I need a good MP3 player for working out

Its almost Christmas/birthday time for me and I have decided to ask for a mp3 player.  I want one that has a good amount of storage, is small and most importantly can withstand all the jarring it will recive when I'm running.
  I really don't want an ipod  (everyone is telling me to get an ipod)  I have heard to many bad things about them and I know that they are overpriced.  'm looking at the Creative zens but i'm not sure exactly what I'm looking for.

  Dose anyone have any sugestions?
I would really appreciate some help  : )

i know you don't want one, but ipod nano is great! :-)

Try here.

I have a Sandisk one that i got for around 30$ at the exchange. It's pretty cool, and can hold around 300 songs (for me) and I've had it for a year and a half and it still works good<3

good luck..

I recommend one of the Creative Labs V range (newer than their Zen) - varied storage options and V+ gives you radio too. Launched this summer and apparently when the CEO presented it to journalists, he threw it across the room and bounced it off the wall.

I use mine on a bike. Much better looking than an ipod too.

I love my new Sandisk Sansa -- Video with 4GB memory.  Less pricey than the nano + a nice quality video.  Two free months of Rhapsody subscription is also included.  Its great because you can download all you want without buying the songs.  Plus there is Rhapsody radio stations so you never have to listen to the same Workout playlist over and over forever.  A great deal.  Tiny little thing too. 

  

I'm not sure what you've been hearing that's bad about the iPods, but I have two (one is over 3 years old) and have never had a problem with either one.  Depending on how many bells and whistles you want on a mp3 player, I would highly recommend the iPod shuffle for running.  I would not have gotten through my marathon training last year without it.  It's held up great to being tossed in my gym bag also.  The new model is super small.

IPOD mini - rechargable on your computer and it holds alot of songs!  inexpensive too!

iPods really aren't that expensive. If you aren't wanting to spend much get the nano or the iPod mini. I don't know how old you are but if you're a student (or still have your student id) you can get a student discount online or in the stores. I got my iPod (the photo one... 20G i thinK) for $260 with my discount. It's not even 1/2 way full and I have over 1000 songs already. I've had it for a little over a year and haven't had any problems with it. They're fab.

You have heard many bad thing about the iPod?  That's odd, its the #1 selling MP3 and I haven't heard anything bad about it.  I own two.  The 30gig (3 years old) which should not be used for running.  It has a floating harddrive whcih will skip when bouncing around.  But I love my new shuffle.  $79.  Its smaller then a matchbox and hold 240 songs.  Check this out, you'll buy one within the hour.

http://www.apple.com/ipodschuffle/ads/

http://www.apple.com/ipodschuffle

I think it's funny that the bakerscat specifically said "I really don't want an iPod", but here we are recommending iPods.....

But this (in my opinion) is because the iPod is such an easy device to use!  I've fiddled around with many other players from Creative and others - and the iPod is still my MP3 player of choice.  If you're wanting something super small, the Shuffle is a great choice.  Otherwise, I personally prefer my iPod Mini - 6 GB to hold around 1500 songs, without much bulk.  I use it constantly while biking my 20 miles or so in the evening.

Sure, it's nice to go against the crowd since everybody and their dog has an iPod these days, but there's a reason why everyone has one - they're easy to use and very functional.  As for being overpriced, I believe that may be debatable, but even so, I would gladly pay the extra $$ for the convenience of the iPod.  When I'm working out, the last thing that I want to do is be fumbling through a menu, looking for the song I want.  The iPod's interface makes it easy to get what I want, when I want it.

Thanks for all your help.  I heard most of the bad news on ipods from the people who work at best buy and at the wall mart electronics center. (Not really sure how much they really know...)  My brother also helped draw me from ipods.  He's really an elctronic wizz- a vidio game designer- so i assumed he knew what he was talking about.  But he's been wrong before.....alot. : )

So i will look into the ipod again.   The creative vission m had stolen my heart but you all seem to love your ipods so much so I'll give it a second chance. : )

I'm anti-Ipod as well, bakerscat. I don't understand the obsession, frankly, and it drives me nuts. I genuinely did research them when I was looking for a new player, and it fell very low on my rating list.

(yes, I am a big dork and ranked my choices based on the options that they had, price, etc)

I just got a 1 GB Creative Labs Zen Nano. It's TINY (I store mine in an altoids container), has a lot of features, comes with an arm band and a belt clip, comes in a variety of colors, and is VERY competitively priced. The software is very user-friendly, and there is also the option of clicking and dragging files onto the drive. I haven't replaced the batteries yet (I think it's 1 or 2 AAAs, which it came with). I run with it with no problem at all. I absolutely recommend checking it out.

I have an iPod nano and it's great!  AND, I like the nike+ for tracking distance, speed, time, calories, etc.  You don't have to wear Nike shoes {I can give you lots of idea to make it work with other shoes}, but you do have to have an iPod nano.  The Nike+ is only about $35 so it's a gerat deal!  And I've worn it in 3 5Ks and it's always right on target with the mile markers {Of course I recalibrate every couple of months}.  If you aren't completely opposed to the iPod, this setup for running is really nice!

Tammy

I also have a sansa. I have the 260. 4gb. fits 1000 songs. I don't even freaking know 1000 songs. Don't bother with a 30gb mp3 player, you'll never fill it.

In the event that i DO fill my mp3 player, it has an EXPANSION slot for more memory. I can add an extra gb or two (another 400-600 songs).

I picked mine up for 150 at amazon, got an armband and case for it for 14 bucks. Best money I ever spent!

I have an Ipod and had a problem once getting it to shut off - I don't know how my hubby fixed it but it works now.  Hubby has had problems with his Ipod deleting songs for no apparent reason, and then having them show up again - but he also upgraded the Itunes I didn't.  He also has a Mac I still use a pc.

I like my "XM to Go" radio best though.  I find with the Ipod its always the same songs unless you buy new ones to download.  With my XM to Go I can record 5 hours worth of tunes and the battery runs for 3 hours - so I can always have different music to listen to.  I also like using the radio in my car and at home and work - with the ipod I have the base station to play without earphones but like I said before the same tunes get old real quick. 

I have no idea how much my radio was - it was a gift and also my monthy subscription is pd by hubby but I love it and get more use out of the XM than I do my Ipod..  Just another idea to toss out there for an alternative to an MP3

I use an IPod but am not trying to convince you. Whatever you buy, invest in headphones that will stay one. If I have one gripe about the IPod, than it is the fact that the headphones that come with it do not stay in our ears when running and sweating.

howertd - I thought you had to have the Nike shoes - I guess I'll want to look into that.  I have the Nano 2 GB (which I love, even though it's full already!) and have recently started running again and thought the tracking system would be neat but I don't won't wear Nike shoes.  

There are alot of equally good MP3 players as the Ipod line, but I suggest getting an IPod because of all the accessories available, easy to use AND most importantly as the years go by there will always be software updates available for you to use it as you upgrade your operating systems.  As for other brands, they may become obsolete before you're ready to spend the cash to get a new one.