Basic digital watch for timing

[HexBramble]

Can someone recommend me a fairly cheap digital wrist watch so that I can time myself swimming and running?
Don't know where to start!

[Pleaseputyourshoeson]

Hmmm, basic. Swimming too will mean non basic I think. Garmin 910 was the first waterproof watch designed for measuring laps and it only came out a year or so ago, was far from cheap or basic. Running - smartphone apps for running are free or else Garmin 10. A stopwatch?

[pootlebug]

What do you want to do with the data?

So for running, if you already have a smartphone, you can use an app like map my run, which will show you how far you have run, and how fast. The downsides to it is that it isn't easy to get real-time pace data, so it's not good for interval training, or for using it to aim to run at a specific speed - either for training or to hit a time goal in a race etc.

GPS running watches can help with the above. I have been working on getting faster, and I wouldn't have managed it so efficiently without a watch with real-time pace data.

For swimming I have a swimsense watch that will time and count lengths. It doesn't do open water, and it doesn't do running etc - just swimming. I got it 2nd hand on ebay and it does the job. But often I just use the clock with a big seconds hand in the pool - especially for shorter sets.

The Garmin 310xt and 910xt do both swimming and running. The older 310xt is now down to about £120 on amazon as it is an older model.

[pootlebug]

Oops no I think the 310xt can be used in the water but won't count laps etc in the water. You need the 910xt (or similar in other brands) to be able to count lengths, analyse stroke etc.

[HexBramble]

Thanks!
I'm just useless at counting my swimming laps - my mind starts wandering no matter how much I focus what the hell is wrong with me?!
I just want to time my 400 metres - want to see if I could do a respectable time in a sprint triathlon that I'm hoping to enter.

[pootlebug]

Is there a clock in the pool? Set off exactly on a 5 minute interval (i.e. 5 past and 0 seconds etc) and it should be pretty easy to remember.

I wouldn't worry too much about your swim time if it is that which means you are dithering whether to enter. In my experience, especially in triathlons with shorter swims like 400m, there is a huge range in terms of swimming ability…it's very unlikely you'll be the slowest, or the fastest. And the swim is the shortest leg so you can easily make up some time on the quicker swimmers on the bike and run.

[ElephantsNeverForgive]

Surely any cheap Casio waterproof watch will time 400m swimming.

[CaminanteNoHayCamino]

Pootlebug, which GPS watch have you got? Looking for advice on a Garmin. TIA.

[CardiffUniversityNetballTeam]

I use a Baby G watch for swimming and running. It only has a very basic timer function on it but it has served me well for many years. I think it might actually be indestructible!

[pootlebug]

Caminante - I have a Garmin Forerunner 110. I picked the 110 over the 10 because I wanted the option to use a heart rate monitor with it (don't use it al the time but do use it sometimes). The main downside of the 110 is that it only has an option for average pace - the average for an interval you set, or from the last time you hit the 'lap' button. But it doesn't do current pace i.e. what you are doing right now.

In some ways the average one is more useful - e.g. if I'm doing intervals and want to keep up a set speed through an interval, or when I'm doing a longer race and want to keep up a set speed per km it's much easier to look at average for each km than to keep looking all the time. But I would like to have the choice ideally - but that means a more expensive Garmin.

[CaminanteNoHayCamino]

Thanks Pootlebug. Does your av pace option beep at you if you go over or under it it is that kind of thing also reserved for the more expensive ones?

[pootlebug]

I don't think so. Unless I've just failed to find that function...

[WhatAHooHa]

DH has a cheap Argos digital watch (may in fact be Casio), which he uses for surfing, has lasted 3 or 4 months already. though he is still unable to get home when he promises to

[WastingMyYoungYears]

I recently bought a Garmin Forerunner 10 - I love it. As someone said upthread, it shows pace in real time, and can be set to beep when you're behind / on / above target. I love it so much . It's not compatible with a heart rate monitor though, so you need to decide whether that's something that you want / need.

It's not a basic digital watch though . Which is what I thought I wanted at first too. I was wrong.

[WastingMyYoungYears]

Ah, my reply is relevant to Caminante .

[CaminanteNoHayCamino]

Thanks Wasting. Have you just bought or? How much was yours if you don't mind me asking?

[WastingMyYoungYears]

Yes, I just bought it recently - it was £85 from Amazon. There's a smaller and a bigger size - I got the smaller one (it's a bit deeper than it looks in photos though). I was worried about it finding satellites quickly enough, but it's always done it quickly when I've used it .