Customer Reviews

Freestyle Unisex FS81284 Shark Buzz Polyurethane Strap Watch

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've had this watch for about 6 months now, took it surfing in California and kayaking in Texas, as well as hiking and just general wear. The vibration function is very noticable, and the beeping is audible as well. The vibration is actually so powerful that, if I leave the watch on a desk or table when the alarm goes off, it is audible across the room - akin to most cell phone vibrate functions.

The two alarms are nice, the countdown feature works (I agree with another reviewer who wishes there was a countdown/then up feature I've seen in Casio or Timex watches in the past), and the backlight is bright enough for any occassion.

Obviously, this rather chunky watch is not meant for dress wear, but it's not distracting in usual situations, so it works well as a general-purpose watch. I particularly like the large digits for my aging eyes to pick out quickly.

I bought this watch from the PX/BX in afghanistan originally, as a replacement to my old g-shock(G3108) watch, which finally bit the bucket ((after 12 years)) And I am severely dissapointed. Within 24 hours the watch had scratches on the face, from some light brushes against equipment. So much as a single scratch makes this watch fairly difficult to read. The vibration function is supposed to be very good for alerting the hard of hearing, but I never feel it, and i know i have it on. The backlight is barely bright enough to read the time on a pitch black night, and the band is uncomfortable. I will definitely be going back to g-shock watches

Its a bit bulky and feels heavy on wrist. It does not have a glass face either its plastic. The plastic makes it feel cheapie for a high end sports watch. The vibrations are strong enough, but I wish I could set them for the alarm only and not have them go off every hour.

I bought this watch because of their claims that the 2 vibration alarms are significantly 'attention-grabbing'. And they ARE correct. I read the reviews of other vibration alarm watches, and they mostly say that either you'd better have the strap TIGHT around your wrist to feel it, or that, despite claiming a 10 second vibration duration, the watch only gives 3 short vibrations DURING that 10 second interval. However, with this Shark Buzz watch, the vibrations lasts for 20 seconds...and there's a vibration 'burst' (as far as I can tell) every second of those 20 seconds. And the vibration are strong enough to make my wrist 'tingle'...ALMOST as if having a 'joy buzzer' applied to my wrist (...if you are old enough to remember 'joy buzzers). The con is that to create such a strong vibration, the watch had to be made large...and it 'is' in the Medium/Large category. (It's almost twice as thick as my Casio databank watch.) And if you are buying the watch to get both a beeping alarm PLUS a vibration...yet you've lost hearing in the upper frequencies of sound, you won't be able to hear the beeping alarm unless the watch is 6 inches from your ear. So, just rely on the 2 vibration alarms. (I'll report back in the future to let you know how long the battery lasts...as vibrations use a lot of battery power. And hopefully, the battery will be a type that CAN be found at a local watch shop.) Another con: I thought that my wtach came without instructions, but I found out much later that they are 'hidden' under the watch's display stand 'base' in a secret compartment. So, I had to go to Freestyle's website to download the instructions as a .PDF file. (BTW: The instructions for setting the alarm were incorrect.) In addition, though it has so few functions in compared to, let's say a Casio Database watch (whose alarm, unfortunately, I can no longer hear)...but of the functions that it DOES have is a count-down-timer that NEITHER (a) resets itself to the original count-down-time when it's reached 00:00, and (b) does not give you the option of having the watch automatically restart the count-down-timer after it has reached 00:00. Those count-down 'alarm' options would be useful for, let's say, taking some medication at a regular interval throughout the day. I've read that Timex only has one watch of it's many designs that has those abilities, but I don't know about other manufacturers. [Follow-up: 7 months later...the watch face's numerals just 'half-dispapperad' for no reason. It can't be because the battery is low, or I would have gotten some indictaion in advance. And besides, half of the individual digits ARE still clearly visible. I'm changing my rating!!!]

buen dia, el producto es excelente fue lo que pedi y estoy conforme con todo en terminos generales el envio fue un exito tambien

I bought the Black and THIS Silver model. The Silver Model is better. The display is easier to read. In the Black model the display is hard to read indoors; the back-light works just fine, but who wants to use the back-light in normal indoor situations? The vibration alarm will wake you up, it is strong and lasts a good 10 plus seconds. I have to reset the time, but heck so long as I can read the display and I can feel the alarm, well I don't mind resetting the timer. And yes, the instructions are tucked away in a secret compartment at the base of the display case; so if you get this watch you'll have to fish the instructions out; why Freestyle does this I don't know. Trying to get people to their website? Bottom line, the silver model works. Stay away form the Black 2.0.

I absolutely love this watch. a bit bigger in real life than i expected from the online photos but still none the less an awesome watch. great design and overall feel of a "shark" with the band design. vibration is a bit weak, and with the backlight illuminated the numbers only light up not the entire backround... but again perfect for what i am using it for. band contours to wrist for maximum comfort, easy to see digital display, and vibrate, beep, chime, flash alerts. Awesome Awesome Awesome!

Great workout watch - large easy to read numbers - great for the over 40 crowd. Love the 24 hour clock feature, buzz alarm and stopwatch. The band appears much stronger than prior model - so I'm hoping it will last for years.
Fast and easy shipping too!