Swim Lap Counter, advice?

[ClockworkOrange]

Having taken the decision to retire earlier than anticipated after my accident nine months ago, it has given me the opportunity to swim a lot more, as I am still getting back my confidence to ride plus it is helping my back a lot.

So, not being the fastest of swimmers, I am quite pleased to have got up to swimming 1/2 mile each time 3 times a week but now I want to increase that to 1 mile.

Trying to count to 64 won't be easy, so as I have been given £50 ($77) from my work colleagues, I thought I would treat myself to some sort of swim lap counter but I know nothing about them, in fact it was only today I discovered that there was such a thing.

Anybody used any of these:

Swim Lap Counter by Saekodive
Speedo Aqualap fingerwatch by Speedo
Swimovate PMB Pool Mate Watch by Swimovate
The Chrono 100 by Sportscount

Any advice or information on other swim lap counters would be appreciated.

[Selkie]

Check here:

http://www.sportcount.com/products.p...72d81244e93887

I have both the basic Lap Counter and the Combination SportCount. Since I like simplicity, I prefer the former since I track time using my watch and need the counter only for counting laps. I highly recommend both---I've found them well-made, unobtrusive, and easy to use.

I swim in 25 yard pools, so it's 72 laps a mile. Having the lap counter lets you focus on technique or simply zone/Zen out (get lost in the rhythm of swimming).

[Bike Chick]

DH got me this for me for Christmas. I haven't used it yet but he got himself one too and used it yesterday. He's very pleased with it and said it does a great job counting laps.

[nscrbug]

I've been using the Sportcount Combo finger lap counter for 3 years now with no problems...except when I forget to push the button. However, I'm really diggin' that SwimOvate automatic wrist counter....very cool! I may have to break down and pick one of those up. Thanks for posting that link, Bike Chick.

[GLC1968]

I have the Sportcount Chrono 100 and I love it. It is easily one of my best tri purchases yet!

I find that having the timing feature is supremely helpful because my pool does not have a clock. Overall, I find it very reliable and much easier to hit after each lap because you can do it with one hand (unlike my old watch that I used to use).

[ClockworkOrange]

Phew, now to make a decision, so I guess (thanks to all), I will now have to check them all out, I think so far I am keen on the Sportscount website AND just for a change, everything can be purchased in the UK.

Unfortunately having to wear glasses these days, I won't be able to see how many laps I am doing until I get out and get changed but then that will add to the excitement.

Never thought at my age I would be enjoying swimming so much, nothing like most of you guys can do but it's great what I am achieving.

Thanks again.

[Owlie]

Never thought at my age I would be enjoying swimming so much, nothing like most of you guys can do but it's great what I am achieving.

What are you talking about, Clock? It's a gargantuan effort to get me in a pool, let alone get me to swim!

[ClockworkOrange]

Oh boo hoo, sob sob!

Just call me plain stupid but am confused with my lovely recent purchase of a SportCount Chrono 100, I even watched the demo video clip.

So, you push off pressing the button, get to the end of the lap and press again, then do you press it again once you push off, so kind of give it two presses in quick succession?

It seems whatever I am doing, is wrong.

Advice needed, please.

[GLC1968]

Oh boo hoo, sob sob!

Just call me plain stupid but am confused with my lovely recent purchase of a SportCount Chrono 100, I even watched the demo video clip.

So, you push off pressing the button, get to the end of the lap and press again, then do you press it again once you push off, so kind of give it two presses in quick succession?

It seems whatever I am doing, is wrong.

Advice needed, please.

It keeps track of all intervals. So if you are swimming say 300m and you want to count 50's then you'd hit the button to start and then hit it once each time you returned to your starting wall. If you are swiming say 50's with a rest interval, you'd hit it when you left, when you returned and then again after your rest when you started the next one (and so on).

I guess it kind of depends on if you want to use it to count laps or to record time. I use it for both because my pool has no clock. So say I'm swimming a 500m set. I'll hit the button every 100 to keep track of my count (every 50 would work too but I've gotten good at keeping track of 100's) and if I want to, I can glance at the time to get a pace estimate. If I want to time a 500, I hit it when I start and then not again until I'm done with the whole set and look at the time.

It does remember all the intervals (until you clear it), so you could just review all your numbers at the end and then add them up to get the times for different sets (like my 500 mentioned above), but that's a bit of a pain since you have to do it by hand.

I do like that once you star it, it runs continuously so that I know how long I've been in the water total (again, since my stupid pool has no clock). It's like a constantly moving clock - not like a stop watch - in this respect.

Am I making sense? It took me awhile to figure out all it's quirks and how I wanted to use it for my swim sets but now I love it.

[ClockworkOrange]

Hi GLC1968

Sorry about the delay in getting back to thank you, only my laptop died and had to be resurrected by installing Windows all over again, which also meant I lost everything from 2010, perhaps not such a bad idea as it was such a crap year.

Anyway, the SportCount Chrono 100 is a success and yes, I have finally grasped how to use it, not exactly rocket science!

Definitely no regrets in buying one.

Thanks all, for the advice.

[Becky]

Clock, glad to hear that you got it all straightened out and that you're happy with it. A Chrono 100 will be my gift to myself if I successfully swim 2x per week this month, and I've been following your posts on this topic.

[WindingRoad]

I just discovered goggles with script in them, they are friggin' awesome! They were only $20. I ordered them online.

Unfortunately having to wear glasses these days, I won't be able to see how many laps I am doing until I get out and get changed but then that will add to the excitement.

Never thought at my age I would be enjoying swimming so much, nothing like most of you guys can do but it's great what I am achieving.

Thanks again.[/QUOTE]

[ClockworkOrange]

..................... A Chrono 100 will be my gift to myself if I successfully swim 2x per week this month, and I've been following your posts on this topic.

I was lucky, I bought mine on ebay, for a good price.

I just discovered goggles with script in them, they are friggin' awesome! They were only $20. I ordered them online.

Unfortunately having to wear glasses these days, I won't be able to see how many laps I am doing until I get out and get changed but then that will add to the excitement.

Never thought at my age I would be enjoying swimming so much, nothing like most of you guys can do but it's great what I am achieving.

I'm the same, cannot read the lapcounter in the water but once changed I quickly sit down and have a look and it's great to see my quickest lap (not fast compared with others).

I too am just loving the swimming, I even check out YouTube to make sure I am swimming the best I can, it's great being an OAP, I can go out and play just like a kid.

Must admit to becoming a bit obsessed, just ordered a book from Amazon "The Complete Guide to Swimming Breaststroke". Four months ago I could only swim about 6 x 25 metres without stopping, this week I did my first 1000 metres without stopping.

[ClockworkOrange]

A year on still swimming and using my little gizmo but time for a change.

So, birthday coming up and I am going for a super duper swimming computer.

http://www.swimovate.com scroll down to the Pro Package.

Love the idea that you can load all the data onto your PC.

Anybody else use this one?

[Bike Chick]

I have the Swimovate watch but had no idea you could download it to your computer. I'm going to look into this a little further. How cool.