Long before Garmins and Apple Watches of the world, there was the Timex Ironman – a small but powerful watch that Timex called “the world’s first sports watch.”

Of course, the Ironman was not the first watch designed around sport, since the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso (created for polo players in the 1930s) predates its launch in 1986 by more than half a century.

But the prominent placement of two large Start/Stop and Lap/Reset buttons — not to mention its 100m water resistance and $35 price tag — has made it a must-have gadget for runners and triathletes of all stripes (including a very famous amateur jogger, Bill Clinton).

Photo by Jack Seemer for Gear Patrol

Broad appeal

Apparently, Timex sold around 500,000 units per year during the 1990s, with the watch extending its appeal not only to endurance athletes, but also to technicians and children.

Now, decades later, you can add campers, gorpy hypebeasts, and potentially even high-end collectors to the list.