Discussion: What's the best watch for interval training?

The guy I used to interval train with has moved out west and now I can't rely on his watch to be there timing our intervals anymore. I believe he used a Timex watch that had an repeatable interval countdown. So he could setup a counter of 1 min and it would repeat every minute, then we could do different intervals just counting the minutes as it beeped. Ideally I'd like to find a watch with a feature like this and a heart rate monitor. Any suggestions or specific devices people have tried and liked?

Thanks.

He probably had some variant of the Timex Ironman, which is pretty much the gold standard in running watches. It comes with or without a HR monitor. I've used the basic 100-lap model for years. It holds up pretty well to the abuse of orienteering/adventure racing. I get about 2-3 years out of one before little pieces of the housing start breaking off, which is around 1500 hours of training, about half of that in the woods. Seems reasonable for a $50 watch. I can't speak to how well the HR models work, although I would think they're fine - it's pretty well understood technology.

Yeah, but those Timex Ironmen and similar watches are old school... old technology. HRM watches have become wrist-top computers, with all the attendant software and features...they don't even call them watches anymore, but rather "Training Computers."

I'm trying to select a Christmas watch for an athletic friend. Both Polar and Suunto, among others, offer watches with "computerized coaches" that adjust your training levels based on your workouts and results. For example, Suunto has a watch that reads the "Training Effect" of your workouts, and adjusts your target training zone as your fitness level improves. That's a far cry from running laps at a pace dictated by a watch beeping like a metronome.

Has anyone experience with the Suunto t4c or t6c? How about the Polar FT60 and FT80? I want to make sure that the features of the watch are all easily described and accessible...my friend is not a tech-head.

And I don't want to spend a lot of money for hype. But it seems to me that this new generation of watches could make training much more interesting, productive....and something you might look forward to doing each day.

First off, the Suunto "Training Effect" sounds bogus to me. The watch has no idea what my goals are: long term or this workout. I looked quickly at the Polar and I saw that the data transfer link is an optional extra. so is GPS. I don't know what these things cost but it would be wise to narrow down the must-haves.

Interval timer- every watch should have this
HRM-some are more compatible with machines at gyms. some are less. may not even matter to you. From my experience and reading, they all work OK as long as you wear them snug and wet.

Personally? Data transfer to a PC is critical. I like to review how my heart responded to my efforts. I like to check if I stayed in whatever zone I expected to be in. Whether I eased off or went too hard for my plan. Sometimes I just want to relate PE to HR. The newer Garmin's have a terrific method. Get the watch within 10 feet or so of the PC and it's done. Other watches use IR. Some use sound!!! I believe some use a cable (not for me).

Most likely someone new to these things really just wants to see their HR as they go along. They might want to make a pace adjustment. So big numerics may be important. A settable zone might be nice too. Might end up being too much work tho.

@frankj perhaps it is bogus, but how woud you know if you can't even be bothered checking out a website or doing some basic research to find out?

Ok. I really didn't know. I should have just said so. But the idea still sounds like market-speak to me. On the plus side, it does use ANT.

So, with your push, I read their pdfs and some independent reviews. Altho it's hard to figure out what algorithm is used to come up with this "TE" number, my feeling is it is basically HR zones. If there's more to it, beats me. For track or treadmill based work, maybe this is easier than just having your HR in front of you with beeps to tell you that you're straying out of your selected zone.

How this would handle fartleks, or hill intervals or any kind of interval based training, I don't know.

The show-stopper for me would be that on the t3 model, one review says that TE or HR are big, and split times are very small. I would prefer a watch that allows me to choose what parameter I'd like to see during my workout.

Also, I have a bit of a problem with measuring benefit during a workout. The benefit depends on so many factors. When Jack Daniels starts talking about TE, then I'll listen.

However, each to his/her own.

Hi,
I am looking for a new watch for my training. I am tired of little parts of straps tearing/ripping and ruining my whole watch (ie. Nikes). I have been looking at the Timex Ironman Triathlon watches that are 200M water resistant. Does anyone have experience with the straps on those watches. I heard the velcro is great but some people say they get really smelly or break at the plastic connect point to the watch. Any help is appreciated.

East Coast Triathlete.

I've had a Timex Ironman Triathlete for about 8 years ; I've worn it all the time for all the fun stuff swimming, adventure racing, triathlons , snowshoeing etc as well as everyday stuff . I've never had any problems with it. The battery needs to be changed out every 2 -3 years (the numbers just become difficult to see from an angle when battery is getting low) . The velcro straps can easily be taken off and washed if need be. The velcro loses it's grip after a year or so and I just buy another strap on-line at places that sell watchbands (about $9) .

I just got my 3rd Timex Ironman: 100 lap, several timers, velcro, flix. $35 on sale.

Previous watch (150 Lap, velcro strap) is probably 4 or 5 years old and survived quite a beating. I find the velcro lasts about 1.5-2 years, but that will vary depending on how often you undo the strap. Factory battery lasted about 2 years, the replacement battery is going on three and still working. Got a new watch because the lap button was getting a bit tempermental. No problems with odor; shower with the watch on....

Awesome, thanks for the advice. I don't plan on taking it off at all and I heard some of the velcro straps have some rubber in them. From what I read and hear, the Ironman Triathlon is definitely up to the challenge.

Thanks once again.

Go with the velcro; the plastic straps on the Ironman are crap. It's really the only thing I don't like about the watch. Fortunately, it's easy and cheap to fix, but you might as well start out with the right band rather than replacing it.

And stay away from Timex' plastic "Fast Wrap®" band. In my experience, running through the underbrush, it is actually a "fast unwrap" band.

I think mine has the Fast Wrap, but not sure. Definitely velcro. The only rubber is on the tab at the end of the band and where the band attaches to the watch body. No problems yet with the band coming unwrapped.

Same here .. i have the velcro fast wrap . It needs to be properly snugged down and the velcro needs to be picked clean of foreign material to work well . I have never had it come loose orienteering or adventure racing . Swimming is the biggest challenge to an old worn fast wrap ; either get a new one or back it up with a piece of tape or rubber binder or similar

@frankj : I've owned a T6 and used its Training Effect feature. It's no bogus: it's based on the pulse delay variation (there's a specific scientific term for that). You can find some info from the 'Personal wristop trainers' yahoo group or so, and backtrack info from the frwd site, also using that... Too bad I couldn't see that TE while training, or couldn't set an alarm on that.

With respect to velco bands in the woods, it matters which way you put the band on. You want to make sure the strap is closing towards you pinky. If it closes towards your thumb, it will catch on things and open.

Another trick I used on FastWrap bands: Snap a small rubber band around one side of the FastWrap band several times before putting the watch on. Then put on the watch, and roll the rubber band up and over the junction, to hold the closed Velcro strap firmly together.

Yes, swimming is definitely a problem with a worn-out band.

A piece of two sided (hooks on one side, loops on the other) velcro tape wrapped around the band works too.

I like the Timex. It has large numbers which makes it easy to read in the dark, rain or just on the fly.

Hi!
I've been runing with this one:run:
http://interval-timer.com
It is an application for cell phone, large numbers, vibra, loud sounds, keypad locking...

I like the t-6. great software with it. After a while I just don't like putting on or wearing the strap. Good altimeter with this model.

I think you should drive to the hammer for tnt and we'll do the timing for you...you might get a little faster at the same time...