Most resistant chess clock for blitz

Hi,

what would you suggest as a strong chess clock for blitz games, considering some players almost punch the button?

I think the DGT N/A is a sturdy enough clock for blitz. Or on the high side get the sensor buttons on a Chronos or ZMF then you have no moving parts so nothing to break.

The clocks with aluminum bodies would be the sturdiest of clock bodies for blitz.  These would include the Chronos, ZMF Pro or the V-Tek 300 which is about to come available for retail.

While the touch sensors indeed do not have any moving parts to break, the majority of Chess players that I have talked with do not like them for blitz or when down to low time.  There is no tactile feedback that you have activated the clock, and that is a problem during fast play.  Sure a beep sound can be turned on when the clock is activated, but I honestly do not know anyone that uses it, regularly.

We just had a discussion about this, locally, last Monday evening.  Two guys have touch sensor clocks, one a Chronos and one a ZMF-II.  We all agreed that we do not like the touch sensors, except for the one owning the Chronos with touch sensors.  He wasn't there.

The buttons on the Chronos and the new V-Tek 300 are the same, exact thing.  They are the buttons originally made for IBM electric typewriters and then their keyboards.

Those buttons are literally like tanks.  They never break, ever.  We have had the LCD displays go bad, the circuit board go down, even the ribbon cable connecting the display to the board go bad.  And we have seen the battery system go bad.  But we have never seen nor heard of the buttons failing.  And this is a regional sampling of at least 60 - 80 Chronos clocks from 1999 to the present.

I personally have used the same Chronos clock for 1 - 2 hours of blitz per week for about 14 years with the clock still functioning with no problems whatsoever.  And I have had some true clock bangers use it as well.

So, I would suggest the Chronos GX with buttons as this is the least ezpensive clock with these buttons and an aluminum body.  I just bought one last month from Wholesale Chess for $84 and free shipping when they had a sale.

My second choice would be the Chronos II with buttons.  At that same sale, that clock could have been had for just under $92 delivered.

If you can wait a few days or weeks, the V-Tek 300 will also be available with the same type of aluminum body, the same brand of display and the exact, same buttons as the Chronos clocks, but with newer programming and an extra line in the display.  However this one won't be cheap.  They are saying the retail price to be $149.  Being a new clock, it might take quite awhile before we see sales on that clock with a decent price.  But I can't guarantee that, because I wouldn't be surprised if Wholesale Chess came up with a sale for the Christmas season.

If it were me, I would buy either Chronos model.  This is true especially if you are looking for a blitz clock.

Thanks a lot for this review, Eyechess, very helpful.

chronos gx is the best clock hands down.. i own.. three clocks. an analog. a zmf ii and a chronos gx. i should have purchased the chronos from the start.. and save my money.. the zmf ii uses d battery soit kindof heavy to carry around. I live in nyc and like to play chess at bryant park. So anything light weight ìs good.. ie non weighted chess pieces chronos gx and silicone board.. is my carry on tool