Timex Unisex Ironman Triathlon Sleek 50/100 Watch #T54281 Reviews

• Nearly Perfect... Bad Band

  
  By A3F3B6HY9RJI04 on 2006-07-21
  I've been very familiar with the Timex band as 80% of the watches I've bought in the last decade have been Ironman Timex watches. So the familiar feel of the buttons was a great plus to buying this watch.
  
  The only downgrade from previous versions of the Ironman is the 50 lap "memory". I've had other Ironmans that allow you to save previous runs, swims, bikerides, or whatever else you've been timing. Now you can only save one... with up to 50 laps. When a new time starts, you must delete your old one first.
  
  But my biggest complaint is the band. When I first put the watch on my wrist I fell in love with how it feels. The unique look of the band also fit my wrist like a glove and I thought I had the perfect watch. Unfortunately, it has just suddenly came off twice in the last half year I've owned it. And not from anything too rough. The last time I was just driving. And putting it back on was worst than solving a Rubik's cube. And if you want to replace the band, forget it, findng a replacement has been fruitless thus far. A price to pay for such a unique look.
  
  Recommended? In the end, no, I regret buying this watch. If they can figure out how to keep it held together better this would be a wonderful watch to own. Though 2-3 times more expensive, my favorite watches of late were made by Nike.
  
  

• This watch is awesome.

  
  By AAV3HU72C3R3G on 2006-01-07
  I was willing to spend up to $80 on a watch that/had did a few basic things:
  1) large display with large easy-to-hit lap button
  2) had at least two time-lines independently running, so that I could see a cumulative time and a last-lap time
  
  This watch does it. I looked at other watches for more money and the money was not even a consideration, because this watch covers those perfectly.
  
  I use it for speed work and road races. Its 50 lap is going to cover a person in any race (if you're doing an ultra marathon, they're not going to have mile markers that often anyway!). There are a couple of display formats, but I use the default, which has a cumulative time in the large numbers and, when one hits the lap button at a lap/mile, it freezes everything on the display, showing the cumulative at that last click as well as the last mile's time. It holds this for 10 seconds and then resumes, with the cumulative time on the bottom and the current lap on the top. One could probably switch those around, but I've not tried.
  
  Its 50 lap memory works well.
  
  Its 3 alarms are cool and it also has an interval timer, which I must admit I've not used.
  
  Timex OBVIOUSLY put a lot of thought into the design and functionality of this watch. There are no silly things that were added that are of no use. Clearly they interviewed runners to determine exactly what this watch should have. The night mode is also cool--if one holds down the light button for 4 seconds, the watch enters night mode, and now any button click at all will turn the light on for a short bit. Very useful for night/early morning runs.
  
  

• One step overboard for the price range?

  
  By A1LX9GSMN66L7E on 2004-02-22
  I've used a Timex Expedition (B0000D1662) for years, but this is less expensive, more stylish, and more functional - it's as though the prices are backwards.

  The IronMan30 has a night-light system that far surpasses the Expedition, with brightly glowing number elements rather than a weakly back-lit face, a more elabore lap/split chronograph, a simpler and more accurate timer, separate day/weekend/weekday alarms, and a recessed face.

  That last feature is very important: I've had to replace my Expedition every few years because the face always got scratched, soon after purchase. But the IronMan30 has a recessed face that hasn't been scratched yet!

  The IronMan50, by contrast, has what the 30 has plus 20 more laps. If you have more than 30 (even more than 10?) laps to time, you should probably invest in a more expensive watch - one with a heart monitor if not also a compass and/or altimeter, depending where you're doing those laps.
  
  

• Decent watch, terrible watch band! Very disappointing.

  
  By A7LKH5JP9MD37 on 2006-06-24
  This watch has a lot of nice features, and works well. Unfortunately, its band doesn't fare so well. I had this watch for less than a year before giving up on it. In the last 3 months or so of its existence, I had to epoxy parts of the band back together no less than 10 times (in at least 6 different places). With most watches, if the band isn't very good, you can simply replace it. Timex chose a customized band that isn't user-serviceable. If you need any repair work done to the band, you need to send it back to Timex, pay for shipping, pay a $7 handling fee, and wait up to a month to get it back. That's if you kept the receipt and can prove it's under warranty. If not, you'll have to pay $10 for the replacement band.
  
  In addition to the problems with the band, within about six months, two of the buttons lost a good deal of sensitivity (naturally the two most commonly pressed buttons). They still worked, but they had to be pressed very hard, and sometimes needed to be pressed twice for the watch to realize they had been pressed. I never considered this a major issue, as it happened to a lesser degree on previous Ironman Triathlon watches as well, and it didn't seem to be getting any worse.
  
  I've owned many Timex Ironman Triathlon watches over the years, and have always been happy with them, until now. This watch has been a thorough disappointment. It was the most expensive of their watches that I've bought (their less expensive, but more reliable models are no longer available in stores), and it suffered multiple failures within a year. And when I looked into the prospect of getting it repaired/replaced by Timex, I was disappointed to see that Timex won't stand behind their products enough to even pay return shipping on warranty repairs. Many other companies stand behind their products so firmly that they'll even pay shipping BOTH ways. Not Timex, though!
  
  I ended out replacing my watch with another brand watch. It cost less than half as much, and appears to be much more durable, along with being made from nicer, more expensive materials (professional looking fully-metal band with smooth hinges all around). It unfortunately lacks some of the features that this watch offers, but until Timex goes back to standard watchband connections, I do not plan on buying another one of their watches.
  
  

• Don't bother...

  
  By A35TVFK53N2MGZ on 2006-12-28
  I've owned 3. All 3 had the same problem, the band is defective on these watches. It will break, you can't fix it, Timex will insist you buy another whole watch and not repair the band...
  I played the return game twice and wore the 3rd watch until it too broke.
  
  Lightweight, comfortable, functunal, but defective band design.
  That's why they are on sale everywhere.
  
  
• Best design, great functionality, but it's a DISPOSABLE watch after all
  By A6CVHOBVYI792 on 2006-11-28
  My family got through 4 of these already (I think we started 3 years ago). This is a great watch from the design standpoint (how it looks) as well as from the ease_of_use/functionality standpoint (everyday life, travel/time zones, running/splits). The only thing I'd have changed is to extend the memory to 100 laps (usefull if one does two runs with a lot of splits back to back). However, we did experience most of the issues other reviewers have reported like broken strap (impossible to fix) - twice, lap button getting stuck, etc. One other thing is that if you replace the battery (one of those we had lasted long enough to need this) the watch stops being waterproof (according to the tech who did the replacement -- my experience shows to the contrary). So, despite all of the problems and giving it only 3 stars I'm buying another one ... I guess one just has to view this as a disposable product (like Brita water filter?) that is designed to last about 1.5 years and figure this consideration into buying/not_buying decision.
  
  
• Nice watch, lousy watchband
  By A3VROMZUIML863 on 2004-12-05
  It's a nice enough watch, but the watchband separated from the watch body in less than six months. This isn't one you can replace it, it's molded into the body. I emailed timex, and I got a "We don't make watchbands, contact ..." when I asked if it was possible to replace the watchband. In other words, an even more disposable version than they normally make. I've worn Timex watches since I was a kid. I think this may be my last one.
  
  
• Low-quality construction detracts from appealing design
  By A1H7Z84EW22W9R on 2006-07-24
  I bought one of these watches shortly after Timex introduced them. I was new to running at the time, and this was my first running watch. I chose this watch because I didn't need tons of bells and whistles, and the low profile of the watch appealed to me.
  
  It worked great for about 10 months, and then one day it just...died. I think it was a winter day; I pressed one of the buttons before starting my run, and the display went blank. A new battery didn't help. It was still under warranty, so I shipped the watch (and a check for "shipping and handling") to Timex for warranty service. They replaced it with a new (or refurbished?) watch. After about 1 year, the exact same thing happened -- cold day, button pressed, dead watch.
  
  Note that even though these watches carry a 1-year warranty, you still have to send Timex a check to get them serviced if they fail. This is spelled out in the very, very fine print of the owner's manual.
  
  
• Band problem
  By A26R7YNQ7H8SU3 on 2006-08-28
  I have had a number of Casio watches over the years and they have worked fine with occasional battery and band replacement. Black rubber bands get stiff and crack. I received this Timex watch as a present two years ago. I have replaced the battry once and that is OK, if kind of soon. But the band has now cracked and it looks like the whole watch has to be scrapped. The band is integral to the watch.
  
  
• I've had NO problems with the bands...
  By AACBCPOPOZ030 on 2007-01-26
  Ditto to all the positive comments on the previous posts. However, I have not had the problems with the bands like the many have mentioned. I've had two of these watches now, going on third as the battery has died on number 2, and I have never had an issue with the bands on my first two. I wear mine all day, every day, even in the pool or shower, and it's held up well. The light did go out seemingly "too soon" but then I notice the battery was beginning to fade as well at the same time. I wear mine all day, every day, in pool and shower, and it's held up remarkably well. The only negative is that it seems the battery goes quickly ... but maybe that's due to using the alarm daily and training with it.
  
  It is an inexpensive watch (compared to many other options that are out there) and given its ease of use, its very readable face, and sleek look, I'd take the chance on it.
  
  
• Watchband goes, throw the watch away
  By A24VKXY6PTDRGP on 2005-07-23
  Very sad - excellent watch but the band is integrated into the design. It wraps up along the side and help create some of the waterproofing quality. I called Timex about this and they do not make replacement bands. The only way to get it serviced is to send the watch in for warranty repair, which gets you a new watch.
  
  Timex did graciously replace one under warranty, but now my second has had EXACTLY the same problem and I don't have the patience to send the thing in for a few weeks every time this happens. Really truly unfortunate because it is a nice watch.
  
  
• Great watch...terrible band
  By A2WAP3D72BH75C on 2007-01-01
  Functionally speaking, this is a very good watch. The buttons are laid out well, and the split timer on the stopwatch is very user friendly. It's also very lightweight. All in all, a great watch for workouts.
  
  The downside is the band. We've had 3 of these watches and all have fallen apart, with an average lifespan of 1.5 years. Many people have complained about this defect...so I'm not sure why Timex is still selling this watch, or why they haven't designed a replacement band. I'm not a subscriber to the 'disposable watch' philosophy. I like to buy a watch and keep it for several years. This watch may 'keep a licking and keep on ticking' but it won't do that on your wrist.
  
  
• Cheap Watch
  By A1H2C9XTO8P3T8 on 2007-09-22
  I bought this looking for a cheap watch to go running with. Like so many other people I ignored the bad reviews and focused on the good ones. Initially I was very impressed with the watch. It was light, comfortable and had all the features I was looking for. After using it for a couple of months I went to put it on and it was completely dead. I replaced the battery and everything was fine. I then used it almost daily for my summer ocean lifeguard job, and the band came off the watch and I haven't been able to get it back on. I purchased this watch on January 9, 2007 BTW.
  
  
• Great watch, but the band is made of poo-poo
  By A3H457FSAQGOW7 on 2005-12-11
  Had the watch for 6 months. Excellent visibility, excellent user interface.
  Then the band broke. Well, it didn't break, it just sort-of disintegrated.
  Crumbled. It's not like I have Incredible Hulk sweat or anything; I don't usually
  dissolve my clothing. But the band started to crack in six places and then
  fell off. It's a very special band that does not seem to be possible to replace.
  
  I -highly- recommend that you stay away from this watch until Timex
  produces a cheap replacement band and/or begins manufacturing the
  current watch with more modern materials.
  
  It's a shame, really. Otherwise this is an excellently designed watch that,
  for six months or so, was one of the best, easiest to see and use, watches
  I've ever had.
  
  
• Not waterproof
  By A1CWA6DGVR8XVR on 2006-07-17
  I bought this watch with the understanding it is water proof. After my first pool dive it fogged over. I believe the seals in the watch were defective. This is my first bad experience with TIMEX.
  
  
• Broke after one drop
  By A3BJPA0BECI04P on 2004-11-07
  So much for "Takes a Licking". This watch broke the first time I dropped it. I wouldn't recommend this one. Buy the classic Ironman Timex watch with two buttons. I've had the older model for years and although it is missing two buttons, I haven't had a problem. As per this one. Don't waste your money would be my recommendation.
  
  
• can't complain... but i'll try really hard to-
  By AX5YU87AK5FVI on 2005-04-27
  nice watch. i managed to not lose it for almost 2 years now- maybe longer. it does everything i need for my training, except i haven't figured out a way to delete a split from the list before storing it but that may be asking too much.
  
  perhaps the best part and worst part about the watch is the band. i've been searching online for the last 3 days looking to buy a replacement watchband for this watch. alas, it is NOT POSSIBLE. there's only so long i can go with a rubberband holding down the part of the strap that sticks out and a safety pin to secure the part that cracked off.
  
  granted, it's a very cool looking band without the recent accessories. (the wacky holes aren't only hip-i've not had a sweaty wrist for ages.)
  
  but now, i'm stuck. what to do? buy another watch? i love the watch too much to want a new one. i'm comfortable with it. it's a part of me now, you know? we've run lots of races together. i know how to push its buttons. (and doesn't that take a while to get the hang of, anyway?) so do i continue living life with office supplies hanging off my wrist?
  
  it's a bit like hating divorce and yet finding yourself married to a man who is slowly making your life hell. whataya do? know the facts before you buy. so... buy the watch? don't buy the watch? i honestly can't suggest one over the other. this is a horrible review, i know. but maybe it'll paint the proper picture of what mess this watch will get you into. guard your heart.
  
  
  
• Why didnt I listen to all the poor reviews?
  By A126CS6183K9G3 on 2007-07-19
  I just finished my 5th marathon and was looking for a new watch. I wanted something durable but relatively inexpensive. After looking around I thought that this watch would do the job. I read some of the horrible reviews but for some reason I decided to give a shot anyways. After two weeks of running the watch display went completely dead. I took it to a local watch store and they put a new battery in, but that didnt do anything. They said something else is wrong with it and that I would need to ship it back. I would strongly advise against purchasing this product. In fact, this is the first time I have ever taken the time to actually write a product review -- thats how bad this watch was.
  
  
• More Intuitive than ever
  By A3D12G41WDXAC9 on 2007-09-01
  I am a College runner and have used a number of Timex Ironman watches. I do wish that I had found one with a 100 lap memory but 50 is still very good. I have found that the watch seems much smaller on my rist as compared to other sports watches but the number size (Which is important when you are running) is as big as any other watch out there. I have also found that this is the most intuitive watch in setting up the alarm,timer etc. The alarm is also much louder than others I have used (It is the only alarm I use to wake up for morning runs). I give the watch an A++
  
  
• Great features, poor dependability
  By A33BJ70FLBIGQ4 on 2006-04-13
  Unfortunately, I am now shopping for my next Ironman Triathlon watch. The features of this one are wonderful. Multiple timers, multiple alarms, lap memory...it is outstanding.
  
  However, I have gone through 2 of these watches now. The first one simply stopped working. Replacing the battery did not work (I tried more than one). On the second one, the light stopped working only months after I started wearing it. About 2 months after that, the band broke on it.
  
  Be sure to check out the other reviews of this watch (in other Amazon listings). They all say the same thing and had the same problems.
  
  Timex, I hope you're watching.
  
  
• Beware: The band will break in 13 months
  By ABV8E3YKDH9K0 on 2006-10-01
  Great watch for running -- I loved the huge display, the large buttons that were mostly easy to push (the side ones are trouble sometimes but the lap button is always easy), everything. Great. Then, just past my 1-year warranty deadline, the strap broke in two places on the same day. The watch is now useless b/c, as others have noted, you can't replace the band. It's a real shame b/c until now I've never had a single problem w/the watch. I wore it every day for a year, including running many many miles w/it through all kinds of weather. So it's a great watch, but the unreplaceable band pretty much kills it.
  
  
• Another great Ironman!
  By A21Y8A96LZR12H on 2006-11-21
  This was purchased for a friend: Like me, my friend thinks this is a great investment in a watch! It has everything a runner could want. Programmed intermittent timers so you can alternate between running & walking, a countdown timer that you can use for strength-training, and a stopwatch. Great price too. I couldn't believe it was less expensive than Academy!
  
  
• Yes, it has a countdown timer!
  By A1MVK4NPE6FT4Y on 2007-07-30
  I can't understand why other digital watches, like Casio, leave this feature out. This watch is lightweight, slim and elegant. Just what I was looking for. Most digitals are bulky and heavy. Clean face, easy buttons and great nightlight. It's a keeper. And the price is right.
  
  
• Band replacement must ship to Timex & $10.00
  By A1R50U6T7E2RVV on 2008-06-25
  I had this watch for several months and still think its a great watch but you should know this:
  I needed to put the watch in my pants pocket for a brief time and the flexing removed the band.
  
  I have tried to have it replaced in a store but no store could do it with that band.
  
  I checked with Timex and received this response.
  
  - -
  I am sorry about the problem with your watch. Unfortunately, that watch does not have a user replaceable band. You would need to send it in to Timex to have the band replaced. The cost for the band replacement is $10.00 plus any applicable tax. The address to send the watch to is
  
  Hotline Watch Service
  PO Box 8009
  Little Rock, AR 72203
  
  Please include your return shipping information, a note stating that you need a band replacement and a check or money order for $10.00 made payable to Timex.
  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  Jean Showmar
  Timex Group USA Inc. Customer Service.js
  
  
  
• Nice Look, Nice Specs, Nice Price, Unreliable Buttons
  By A2AH2DANZKZT2F on 2004-10-27
  I've owned this watch for about 4 months, using it on maybe 90 pre-dawn training runs during that period. The display is so amazingly clear and sharp it almost hurts my eyes. The large digits are great. There are, of course, Timex watches with more features, but this one has about all I would realistically use. (Do I really need the 8 alarms my old Ironman has rather than the 3 that this one has?) And, of course, the price is quite reasonable.
  
  I'm disappointed with the buttons, though. At the end of my run, I'd like to push the button and be able to count on the stopwatch stopping. About 1/3 of the time it takes a second button press before I hear the beep confirming that the stopwatch has stopped. Rarely, it takes a third or a fourth press. This morning, it took even more than that.
  
  I just use the start button on the top and the stop button in the lower right corner, and I don't use the lap/split time feature. I may not be the most coordinated person, especially at 6 a.m., but being able to push a button has never been a problem for me in the past. Might the buttons accidentally be pressed while I'm running? I don't see how. I don't wear heavy clothing on my wrist, I don't have ripples of fat or muscle on my wrist that might somehow contact the buttons, and I'm running on city streets, not on trails where foliage might brush my arm.
  
  I'm too lazy to seek warranty service for this, but, as you can see, not too lazy to complain.
  
  
• The band sucks
  By A2NUK582CATU1Q on 2006-01-28
  The band is a piece of garbage. I have had a Timex Ironman for about 15 years but decided to "upgrade" to the "Sleek." The watch is decent--it has a much more intellegent user interface than the old Ironman--but it makes strange electronic static sounds when I depress some of the buttons. But the band is a piece of garbage. As other users have stated, it disintegrated within a year. It cracked in multiple places and then finally broke. And due to it's "advanced" (AKA non-standard) design, once the band breaks, you're out of luck. I can't find a replacement band from Nike or elsewhere.
  
  I'm back to the Ironman that's served me well for 15 years.
  
  
  
  
• GREAT watch
  By A12NIJ04O5DCI7 on 2006-05-17
  This is the watch to get if you are a runner. All the features I need, very usable, has all the bells and whistles w/o being too much or overloaded. It even looks pretty good for a timex watch, I mean, its real basic, clean and functional, the oversize numbers are very handy, makes it easy to see your splits when running, the buttons are big and easy to find w/o being gaudy, and the wristband breathes well. Both the splits and the overall time run at the same time, which is also very nice, keeps me from having to look down multiple times to get the info I need during a run. Oh, and when you get the watch, look in the users guide paper and you can call in for a four year warranty on the watch for $5 - seems to be a good deal to protect against premature breakage. For $33, with the warranty thats less than $10 a year, less than $1 a month, this watch is well worth it.
  
  
• Great watch but doesn't last
  By A4KHA8IKEKWXA on 2006-10-31
  Great looking watch. Easy to read, but the strap broke after a year and the watch face is easily scratched.
  
  
• awful band, good watch
  By APLDLFAJ3H28S on 2007-01-29
  i've had three of these watches, but the band loosens up and falls off with no way to put it back on. its ridiculus b/c seems like the band worsens in water and this is supposed to be fore Triathlons. however the interval counter is a great feature. but whats the point of having a watch that the band wont last more than a year or two?
  
  
• Bad band here too....
  By A18TXPCKIHHDNX on 2007-05-24
  Other than the band, everything else on this watch works great. I had my band just fall off while I was swimming...luckily it was in a pool and not open water. I mainly use mine for swimming and intervals when running or cycling. The 50 lap feature actually can store more than 1 workout, it just reduces the number of laps it can record on each additional workout. If you do 30 on one, then you only have 20 left for the next one. Not problem if you record your workouts as soon as you are done like I do. The only thing keeping this watch from getting 5 stars is the fact that the band just popped loose. I took it back since it was only 3 months old and they replaced it no questions asked.
  
  

• Expedition Digital Compass
• Skagen Women's Silver Dial Mesh Bracelet Watch #358SSSD
• Timex Men's Easy Reader Expansion Watch #T20031
• Timex Women's Classic Brown Leather Watch #T26701
• Timex Men's Brown Leather Easy Reader Watch #T28201

• Timex IRONMAN Triathlon Sleek 50-Lap Mid-Size
• Timex Women's Ironman Triathlon Sleek 50 Lap Watch #T5B721
• Timex Women's Ironman T Sleek 50 Lap Watch #T5D601
• Timex Women's Ironman Triathlon Sleek 50 Lap Watch #T59211
• Timex Women's Ironman Sleek 50 Lap Watch #T5E511