Digital watch wanted: chronograph w/ dual time?

[Benzadmiral]

My latest cheapo digital watch from Target has given up its battery, and while I can have a new one put in, I thought this might be a good chance to get one that really suits me. I leave early in the AM to run/walk, and then work out at the simple free gym at my apartment complex. The chronograph function of a simple LCD digital watch works fine. But I'd like to know the exact time as well, so that I know whether I can work out a little longer, or have to hustle back for shower/breakfast/cat feeding.

Are there any LCD digital watches with both a chronograph function and a continuous display of the actual time (6:28 am, e.g.), both displayed together so that I don't have to touch a button? A touch-the-button back light would be nice too, so I can see the stopwatch in dim light. Casio? Timex? Or do I have to look at a higher price tier?

 

[dparm]

Yes, there are tons of combination ana/digi that don't break the bank. I'd start browsing on Amazon to see what you like. For $100 you'd have lots of choices, and for $150 you'd have even more.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Originally Posted By: dparm
Yes, there are tons of combination ana/digi that don't break the bank. I'd start browsing on Amazon to see what you like. For $100 you'd have lots of choices, and for $150 you'd have even more.

I spotted one called the Shark: http://www.amazon.com/SHARK-Alarm-Chronograph-Black-Military/dp/B007WQCPL2 (The "Engrish" description down below is hilarious: "It is fantasy that we integrated such a lot of functions in this slim size. . . . 'Awesome' is the most comments for this product.") But I was hoping to find one with dual digital readouts.

 

[JamesBond]

I have a Casio g shock that does that, it's nice to know the time at a glance, while still using the stopwatch when I run.

Plus the watch is solar powered and sets itself daily from the atomic clock! I KNOW RIGHT!!

 

[EdwardC]

Originally Posted By: JamesBond
I have a Casio g shock that does that, it's nice to know the time at a glance, while still using the stopwatch when I run.

Plus the watch is solar powered and sets itself daily from the atomic clock! I KNOW RIGHT!!


I agree, solar radio controlled watches are the way to go. But I warn you, watches can lead you down a dark and expensive path!!

I would suggest a solar watch just so you never have to replace a battery again. An atomic (radio controlled) watch will set itself based on radio signals from Fort Collins, CO. You only set which time zone you're located in, and it does the rest. This past weekend, for example, with the Daylight Savings setting, my radio controlled watches set the time correctly over night.

There are quite a few Casios that have the current time display in addition to the countdown timer(CDT)/stop watch (but not ALL Casios). Most Casios also has this cool feature where it senses when you lift your arm up and turn it to look at, and based on ambient light, it will automatically turn on the back light (there is also a button to manually turn on the light).

I just bought a Casio Pro-Trek ABC (Altimiter, Barometer, Compass) model that shows the current time with the CDT/Stop watch: http://www.amazon.com/Casio-PRW-3000-2CR...;qid=1415041374

It's way more than you need to spend though. I bought this watch for $65 a few years ago: http://www.amazon.com/Casio-GW5600J-1-G-Shock-Atomic-Tough/dp/B00134JNJG

I think that it does have the current time display with the CDT and Stopwatch (from memory). I like square faced G-Shocks, so I don't know as much about the round ones.

 

[EdwardC]

I've been googling and it seems like more and more, Casio is removing the current time display on the CDT/Stopwatch screens. It looks like they are doing it to extend the stop watch range (they use the extra display digits to show number of hours counted).

Ana-digi watches might be easier to find, like dparm suggested. My dad has had this watch for several years now, and it's "dressy" enough that he wears it to work every day: http://www.amazon.com/Casio-Ceptor-Tough...asio+waveceptor

He got it from Kohls when on sale for ~$80.


Edit: the GW5600J-1 that I have doesn't show the current time in CDT or Stopwatch. hm!

 

[Benzadmiral]

I like the idea of the solar function and the automatic backlight when you lift your wrist; when I'm walking/trotting along, I'm usually carrying a water bottle, and a button is awkward to manipulate.

Edward, you're right, the price on the Pro-Trek ABC is a little much for what I have in mind. The second one is great, and the description below says it has a 1/100 second stopwatch as well as "world time," but it looks like you have to switch back and forth between the two -- they're not both displayed at the same time, which is what I was hoping for.

This looks more like it: http://www.casio.com/products/Watches/Sports/WS220-1BV/ I take it the digits at the bottom of the watch's face are the stopwatch, and the larger digits are the world time? What terminology should I search for to get the lift-your-wrist LED lighting function?

 

[JamesBond]

Auto EL backlight with afterglow, is the light up function on mine, I don't know if it's still called the same thing. The model I have is a GW300 and was on the cheaper end of the scale.

Purchased at a meijer or kmart on sale and with a coupon near the holidays several years ago and was very affordable.

 

[EdwardC]

Originally Posted By: JamesBond
Auto EL backlight with afterglow, is the light up function on mine, I don't know if it's still called the same thing. The model I have is a GW300 and was on the cheaper end of the scale.

Purchased at a meijer or kmart on sale and with a coupon near the holidays several years ago and was very affordable.


Yep! the "Auto EL" part is the automatic backlight. The "Afterglow" means that when you hit the backlight button, it'll stay on for some amount of time after you let go (you can change how long that is). That is compared to other brands of watches where the backlight is only on while the button is pressed, and goes off immediately afterwards.

Looking at the WS220-1BV, it looks like it shows the current time during CDT, but not during stopwatch function. During Stopwatch use, it shows the split times on the bottom. You can check out the details for the watch once you know which Module it uses (listed on the site): ftp://ftp.casio.co.jp/pub/world_manual/wat/en/qw3271.pdf

 

[EdwardC]

I'm surprised at how hard this is, I'm scouring the internet for a watch that fits your description: Solar powered, Auto EL, shows current time in CDT and Stopwatch modes.

One option: http://www.amazon.com/Casio-PRG-270-1-Pr...3Z3C51FDCE92ZHD

It's basically the same as the $200 watch above, and without the Atomic syncing. It has the ABC functions that you don't need (but fun to have, I promise).

 

[Benzadmiral]

According to the forum Watchuseek, Casio's DB-E30 displays the current time while the stopwatch runs, and has a full auto EL: http://www.ebay.com/itm/CASIO-DATA-BANK-...=item35dad37481 I've looked at the manual, and it seems to indicate that, plus having the auto tilt-your-wrist backlight.

Another poster on Watchuseek in the same thread says that Casio's Pathfinder, the PAW-2000, also shows current time and running stopwatch together: http://www.amazon.com/Casio-PAW2000-1CR-Pathfinder-Digital-Watch/dp/B002OSY3WM That one's a little pricey, though.

 

[EdwardC]

That first one definitely fits the bill and is very affordable! I wouldn't recommend the PAW2000 though, it uses the 2nd generation sensors while the PRG270 or PRW3000 use the 3rd gen sensors that are more accurate, smaller and more energy efficient.

I think that almost all Pathfinder/ProTrek models show the current time in all modes.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Originally Posted By: EdwardC
That first one definitely fits the bill and is very affordable! I wouldn't recommend the PAW2000 though, it uses the 2nd generation sensors while the PRG270 or PRW3000 use the 3rd gen sensors that are more accurate, smaller and more energy efficient.

I think that almost all Pathfinder/ProTrek models show the current time in all modes.

I went with the Casio DB-E30 from Amazon, less than $30 with free shipping. Here's hoping it'll work out. Thanks for everybody's input; I'll post some pics and comment when I get it.