Best Smartwatches for Swimming: A Comprehensive Guide

Swimming is a popular form of exercise that offers numerous health benefits. Choosing the right smartwatch for your swimming activities can significantly enhance your experience, whether you're an avid swimmer or someone who enjoys occasional laps. This guide will explore some of the best smartwatches for swimming, detailing their features, pros, and cons.

Garmin Vivoactive HR

Garmin Vivoactive HR is a top choice for swimmers. It boasts a 5 ATM waterproof rating, ensuring it can withstand even the most vigorous swimming sessions. This smartwatch is equipped with a long-lasting battery, making it ideal for long-distance swims.

Key Features:

Waterproof Rating: 5 ATM, which means it is suitable for swimming, diving, and other water activities. Long Battery Life: The watch offers increased battery life, allowing you to swim without interruptions. GPS: Built-in GPS ensures accurate tracking of your swim sessions. Health and Fitness Monitoring: Tracks heart rate, calories burned, and sleep patterns.

TomTom Spark Cardio Music

For swimmers who want a watch that can play music, the TomTom Spark Cardio Music is an excellent option. It lacks a built-in music player, but it can connect to your phone to play music during your swim sessions.

Key Features:

Waterproof Rating: 5 ATM, making it suitable for various aquatic activities. Music Playback: Allows you to stream music from your phone without needing to bring your device. Built-in Sensors: Tracks critical health metrics and provides detailed swim analytics.

Garmin Forerunner 92T

Garmin Forerunner 92T is a versatile smartwatch that excels in swimming, biking, and running. It comes with a rugged band that enhances its functionality.

Key Features:

Waterproof Rating: Designed for open water and pool swimming. Rugged Band: Ensures the watch and band stay in place during vigorous activities. Extensive Metrics: Tracks open water swims, swim intervals, and more. Battery Life: Offers a long battery life, making it ideal for users who swim regularly.

Apple Watch Series 2

The Apple Watch Series 2 is a strong contender for swimmers. It is designed to be water-resistant, making it suitable for swimming and other water activities.

Key Features:

Water Resistance: The watch is water-resistant to 50 meters, suitable for swimming. Multifunctional: The Apple Watch can monitor heart rate, track workouts, and more. Comprehensive Swim Features: Offers detailed analytics and tracking for swim sessions.

User Testimonial

I have been using a Garmin Forerunner 92T and can confidently recommend it as one of the best options for swimming. This smartwatch tracks both open water and pool swimming, as well as biking and running.

With the right band, you can get a wealth of information not available in other watches I have examined. Additionally, it is incredibly durable. Despite my tendency to be extremely rough with watches, this one is still functioning after 15 months of use.

For those interested in swimming within an endless pool, the watch offers basic features, though it does not optimize for such specific scenarios. swimming at such a slow pace, the watch still provides valuable metrics.

Conclusion

The choice of the best smartwatch for swimming largely depends on your specific needs and preferences. Garmins are known for their reliability in water, Apple Watches offer multifunctionality, and TomTom offers music playback convenience. Choose the one that best fits your swimming routine and lifestyle.