Preface
Among all sports, running is arguably the most accessible. All you need is a pair of running shoes and a determined heart.
Nowadays, more and more people are taking up running, but many also suffer from running-related injuries. According to statistics, 80% of runners experience injuries. Aside from injuries caused by overexertion, a significant portion of runners, especially beginners, get injured due to improper running form.
Beginners often lack professional training and are either unaware of or do not pay attention to proper running form. Blindly running without proper form can lead to injuries and diminish one's enthusiasm for running.
So, is there a way to help us monitor and correct our running form?
The answer is yes!
We can use professional sports sensors to monitor running dynamics, analyze whether our running form is correct, and provide improvement suggestions.
There are several professional running dynamics sensors on the market, such as the Garmin RDP, Codoon Smart Running Shoes, and Codoon Running Elf.
These three sports sensors can help runners analyze exercise data and monitor running dynamics, thereby helping runners improve their running performance through hardware.
I have conducted a comparative evaluation of these three sports sensors.
1: Appearance Comparison
Left: Codoon Smart Chip, Middle: Codoon Running Elf, Right: Garmin RDP
All three have a relatively lightweight design.The weights are as follows: Smart Chip 5g, Running Elf 8g, Garmin RDP 12g. The Smart Chip must be used with Codoon running shoes, the Running Elf uses a clip design that attaches to the shoelaces, and the Garmin RDP uses a clip-on design that attaches to the middle of the lower back. All three attachment methods are secure with no risk of falling off.
2: Charging Method Comparison
Both the Codoon Smart Chip and Garmin RDP use button batteries, with an official battery life of one year. Button batteries are inexpensive but can be a bit troublesome to replace.
The Codoon Running Elf has an 80mAh lithium battery and uses magnetic charging. The official battery life is 160 hours with a standby time of one month, which is quite impressive.
3: Smart Connectivity
The Running Elf and Smart Running Shoes chip connect in the same way, by scanning a QR code with a mobile app, entering personal height and weight, and then automatically recording and syncing exercise data to the Codoon app.
The Garmin RDP requires a watch to search for the sensor and accessories to bind the RDP. All three connection methods are convenient and easy to use.
4: Function Comparison
The Garmin RDP is a running dynamics sensor developed by Garmin for advanced runners. It can monitor six types of running dynamics data: cadence, stride length, vertical oscillation, vertical ratio, ground contact time, and left/right ground contact balance.
It is worn by clipping it to the middle of the lower back.
However, it cannot work independently and must be used with a Garmin watch that supports RDP. The price of the RDP is 500 yuan, and combined with the watch, the total cost can be several thousand yuan, making it a high entry cost for beginners.
The Codoon Smart Running Shoes with the Codoon Smart Chip can also monitor running dynamics, including distance, time, steps, cadence, stride length, gait, and even the landing ratio of the front and rear foot. It supports real-time voice guidance, can work independently without a phone, and offers a full set of beginner-friendly training courses. The price of the Codoon Smart Running Shoes 10K Training Edition is 199 yuan, which is very affordable for beginners.
The Codoon Running Elf has similar functions to the Garmin RDP, using a clip design that attaches to the shoelaces. It supports 11 data records and 9 running form recognitions, with real-time voice guidance, running form scoring, and even cycling cadence. It is IP67 waterproof and uses magnetic charging, with a battery life of 160 hours and a standby time of 30 days.
The Running Elf supports more data than the Codoon Smart Running Shoes, including running form scoring, power, cadence-to-pace ratio, and ground contact-to-air ratio. It can work independently without a phone and sync data to the Codoon app after running, making it a great choice for runners who prefer a minimalist style. The Running Elf is more suitable for intermediate runners.
The crowdfunding price of the Running Elf is 149 yuan, which is a bargain compared to the Garmin RDP.
5: Exercise Comparison
The image above shows the 4km track data of the three sensors. The data collection methods of the Garmin RDP and Running Elf are different. The Garmin supports 6 types of data, while the Running Elf supports 11 types. Only 3 types of data can be compared: cadence, stride length, and ground contact time. Other data are unique to each brand and cannot be compared.
Let's compare the detailed data charts.
From the comparison above, we can see that the Codoon Running Elf provides more comprehensive data. The average cadence, stride length, and ground contact time are similar, but the Garmin RDP's vertical oscillation, vertical ratio, and left/right ground contact balance are unique to Garmin.
The Running Elf's running form scoring, power, cadence-to-pace ratio, ground contact-to-air ratio, and landing method are unique to the Codoon Running Elf. Additionally, the Running Elf offers real-time voice prompts during exercise, such as correcting improper running form or low cadence, and providing encouragement for correct form, which is very engaging.
For beginners, the Codoon app allows you to view detailed running dynamics and analyze data to improve your running form and landing method. You can also participate in free running courses to enhance your running skills. The comprehensive data collection provides scientific references for runners, making the Running Elf a valuable personal coach.
6: Summary of Pros and Cons
All three sports chips are very useful for improving runners' performance. The Garmin RDP supports 6 types of exercise data, but it is not as comprehensive as the Codoon Running Elf. The price of 500 yuan is a bit high, and only advanced runners might choose it. The RDP cannot work independently and must be used with a Garmin watch, making it less versatile. The total cost of the watch and RDP can be several thousand yuan, which is hard for ordinary runners to accept.
The Codoon Running Elf supports 11 types of exercise data, including cycling, and offers voice prompts, which are very friendly for beginners. The voice prompts help correct running form in real-time and are very engaging. Its ability to work independently makes it very versatile.
For those who don't need new shoes and just want a sports sensor, the Running Elf is a great option. The price of 149 yuan is very affordable and acceptable for most runners.
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