With a history dating back to the 1850s, Timex has a heritage that allows it to claim to be America’s leading watchmaker. More recently, it has turned to the production of heart rate monitors, and here, too, it has become one of the industry leaders.
Its products don’t have all the high-tech gizmos of some of the fancy models from rivals like Polar or Garmin. However, they come with many advanced features, are well made, sturdy and reliable, and best of all, are very reasonably priced. The result is that Timex monitors regularly compete for the top spot on heart monitor best-seller lists at many major retailers.
Of particular note is the company’s Ironman range of fitness products. These are segmented into many categories. For example, there are the Ironman Core and Ironman Sleek sports watch lines, with many advanced features for athletes-in-training.
The Ironman range of heart rate monitors is particularly impressive for the features it offers. One of the most popular in the Ironman series is the Road Trainer monitor.
Consider this list of features: You can set your target heart rate zone, and an alarm alerts you when you move above or below the zone. You can also see a display of your average heart rate, for the total workout, for each lap, and for the total time spent in your zone.
The device also measures your recovery heart rate, at the end of your workout. That is, it tells you how long it takes to return to a normal heart rate. This monitor also incorporates a calorie calculator, which tells you the total calories you’ve burned during your training session, allowing you to set weight loss goals.
It also has computer connectivity for your data. Additionally, the monitor’s transmitter is encrypted to prevent interference from nearby monitors. This is an important consideration when you are exercising in a gym or outdoors around others who might be wearing a monitor.
Building on Timex’s long experience in watchmaking, its monitors can boast additional features, including excellent lighting for nighttime training, a 100-hour chronograph with lap and split options, and a countdown timer from two modes of 100 hours. This is an impressive range of apps for a monitor that lists for around $110, but can easily be purchased online for less than $100.