Advertising disclosure: this page contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Watches die, phone apps glitch, and brains drift around lap six. The Decymis 2 Pack Metal Clicker Counter is a battery-free mechanical tally counter that costs under $7 for the pair. Here is how I use it, and why it lives in my gear bag.
Check today's price on Amazon2-pack · $6.98 at the time of writing · check the listing for Prime delivery
See the Decymis 2 Pack on Amazon
Decymis 2 Pack Clicker Counter (Metal Hand Tally Counter)
Try it: this is all a clicker doesTap the button to count. Turning the real reset lever clockwise sends it back to 0000.
I lose count. Not on easy days, but on the days that matter: 400m repeats when my lungs are shouting, a long loop on a gravel path, or a youth practice where I'm also yelling instructions. I've tried the watch lap button, a phone app, and counting on my fingers like a toddler. They all fail eventually.
What finally stuck was a little metal clicker. The Decymis 2 Pack Clicker Counter costs $6.98 for two, and it's the lowest-tech piece of gear I own that I actually use every week.
What you get for under $7
Product | Decymis 2 Pack Clicker Counter (Metal Hand Tally Counter) |
|---|---|
In the box | 2 metal mechanical counters, nylon lanyards |
Counting range | 0 to 9999 (4 digits) |
Power | None. Fully mechanical, no battery needed |
Reset | Rotate the lever clockwise a few times |
Body | Metal, shaped to sit comfortably in your hand |
Price |
Why a mechanical counter beats a watch or an app
Every counting system I've used has a failure mode. Watches need charging and tiny buttons are miserable with gloves. Phone apps need a free hand, a screen that's awake and a pocket that doesn't mis-tap. A mechanical clicker has one job and one button.
It can't die. No battery, no charging, no firmware. It works in the cold, in the rain and at 5 a.m.
It's tactile. You feel and hear the click, so you know a lap was recorded without looking down.
It's glanceable. Four big digits give you the number in half a second.
It's honest. It only counts when you press it. No auto-pause guesses or GPS drift.
Two metal counters, one price lower than a sports drink at the trailhead.
See the Decymis 2 Pack on Amazon
How I actually use it
Track repeatsClick once at the line each lap. I never wonder if that was lap 5 or lap 6.
Hill repeatsClick at the top of each climb, even when my head is mush.
CoachingGive one to an athlete to count their own laps or reps, and keep one for yourself to check.
EventsCount finishers, volunteers, aid station arrivals or guests at the door.
Everything elseGolf strokes, stadium and bar head counts, even crochet and knitting rows.
On the track
I hang the clicker on its lanyard around my wrist and press it with my thumb as I cross the start line. The click is crisp enough that I can feel it through a glove. After the session, the number on the display matches the plan, and that's the entire review of the feature set.
On the trail
For loop courses and repeats, I clip the lanyard to my pack strap. It's light enough that I forget it's there, and metal feels sturdier than the plastic clickers I've broken before.
On the sideline
This is where the 2-pack pays for itself. One counter goes to a runner, the other stays with me, and we compare numbers at the end. It also makes a nice no-stress gift for a running buddy or a coach.
The reset lever
You reset it by rotating the lever clockwise a few times until the digits roll back to 0000. It takes about two seconds, and I haven't had it reset by accident in my bag. With a range up to 9999 you won't run out of numbers anytime soon.
Pros and cons
What I like
No battery, works out of the box
Metal body feels solid in the hand
Lanyards included
Counts to 9999, plenty for any session
Simple, fast reset
Keep in mind
It's a counter, not a tracker. It doesn't record pace, time or history
You have to press it every time. That's the point, but you do need to be paying attention
Mechanical clicking is audible, which could be a plus or a minus depending on your group
Who should buy it
If you run laps, coach athletes, volunteer at events or just like to know exactly how many of something you did, this is a no-brainer. If you want pace, heart rate and split analysis, you still want your watch. But as a backup, the clicker earns its spot. For less than the price of a snack, it gives you a reliable number that doesn't depend on any app.
Why now: it's $6.98, it ships as a 2-pack, and the next time you lose count you'll wish you already had it in your bag.
Get the 2-pack before your next run
Never lose count again
Two metal Decymis clickers, no batteries, lanyards included, for $6.98.
See the Decymis 2 Pack on Amazon
Prices and availability are accurate as of the publication date and may change. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Product details come from the Amazon listing and our own use.
No comments yet — be the first to share a thought.