Hangtimer measures thrill-seekers’ airtime

Snowboarders, mountain bikers and skateboarders used to compete by measuring their speed, distance and the difficulty of their maneuvers. Now, thanks to a Seattle-based start-up, X Games enthusiasts can also measure hang time. The Hangtimer, sold by DropZone, is a multifunction, water-resistant watch and accelerometer that straps to your pants and measures the time you spend off the ground, down to a hundredth of a second.

We asked some baggy-pants teens at a Culver City skate park to test the Hangtimer. The skateboarders began to argue over who got to use it next. We’ll take that as a resounding endorsement ($75, available at [800] 640-3892, www.hangtimer.com).