Watches for Swimming

I've tried a few others but always go back to the Ironman. Easy to set the countdown repeat function to your whatever your interval, not too big, lasts me 3+ years with heavy use. Only complaints I've had are sometimes the straps would fail, and when I was bike racing, moving up from Cat IV to Cat III (ie, crashing a lot in criteriums), the hard points on the case would ding my hand at the base of the thumb. I've always worn my watchface on the inside of my wrist. I stopped wearing one, wrapped it on the bars, and stopped crashing so much, too. Y'day some try-swimmer was wearing a pulse monitor, drove me crazy every time I would pass him with the intermittent beeping. Maybe the big watch he wears is the cause of his wicked dropped elbows?

OK. I loved Timex (note the past tense). I had an Ironman that lasted over 5 years and finally died (the band finally wore through). So last year, I purchased a new one. In less than a few months (I don't remember), it fogged up (meaning water got inside, right?). So I exchanged it. That one lasted another six months, and, after living with it awhile (It still worked, but a few of the crystal displays never recovered, so I never knew what date it showed...), I finally exchanged THAT one last week. I swam ten 25m laps with it yesterday, and when I got out of the pool, there were water DROPLETS in the display. I find it hard to beleive that I've had 3 lemon Ironmans in a row. I don't understand how they are working so well for you all, when in the past year I"ve had THREE go sour on me. I'm done with Timex. The only thing is, I REALLY want a watch I can wear during the day as well as take swimming with me. And other models (like the G-shocks) just seem so, well, clunky. I keep wondering if Timex moved their manufacturing operation within the past few years to somewhere that has no quality control? This thing is supposed to be water resistant to 100m, and it can't even hack surface swimming.... I'm taking it back to Kohl's for store credit until I can find a suitable replacement, so if you all have any ideas, I'm looking for suggestions... Thanks, Jen

Times Ironman Triathlete. Don't even remember how long I've had it and the only problem I've ever had is the cloth strap finally gave way so I just bought a replacement Kavu strap.

I recently chose a watch as a service award at work. It's the Freestyle Shark X 2.0, like this one: Amazon.com: Freestyle Men's FS84877 Shark X 2.0 Analog-Digital Watch: Shark: Watches Anyone have any experience with this brand? I like the analog/digital combination, but it does make it hard to read the digital part if the hands get in the way. Haven't tried it in the water yet.

OK. I loved Timex (note the past tense). I had an Ironman that lasted over 5 years and finally died (the band finally wore through). So last year, I purchased a new one. In less than a few months (I don't remember), it fogged up (meaning water got inside, right?). So I exchanged it. That one lasted another six months, and, after living with it awhile (It still worked, but a few of the crystal displays never recovered, so I never knew what date it showed...), I finally exchanged THAT one last week. I swam ten 25m laps with it yesterday, and when I got out of the pool, there were water DROPLETS in the display. I find it hard to beleive that I've had 3 lemon Ironmans in a row. I don't understand how they are working so well for you all, when in the past year I"ve had THREE go sour on me. I'm done with Timex. The only thing is, I REALLY want a watch I can wear during the day as well as take swimming with me. And other models (like the G-shocks) just seem so, well, clunky. I keep wondering if Timex moved their manufacturing operation within the past few years to somewhere that has no quality control? This thing is supposed to be water resistant to 100m, and it can't even hack surface swimming.... I'm taking it back to Kohl's for store credit until I can find a suitable replacement, so if you all have any ideas, I'm looking for suggestions... Thanks, Jen I agree with Jen. I've had Timex Ironman watches for the last 20 years or more. Used to be I'd go through two or three watch straps before I'd have the actual watch have any issues (watches would last years). Over the last 3 years or so I've had at least 3 Timex Ironman watches with the exact same problem (condensation on the inside of the crystal). The rubber face pulls up and gaps and water gets in. In fact, the last one I bought, I went ahead and paid the $5.00 for 24 months of replace/repair because I was pretty sure it wouldn't last two years. I bought this watch last July and just a couple of days ago I noticed water inside the face. So I will be sending it back to be replaced. And may start steering away from Timex. They clearly don't make them like they used to...

If G shock is too large ,then Timex or Nike. I would go with the Nike after reading the last post on timex problems.

I agree with Jen. I've had Timex Ironman watches for the last 20 years or more. Used to be I'd go through two or three watch straps before I'd have the actual watch have any issues (watches would last years). Over the last 3 years or so I've had at least 3 Timex Ironman watches with the exact same problem (condensation on the inside of the crystal). The rubber face pulls up and gaps and water gets in. In fact, the last one I bought, I went ahead and paid the $5.00 for 24 months of replace/repair because I was pretty sure it wouldn't last two years. I bought this watch last July and just a couple of days ago I noticed water inside the face. So I will be sending it back to be replaced. And may start steering away from Timex. They clearly don't make them like they used to... That's been my experience too. I avoided the SwimSense for a long time because it's bulky and ugly, and it's not useful in open water. I broke down and bought a used one a couple weeks ago (well under the $150 you mentioned), and I LOVE that thing. Love it. It has a stopwatch function, so it's as good in OW as my waterlogged Timex. I love the automatic setting for timing intervals. With a normal stopwatch, I have to either use the pace clock and remember my times (not likely) or inflate my times by the time it takes to hit start and stop.

I've had an IronMan and liked it. I actually like dive watches for wearing mostly on the water but would like something that can count my laps and work as a stopwatch. Has anyone tried the Speedo watches where you can tap the top of the watch after each lap? I think something like that would be cool. I guess a heart rate one would require a heart rate band around your chest wouldn't it? __________________ Tabitha - busy swimming at the many swimming pools Little Rock

(Again, I say!) I've had a very positive experience with the SportCount Chrono 100. I use it exclusively for pool swimming; not at all for open water. From this admittedly narrower perspective, it has several advantages, including, One-handed operation. No awkwardness stopping the watch (*). Times recorded to the 1/100th. Remembers up to 100 times: Good for interval sets. Sufficiently visible display. Accurate timing of 25 sprints. Next best thing to a deck coach. (*) With further experience, I now time to the touch on short axis strokes, but time to the feet on long axis strokes. This spares me the trouble of trying to touch the wall and stop the clock with the same hand. I posted two pictures of the watch here.

Hard to beat Timex for durability and price. I just got this one after 5 years on a previous model. www.timex.com/.../B000SZPZEI Yeah. Ive seen the watch. This one is also good and not bulky. www.timex.com/.../B005ELMH7O