Side by Side Comparison of: Elgin vs Marathon vs Westclox

Great product at a great price.

Daylight readable from across the room, and the soft light comes on for a couple of seconds when you push the button for night-time reading. Alarm is loud enough for me. Easy to set the time and alarm. If something happens to this one I'll replace it with the same model.

My old Radio Shack travel alarm clock finally gave up the ghost after nearly 18 years of hard use. As a replacement, this new Elgin alarm clock is far easier to read and much easier to set. I love how the display lights up red when the alarm goes off. The slider switch used to set the time and alarm and to turn the alarm on and off might be the first component to wear out, but we'll just have to wait and see how this clock holds up through the years. For now, I'm very happy with this purchase. I plan to buy at least one more as a gift.

I looked and looked for a new travel clock for my husband. He had an old old travel clock that had definitely seen better days. Finally I picked this Elgin model after viewing a ton of clock descriptions online. It is a very nice small clock. The stand folds over the front to become a protective cover for traveling and the backlight for the time (when the special button is pressed) is a pleasant blue color. The clock has relatively simple functions but that is good -- we were not looking for bells and whistles. The alarm volume may be a tad low, but it still wakes my husband up when he sets the alarm.

This little alarm clock is easy and intuitive to set and has a nice loud beep, loud enough to really wake you up. Excellent product at an excellent price.

Wonderful little portable alarm with a healthy 'wake up' sound ... can recommend without any reservation. Ordered two of these as they are very reasonably priced.

Good features, but mine was missing an instruction manual. Set up was easy enough without the manual. However, it took me a while to find out that to illuminate the dial I have to push down the center silver button. It features temperature readings in centigrade and Fahrenheit, and this is very helpful when traveling in Europe. it runs on one small AAA battery located in the black base of the clock, removing the battery will erase the settings, and the information will have to be reentered.

A very economical, nice looking, compact, battery-operated alarm that is perfect for travel. You can never fully trust the alarms that are provided in hotel rooms, so having this gave me real peace of mind that I would not sleep through early morning meetings of early-ups to get to the airport on time. I liked it so well, that I now use it on my desk in the office as a quick reference for the date, time and temp. It takes us so little space, it makes a great desk-top clock also. The only issue for some might be that the screen is not illuminated at night, and you have to touch the center button to see the time. The button is large and easy to find in the night, but not being able to see the time in the darkness may be a problem for some.

I like this clock for use as a night table clock as well as a travel clock. It is really very simple to set up if you read the instructions. I recommend it to anyone looking for a very small digital clock. The fact that it also has a calendar and tell the temperature are nice extras.

We had a pair of Brookstone travel clock/thermometers in our bathrooms for many years. They started to fall apart after a long life so we went looking for new ones. Didn't need anything fancy, just time and temp. We decided on these because they are compact, inexpensive, and fit our exact need. They fit nicely on the shelf, the display is easy to read and gives us the info we want. The light is bright at night and it was easy to set everything. Overall, we are very happy.

This is a great travel or at home alarm clock! It is easy to set up, has big numerals and the alarm is easy to set. I like the temperature display. It is also easy to fold up for travel. The base is also sturdy unlike other small travel clocks and the price is very reasonable. I would highly recommend this clock!!

Have used this product for a number of years and this is only the third time for replacing it in that long length of time. Unlike many manufacturers who constantly replace a reliable product with others that do not meet the customer's needs or which are not as good, Westclox continues to make this reliable, convenient alarm clock. Thank you Westclox!

I like the size, the weight, and the ease of setting the time and the alarm. I WAS alarmed when I did a test set and the alarm didn't go off, so I was going to return it. But just in case, I set the alarm for morning and it DID go off right on time, so maybe it needs a gap of some hours between setting and alarm? Whatever, I'm glad I could keep it. It's exactly what I need for travel. I'm a little concerned about the battery. There were NO instructions or box with the clock. I asked how to remove & put it in on this forum and received helpful replies.Results: I used it for 2 full weeks on my trip and it couldn't have been better for what I needed it for. Very lightweight, kept the correct time, alarm rang when set.

I've had one of these for about 6 years. The same one. In daily use as an alarm clock at home, as well as going with me when I travel. It's durable enough I often put it in checked luggage. Some of the writing around the buttons is starting to rub off finally. About a decade ago I dropped it in a parking lot (with the case open) and one of the two little plastic ratchet tabs that holds it open or closed broke. The other one has held it open or closed fine ever since. The alarm sound is quite nice, pleasant to wake up to but (importantly) loud enough to wake up to. It keeps very accurate time, much better than a far more expensive one I won about 5 years ago. The backlight starts to get dim and the alarm sound weak when the battery gets low, but that's not often. I replace the battery every 5 years or so, fairly common watch battery and easy to find. You'll get plenty of warning before it winds up running so low it won't alarm, so it's very trustworthy to rely on when you need to be up. If mine ever does die I'm glad to see they're still available.

Confession: This caught my eye because it was cheap and not blatantly ugly. I regularly destroy alarm clocks by sweeping them off the bedside table in sleepy retaliation for doing their job, and two fairly expensive ones had bitten the dust in just the last month. It was time to downscale.This little plastic Westclox is definitely not a budget-buster, and it's just as lightweight and insubstantial as you'd expect. It has basic alarm clock functions and little more. Nevertheless, it does the job to perfection. Its design is simple, even elegant. The controls are models of simplicity and logic. So far, it's been accurate to the minute. Its alarm is reliable. Like the snooze features on all the expensive clocks, this one never gives you quite enough snooze time. Its night light lights. In fact, I'm so happy with this little champ that I've weighted it down with a great big tube of hand cream,have so far managed not to swat it off the bedside table and am keeping my fingers crossed.

I really was nervous to order this clock because there really are a high proportion of negative reviews. And some people have had really disastrous results with these things. But I guess it's the luck of the draw. If you luck out and get a good one, it's a good little clock for around $7, so I guess what you are paying for is partially the risk of getting a clock that doesn't work. :) This little alarm is unique because it uses those weird little button batteries. I am trying them for the heck of it because I theorize they will give off less emf rays in my room than regular like AA batteries. I could be totally wrong about this. Mine does happen to be a neat little clock. What you might not like: The display screen really is tiny, and the so-called flashlight hardly works at night for you to see the numbers (it is really weak). But if you look really close, sometimes you can make them out. :) Also, I wish they would make a pocket alarm with a pleasant little wake up sound. I don't like the loud beeping and I wish it didn't last for a whole minute. However, I don't think you have your choice in alarms on this feature. If the hardness of reading the display in the middle of the night doesn't bother you, it's a good little clock :).

Finding a good travel alarm with a digital display shouldn't be difficult, but I've gone through a number of other clocks that were unsatisfactory. One had a design very much like this one, but the switch was flaky; if you tried to set the alarm, it would irregularly oscillate between displaying the alarm and the time. Another had a folding cover but left buttons exposed in back; when I arrived at my destination, I often found that the buttons had been depressed in transit and the time had been reset.The Westclox #47508 travel alarm doesn't have these problems, and has worked perfectly so far. As others have noted, the light is dim and remains on only so long as you press the button.The alarm rings for one minute, and you can snooze indefinitely for four-minute intervals (although I wish the snooze were a bit longer). The buttons and switches are simple and intuitive. It runs on a single L1154 button battery. This battery type goes by various names (alkaline A76, LR44; silver oxide E357, 10L14, MS76, SR44), and is one of the easier button batteries to find in stores. The clock is compact and appears sturdily made.

I bought this two years ago, and I haven't had any problems with it. I haven't even had to change the batteries, although I imagine that if you use the more power-hungry functions like the light more often, it drains faster. I purchased mine to be a back-up morning alarm, because I'm terrible at actually getting out of bed once I wake up and often just fall right back asleep. This clock is loud and kind of annoying, as well as very portable, so I stick it on the opposite side of my room set to about 10 minutes after my phone alarm (much sweeter sounding but therefore easier to ignore) is set to go off. This way I have a snooze-button-push or two's worth of time to actually wake myself up, before this alarm forces me to drag myself out of bed.Things I like about this clock: - It's annoying, but not horribly so. You sure aren't going to sleep through it but it probably won't wake your whole house. - It's sturdy and reasonably compact. If I'm going on a trip, I can fold it up and throw it into my bag or suitcase to take it along, and I don't have to worry much about it bumping around and getting broken. If you have man-sized pockets, you could even feasibly put it in a pocket to carry around - when it's closed, the time is visible but all the button are covered. - It's easy to use. One switch with four settings (set time, set alarm, alarm on, alarm off), an add minute button, an add hour button, and a snooze/light button. I'm never confused about how to use it. Which, if you look at some of the competitors currently on the market, is a notable plus.Things that I don't like about this clock: - The blue light is VERY BRIGHT. It half-blinds me to look at it in the dark, which kind of defeats the purpose of an illuminated screen. I can practically use it as a dim flashlight. You're going to want to turn on your lamp to look at it instead. - Since the way to turn it off in the morning is to move the switch to the "alarm off" position, you're going to have to remember to put it back to "alarm on" before you go to bed. You can either flip it back on immediately after turning it off, or do it just before bed, but just make sure you don't forget. I've been late to work once or twice for that reason. - There's no way to remove hours or minutes, only add them. This means that if you miss the time you're aiming for, you have to hit the button a bunch more times and go all the way around and get back to it. Only a tiny complaint, and a side-effect of the simple controls, but still mildly annoying. - The price. Is this really a $12 clock? Not... really. I'd call this more a $7-8 clock in terms of value; it's kind of clunky and it has annoying features like the too-bright light. But honestly, the difference isn't that big. If you have a few extra dollars lying around, you might as well put them to this.Overall, I would recommend this product, since it does the job it's designed to do even if it's not perfect. It checks all the necessary boxes on my list: portable, good volume, easy to set, lasting quality.

This is simple, loud, and well protected in a suitcase. Has all functions one needs for traveling. I wished though, I could switch it to a 24hr system (I dislike am/pm). Yes, it looks a bit cheap but what do you expect for the price? I have seen cheap travel clocks that lasted decades and this one feels like it will as well.

good little travel clock, although I use mine at home. Love the fact that it stays 'dark' all night; if you want to see the time, you have to push a button. VERY simple to program, although the buttons are a bit small, and the "functions" are hard to read because it's raised black lettering on black background. Alarm is decent, but has no volume control (that I know of) and may not wake a heavy sleeper. Battery operated, saves electricity. Have had it one month, so far, so good.

I was tired of using my cell phone as my alarm clock due to reliability. This clock works well and wakes me up every morning.One feature that i really like is the ability to verify that the alarm is set and ready to wake you the night before. When the alarm is set and in the alarm position on the switch, when you press the min and hour buttons at the same time, the alarm with sound, flash the screen read and display the time it will go off in the morning. This puts my mind at ease as i sometime mis-set my alarm or don't turn it on properly.The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 was the viewing angle of the display. When you are below the clock, the numbers become less visible. The further up you look at the screen, the crisper and easier to read the numbers are. This is a big flaw for anyone whose nightstand is higher than the level of their bed.Other than the viewing angle, the alarm clock is great. I will continue to use it till it no longer works... and may buy another at that point. Great alternative to using the alarm on your phone.

This clock is everything it is explained to me, works perfect. However (a big one for me as the subject indicates) if you look at the lighted dial in the picture, now multiply the light intensity by 10! The power of that lighted screen is enough to light up a room (I could be exaggerating a little). It is so bright that when I push the button at 3 am it causes momentary blindness, then leaves my eyes traumatized and makes getting back to sleep difficult. That's just me...Another problem for me is that in order to push that light button you have to grab the entire clock in your hand, otherwise it would just push away from you. A better design has the button on the top or on a support base.

A compact, easy to use travel alarm -- well designed, and just what I was looking for. The only oddity (for me) is that the screen flashes red when the alarm goes off-- maybe so you can find it in the dark across the hotel room. The alarm initially goes off with a series of 8 double beeps (beep-beep, beep-beep...)then on the 9th, it changes to a more insistent triple beep series (beep-beep-beep, etc). The measurements are as follows:W- 2 3/8" H- 3 3/8" Depth when closed for travel- 3/4"Display W- 1 3/4" H- 3/4".

I needed a travel clock, something that was compact, readable in the dark, and easy to operate. The Marathon travel clock delivers. It delivers on all counts. As with all digital products, the Marathon travel clock requires some study to operate with ease (I am a baby boomer), but this is the case with all modern electronic equipment. If you can do, then do it even if you are providing a solution for which there is no problem. (This opinion should be taken as a comment more on me than the clock.) One final note, I do not downgrade the Marathon clock with four stars. I give four stars to all products that operate as advertised, reserving five stars for the rare instance when a product or a vendor goes above and beyond reasonable expectations. In all fairness, Marathon has had no opportunity to do this because it delivered all that it promised as promised.

Just received this so review is based on limited experience. Seems to be a nice quality product, well made and with nice features. My only gripe is that there is no "off" switch so it remains powered up at all times. Since this is a travel clock and used infrequently you would probably want to remove the battery between trips. Not the end of the world so in total I'd rate it as a keeper. The company emails you asking for feedback, so that's a good sign as well.

I have had this little clock for a few days now, and so far I like it. It was very easy to set up the time and date, and I do like the sound of the alarm. It's not too loud and obnoxious, but a nice beep that wakes me up. I'm a pretty sound sleeper, too! The snooze is easy to find and sets off the alarm again in 5 minutes. It's also a nice compact size and will fit nicely in my suitcase for travel. I also like the fact that it only requires one AAA battery. There are a lot of nice features packed into this little clock. Now I'll see how long the battery lasts!

I haven't had this product for very long, a couple of months maybe, but it is nicely designed and performs as billed. It is very functional, and one 'bonus' feature I like is the thermometer.

I do have one concern that may affect battery life - that is the 'snooze button'. This is the round chrome button that located at the bottom of the clock when it's in the open position (this is very handy for alarm clock purposes). This button also activates the light that illuminates the clock. But when the clock is folded for travel, the button is exposed. My concern is when its sitting in a packed suitcase - will it be activated from time to time and drain the battery prematurely?

I called the manufacturer about this issue and they were helpful. They advised that they had not heard of this issue, but also advised that the warranty is for a year. All that said, at this point - so far so good!

I was not sure about ordering this clock as there was only one review of it, but I just received this clock and so far it is great. It was easy to set, the temperature reading was accurate to 0.5 degrees F (when compared to a calibrated source), the back light is even and the right brightness, and the alarm is the right volume for me (but might be quiet for some). Other things I like are it takes a standard AAA battery, it is very stable when unfolded, the display is readable from all angles with the light on (REVISED--see below) and off, and it folds to protect the screen when traveling. There are no beeps when the buttons are pushed like another popular clock. The side buttons are not covered by the folding case but I don't think they will move when traveling.

Two complaints when folded: it does not snap in place (but is spring loaded in place) and seems a bit weak and wobbly at the folding pivot point, and the light button is still exposed and active, and can easily be pushed when packed away for travel--if this happens, the battery would wear out quickly (thus only 4 stars).

Overall, much better than most of the others I read about. After I use it on a couple of trips, I'll revisit my review and updated it if necessary.

UPDATE: This appears to be the identical electronics as the Brookstone travel clock I was replacing (it never returned from a Caribbean trip--not sure what happened to it!) Compared to the Brookstone clock:
- The Brookstone clock snapped closed (more secure). I added a bit of Velcro to this clock to ensure it stays closed when folded
- This one is easier to set time/alarm than the Brookstone one (don't have to remove the battery cover)
- For both, the snooze/light control is still active and can be accidentally hit when folded
- When unfolded, this one is more stable
- Both are difficult to read when the light is on in the dark when viewed straight on or from below (like from a nightstand)
- The alarm volume and sound is identical for both

Overall I still like it--best one I've found so far.

Works well, but not very loud (if you need a loud alarm, skip this one). The alarm on-off switch is small and can be easily confused with the setting switch (especially in the dark). Having a larger snooze button would make it better. I put a sticker on the snooze button to make it easier to find by touch.

Very compact and easy to use. The alarm is just at the right volume. For those that hate the bright illumination of an alarm clock, this is for you. The only light is when you hold the light button. You cannot see the clock at night in a dark room. In order to check the time at night you have to press and hold the light button, and then it's not very easy to read. This works better than the GE travel alarm I bought at Walmart. It's alarm didn't work and it randomly changed it's time. Awful. This Westclox uses a button battery, not AAA's or AA's. I don't know how long the included button battery will last or cost. The clock keeps good time and it's alarm worked fine the one time I used it.

Sharp used to make our fave travel alarm: small, light, full features, modestly rugged, and inexpensive. That model has disappeared, to be replaced by the Sharp SPC445. I bought that unit, this Westclox Travelmate 4708/47533, and the Marathon Night-Owl as possible replacements as our last Sharp's display is breaking up (that's the way they die.) You might want to see those other reviews.The Westclox is clearly the bottom of the pile. Though it is the lightest by 0.1 oz, and has a cover for protection, it is your basic, basic alarm clock: no day/date, no temperature, no 12/24 hr setting. Its display is easily legible by day, but poorly lit for use in the dark. Control size and location is the best of the three. The alarm is the usual beepedy-beep at a good volume. It uses one L1154 button cell.UPDATE - Our unit now has many thousand miles of use, and continues to work fine. I'm moving it up to four stars, and into second place. The only drawback I've found (other than the above-mentioned night lighting) is that it was a bear to get the battery out for replacement: needed a tweezer to grab it.

I bought this after much searching for a replacement for my old Westclox alarm which had a different format but the identical display. I agree with others that it is not as good as earlier models, but overall it is a decent travel/bedside alarm. It is compact and I like the quiet beeping with escalating beeps/volume. The nighttime light is quite dim but I have to peer at it anyway so it isn't a problem. Two minor things I've noticed:1, The alarm on/off switch seems to be a bit sensitive when it's turned on. I've found a few times that if I accidentally touched that instead of the snooze button, the alarm actually got deactivated even though the display still shows it's on. So I developed the habit of resting my hand on the top edge and brushing my thumb upward from the bottom, because the snooze button is larger and lower so that way I touch it first. (It's amazing what the semi-conscious brain can be trained to do in the interest of a few minutes' more sleep.)2. It gains about a minute per month. This is a little annoying, but better that than losing time even though it's more of a pain to correct (because the minute setting only goes one way).

I previously owned a Westclox clock like this one. It served me well for many years until I lost it. So I was quite pleased when I came upon this model again in my search for a new clock. The new clock received seems less robust than the earlier version, but functions reliably the same except for the dial light which is so weak it may as well not be there. Have to use a flashlight to read the time in the dark. Otherwise, five stars instead of four. I considered returning it for another, but the return shipping on an inexpensive item is prohibitive. We'll see how it holds up to the inevitable drops to the floor. The old one took a licking, but kept on ticking. Hope this one will, too.

Left my previous travel-size alarm clock in Paris and went through a couple different ones (slight more expensive) before I got this guy. I am very satisfied. It is very compact (travel+++), cheap (always a +), and pretty simple. Everything has dedicated controls. My only issue is the same "feel" of the display and alarm on/off control, so I have missed alarms occasionally because I simply slid the wrong slider (display control instead of setting the alarm slider to ON). Still like it a lot after about six months.

Good for the price. The numbers are large and easily readable. However, it is made of cheap lightweight plastic and is hard to keep in the open position. The setting markings are also very hard to read; they are black and VERY small. I am keeping it, but don't love it.

Looking for a travel clock for my kids similar to an older Timex travel clock I've had for years. The Elgin is close but not a nice a form factor as the old Timex. The Elgin is very easy to use and functions perfectly - its just thicker and a bit flimsier than the old Timex. The front cover which folds back to be the base when you set the clock on a stand is very thin and the weakest spot I'm concerned about. The number and buttons are large and easy to see and use.

A couple of things I wished I had known about this clock before I ordered it (because if I had, I wouldn't have ordered it). It's much thicker than my old one (a Timex Indiglo Travel Alarm Clock that looks a lot like this one and is of a similar design) that I was hoping to replace with this one - probably twice as thick. It's 7/8 of an inch thick. More importantly, while it does have a folding stand which doubles as a cover when traveling, the cover only covers the control buttons on the front. It does not cover the plastic display which I suspect will become scratched with time (pardon the pun!). The cover has a cut-out portion so that you can always see what time it is, but who needs to see the time when the clock is packed away in a suitcase? I was hoping the cover was solid (once again, like my old Timex) so that it would protect the display as well.I have to confess that I was so put off by the extra thick size and lack of protective cover, that I haven't even put batteries in it and have no idea how well it runs. I am going on a trip soon and will try it out and report back if there is a problem.

Keeps accurate time but setting the alarm and hearing it are just so so. Tiny black raised lettering on a black surface make it a challenge to know if your setting the clock or alarm. Blue light is pleasant but the alarm off/on indicators are difficult to read without tilting the clock to various positions to see it. Alarm is pretty weak unless you are a light sleeper.

The alarm was too quiet to wake me....though I'm not that sound a sleeper. Very very soft alarm. Other than that, it was fine....but it is an alarm clock!!! No other purpose for me....so it wasn't a good purchase. Luckily I was in Africa and they beat drums at my door to wake me every morning....Who knew I didn't need an alarm clock!?

The picture shows the clock lit up, however the clock only lights up when you press the button. Otherwise the clock does not light up at night. I bought this with the express purpose of using it at night and during the day. Lesson learned some things you are just better off to buy in person. The clock does function great.

Product exactly as described. However, I did not realize there is no way to keep the light on, even dimly. This means there is no way to easily check the time at night without pressing the small button under the center of the clock. This task requires more than enough concentration and effort to wake me up. Clock is difficult to read in daylight from more than about 6 feet.

It is nice watch, but pictures on screen are deceiving wooden color part of the watch is much smaller compare to base in real life. I also do not like location of snooze button, it is hard to find in a dark. I will probably return it.

I look at these cheap clocks and try to figure out if I'm going to be able to read them. Since so many were raving I figured I was in luck. Nope. The nightlight doesn't improve anything at night or during the day. Unless this beast is under a lamp and I have my glasses on I cannot read it. Bummer. So be warned or be disappointed.

I returned one travel clock because it did not light up. Then ordered this one. It does light up, but you have to punch the button down to do so, and it only stays lit briefly. I will most likely give this as a gift or use in the bathroom while continuing to search for the perfect bedside clock that takes up minimal space. I am retired so I just want to glance over and see the time, date, and weather.

I really like the design, BUT when the unit is closed the night light button can still be depressed. Just worried that when its packed in the suitcase it will be turned on so much the battery will wear down quickly. I wish the cover would protect that portion. If I had paid more attention I would have chosen another travel alarm clock.

Purchased this alarm clock for night-time and wake up use. However, the light-up function to see the time in a dark room is worthless. I would return it for a refund but not worth the trouble. I now just use the clock as a time piece on my desk. I am surprised at the cheap quality as Westclox usually makes better products than this. The clock is very easy to set and use, keeps accurate time, fairly loud alarm. Too bad the "light up" function is so poor, I would have given this little clock 5 stars. I would NOT buy again.

Bought this from my kids to use on upcoming trip and was seeking clock similar to a Timex travel clock that I've owned for 20 years.The Westclox meets all my requirements and is very similar to the folding Timex I have except for the light. The Westclox has two small dim bulbs - one on either side of the number display that light when you push the light button. Unfortunately the bulbs are so dim you can barely read the numbers on the clock even when eyes are fully adjusted to the dark such as when you wake up in the middle of the night. I also purchased an Elgin travel clock for same purpose. I like the Westclox form factor better than the Elgin but the Elgin glow from behind numbers light that works perfectly - however the Elgin is fatter and the folding cover/stand base is very flimsy.

You get what you pay for -- and this little clock is just that. It works fine (so far), has a nice big display, folds compactly, and has simple, easy-to-use setting buttons. But it is also lightweight (in a cheap sense) and lends the impression that it won't hold up very long. The plastic is flimsy, and I have a feeling that it has a finite number of opens and closes before the plastic hinge breaks.There are only two things that I really don't like about the clock at this early point: 1) The internal light, which is basically worthless, at least on my unit. When you press the snooze button, it does light up -- sorta. Not enough that you can actually SEE it in the dark; just the suggestion of illumination. I thought it was probably a stale battery (provided with the clock), so I spent $5.99 on a new battery, and the light is no brighter. 2) Related to this, the fact that it doesn't take standard (AAA or AA) batteries but expensive little watch batteries.I'd send it back for all these reasons, except that postage (plus what I paid for the new battery) would probably exceed the cost of the clock. And honestly, it DOES work great. Who knows? It might work for years and years!

I was never too keen on this clock: I couldn't see the time and didn't want to be fiddling around with buttons in the night. But it woke me up when I should until a few months ago, and then it became erratic.There was no problem with the time, but the alarm didn't go off at the time I'd set it to. I think I'd had it for 2-3 years at that point. I was glad to toss it and replace it with a little red Casio number with a piercing alarm that is easy to turn off. I can usually read the numbers, too.

my 10 year old travel alarm finaly died :(This one seem to foot the bill and it very well may.The description did not share the battery type.How many of you carry around watch type batteries ?My old one used a single AA battery which iscommon to my camera and available anywhere.

I have some positive things to say about this clock, but it has one "glaring" problem. I have had it less than a year, but my next trip will probably be the last I can squeeze out of it. I'll be looking to another brand to replace it. Even fresh out of the box, the light was so weak as to be useless. In full dark, you can barely see the side of the screen. One of the most important features in a travel alarm for me is to see what time it is in the middle of the night, without fumbling for the hotel lamp. I'm constantly replacing travel alarms because the light burns out. This one was weak from the start and I believe it's gone further downhill. As for warranty, the fee Westclox charges for warranty service and shipping is greater than what I paid for the clock.That being said, if you can get over the light, this clock does well to correct some common travel alarm flaws:Sturdy folding case will take reasonable abuse and drops.Alarm set goes to the left and time set to the right on a snug button - much harder to accidentally reset the time than on other models.Alarm on/off clearly indicated on screen, with a large icon.Snug slider button for the alarm makes it hard to accidentally turn it on (but you have to work to turn it off, too).Easy to see if your time/or alarm is in AM or PM.I just can't give it a higher rating when the light is so poor.**Note - the alarm is LOUD and increases in tempo if you do not shut it off right away. Others in the room may be unhappy if you are a slow riser.

Sad to leave a bad review... but after a few weeks of using this clock, the alarm failed to go off on time. I was really frustrated by this and tried multiple times to set the alarm with the "on" button in just the right place. It made no difference if it was directly in its spot, or toggled slightly left or right. Now the alarm just seems to work intermittently, and even if the little bell shows up on the screen, sometimes it still doesn't go off at the right time.

I ordered this travel alarm clock Sept 26 2015 to replace my Timex clock that worked for 15 years. This clock has more or less the same size, shape and functions of the Timex but I am really disappointed that this clock has only functioned for 7 months. First the night light function quit working and not the alarm no longer functions. It still keeps the time OK but that is pretty much useless for travel if the light and alarm does not work. So now I am in search of a replacement.

The numbers were too faint .... Various tries with fully charged rechargeable batteries, new disposables, & other known working batteries did not resolve the problem; I could only see the #s at a particular, inconvenient angle.

The clock is easy to set, but the display is too dim, especially at an angle, and the snooze interval seems limited to 4 minutes, which turned out to be too short. When traveling, I now use my smartphone with a flexible app and a good stand instead.

I spent far too much time looking for a replacement for my old Remington travel alarm, being passed from one seller to another, eventually selecting this product. The biggest shock is the blue light. It will nearly put your eyes out in the dark. In addition, it is not all that easy to use. I continue to be amazed by the vast variety of lousy travel alarm clocks available. You can burn up a day looking through all the difficult-to-use digital wizz-bang gizmos with horrid alarm sounds and dim lights. I am still looking, since this thing is a disappointment.

I bought it to replace a broken Brookstone clock I've had for years. I use it beside the bed and didn't want a large clock. The light was blue, which was different from old clock (green), but fine. What is driving me crazy is the fact that the button you have to tap to see the time (same type of feature as the old Brookstone) is on the front of the clock instead of on top. You can't just reach out and push the button as the clock is too light and just scoots across the nightstand. So, it's a two handed operation. Not good. Of course I have tossed out the container it came in, so I'm stuck with it. Won't use it, but stuck with it. I have since replaced it with a top button clock.

I bought one of these several months ago and love it. Use it on my bedside table. I like that the display is not illuminated unless you press the button. So I ordered another one for my camper. It worked for a few minutes then quit. I have tried replacing the battery but still getting nothing. Very disappointing, and the return window has already closed.

I love the style, however, the backlight quit working within 2 days of using it. Disappointing.

When you push the silver button to turn on the light so you can see what time it is in the dark, it emits light, but ALSO a high-frequency WHINE that stays on the entire time the light is lit. SO annoying! Horrible sound. Whose idea was it to add that feature?

There are several annoying problems with this clock, but the fatal flaw is the snooze. You can only hit the snooze button for up to 15 minutes of extra sleep, and then the alarm inexplicably just stops. Yes, I know I shouldn't hit snooze for long periods of time, but some mornings can be rough getting up on short sleep. After accidentally sleeping in late because this alarm stopped, I had to set a backup clock. I gave this one a good try, but can't get past the snooze limitation.

Aside from that, the alarm sound itself quickly goes from a calm alarm into a panic sound, waking my wife before I can shut it off. As other reviewers have noted, there is also an annoying electronic buzz after you hit the snooze button, and the display is hard to read at an angle.

It's a shame, because this clock looks nice & is well built, but some simple design decisions have caused me to return it and look for another.

I'm primarily disappointed in this clock because of how loud it chirps from the outset...very jarring. I much prefer a softer chirp, gradually getting louder. Also, in the snooze position, it activates only two additional times after the initial blast, five minutes apart. So, one can only snooze for a total of an additional ten minutes. Often, I'm not ready to get up in ten minutes after the first blast. Also, the back light doesn't stay on but a couple of seconds, making it hard to focus and see how to set it or read the various pieces of info that it provides. I would not purchase it again or recommend it to a friend.

Very hard to see the time in the middle of the night when you press the "light on" button. The light comes in from each side and barely shows the time--I have to pick it up and hold it a few inches from my eyes. The older version that was backlit and then the light faded away was much better. Brookstone has one with the backlight which makes it much easier to see in the dark--and it quickly fades off, too, so the light doesn't keep me awake. Also, the previous version ran on one AA or AAA battery--much easier to replace than the current model's button battery. And the battery door on this latest one isn't very secure. Too bad--I really liked my old Westclox, but not this new version.

I like the look and size of this clock. I like the way it folds. It also stands well. I would not buy it again though. It does not light up at night; which I knew in advance of buying it. But when I try to push the light-up button in the middle of the night, I have quite a hard time with it. First of all, the button is hard to find. Second of all, the button is awkward to push. And third, when you push the button you can barely see what the time says. The lighting is horrible! If you only want to use this clock in the daytime, it is fine; and even cute. If you plan to use this clock at night too, choose something else.

I have had similar Timex travel alarm clocks but was not able to find them in stores or on line. I bought five of these and wish I hadn't. It is NOT backlit as advertised. The light is coming in from the sides so the middle is very dim. Also the display is about 3/4th the size of the Timex I was hoping to find. I will keep them and use them where I have no other time pieces. I will pass on giving this to the graduating High School students.After these clocks came in, I did find an Elgin when I was looking for a different travel alarm and it looked like it may have been the one I should have purchased.I did not have a problem with the supplier. The clocks arrived on time but not what I was expecting.

Pros: super easy to set time and alarm. Very compact and has its own protective shell for packing.Cons: alarm isn't very loud and shuts itself off after 1 minute so it might not wake you up. The light barely illuminates the face so you may not be able to read it even while the light is on.Info: the clock is not lit/illuminated so if you want to see the time you'll have to reach out and push the light button. Lack of illuminated dial saves on batteries but sometimes is a hassle when you just want to peek out and check the time.I own another one of this exact model, and I really like it, but something is wrong with the one I purchased through Amazon. Now I have to deal with the return process.

I had a Westclox Travelmate fort about 10 years that I unfortunately left in hotel room. It was a great clock. I was expecting about the same level from the new clock. However, the new clock is not good at all.The new Travelmate has several serious problems. First and foremost, the background night light is extremely poor. If you wake up in the middle of the night and want it to see the time, it is not possible without turning on the room lights. The background light is just a flicker. It's like a candle where you can't see the full time display.Also, the controls make it really difficult to snooze in the morning or make adjustments at night without a room light.Net, I would not buy this product again.

I was looking for a replacement digital travel alarm clock. This particular one was similar to a Timex clock I have had for years. When the alarm system is activated and set, the alarm goes off as advertized. However, the activation switch has some sort of defect in that if you put slight pressure on the alarm switch the "alarm on" icon will appear indicating that the alarm is "on" even if the switch is set to the "off" position. The "Alarm indicator" (the symbol AL) does not come on when this happens. I believe the actual alarm (the beeper sound you hear when the alarm goes off) can activate w/ the switch in the off position in other words. I can make the alarm icon come on just by putting slight pressure on the surface of the clock near the right side of the switch. There is either a defect in the switch or the circuit board that goes to that section in the alarm clock. If let sit, the alarm icon eventually goes off most of the time after several minutes. Interesting defect.

After only 10 months, the glow light button on this clock no longer works. That means I have to turn on the light to check the time in the dark, which defeats one of the main qualities of this clock. This is not a battery issue, as I tried to make it work with a fresh set of batteries. That is the primary reason for only one star - my last alarm clock's glow function lasted for over fifteen years.Another issue is the 4 minute snooze. 4 minutes is far too short, and I just feel like the alarm is constantly going off. Also, the glaring red screen during the alarm is angry and alarming (har har), and not a pleasant way to wake up. After trying to like this alarm clock for the last 10 months, I've just decided it's awful and I'm going to have to hunt for a new one.

Do not purchase. I bought to use for a trip and never opened it because I didn't have a need. I finally opened it to use and put in batteries it doesn't even light up, the whole purpose for buying. I'm beyond return period so I am suck with this useless clock. Complete disappointment

This is 2nd one of these I've owned. First one worked fine but this one is wired incorrectly. When you set it to "alarm off" to simply show the time, instead it shows the alarm setting and works like the "alarm set" function (so if you touch the hour or minute key the alarm time changes). So there is no way to just see the time when the alarm is set to off. Which basically makes it completely useless.

Bought this alarm clock about 8 weeks ago for a trip to Europe. Three days into the trip the clock failed. I'd try to set the alarm time and the digital numbers would just keep rotating through 12 hours. Impossible to set the alarm time! Based on my experience, I do not recommend this digital alarm clock.

Bought 2, so I'd have a backup. Wanted to have a battery operated alarm around in case I was travelling or just really needed a full-proof method in case my phone didn't work for some reason. Think work, planes and trains.One didn't work from the start-the display sputtered and flashed. The second didn't make it thru a 1-2 week trial and just died.The first was used and the second was new. I returned them both for refunds. 5 stars for Amazon.

I have ordered 2 of this Elgin Travel Alarm Clock last year (one perhaps earlier this year). Both worked fine. While the alarm sound is not too loud but is enough so long as there is a backup or a wake up call. It also has nice warranty too! So, I recently have placed an order for a third unit for my wife. The first one arrived with the hinge stuck, which means the clock cannot be collapsed for travel. So, I returned it to Amazon.com. The replacement unit was electronically defective, after setting up the time, the clock advances for about 1 or 2 minutes and it stopped. Tried it again with a fresh battery. Same problem was noted. Apparently, there is no quality control in China whatsoever. It should be okay for me to say this, because I was born in China! It is a shame that the quality has gone down hill quickly with its initial successful introduction of this product.

Clock does not work. Replaced batteries... nothing. Poor quality product.
Would not recommend...Is beyond return window
Left our home in the trash

Setting it up fresh out of the box was easy. Setting time, date, 24-hr, etc. was intuitive. However, its main function as an alarm clock was a dismal failure. I could barely hear it arm's length away, set 2 mins in advance. The snooze function worked once or twice with each of 6 trial runs. My phone alarm snooze function responds for up to an hour. This clock is worthless to me - I'll send it back right away. Particularly disappointing as this technology has successfully been around for decades. My 20-year- old generic version is just now getting iffy with the snooze, yet is much better than this Marathon brand.

Not really a good product for the price I paid. There are better choices under $10. Unfortunately can not return because amazon charges return shipment cost.

Impossible to see from the bed because if you put the watch on a bedside table with the same hight with the bed , numbers fade... You must look at the watch from above.. Thus, it is very unuseful if you are going to use it by the bed.. Thanks.

This clock was great until it stopped working properly two months after purchase. It seems the lock position is defective. Unfortunately it was too late to return it

The clock I wanted (pictured) is NOT the clock I received. Just like Colette, who reviewed this product on June 10, 2017, I received a nice looking but difficult to set travel alarm, also made by Westclox (model 72028). I tried that clock but the alarm volume was much too low. I'd REALLY like to buy the clock pictured in the ad. I had one for many years and I really like it. It's very easy to set, the alarm volume is adequate, it keeps good time and the button battery lasts a long time.

The controls for setting the time and alarm time are not as pictured. The clock I received had different buttons, so setting the time and alarm were much more trouble to figure out. So, I returned the clock.

I purchased this travel clock right before I was leaving for a trip to China. It was so inadequate that I decided not to take it. The clock did not stand up as shown in the photo. Everytime I tried to do that, it collapsed. Also, the clock has black numbers on an almost charcoal colored screen and it is very difficult to read. The clock is very cheaply made and I thought the workmanship was totally shoddy. Although it didn't cost that much, I thought any amount of money would have been too much.

This product is either broken or just flat stinks. I bought it since I'm on a six month road trip and half the time the alarm clock is on the wrong side of the bed so I don't know what time it is. So I needed a clock that would light up. Well when I press the button to light it up in a dark room there is a little bit of light on either side of the display and absolutely zero where the numbers are. So I noticed there is a K-Mart across the street from my motel so I'll go buy a small $5 LED flashlight that I can use to shine on this worthless clock to find out what time it is. Normally if there are more than 10% 1 star reviews as compared to 5 stars I won't buy it. Well I should have listened to my inner self because there are almost 40% 1 star as compared to 5 star. So yep a real piece of junk and a waste of $10!

The "built in display lght" is useless - it shows a very dim bit of light at each end BUT in a pitch dark room one can not make out the display - I tossed it - not worthh returning - I bought it since I needed a illuminated display for when I wake up at night when I travel - tghis did not do the job - I guess that all they (the promotors) wanted was to be able to discribe the item as having a lit display. A" useless lit display" would have been more accurate.

I feel like I really didn't need much from this product. It seriously only had to keep the time, have an alarm, and be visible at night when the lights were off. I even checked the product description to make sure that it could manage that. And I was so sure that no one could screw up something that simple so badly (we have the technology!) that I didn't even really bother to read the reviews. How bad could it be? Maybe the people writing the few reviews about this have bad eyesight.But no! The designers of this silly little alarm clock were actually that incompetent! It's impossible to read the display in the dark with their stupid little side lights (and I'm 27 with great vision). Sometimes I try to imagine the person who thought about how it is useful to be able to read the time without turning the lights on and then came up with this as a solution, and I laugh. FAIL.Do not buy this product.I'm flabbergasted that something so useless could be made when it is so easy to have a display that lights up. I'm also heavily censoring the cursing; I'm outraged.