Customer Reviews

Gym Boss Workout Timer Silver Hardcoat - Gym Boss GB2008

5 star:		(93)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

I'm pleasantly surprised at how small this interval timer actually is while at the same time having a large enough display to be easily read.

The beeping alarm is very loud. If you read some of the reviews of some sport watches (quite expensive ones) that have interval timers, most of them mention the alarm not being loud enough.

My favorite feature the Gymboss has though is the vibrating function. I run while listening to my MP3 so I set the alarm to vibrate instead of beep, and that is something you will never find in a sport watch that costs the $19.95 I paid for my Gymboss.

If you're shopping for an interval timer, this is definitely the one to get.

The biggest value provided for me is the volume of the tone at the end of an interval. I've used other timers and in the middle of a workout it's nice to clearly hear the end of the interval.

The other value is its size; easy to pop in a pocket or clip to your waist band without being noticeable.

The interval set-up is a bit clunky (you really have to hold the buttons down) and due to the size its not especially easy to see times.

If you are looking for an audible alert for interval training, this is great. If you need visual feedback this may not be ideal.

Gymboss timer is an inexpensive little interval timer that works very well for the price. It's the size of a matchbox and it's easy to clip into the waistband or even collar of your shirt. The belt clip is very secure, so there is little danger of the timer slipping off you belt. It would have been a nice addition though if there were a strap that would allow you to fasten the timer on your upper arm or an exercise machine, for example. Another improvement would have been if the belt clip would rotate, so that the display screen would be facing you the right way, no matter how you carry the timer. And speaking of display, it could be bigger and/or have better contrast.

The timer is plastic, and although it can stand being dropped to the ground, it would probably not take when stepped on, for example. They also market as water resistant but I would not use it with water sports, although it's not affected by the moisture if carried next to skin under clothing.

The timer has two different alarm sounds, and an optional vibrating alarm you can use together with the audible alarm, or just by itself. However, I feel the vibrating alarm is not strong enough to be relied without the sound, at least when engaged in a vigorous activity like running. In addition of having two different alarms, you can choose between alarm length of one, five and ten seconds. The high alarm voice is loud enough to hear the alarm even in the middle of traffic, and the lower tone alarm is good when exercising in more quiet environment like in your own home.

The timer has the option of using two separate intervals of different lengths, like Tabata intervals or boxing rounds. You can program the timer to go through a set number of rounds and then sounding an end of exercise -alarm, just counting rounds until you decide to end the exercise, or just simple countdown with no separate rounds. The rounds can vary in length between 2 seconds and 99 minutes 59 seconds.

It's easy to program the timer, but it could be a little faster. For example, if all I want to change is the number of intervals I want to go through, I have to go through the whole programming cycle just to add or reduce the number of rounds. It's not a big issue, but it there was a switch to choose which variable I want to change (the length of an interval, the alarm sound options, etc.), it would make the programming easier. I like the fact that the start/stop button of the timer is located on different side of the timer than the programming buttons. That way, it's easy to locate the start button by feel when the timer is on your waistband. You can also pause the timer by pressing the start button three times in succession.

All in all, I am very pleased with Gymboss timer. In fact, I'm so pleased with it that I'm considering buying another one for the office.

If you need an interval timer, there is nothing you can substitute for one - a clock on the wall or a stop watch - neither will work because you can't pay attention to a clock while you're working. You need an audible alert. GYMBOSS provides you with that alert. The alerts are either loud/soft/vibrate or some combination. The unit is small and weightless and clips to your workout cloths. It works.

Interval workouts consist of a work/rest cycle. But the work time and rest time aren't necessarily equal. For example, the Tabata interval I use is 20 seconds of work followed by 10 seconds of rest repeated 8 times. GYMBOSS allows you to program times that are not equal to each other with two separate intervals.

The problem with the unit is that written documentation that comes with the unit is minimal, poorly organized and poorly written. The labeling on the unit is also confusing. For Example: there are three buttons - Next/Change/Start. In order to power the unit ON you press? - take a guess - you press NEXT. It gets worse from there.

The unit looks cheap - like something you'd find in a dime store - and does not inspire confidence that it will last very long. However, "real" interval timers start at four times the price point of the GYMBOSS. So given your usage and expectations, this unit might or might not be for you. It works for me.

Finally let me add that I had originally written a 2 star review of this product. Customer service spotted the review, emailed me and walked me though use of their product. Proper usage should be done with good documentation, but the fact that CU went the extra mile ups my review to 4 stars. To get the fifth star they'll need to make documentation and design changes to make the product more user friendly.

I bought a Gymboss because I got tired of trying to time Tabatas (20 seconds intervals of hard effort with 10-second rest intervals) at the Y by watching the second-hand on the wall clock while doing dumbell swings or while on the treadmill, rowing machine, etc.

It works great for that, and I started using it for other things, too--like meditation, for instance. I can set it for however many minutes I want to meditate before work, and the vibration reliably tells me when to get up and get going.

I almost always use it on vibrate--I clip it to an arm band, and it's no problem to feel the vibrations. You can set it for an undertermined number of rounds or for a fixed number. Tabatas, for instance, are done in 8-round sets, so at the end of the final rest, instead of a short vibe, it keeps vibrating until you hit the reset button.

I am a personal trainer, who loves this inexpensive tool. it was recommended to me by another trainer. It is so much better than a stop watch. i can program it before a client comes in according to what thier workout for the day is and use it throughout their session. I just started Tabata tecniques with a coule of my athletes and it has made my job so much easier. Love it for my own workout as well, especially when my time for my own workout is limited. It really helps motviate me.
Robin
Franklin Tennessee

First off, this timer does exactly what you want it to do if you are looking for a work-out timer that will time intervals for you. It's actually really cool in that you can set 1 or 2 intervals to fire a certain number of times (e.g. 3min, BEEP, 3min, BEEP, etc. OR 3min, 1min, 3min, 1min) which is great for things like boxing or super-sets of activities or just excercise/break cycles.

The one thing I didn't get from any other review is that this thing is so cheaply built and it's pretty small, fits in the palm of your hand.

The timer seems to work fine, but this really looks/feels/smells like a $6 timer.

The branding and packaging on the device is the cheapest thing you can get from a factory in China (my guess) while still making the device look like it's from your brand.

Our kitchen timer is higher quality than this and it's just a random magnet digital kitchen timer (but it doesn't have the repeat-cycle feature I wanted).

If you are looking for a workout timer, this is fine... it will probably fit the bill just fine.

If you are looking for a big timer that you can hit buttons on to continue between sets (like a real Boxing ring timer) pass on this, it's too small/cheap.

UPDATE: We've had this timer for about 2 years. We dropped it while outside 3' to a concrete sidewalk and now none of the buttons do anything (please refer to my comments about how cheaply this is built). I came back to Amazon to order another one for $6 again and see that it is now $20. There is no way the device I purchased is worth more than $5-6, the fact that it's $20 now makes me wonder if it's full of gold... or made with unicorn tears or something.

I love this thing! I've been using it for about two weeks now, just for doing Tabata Intervals (20/10 x 8) with my Harbinger Speed Jump Rope - 9 Ft.

It's nice and compact, so I clip it to the wristband of my Timex Men's Ironman Triathlon 100-Lap FLIX System Watch # T5E231 (that does NOT do Tabatas) and set it to the 1-second vibrate alarm so I can keep my Creative Zen Stone Plus 2 GB MP3 Player (Red) cranked loud enough to drown out the crappy gym music and plate-slamming meat-heads. I tried clipping it to my waistband, but was not able to feel it thru my own jumping, and didn't want to use the beep, which is plenty loud.

Great for your Crossfit or RossTraining.com workouts or any interval training you're into. Highly recommended - it works!

***10/28/08 UPDATE: Unit failed on 8/31 after barely 4 months of use - display just went blank during workout. Notified sales@gymboss.com and got a response later the same day telling me that it would be replaced under warranty. I had to pay shipping to return it to them, but received a new unit in exchange.

For the money and the design, I think this product is a great value. It's easy to set and use, which I appreciate. It's great for runners, who are into running splits and for someone like me who wants to get more into interval training to burn fat.

This little, tiny gadget does the job;and very effectively; I think the price is right, and what I like the most is the ability to setup timing intervals such like "Tabata"; I use it for Kettlebell workout, and at the end of the 8 Interval following the Gymboss perfect pace, it feels like a 30 minute intense workout! I highly recommend the Gymboss for all kinds of exercises (not only weight lifting or aerobics, but even with sport training exercises such as in Tennis, etc). I love that it can vibrate, as I do exercise very early in the morning and I don't want anybody else to get awake.