Timex Ironman watch band replacement

I may have bought my last Timex Ironman Triathlon watch. The rubber watch band that comes with them gets hard and usually breaks after 1 year. Plus I am having a hell of a time getting a replacement that fits. I just ordered 2 watch bands from http://www.voguestrap.com/ because I wasn't positive which one would work. I printed a sizing chart I found on the web (can't remember where) and the watch measured 18mm. However, it is a 100 lapper and they were 19mm. Hmmm, what to do. Actually, I couldn't find any way of identifying the exact replacement watch band for my watch. There are many different bands for the Timex Ironman.

Well, I got my 2 bands today. Guess what? Neither fit properly. The 18mm band I got is the correct width but the band is not the proper depth to fit into the slots without alteration. You guessed it, I'm not sending them back, I'm going to modify them with a razor blade and make them work. If I get 1 year I won't bitch anymore. And then after 2 years I will be looking at something other than Timex Ironman Triathlon watches. Of course I will be looking at replacement bands first. What a pain in the ass.

VogueStrap is actually a pretty good place to buy watch bands. Shipping is not a killer and they are pretty quick. I just ordered another band that should be the rigth one. It's the 100 lap Flix. I thought the watch was a Flix, but I guess the Flix feature has stopped working. I tried it before ordering the first time. I like the Ironman, but they don't take a licking and keep on ticking. I've replaced 2 in the past because they didn't hold-up. At Wall Mart they are $42 now and so they aren't too expensive. I would have one for 3 years and when the battery expired, usually the watch had broken down enough to warrant replacement. But now I have issue with the bands. We'll see, I'm just annoyed right now.

Comments

[Co]

Yes, this is really frustrating. I bought an Ironman on w00t for $25, though I've seen it retail for $90+ in running stores. My band just cracked in about 5 spots at once, which is ridiculous for such an expensive watch! Plus I can't replace the band!

[Bpd2]

I've been a Timex user for years, but have had enough. Everything else meets my needs, but a watch without a wrist band is like a day without sunshine. The bands for the Ironmans are more expensive than some watches, even if you can figure out which model and size to get and from what source. I find it a real problem when the retailers don't carry bands when that's the weak link in the chain. Foolish Timex needs to fix this post-purchase support shortfall.

[dean5944]

Right on Bro. I'm about to give up on Timex just because the watchbands are so hard to find now and expensive. What's up Timex?

[david warlick]

Thanks for the Timex Ironman comments. My bands break also, and I'm always confused about which band to reorder. You nailed the answer. My watch has never broken or had problems in about 20 marathons, but the band is way too long for my bony wrist and of course the plastic cracks after a year or so. A razor blade has solved the length problem in the past.