If you're hunting for the freelap timing system price, you've probably realized it isn't just one flat fee, but rather a range that scales based on how many athletes you're tracking and how much data you actually need. For most individual athletes looking to step up their game, you're looking at a starting point somewhere around $500, while a full coaching setup for a high school track team can easily climb toward $2,000 or more.
It's a chunk of change, no doubt, but in the world of professional sports timing, it's actually considered the "affordable" option. If you've ever looked into old-school laser gate systems, you know those things can bankrupt a small gym. Freelap takes a different approach by using electromagnetic fields, which keeps the hardware simpler and the costs more manageable.
What are you actually paying for?
When you look at the freelap timing system price, you have to break it down into the individual components because, unlike a pair of shoes, you can't just buy "one" Freelap. You're building a kit.
The heart of the system is the FxChip BLE. This is the little transponder the athlete wears on their waistband. It's the brain of the operation. Then you have the transmitters—those yellow cones you see on the track—which are usually the Tx Junior or Tx Touch models.
The reason the price fluctuates so much is that the system is modular. You might start with two transmitters (a start and a finish) and one chip. But then you decide you want to measure fly-10s or 30-meter splits. Suddenly, you're adding a third or fourth transmitter, and the price jumps.
The FxChip BLE cost
This little guy usually retails for around $180 to $200. It's the most important piece because it talks directly to your phone via Bluetooth. If you're a coach with twenty kids, you can see how this adds up quickly. However, the beauty of Freelap is that you don't need twenty chips if you're timing athletes one by one. One chip can serve a whole line of sprinters as long as they pass it off.
Transmitter costs
The Tx Junior Pro transmitters are usually around $160 to $180 each. For a basic sprint setup, you need at least two. If you're doing block starts, you might want the Tx Touch, which is a different kind of trigger that starts the clock when the athlete lifts their finger. That one usually sits in the same price bracket.
Comparing the starter kits
If you're feeling a bit overwhelmed by the individual part prices, most people just go for a pre-packaged kit. It's usually a bit cheaper than buying everything piece by piece, and it ensures you have exactly what you need to get running right out of the box.
The Individual Athlete Kit
For a lone wolf training for the 100m or a combine, the "Freelap BLE 112" is the standard. It usually includes two Tx Junior transmitters and one FxChip. You can expect the freelap timing system price for this bundle to be around $550 to $600. This is the sweet spot for most parents buying for their kids or collegiate athletes training solo during the off-season.
The Pro Coach Bundles
Once you get into team territory, the kits get beefier. You'll see "Coach" bundles that include four or more transmitters and multiple chips. These kits are designed to time splits (like the 0-20m, 20-40m, and 40-60m) all in one go. These packages typically start at $1,200 and can go up to $3,000 if you're trying to outfit an entire football team.
Why it's cheaper than laser gates
You might be wondering why anyone would pay $600 for this when a stopwatch is $15. Well, hand timing is notoriously inaccurate—usually off by 0.2 to 0.25 seconds. That's the difference between an average athlete and a D1 prospect.
But why is the freelap timing system price so much lower than something like a Brower or a Witty system? Those systems use "eyes" (photocells) that send a beam of light across the track. When the athlete breaks the beam, the clock stops.
Those laser systems are incredibly accurate, but they're a massive pain to set up. You have to align the tripods perfectly, and if the wind blows one over, you're done. Freelap uses "gates" that are essentially invisible bubbles of magnetism. As long as the athlete flies through the "bubble," the chip records the time. Because there are no lasers to align, the hardware is cheaper to manufacture and much faster to set up.
Hidden costs and maintenance
One thing people often forget when looking at the freelap timing system price is the stuff that doesn't cost money. For example, the MyLap app is free. A lot of high-end timing companies are moving toward a subscription model where you pay $20 a month just to use the software. Freelap hasn't gone down that road yet, which is a huge relief for anyone on a budget.
There are, however, some small recurring costs: * Batteries: Most Freelap components use CR2032 or lithium batteries. They last a long time (usually a season or two), but they do need replacing. * Replacement Straps: The chips attach with a little plastic clip or a waist belt. These can get lost or snapped in a gym bag, but they're cheap to replace. * Tripods (Optional): While you can just set the transmitters on the ground, many people buy small tripods to get them to waist height. That's another $50 or so if you buy a decent set.
Is the price worth the investment?
Honestly, it depends on how serious you are. If you're a hobbyist who runs for fun on the weekends, $600 is a lot of money. But if you're a coach, the freelap timing system price is an investment in your sanity.
Think about it: instead of standing at the finish line with a thumb on a button, trying to catch five different kids at once, you can just sit back with your iPad and watch the times roll in automatically. It turns a chaotic practice into a data-driven session.
For athletes, it's about psychological motivation. There's something about seeing a "real" number on a screen that makes you run harder than a coach just yelling "Fast!" from the sidelines. That "Auto-timing" effect often leads to better PRs because the athlete knows they can't hide from the clock.
Where to find the best deals
You won't often find Freelap on sale at big-box retailers. It's a niche product. Your best bet is to look at specialized athletic distributors. Sometimes you can find "refurbished" units or older versions of the chips (the ones that don't have BLE and require a separate "Relay" device), but I'd generally advise against that. The Bluetooth (BLE) version is much more user-friendly because it sends the data straight to your phone.
If the freelap timing system price still feels a bit steep, keep an eye on coaching clinics or track and field expos. Often, vendors will offer a "show special" where they knock 10% off the bundles.
Final thoughts on the cost
At the end of the day, you're paying for convenience and accuracy. The freelap timing system price reflects a product that has essentially cornered the market for "portable, easy, and accurate" timing. It's not the cheapest tool in the shed, but it's definitely the one that gets used the most because it takes about two minutes to set up.
If you're tired of guessing how fast your 10-yard fly is, or if you're a coach tired of squinting at a stopwatch, the investment usually pays for itself in the quality of training you get. It's one of those rare pieces of gear where, once you use it, you wonder how you ever managed to train without it.