Garmin or Nike+?

I have a Nike+, love it, and never had any problems with it, ever.  Having said that, the Garmin is just better technology, especially if you can find a deal on a 305 where you can use it for running and biking (and swimming, I guess.)

Flip side, your Garmin won't let you jam to Disturbed while you workout. 

i had a Nike+ for a year with mixed results.   if you change your gait, stride, pace, etc.....the results will differ quite a bit.   i've actually noticed quite a bit a difference after getting my Garmin 305.

the Garmin uses a sattlite and is extremely accurate regardless of stride, gait, etc.  i like how i can head out and not worry about a route because i know it'll be true....unlike the Nike+.  

to tell you the truth, i don't know how i ever used the Nike+ now that i have my Garmin.  it's really invaluable to me and worth every penny it cost me.

and who says you can't rock out with a Garmin?   i use my Garmin and wear my nano while running.   only difference is not having a power song....which to me is no big deal.

a big +1 for the Garmin....no question

BT interfaces with Garmin units in 2 ways: You can 1) upload the map/geo data to the Route Tracker  2) upload workout data (including HR Zone info) to your training log.

Uploading route data is a free feature, workout data is a performance member feature, primarily because it's expensive on our end to maintain.

You don't have to buy an Ipod to use the Nike+.  All you need is to buy the Nike Sportsband [$60] & a mini shoe pouch [~$7 - unless you plan on buying Nike+ sneakers]. For $67 you get to log in you miles.

Nike+ is alright been using it for about 2 months after switching over from the Ipod version of Nike+. Sometimes you'll lose some runs but that was also with the Ipod version. If your starting out to see if you like running it's great but I recommend also getting yourself a log book [$15] to write your runs as backup.

I've never used the Nike+, but I'm not a fan of their products. 

Garmin on the other hand does a great job.  I have a 305, as does my wife, and it's great.  There are the occasional glitches, but 99% of the time it's a great training tool.  I don't think you can go wrong with the Garmin. 

 (consider the 305 or 405..worth the extra $$ IMO)

Weren't you at Ft. Knox before?

I had the Nike + since it first came out.  I did the majority of my runs in the early morning before the sun came up so having the "voice" talk to me telling me pace & distance during my run was great.  I also like listening to music while running.  When I was working on my stride rate, I loaded drum beats with the beats per minute I wanted and ran to that.

I have not used a 205/305 but I have run with my GPS receiver.  I like the ability to upload the route.

The accuracy of the GPS is better than the iPod. 

In over a year and a half, I never had any issues with the Nike+.  I did have the battery die on the iPod.

I would go with the Nike+.

I've had both, and I'll tell you that I run with my Garmin 305 every time I can.  The Nike+ however was shelved after a couple of runs.  The main thing I love about my garmin is that when  I wear it during  a race, I can analyze the race and reexperince it better with the mapping breakdown tools later.  I still look over the Garmin report of my first marathon and see right when I hit the wall.

What drove me away from the Nike+ was the inaccuracy of the distance.  What I wish it would have is a time option.  Then it would always be accurate.  I would set it for a time run of say 40 minutes and it would break that down instead of guessing how far I have run.  If it had that feature, I would probably use that for most of my training and only wear my Garmin in a race.

The Garmin 305 will give you the pace you are currently running.   so essentially you can see your pace go up or down while doing hills.   the Nike+ won't do this because it is calibrated through your pace....which is why i don't like it.   if you change pace or stride....your results will be off.

and as someone else mentioned, you can put the Garmin on your bike and it will keep track of pace for cycling too.

again, the Garmin is awesome and wouldn't trade it for anything.   i'd suggest spend a bit more and go for that (if you can spend the extra).   then just grab a nano or shuffle or whatever iPod or want and use it for your tunes.   thats what i've been doing.

Actually, the 205s have the same technology as the 305s, just not the HRM. You're probably thinking about the 201/301 series.

Get the garmin, but get the 305. Not much price diff and you might want the HR someday.

I've had my Ipod Nike+ since Jan 07.  Since that time I've logged over 1000kms with no problem except for locking up a couple times.  More of an Ipod issue there though.  It's a great product to get people running.  I know having it really motivated me to run, and ultimately to preparing for triathlons.  But I think that's where it ends.  Now that I've become more of a serious runner and looking at running as training not just as exercise, I see the limits of it.  I purchased a HR monitor to track my HR and now wear both.  Ideally, I'd like to have a Forerunner 305 so I can replace my Nike+, HR monitor and cycle computer with one unit.   

When you upload your workouts to the Nike+ you'll see what you ran each km (or mile) in.  At any time you can hit your ipod middle button and it'll tell you are pace and total distance or time remaining.  You will find that running uphill and downhill really throws off the Nike+.

I'd get the Garmin.