adaptations for each zone. If you are familiar with training by HR zones, then power zones are broadly similar approaches, and the HR and power zones might broadly match each other.
Simplistically, Zone 2 power might be for your 75-minute endurance run, and Zone 5 power might be for your 5-minute or shorter intervals. Knowing your Zone 5 power could be handy for hills reps, wouldn’t it? What pace do you run up hills at? All hills at the same pace? Regardless of the gradient? Thought not!
Once you have a power duration curve, you know what power to target for any time duration. You might target 101% for a PB/PR or 95% for VO2max reps.
Even if you don’t look at your watch running hard up a hill, you can look at your stats afterwards to quantify your efforts. If it was a 30-second hill, then I am confident that your HR and PACE stats for those 30 seconds are essentially meaningless…but your power stats will be 100% meaningful (with some minor caveats on running form changes when doing hill reps).
If you currently pace by Heart Rate, you will know it’s difficult to answer the following question, “How do you pace short 1-minute interval reps?” It will take your heart quite a while to get into the zone that properly reflects your effort. Indeed, it might take several 1-minute INTERVALS for your heart to get into the correct zone that reflects what happens inside your body. It will take the STRYD Footpod about 3 seconds from the get-go and be accurate from one rep to the next.
Determining Your Power Zones – Automatic
RECOMMENDED Critical Power/FTP (CP) is automatically and continuously updated based on your recent workouts and synchronises your power zones. I recommend that most people enable this after using STRYD for a month. Once there is enough data, Stryd calculates your CP and zones for you, and they will be accurate if you have completed a few maximal efforts in that month. If not, your training is not making you faster, so try harder!
STRYD Review, 10,000km Update – (Dual-) Running Power ⚡ Pod
New STRYD Zones
Determining Your Power Zones – Manual Method
To manually determine your zones, you have to have a starting point. Typically, that starting point is your maximum performance at around one hour, which can be estimated from a shorter effort, i.e., your 10K PB.
- Power Zones – cyclists with power meters will know about FTP and CPs. Running power will be the same; you use pretty short tests to estimate your hourly power. STRYD discusses some details and the PRECISE test protocol at <this> link. You can spend a LOT of time reading various pros and cons of different testing protocols that essentially all end up with a similar enough answer that is actionable.
- This is the recommended STRYD test: “5-800m-5-1200m-30-2400m-10,” i.e., 5 minutes of warmup, 800m easy, 5 minutes of further warmup, 1200m @near-max, 30 minutes of straightforward jog recovery, 2400m @max, 10 minutes cooldown. You enter the results in your STRYD dashboard to get your zones, and/or the CP will be auto-calculated. Sorted.
- Vance and others give formulae for running power zone calculations that are subtly different from those for cycling power. So beware of using your cycling power spreadsheet (instead, use one of these 😉 ). My recommendation is to use the STRYD Zone method.
- CP will probably be the same as your best power for your 10k PB. If not the same, it will be VERY close.
- Pace Zones – there are various online running calculators. This is a pretty cool spreadsheet: Daniels Tables v3: (source: electricblues.com/html/runpro.html)
- Heart Rate Zones—essentially, these are either based on a lab test, which few of you can afford to do sufficiently regularly, or on the last 20 minutes of a 30-minute test to estimate your lactate threshold heart rate (or similar).
- RPE Zones are rates of perceived effort. These zones have value in training and racing, too—more so than many think.


Your 10K power PB is probably similar to your critical power/rFTP. For sub-40 10k runners, your 10K power PB can be adjusted based on the time to give a more accurate estimation of rFTP (it will be something like 0.97*10Kaverage power for very good runners)
This link shows a spreadsheet to determine your running power zones using ALL currently popular methods, including STRYD, Palladino, Vance, and Polar.
Target HIM Running Power with STRYD, IM too
Alternative Methods of Determining CP: RunningByNumbers
Running With Zone Alerts
Running Power Zone alerts are now even native to the Apple Watch, albeit for Apple’s running power. Alerts can be set wherever you use the Stryd app. Wherever running power is native to the watch, like Polar, Suunto and Coros, running power alerts work like other zone-based alerts.
As of November 2023, the Stryd Zones data field can execute structured workouts natively with alerts.
Polar has separate running power zones and an excellent ZONE LOCK facility that allows you to lock into/out of the current power zone multiple times during a run.
Running With Zone Displays
STRYD Zones is a configurable Garmin CIQ data field that displays your current running power zone as a digit or dial.
Stryd – next gen Garmin Data Field 2.0 – A SIGNIFICANT Improvement
Polar & Suunto have power Zone pointer displays
Planning, Scheduling and Creating Running Power Workouts
It is now possible to create complex running power workouts in Training Peaks, Stryd, or Final Surge and execute them on either a recent Garmin watch or the Apple Watch with Stryd’s app. You can buy a plan from those same companies, and the workouts are scheduled with the flexibility to move to different days as needed.
STRYD initially introduced Structured Workout support in 2020.
STRYD Structured Workouts – major app update
In 2021, an updated STRYD Workout app for Garmin watches further updated the interface to execute running power workouts.
new STRYD Workout App
In 2023, the ability to execute workouts was cleverly added to Garmin CIQ data fields, meaning that Stryd’s features easily mesh with how you usually use your Garmin.
Post-Run Power Analysis Options
To analyse your power data, you must get it from the watch/pod and go somewhere else. During each run, your watch will store the workout data as usual, including Stryd power data. Additionally, the non-GPS data is also stored in the pod.
You should use Stryd Powercenter, as it is an excellent platform for analysing running power and gait metrics. To do that, you will need to link, say, Garmin Connect using Stryd’s smartphone app to enable the GPS data to get into Powercenter. If you have highly advanced needs, connect your watch’s data platform Flow, Suunto, or Connect to a third-party service like Training Peaks or Golden Cheetah.
Other Aspects of Linking Running Power Data
TOP TIP: Make sure you use the STRYD app to RECORD>OFFLINE DATA
Polar, Suunto and some older Garmins do not store all the extra GAIT metrics; for example, the Vantage stores POWER CADENCE and SPEED. That’s fine for Polar FLOW, as Polar FLOW couldn’t display LSS in any case. However, what if you want to analyse the data elsewhere?
We will cover some of that briefly, but you should find that STRYD PowerCenter will merge your data cached in the pod with data from the source system (e.g., Polar FLOW). Thus, you can then export your FULL data from PowerCenter to use in Golden Cheetah, Training PEAKS, or elsewhere.
If you use a later Garmin like the Garmin Forerunner 965, ALL your Stryd data will be in your Garmin’s FIT File.


Analysis – STRYD PowerCenter
STRYD has invested heavily in developing the capability of its apps (iOS/Android) and the web version of Power Center, which are now potent tools.
STRYD Power Center – 2020, new features
Analysis – Garmin Connect – STRYD Review
Garmin Connect is not great for analysis. It gives a straightforward view of your data and the ability to overlay two metrics, but that’s about it:


Analysis – Suunto app
Suunto’s app offers slightly superior reporting and analysis of power data than Garmin Connect but nowhere near as good as Powercenter.
Analysis – Suunto (MOVESCOUNT) – STRYD Review
Suunto Movescount is now discontinued
Analysis – Polar FLOW – STRYD Review
Polar has the best views of power data over the 3 major platforms but it’s still certainly not a full-blown analysis platform.


Polar correctly displays running power data in FLOW (2020). But if you want to export power data anywhere else, you must manually create a TCX file. For example, the TCX file is then imported adequately into Golden Cheetah. Polar FLOW has automatic links to STRAVA and TRAINING PEAKS, but I have not checked if the power data is automatically sent there.
Analysis Features – Golden Cheetah, Final Surge, TrainingPeaks, Stryd PowerCenter
Running with power can yield many kinds of advanced analyses and insights—the analysis platforms mentioned in the title offer varying degrees of awesomeness. STRYD’s PowerCenter is free. Golden Cheetah is free, but the data analysis gets complex quickly. TRAINING PEAKS is well-known and comprehensive but comes at a price. Final Surge’s analysis features are free.
If you intend to train by power, you must familiarise yourself with a CP curve, like the following example images show. Once you get your head around logarithmic time scales and power durations rather than pace or speed over linear time scales, a CP curve WILL make sense and WILL be helpful in many exciting evenings alone in front of your computer 🙂
For the cyclists: one thing to note with running CP curves is that the range of your power is much lower, mainly because cycling supports your body weight. Thus running power curves are flatter AND THE RUNNING ZONES NARROWER. Running CP curves also tend to be more ‘stepped’ .
STRYD has also introduced actual and modelled power curves to its PowerCenter platform. As shown below, STRYD’s CP curve is much more colourful and includes a clever heat map of all your efforts.


Another great Powercenter chart is for Running Stress Balance. This is a KEY TRAINING METRIC that shows how you should be handling your accumulated running load. You will want this to increase for race day (but not peak too high), and you will want to avoid it getting too low as there is a significant risk of injury.
Running Stress Balance is a backwards-looking metric, and you should combine it with HRV and ‘feel’ when making a training decision today.
Other Running Power Software Analysis Options
- Golden Cheetah – Free, open-source
- Final Surge – Free, includes POWER structured workout creation and scheduling.
- TrainingPeaks – Free (Premium @$10/mo)
- WKO4 – $169
- Strive.ai – A tremendous and straightforward tool to help you improve performance. It also alerts you to PEAK THRESHOLD breakthroughs and the like. It works for STRYD via the iOS app and Garmin Connect, even though Strive is STRAVA-focussed.
- Xertonline.com is my favourite platform and turns FTP/CP on its head, looking at it differently. They ‘know’ what maximum power you have available at any given moment, and your efforts are quantified and guided by that knowledge. I use it for my cycling power stats but, unfortunately, it can’t handle run AND bike stats—Xert stuff from me here. Xert’s model looks pretty accurate, in my experience.
- Runalyze.com is an excellent platform and an exciting analysis tool. Even more admirable is the cost…FREE
Example Run – Running Up a Hill
How well can you and I do it in practice? This STRYD Review made me look at dealing with hills to see if it was the best footpod.
Let’s run up my favourite hill in stats (and yes I was listening to the Kate Bush song at the same time)
Running on the flat, 300w seemed close to 3:50/km. So I endeavoured to maintain 300w for the near flat at the bottom of the hill and the same power up the hill and then over the crest of the hill.
To give you an idea of the hill, if you were running down it, you would have to let go and hope. It’s short and steep. If you were going up it on an otherwise flat run, it would rank as short but unpleasant. At this speed, it was about two and a half minutes long and gained 30 vertical metres.
The change (drop) in speed required to hold 300w was considerable. From around 4:00/km at the start, the steepest and hardest part of the hill had me going at 6:00/km. OK, I was trying to focus on a watch, run, and maintain effort, so the numbers bounced slightly. You can see that the orange power line is vaguely flat, varying from 300w+/-15w (5% or so).
I would say four things about this.
- This broadly indicates what the STRYD Footpod can tell you, i.e., you should probably be running a LOT slower up hills if you want to maintain a constant effort.
- As with cycling, I have noticed that people can regulate efforts WITHOUT A POWER METER quite well for half of the hill. But, with the end in sight, people often try harder when they are already going faster than they should. Typically, they make it to the top before you and then grin. They’re grinning because they beat you, but they have taken a lot out of themselves. In a hilly race, you WILL catch people like this, of a similar ability, after a few hills.
- You can use HR for this, but it’s not quite as effective with a 30-second lag.
- Running by RPE/feel works if you are at one with yourself. Typically, we aren’t, and, as the second point points out, the competitive urge often kicks in.
Hill Pacing Strategy with Power
Generally, in a ‘time trial’ on the flat and in ideal conditions, where it is you against the clock, the best strategy is to aim for your critical power for the likely duration. e.g. rCP35 is your critical power for a 35minute 10k
An advanced cyclist time trialling by power over an hour would exceed CP/CP60/FTP by about 5% on uphill sections and be unable to maintain CP downhill. This is a complex area to understand, and you might want to look at pacing based on Normalised Grade Power for hills—research using NGP with rCP to manage the variability of your power output.
Treadmill Running
I run infrequently on treadmills and typically set the incline to 1%. Invariably, I get a super smooth power track.
Whilst Stryd cannot control or sense the treadmill incline, the company’s workouts assume you have set the incline as specified and adjust your power accordingly. There are 12 free indoor treadmill workouts, and subscribers can create new ones. Indoor workouts cannot be executed outdoors.
Stryd Treadmill Workouts – Structured Indoor Training
If you train indoors all winter, consider all the points in this key resource: from1runner2another. If you want to change the incline, see this information from Stryd.
Consider also the NPE RUNN Review, an inexpensive and good Treadmill Sensor that captures treadmill incline in a FIT file.
Special STRYD Running Form Metrics
Stryd has an excellent array of running form metrics. You can see how aspects of your form deteriorate during a run, you can compare 3D visual tracks of your foot’s motion at different times and you might even see how aspects of form trend over time. However, the difficulty is knowing how to change your training or form to improve, other than the basics of cadence/stride length.
Many casual runners neglect consideration of their running form. One goal of running long, slow miles is to increase aerobic efficiency, improve form efficiency, and reduce the risk of injury.
There are probably some relatively quick gains to be made here with aerobic training but also lots of rather elusive ones. Tread carefully.


If you are looking at power for running, you may have plateaued and are desperately looking for something that might make you faster.
Once your stride length/cadence is in a ‘sensible zone’, then it becomes much less clear which ‘efficiency metric’ is the next best one to look at. Even if you look at the next best metric and it tells you X%, you are unsure what to do about it. Typically, to improve on X% involves running faster. That “insight” doesn’t help.
STRYD has proprietary metrics like Leg Spring Stiffness (LSS) and Form Power (FP) and more widely used ones like vertical oscillation (VO), cadence, and ground contact time (GCT/GT). The latest Stryd DUO presents some of this data in the context of the balance between your left and right sides.
- FP is the power produced by the essence of your form alone, ignoring everything else. Lower is better.
- LSS: Stiffer muscles/tendons require less energy to move you forward. Higher is better.
- GCT: Is the amount of time your foot is on the ground; try to lower it
- VO: It is how much you bounce; try to lower it.


2023 saw the addition of a subscriber-only 3D visualisation of each of your feet’s motion in 3D from any angle. The following images give you a flavour of the exciting FOOTPATH data you now can access.
Note: Plyometrics, strength work, anaerobic intervals including VO2max intervals are all likely to help improve your form over time. Do those…or just keep plodding along in zone 3 – your call.
It is possible to experiment and attempt to change your form slightly while running at a constant pace—for example, on a treadmill. If you find your power DROPS when you change your technique on a treadmill (and the pace is the same), then, in theory, you might have found a way to increase your running form efficiency. It might be worth experimenting, but that argument does not entirely convince me.
ACCURACY
Here are some test results from my 2022 comparison of Stryd, Polar Running Power, Garmin Running Power, Apple Running Power and Coros Running Power. The key takeouts are
- Each watch vendor’s proprietary power results will NEVER match. There is no accepted standard.
- Stryd, Apple and Coros are similar.
- Garmin and Polar are similar.
- Garmin peaks too highly
- Apple doesn’t correctly incorporate cadence or low-speeds
As of November 2023, I’ve covered about 100 miles with Stryd Duo, but the accuracy seems the same as charts like these. Supposedly, the data is more responsive on the watch, but it feels the same.
Hilly Intervals
Constantish Effort on Hills
Flat Intervals of varying Intensity
STRYD have their validations and stats to demonstrate accuracy against the actual metabolic cost of running. Naturally, the vendors all have such information to some degree.
STRYD claim that their product produces power data that DOES correlate to a true metabolic cost measured by VO2max. It’s a convincing argument and they have, in my mind, convincingly refuted all studies to the contrary
Is STRYD accurate on a variety of surface conditions? There are independent validations like this one (pdf)
Race Day Planning
STRYD has now introduced a race day and event planning tool that lets you model race day conditions and possible finish times. Your race day power target adjusts accordingly as your CP progresses with training.
STRYD Race Calculator 🥇Event Planner
Alternatives to STRYD
No competitor offers the same complete solution as STRYD’s pod. The biggest competitor to a new STRYD is a secondhand version of the previous STRYD pod from eBay.
If the cost of STRYD is too prohibitive for you, then consider Apple, Coros, Polar and Garmin, who all have competing flavours of running power calculated on the watch and without a footpod.
- Since Q4 2018. RunScribe PLUS has had its dual-sided RUNNING POWER POD working with Suunto and Garmin CIQ; however, RunScribe has mostly withdrawn from the consumer side of the market.
- High-end Polar watches have Power Calculations from the WRIST and natively support STRYD.
- Garmin announced ‘Garmin Running Power‘ formally in Q4.2017, and it became native (pre-installed with supporting features) in 2022. The Garmin power figures are partly derived from GPS pace and wind and are thus unpredictable (wrong). You could use a footpod to improve accuracy, but what is the most accurate footpod? A: STRYD. Go figure.
- Coros announced native power support for STRYD on their Pace 2 watch in 2020 and introduced a proprietary power metric calculated in the watch simultaneously. Coros admits its wrist power is not as accurate as Stryd’s.
- Since September 2022, the Apple Watch workout app has supported running power calculations in the watch. Apple only releases new proprietary metrics when they are highly validated and ‘correct’. Apple’s data is similar to Stryd’s —go figure. Stryd’s data capture in a pod is superior to Apple’s.
If you are looking at the gait metrics, STRYD errs towards performance gait metrics, whereas
- RunScribe offers a superior gait solution by also focusing on rehabilitative metrics.
- LUMO Body, Garmin’s HRM-RUN, Garmin RD-POD, SHFT, Runteq’s ZOI and others offer basic gait metrics like Vertical Oscillation and Ground Contact Time.
- Garmin and Apple provide some gait metrics.
Overall, I would say that STRYD is the best running power meter—however, Apple, Coros and Polar bundle running power for free.
STRYD vs Garmin Footpod – Differences Between STRYD and Garmin Footpod
I still have several Garmin footpods and used them a lot before the arrival of STRYD. If you think STRYD is overpriced, then Garmin’s footpods are also overpriced at $70 for what they are. And ‘what they are‘ is LESS THAN what STRYD is.


- A Garmin footpod does not supply RUNNING POWER data nor provides more unusual running gait metrics than the ones in STRYD. The Garmin footpod can be used as a source of pace for Garmin Running Power, which will somewhat improve the accuracy of Garmin’s power calculation.
- STRYD is more accurate than a Garmin footpod in terms of pace and distance.
- Other than your height and weight, STRYD requires no calibration. Garmin requires calibration at different speeds.
- The Garmin Footpod has a coin cell battery with a long battery life, whereas STRYD is rechargeable.
- Both are broadly similar in size, weight and mounting method. The Garmin mount is more secure and durable.
- Garmin’s pod is only ANT+, STRYD is BLE and ANT+. STRYD can thus provide pace/distance/cadence to Zwift Run, whereas Garmin would need an additional ANT+ BLE dongle to do that, although some Garmins now have a virtual run mode.
- Garmin makes the RD-POD, which has running dynamics. This is mainly intended to accompany a modern Garmin watch with an OHRM. I’m not sure of the RD-POD’s accuracy. My gut feeling is that it is poorer than the regular Garmin pod.
3rd Party Garmin CIQ Data Field Awesomeness
Some very nice people are developing stuff for us to use for free, partly to address some of the shortcomings of Garmin’s native support for Running Power. If you know of other exciting and valuable Running Power-related data fields/apps, please let me know in the comments below, and I will add them.
@Joop tells me that STRYD’s ANT+ is private and cannot be used by developers. Third-party developers are then exposed to working within the remaining memory constraints of each device. Thus, developers typically create new functionality via Data Fields to display metrics while running the STRYD data field in the background—Garmin watches can only have two live CIQ data fields. However, one of these can be duplicated across multiple pages!
- 16kB Watches – Forerunner 920XT, Fenix 3, Fenix 3HR
- 32kB Watches – Fenix 5, Fenix 5S, Garmin Forerunner 935
- 128kB Watches – Fenix 5X, Fenix 5X Plus, Fenix 5 Plus, Fenix 5S Plus.
- 256kB Watches – include Fenix 7 Pro, Epix Pro and FR965
Here are some Data Fields
- DataRun and here is the manual – adds lots of fields on one screen partially to get around the limitation of only having two active CIQ data fields (?), indeed around the Garmin 935‘s limitation of only allowing 4 data fields per page (Newer Fenix and Forerunner models allow 6 or 8 data fields per page)
- Power Run by FlowState allows RUN POWER alerts, display of custom calls, and more. I’m going to look at this. It looks fascinating.
- Appbuilder is also by Flowstate. A good efficiency ratio would be building a custom class to display on-screen, e.g. FORM POWER-to-power. More: Blogspot
- PowerDashBoard.
STRYD and the Apple Watch
STRYD’s app was developed for iOS and watchOS and works on the Apple Watch. It’s a powerful watch app that brings workouts, plans and power alerts to the Apple Watch.


It’s a sweet app, and here are some screenshots (2023)
I sometimes use the iSmoothRun app to record and display running power from STRYD with the Apple Watch. It’s a great app that also supports bike power meters. It’s not as comprehensive as the STRYD Watch OS app for running power, but it has a broader feature set that handles some of my cycling needs, and that’s why I use it. If you are a one-sport runner, you will use the STRYD app.
STRYD Rolls out Apple Watch Training Service – Garmin too | STRYD Membership for 2021
STRYD and Android’s WearOS
Currently, there are a limited number of third-party apps for Wear OS watches, most notably the Sporty Go app. Although Ghost Racer should also work, I have had no success.
With the introduction of the Suunto 7, Wear OS can also be found there. Suunto’s app (as of July 2021) does not support STRYD.
STRYD and Samsung Gear
Again, you can use the Sporty Go app on Samsung Gear here
The Samsung Galaxy Watch4 (2021) indicates that Samsung’s way forward will be with WearOS (see previous section on Wear OS).
Spares, Accessories & Add-ons
You can buy the following spares from the STRYD store
- Spare FOOT POD clip ($5)
- Spare wireless charger ($25, no longer sold)
- Spare wired charger ($15)
- Shoe pouch as a cradle replacement, 3rd party vendor. ($25, Amazon)
Interesting Points, Tips and Issues
Here are some points to consider.
Some valuable tips – STRYD Review
- Other reviewers and STRYD owners have independently verified its super-accurate running pace. Almost all independent reviewers say Stryd is the most accurate.
- Power averages are taken over five steps or about 10 seconds. STRYD can be set to transmit various other averages to Garmin watches via the app settings in Garmin Express or your smartphone’s CIQ app.
- No calibration is required. If your watch allows auto-calibration, it should always be used as a source of pace and distance—this is true for 99% of you, and it’s what I do.
- Do not frequently change your weight setting in the app; if you automatically sync your weight to the STRYD app from Apple Health, disable that feature. The data you get will be more actionable if you keep your weight setting unchanged and will naturally better reflect the subtle changes in your power and weight over time. Even if you were carrying one litre/one kg of fluids, I would still not change the weight setting. The only exception to this would be if you were carrying an unusual weight, such as a backpack.
- Suunto first introduced pod calibration on Spartans (2017)
- Manual (and automatic) pod calibration is possible with Polar’s V800 (2017)
- Manual calibration on the Polar Vantage V3/V2/M/V/M2 (2019)
- You can calibrate for pace through the STRYD app on your smartphone. I would suggest calibrating in ideal conditions for GPS reception. This method is inferior to a manual calibration factor on a running track.
- Unlike Garmin footpods, shoe type/stack/drop or running speed do not seem to affect calibration.
- Footpod devotees might want to look at Fellrnr’s footpod calibration tool, but I do not think that calibration makes much difference, and I see no need to do that.
- Unlike STRYD’s earlier chest strap model, the STRYD pod can now be used in triathlons alongside your HRM-TRI and bike power meter.
- The LED blinks twice for a new connection or disconnection. A faster blink means ‘charge it now’ or more precisely:
- Low battery: The LED will double-blink every second. Place the device on charge.
- Bluetooth Connections: The LED will double-blink when (dis-)connected to/from. This does not apply to ANT+.
- Power-on: When a fully discharged unit is placed on charge, it will power on, and there will be five short blinks in quick succession during the power-on sequence.


- STRYD report their footpod device reflects real power levels better when measured in their labs than the original chest strap STRYD. I agree, as do other reviewers/runners elsewhere on the net. The torso is not a good place to determine inputs to a running power calculation.
- STRYD handles thick elasticated laces, unlike other footpods. Looping through 3 or 4 lengths is recommended.
- Since 2016, internally, the footpod has been known as the STRYD SUMMIT – now you know. The chest strap was called STRYD PIONEER.
- Data metrics are broadcast over both ANT+ and Bluetooth SMART channels. Multiple, simultaneous pairings are possible.
- You will have to run a lot slower than you would imagine while maintaining a constant effort when running uphill. Even if you have a target power, you might still want to go slightly over that target (5%) when going uphill in a race.
- When running UPHILL, you will probably find that you can produce the most power, i.e., more than running super fast on the flat. Many people find that true in cycling, too. Hill reps are an excellent way to increase your power while improving your technique and having a lower risk of injury than speedy reps on the road.
- Many metrics are similar to other devices (HRM-RUN and Runscribe). I have compared them here, here and elsewhere on this blog.
- The unit weighs less than 10g and is fully rechargeable, giving >20 hours of continuous running time. It leaves battery-saving mode when your running CADENCE is detected. A 2018 firmware update prevented STRYD’s battery from being topped up, and this was done to extend the overall STRYD battery life.
- STRYD is sufficiently waterproof for everyday running. Perhaps running in a knee-deep stream for 30 minutes might be pushing the limits. (Officially 30 minutes at 1m)
- STRYD has approximately 9-10 hours of workout storage on the device. That’s irrelevant if you use a sports watch and sufficient if you frequently sync with the app.
- STRYD uses proximity pairing on its app. The first thing on the list should be the closest when pairing with the app.
Other Points & Tips – STRYD Review
- While STRYD does consider ground conditions and slope, it does not do so at the extremes. You will get incorrect readings if you run on ice or through mud.
- STRYD accounts for actual wind. Garmin attempts to account for WIND from weather forecasts. Watch-based power solutions from Coros and Polar do not account for wind.
- STRYD does work on treadmills if the incline is set over 1%. Input the INCLINE into any STRYD apps (Apple, CIQ, smartphone) to compensate.
- Moving STRYD from shoe to shoe is mildly inconvenient. That’s why I used to use 3x Garmin footpods. But 3x STRYDs would be a considerable investment.
- The STRYD Running Power Meter has a battery life of about 15-17 hours (officially 20), which is suitable for most running needs except for ULTRA runners. It seems to recharge quickly, although I’ve never timed it. Charging on the run is not possible.
- The charging light goes off when STRYD is fully charged.
- From the STRYD app, you might want to optionally check that STRYD is set to cache data on the pod as you run—just in case. This enables another route for you to get your data sent through to the STRYD power centre dashboard AND for analysing some of the cleverer metrics that will not find their way into your third-party sports data platform. Annoyingly, it creates duplicates.
- Two Stryd pods can now be paired together via the Stryd smartphone app.
- AMBIT Tip: Get pace and distance from STRYD. Then, GPS accuracy will be set to the lowest level (as STRYD will override it), extending battery life.
- Garmin & Suunto 9/Spartan Tip: Like the previous AMBIT tip, set your GPS to the lowest to save battery.
- Calibration Tip: Don’t bother trying to configure it on your watch! Set your weight correctly on the app and sync that to STRYD. You will probably spend a long time trying to calibrate manually for very little, if any, improvement.
- DATA RECOVERY TIP: I once forgot my watch for a race and got a PB/PR. If you have caching enabled via the app, then you will at least be able to recover your power data after the race. That’s one tip this STRYD Review can quietly pass on. 😉 Ssh.


FAQ – STRYD Review
This is ‘wasted’ power from running. It’s related to vertical oscillation, and you want to reduce it to increase your running efficiency.
The Stryd battery lasts 20 hours.
A full charge takes 3 hours; a quick 30-minute charge is usually sufficient for you to use Stryd.
Stryd is equally accurate on a treadmill when using your standard recording device, provided there is a 0% or 1% incline. For a steeper incline, tell the Stryd CIQ app/Apple Watch app or the Stryd app the incline.
Yes. In most scenarios, even an uncalibrated Stryd is significantly more accurate and responsive than GPS.
Yes. Stryd works best with the Garmin CIQ data field called Stryd Zones. All new Garmin watches support Stryd.
Yes. The Stryd app for Apple’s watchOS is robust and feature-rich
No. Stryd does not usually need any calibration. Manual calibration MAY slightly improve accuracy, as might auto-calibration.
Yes. Stryd is IP67 compliant but is not designed to run in streams.
Stryd measures distance with an onboard accelerometer. It also has other sensors.
Stryd’s sensors measure all the 3d forces, impacts and accelerations to calculate the power using standard equations.
Stryd’s sensors measure all the 3D forces, impacts, and accelerations to calculate the power using standard equations that validate the metabolic cost of your running.
Usually, you install the Stryd Zones CIQ data field, wear the pod and run. Stryd even self-pairs to the data field.
Complete your profile in the Stryd app, giving your correct height and weight. Usually, you would then install the Stryd Zones CIQ data field, wear the pod, and run. Stryd even self-pairs to the data field.
Stryd starts itself when it detects your RUNNING cadence. You can also tap it to wake it up.
Place the cradle under 2 or 3 laces at the toe-end of your running shoe and properly attach the pod to the cradle. Complete your profile in the Stryd app, giving your correct height and weight. Usually, you would then install the Stryd Zones CIQ data field, wear the pod, and run. Stryd even self-pairs to the data field.
Typically, you do not calibrate Stryd. The manual calibration factor is the actual distance divided by the recorded distance. For example, Factor=400m/402m, where 402m is the average distance from several laps of running 30cm from the inside of Lane 1 on a standard 400m running track. Enter the result into your watch’s calibration section for the Stryd footpod sensor.
They are worth it if you value accurate pace, power and running gait metrics. Stryd is expensive, but it is also the most accurate sensor. If you want some consistency in pace and distance, only the latest (2022-23) watch models from Garmin, Suunto, and Apple have broad consistency across various conditions.
Futures – STRYD Review
In my opinion, now that Apple has entered the Running Power market, its popularity will significantly grow through 2024 and beyond. We are likely to see further refinement from vendors using on-the-wrist calculations of power. These rely on GPS to some degree and hence will always be wrong.
STRYD’s Future – STRYD Review
Thanks to significant outside VC investment, STRYD’s platform will be significantly developed over the coming years. As of Q4.2023, we have seen many improvements with the platform and PODs—both are now at an ‘advanced’ state, although refinement is always possible.
- I hope we shall also see the automatic detection of treadmill incline
- Perhaps 2025 might see the next-gen pod. I wouldn’t expect it to be more accurate, but I would expect a longer battery life.
- Stryd perhaps could sell other gait sensors for different parts of the body.
MARKET FUTURE – STRYD Review
New entrants usually drive innovation. However, Stryd’s patents will stop any new running power pod from entering the market. There will only be scope for wrist-based calculations.
The market cannot evolve like cycling power meters. Cycling power meters all strive for the exact ‘correct’ power figure. Cycling Power is a more mechanically derived figure upon which there is general agreement on what is correct.
Note well: Running power will NOT be like that. So I would expect that you will NOT be able to switch between technologies as the numbers will be different.
ONE of the reasons for the differences in power is that the STRYD Running Power Meter aims to asses the true metabolic cost of running whereas other approaches include the recoiled power from the lower leg.
Further Reading – STRYD Review
- Competitor.com have a good look at a 2:16:00 marathoner’s race power.
- STRYD’s own White Paper about their new metrics is an excellent sports-science-based read for those of you looking at the type of training you need to do to improve.
- STRYD’s white paper looking at the effects of wind
- STRYD’s Critical Power Test
- In 2018, STRYD produced the Running With Power Manual; this is more of a ‘how to train with power‘ document than a ‘functions and features’ document. So it’s worth a look for power newbies.
- For a technical review of STRYD’s Running Power Meter model, head to Ron George’s site to discuss GOVSS, EESA and STRYD.
Handling Data Corruptions & Data Losses – STRYD Review
I probably get a corrupt FIT file a year where I can’t access my STRYD power data.
- Fit File Repair Tool does fix most FIT file corruptions that can be fixed.
- Read this if you still have problems.
Summary & Further Comments
The STRYD Running Power Meter is a highly useful pod that works as it should on all major sports watches (except Wear OS!)
It fits seamlessly into how we already use our sports watches and sports data which is both consistent, actionable and sufficiently open across all the key vendor platforms.
STRYD’s PowerCenter is well-designed, functional and easily the best platform for deeper insights into your running power.
Running with power has reached a critical mass, and runners and coaches broadly accept how to train for running with power zones.
It’s widely accepted that STRYD also give accurate instant pace figures.
STRYD’s gait metrics look compelling, but the truth lies in the ability of committed runners to use them to improve form.
STRYD is a relatively expensive but useful accessory—especially for a data-driven runner/triathlete or endurance runners who want to gain a competitive edge on non-flat ground.
Is it worth updating your watch to this year’s model to get 5 new features that you won’t use OR is it best to, instead, get new and more accurate data that might provide additional benefits above what you currently have? ie Don’t upgrade your watch…buy a STRYD!
I use it for most runs. I like it.
Price, Availability & STRYD Discount Code
I use STRYD regularly each week, and it’s worth it.
ALTERNATIVES: All key running watch brands produce power on their top-end watches. Stryd has patents that stop those companies from making a more accurate pod.
If you want to proceed with STRYD, the following are your buying options. These mainly include local shipping and taxes but not international shipping.
- STRYD USA: $219
- ?? Amazon UK: £205 – UK Fulfilment – no import taxes
- STRYD Europe: $199 – EU fulfilment – no import taxes
- ?? Amazon Europe – Eu 219-Eu249
- ?? Amazon USA – Normally not sold


Apps are at the end of your sports profiles. STRYD Discount Code 2020: STRYD coupons, promotions, and discounts rarely happen. In 2017/18, there was a relatively small discount if you bought two as part of a Black Friday deal, and in 2019/20, there was 10% off one, but that’s it. Stryd is rarely discounted to any significant degree.


Wow, this is a great summary of Stryd both their device and their ecosystem. I’ve been using the device since launch and I can agree with almost all of your comments.
However I am wondering about this statement:
“Garmin watches can only have two live CIQ data fields, although one of these can be duplicated across multiple pages.!”
What does that mean specifically “duplicated across multiple pages?”
you can only have two ciq data fields per live sports profile
however, you can put one of them on 5 other pages/screens/displays as well, at the same time, in the same profile
So you’re saying I can have the Stryd Zones data field, and some other CIQ data field, and then duplicate either one of those on other data fields on the watch? I have never realized that, not sure what the use case would be other than adding, say, Stryd Zones as part of a screen that has other non-CIQ fields showing.
yes.
I have stryd zones on a single data field page and then as one field with 3 other native metrics on another page. that said the new Zones DF is so good that it kinda does what i want anyway.
it’s a relatively new thing…say from a year ago or so? originally it was simply the two DF limit (which is lame compared to Edge)
Neat – I will have to tinker with that and see how it looks. I have my stryd zones so crammed with maximum information, it may not render right sharing, say, half a screen.
Incidentally, I know you listed some good non-Stryd CIQ fields above, but the best of them all in my opinion is this one:
https://apps.garmin.com/en-US/apps/369ca8b8-7dcc-403f-a97e-8f46f79ab863
TWELVE metrics in one screen, all of which are customizable (or reduced to show just 4-6…and the ability to execute workouts on power as well.
Some regions don’t have the option to buy Stryd+Membership (Europe apparently…)
yes i saw that. strange.
Wow! What a huge collection of your experiences! Thanks for this outstanding work!!!
Just a little dream of mine: I’m a fan of analog watches and sometimes I think why there isn’t a watch with hands and a single little data window (like withings has) that shows the power metric from my Stryd… 😉 In the end nothing more is needed!
🙂 ty
if you check the links out there is even more info to be had ! the problem was getting it all to fit on a page of A4/legal.
This article is definitely provides the most objective and updated coverage of the Stryd pod that I’ve seen online. I’ve read your other articles on previous Stryd models, so I’m impressed that you have been able to include Duo on launch. Thanks for this amazing resource!
I have the 2019 wind version and now the Duo. I’ve run many threshold intervals and hill sprints with both versions, and like you, I have not noticed the 5x responsiveness claimed by the marketing. Neither in the watch nor in PowerCenter. Both models take about 5-8 seconds before the power reading is stable for the effort. I might be missing something though.
I also have an asymmetric stride, so I’ve always been interested in left/right balance metrics. When Duo released, I jumped on it. But according to the metrics, my stride is very symmetric, with everything 50/50 down the line. Only occasionally do I see the left foot favored over the right, which is what it feels like in the my run. My I guess what I’m feeling is either more sensitive than what Stryd can measure, or I’m overestimating the asymmetry.
Regardless, Duo was kind of anticlimactic as a result. After a few days checking out my 3D footpath visualizations and seeing my lack of left/right asymmetry, I’m sorta “meh” about the whole thing. I’m not sure any of the data is actionable, outside of post-run analysis.
I’m curious to see where Stryd goes from here. I really would like to see improved treadmill accuracy and elevation integration with treadmill inclines. I’m aware treadmills can be horribly inaccurate, but I’ve run on enough different treadmills at hotels and gyms to know that they can’t ALL be bad. Especially with curved manual treadmills, like the AssultRunner Pro or Woodway.
Anyway, thanks again for the post. Solid work.
thank you for the kind words and I pretty much entirely agree with the other points you make.
Duo/Footpath: they have to start somewhere. hopefully this is a starting point rather than an end goal.
I’m surprised that footpath would not show asymettry (if you had it). I can feel a degree of asymettry in my stride and stryd shows asymetry, albeit not how i expected
responsiveness: am asusming you have your transmit and display settings set accordingly. if so i agree it’s hard to notice a difference when running, which of course doesn’t mean there isnt a difference. eg when you maximally sprint, do you look at your wrist as you do it! hopefully not. but the post workout data should show it. i’ve noticed my top end power has got higher in powercenter.
For the fast hill sprints, they’re only 8-10 seconds, and I’m doing them as fast as I can. Pace, power, HR, RPE are all irrelevant. The only time I’m looking at my watch is when I’m standing around bored in recovery waiting for the next sprint.
For the longer intervals though (40 seconds, 1 minute, etc.), I’m definitely looking at my watch trying to make sure I’m in the right range. For those, I have my watch display set to instant power, and that’s where I’m skeptical of the increased responsiveness. It’s always been about 5-8 seconds, both on the 2019 wind version and Duo. Same holds true in PowerCenter.
It could be my Suunto watch though. Suunto is notorious for dropping all readings for one second (shows 0 in the .FIT file) and my 9 Baro Titanium can get sluggish at times, even during the run. Maybe I should get a Garmin.
I have noticed however that my reported power is a little higher with Duo (3-5% maybe?), and I’m guessing that’s due to increased accuracy from knowing the total work of each foot. I’ve also noticed increased reporting with air power, likely due to the same reason as both feet have a wind sensor now. So Duo “feels” more accurate to me (what would I know?).
That was an extremely long and in-depth article. Thank you for putting in the work! Wow!
I’ve been using Stryd for about six years and I really am glad. I’m on the latest version now, although I haven’t seen the benefit of doubling up to get the footpath option.
Just want to add one thing. Stryd told me several years ago, on Facebook I think, that they were working on implementing a fix so that automatic, treadmill incline would be possible. Nothing ever happened, which is really disappointing.
yes indeed!
look at RUNN, that broadcasts incline. not to stryd tho i think.
ive suggested those comapnies work together.
incline must be set manually as you know
Forget about that! I’ve been using Stryd since 2017 and I have realized there are certain things that the stryd developers want to expend calories on, and others they don’t. Treadmill and Trail/Ultra use are in the camp where they don’t.
tfK recommended the NPE Runn, which I bought partly based on that recommendation. It will broadcast to an app called runcline which you can then record your power based runs (with incline adjusted power). It’s really neat, not without bugs or weird aspects mind you, but it’s what I use when I run on the treadmill.