Review: Timex Ironman T5J985 - GPS Tracking Watch
Timex has been a leader in exercise watches for decades and this model has most bells and whistle most athletes would want.
Notable Features;
Unit Size – Comparable to conventiona l watch
GPS receiver – Separate from watch.
Battery Life – up to 2 years/watch
Battery Type – 1AA for GPS unit
Water resistant – Yes to 50meters for the watch, gps unit splash resistent
Heart rate monitor – Yes
Lap memory – Yes, 100 laps
Waypoint memory – Yes, 10
Routes feature – Yes, 50 max
Warranty – One year
Timex approaches the GPS Tracking Watch concept by separating the GPS unit from the wristwatch. There seems to be pros and cons for the split unit approach and the decision will likely be a personal one. One obvious advantage is the watch size is kept small enough to be an everyday watch. When the GPS is needed it is strap mounted to the arm or waist. The watch itself is water resistant to a depth of 50 meters while the GPS unit is only splash resistant. For an electronic device used outdoors in various forms of athletics this seems a poor choice to us, better water resistance would be preferable.
Battery life for the watch itself is a strong point and should last up to 2 years. The GPS tracking watches which integrate the watch/GPS in one unit need frequent charging and have shorter operational intervals. The GPS unit operates on a AA battery which will require periodic replacement and are small enough that one could carry a spare while out for a run or hike. There is no charger provided for recharging the GPS units batteries but one could purchase an aftermarket charger for recharging the AA battteries.
In operation the unit performed well with no issues. Obtaining satellites took a minute or two and accuracy was very good. We found the accuracy to be better when strap mounted to the upper arm rather than at the waist. The upper arm location likely enjoys a better view of the sky and satellites and so one might expect better performance when used that way. The GPS signal did not suffer much when running through moderate tree cover as might be typical in a park like setting.
The heart rate monitor performed well providing a steady read out and target feature would prove valuable for one looking to get top conditioning in a minimal amount of time.
We think the Timex performs well and would be satisfying to most people based on performance and price. When selecting GPS tracking watches take the time to consider whether you want an integrated unit or separate GPS/watch components as described here.
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Tagged With accuracy, Battery, Features, fitness watch, GPS, GPS Watches, Heart Rate Monitor, Ironman, Review, runners watch, Satellites, Timex
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