So my old stopwatch crapped out and I'm looking to upgrade to something new. I'm training for triathlon so it will be used while running, biking, and swimming, as well as during other workouts (strength training and such). I was hoping someone around here could give me some advice! My old watch had the kind of heart rate sensor where you push a button and it reads your heart rate, but I'm looking at getting one with a chest strap.

This is what I'm looking for:
- waterproof
- heart rate monitor chest strap
- stopwatch that can do splits/lap timing with recall of the times
- lap counter
- countdown timer
- comes in women's sizes (many "unisex" watches don't go small enough for my wrist)

I was looking at some of the Timex Ironman series watches but then I saw one that said the HRM doesn't work underwater. There are so many options and I'm so confused! I'll take any advice you have!

I use a polar F11 heart rate monitor- I really like it but I don't think it works under water. Polar does make ones that does work under water but they are pricey!

Have you looked at the Garmin Forerunners (there are several models)? I have one and love it, but admittedly, have never used it in the water.

Cheers,

J

I have a Polar F11 - it is supposed to be waterproof - although I never have gotten the heartrate monitor to work in the water.

I also have a Garmin Forerunner 405 with the HRM. Love it! I also have the older 205 (no hrm) and used that for years before getting the 405.

I don't swim for exercise, so I've never tried it in the water, but its great for biking and running. It will track HR while indoors at the gym too, although not sure how accurate that is for calorie counting at that point.

I believe the 405 does jsut about everything you are looking for. You can do laps, with split recalls, and if you use the workout features you can setup time and do a countdown.

I have the Garmin 305 and you def. can't use it underwater...

I wouldnt take a Garmin in the water. Maybe the latest model (310?) is waterproof, I don't know. They used to claim you could swim with the 201/301, but the 205/305 has problems with shorting out from heavy sweating - I lost a 205 from running in the snow and then throwing it in a damp bag before letting it dry out.

I've not tried it but I would think the Timex Ironman series would have what you are looking for. If you dont need GPS, why pay for it.

The recommendation on a triathlete site was either the Polar A5 (~ $100) or the Timex Bodylink (about $300 includes GPS)

MTA: The Forerunner 310XT is swim approved, they run about $350 but I have known some VERY tiny people to have problems getting them small enough. I wear a 205 which is the same size and it fits me fine, but I am not particularly small boned or large boned.

My 201 has gotten very, very wet (may as well have gone swimming).
My 405 has gone swimming a few times

No problems with either.

My polar F11 has gone swimming to test the HRM feature while swimming, but I found that the strap lost the heartbeat in the water. Maybe too much water between strap-skin or something, not sure, but the HRM feature was unreliable.

Correction to my previous post - I have a 201, not 205

Thanks guys! I will look at all the options you've suggested. It sounds like none of them really get your heart rate properly while swimming so I may just need to leave that out of my criteria.