MP3 Recommendations for Running

A

andreasue

Cathlete
The posts about Cardio Coach have me thinking that it might be time to buy my first MP3 player. I need something to shake up my running routine and this sounds like the ticket!

Sadly, I am in the technological dark ages and I could use some advice. I'm just looking for something simple to use while running...nothing too fancy or I'll just get confused! I'd like to be able to download music and things like cardio coach. Recommendations for headphones/earbuds, whatever they're called now, would also be appreciated!

Thanks!
 
We have 3 different ones in our home. One is from Wal-Mart, one from our local Meijer store and one from KMart. They were all around $30.00 and super easy to use.

I just download my own CDs to my computer and transfer them to my MP3s. The instructions are very easy to follow.

A lot of people love their ipods, but they are pricier. For the money, I love my plain old MP3 players!

The main difference is that I have to go song to song and can't jump around or create special playlists like an ipod can. It is not a big deal to me. I have all kinds of songs downloaded so that I can just to to the "next" songs to find cardio or cool-down music...whatever I am needing at the time.

Good luck!
Jenn
 
If you're going to use it for Cardio Coach or iTrain workouts, I would HIGHLY suggest that you get something with playlist capabilities. You don't want to spend time flipping around trying to find the next segment of the workout, and most of them are broken down into more than one file.

I have an iPod Nano that I use for my workouts and I love it. It's super-easy to use, easy to download files to, a great size... as for earbuds, I just use the ones that came with it, though I know they're not ideal. I just haven't had time to shop around for something better.

Hope that helps!
 
I have to agree with Shelley's suggestion on getting something with playlist capability. I used a Sansa Sandisk (1gig) for about a year and in the beginning (before I learned about iTreads, lol), I listened just to music and it was terrible to just hit play and then have to skip to the next song because I didn't want to hear my kids' Kids Bop version of a song! LOL

For the money, the Sansa was great, just the playlist was a drawback.

BF bought me an 80gig iPod Classic for Christmas, and it's top of the line. In other words, NOT something I would have bought for myself! :) But now that I'm using it and am adding music, iTreads, playlists, etc, I LOVE IT! There are several models of iPods out there.

NOW....the ONLY drawback to this iPod (and I believe all iPod models are the same) is that they do not have a radio tuner. When I run outdoors, I prefer the radio for some odd reason. I'm saving up for the radio tuner extension for the iPod, but it's not built-in.

Hope that helps some!

Gayle
 
Thanks, everyone, for the good advice! This is just the kind of information I was looking for. I will look for an MP3 with playlist capability because I am interested in Cardio Coach etc. along with my own music. I'm so excited about this!!!:)
 
Besides playlist I would like at one with a flash memory. The Mp3 players that are not flash have moving parts that can become damaged over time if they are used for activities like running.
 
Jacque-any idea if iPods have flash memory??? HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM! Guess I could look that up myself!

Gayle
 
Gayle,

The larger ones do not. I do not know if any of the smaller ones do. I have a large Mp3 player I use in the car(long drive to school) and to listen to at work that I carry most all of my music on. I have a Creative Zen that I use for running and things like that. I figure with the price of large Mp3 players it is probably worth it to buy a cheaper smaller one if it will extend the life of the large one.

-Jacque
 
Thanks Jacque,
So...an MP3 with playlist capability and a flash memory is what I'll be looking for. Do you like your Creative Zen?
 
I do like it. I have had it for two years and no problems. I am not sure if it has playlists but I think it does. I have not used that feature. My Itrains are filed next to each other because they have similiar names.
 
I have an Ipod Nano and LOVE, LOVE it for my music and Itrains...(I prefer Itreads over Cardio Coach). I used to have a RCA something or rather MP3 player I had won at a raffle but it froze up and quit working not long after I got it. I vote for an Ipod if you can get one. Itunes can be used on a PC and it is a great way to organize the music and things for the ipod. Ipods are lightweight and I have mine in a neoprene case that has a built in clip. I clip the ipod to my shorts waist band and lead the head phone wire under my shirt. Whatever kind you get, you'll love it I'm sure!

Thomasina
 
Thanks Jacque and Thomasina,
The IPod Nano is a little more than I wanted to spend. The Creative Zen looks good. I also found a Sansa that looked good. What do you think of this description? It's only $60.00 (seems like a good price).

Here's the description (from Amazon.com):

<<Take Your Music With You
The 1 GB Sansa m240 will hold approximately 16 hours of CD-quality MP3 tracks (encoded at 128kps) or 32 hours of WMA tracks (at 64kbps). It's compatible with MP3, WMA, secure WMA, and Audible audio file formats. The backlit LCD screen shows ID3 tag information for the currently playing track (song title, artist and album). Navigate the music on your player with ease, sorting by artist, album, song title, playlist or other criteria. With five equalizer types, you can optimize your sound for your favorite style of music, such as, Rock, Jazz, Classical, Pop, and Custom (user-defined). Keep the music coming with up to 19 hours continuous playback using one AAA Battery.>>

Thanks again for all your help!
 
Andreasue - I'd go with something larger than a 1 gb. You're going to fill that up fairly quickly with Cardio Coaches and iTrain workouts and won't have any memory left for your music. I have a 2 gb Nano that I use exclusively for workouts and another iPod that I use for music, etc. 2 gb is the smallest I would go, if I were you.

And Gayle, the smaller iPods (Nanos, Shuffles) have a flash memory and are therefore great for exercising. The larger ones (Classic 80 and 160 gb) have actual hard drives and aren't the best thing to use for running because they have moving parts.

Hope that helps!
 
Gayle,

The ipod Nano is Flash memory based. So is the iPod Touch (which has a large screen for movie viewing that is touch sensitive). Flash memory MP3 players, as mentioned, are more rugged for impact sport use and also more compact.

Your flash based player options that are good for exercise and support playlists are:
1. Refurbished older model Apple ipod Nano or new model ipod Nano(available at the apple online store for much less than a new Nano. Comes with a one year warranty. http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=44BD9AA2&nclm=Certified)The difference between the new model and older models is that the new model plays both video and audio while older models are audio only. You can get the older model without video support for just $80. The big advantage is that iTunes (application you use on your PC to transfer music to the device) is very easy to use for a non-techie to transfer music from CDs, import downloaded mp3 files, organize playlists and transfer ocntent into neat playlists on the device. the Nano is also exceptionally sleek for sport use.

2. Microsoft Zune Flash. Plays both video and audio and competes with ipod Nano. Retail price is same as ipod Nano but it sells for slightly less. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_g...rl=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=zune+flash This is easy to use too, but a bit clunkier than the ipod nano.

3. Creative has high quality flash based players - some only audio and some support bopth video/audio. They are priced very attractively and have all the necessary features. Here is a popular one for sport use: http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Port...2?ie=UTF8&s=audio-video&qid=1200834050&sr=1-2

iRiver, Sony, mobiblu, Coby, Archos and Cowon have some great low cost flash player options, especially if you buy audio only models, with features for playlists.

I am onto my second ipod nano now. My first was the original Nano model. It was scratch free and worked perfectly....but I traded up and bought the new model that was launched in Sep 2008 with video capability.

I now rip exercises from my Cathe DVDs (each exercise as a separate movie clip) and mix and match them with my own exercises at the gym, or by combining favorites from across DVDs!

Almost every mp3 player comes with a set of headphones. Unless you want audiophiphile quality, you need not buy another set.

A good thing to buy however is an armband/wristband or a lanyard-case (to wear it around your neck) when you exercise. I prefer the wrist option best.

Vrinda
 
Sansa is a reputed model.

However, this particular model while it will do everything you neeed, is slightly older. There are newer arrivals with brighter colored display, features like playlists and more storage space for comparable prices.

I would consider these options:

a. A 2 GB ipod Nano refursbished 2nd Gen from the apple site ($80). It comes with 1 year warranty. http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=44BD9AA2&nclm=Certified

b. The Sansa Clip 1 GB player for under $ 40
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0DDXDWN7FRCW0GZ65DRP

c. The upcoming Sansa Clip 4GB model limited edition if you dont mind waiting a bit. It has 4 times the capacity as the model you are considering for just $ 80. and FM radio support too. It will be released in Feb 2008.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=357649701&pf_rd_i=1065836

d. The Creative Zen 4 GB
http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Port...?ie=UTF8&s=audio-video&qid=1200835706&sr=1-20

e. The Archos 2 GB flash that supports both video and audio for $ 80(Archos is a technically outstanding brand - my hubby has another model) http://www.amazon.com/ARCHOS-105-2G...?ie=UTF8&s=audio-video&qid=1200835887&sr=1-17
 
Vrinda,

WOW!!! Thank you so much for the fabulous information and links for the various MP3s. I've spent hours on the net researching MP3s but didn't find any deals as good as the ones you mentioned!

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this MP3 "Tutorial". You have all been generous with your time and advice. I feel well equipped to make a good decision!

Thanks for helping me to become more tech-savy for 2008!:)
 
>Andreasue - I'd go with something larger than a 1 gb. You're
>going to fill that up fairly quickly with Cardio Coaches and
>iTrain workouts and won't have any memory left for your music.
> I have a 2 gb Nano that I use exclusively for workouts and
>another iPod that I use for music, etc. 2 gb is the smallest
>I would go, if I were you.


Thanks, Shelley, this is another great tip!
 
Andrea,

You are welcome.

I LOVE exercising with an MP3 player at the gym. I used to vastly prefer home workouts until I got it. Now I cannot wait to get to the gym.

If you learn how to convert your DVDs to video files it is like the best of both worlds. You can listen to your own songs while doing exercises on the machines, switch to being coached by Cathe and use the Smith Machine to squat/bench press with her, and end it all with a quick treadmill run with the Cardio Coach! (If you want a tutorial with any of that just post here again!)

Cathe will be releasing video and audio workouts for media players soon. Cannot wait! Tracey Staehle already offers video downloads. Individual segments of her workout can be bought cost effectively at her site.

If you buy a video capable device, try to make sure it supports MPEG-4 for viseo, because that is the format Cathe / Tracey offer (it is the format supported by the ipod). Most good players support this format.


Vrinda
 
Vrinda,
Gosh, thanks again for all this great information! My head is spinning with all of this news. I'm sure I'll be back looking for more advice once I get started. I'm leaning towards the re-built Nanos at the moment, but I'm going to take the time to explore each of the MP3 suggestions you made.
This is very exciting!!!
 
Good luck Andrea. Shopping for a new toy is so exciting!

One thing to think of to help you narrow down: Do you want only audio or do you want video+audio.

The amazon reviews are very useful to understand the advantages/disadvantages in practical use in non-geek terms.

The refurbished older model Nanos are very easy to use, sleek and an excellently engineered product. I have used ipod's for many years and none has died on me. Apple Warranty/Customer Support is outstanding. It is a great choice if you do not want video. iTunes/ipod help is easy to find at forums because there are so many users.
 
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