A couple of days ago my 11-year-old daughter in Colorado texted me in Hawaii: “Did you take the yellow watch?!?!” Um, yes I packed the yellow watch because it’s mine – but I can understand why any middle-schooler would dig my colorful, flexible, rubber, thin, bracelet-like watch: because it’s cool.

RumbaTime introduced its vibrantly colored silicone watches in 2009, and recently updated the sleek timepiece (dubbed Original 2.0) with a light. Retailing at just $20, these water-resistant watches come in six different colors — including the coveted Lemon Drop at my house.

But RumbaTime also offers a bunch of other cool styles and colors, namely the college-themed watches, with Nebraska, Syracuse, Georgia Tech and dozens of other schools’ colors. Then there’s the sparkly Glitter line, the groovy Tie-Dye line and the colorful 3 Tone line. The name of each watch is clever and irreverent — like the green, red and white “Ciao Bella,” the pastel “Purple Haze” or the bright blue “Light Saber.”

In the best-selling skinny styles, sizes come in XS (for kids), S, M (most women) and L (some men); the M is actually just a little big on me (though it doesn’t slip off). I also have the wider Vandam style in black; this line comes in XS/S, S/M and M/L. I have the S/M, and it’s pretty snug to get on. Most RumbaTime watches slip over your had, but the Link line does detach with a metal closure.

I dig RumbaTime watches because they are so playful — and inexpensive. The Original style (no light) retails for just $14. Even with a light, the watches are just $20 apiece. Cheap enough where you could buy a couple in different colors or styles.

The flexible RumbaTime watches are super lightweight and water resistant. I’d wear a RumbaTime watch while sightseeing, hiking, kayaking, doing yoga… they’re definitely great for active lifestyles. Purchase from the RumbaTime website or online merchants like Amazon.com.