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I’m DC RAINMAKER…
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Here’s my most recent GPS watch guide here, and cycling GPS computers here. Plus there are smart trainers here, all in these guides cover almost every category of sports gadgets out there. Looking for the equipment I use day-to-day? I also just put together my complete ‘Gear I Use’ equipment list, from swim to bike to run and everything in between (plus a few extra things). And to compliment that, here’s The Girl’s (my wife’s) list. Enjoy, and thanks for stopping by!
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The Swim/Bike/Run Gear I Use List
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I still have my old forerunner 610 bought over three years ago (when it came out) and it still works very well and I am still trying to find a use case to change. I have a pebble too and I find it useless
Same here…I think the FR610 remains the BoB (Best of Breed) running watch at this point. If Garmin hadn’t removed its basic navigation features as well as on watch workout editing from the FR620 that one could have taken over.
I agree 100% with you guys. I can find no reason to swap out my 610. It works and it works well…
Three year is only old if you drink the year model kool-aid (that seems to have worked out very well for some brands) OR when technology moves forward at breakneck paces.
I find the lack of connectivity on the x20 astonishing. Surely if someone is buying a watch that can do interval workouts, that person will want to view their data off-watch?? Or am I thinking as a techie minded runner? Anyone with less technical expectations probably won’t bother with a gps watch and would just strap their phone to their arm!?
In terms of the Run x20 (which I think you are referring to), I think there are many casual runners out there who do not really worry about viewing/analysing their data or understand how to interpret it. (I am still struggling to read and understand my data in order to improve my running.) So a x20 makes a lot of sense for this category of runner who either wants to migrate from a smartphone app or just want a simple GPS running watch.
But, I still think there is a disconnect between the Run x20 and Run x50. Wouldn’t it make more sense to merge the two and get more of a complete product?
I think also there is a HUUUGE market here as gifts, right? I imagine a lot of spouses purchasing this, as well as the “I don’t know much about my son-in-law but I know he does that running thing”.
Or maybe I’m just projecting. LOL.
I’d agree with CJ. While I think many regular readers of this blog are more interested in connected data scenarios, I find there’s still an incredible number of people interested in cheaper sub-$100 watches that don’t care about the number after the run (in terms of being uploaded). This is even more true in countries outside the US where either cell data plans are more expensive, or other GPS devices are far more expensive.
You’re pretty right about this. I left my browser screen open on the pink watch and my wife happened to see and said to me: “You wouldn’t be happen to be looking for a surprise birthday gift for me? ;)”
Wish I’d have known before purchasing this pile of crap, whats the point of having all the information if you can’t upload it on to your pc…. selling on ebay, anyone want it?
It sounds like the Run x50+ is the running edition of Wahoo’s RFLKT, plus a timer. That’s interesting, but I bought my GPS watch so I wouldn’t have to carry my smartphone with me when I run. The x50+ solves the “I can’t see my phone’s display easily when it’s strapped to my arm” problem, but it exacerbates the bulk issue.
Does the x50+ have any of the accelerometers and sensors needed for activity tracking? So they could possibly add the function in future software updates? I think they missed the mark by not having this feature.
Also, can you start the timer then start an app function? Say if you were doing a swim/bike workout. Could you start the timer go for a swim (without your phone) then go straight to the bike where your phone would be with the app open and start the app on the watch?
What? They don’t have rolling pins in Salt Lake? 🙂 just kidding. Of all the new Timex products- I’d say that the Move X20 might be their best one. Looks like it has a great interface/ iPhone app, and sorta steps above the competition a little. The site doesn’t indicate if it’s waterproof or what the battery life is. Throw a Mio in there, and you’ve got it all for the average active person.
Well, at least these are somewhat presentable in the looks department, quite unlike the alpha/proof of concept look to the One GPS+
I wonder why the x50+ is only compared to the Magellan Echo and not to the Casio STB-1000 smartwatch. I use the Casio regularly and according to my opinion, it covers all their features plus additional (standard Casio) watch and stopwatch features. Not to mention that you can get it for a fraction of the price of the other two watches (~70$/~80€).
The Casio STB-1000 is indeed cool, but it’s a bit more limiting in terms of how apps can use it because of the display aspects.
I see. I also think that the display options are slightly too limited, although totally sufficient for my needs. (It has only 3 fields for data, 2 fields are limited to numbers, one can be text. But you can create a lot of these pages and cycle through them. I use it with the Runmeter App, btw.)
You can also get notifications (emails, SMS, calls, …), but you can not read any of these messages, etc.
I beg to differ. According to your description of the x50, the Casio STB-1000 does the same and more (provided there’s a smartphone close by).
But at least in my experience the integration between the STB-1000 and Wahoo is just unparalleled. While it can also connect with Strava and other apps (mapmyride’s iPhone app is terrible) the level of customization for Wahoo makes it a far better option.
As someone above mentioned you can get it for roughly $70 but last week I saw a Groupon deal for as low as $29 and I constantly find offers around the $50 mark.
At $200 the Timex x50 is hardly an option worth considering, IMHO.
I’m not talking about the underlying software, but rather just the hardware display itself. Meaning, there’s only so many ways apps can display the data within the preset data fields (versus a blanket campus)
The reason you see the super-high level of customization there is mostly because Wahoo had a very heavy hand in it. I definitely agree though that software implementation-wise it’s solid.
Either way, I just don’t see much interest from readers in either the STB-1000 or the x50, so I don’t really see reviews unfortunately on the horizon for either. :-/
I am super excited about this move. I cannot wait to see a multi sport option. As of now, I am using the Polar V800. Its a cool watch but feel its still missing features. Its like they packaged a $200 watch and inflated the cost to $500. I am an employee of Att and am excited about the partnership with Timex in the Fitness segment. thanks for reviewing the product. AS usual, you come through with great reviews. Continue the great work.
First Ray, thanks for all you do. Question re: Move X20 Activity Monitor, is the display always on(like the Vivofit) or must one push a button to check out info. If button push, how long will the display stay on? Keep up the good work.
The display did turn off after a few seconds of non-use. Though, I don’t know offhand if that’s a setting. I have a fully boxed version that I’ll poke at in more detail once I get back home this weekend and can do unboxing shots/etc… (my hotel room would currently result in some sketchy unboxing shots).
I love all these new entries into the market…just going to push garmin to crush everyone…,come on Garmin you make the best stuff crush these guys and provide us stuff that really works!
I like the idea of a watch that just tells me how far I’ve run and how fast, that doesn’t need to be tethered to a smartphone, and can do a decent job as an everyday watch too. I’ve been looking at the Garmin FR10 for a while, but it looks like the Run x20 can fill that niche just as well, for $30 less. My only questions now are whether it has the ability to set an alarm, and whether it’s in the range of the 5 weeks on standby that the FR10 has. I’ll certainly be paying attention over the next couple months.
DON’T BUY THE X20!!! you’ll totally p’ed off in that you can’t upload your runs to strava, training peaks as this pile of crap DOES NOT connect to any pc/mac/phone etc… DON’T BUY IT you have been warned
I stated that pretty clearly in the post, along with why I thought it was a mistake.
The move x20 looks really cool. I’ve been looking for an activity tracker for a while. When you review it could you explain a bit more what the advantage over the soleus go is? I saw the soleus go is on sale at Amazon for $86 right now and was wondering if the move x20 is worth the higher price and wait. Thanks for your awesome blog!
It is identical. Soleus and Timex must use the same factory.
I still can’t understand why someone would want a remote for their smartphone, when you can basically have a self-sufficient device for about the same sum and a lot less headaches.
I do realize though, that only a minority believes a smartphone operated everything isn’t such a good idea, unless you can get top of the line smartphones for $10 a piece at every street corner so that you can instantly and thoughtlessly replace your central point of failure, the moment it fails.
Because it will, and then you’ll be locked out of the door, unable to take your car or bike, call anyone or buy anything. And that’s when retrogrouches will have their final laugh.
Hi All-
Just as a heads up I’ve gone ahead and added all four new Timex products (Run x50, Run 20 GPS, Move x20, and One GPS+) into the product comparison tool/database last night, which can be found here: link to dcrainmaker.com
Further, Clever Training has opened pre-orders for all four products as well. The links which support the site can be found at the end of the post here:
link to dcrainmaker.com
Thanks for the support!
-Ray
Timex X 50 – reminds me to smartcapabilities of a Nokia from last decade.
This product is too late for todays market. It isn’t smart.
If it’s true it’s a bummer that the timex run x20 only gives pace alerts at the completion of the mile and not pace alerts while running. Is that accurate or am I missing something? Thx.
Do you know if Soleus data cable will work with x20 GPS, as for Timex Marathon GPS?
May be a dumb question but will the distance still track via GPS if the Run x20 is strapped to a bike handlebar?
review isn’t completely accurate. you have to have the APP open to use find my phone. Kind of silly as if you are working out you’ll know where the phone is. It’s when you are NOT using it that you need to find it. Timex didn’t get this right – it won’t find your phone unless the app is running on the phone. Garmin and Samsung got this right. Timex has the best display (except Samsung but that’s a closed device – Samsung to Samsung only) – but who cares if the feature doesn’t work.
Umm, it wasn’t a review. It was a first hands-on look at the functionality. Not a deep-dive into every single last feature and testing of it.
What is the deal with the delays? I’ve been waiting to hit buy on this and then I noticed today that the pre-order pages says it won’t be available til Spring??? It was saying November.
Hmm, I’ll poke and find out.
Did you manage to find out anything? I talked to their support people and they had no clue and weren’t even aware of the change when I pointed it out to them.
For the One GPS+, they’ve delayed until ‘Spring’, due to them working further on the software. That said, I did just go for a run this afternoon with them and was able to use the One GPS+, so, it’s getting much closer.
My bad, I should have clarified. I’ve been specifically looking at the Run x50+. When I initially looked, I think it was saying October, then it was pushed to November, and then a couple of weeks ago it started saying Spring 2015. I just pulled it up and it’s not showing anything other than “out of stock” like it was on sale and the stock sold out. I’m thoroughly confused now.
I emailed Clever training about the x50+ and here is what they said:
“Dear brian,
Thank you for your inquiry. We do not have a confirmed shipping date from Timex for this item. The release has actually been pushed to the spring, but we do not have more specific information at this time. My apologies for the inconvenience.
Regards,”
so it looks like it could be some time in the spring or some other time…. bit of a surprise really
Hey I do high interval training. Like BodyRockTV. need one of these bands that will track my calories burned in a workout that consists of burpees and skipping and weights.. Which one will do this
I’m looking at the Move X20 Activity and, I know, I’m a dinosaur, but will it work without a Smartphone? I have a very old cell phone and have no interest in buying a new one so an activity monitor will tell me how many calories I’ve burned and how many steps I’ve taken.
From the tech specs (link to timex.com), looks like it requires a smartphone. You can find a list of compatible phones in the link.
Just an FYI RunKeeper just added compatibility with the x50+. Version is 5.1 released on the Nov. 27.
I just got the Timex Run x20. at Kohls online for $53. got it because i want to try out the intervals. So i just open the box and saw the charging cable has 4 pins. Under windows Device Manager it detected it under Other devices – M062 Small GPS.
Question is… does anyone know or have try looking for the drives? hopefully get it to work, so we could download the workouts…
I have a garmin 305 that i love but its to big. then i was giving the NB GPS Runner. read that with the Soleus data download/charging cable you could download workouts, thing i don’t like about the NB is no intervals…
I have the same question, Erick Morales. I asked the store I bought it from if data transfer would be possible using a soleus usb cable (with the previous timex model it worked fine), but they don’t have a spare cabe to check it out. It would be just great to be able to connect the watch with the pc…
Received the X20 and set it up. I skipped the ZIP CODE section since I live in Canada. There was no option for POSTAL CODE. Did that mess with the weather alert? Or do I need to download another app? I see no weather alert or reference to it on the Timex app.
I poked around a little more and found it. Just keep pressing the arrow button duh
This thing is nothing more than a glorified pebble. Everyone on timex engineering staff should be fired. Consider that pebble has been out for 3 years and garmin has put out several generations of smart watches before this thing is even on the market. Note to Timex why bother in the spring no one will buy this POS. this thing is a Run Trainer 2.loser.
I assume you know there’s three devices being talked about here?
In any case, there are actually some substantial differences (pros and cons). For example, the Pebble doesn’t have GPS – one of the Timex does.
I know about the differences BUT look at what these watches are and how long they have been shown as “out of stock” of Timex website and how far smart watches have come? I see now they are dropping the price in an effort to keep people interested. Ray look at the comments for the RT 2.0 that was the last real sports watch Timex released. That thing is a POS just like this one will be.
I stand by my comment Timex = FAIL
In general, I at least poke at a device before I call it a POS or fail.
I do agree that in the 6 months since these devices were announced, things have moved forward. At the time, they were more competitive. Now it’s a bit trickier.
a bit can you please stop being politically correct!
BTW I know about this watch so I can comment on it….and I stand by my comments.
I challenge you to use this watch or one of the other Timex watches in a race…one that maters to you and you want accurate information on. Also I challenge you NOT to get a “golden” copy from Timex buy one from a random distributor and use it then comment on it.
I’ll bet you a new Garmin that the Timex FAILS!
Well Ray put up or shut up!
You’re really all bent out of shape on this. And again, for someone who hasn’t used the watch(s) being discussed.
I actually used an initial (beta) release of the Run x20 shortly after this post for a bit. Accuracy (distance) wise it did quite well, though it seemed to have some pace fluctuations. They were looking to take that feedback into account for the final release. I haven’t used the final edition of the x20, so I don’t really know if they’ve addressed that issue or not.
Look you have to agree that the stuff from Timex is crap compared to the other products on the market.
Look at the comments about the RT2.0 posted on amazon.
Timex takes people’s money and doesn’t provide any value.
Your are supposed to screen stuff like this and steer people away from crap.
DO YOUR JOB RAY….OR STOP DOING THIS BLOG.
As far as my comments on the x20/x50 GPS One+ and RT2.0 they are right on the mark…
I have used all three and I know they are all JUNK like everything Timex makes.
Wow, man.
I disagree with you on this aspect. All GPS running watches have some issue Garmin, Timex, Soleus, etc. None are perfect. (reviews from Amazon aren’t a representative sample)
I have used all the Timex watches starting with the very first Timex which used an armband GPS module, through to the Run Trainer 2.0. I also have owned and used Garmin – from 201 to 310XT and everything in between, Soleus, and Tomtom. I’m no Ray, but currently I have 7 gps running watch across brands. To say Timex is crap isn’t reflection of reality. Timex does some things well some things not so well. Their major problem I have seen is their GPS constantly measures short, but again we are talking consumer GPS here.
I am excited to read Rays’ reviews of the products offered from Timex and I appreciate the time he puts in.
You are entitled to an opinion, but you are also entitled to no read this blog if it doesn’t meet you needs.
Bought the x20 to replace an old Garmin. The price seemed to be right. Little did I know I was buying a $99 piece of garbage. I hate everything about it.
Hey Ray, any hands on with the IRONMAN® Classic 50 Move+ yet?
Anyone else seeing the RunX20 coming up short on distances? Is there anyway of fixing this?
yep but not surprising Timex makes crap…
Look at all prior timex products they all have lots of issues
Buy Garmin it works and is worth the money you spend.
Timex is run by a family that is out of touch with reality and management (technical) that is sub par in all respects
Timex you can name your crap “doesn’t sink” but it does cause it’s s^&t
Did Timex beat you as a child or something (given you appear to live in their neighborhood)? All you post here is non-first-hand Timex bashing. You’re welcome to be critical of any products here, but I generally request that you actually use said products – otherwise there are better places on the interwebs to be a uninformed troll.
Merely someone asking a question about GPS shorting is hardly Timex-specific. Surely you know of the Garmin Fenix3 issues in trees there? Or perhaps the older Polar M400 GPS shorting issues for some? Oh, that’s right – it’s only ever Timex…
Hey DC, thanks for this site and all the first look, reviews and updates you provide. Great stuff and a nice sanity check for me.
Just got a Run X20, wife thought I would like it. I don’t.
Well I’m back to say like Timex you have lost your way and no longer provide quality products that fulfill customer needs. I have first hand knowledge of Timex products and I am a former employee. Look at the postings about their products without fail you will find Way too many out of the box failures. To point at other company issues is a cop out Ray and really weak. What has Timex paid you to market their inferior wares. Since you went European your blog has sucked. Have a nice day?
So yup, as I noted months ago – you were indeed a Timex employee (your near to Middlebury, CT – IP address gave it away). Given you’re animosity towards the company, I can only assume fired or otherwise left on non-ideal terms.
Kinda funny you seem to keep on harping on me and my Timex reviews, since I haven’t actually posted a Timex review in…years? But then again, given you’re on here posting about your former employer – it appears you like to live in the past quite a bit. Shrug.
Greetings from México Ray,
I always found your posts interesting and educational, they have helped me to make decisions on my acquisitions. I found the TIMEX RUN X50+ when looking for a “smartwatch” that help me to remind tasks, appointments, meetings, payments… but without being a STATE OF THE ART watch (iWatch i.e.). As an amateur runner (I’ve just ran my 1st half last month), I have used POLARs, GRAMINs, and my last SOLEUSs, again, the entry level pieces as I’m not a professional (or rich) to get the high end toys. So, if with this TIMEX I can get the smartwatch part, but also running functions, sounds interesting. Will you recommend it? if not, is there any other option that combine both? Thank you.
Try this one:
link to amazon.com
I’ve seen it for as low as $30 with a Groupon coupon but if o coupon is available you can get it for about $50
I use it while cycling and it’s awesome, compatible with several apps, I use Wahoo as it’s the one that offers the greater level of customization. It also has notifications (phone, txt message, etc), which is what you mentioned as “smartwatch” features but I don’t really use them or find them particularly interesting but then I think the Apple watch is a waste of money.