After using the same watch (timex) for years with no problems, it finally self destructed. I have now gone through about 4 watches in about 8 weeks, and they all keep on dying on me. They either freeze up, or get humidity in them, or somesuch. My wife is convinced its because I press the buttons underwater (i hit the lap button during my flipturn, its the only way i can keep count of laps in the pool, i get braindead while swimming and cant count).
so questions:
-do you all hit the buttons on your watch while underwater?
-what watches have seemed to be the most reliable to everyone? i have now destroyed 2 timexes and 2 nikes.
I was told by a POLAR rep a few years ago not to hit the button underwater because it could cause leakage…so maybe with all the times you are hitting the button on each flip turn it could cause it to leak. Maybe just get one of those lap counter things that you wear on your finger.
Haven’t had any trouble with my nike underwater, but don’t hit the buttons either. Would definitely think that the problems are associate with button pushing though, pretty sure the buttons are constructed so that they only seal when not pressed
My wife is convinced its because I press the buttons underwater
Your wife is correct.
A Timex FAQ Is the watch water resistant?
Yes. The watch is water resistant to 100 meters. Remember, buttons should not be pressed while the watch is under water.
Huh. I have a Nike watch and hit the buttons underwater. Although I swim in a bay and just hit it once to start and once to stop. I’ve never had any issue with leakage, but maybe I’ll change my behavior.
Polar products can be worn when swimming. They are not, however, diving instruments. To maintain water resistance, do not press the buttons of the product under water. When measuring heart rate in water, you may experience interference for the following reasons:
you are going to have to come up with another way to lap count.
you can always set your countdown timer to go off every 90 seconds which gives u an audible beep, and some watches also keep up with the number of times the function repeats itself.
Oh i like the idea of giving it my target split, and having it beep every 50 seconds or whatever it is…that way you can tell if you are ahead or behind…
am I the only retard who has trouble keeping track of what lap I am on?
I just ordered a timex ironman “shock” maybe it will survive better, and I wont hit buttons underwater.
you would think someone would make a watcht ath was truly waterproof…how hard could that be?
Ok I have googled aroudn a bit more, and on the watch forums, the consenus seems to be that on casio g-shocks at least, while officially not endorsed, it seems to be OK to push the buttons underwater…
A bit more googling has found the datapoint that timex ironman “shock” watches (which are rated to 200m water resistance) also seem to be ok for pressing buttons underwater- just ordered one, now ill find out…
I’ve got a Timex IM that I’ve been using for a good 4 or 5 years that replaced the last Timex IM that I had used for about 7 years. When I swim I hit the lap split button every 100yds. I haven’t run in any issues.
Hitting buttons underwater is a bad idea. Ironman watches aren’t waterproofed to that level.
With all the money you’re burning through you could try a garmin 310xt. Maybe that is more waterproof? Of course it’s an expensive test if it doesn’t work out for you…
Also, make sure that you get a watch that is waterproof to 100m not just 50m. If you read the fine print, it says that 50m waterproof is good for things like going out in the rain/showering/etc… but is not suitable for swimming or diving. Makes absolutely no sense since most of us don’t go more than 50m underwater while swimming but that is what they say. As for the original question, I have heard that hitting buttons underwater is not a good idea.
Have had similar issues as well, trying to figure out if it’s at all related to hitting the sauna/hot tub after swimming.
I do have to throw in a recommendation to buy your watch from REI, their return policy is amazing (I have returned two watches there now for similar issues you’re describing. no questions asked and a simple search from my card gave them the date purchased etc, so no receipt was necessary. It was easy as can be).