IPOD Use

I see so many people at the gym with an IPOD.  I am sometimes tempted to purchase one and see if I enjoy it.  Does  anyone have any feelings on it?  Are they expensive?  Any suggestions on brands?  Do they get all sweaty and dirty if you wear them at the gym?

Thanks for any replies

A techno challenged lady

Buy a good wrist band or something similar. I have an iPod Nano that I keep in a protected wrist bandy thing. It stays at my wrist, doesn't get sweaty and dirty (cause it's in covered in plastic) and keeps the tunes pumping. And the Nanos aren't that expensive, relatively.

That's right they aren't really that expensive.  An IPOD Nano is the way to go.  They're small, sleek and easy to use.  And they definitely help to push you through gym time (if you have some good pump up music).  I have a arm band which is great because it keeps it out of the way of any exercise I'm doing.

Pump up the Jam!

My iPod nano was 200 dollars when I bought it 2 years ago. It stopped working 11 months into it's 12 month warranty, and I had to either buy an extended warranty ($50) or pay $30 to have it shipped to apple to repair.

An iPod refers specifically to the MP3 players made by apple. They even make a little one called the shuffle that clips right on to your clothing. Other than that for the gym you're going to want an arm strap.

It's worth looking into other brands of MP3 players as well for a better price.

I've heard a few people say its worth investing in sports headphones if you sweat a lot wearing the headphones because the regular ones that come with the ipod dont really stand up to moisture.

You really don't have to get an ipod just to play music. Creative is a good brand. The good thing about using one that isn't an Apple product is that you don't have to deal with itunes at ALL. Most other players have a drag-and-drop system that is much easier.

I got an iPOD mini (one of those ancient models) for my birthday 3 years ago and I never work out without it.  Being able to listen to music, news, or books makes gym time so much more pleasant.  As others have suggested, the iPOD nano is definitely the way to go.  With the extended battery life and small compact design, it is definitely a winner.  I think they're less than $150 now which is a great price for how long they last.

ETA:  I wore mine without any covering for a long time, but I agree with the suggestion to get a wrist or arm band which are very affordable.

i believe having one keeps me more motivated as i'm working out especially if i'm listening to an upbeat song i will try and push myself more...there are plenty of options and depending on what all you want you could also op for a mp3. i got mine pretty cheap (it was on sale) and i haven't had any problems thus far

I have a Creative Zen.. I also have an apple computer.. I got the Zen before the computer.  If you have an apple, GET AN ipod!!!!  when I want to download music to my zen, because I use the apple ALL the time (it is a great computer) I have to put the music on a CD, then put it on my fiance's Gateway, type in the name and artist of every song, THEN add it to the Zen from that computer... SUCH a pain in the butt!  I am getting an ipod for sure this year. 

DON'T ever buy an iriver it is NOT by apple and is a windows based mp3 player... mine broke within a few weeks and the company just couldn't care less!  grrr

 

I love my ipod,,, and actually we are a household of 5 and we have 4, the only person in my family is the 3 year old and she is probably getting one for Christmas.

I have a classic ( the biggest one) I couldn't run with it until this week I purchased a carrier for it. I love to listen to music when I work out. I also download exercise podcast, etc for working out.

But if you don't think you will need more than 350 to 400 songs I would stick with the ipod shuffle.. they are tiny and clip right onto your clothes. (thats what my older kids have, I borrow theirs from time to time.)

I got an Ipod Nano back in May.  One day in the begining of August, it locked up and wouldnt do anything.  It was stuck on the Apple screen.  Luckily we bought the 2 year extended warranty.  I took it back to Best Buy where we bought it and before they would exchange it, they tried to do a reset on it to no avail.  Finally they allowed me to exchange it for one just like it.  The only catch was the 2 year extended warranty was now null and void.  Even though it malfunctiontioned after 3 months and the warranty was for 2 years, once you "use" it, you use it up.  I had to buy another extended warranty on the new one.

I've had two iPods... the second generation Classic (which pooped out after about 3 years) and now I have the iPod touch. In between the time my first died and bought the second I bought a Samsung brand mp3 player. I hated it. I haven't seen any others that I really like. If you buy a different brand, it will be cheaper but it also won't hold many songs and that's why I stick with the iPod-- I'm not spending hours deleting old songs and adding new songs to my mp3 player.

I have a regular (giant bulky) Ipod. And it definitely helps, because once you're into the song, you might not be watching the clock so much. Don't know which mp3 player you should get, but I'd suggest cordless headphones to go along with it.

Oh, and make sure that if you have ear piercings, you clean them thoroughly after working out? Because wearing headphones at the gym made my ears sweat a lot!

f u like to listen to your own music while u work out, instead of the gym's, go for it.  sometimes i forget mine/don't charge it in time so i CAN go without it, but i prefer having it

I have an ipod nano, which I like and my husband got me the ipod shuffle for my birthday for when I work out. Its perfect for that because it clips right on my shirt.

Two things, as a side question:

1. any type/brand of headphones recommended? I can't do the earbuds because they always pop right out.

2. I am always afraid to download music at share sites because I have this irrational fear that the police will come to my house and arrest me (crazy, I know..but I remember when they changed it to illegal) anyway.....I know people do it, and I am tired of paying $.99 a song thru itunes, so WHERE can you download music for free?

i love my ipod, but not for running (i don't use a gym).  for walking, sometimes i use it, and i love it for doing yard work, but when i'm running i find that it interferes with me getting into that meditative space. 

ps: i pay for all my music.  itunes is fast, convenient, eco-friendly, and far more economical than the discs we all used to buy. 

Getting an IPod totally changed my workouts, amazing what music can do to motivate you!!!  I highly recommend any type of mp3 player, with a good arm band.

 

ETA: I have the Nike sport earphones that wrap around the ear, I can't stand the ear buds.

...far more economical than the discs we all used to buy. 

OMG....my first thought was records, you know, the vinyl ones. When I read this, I was thinking, "well, I never really bought records, I just bought the cassettes." I didn't even think about cd's. What time warp am I in? I wish I drank coffee. Think I need it this morning.

hah!  well, lulu, i'm actually old enough that i did buy vinyl (and 8-tracks), but--yeah--i was talking about CDs.  it was so liberating when i had finally uploaded everything and gave all the bloody things away ;)

I have the creative Zen. I love it.  If you have Windows Vista, make sure the player comes with the right software, if not you will need to go on the creative website and download an update or else the computer won't recognize the player when you plug it in.  I of course got the Zen first and then the new computer. Other than that I love the Zen.  Mine was about 200.  This is the one I got in Pink, but they have a lot of different ones. 

Oh and I got a generic arm strap so that I don't have to hold, it works great.

http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?c ategory=213&subcategory=214&product=1 4331

Love mine!  You MUST get the apple iPod as opposed to a Zune or something in my opinion.  I have an 80g one that my boyfriend gave me for valentine's day and it holds about 20,000 songs.  Which is a little much.  But think of all the possibilities...hehe.  I make custom playlists for different things I'm doing such as running, driving, etc.