Timex Ironman Men's Road Trainer Heart Rate Monitor Watch
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 List Price: $109.95 Sale Price: $67.20 Visit Amazon:  
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Best used for: Basic Fitness
Features: Calories * Digitally Coded * Heart Rate Alarms * Laps/Splits * Stopwatch * Waterproof
The Timex Ironman Road Trainer is a mid-level member of the Timex heart rate monitor family. It includes a chest strap equipped with a sensor that capable of providing accurate heart rate information. The Timex Ironman Road Trainer provides a range of functions such as a dual time zone watch, a convenient alarm, lap/split capability, and calorie calculations. Further, the Road Trainer also comes with a nightlight (they call it Indiglo) and a big number display which is easy to read.
The Road Trainer very closely matches the Timex Zone Trainer features. In fact, it has very few features over the Zone Trainer. Here’s a tease…keep reading, we highlight the differences below.
The Timex Road Trainer is sold in several forms but they all offer the same features. If you are interested in a different color or a different size, check out these versions. There are the Full Size versions. They are intended for men.
These versions are mid size and are intended for women or men with smaller wrists. The watch face is slightly smaller and less obtrusive. The watch band and chest straps are also slightly smaller. The white one looks great. It’s not not sold many places but it’s available on Amazon.
How Timex describes the Ironman Road Trainer:
- Target Zones- preset your heart rate exercise zone and get an alarm notification when you are not in zone
- Average Heart Rate- For your workout and for each lap
- Time in Zone- how long do you spend in your target zone
- Calories burned- who doesn’t want to know that
- 100-hour chronograph with lap and split
- 50-lap memory with average heart rate per lap
- Digital heart rate transmission- less interference experienced with other equipment or devices
- Large display with Indiglo night light
What we like about the Timex Ironman Road Trainer:
- The look- the Road Trainer has a very rugged look that we think looks great (if you’re into that sort of rugged look)
- All the basics- the Road Trainer has everything you really need for a basic heart rate monitor.
- The recovery heart rate feature- the watch will automatically track the time you take to recover from a workout. This is an important feature because your recovery time is a good indication of fitness level.
- You can call us backlight geeks, but we’re big fan of Indiglo. It’s useful for working out indoors or for pre-dawn training.
What we don’t like about the Timex Ironman Road Trainer:
The differences between the Road Trainer and the Timex Zone Trainer do not seem to warrant the additional cost. In fact, in some cases the cheaper Zone Trainer outshines the Road Trainer. Look at the differences below.
| Feature | Zone Trainer | Road Trainer |
|---|---|---|
| Countdown Timer Auto Repeat | See Note | X |
| Number of Laps | 27 | 50 |
| Display Lap Number | X | - |
| Visual Zone Display | X | - |
Note: Both the Zone Trainer and the Road Trainer have a countdown timer. The Road Trainer countdown timer has a capability to auto-repeat when the countdown timer reaches zero. You have to press “restart’ on the Zone Trainer to restart the countdown timer.
Timex Road Trainer vs. the Timex Zone Trainer: Our Recommendation
Timex has a great name and is building quite a following for heart rate monitors- you can’t really go wrong with either the Road Trainer or the Zone Trainer. The Ironman Road Trainer is a great entry level heart rate monitor with all of the basic features. However, we recommend taking a look at the Zone Trainer over the Road Trainer. Although the Road Trainer is more rugged looking, the Zone Trainer offers a few more display modes for slightly less money.
What Amazon users say about the Timex Ironman Road Trainer:
There are over 60 reviews of the Timex Road Trainer on Amazon. Here is a direct link to the Timex Road Trainer Reviews. Almost 75% of the reviews are 4 or 5 stars. Overall, it’s very well reviewed.
Our user reviews on the Timex Road Trainer HRM:
Click here to submit your review.
Good choice
I needed to improve my running. Well, I wanted to improve my running. The Road Trainer is a great choice for that.
The chest strap is quite comfortable if you wear it under your bra.
The watch has so many features that I haven't used them all. And the price was right.
My early runs are much better with the Indiglo backlight. That's my favorite feature.
Bad strap
The chest strap on the Timex tends to break. Unfortunately they are matched to you have to replace the entire thing when the strap breaks. The first time it lasted 2 months. The next time it lasted 4 month. I'm trying something else this time.
Move over Polar
I wouldn't go outside of the gym with a Polar. They make you look like an exercise dork. The Timex looks great.
In fact, the Timex beats Polar in countless ways. Features, cost, looks. No comparison.
Forget my friend
I looked for a heart rate monitor forever. My friend wanted me to get a GPS watch. That seemed like it was a little more than I needed. The Road Trainer is perfect for people like me. I do multiple sports, not just running outside where a GPS watch shines.
The best part- the price is right and the features are awesome.
I made the right choice.
Not accurate enough
My heart and I are on first name basis. I've even taken a few lab tests to measure my heart rate under different conditions. In those tests I can't even get my heart rate over 175. The Road Trainer will put me over 185. I don't think so.
Size matters
Works fine. But the chest strap is a little tight. I'm 6'1'. I have a wide chest that's just almost 48". The chest strap is a little tight. I can use it but it's tight. Beware.
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