timers
I've always found that the timer in most modern ADFs - if you've got one - is the best for flying holdings patterns or for timing from the final approach fix to the missed approach point...There are still plenty of basic NDB approaches around despite GPS. the advantage is that there is only one button to press - hit it and the timer resets to zero. I've ditched the fancy 4 way timer that I used to use - kept prssing the wrong button...
BTW, why do aircraft clocks never work? Is it a requirement of the C of A that the clock is bust?