Milestone Pod run tracker (3rd generation) review

Several months ago I reviewed the Milestone Pod, a non-GPS run tracking device.

I found it to be a very useful run tracker; not only was it accurate, easy to use, and affordable, but it kept track of how many miles you’ve ran in your current running shoes. Seasoned runners will tell you shoes need to be replaced every 300 to 500 miles, so being able to track the mileage put on shoes is important.

Milestone had recently launched their third generation version of the Pod. This new Pod is supposed to “provide a more seamless and refined user experience.”

Milestone was kind enough to provide me with this new Pod so I could review it. Let’s see if it proves to be an improvement.

In the box

• Pod
• Pod holder
• Quick start guide
• Lithium battery

Okay, first things first, I’m going to approach this review a little different than reviews I’ve previously done. From a functional standpoint, the second generation and third generation Pods aren’t all that different. The basic premise of the Pod has stayed the same, it’s an easy to use, non-GPS run tracker. The biggest changes from generation two to three involve the design of the Pod and the performance of the accompanying app.

With that in mind, I’m not going to do an in-depth review of every aspect of the new Pod; to do so, I would literally be copying and pasting entire paragraphs of the original review. Instead, I’m going to focus on the changes from generation two to three.

Appearance

The most noticeable difference between the two Pods is in their appearance.

The generation two Pod had a prototype-ish look to it. Anytime I can see a portion of a circuit board, I’m left thinking the product in question is unfinished or unrefined.

The new Pod has a much sleeker and modern look to it; there is no question, this a finished product.

The new Pod retains the removable back, which allows the battery to be replaced; while, doing away with the small odometer display.

Removing the display doesn’t bother me at all, I never once used it with the previous Pod.

Setup

Another big change – and perhaps the most useful – is with the initial setup.

To secure the last Pod to your shoe, you had to unlace your sneakers almost all the way. You then ran the laces through the Pod’s holder, and had to re-lace your sneakers

While it wasn’t digging ditches in the hot, summer sun, it was a bit of an inconvenience. It took several minutes to do, and you couldn’t easily switch the Pod from one shoe to another.

With the new Pod, you no longer have to unlace your sneakers.

To attach the Pod, you first slide the redesigned holder under your laces. You then place the Pod into the holder and twist it to the right until it clicks. This locks the Pod into the holder and secures it to your shoe.

As I said, this is the best improvement from generation two to three; it literally takes seconds to setup. I was able to swap the Pod between my running shoes, my work boots, and my sneakers in a matter of seconds. Kudos to the designer that came up with this!

After attaching the Pod, setup is the exact same process that I described in the original review.

Milestone App

Like the Pod itself, the basics of the app are the same. There are one or two added features, but for the most part, the changes are aesthetic.

You’ll first notice the design changes in the app when you launch it and arrive at the dashboard.

You can see the two screenshots are almost identical, with a few minors changes to the icons, fonts, and font colors.

The biggest change is the information displayed at the bottom. Originally the app displayed your best pace; however, now it displays your average cadence.

You’ll next notice a change in the app’s menu.

Again, there are subtle changes to the icons, fonts, and font colors; however, several menu options have been relocated.

The “Profile Info”, “Contact Us”, and “Logout” menu options have been relocated to a new “Settings” menu option.

Additionally, the “What’s Inside” option has been replaced with a “Why it Matters” option.

The “Why it Matters” section is basically just a highlight of some of the app’s features.

The “Settings” option contains a new feature that allows you to export your run log to Excel.

Clicking on “Export Run Log To Excel” sends an Excel file to the email address you used to register with the app.

After you open the Excel file you are presented with three tabs: “Runs”, “Walks”, and “User Info”.

The “Runs” and “Walks” tabs present all the information available to you in the app; while the “User Info” tab presents your name, email, and session information.

Oddly enough, all of my runs appeared under the “Walks” tab. I think this is because I “run” so slowly that my pace doesn’t meet whatever threshold the app uses to differentiate between runs and walks.

Overall, I think it’s a pretty useful feature. It provides an easy way to compare past runs with more recent ones, without having to jump back and forth within the app.

The only other difference in the app of any consequence is in the “Run Details” screen.

Aside from the standard changes to icons and fonts, the “Stance Time” listing has been renamed to “Ground Contact”. It’s the exact same information, but with a different name.

Every screen and menu in the app has some degree of changes to the icons, fonts, colors, etc., but not so much that it is worth going into detail.

I found the changes to be for the better. I think the app is cleaner and more pleasing to the eye. Plus, the ability to export run data can be incredibly useful.

Additional Upgrades

Along with the design changes to the Pod and App, Milestone made a few “under the hood” changes.

Milestone states:

Additional Pod improvements include a longer battery life of six to eight months, water proofing, [and] overall improved accuracy.

They also claim to have a better registration process, a quicker sync time, and a more refined Runficiency Score.

Conclusion

I really enjoyed the last Pod I reviewed; I continued to use it long after reviewing it.

After using the new Pod, I can say it is definitely an improvement over the last.

Milestone did a somewhat drastic redesign of the Pod, but they were able to keep the core functions of the last Pod, while removing unnecessary features like the LCD screen. The result is a Pod that is easier to use and better looking.

Even with all the improvements, Milestone managed to keep the price the same.

Milestone did an excellent job with the new Pod. If you were a fan of the last Pod, you’re sure to love the new one.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Milestone Sports. Please visit their site for more information and Amazon to order.