★★★★★ 5
Almost the perfect watch
Color: Black/Blue
I have owned three earlier models of these things going back to the days when I actually ran road races. They are brilliant pieces of work. My only complaint of them was that the start/stop/split button(s)--there were two on the older models--were too small. Well, apparently Timex listens and the two small buttons are now combined into one larger one. Probably this was done years ago but I'm only now getting back into road work, so now I get to discover it.
The perfect watch? Almost. I especially like this model as my eyes are not what they used to be and the oversized face makes it easier to read. The downside to this is that it also makes the crystal easier to scratch. That's always been an issue, but I can live with it. No, the real problem with this product is, was, and apparently ever shall be, the band. Now, it could be worse, it could be a resin band (like the old ones) that will crack and break within a couple of years, but no, this is a nylon and velcro wrap style which should be just dandy, but for three glitches: 1. it's too short 2. it's too narrow (gee whiz, Timex designers, it's an oversized watch, why not a matching oversized band?) and 3. it's still resin where it attaches to the actual watch. Now, I imagine it's probably less prone to breakage in how it's implemented, but if you should choose to replace it, I can see no obvious way of removing it short of cutting it off. Really?
But these are minor complaints. I doubt it would be comfortable on anyone whose wrists are much bigger than my own, but replacement bands are everywhere, and this watch will keep time with style and it's brilliant at splits. Heck, it even functions admirably as a backup for my expensive stopwatches at our regular short track stock car events. For my money (and did I mention the price is wonderful?) the Ironman is still the best at what it does, and for what it can do.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2014
