Chip timing and instant results
Reliable RFID chip timing with fast, accurate results for events of any size, run by a crew that has stood on the start line.
Recognised bodies our race timing system has supported
Barefoot chip timing uses RFID tags and timing mats to record every participant automatically, from the start to the finish and every split in between, and pushes results live. It’s proven at events up to 50,000 participants, with reusable-tag options that cut single-use waste.
Built by event organisers.
Trusted by race directors.
450+
Events delivered every year across Australia and New Zealand
50,000
Participants supported at a single event
75+
years
Combined event experience
2
countries
Australian and New Zealand owned, operated and on the ground
The chip-timing reality — how these events are really timed
Chip timing sounds simple, a tag and a mat, but reliability in real conditions is where timers are made or broken. Big fields cross a mat in a tight bunch, sprint finishes put two runners on the line at once, weather and metal interfere with reads, and a single missed read is a runner with no result and an angry email. The other quiet decision is tags: disposable chips are cheap to hand out but pile up as cost and waste event after event, while reusable tags cost less over time and cut landfill. Good chip timing is really about read reliability under pressure and a sensible tag choice.
Why our timing system works
for chip timing
Close finishes, called right
Reliable reads in real race conditions, including big fields and close finishes, on European-engineered hardware.
Less cost, less waste
Reusable-tag options that cut the ongoing cost and waste of single-use chips.
Results in real time
Instant, accurate results and splits, live for athletes and spectators.
Clean data, no re-keying
Clean data because chip reads flow straight from registration, with no re-keying.
Who it’s for?
Organisers who want professional, automated timing rather than manual stopwatches and spreadsheets.
Events of any size, from a local fun run to a 50,000-person race.
Organisers weighing reusable against disposable tags who want the cost and waste explained plainly.
Features
Reliable reads under pressure
RFID timing built to hold up in real conditions, from bunched mass finishes to close sprints, so no runner is left without a result.
Reusable or disposable tags
Choose reusable tags that cut cost and waste over time, or disposable chips where they suit, with the trade-off explained honestly.
Instant results and splits
Automated finish times and splits, live for athletes and spectators, with no manual entry.
Clean data, one system
Chip reads flow straight from your entries, so results tie to the right runner with nothing re-keyed.
Registration and timing, connected
Run chip timing on its own, or take entries with Barefoot too so reads tie to the right runner automatically, with nothing re-keyed. Connect it to Race Registration Software whenever you want.
Instant, shareable results — and sponsor space
The moment a runner crosses, they get an instant result they can share, and your results pages become prime space for sponsor branding. Timing that gives athletes the finish they want and gives you something to sell a partner.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How does chip timing work?
Each participant carries an RFID tag that’s read automatically as they cross a timing mat, recording their time at the start, finish and any splits, with results pushed live.
Reusable or disposable tags, which is better?
Each participant carries an RFID tag that’s read automatically as they cross a timing a
Reusable tags cost less over time and cut waste; disposable chips suit some events. Barefoot offers both and will explain the trade-off for your event.
mat, recording their time at the start, finish and any splits, with results pushed live.
Is chip timing accurate at a close finish?
Yes. The hardware is built to handle bunched finishes and close sprints reliably.
Does it connect to registration?
Yes. Chip reads flow straight from your entry data, so results match the right runner with no re-keying.
Does a small event actually need chip timing?
Not always. A small event with a single mass start, no age-group awards and no split times can be timed accurately by hand or with a timing app. Chip timing earns its place once you add wave or staggered starts, age-group prizes, split times, or a finish rate too fast for volunteers to record by hand. It also removes the manual results work that keeps organisers at the finish long after the last participant.
Is it cheaper to hire a timer, rent a system or time the event yourself?
It depends on how often you run events. Hiring a timing contractor costs least upfront and suits one-off events. Renting a system removes crew travel and accommodation, which Race Directors HQ notes is a large share of a timer’s fee, so it is worth costing for remote sites. Running your own system costs most upfront but least per event, so it pays back for organisers running several events a season.
Should you use reusable or disposable timing chips?
Disposable chips suit dry, high-volume events like road runs and fun runs. They cost little per unit, attach to the back of the bib and need no collecting at the finish. Reusable ankle tags cost more per tag but become a fixed cost rather than a recurring one, and they handle water, mud and multisport formats. The trade-off is collection: reusable tags have to come back, and replacing lost ones costs money.
Can chip timing work on a course with no mobile coverage?
Yes, with one caveat. Timing units record and store passes locally, so a chip read at a remote checkpoint is captured whether or not there is coverage. What needs a signal is sending that data live. Without 4G or satellite, results and tracking update when the unit reconnects. UTMB describes its own tracking as relying on checkpoints and the chip rather than continuous GPS. Place checkpoints around known coverage if live tracking matters to you.
Can chip timing handle waves, heats and indoor events?
Yes. Chip timing is what makes wave and staggered starts workable, because each participant’s clock starts when they cross the start line rather than when the gun fires. Welsh Athletics guidance for race directors notes this is exactly why wave and pulse start formats are possible. For indoor formats such as Hyrox-style fitness racing, participants wear an ankle tag and the system records splits at each run leg and station across every heat.
Let’s make your next event your easiest yet.
Work with people who get the pace, pressure, and precision of endurance events and build platforms that match it.