Timex Ironman or other swimming watch

[badnees]

I am considering a watch for swimming. A couple of questions:

1) I'd like it to count laps automatically, can it do this? If so how? Do you set a distance for each lap?

2) Can it count laps and keep time at the same time?

3) What other uses are there for a swimming watch?


I would appreciate any advice? I'd like to spend $50 or less.

I am a fairly new swimmer, usually swim 30-45 minutes, sometimes do some speedwork but mostly just swim as many laps as I have time for.

[badnees]

I'm just wondering if I really need it. I mean all I do is swim 30-45 minutes for exercise, but I may like to enter a race one day

The guy that swims in the lane next to me uses one to tell him when his daily 30 min is up

[Concho Pearl]

I have a Timex Ironman. Found it at Walmart for under $50.00

It's good for keeping track of your time. I tried it for lap counting and it's kinda hard to do a flip turn then reach over and punch the button for lap counting. You have to hit it just right or it wont register the count. Now maybe doing a open turn it could work better...

However I found it use full for start and finish time. I count the laps myself and can see how long it takes me to do 100 or 500 etc... it is a bummer to count laps your self I'm still trying to see which is better counting by 100's or just by laps.

[Mirabella]

I have a Timex Ironman too and they are on sale this week at Target. It looks like a regular sports watch so you can wear it anywhere.

[craiglll@yahoo.com]

Timex ironman are the best for any reason. I just lost one in October and went back t a Cassio like I used to have. Very disappointed.

[Sylvia]

Help. I also would like a watch that counts laps. If there isn't such a thing, is there a lap counter that one could wear like a watch? I am tired of not relaxing while swimming and thinking other thoughts, while I have to keep a count in my mind. Any ideas out there?

[SaraJean]

I use my Timex IM watch to count laps by figuring out how long it takes me to swim a lap and checking it (underwater) as I begin each lap to make sure I'm on pace.

I'm a relatively slow swimmer, so I average :45 to 1:00 per 50 yards. As I start lap 2, I glance at my watch, and as long as it's between :45 and 1:00, I know one lap is done. At the beginning of lap 3, it should be between 1:30 and 2:00, and so forth.

[hofffam]

I haven't seen a watch that EASILY counts laps. They all require the opposite hand to press a button on the watch. That would never work for me in practice. It also violates a basic principle that you should do in practice what you would do in a race. Who wants to come off a flip turn and touch your watch?

I have seen finger-based lap counters. These are worn like a ring and are triggered by the thumb. These are not watches nor timers. They count laps.

Like this (http://www.jdpence.com/home/jd2/page_776/). I have never used one but these look much more practical as a lap counter.