Stop wristwatch for swimming

yirara

Hiya,

at the moment I use my iphone for measuring lap times. It's far from ideal as I need to reach out of water, and if a water drop falls on the wrong spot my previous lap times get deleted.

I want a swimming watch with split laps function. Though so far I can only find huge bulky male watches that allow you to operate the buttons in the water. All female watches (I have very slim wrists) don't seem to have that function. Any recommendations for me?

Bruceapple

I count my laps with a little finger counter called "sport count". Purchased it off the internet. got it here;
http://www.sportcount.com/products.php?category_id=1

NoelFigart1

I use an Ironman watch.

yirara

Can you use those ironman watches under water? Those I looked at specifically state in the manual that you should only press the buttons above water - this sounds a bit useless. Sure it's less annoying than a phone outside the pool, but still not really convenient.

I'm not so interested in counting laps, but in stopping the time of certain intervals. I read that this sport count thingy disturbes the water quite a bit, especially if you do breast stroke.

AquaticQuests

The important thing is to target a watch that is rated for 100m (330 feet) and up. Those below may work, but ideally meant in splash situations and if you swim regularly the water will get in hence the instructions you referred to.

There are plenty of cheap casinos on amazon rated 100m but they make it hard to find them! See eg this search and look for the ones rated 100m and up
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_st_price-asc-rank?fst=bs:casio+100m-0-5-Casio&keywords=100m&qid=1418241028&rh=n:7141123011,n:7147441011,n:6358539011,p_89:Casio,k:100m&sort=price-asc-rank
The silver tone Casio one works for my one hour in the pool everyday!

This one seems to have a useful lap interval counter: http://www.amazon.com/Casio-W734-1AV-Classic-Digital-Sport/dp/B005JVP2Q2/ref=sr_1_37?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1418241462&sr=1-37&keywords=100m.

NoelFigart's Ironman seems great too!

For a proper swim watch, I would go with the Garmin Swim, but it's 140 bucks or thereabouts!

NoelFigart1

Yes, you should press the button above the water. I do it when I am starting a new set, and my hand is like an inch above the water. Doesn't hurt it.

yirara

Thanks all. I looked at a Casio watch in a store on vacation the other day, a Casio W-734, which seems to be great for swimming. But it's simply far too big for me. If I close it on the smallest hole I can still play hoola hoop around my wrist with it. Plus it sticks out a lot to the sides (I have very thin wrists).

I guess I need to look at the Timex watches again. At least they come in women sizes. Noel, which model are you using if I may ask? I read a lot of reviews that the straps break easily - and as I need to order everything from overseas a broken strip, if it can be replaced at all is a problem.

yirara

Oh, you linked to your watch. Yes, I saw those as well. They seem to be fairly small for sports watches. Maybe I should just spend the 50 USD (I'll have to order in Europe where those things are more expensive) on them and hope it lasts.

NoelFigart1

I don't know about the strap thing, but I've dropped it on the pool deck a few times and it's still okay.

yirara

I now ordered this one here: http://www.amazon.com/Timex-Ironman-Traditional-Mid-Size-Raspberry/dp/B0083XERTQ (surprisingly it was about half this price). I hope the strap will last and it's really waterproof, but we'll see about that.

AquaticQuests

You got it at half the US price in Europe?
That really is a good deal then!

yirara

I'm surprised as well. That is extremely unusual. Maybe the shop is trying to get rid of it or it's incorrectly priced. But I already got a confirmation that it's dispatched.

yirara

I guess it's more likely that the watch is overprices in the US Oh well, just learnt I cannot use it for the next month anyway: the pump in my pool broke down and a new one needs to be shipped in from the UK. That will take a while

The management does have a good solution: use the pool in another housing project in the meantime. However, it's 10km away and a fun pool, rather than one for swimming laps. No swimming for me then.

AquaticQuests

Aww sorry to hear about the pool situation. and during the holidays too!
:-(
For the watches they are probably doing some kind of clear out! What online shop was it? I'd like to check it out in case there are any other similar deals!

I did notice though that even on he amazon USA link you posted, the men's version seemed to cost half the price, so maybe there was an issue with their pricing there!

yirara

I did buy it at Amazon Germany. Looking at the same model in different colours or for men there, the price seems to be a bit less than half of the others on offer. It's from a private seller though (a watch shop), not Amazon directly.

AquaticQuests

Interesting! I hear that women's running shoes are priced lower than men's?
I guess women's swimming watches are priced higher than the same model in the men's section!
Hmmmm...

ashenriver

Last year for Christmas I got a Timex Ironman watch. One reason I wanted it is because of the tap function. Instead of using the buttons for the splits I just tap. Something I can easily do underwater after my wall push off.

yirara

I received the watch now and are happy to report that it works. The split-button is very easy to use for me and the watch is small enough. I'm using the second-thinnest hole in the strap I'm glad I did not buy a male model as it would not have fitted at all. So lets hope the strap does not break too quickly.

garnet56

I use the Swimovate poolmate HR it counts laps, strokes etc etc plus gives a calorie count though in my opinion its over estimating calories used.

sheepotato

I'm glad you found a watch that you like.

I got a Garmin Swim for myself for Christmas. I like it, I have it synced with mfp through garmin connect so it started logging my swims for me. I have it synced with swim.com too, I joined the 100 mile swim club so I would like to see my swim total for the year so I know when I get close.

I love that it shows my weekly distance on the main watch screen, it makes me want to swim just a bit more. The strap is comfortable but it's face is very large. I only wear it while I'm actually in the pool so I don't really mind it, but it's not something I could wear all day. I noticed that the garmin's calories estimate is lower than my PolarFT4 so I am going to stop wearing the polar and just let the garmin log for me.


I tried to get a pool mate first but it arrived with a dead battery and I returned it without ever getting to try it.

AquaticQuests

sheepotato wrote: »

I'm glad you found a watch that you like.

I got a Garmin Swim for myself for Christmas. I like it, I have it synced with mfp through garmin connect so it started logging my swims for me. I have it synced with swim.com too, I joined the 100 mile swim club so I would like to see my swim total for the year so I know when I get close.

I love that it shows my weekly distance on the main watch screen, it makes me want to swim just a bit more. The strap is comfortable but it's face is very large. I only wear it while I'm actually in the pool so I don't really mind it, but it's not something I could wear all day. I noticed that the garmin's calories estimate is lower than my PolarFT4 so I am going to stop wearing the polar and just let the garmin log for me.


I tried to get a pool mate first but it arrived with a dead battery and I returned it without ever getting to try it.

Wow!
Sounds fantastic. Enjoy!!!

ashenriver

I am taking back my recommendation of the Timex watch. The watch itself is great. But the connectors that hold the strap to the watch broke. This has happened twice. I have sent it back once already under warranty and will have to do so again.

fishgutzy

Bruceapple wrote: »

I count my laps with a little finger counter called "sport count". Purchased it off the internet. got it here;
http://www.sportcount.com/products.php?category_id=1

Amazon has it much cheaper. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0016J9NE8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

If I'm keeping time I'll use my Polar HRM watch for that since it is waterproof and I already have it.