Swimming Watch Recommendations

ScottE said:

What does anyone recommend to look for or avoid in a swimming sports watch?
E.g., are the heart rate monitor ones worth the extra expense? Any brands to be wary of?

I got a Timex Ironman Triathlon watch. It doesn't have the model number on it. It is one of their
"Indiglo" models, with big numerals that are easy to read. I bought it mainly because it has a
simple user interface with large buttons. It is very easy to use while running or swimming.

I don't actually wear it while swimming, since wearing a watch in a crowded lane is dangerous. I
hang it on the starting block and check it or start and stop it as needed.

martin

Thank you everyone for your replies.

I can see I live a sheltered life because the pool where I swim is never crowded, no more than one
person per wide lane, and usually at least one empty lane. I'm spoiled. But not complaining. Our
pool (25 yard, full size, not a kiddie Mr. Turtle pool) doesn't have any rules about watches or
jewelry. I have never yet made contact with another swimmer.

Your answers make perfect sense to me.

And this time of year, even though I live on a large lake, it's too cold for open water work, which
is my main interest. Pool is a poor second but better than nothing.

Thanks again.

By the way, here's an interesting site of a real swimmer, a remarkable woman.
soloswims.comkeith.htmOpen ↗

A.B.

M.W.Smith said:

Aunt Barbara said:

M.W.Smith said:

ScottE wrote:

Quoted message said:

I don't actually wear it while swimming, since wearing a watch in a crowded lane is dangerous. I
hang it on the starting block and check it or start and stop it as needed.

martin

..............................

What makes this Ironman watch dangerous? And has this danger actually happened before frequently
in crowded lanes, or is it a potential danger?

Collisions do happen and usually in the area where the watch is worn. Most of these watches don't
have sharp edges now, but two swinging arms can have a high closing speed, so a collision with a
watch can hurt and can sprain fingers and split skin. Most coaches won't allow jewelry of any kind
to be worn. Many pools prohibit watches and rings in lap swimming lanes.

Right, you could put your eye out. ; )

Thanks everyone for your comments. It appears that there aren't very strong feelings about watch
brands, since people generally don't actually wear them in water.

At my pool, & at the late hour I swim, & with the lack of watch regulations, it's easy to avoid
other swimmers.

On the one hand, I could keep the watch up on the deck (but at this pool, I'd be afraid of some kids
swiping it). On the other hand, people swim in funny patterns at this pool (e.g., a swimmer began
swimming between lane lines 2 lanes over, then 1 lane over, then swam the rest of her session over
the lane line next to me) that I'd be concerned about whacking someone with the watch during
swimming. On the 3rd hand, why not just buy a clock and stick that sucker on the deck - no one will
dare walk off with it. Hmm...

"gwydion" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

M.W.Smith said:

Aunt Barbara said:

On Mon, 03 Nov 2003 08:42:18 +0100, "M.W.Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote:

> ScottE wrote:

> I don't actually wear it while swimming, since wearing a watch in a crowded lane is dangerous.
> I hang it on the starting block and check it or start and stop it as needed.
>
> martin

..............................

What makes this Ironman watch dangerous? And has this danger actually happened before
frequently in crowded lanes, or is it a potential danger?

Collisions do happen and usually in the area where the watch is worn. Most of these watches
don't have sharp edges now, but two swinging arms can have a high closing speed, so a collision
with a watch can hurt and can sprain fingers and split skin. Most coaches won't allow jewelry of
any kind to be worn. Many pools prohibit watches and rings in lap swimming lanes.

Right, you could put your eye out. ; )

ScottE said:

Thanks everyone for your comments. It appears that there aren't very strong feelings about watch
brands, since people generally don't actually wear them in water.

My previous message was to poke fun at the opinion that watches are dangerous while swimming. I've
swam with a watch for 20+ years and never had a problem. I know many hard-core swimmers that wear
watches while swimming, and I have never heard anyone complain or be asked to remove them. Now water
polo, that's a different story, and all jewelry and other objects are removed.

This model of the Timex Ironman watch: timex.comdetail.tmxOpen ↗ is
excellant for swimming. Good computer functions, large numbers, nice round shape and a very
comfortable band.

I possibly have a solution that no one's brought up here?

I'm a total newbie to swimming, but I'm left-handed, and therefore wear my watch on my right arm. (I
have to wear a watch because I swim before my first job, and the clock at the pool has been stopped
ever since I started going there). With the watch on the right arm, you'll only hit the lane line.

gwydion said:

ScottE said:

Thanks everyone for your comments. It appears that there aren't very strong feelings about watch
brands, since people generally don't actually wear them in water.

My previous message was to poke fun at the opinion that watches are dangerous while swimming. I've
swam with a watch for 20+ years and never had a problem. I know many hard-core swimmers that wear
watches while swimming, and I have never heard anyone complain or be asked to remove them. Now
water polo, that's a different story, and all jewelry and other objects are removed.

The fact remains, most coaches won't allow watches or jewelry because there is danger of collision
and injury. When you do hit someone, you will probably say, "Gee, that's the first time that's
happened in twenty years!" And then you'll go back to swimming with your watch on.

martin

ironman1day said:

I possibly have a solution that no one's brought up here?

I'm a total newbie to swimming, but I'm left-handed, and therefore wear my watch on my right arm.
(I have to wear a watch because I swim before my first job, and the clock at the pool has been
stopped ever since I started going there). With the watch on the right arm, you'll only hit the
lane line.

If you hit the lane line, your recovery is too low. You are more likely to hit someone in the next
lane than in your own lane, because many swimmers tend to crowd the lane line to avoid hitting
swimmers in their own lane.

martin

M.W.Smith said:

The fact remains, most coaches won't allow watches or jewelry because there is danger of collision
and injury. When you do hit someone, you will probably say, "Gee, that's the first time that's
happened in twenty years!" And then you'll go back to swimming with your watch on.

That's not a fact, it's an opinion, and an opinion not borne out in my experience.

gwydion said:

M.W.Smith said:

The fact remains, most coaches won't allow watches or jewelry because there is danger of
collision and injury. When you do hit someone, you will probably say, "Gee, that's the first time
that's happened in twenty years!" And then you'll go back to swimming with your watch on.

That's not a fact, it's an opinion, and an opinion not borne out in my experience.

But it *is* a fact. Most coaches don't allow watches and jewelry. I have swum with eight clubs. In
every case, jewelry and watches were not allowed in the pool during workouts. Your experience may be
different, but the fact remains.

martin

M.W.Smith said:

gwydion said:

M.W.Smith said:

The fact remains, most coaches won't allow watches or jewelry because there is danger of
collision and injury. When you do hit someone, you will probably say, "Gee, that's the first
time that's happened in twenty years!" And then you'll go back to swimming with your watch on.

That's not a fact, it's an opinion, and an opinion not borne out in my experience.

But it *is* a fact. Most coaches don't allow watches and jewelry. I have swum with eight clubs. In
every case, jewelry and watches were not allowed in the pool during workouts. Your experience may
be different, but the fact remains.

martin

Not only that but wearing a watch plays merry hell with the feel on that hand. Just plain yucky, and
not very respectful of those in your lane.

--Mike

Mike Edey <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

But it *is* a fact. Most coaches don't allow watches and jewelry. I have swum with eight clubs.
In every case, jewelry and watches were not allowed in the pool during workouts. Your experience
may be different, but the fact remains.

martin

Not only that but wearing a watch plays merry hell with the feel on that hand. Just plain yucky,
and not very respectful of those in your lane.

--Mike

- Yucky????????? Any watch is the least yucky thing in a pool.
- Feel in the hand??? What feel in the hand? 🙂
- Disrespectfull!!!!! Really? To whom? How?
- Life threatening!!!! I didn't know I was offending so much by swimming with a watch. It still
sounds like an stupid prohibition I never heard of.

Seriously! Can someone elaborate on that, please?

Nelson

nelson said:

Mike Edey <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

But it *is* a fact. Most coaches don't allow watches and jewelry. I

have

Quoted message said:

swum with eight clubs. In every case, jewelry and watches were not allowed in the pool during
workouts. Your experience may be different, but the fact remains.

martin

Not only that but wearing a watch plays merry hell with the feel on that hand. Just plain yucky,
and not very respectful of those in your lane.

--Mike

- Yucky????????? Any watch is the least yucky thing in a pool.
- Feel in the hand??? What feel in the hand? 🙂
- Disrespectfull!!!!! Really? To whom? How?
- Life threatening!!!! I didn't know I was offending so much by swimming with a watch. It still
sounds like an stupid prohibition I never heard of.

Seriously! Can someone elaborate on that, please?

I think this is one of those things that a few people with an opinion try to turn into something
it's really not. I've been swimming for a long time, with a bunch of different groups, in a variety
of places, and have never heard of this prior to the comments in this newsgroup. While I can
understand why jewlery with the potential for catching on things or with sharp edges might be an
issue (and might reasonably be barred from the pool), I can't imagine any real basis for treating a
sports watch that way. Based on a rough check of the masters group I'm currently swimming with, I
would say about 20-30% of the swimmers wear watches, and the coach has never complained.

To put this in perspective, could anyone really claim that a sports watch is more dangerous than
hand paddles? I know several people who have been injured by hand paddles (including myself). I
don't know anyone that has been injured by a watch.

gwydion <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

[snip] To put this in perspective, could anyone really claim that a sports watch is more dangerous
than hand paddles? I know several people who have been injured by hand paddles (including myself).
I don't know anyone that has been injured by a watch.

And don't forget those lane ropes! I have never had an injury from someone else's watch, or even a
hand paddle, but I have had *lots* of cuts & bruises from the lane ropes.

One pool I swim at replaced the lane ropes a couple of years ago, when they were new the disc-things
had really sharp edges and for months I would regularly sport cuts on my hands and fingers from
getting them caught. My other favourite trick is coming off the wall at the wrong angle after a
turn, especially for backstroke, and driving my outstretched hands into the face of one of those
discs. Ouch. I've nearly dislocated my fingers on more than one occasion.

I have never come across a pool or coach which bans the wearing of watches, and certainly not
any that have removed the lane ropes in the interests of public safety. (Though I have heard of
some that won't allow hand paddles to be used during "public" swimming sessions, as opposed to
coached squads).

Liz D

nelson said:

- Yucky????????? Any watch is the least yucky thing in a pool.
- Feel in the hand??? What feel in the hand? 🙂
- Disrespectfull!!!!! Really? To whom? How?
- Life threatening!!!! I didn't know I was offending so much by swimming with a watch. It still
sounds like an stupid prohibition I never heard of.

Seriously! Can someone elaborate on that, please?

From a message earlier in the thread:

Collisions do happen and usually in the area where the watch is worn. Most of these watches don't
have sharp edges now, but two swinging arms can have a high closing speed, so a collision with a
watch can hurt and can sprain fingers and split skin. Most coaches won't allow jewelry of any kind
to be worn. Many pools prohibit watches and rings in lap swimming lanes.

When you hit somebody with it, you will get a better understanding of why it is offensive.

martin

Liz D said:

And don't forget those lane ropes! I have never had an injury from someone else's watch, or even a
hand paddle, but I have had *lots* of cuts & bruises from the lane ropes.

Those injuries are your own fault. They aren't caused by someone else's negligence.

Quoted message said:

One pool I swim at replaced the lane ropes a couple of years ago, when they were new the
disc-things had really sharp edges and for months I would regularly sport cuts on my hands and
fingers from getting them caught. My other favourite trick is coming off the wall at the wrong
angle after a turn, especially for backstroke, and driving my outstretched hands into the face of
one of those discs. Ouch. I've nearly dislocated my fingers on more than one occasion.

I have never come across a pool or coach which bans the wearing of watches, and certainly not any
that have removed the lane ropes in the interests of public safety. (Though I have heard of some
that won't allow hand paddles to be used during "public" swimming sessions, as opposed to coached
squads).

Liz D

nelson said:

Quoted message said:

Mike Edey <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Not only that but wearing a watch plays merry hell with the feel on that hand. Just plain yucky,
and not very respectful of those in your lane.

--Mike

- Yucky????????? Any watch is the least yucky thing in a pool.

I was referring to the feel. Not how the watch feels, but how it changes your feel for the water.

Quoted message said:

- Feel in the hand??? What feel in the hand? 🙂 - Disrespectfull!!!!! Really? To whom? How?

getting clipped with a paddle can hurt. Smacking wrists hurts more. Smacking wrists with someone
wearing a watch hurts _alot_. Lap swimming it isn't that common - the 'crowding' lap swimmers
complain about is laughable. In a club situation (well many at any rate) minor collisions are far
more common. Extra pain because some loser you shared a lane with didn't want to take off the watch,
when the only clock that matters is the one on the wall, well that's pretty galling.

Quoted message said:

- Life threatening!!!!

I certainly didn't say that, nor did I mean to imply that. Training, by it's very definition, hurts.
Unnecessary pain is simply stupid.

Quoted message said:

I didn't know I was offending so much by swimming with a watch. It still sounds like an stupid
prohibition I never heard of.

Seriously! Can someone elaborate on that, please?

Nelson

--Mike

gwydion said:

I think this is one of those things that a few people with an opinion try to turn into something
it's really not.

Correct. You are one of those few people.

Quoted message said:

To put this in perspective, could anyone really claim that a sports watch is more dangerous than
hand paddles?

No, and nobody has claimed that. Again, many pools don't allow paddles in lap swimming lanes. When
they are used by coaches in a workout, they are used in a controlled situation.

Nobody is trying to take your watch privilege away from you. A few facts about watches and jewelry
in lap swimming lanes and in coached workouts have been stated. How you use them is your business.

martin

ironman1day said:

I possibly have a solution that no one's brought up here?

I'm a total newbie to swimming, but I'm left-handed, and therefore wear my watch on my right arm.
(I have to wear a watch because I swim before my first job, and the clock at the pool has been
stopped ever since I started going there). With the watch on the right arm, you'll only hit the
lane line.

Well, I don't think there is a problem that requires a solution, but your suggestion would depend on
where you swim. In most US pools, people circle-swim clockwise, which would put the left as the
outside hand. In the UK, the direction typically alternates between clockwise/counterclockwise by
lane, so you would need to switch wrists depending on which lane you are in. And some pools have
very narrow lanes which make passes on both sides closer.