Clocks

Which chess clocks do you recommend?  I'm considering buying one soon and would value input.

Well, Chronos Clocks are the most heavy duty. However, they cost over $100 and my Chronos GX had to go back for repair. But the other Chronos Clocks seem to be working fine with all the other people I know who have them, and after that it's just a decision between the sensor ones or the push button Chronos. 

Chronos GX are easier to set, but smaller. They also don't show tenths of seconds, like the longer Chronos' do. But I found the GX just fine (besides the problem with it malfunctioning), and simple to program. 

I've never had a long Chronos clock, but several of my chess friends do, and they've all said that Chronos' are very durable. The longer Chronos are harder to set, so I've heard. The only other con about Chronos clocks are that they are hardly ever in stock, because the manufacturer nearly stopped making them. :(

The next clock would be a Saitek Competition Pro (which I currently have to hold me over until my Chronos clock comes back), which is silver and black, if colors mean anything. Also, they have push buttons and are pretty easy to set, once you get the hang of it. 

Hope this helps! ;)

Both of your suggestions have been helpful.  I still haven't decided, though.

Get the ZMF-II clock. It's easy to set up and it's a good clock.

DGT2010, not cheap, but solid and FIDE approved.

I am using an app called chess clock by chess.com. very convenient on a smart phone

I found a decent chess clock app, too.  Perhaps it may not be best for any sort of tournament, but I'm a low rated player in an area without a chess club, so I won't be doing any of those.  I'll keep the others in mind for when I have some more money.

DGT is a very decent brand of clocks we use them at our local club, many options and almost never fail

Your phones must be off during tournaments, so using an app is not an option.

Your main choices are the Chronos (expensive but the best), ZMF-II (I have heard good things about this clock), DGT 2010 (FIDE approved), DGT NA (practically the same thing as the DGT 2010), and the Excalibur (cheap but fine if you don't use it too often and too harshly, USCF approved).

DO NOT buy the Saitek, DGT Easy, or DGT 960. They are all pieces of crap that you should stay away from.

The Chronos is DEFINITELY NOT overrated.

I'd recommend either the DGT clocks or a Saitek (or a Chronos, but they're almost impossible to find right now & very expensive). The DGT North American (~$50) is a quality clock that's not too expensive. Saitek Competition Pro (~$50-$60) is a better-quality clock than its sibling, the "scholastic blue" Saitek Competition. Has more options for user-set time controls. Costs a bit more than the blue Saitek but worth it. 

Don't know much about the Zmart/ZMF clocks (similar looking to a Chronos, comes in primary colors or black). I think I read somewhere that they only have 1/4 of the features of a Chronos and have a plastic case instead of metal, but they're half the price of a Chronos too. Stay away from an Excalibur if you plan on putting your clock through lots of use. Mine broke within a year after lots of OTB, blitz and a few tournaments. I didn't like the cheap, flimsy feel of it either. The price of an Excalibur is almost the same as any other clock that'll probably last longer anyway.

Saitek clocks are sooo loud

They last much longer than other clocks and are of a higher quality. They have more features.

I have to disagree. Programming the Chronos is very easy if you have the manual and have practised for a bit. It took me about half an hour to learn how to program it.

If you are only using the clock for chess, then Chronos and ZMF-II are practically equivalents, because the ZMF-II is cheaper but lower quality. I was using the Chronos for multiple games, including chess and Scrabble.

It IS made of steel rather than plastic.

I recommend Chronos digital -- it's physically tough, long-lived, reliable, and easy to use.  Not so easy to change the settings, but chronos is so popular (in my experience) that you can always find someone at the OTB tournament to help set the proper time control.

My Saitek clock has an option for "sound off" on the bottom switch.

I mean that the Saitek buttons are really loud.

Last time I checked, they had some cheap ones on Ebay at 30-40$. That's probably what I would buy, if I were to need one. They look decent for the price and should suit a beginner's need of the 64 squares OTB. 

Oh, I see. Well over the years I've grown to like the Saitek clock, probably because I'm used to it. Also, it's easy to set.