Test Run: Apple Watch Nike+ Edition

The new running-oriented Nike+ version of the Apple Watch hit stores on Oct. 28 for $369-$399, depending on size. Photos: Sam Winebaum

The Nike+ edition of the Apple Watch Series 2 launched Oct. 28 and we took one out for some test runs.

We had seen many pictures of the bold Nike Volt band highlights, watch faces and workout screens, played with the non-Nike version, and studied the improvements over the first Apple Watch. As much as we knew a lot about what the Nike version would included, there is nothing like having one on the wrist and testing it on the run.

The addition of GPS to the watch, full waterproofing and a sophisticated swim app, a screen that’s twice as bright and a faster processor have all been in the news. The Apple Watch Nike+ and all Series 2 Apple Watches now track runs phone-free and, via the on board music player, keep your tunes playing. In addition to the Nike+ features covered here, there are literally thousands of other watch apps and everyday utility features built into the watch and they perform significantly better than in the original Apple Watch. The Nike+ edition is priced the same as other comparable Series 2 watches.

Some of the differences between the Nike+ version of the Apple Watch and other Apple Watches are exclusive color coordinated Nike+ sport-focused bands and Nike+ watches faces with direct access to the onboard Nike+Run Club app. These digital and analog Nike+ watch faces, and they are bold, prominently use Nike’s signature Volt yellow. The Nike watch faces also give you one-touch access to the weather and your overall activity. These on-the-face features are known in watch speak as “complications.” They can be swapped out for others made available by other apps on your watch or Apple’s own via the phone app. I swapped the activity complication for the vital battery life indicator. The Apple Watch will only get you through about 5 hours of running without the phone connected or 18 hours in typical daily use. Some of Apple’s stock watch faces also include Volt yellow highlights, for example, a Volt second hand over a black background and white digits watch face.

Deeper into the plumbing of the new Watch OS3, I was happy to see that app developers, including Nike, now have far deeper access to the OS so as they can customize features and draw in data from other sources. So, for example, one of the the Nike+Run Club app screens “When Are You Running?” had us a bit perplexed as to its utility before trying the watch. It lets you schedule runs by time of day but also shows a snapshot of the expected temperature and weather for that time. We were told the data is from Dark Sky, a weather app that fine tunes forecasts to a very local level.

Our first surprise was how comfortable the exclusive Nike band is—far more comfortable than the original Apple Watch sports band, even though it is made of the same material. The band is compression molded compound of two colors. In our test watch, the inner band is Volt Yellow, the outer band Flat Silver and the case Silver Aluminum. There are three other Nike exclusive combinations of band and case. Softer, more pliable and stretchy than the original’s Sport Band (with plenty of holes for breathability and weight reduction), the band balances a secure hold on the wrist with comfort. A secure, light-free seal is essential for reliable wrist heart rate readings. The Nike+ band is much easier than the old Sport Band to put on and then cinch tight enough, without discomfort, to get that seal. A shorter band is included for smaller wrists. While not a heavy watch by any means, it somehow feels lighter, more as one with the wrist, not noticed than with the earlier Apple Watch, or for that matter other sport watches.

So what about the heart rate monitor during our first run? It was pretty good, but with a high reading initially—although that’s not unusual in cool weather especially at the start of runs. We shifted it to the other wrist, dominant side, which is a bit thicker and got a more consistent reading, although with a delay before it started displaying. More testing is in order before any real critiques can be made. Our usually very reliable Garmin Fenix went over to the other wrist and promptly also had high readings for a while. You will only see in-run heart rate if you select “Advanced Mode” in the Nike+Run Club app. It is not displayed in the default workout screen even though it is still recorded.

Other stats in Advanced are distance, elapsed time, time of day and current pace. The non-advanced default workout screen has three metrics, again on one screen: distance, elapsed time and time of day. Turning while lightly pressing the digital crown changes the big font Volt metric for one of the others on the screen. In a very cool feature, and without a phone, the watch will call out at each mile, to its speaker or to Bluetooth earphones, your average pace for the run, distance, and time. The speaker was surprisingly easy to hear. There is an auto-pause option, always a must. You can just start running or set an initial target for time, distance, or speed (but it requires phone). When the run is paused, the screen will show you distance, average pace, time, heart rate, and even where you are on a map, this last feature assuming you carry a phone. Swipe left to access to music controls and swipe right to manually pause and then via two taps to end the workout.

GPS acquisition was eerily quick, I think, but beyond a 1,2,3… countdown there is nothing to tell you are actually locked in. Distance on my first run along the ocean over open, flat terrain with few trees matched the Garmin Fenix HR almost exactly. Trail accuracy is to be determined with more testing. Screen visibility on an overcast day was excellent. The use of Volt yellow on black background creates high contrast. While two times brighter than the original Apple Watch, which was terrible in bright sunlight, we also want to evaluate how the Nike+ version performs in bright conditions.

At first glance data-focused, “serious” runners may say: “That’s it, only one screen of data? “With the exception of not having average pace displayed live (recall though it is called out at every mile), the basics are all there for me and given the nature of the platform surely can be evolved. I could see using the same approach as for customizing watch face complications to allow runners to customize their workout screen with preferred and additional data fields beyond what is offered now. The data is surely available and crunchable as the Apple Watch has an incredibly powerful processor. And a second screen of data is not too much to ask for as an option.

Nike’s slogan for the app and watch is “Are We Running Today?” Closely tied to the iPhone Nike+Run Club app, the watch Run Club app is heavy on inspiration and motivation. It will get you out there on those dark cold winter mornings! You can match your last run on your next one. If you are in a Nike+Run Club training plan, it will remind you what your next run is. If you are in a group leader board it will prompt you to run a few more miles to pass a friend. There is sharing of workouts directly from the watch and more.

The Apple Watch Nike+ goes far beyond a conventional GPS watch or even a GPS “smart watch” in its utility and bold style. Beyond the run, and with your phone nearby, you can answer calls from your wrist, see and feel driving directions, dictate a message, ask Siri for help, tell her to play music or to call someone. There is a full suite of activity monitoring as well as a new and very relaxing Breathe app. Thousands of other apps, including other running apps, are available. The original Apple Watch was hobbled by no GPS, slow response, limited integration of apps to the OS and to each other, not to mention a so-so screen for outdoor use. While not perfect, yet, the Apple Watch Series 2 and its Nike+ version significantly ups running and overall utility as a do-just-about-anything running watch and all-day wrist companion.

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