Basic Sports Watches

Best running watches for tracking time, laps

While some athletes prefer watches loaded with features and GPS functionality, others want a simple no-frills running watch. In this category, the Tech4O Accelerator Runner RM1 (*Est. $65) gets good reviews from experts and owners. The Tech4O running watch uses an accelerometer (a small device typically found in pedometers) to calculate pace and distance, and it tracks total time and individual lap time with a chronograph. Other features include a pedometer, countdown timer and daily alarm mode.

The Tech4O watch comes in black for men and pink for women (the Accelerator RW2). Both get good reviews on Amazon.com, with several owners commenting on the comfortable strap and accurate distance measurement. On the downside, many owners say that the watch is difficult to set up and that the instruction manual is confusing. Once they get past the initial setup, most owners love the running watch. Women's Health magazine also highlights the Tech4O sport watch in a brief review, in which it praises the time and distance features.

One thing the Tech4O doesn't track is heart rate. For that, reviewers say the Timex Ironman Road Trainer Heart Rate Monitor (*Est. $90) is a good basic sports watch that includes a heart rate monitor. The watch features a 100-hour chronograph for total workout time, lap time and split time. It also includes a countdown timer, alarm and Indiglo night light. The Timex Ironman Road Trainer Heart-rate monitor scores a mention in Outside magazine's 2009 Buyer's Guide, where it's called a "killer value." The Associated Press agrees, including the sports watch on a list of fitness gear items that won't break your budget. Trail Runner magazine also picks the Timex sports watch for its 2009 Gear Guide, saying it is "relatively easy to operate." The Timex Ironman Road Trainer Heart Rate Monitor was only released in mid-April 2009, so owner-written reviews are scarce. The Timex sports watch comes in men's and women's versions in a number of colors.

While the newer Timex Ironman Road Trainer doesn't yet get a lot of owner reviews, there is no shortage of owner-written coverage for the inexpensive Timex Ironman Triathlon Sleek 50-Lap Watch (*Est. $35). This basic sports watch has been around for years and comes in men's and women's "sleek" versions in a variety of colors. It does not have a heart rate monitor, but it features a chronograph with a 50-lap memory and Indiglo night light. The women's version of the Timex Ironman Sleek gets ratings from more than 75 owners on Amazon.com, and reviewers praise the streamlined design and easy-to-use menu. Some reviewers give it high marks for swimming, because the watch is water-resistant up to 100 meters, but others have had problems with the fitness watch once it is exposed to water. The men's version gets far fewer reviews, but once again, reviewers say the sports watch is durable and a good value.

The Polar RS100 (*Est. $110) is another basic running watch with a heart rate monitor, and it is marketed for entry-level runners who want a simple no-fuss sports watch. It records up to 99 laps or splits and tracks total time and several heart rate calculations. The Boston Globe tests several sports watches during outdoor runs and on a treadmill, and the Globe's editors pick the Polar RS100 as the best bet for casual runners, because it's easy to use and inexpensive. Consumers also like the Polar RS100 running watch -- it receives above-average ratings in more than 30 owner-written reviews on Amazon.com. Reviewers say this is a solid sports watch that accurately calculates heart rate. A few owners have problems understanding the manual and setting up the watch, but most reviewers are overwhelmingly pleased with the Polar RS100.