Customer Reviews

Timex Ironman Race Trainer Heart Rate Monitor Watch, Grey/Lilac, Mid Size

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This watch is all that I ever needed! I am a semi-serious runner, training between 15-30 miles per week. I think that this watch works great for my level, and for anybody above or below it. I don't find myself needing a $350 watch with GPS - I'm just not that obsessive. What I DO want is a watch that has an accurate heart rate monitor, an easy-to read screen, and all of the split/lap/review/interval settings of the really expensive watches.

There are multiple settings based on the way you want to use this watch. If you want it to train you (using alarms, target heart rate, calorie counter), it will tell you how hard to go. Also, if you just want to maintain a level of comfortable fitness without training hard, I still think that this watch is helpful and not overwhelming.

This watch is really easy to use, though it did take about 1.5 hours to set it up completely from start to finish (I had to figure my heart rate settings - some of you may already know yours). Once it's set up, the buttons and the screens are SO easy to navigate. The heart rate setting has three different screens for your personal preference - 1. large heart rate reading, small clock above. 2. large clock with small heart rate reading above. 3. large heart rate reading with small chrono lap-time reading above. Very useful depending on what you need to be looking at while on the move.

Also, the watch and the heart rate monitor are very comfortable. I don't have to cut myself in half to get the monitor to read my pulse! It fits comfortably above my sports bra strap.

This is the best running watch for the money that I've found. I have not purchased the computer kit that you can use with it, but judging by the watch, I'm sure it's great, too!

After much research I made a decision to switch from a Polar heartrate monitor to the Timex Ironman Race Trainer. I loved the Polar monitor but I'd had it for so long that the model was no longer available. The Timex Ironman appeared to be a reasonable compromise and had most of the features I wanted (large display, a choice of modes, lap counter more than 50, memory, calorie counter, etc.). It was even attractive enough to wear as an everyday watch.

So, here I am only 13 months later with a dead Timex HRM. Did I mention that I'd had the Polar model for a long, long, long time? And Timex is a reputable company, known for quality timepieces.

From day one, the Timex and I had a rough relationship. The functions were never intuitive to me. Maybe I'd owned the Polar for too long. The buttons on the Timex were too easy to bump. It seemed to wander from mode to mode without my assistance or desire. It couldn't always find the signal from my chest strap. On my last run with it, no HR. A fews days before that I'd gone on a 50 mile bike ride - no HR. This is unforgivable in a HRM. Consulted the book, checked the buttons and ah ha - a battery going downhill. Very strange tho as I'd only had it for 13 months. Took it to a jeweler's who assured me that there was still plenty of battery left (more than half) but we switched the battery out anyway with a fresh one. No HR. And a day later, a completely DEAD HRM.

I'm going to try to contact Timex to see if there's any hope of replacing this as a "lemon" because 13 months is absurd.

Did I mention that I had the Polar model for a long, long, long time?

Update, June, 2011. Timex replaced it. I did have to send the old one back and then call them to "remind" them that I'd sent it. They did the right thing by me. I now have a brand new one. We'll see if this one lasts...

Update, January 2012. Is it me? Or is it Timex? What happened to "it takes a licking and keeps on ticking?" I don't wear the HRM in the shower, I don't do kick boxing, and I don't glow in the dark but I do seem to have the ability to kill Timex HRMs. Here is the link to what Timex sent to me: http://www.amazon.com/Timex-Ironman-Trainer-Heart-Monitor/dp/B002EXJ4JY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326065023&sr=8-1

Let's see - 6 months after using it for my regular rides and runs and daily as a wristwatch, it has started failing. Yesterday on a 3 hour ride, it couldn't find my heartrate. Blank screened me a few times too. It revived at the end of the ride and did show a correct elapsed time for the ride. Today at the beginning of my run, it indicated that my HR was 200 bpm. Really? I stopped to manually check and golly, it wasn't 200 but more like 130. The monitor started giving me a correct read and I completed my run. Got home, hit the same button I always hit when I complete a workout and the display faded to nothing.

If I had stock in Timex, I'd sell it.

I purchased this watch after going over reviews for a number of hrm watches. This is by far everything that they say it is. It will not track your mileage and does work in the water for the little I use it that way. Works right out of the box with just a few minutes of setup. If you are pretty fit, you'll want to do the manual heart rate setup in order to get an accurate assessment. Chest strap isn't noticeable while wearing. I have increased my running PR, just by keeping my heart rate in the correct zone and pacing myself. I would suggest to anyone. Stylish enough to wear all day. Definitely not something I would think a man would wear in this color. Cause it is truly a pale purple....

I had wanted a heart rate monitor without spending a fortune. Based on the previous reviews, I tried this Timex Ironman Race Trainer Heart Rate Monitor & Watch and have not been disappointed. The watch/monitor is easy to set-up, easy to use and works great. In addition to the heart monitor, the watch also has the following features: water resistant up to 100M, Chrono, Interval, Timer, Recovery, 3 Alarms and Indiglo. The watch is a nice size for a woman and is not clunky or overly large.

I had two concerns before getting it. 1) I was worried the monitor would be uncomfortable, but it is surprisingly comfortable - fitting right under my sports bra, I actually forget it's there. 2) My other concern was durability and sweat-proofness. I sweat a lot and had ordered this mainly for running and spin class - two activities where I sweat buckets. But so far, the watch and monitor have held up beautifully. No problems at all.

If you want a reasonable priced, easy to use heart rate monitor and trainer watch, I recommend the Timex Ironman.

I purchased this HRM back in May 2010. I loved it! I had never had a HRM before and was torn between a Timex and a Polar. I decided based on reviews to go with the Timex. It worked great for about 9 months. Then while jogging it said my HR was 220! This could be possible, so I didn't think too much of it. But then another time while I was walking it read 202! I checked my pulse myself, which was around 155bpm. I had the battery replaced and also changed the one in the strap. I still got weird readings. Since I am unable to return it to Amazon bc my warranty with them expired I have to send it back to Timex directly. We'll see how this goes. Also, about 2 months into using it the backlight went out, which wasn't a huge issue since I didn't work out at night where I would need it. I'll update my review once I receive it back from Timex. But for now I'm without a HRM, which really stinks.

I would give it 5 stars if not for the wrong output on the calories used. Otherwise is perfect. I had a polar which gives better count for calories but otherwise this HRM is very good.

Overall a good product I would recommend. Does what it's supposed to, looks good and is the right size. My only complaint is that the instructions are a little difficult to understand. Not a bid deal but for someone who is not used to bothering with the instructions it's definitely not as intuitive as I would like but. But, if you're looking for a hear monitor it's well worth the money.

I had previously posted a review on this HRM and gave great reviews. Since then I have had to exchange it for another and now the second one has quit working correctly. I would definately not recommend this HRM.

It's a great monitor, detects the heart rate fast and easy, and works smooth easy to handle, the watch fits great on the wirst, you can barely feel it.
I recommend this product, I'm very happy with it.

Good: very resistant to scratches, outdoor workouts (rocks / water / etc). Easy to set-up. Strap is not noticeable (nice).
Bad: not compatible with my local gyms spinning bikes : Polar tends to have the gym market.

If I were to buy it again I would get the Timex Ironman Race Trainer Digital Heart Rate Monitor Kit (or separately, Timex Ironman Data Exchanger Two-Way USB)