Hands-On With The Timex Ironman 8-Lap Gray Shades

Retro watches have been all the rage for more than a decade now. When we review those releases, though, most are analog and inspired by highly collectible vintage timepieces with lengthy stories. But what about the omnipresent everyman’s watches we took for granted as kids or teenagers? Every so often, they return too, and if I’m being honest, they’re just as much fun as the fancier reissues. The Timex Ironman 8-Lap Gray Shades puts a slight spin on the original, but it’s certainly a faithful throwback to the ’80s.

It turns out that the recent purchase of a G-Shock, the DW-5000R-1A Origin Revival, sent me down the rabbit hole of looking at vintage-inspired digital watches. It’s easy to stop at G-Shock or its mother company, Casio, but that would be doing history a disservice. Depending on one’s birth year, it’s possible not to realize that Timex was a massive player in digital watches, at least in the USA. The Ironman, unlike G-Shocks, was designed for sports — in particular, the Ironman Triathlon with its running, cycling, and swimming stages. The original Ironman 8-Lap was standard equipment for fitness buffs, but it also became a cultural icon.

Some context

In 1986, Timex introduced the original Ironman 8-Lap. The brand shares that an ex-General Motors designer worked with marathon champions and Olympians to create the perfect sports watch. Apparently, Timex sold 400,000 examples in the first year alone. Before GPS and smartwatches became standard, I vividly recall friends wearing their Ironman watches. They were everywhere and common to see in a typical American office setting. I never owned one, but I ran with plenty of friends who started their jogs with the familiar press of a button and “beep” from an Ironman.

Of course, the other claim to fame for the Ironman 8-Lap was its adoption by 1992 presidential candidate Bill Clinton. The Ironman was a non-elitist, classless watch that made Clinton seem like a regular Joe. Of course, in other photos, he wore expensive luxury watches. But hey, why let facts get in the way of a good story? So, after years of seeing everyone from the president to colleagues wear one of these watches, I finally decided to get one — sort of.

The Ironman 8-Lap arrived gratis

I remember when Timex re-released the Ironman 8-Lap in 2022. It was interesting, but I didn’t seriously think of buying one then. Recently, though, the G-Shock DW-5000R-1A shook me into action, and I started looking for the Timex classic. My search took me to Timex Japan, a curious site that acts independently of the western Timex sites (more on this later). Then, I mentioned my interest in the watches on our podcast. Shortly thereafter, one of our longtime listeners in the UK reached out and offered to send me his barely worn Gray Shades model because it was too small for him. I asked about the price, and he told me that a few pints would do. Folks, I tried repeatedly, but our listener simply wouldn’t take money, so here’s a big “thank you” to him! A few days later, the watch arrived in its original packaging.

Availability and variants

Before I get into the review, let’s discuss availability. JDM (Japanese domestic market) watches can sound scary and enigmatic. Unexpectedly, Timex Japan makes ordering easy. The site offers flat shipping of ¥2,400 (about €15). Then, there are the models. Currently, Timex Japan offers four resin-cased Ironman 8-Lap editions, including the Gray Shades, OG, Bimmer, and a purple/blue/green variant. Four metal-cased options, including one on a metal bracelet, are also for sale and cost roughly three times the price. The resin-cased models are often sold out but are restocked every few weeks. For example, a friend in the UK waited and then purchased one. It arrived safely within a week.

Hands-on with the Ironman 8-Lap

It was serendipity that the Ironman 8-Lap arrived in the Gray Shades colorway. When I was looking, this model appealed to me most because of its cool shade. Seeing it in person confirmed that it would have been the right choice if I’d ordered one. Let’s move on. The Timex packaging is basic, consisting of a gray paperboard box and a small pillow. Interestingly, the inside of the box top asks owners to show off their new #timex watches on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and X. A small guarantee card is completely in Japanese, while the rolled-up instructions are in multiple languages.

First impressions

After unbuckling the Ironman 8-Lap, it’s impossible not to notice how light the watch is. Compared to the G-Shock, it feels like a toy. Then again, the watch was built for fitness activities, so weight — or a lack thereof — counts. Also, the rubber strap is thin and incredibly flexible, with no need to consider a break-in period. I can also see how this watch is too small for some wrists. Once again, it’s a completely different animal than the G-Shock.

So, how small is the watch? I measured a 39mm diameter, 46.5mm lug-to-lug, and 10.5mm thickness. That’s small for a digital watch meant for rugged activities, but it’s a reminder that large cuff-like options aren’t the only game in town. Visually, the watch looks more petite due to its 19mm lug spacing.

On the wrist

The benefit of a smaller, more analog-like footprint is that the Ironman 8-Lap wears like a normal watch. I would never choose to wear one in a business/office environment, but I can understand how people did it so regularly decades ago. Unlike my latest G-Shock, the Timex is neat and contained on my wrist. The strap even has a small lip at the end of the tail to prevent it from coming out from under the single sliding keeper. Cool touches like that and the vented segments near the case make it feel like I’m wearing nothing (…on my wrist).

Day-to-day use

While I wouldn’t recommend running the Ironman 8-Lap over with a car or military vehicle, it has a reputation for being a tough watch. This quality seems counterintuitive due to its lightness, but Timex designed the watch to survive jostling, impact, and water. With a water resistance rating of 100 meters, this isn’t a dive watch, but it is meant to get wet — repeatedly. Its dark gray D-shaped bezel should be able to take a beating, but it’s worth noting that it’s the same height as the mineral glass. Therefore, if used for its intended purpose, I’d expect the Ironman to pick up its fair share of scratches.

The gray resin case is interesting because it’s a slightly different shade than the strap. Look closely, and you’ll find that small white flecks or resin granules are visible. Timex doesn’t mention the type of resin used, but I’d guess it’s ABS due to the material’s noted impact resistance properties. All five buttons are made from dark gray resin.

A simple case back on the Ironman 8-Lap

The case back is made of stainless steel and affixed with four screws. There’s quite a bit of writing, and, as you can see, I’ve left the original stickers intact. Despite shipping from Japan, the watch has a Chinese movement and was assembled in the Philippines. Additionally, the model number, water resistance, lug spacing, and patent information are shown along with the battery type. Timex doesn’t mention the expected battery life, but owners report a period of three to five years before a change is required.

Functionality

The Ironman 8-Lap Gray Shades is my kind of digital watch. In other words, I don’t need to call upon my engineering degree to use its functions. The instructional manual covers all the functionality on one page, and the processes are quite repetitive. The Set button adjusts the time, day, and date on the black-on-gray LCD. It also comes into play on the timer and alarm functions. Different functions are accessible by pressing the Mode button. The Chrono function uses the Stop/Start and Lap/Reset buttons to begin and stop timing, save up to eight times, and reset. Finally, the Light button on the top left activates the bluish Indiglo. The glow stops immediately upon release of the button unless it is held down until it beeps. Then, the light stays for several seconds. Notably, the wearer should not use the buttons with the watch submerged.

Regarding legibility, it’s hard to argue against the Ironman 8-Lap. The display is so basic that everything is clear. Perhaps the only request I’d make is for smaller running seconds to create better separation from the hours and minutes. Then again, changing this part of the display would likely affect the other functions.

Conclusions

I’m sure the Ironman 8-Lap is now far more popular with hipsters and trendsetters than it is with athletes. Still, it’s a great watch that looks as fresh today as it did in 1986. Plus, the functionality is accessible and useful. Also, I like my G-Shocks, but it’s nice to know that there’s a smaller alternative with an equally interesting history. Best of all, the resin versions list for €88.95 plus shipping on Timex Japan, which makes them highly affordable. Hopefully, you enjoyed this look at a modern classic, and perhaps it even brought you back to a very different time.