Zwift RunPod Review | Is it TERRIBLE?

[@AlexJ66]

I have had the Zwift Runpod for 4 years and it does exactly what I wanted it to, move the avatar. I don't really care if it is not 100% accurate, I only care about accuracy when running outdoors. I have now done of 1900 klms with the Runpod so reckon I have gotten fairly good value from it. Battery requires replacement every 6 months or so, and never had the connection difficulties others talk about. Obviously Stryd is better, but shipped to Australia for about $30.00 all up I can't complain.

[@FilmMyRun]

It's great that it works for some people. It's not been great for me but you're not the first to tell me it's worked fine.

[@FilmMyRun]

Hopefully I have been fair in my assessment of the Zwift RunPod. What do you think? Some people may have misunderstood my comments regarding the battery. It does not need a new battery every single run. If it's working fine for you then carry on as you are. If you are having problems then don't let it be a battery issue. Make sure you have a fresh battery in the pod. I change mine regularly, just to be sure.

[@gurya]

I have been cycling on zwift and now bought a treadmill for running. Your videos have been great getting me going. Thanks so much

[@trumptman]

Apologies in advance for being so long winded. I’m thankful your efforts here and know there is no manual or checklist for how to do a review. So please understand that any suggestions are meant only to be helpful and not critical. I think it important to approach this review from the perspective of the person likely to purchase this item. As you noted it is likely to be used by someone new to Zwift, possibly new to running and likely new to the field of sports technology. The $30 cheap footpod has that as a likely customer profile. So that customer is going to come at this with the following expectation per the video review.... Open the package and likely replace the included battery since it will be questionable. To solve potential problems download an app with a name not at all related to the actual product (Milestone vs Zwift) and use that app to check on the firmware and battery status of the pod. In Zwift expect marginal results that the three step calibration may make better or worse. Now when you come at this from the beginner mindset it looks like a pretty high wall to scale to get an acceptable result if you like to run at one type of cadence and speed. I suspect many of the issues with the Zwift footpod also relate to beginning level running or not being able to run at such a high level as yourself at a minimum. By that I mean newer folks likely engage in ‘inadvertent” intervals or do some walking. It would be interesting to see a follow up video where you try to generate the drops or stalls that so many people have encountered. I watched a bit of your run club video where you used the Zwift Footpod. I admit I basically skipped around to the interval sections and you noted having to compensate using additional speed to hit the target. However a beginning or new runner might not be able to do this. What likely would occur is they would speed up, smash themselves a bit and then drop down to a walk or much slower pace for a bit to gain recovery. A follow up video along the lines of “not expert at tech or running” might generate some very different results. Thanks for the time and effort on the review. Thanks for letting me add my two cents about your efforts and I appreciate what you’ve done.

[@FilmMyRun]

nickmusings totally agree here. I think this is the nirvana that Zwift want to achieve. Minimal effort and headaches for a new runner and not tech savvy. Not so easy to pull off

[@momagic8912]

I’ve had the milestone pod for a year and totally agree with your review / assessment - nice work 👍🏻

[@kevinm1728]

This review reflects my experience almost 100%. I found the calibration did make it better, but much like he said, it seems to have a sweet spot in the middle where it is right on with your pace. Outside of that range, it's off anywhere from .2-.4 miles per hour. Whether that's a huge deal or not depends on you. I subscribe more for cycling, the running was just a bonus, so for 29 bucks you may be able to live with it. As of November 2019, I have no connection issues really- that would be a deal breaker for me.

Its not cheap at all ! If you are in Europe and especially in Switzerland, Zwift charges an awful lot for delivery and additional charges that i ended up with a bill in my cart on checkout of more then 100,- $ ... so i decided not to buy. I did not find any other solution as Garmin is all ANT and Polar is not my Ecosystem. I used my Apple watch, but it just works on the iPhone and not on the iPad or bigger screens. Its a pity that the treadmills in my Gym don’t support direct connection even if they have BT signal, buts just for their own LF App. Anyway thanks for the review

[@DeChurcher]

4:41 seems like your Zwift Pod is attached upside down! On the Pictures of the Zwift-Homepage, is the dimpled area heading to the toes. Is this affecting the accuracy?

[@FilmMyRun]

Good observation. Hadn't noticed myself. I wouldn't think it would affect accuracy, but it's not impossible.

[@runnerfive972]

i had the milestone at the start, it was shite for me . . . now i need it as the kids are grown up and seem to want to use my computer all of the time . . this is annoying as i usaully use ANT+ to connect which is perfect from Garmin, hoping my andrios with this can have be toally wireless so to speak.

[@Peakabike]

Yep, the ZwiftPod/Milestone (or Garmin Pod) have to be calibrated for the pace you're running at unlike the Stryd, so you can't use it for distance but for pace it's generally going to be close enough. Stryd costs 10x and is maybe 10x more accurate...but still not accurate enough to be used for distance so...it only really makes sense to use if for power.

[@mumblecake251]

four years on from this review. I bought the Zwift runpod for £20 as it was half price. I have never calibrated the pod as I don't have access to a treadmill. I usually (outdoor) run at a pace of around 11km/h so below what the out of the box sweet spot is (or was ... 4 years ago at least) and for me the accuracy is surprisingly good. I do an outdoor run over 11-12km and in Zwift (which runs on my phone in my pocket) it overestimates by 100-200m which equates to 1-2% ... which in return is considered to be very good for a bike power meter. For £20 I don't think I can complain.

[@FilmMyRun]

Fair enough. If it works for you

[@davidweiss8710]

just came across this..has the updates ever helped this thing in terms of calibration?

[@mickaelburguet4686]

Thanks for the review. If the Zwift RunPod calibration tool doesn't work, and if I want to do mostly higher intensity runs (threshold runs), then which zwift compatible footpod do you recommend instead ?

[@FilmMyRun]

Absolutely should be the Stryd. It's expensive, but there's no better choice other than a direct connection smart treadmill.

[@DamonVanDyken]

Where would you buy it from in Australia??

[@FilmMyRun]

@@DamonVanDyken I think you can order from the Zwift website, no?

[@toddboucher3302]

will it work outside or is it for treadmill only

[@JustinBlack1]

You mentioned the Stryd footpod but do you have any experience with the Garmin footpod?

[@FilmMyRun]

The Garmin was the first footpod I ever owned. Had one for years and used it when Zwift Running first came out. As long as you can connect via ANT+ it does a decent job once calibrated. But the Stryd is better.

[@tnewt21]

If the Zwift app says you were "Connected," but the avatar was not moving. Take the battery out for like a minute and put it back in... It should be FIXED!!! Or try a NEW battery.

[@miguelesteban8775]

Can it connect to garmin watches? Also does it have app where we can review data like the milestone pod?

[@huh714]

can you use it for outdoors-running?

[@FilmMyRun]

Kristian Holmgaard of course yes. It will give you cadence as with any footpod. But it is only Bluetooth so if you’re using your watch remember it needs to be able to see Bluetooth devices.

[@lw7090]

Fascinating review. Anybody running the Adidas/Garmin footpod on zwift?

[@FilmMyRun]

There are still a few people using the old Garmin Footpod. It’s no longer available to buy so not so common as it used to be. It works quite well once calibrated but its miles off otherwise.

[@lw7090]

@@FilmMyRun thanks for that. Just back on zwift after injury so taking all this in again.

[@melvinlai605]

Hi will the Zwift Pod work on Android mobile pls? I also use a Garmin Fenix 3 and when my bluetooth On my phone is on, will the Garmin steal the bluetooth connection?

[@FilmMyRun]

Hi, the Zwift pod will work on Android yes. In terms of stealing the Bluetooth connection. The Fenix is the transmitter and the phone is the receiver. All this means is that once your watch is connected to your phone, it can't be found by any other device. Your Zwift Pod is also a transmitter so it can connect to your phone as well at the same time. But once it is connected to your phone it won't be available to connect to any other receiving devices. Hope that helps.

[@melvinlai605]

@@FilmMyRun Tks heaps. Btw i watch your live Zwift runs but cant join them as i am in Singapore n its usually 1 or 2am here when u run lol. The Amazon reviews of the Zwift pod are not good citing many issues like lost connections n setup problems. I found a alternative by pairing my Fenix 3 to a Treadmill Speed Transmiter via a bridge mobile phone and sending the run data to the Zwift app on my S8+. So far it works but of coz i need 2 phones in the gym. My Zwift runs are uploaded to Garmin Connect and Strava. My only grouse now is that there is no music from within the App. I do hope to Join your Zwift run sessions one of these days...but i need to go to a 24hr gym for that. Tks heaps again

[@1111hours]

Thank you!

[@marvinpyles3274]

i want it for walking on the treadmill with zwift. thoughts?

[@Thespinningwoman]

Did you ever try this? I also want it for walking/slow jogging speeds.

[@Julie-my6ds]

I'm not very tech savvy. If I get the zwift foot pod, and an ant+ dongle for my laptop, will all that work together with my Garmin 245 as well? I'm not understanding :(

[@FilmMyRun]

Hi Julie. You don't need your watch at all to run on Zwift. If you get the ZwiftPod you also don't need an ANT+ dongle. The ZwiftPod broadcasts in Bluetooth, which is a different way to send data than ANT+. So all you need is the ZwiftPod. However, this assumes that your laptop is up to date and has Bluetooth installed and working already. You might want to check that. If you load Zwift on your laptop you will see in the Pairing Screen the option to turn on Bluetooth. Once you have done that the Bluetooth logo should flash. If it does not then you may need to update your laptop or turn Bluetooth on in your laptop settings. Search for my other video on 'Zwift Direct Bluetooth to PC'. I assume it's a Windows machine. If it's a Mac it should work straight away.

[@harrishistoria]

Have the improved/updated this pod since your review?

[@Goomba_Smash]

I’ve been waiting 2 years for an answer to this before picking one up

[@philipnelza]

I have a smart treadmill which connects to Zwift (via Bluetooth) for the speed data. But I would like use the Zwift pod for cadence data on the Zwift screen. Will this work? I use my phone to connect to Zwift. So will the Zwift app on my phone pick up the Bluetooth treadmill and the Bluetooth Zwift pod?

[@FilmMyRun]

Yes. You should connect the treadmill as usual as the speed source, then manually select the ZwiftPod as the cadence source.

[@philipnelza]

@@FilmMyRun Thank you Stephen. I will try that. Got my pod today. Looking forward to do a run with you soon on Zwift. I want to try the 500m elevation challenge.

[@sarethums]

I want something to count my jumps while skipping. Can this be used for that? thanks

[@popitn2nd]

Would a Zwift pod require a Bluetooth 4.0? Because my macbook pro has only bluetooth 2.0 if i buy the zwift pod, if might not pair up.

[@FilmMyRun]

popitn2nd really? How old is your MacBook Pro?? Mine is late 2013 and works fine with Zwift and the Zwiftpod. If it doesn’t you can easily buy a cheap Bluetooth 4.0 dongle for your laptop.

[@popitn2nd]

Film My Run mine is an early 2011 mac book pro 15”. I believe apple started producing the bluetooth 4.0 on year late 2012 macbook pros

[@amjid300]

Anyone have any experience of using this against the Apple Watch? I’ve got the series 4 and used it for the first time via the Apple TV but not sure if it’s worth getting this instead?

[@nadsim154]

Thank you for the great review !

[@harrishistoria]

Have these been improved since this video was made?

[@DJChipsandGarlic]

so even if i just used zwift pod to run at my bog standard jog pace (6mins per km) the zwift should be sufficient for that?

[@FilmMyRun]

yes

[@angvarma1]

I heard about issues trying to remove it from the shoes, that is almost impossible to do it, is that right?

[@AlexJ66]

Late response I know, but no it comes off easy.

[@ezarama]

I bought the Zwift Runpod and it's terribly inaccurate

[@FilmMyRun]

Yes, it's really not great!

[@alexcastillo6400]

Great review. Thanks.

[@klavsvasilis]

Why oh why km/h?

[@FilmMyRun]

Because treadmills display speed rather than pace. So km/h makes sense.

[@jdujnd173]

lol milestone inaccuracy pod zwift buys keeps same employees changes M to Z zwift pod also inaccurate

[@FilmMyRun]

Haha yup

[@davidferrick]

It DOES make a difference for the orientation of the pod.

[@FilmMyRun]

Sorry, this is in relation to what?

[@davidferrick]

@@FilmMyRun Orientation of the foot pod.

[@FilmMyRun]

David J. Ferrick yes agreed but I think as long as it’s square on you’re good. The Z should be facing up or down but certainly not at an angle. So yes you’re right it does make a difference

[@promotionallao6390]

Wow this was such a drawn out video

[@FilmMyRun]

Yea I know!! It’s far too long. But it’s up there now so I’m not going to change it.