Nike+ SportBand

Is NIke's new Sportband the answer to training woes?

Product

Nike+ SportBand - the next generation.

Promise

The next generation of Nike+ SportBand has just been released – said to improve on last year's model which helps runners of all levels to stay connected and keep track of their progress. It claims to be a great tool for anyone training for a race or looking to slim down, and the new version gives runners real-time performance feedback on their distance, pace, time and calories burned with just a glance at their wrist. It synchs up to the nikeplus.com website too so you can produce a graph of your progress and compete with friends and other runners around the world.

Performance

This WideWorld reviewer plunged into the road-test with gusto. I'm not a huge fan of pounding the streets, so wearing something on my wrist which tells me how I did compared to the last time, really put a rocket up my backside. It's incredibly easy to use: you hold down the button on the gadget for three seconds and it synchs with another little sister device hidden in the sole of your Nike running shoe. Then you just start running – this small box of tricks calculates how far you've gone, and what your pace is. Want to pause for a pee or for a breather? Just hit the button once and it'll stop in its tracks until you press the button again.

Here comes the fun part: once you're back at home, you just remove the little black device from the strap and plug it into the USB socket of your computer. Hey presto! The Nikeplus.com website launches and you can see instantly how you've done. I've used this five times so far and each time, thankfully, I've run further than the last - largely due to the fact I don't want to see an embarassing dip in my graph.

Verdict

Love it. This little device is perfect for the serious runner or for those just wanting to get fit or lose weight. No nasty personal trainers making you feel like a flabby git: you only need to better yourself each time. And if you don't? Well, no one needs to know.