Cult hero wearables: As told by those who used them
And what wearables of today can learn from the past
Welcome to the PULSE by Wareable newsletter – and, for this week, a change of pace.
We’re looking back at cult hero wearables. The ones that came and went but still managed to create something special along the way. Not many of these were huge successes, but - at least in the eyes of our esteemed panel – did something right.
Here are the wearables that the streets won’t forget.
Moov / Moov Now
James Stables — PULSE by Wareable founder
In 2024, we’re truly in the era of AI coaching - so what better time to recall a device that was so close to my heart in 2014: Moov.
A running, swimming, and workout coach, Moov was a screenless module you wore on the wrist or leg, depending on the session. It enabled you to complete a mixture of guided sessions, but also focus on technique, too.
As a runner, I predominantly used it for running and gait training. It offered live feedback on cadence, helping you to increase steps per minute to optimum levels, which should turn you into a more efficient and less injury-prone runner. That was a huge focus for me around 2015 when I was suffering a lot of shin splint issues.
It also fed back on other elements of running form, offering timely reminders to keep up straight and other elements of form.
It was also a capable little fitness tracker, in the era of Misfit and other discreet wearables.
Since 2014, I’ve used a host of wearable training devices with coaches – from Garmin, its Running Dynamics pod, Nike Training Club, and even newer devices such as Evolve MVMT, Stryde, and Zwift – and nothing has managed to do real-time coaching better.
The app was well-designed and simple to use. It had clear actions and benefits, clear progression, and, while data-driven, wasn’t overly technical. It also wasn’t expensive, coming in at under $100, and had six months of battery life.
With the evolution of better sensors and, of course, AI – I do wonder what Moov could have achieved in the intervening 10 years had it kept trading.
Sony Ericsson MBW-100
Bill Geiser — legendary wearables founder
“Over the past 25 years, I've dedicated myself to the field of wearable technology, focusing on smartwatches among other devices. This domain is challenging, as it demands a rare blend of technical prowess and aesthetic appeal – a duality not often found within a single entity. Yet, I had the fortune to contribute to a project that stood as a notable exception to this rule.