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Recommendations/Reviews/FS/WTB Gymboss interval timer

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Chrisdavisjr

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Has anyone here ever used one of these? I've recently starting working as a personal trainer full time and I'm thinking of getting my hands on one but would love to know if anyone has any experience with these or any other interval timers.

It would mainly be for use with clients (keeping training sessions within time constraints is something I'm struggling with) but I might use it myself for conditioning drills.
 
I have the free version and used it for a few sessions of VWC and Plan 060. I keep meaning to upgrade so it will stop flashing ads at me.

Congrats on the full time personal trainer gig! I've been a part-time personal trainer for a couple of years now and it's very fulfilling. It has its challenges but I really love it. And the knowledge and experience you have from here and your practice puts you ahead of the average trainer in many ways.
 
I have the free version and used it for a few sessions of VWC and Plan 060. I keep meaning to upgrade so it will stop flashing ads at me.

Congrats on the full time personal trainer gig! I've been a part-time personal trainer for a couple of years now and it's very fulfilling. It has its challenges but I really love it. And the knowledge and experience you have from here and your practice puts you ahead of the average trainer in many ways.

@Anna C Thank you!
 
If you have an Android device, Impetus Interval Timer is the best I've tried, and I've tried and deleted a lot of them.

The free version is very full-featured and super-programmable (with no ads), but setting up very basic programs (which is how I use it -- I don't need any of the advanced options) is easy and intuitive. I generally use a combined work/rest interval, and I set up preprogrammed settings for on the 45s, 50s, 60s, 1:10, 1:20, 1:30 and 2:00, with a 10s set up interval before the first real interval, and a 3s countdown to the start of each new interval.

I have also used several versions of the standalone Gym Boss for many years. It works fine, but I prefer the Impetus app. I actually like my old first edition Gym Boss better than the current version.
 
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I've bought a Gymboss about 2 years ago and I personally don't like it. to me, it's like one of those counter-intuitive kitchen oven timers that never really does what you want it do to even though it has like 1 possible functions. If I wanted something that's "just a timer with nothing else and no constant distractions", I'd just take my phone, close all other apps, put it on flight mode, start the timer and start moving some iron.

I've always been using Seconds / Seconds Pro on IOS and Android and setting up programs like the ones you're outlining is very easy. You can save at least 50, or probably an unlimited amount of programs and organize them in folders (eg. I have a cardio folder, a volume folder for programs like the bear and density training, and a folder for standard strength programs like PTTP, 5x5, etc.).

Even really exotic programs are easy to replicate because there is a copy&paste function for custom timers (=manually enter a pattern once, copy paste pattern a couple of times until done).

I'm not sure what the differences are between seconds and seconds pro but there are no adds in either of them if I'm not mistaken. either way, the app is probably 5-10 dollars (I've been using it for almost half a decade, and it was a good investment IMO).

And congrats for going full-time!
 
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@Chrisdavisjr I have this one, if that's what you mean.

I use it every session, usually just to let the stopwatch run. I'm doing A+A repeats, so I just note the time at the end of the set and watch for 1:00-1:15 rest period to go by.

It's good for EMOM; you can make it beep every so often, or just as the stopwatch to watch for each minute to come around.

What it doesn't do that I've seen apps do:
- Break-in countdown (push start, counts down from 5 or 10, then you're off)
- Complicated intervals, e.g :30/:30 x 5, then 1:00 rest, then 1:00/1:00 x 5, 2:00 off, etc.
- Save go-to interval templates

If you don't need those things, just a stopwatch and basic interval timer, it's a great buy. Good battery life too, I think it's one AA battery that I've changed once in 2+ years.
 
I've had a gym boss and now use Impetus too. I do use the advanced timer for some protocols like ladders. Do X reps on Y interval and have Y interval decrease by a few seconds every round as an example. The advanced timer feature is also good for doing clusters with different rest period between. I use a prep period of 10 or 15 seconds.
 
I like to use an actual gymboss timer.

I used the Impetus app for a while and it's great but I like to keep my phone away from my training - it's constantly beeping / alerting and I don't need he distraction.
 
I like to use an actual gymboss timer.

I used the Impetus app for a while and it's great but I like to keep my phone away from my training - it's constantly beeping / alerting and I don't need he distraction.

I would agree, except I've become spoiled by Impetus' Text-to-Speech announcement of the upcoming round. That way I can set names like "Left hand swings" "Right hand swings" etc, and not lose track of which arm I'm on.
 
I would agree, except I've become spoiled by Impetus' Text-to-Speech announcement of the upcoming round. That way I can set names like "Left hand swings" "Right hand swings" etc, and not lose track of which arm I'm on.

I never even noticed that setting before. That's awesome!
 
I still use mine but I like the impetus interval timer app for android better

For my own personal use, Impetus is pretty much perfect. The only reason I'm getting a dedicated interval timer is so I can use it to keep my exercise classes time-constrained and free up my phone to play music* for the classes. It's an unfortunately unavoidable part of my duties as a fitness instructor/PT.

*Provided I can find something obnoxious and/or ignorable enough from my own music library, which consists primarily of very heavy metal and other dark and largely unlistenable genres.
 
It just arrived today and I've had a little time to play around with it. It's a nice and simple bit of kit and I can see it coming in handy for all kinds of things. I'm glad I didn't pay full price for a brand new one though.
 
I been a long time user of the Gymboss (app and device) but lately it's been collecting dust for I really like this new paid app: Seconds Pro Interval Timer. I found it has a lot more options, features and templates.

All comes down to personal preference.
 
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