|
Timex
IronMan 50 Lap Heart Rate Monitor
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Submitted by
Carlos Rivera
a Weekend Warrior
from USA
Date Reviewed: November 13, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Any, really | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Christmast gift | | Strengths: | Good value for the features it has. | | Weaknesses: | It is a bit ugly watch... | | Similar Products Used: | 100 lap Ironman Timex wrist watch | | Bike Setup: | No bike, I use this on the tradmill and on tracks. | | Bottom Line: | I want to share my experience on getting the watch to again receive signal from the HRM transmitter. It stopped and I replaced the battery, but that alone did not work. What I did was try and "reset" the watch (i.e. remove the watch battery, wait some seconds and reinstall it again). As I started to open the watch with my Swiss Army knife, the watch restarted it self as I think I freed the battery momentarily. I did not get to open the watch back panel. After that and after pouring running water to the HRM, it started to receive the signal again. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gene
a Weekend Warrior
from London
Date Reviewed: June 2, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Purchased At: | Amazon | | Strengths: | Very easy to use and check split times. Works very well as a basic watch/stop watch etc. | | Weaknesses: | Worked well for the first year. Now everytime I use it to check my average heart rate and max heart rate, the max heart rate is always 240 beats per minutes, which is obviously incorrect and screws up my average heart rate reading. I looked this issue up on the net and it seems that this is quite commmon with Timex heart rate monitors, and other users of the devices have not managed to get it fixed. | | Similar Products Used: | My first heart rate monitor. | | Bike Setup: | Crappy hybird as mine other bike was stolen. | | Bottom Line: | Not happy about my Timex crapping out on the heart rate readings. Thinking of buying Polar as most people rate these about Timex. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
OldNick
a Cross Country Rider
from Perth Australia
Date Reviewed: June 22, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | mybackyard | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Purchased At: | heartmonitors | | Strengths: | Works well as a watch. Has lots of features | | Weaknesses: | The wait for it! ....sensor. Hopeless. Takes up to 5 minutes and many fiddlings and button presses to start up. Readings of 30BPM (come in Miguel )Has dropped out on my wife's during a ride. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Pretty much stock 2008 Giant Yukon. | | Bottom Line: | Mine is actually an Ironman Triathlon.
I give it 3 FCs fro value because it's not a bad watch. Two FCs overall, because of the HRM function instability.
I wish I read MTBR before I bought. I have never regretted doing that in the past.
Ok watch to wear as a watch. Sensor problems as many others have posted.
Almost _too_ many features. Basic operation and setup can be hidden under all the "fruit"...and I am a bit of a techno freak.
I am going to keep trying them for a while, to see if overall they give us enough data percentage to be useful/trustable. but I am not happy.
It may well be "Polar, here I come." based on the reviews here. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chewyadri
a Weekend Warrior
from el paso tx
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | anything by a golf course | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | Some outlet store | | Strengths: | As a busy working mom, it measures time outs as well as how long something is in the oven to how long you worked out. Its a cool looking functional watch that offers a chronograh as well as timer and review functions. The heart rate monitor is an extra feature plus a nice incentive to remember to exercise. | | Weaknesses: | I don't think the calorie burn count is accurate at all. But inaccurate or not, it gives me a number to measure and compare the intensity of the different styles of running such as short distance, long distance or interval as well as compare strength training and high intensity to low intensity workouts. | | Similar Products Used: | Tis wa a first since I bought a watch with a heart rate monitor versus a heart rate monitor with a watch. | | Bike Setup: | The garage, I'm a runner. | | Bottom Line: | I use it more as an everyday watch and the conveniece of just strapping on for a workout makes it work for me. As a lady I have no problem with the chest strap making contact since the strap is under another strap. Sorry boys. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dallas
a Racer
from Fayetteville, Arkansas
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Purchased At: | heartratemonitor.com | | Strengths: | Decent Watch, nice cosmetics | | Weaknesses: | HRM rarely works. The only time is has worked for a full ride was when it was raining, otherwise it only works for maybe 15min tops | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Tarmac | | Bottom Line: | dont waste your money. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lynda Racey
a Cross Country Rider
from Plymouth MI USA
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Porcupine Rim, Moab | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$56.00 | | Purchased At: | heartratemonitor.com | | Strengths: | Easy to set up, perfect for smaller writsts, lots of features for the price | | Similar Products Used: | Sports Instruments ECG and Pro 9 line | | Bike Setup: | Titus Racerx
Guru Chron Alu | | Bottom Line: | I got this HRM to replace my Sports Instruments HRM which I broke crashing into a tree...I was looking for a HRM with a few extra features (more than one target zone, calories, etc) but not too big and bulky. The Timex Ironman 30-lap is the answer! It was really easy to set up and worked perfectly out of the box. And the price was right too. Next step is to get the data sensor for cadence/speed. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bert
a Weekend Warrior
from Okotoks, Alberta
Date Reviewed: May 7, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | Mountain Equipement C0-OP | | Strengths: | looks sporty | | Weaknesses: | Frequently looses signal (ERR reading). Erratic reading! On my two most recent rides I had readings of 136,138,124,110, and 90 all within 5 minutes and still at same cadence and terraine. A piece of junk. I replaced battery in transmitter and receiver with no improvement! Lots of moisture for contact. | | Similar Products Used: | Vetta (older model that lasted about 6 years and had many more features). I have now purchased a Polar A5 - $95.00 | | Bottom Line: | I could only recommend this unit as a wrist watch. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City
Date Reviewed: April 3, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Wasatch Crest | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | Road Rider, cyclocross racer, mountain fiend | | Strengths: | Nice Setup. Nice velcro strap. Easy to use. | | Weaknesses: | I sent it back to Timex two times. It would just shut off for no apparent reason and was unable to be rescusitated [sp?] by even a watch shop. Eventually I got a replacement. It's been working fine for 3 months.
The HRM does have some readings issues like the other reviewers wrote, but it has only affected me a few times. Overall kinda annoying but liveable for under 50 bucks. | | Similar Products Used: | Polars | | Bike Setup: | SC Superlight, Lemond Poprad | | Bottom Line: | I would buy the newer model, but not the old one I got before it died twice. If you have the money, get a Polar A3. Only a score more bucks and a heck of a lot better. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Dallas, Texas USA
Date Reviewed: March 1, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | North Shore Grapevine Lake | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Can not remember | | Strengths: | Great watch, good heart rate monitor! | | Weaknesses: | Must have good contact with chest (don't they all). | | Similar Products Used: | Speedo HR Monitor | | Bike Setup: | Trek | | Bottom Line: | I was scanning reviews and noticed the low marks that many have given this product. I have used this product for over 3 years and definitly feel as if I got my money out of it!
To address the loss of signal... if there is not good contact or a dry contact yes the readings will be off. Usually after running/riding a bit sweat takes care of that issue. In fact I have used it while swimming just out of couriosity, and it still worked. It remained dry and continued to give a good signal except on one stroke (I cannot remember which) when the electrodes would loose contact with my chest.
The fit was good, but would slip some no big deal, I'd just adjust it as I went.
My 2 cents: It's a good product for the money, great reliable watch and a good heart rate monitor. Would I buy another? No, only because I am going to upgrade my HR monitor and Speed and Distance watches for the new 3g intigrated unit. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dawg_man
a Weekend Warrior
from halifax
Date Reviewed: October 24, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$65.00 | | Strengths: | not too bad as a normal watch, but thats about it. | | Weaknesses: | like others have said:
-sometimes it works but often doesn't
-sometimes displays bizzare heart rates such as 41 or 57 when climbing up a hill (obviously my heart would be at 141 or 157)
-Almost impossible to get a max heart rate while running. It will cut out entirely for some reason. It seems to fail when the upper abdominal muscles are flexed (what a pos). | | Bottom Line: | I could never recommend this product to anyone, with all the problems I've had. It can barely be called an hrm. Despite being a little ugly it is a decent watch, and thats what I'm using it for now.
Its very frustrating to sprint up a hill trying to get a max heart rate, and get nothing from this hrm. This unit is also useless near large powerlines, such as a powerline trail.
My friend has one of these timex hrms, and a polar. The polar is vastly superior.
I got mine on sale, and didn't have time to read these reviews first. I wish I had, cause I never would have bought it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a
from Snellville, Georgia, USA
Date Reviewed: September 3, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$85.00 | | Strengths: | 1.Strap holds watch on wrist..miraculously | | Weaknesses: | 1.HRM does not function 50-60% of the time (averages are way off) (Gel does not improve reception)
2.Cannot display current time & lap time
3. Software very buggy HRM will turn on when recovering HRM averages requiring it be shut off or draw battery low.
4. Bezel is not scratch resistant.
5. Manually depressing the split timer while watch is dsplaying signal lost causes the watch to ignore the lap time entry. This happens ALOT forcing you to always check that the lap is entered.
6.Scroll and set buttons have had the surface coloring wear off and now look like trash
7. The indigo light, while cute, takes too long of a button press to reach "stay on longer" mode and once there times out faster than the time it took to hold the button to get it in that mode in the first place.
8. Does not record max HR or Min HR over the training period.
9. HR strap pinches hair on chest. | | Similar Products Used: | Polar S610 | | Bike Setup: | Runner Only | | Bottom Line: | This is a watch...That's it. Forget the HRM it's junk. Timex Customer support is deplorable, requiring me to spend money in order to attempt to fix what is an underdesigned, innefective, poorly engineered timepiece. It will never work properly even when "Fixed".
I have strapped this watch to..(did I mention the strap actually works).. the handle on my barbeque and use it for what it really is meant..A steak timer. It is a permanent reminder to NEVER NEVER take a licking like this again. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim
a Weekend Warrior
from Ashburn, VA
Date Reviewed: July 22, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | fountain head | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | Eastbay | | Strengths: | Provides all the relevant HRM functions, time in zone, high and lows and allows you to choose your limits. | | Weaknesses: | Doesn't work... Mine reset itself several times while on rides. I had to stop, set all the values again, and continue. | | Similar Products Used: | Polar A1 | | Bike Setup: | Schwinn Moab | | Bottom Line: | This watch is garbage. I emailed Timex about it, and they asked that I send it to one of their techs in AR, who would either fix it or replace it. 9 days later I received my watch back with no note or work order, so I have no idea what if anything was done to it and no confidence that it won't happen again. Also contained in the box, a bill for $7, but no explanation about why they think I owe them money. Their product malfunctions, they asked for it back, now they want money. I think I have already given them enough of my money. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jonathan
a
from Orlando
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Gift | | Strengths: | high functionality (HR monitor w/ recall, stopwatch w/ splits, etc), comfortable, easy-to-use, attractive | | Weaknesses: | I actually have the 100-lap version...not sure of model #.
As others have said, the reliability of the unit sucks big-time--about 60% of the time giving reliable signals, not reliable or no reading the remainder. Needs a lot of lubrication (spit in my case at first, or sweat) to work even at that level. My Polar S-1 works far better in that regard. One other problem is that the lap/split heart rate is actually only the instantaneous rate at the time of the lap/split, not an average...not a very useful piece of info. | | Similar Products Used: | Polar S-1 | | Bike Setup: | runner only | | Bottom Line: | Not reliable enough compared to other products to be useful. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Otto
a Cross Country Rider
from S. Florida
Date Reviewed: January 30, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$99.00 | | Purchased At: | OInline | | Strengths: | Easy to set up and read the directions.
Easy to retrieve the information. I have not had the software 'crashing' experiences some have stated.
Strap on the monitor on my chest (sometimes without water as stated in the directions) and quickly picks up my beat.
| | Weaknesses: | None to this point! | | Similar Products Used: | Basically Casio and Timex Ironman watches to time my laps. | | Bike Setup: | Raleigh MT400 '94 | | Bottom Line: | The is an awesome product for training. It makes me push myself to the max (feel those legs burn). At the end, when I look at my average heart rate, I can tell if I worked it or if I was a slacker.
It is extemely easy to use. So far it has always picked up
my heart rate right away.
Bottom line is would I buy it again? Of course! I wish I would have gotten it earlier! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Neal Soutter
a
from Birmingham England
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$144.00 | | Purchased At: | Bimingham runner | | Strengths: | It works as a watch. I like the light. | | Weaknesses: | The software has crashed 7 times since I bought the watch 8 months ago. It is not due to heavy use as the times it has crashed were when I was retrieving times, setting alarm, stopping stopwatch, etc. It hasn't happened on the move yet. The chest strap looses the heart beat quite often, and show some strange readings some times, like 225 bpm which I am sure screws up the average.
I also don't like the way the watch pauses for a second when changing between the functions, it is a waste of time. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Sorry I'm a runner. | | Bottom Line: | I don't have much to compare it too, but I am not happy with it (see Weaknesses above).
From a software point of view I think it is rather poor for a company like Timex. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Walker
a Racer
from College Park, MD, USA
Date Reviewed: May 9, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | I forget | | Strengths: | Nice everyday watch, not too big | | Weaknesses: | Sometimes chest strap would slip, sometimes signal would be lost, wrist strap delaminated velcro, chest strap delaminated velcro. Also the watch software crashed every once in a while, must have been designed by Microsoft. | | Similar Products Used: | Just bought a polar | | Bike Setup: | I ride a blender... wait, who cares, it's a heart rate monitor. | | Bottom Line: | I actually really liked this HRM. The strap velcro delaminated in the first year so I got a new strap for like 7 bucks. I wore this as my everday watch for 2 years, it worked really well for that purpose, not too big. The recall functionality and watch layout were really good.
As a Heart Rate Monitor - well, I see everyone's problems - I don't know for some reason it worked for me. It would cut out sometimes, mainly when I didn't use gel. Yet I've used it in over 20 XC races, and it was there for me when I needed it. Very waterproof, no real reliability problems. Most annoying was a software bug that would crash it if you reset it during recall lap greater than 2, but once I learned the problem it was ok. Biggest feature is that the Polar guys in the road race pack can't screw up your signal.
Not a bad HRM, specially if you want to wear the watch around. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Ynez, CA
Date Reviewed: March 20, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Little Pine | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | REI.com | | Strengths: | Works flawlessly! Great everyday watch too. Battery can be changed at any watch repair shop. | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | Polar, and Sigma Sport | | Bike Setup: | Does it really matter? | | Bottom Line: | First of all, I think I got the NEW Timex HR monitor, because I saw the 1st generation one's on sale at Mervyn's for $50 (don't waste your money) and mine looks totally different. I've been using this HR monitor for almost 3 months now, and it works flawlessly everytime. I have found that the best lubricant to use is spit, yes split. I know it sounds gross, but it WORKS and its better than paying for some gel that doesn't work half as good. Its somewhat basic, but personally I don't need or want all the bells and wistles of the others. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS HR WATCH TO ANYONE. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Albert J. Ries
a Weekend Warrior
from Lock Haven PA USA
Date Reviewed: March 15, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Pine Creek Rail Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | Wal-Mart | | Strengths: | Keeps good time. | | Weaknesses: | Wildly inaccurate Heart Rate. Doesn't register half the time resulting in useless average heart rates. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Novara Big Buzz, Truvativ Cranks, Avid Discs, TA Specialites Pedals. This bike rocks. | | Bottom Line: | I'm very disappointed with this impressive looking but problem plagued unit. You can tell when the unit is not transmitting properly as the little heart on the display stops beating. It happens so often that the average heart rates that it is calculating cannot possibly be correct. Timex could have done a lot better in providing a heart rate monitor that works, they haven't. Look elsewhere. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 5, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | MEC | | Strengths: | Cheap and easy to learn how to use | | Weaknesses: | Only receives heart rate signal 50-75% of time, so is a constant distraction and provides useless average heartrates. Chest strap is uncomfortable. | | Similar Products Used: | Polar | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Stumpjumper M4 | | Bottom Line: | Do not buy this product. I tried everthing to get consistent results (including electrode gel) but with no luck. I contacted Timex customer support and the only thing they could recommend was wearing the chest strap/transmitter upside down? This did not work either. Anyway, after a month of aggravation, I returned it and bought a Polar (which has worked flawlessly).
As a side note, it looks like Timex has now redesigned the chest strap/transmitter on their basic HRM model. Hopefully this one works better than the garbage I bought. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Burlington, VT
Date Reviewed: January 21, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Timex Outlet | | Strengths: | Easy set-up and heart rate zone programming, easy to read display, simultaneous countdown timer and chronograph to conveniently break down your workout. Average HR recored wiht each lap/split time (see weaknesses). Also serves as a good wrist watch. | | Weaknesses: | The communication between the chest strap and the wrist piece is unstable; stable communication occurs for 30-60% of each workout. The chest strap requires ALOT of moisture to acheive even this level of reliability. A signal enhancing cream with a nearly perfect consumer rating (buh bump by Get Rhythm, Inc.) did little to imporve the situation (50-70% reliability). | | Similar Products Used: | Impulse 9; same price range with higher reliability but fewer features | | Bottom Line: | I've used other Timex IRONMAN products (wrist watch only) and have been pleased. Unfortunately, I can not be as optimistic aboutthis product. The instability of the communication between the chest strap and the HRM make this product frustrating to use. Nevertheless, I think this HRM has high potential as an excellent entry to mid-level system if Timex can solve the communication problem. BOTTOM LINE: if you are going to spend $70 - $125 on a HRM, then purchase another product. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ricardo Macias
a Cross Country Rider
from Mexico DF Mexico
Date Reviewed: December 13, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | Walmart | | Strengths: | Price, simply to use, feature set, reliability | | Weaknesses: | Signal is not consistent | | Bottom Line: | I've used this HRM at mountain and GYM, the signal works an average of 75% of total time (45 minutes per hour), you can improve this using electrogel or lots of moisture, anyway for an amateur biker like me this is the perfect entry level heart rate monitor, signal reliability is good, feature set is enough , help me to improve my training quality. I recommend this HRM, after all it does its job. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Neil
a
from Graz, Austria
Date Reviewed: October 2, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$165.00 | | Purchased At: | timex.at direct | | Strengths: | Lap recall, avg pulse during lap | | Weaknesses: | Strap (fast-wrap), sensor | | Similar Products Used: | Polar A1 | | Bottom Line: | This was built (well named) for triathlon. I found the strap unsecure enough to handle the rough and tumble swim start. The sensor strap reuires LOTS of moisture otherwise signal is not consistent. When working, the HR/stop watch is a good combination but has lots of room for improvement. The reliablilty of signal from the strap is suspect. It is far wider than other HR receivers yet does not have the reliabilty to match. Secure the strap with tape or else you may lose it if you are also a swimmer. If not for the lap recall, then I would not by this watch again. Buy it only if you want to wear the Ironman symbol for the cameras. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Carl
a Cross Country Rider
from Mississauga, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 29, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$85.00 | | Purchased At: | Costco | | Strengths: | Simple to use and well designed. Looks like a beefer version of Timex's standard Triathlon watch. | | Weaknesses: | The end of the chest strap can pull at the inside of your jersey. Not a significant problem, just pull the chest strap around slightly | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | ATC 2 | | Bottom Line: | This is a fine watch and a great heart monitor. I've had it over a year without any problems and I use it regularly. It has all of the usually features, high/low zone alarm and various memories. And to boot, its actually comfortable to wear. Compared to a Polar, you get more features at a better price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Weekend Warrior
from Bay Area
Date Reviewed: June 19, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | comfortable strap, good feature set | | Weaknesses: | broke in under a year of use | | Bike Setup: | ? | | Bottom Line: | I was pretty pleased with this monitor when I first got it, but it broke in less than a year. First the display got a little *ucked up, then it completely stopped working. I may have been too hard on it... but isn't Timex the watch that takes a 'lickin' yada yada. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
| |
|
Photo Caption Contest
(sponsored by Maxxis)
|
Enter here
|
|
|
$ 124.99
