| Manufacturer | Stryd |
|---|---|
| Type | Foot pod running power meter |
| Series | Stryd 4.0 (Next Gen) |
| Released | Approx. Q4 2022; Duo (two pods) November 2023 |
| Price at launch | $249 / £219 / €219 |
| Successor | Stryd 5.0 |
| Membership | Optional, about $100 a year |
Specifications and features as at launch.
Expert opinion | Specifications | Battery life | Features | Further reading
Expert opinion
I am a 90 percent convert to running power. Stryd is on my foot for nearly all my runs, including my last Ironman and half Ironman, and I use it for effort-based pacing on hilly ground and in towns. It also gives the most accurate instant pace and distance I have found. It works with Garmin, Apple, Polar, Coros and Suunto watches, and Stryd’s PowerCenter is the best place I have found to analyse running power.
The 4.0 pod charges in a wired cradle and comes with two shoelace clips. The newer 5.0 is smaller and has a magnetic charger, but the previous generation still delivers most of the value. The limitations are real. No standard defines running power, so numbers from different brands cannot be compared. The gait metrics look compelling but are hard to act on. A membership is required, there is no Wear OS support, and the pod is a relatively expensive accessory. The Duo version adds a second pod for balanced gait data and a backup if one battery fails.
Specifications
| Pod | |
|---|---|
| Weight | 8 g for the pod, or 9 g including the shoe clip |
| Sensor | 9-axis |
| Wind | Wind sensor, which needs a clear hole so position on the shoe matters |
| Charging | Wired charging cradle in the box |
| In the box | Two lace clips (orange and black) and a charging cradle |
| Battery | |
| Battery life | Claimed up to 20 hours. Real-world 15 to 17 hours |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | |
Battery life
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pod battery | Claimed 20 hours, 15 to 17 hours in practice |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | |
Features
- Running power
- Wind-aware power
- Pace and distance
- Works with most sports watches over about £/$200 from Polar, Garmin, Coros, Suunto and Apple
Other Stryd models
Compare this model with the others in the range.
Further reading
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.
- Beet It Sport nitrate shots: Beetroot shots I take in the days before a race. 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.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
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