Odd name for a watch I know and not being in the know these days, unfathomable to me, but those folks at Timex marketing have come up with it and it sounds good. . . . For me it differentiates it a little from the Expedition series, one of which I already own. And as my Expedition is one of my very favorite watches, from anybody, I thought that a look at this one in this “Transit” guise would be worth a look.
Here they’ve removed the tough looking macho “shock” exterior and replaced it with the running, fitness orientated modern man look that seems to be the thing today (the only thing I run now is a bath and this website!). I have to admit I like it’s clean looks and easy to read dial with large digits on a very clear display, something that I feel Timex leads the way over all others. The contrast is good and the displayed information gives the Day, the Date and the Year, plus the time – what more do you need on a quick glance.
And that’s something you can do with this watch – a quick glance is all you need and bingo – no squinting at it, trying to make out poor digits against a poor background. This is for me the way to go in digital displays. And once the daylight fades you can use the Timex patented Indiglo dial lighting system, which I have to admit is brilliant on their digital watches (not so good on their analog ones though – see my views at the foot of this Post).
I also like the operation of this Indiglo function. If in a dark place during the day for example, a press of the center colored button and the dial lights up for 3 seconds. But later in the day you can activate the system fully by pressing the center Indiglo button for 4 seconds and what this means is that pressing any button on the watch will light the dial. So no fumbling around looking for that one button – any of ’em will do – the dial light again will illuminate for 3 seconds at a time. The Indiglo system will stay activated (as a system) for the next 8 hours or until you switch it off (4 seconds press of the center button again).
I quite like this degree of control, which my old Expedition one lacks (or I haven’t noticed it!) 😦
Functions on the watch are useful, such as a Countdown Timer and a Stopwatch (sports) with a 10 lap memory, a few Alarms and the watch also has a 100 m Water Resistance which is pretty good. Not a diving watch, but it’s OK to shower with it or swim in the local pool or even on the beach. If beach swimming just remember the salt water doesn’t do anything much good (apart from aching feet), so a rinse in fresh water is a good idea afterwards.
The watch dimensions are just 40 mm diameter which is a little neater than some of the older models and it comes with one of those very useful “Fast Wrap” straps. When I first saw these I didn’t know whether I’d like them, but I do. They are quick and comfortable and usually better than a strap and buckle arrangement, unless they fray, which has been known.
So this is a practical watch from Timex and it’s easy to wear, very easy to see, day or night. Has enough useful features and functions on it, a decent Water Resistance and at a price of under £50 has to be a really good daily beater in any language.
Note –
I mentioned the Indiglo system of dial illumination and I said it was great on this model and most other Timex digital dial watches. But as I said I’ve always found it to be a great disappointment on any of the non-digital analog models.
The reason is that the standard analog watch tends to have hour and minute hands, either colored steel , skeletal or a combination of both PLUS a luminous looking tip or pointer. The numerals and markers are similar and if it is a Date watch with Date window – forget trying to read the Date at night.
Indiglo lights up the background dial surface in a sort of fluorescent green and shows everything on the dial as black silhouette and I have to say, not that easy to see. The hands, numerals and markers are simply not at a decent enough contrast to this greenish background (makes my eyes go funny) and forget about any so called luminous tips to the hands – these are also dark.
And the date is virtually black and unreadable.
On this watch, which is digital, it is brilliant, as is my Expedition, which is a joy to use at night. So a case of technology where it’s needed basically and my maxim is simple – for Digital display Indiglo is OK, but for analog display, good luminous coating or Tritium is the best.
Just my opinion and you take it or leave it, but one thing I can’t abide – is not being able to read the time day or night – and I’ve had a few models over the years that manage that feat. I don’t have them now!
But as to the Ironman Transit – it has to be great value and you don’t look as it you’re in the Army . . . . You’ve just joined the fitness people!
Watch space 