There is no doubt about it: swimming is one of the best health activities around. Of course, you have your swimming goggles, your special earplugs for swimming, your nose clip, swimsuit, and even, perhaps, some water shoes! But have you got something to actually help you in your workout effort? Well, these are some of the best waterproof fitness trackers for swimming around that do so much more than even the best heart rate monitor for swimming can do for you!
But first…
How do I Find the Best Waterproof Fitness Tracker?
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Well, there are many ways in which you can do so. You could go to a specialty sports shop, for example, the focuses on water-related sports. Or you could try going into jewelers – some do stock them. But your best option, in our opinion, is to go looking for you watch online. This gives you the chance to browse through a few and check up on each one’s pros and cons. Once informed, this gives you the chance to make an informed decision based on your specific needs. Once you have decided on what it is that you need from your waterproof fitness tracker specifically, you are able to choose the best swimming watch that caters to YOUR needs.
So, what about the professionals?
What Kind of Trackers do Swimmers Use?
Well, this depends on what type of swimming they do and what their needs are. For example, someone who is a short distance, pool swimmer, might want something that measures his laps, and that perhaps measures some of his training in the gym or even on the road, if he runs to keep in shape.
Someone who workouts for an Ironman competition, on the other hand, might want something more rugged, that takes into account the water conditions he trains in and the fact that not only does he swim and run, he cycles as well.
So ultimately, when choosing a tracker, the professionals have the same problems as the average Joe. It depends on their specific needs and types of workout.
What are the Benefits of Wearing a Fitness Tracker
The benefits vary between different trackers and their particular functions. But the basic benefits include:
- You can focus on your training while your fitness tracker automatically measures your heart rate for you, allowing you to keep track of your fitness levels
- You can train more effectively, but, at the same time, are warned when you start to overdo things
- It keeps you honest because a push of a button or a tap on the screen gives you all your workout information, including whether you have been cheating a little
- It measures your sleep and sleep patterns, so you know whether you have had a good night’s rest and if not, you can do something about it
- It also counts the calories you use during training
Tips to Care for Your Fitness Tracker
The better you take care of your fitness tracker, the longer it will last. The chemicals in pools, your sweat, and seawater, all have corrosive properties. So the first step to taking care of your fitness tracker is to clean it properly. This is easy to do.
- Use a damp cloth and mild soap to wipe away any sweat and dirt
- Do not use any household chemicals or body soap (including wipes) to clean it
- Make sure it is 100% dry before putting it back on
Take note, however. If you are someone prone to skin allergies, eczema, etc. and find that your fitness tracker is making the condition worse, please stop wearing it!
Best Waterproof Fitness Tracker Reviews
1. Apple Series Watch for iPhone
Apple has become synonymous with style. This fitness tracker is in keeping with the Apple tradition. Connecting to GPS satellites, this little fitness tracker can be used for just about every activity you can imagine. This is probably one of the most versatile and best waterproof fitness watches around.
- Built-in GPS
- Water resistant to depths of up to 50m
- Has an S2 dual-core processor
- Incorporates a watchOS3
- Product sports a heart rate sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, direct fire speaker, and a microphone
- Battery lasts up to eight hours
- Design incorporates a Wifi and Bluetooth
- Requires you to have one of the following phones: iPhone 5, 5c, 5s, SE, 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, 7, or 7 Plus and iOS 10 or later
- Does not connect to an iPod
2. Garmin vívoactive HR GPS Smart Watch
The Garmin is a great waterproof watch for swimming. It comes with a ton of different apps, measures your heart rate, has many different features, and what is more, tells the time! What more could the discerning buyer want?
- A high-resolution color touchscreen
- 24/7 heart rate monitoring
- Battery lasts for up to eight days without needing a recharge, and up to 13 hours if GPS is turned on
- The touchscreen features a number of smart notifications, including text, email, call, and social media alerts, amongst others
- You may not automatically reconnect via Bluetooth once back in range
- Heart rate is not available while swimming
- Needs a compatible smartphone
Currently unavailable.
3. Garmin Forerunner 935 – Tri Bundle
Probably one of the best waterproof activity trackers around, the Forerunner 935 may be considered one of the premium triathlon watches around. It has multisport features for various training options and has a long battery life of up to two weeks when not in GPS mode.
- A light watch sporting multisport features that can be worn all day
- Shows elevation changes due to a built-in barometer and altimeter
- Has an electronic compass
- Evaluates your training status
- Provides, besides the dynamics needed for running, cycling and swimming, ground contact time balance and length stride as well
- Battery life is up to two weeks when in watch mode, 24 hours when in GPS mode, and 50 hours when in UltraTrac mode
- Interchangeable bands give you a different style
- The watch is a little big
- Does not have a touchscreen feature
Currently unavailable.
4. Polar V800 GPS Sports Watch
Something sports enthusiasts, as well as professional athletes, will love! The Polar customizes your profile for different sports, giving you the data and guidance you need for that particular activity.
- You can customize your profile for each specific sporting activity
- The fitness tracker combines your training load with active data 24/7 for a true recovery status
- It includes a heart rate sensor
- The watch is compatible with Bluetooth
- You can sync the watch with the new Polar Flow web service in order to get access to an online training community
- The watch may be a little complicated to use
- The wristband may give some problems after a while
- Does not sync with other apps
Currently unavailable.
5. WithingsActivité Pop – Activity and Sleep Tracking Watch
If you are looking for a watch that actually, well, looks like a watch, yet that has those extra features you are looking for, the WithingsActivité Pop might be what you are looking for. A regular watch, just…better!
- As this watch uses a standard button cell that has an estimated 8-month battery life, no charging is necessary
- It monitors and analysis your sleep cycle
- Has a free health mate app included for real-time coaching
- It is a radiant watch that combines both time and activity tracking
- It automatically syncs with your iOS or Android smartphone
- It automatically detects and tracks whether you are walking or running
- It is water resistant for up to 50 meters
- All your data automatically uploads to your Health Mate app on your smartphone via Bluetooth
- Watch is easily customized
- The watch does not sync with any other health programs of your choice
- It does not track swimming
- There is no backlight
- The back of the watch is slightly rounded and does not sit flush with your skin
Currently unavailable.
6. WithingsActivité Sapphire – Activity and Sleep Tracking Watch
A Swiss-made watch, the Sapphire is elegant and classy. It looks and feels like a regular watch, except it has a number of added features that make is something ‘more’.
- This product was designed in Paris, France
- It is Swiss made
- It automatically syncs your data via Bluetooth on your iOS or Android device and includes your steps taken, distance walked or run, the calories you have burned, and your sleep length and quality
- A free Health Mate app is included
- The watch sports a stylish finish
- Automatic detection of your activities, including swimming, running, walking, or sleeping
- There is no need to charge this device as it is fitted with a standard button cell that provides up to eight months battery life
- It does not sync with a fitness app of your choice
- You may need to replace the leather strap with another for swimming purposes
Currently unavailable.
7. FINIS Swimsense Live Watch
A fitness tracker that is designed specifically for swimming, this waterproof tracker makes use of proprietary algorithms in order to give you extremely accurate swimming workout data. This is a great addition for anyone who focuses on swimming as their sport or for their workout.
- Data stored on this produce includes total laps swam, time intervals, the pace, the distance-per-stroke, the calories used, and your efficiency score
- Proprietary algorithms used in the stroke-specific data identifies and records all particulars for all four swimming stroked, i.e. freestyle, the butterfly, backstroke, and breaststroke
- The watch is designed to withstand continuous water immersion
- Up to 5 statistics are displayed in real-time
- Has a rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery that lasts up to seven hours
- This is a true swimming watch and is not suitable for other sport forms
- There is no GPS do it cannot track during open water swimming
Currently unavailable.
8. Nixon Mission Smartwatch
A watch that can withstand extreme conditions, the Nixon Mission Smartwatch is great for those who like surfing and other extreme sports.
- All this watch’s Android capabilities work when submerged in water
- A rugged build that is great for any terrain
- Powered by Android Wear and paired with Surfline, the watch gives you all sorts of weather conditions, including surfing reports
- Includes a preloaded app
- Has touchscreen abilities – even under wet conditions
- Is equipped with Bluetooth 4.1
- Includes a GPS, altimeter, barometer, gyrometer, thermometer, and e-compass
- Watch has a 512MB RAM/4GB Flash (ePOP)
- The charging nodes may corrode after a while due to heavy sweating
- The battery life is relatively short
Currently unavailable.
9. TomTom Spark Cardio
This watch is a great option for those who like listening to music while working out. Add to that the other great features offered by the TomTom Spark Cardio, and we are sold!
- The watch contains a GPS and Bluetooth Music Player
- It is waterproof and great for swimming
- It incorporates a heart rate monitor
- The multisport mode makes it a great option for those who mix up their training, e.g. swimming, running, biking, etc.
- The activity tracker measures time, distance, speed, pace, the calories burned, and your sleep
- The watch gives audio feedback on both your workout and performance
- It has a long-lasting battery and USB charging cable
- You can customize the strap as you see fit
- The watch is not sold with a variety of wrist straps
- Does not come with headphones
Currently unavailable.
10. Fitbit Flex 2
A thin strap and small design make this a great product for those who do not wish to walk around with a bulky strap. The added features, however, are similar to other products of its type on the market, so the Fitbit Flex 2 is not compromising on quality with thesleekness of design.
- Product comes with both a smaller and larger sized band
- The removable tracker can hide in a band, a bangle, or used as a pendant
- It is swim-proof and great for tracking swimming, whether in an ocean, pool, or river
- The SmartTrack feature automatically recognizes workouts and records them on the Fitbit app
- Call and text notifications are indicated by means of a vibration pattern and color-coded LED lights
- The sleep tracker tracks sleep duration and how well you slept
- Does not have a watch function
- It does not have the same functionality as other watches, but then, this one is in its own, lightweight, slim, unique class
Currently unavailable.
11. Garmin vívosmart HR+ Regular Fit Activity Tracker
The Garmin vivosmart HR not only keeps track of every step you take, but counts calories, the number of floors you climb and uses GPS satellites to track almost every activity.
- GPS integration means satellite tracking wherever you go
- The running metrics track distance, pace, your personal records, and includes features such as walk and run mode as well as a virtual pacer
- It monitors your heart rate 24/7
- It automatically tracks your walking, running, swimming, biking, and elliptical training
- The product combines a rugged, durable construction with a 5 ATM water rating
- It includes smart notifications for email, text, call, social media, and calendar alerts
- Features a touchscreen display
- Detailed calorie tracking can only be accomplished once connected to the MyFitnessPal app
- Screen may be difficult to read in certain light conditions
Currently unavailable.
12. LOLGFitness Tracker
Sporting not only a number of handy features and a great, sleek design, the LOLG fitness tracker is also waterproof for up to 30 meters. The extras not only make the life of any fitness enthusiast easier but gives a clear indication of your state of health and sleep quality as well.
- The list of basic functions include heart rate, distance, sleep, SMS reminding, call reminder, calorie burning, shows SMS content, shows incoming calls, has an APP message reminder, a sedentary reminder, and a sports target remind
- Supports 69 languages
- Fitness tracker has a number of sports modes, including swimming and running
- Product has a waterproof rating of IP68, meaning it works underwater of up to about 30 meters
- The app allows for connection to a smartphone via Bluetooth
- Only compatible with certain phones
Currently unavailable.
13. Polar A360 Fitness Tracker with Wrist Heart Rate Monitor
The customizable style is as easy as changing your wristband, with this particular fitness tracker. Paired with a touchscreen face, and colorful heart rate monitor, this fitness tracker is ready to go places and be seen.
- Reach fitness goals with the personalized training guidance provided by the heart rate monitor
- The activity tracker tracks workouts, steps, distance, calories, and sleep quality and activity 34 hours of each day
- Sports a bright, colorful touch screen and a vibrating notification system
- Shows inactivity alerts
- Product is waterproof
- The fitness tracker counts the calories burned while training
- Although interchangeable, each wristband is sold separately
Currently unavailable.
14. Misfit Wearables Shine Speedo Swim Plus Fitness Tracker
- Keeps track of your laps while swimming
- Waterproof up to 50 meters
- Does not need recharging as it has a basic watch battery that lasts for up to six months
- The Bluetooth effortlessly syncs with your phone
- The pale silver color of this fitness tracker is due to it being manufactured by using aircraft-grade aluminum
- Can be worn either as a watch or a clip
- Comes with two sports bands, a clasp, and an action clip
- It syncs with a variety of fitness apps like LoseIt!, Runkeeper, MapMyFitness, MyitnessPal, and IFTTT
- It is compatible with a number of devices, e.g. iPhone, iPod Touch 5th Gen and above, iPad (all running iOS 7 and above), Samsung Galaxy and the Google Nexus (Or other BLE ready Android devices running software 4.3 and above)
- You need to double tap the screen
- Only has daily and weekly views
Currently unavailable.
15. Moov Now – Stealth Black – 3D Fitness Tracker & Real Time Audio Coach
If you are someone that wants or needs an audio coach and who wants to have your movements analyzed, you might just want to consider the Move Now 3D Fitness Tracker. Gaming technology is now used as a means to perfect yourself in action.
- Sports a 6 months battery life
- Motion is tracked in 3D
- Your movement is analyzed so the tracker can coach you on your form and efficiency
- The watch offers, via the free MOOV app, free guided programs in different sports, including body weight training, running, swimming, cardio boxing, and cycling
- Has an automatic sleep tracking function
- Does not pick up a GPS signal if your phone is not with you
Currently unavailable.
16. Waterfi Waterproof Fitbit Alta
For those who are diving enthusiasts, this is a product worth checking out. But not only is the Fitbit Alta great in water, you can use it for any sweat-filled workout too!
- It is IPX8 compliant and go to depths as deep as 210 feet underwater
- Has an automatic step, exercise, type of exercise, calories, and quality of sleep tracker
- You can receive call, text, and calendar notifications automatically
- The rechargeable battery lasts for up to five days
- The inside of the fitness tracker is waterproofed on the inside by means of PlatinumX Waterproofing technology
- It offers real-time tracking with the press of a button or a double tap
- The Fitbit Dashboard allows you to see your personalized goals and stats
- You need to double tap the tracker’s face
- Only syncs with the Fitbit App for mobile of Fitbit Connect for Macs and PCs
Currently unavailable.
Conclusion
While a smart scale certainly plays an important role in your weight-loss or fitness efforts, a fitness tracker helps you go that extra mile, especially if you like to incorporate swimming and other exercise in your fitness routine. Taking a look at the different products reviewed by the team, picking the best waterproof fitness tracker was a difficult challenge. However, the final vote (by a small margin) went to the TomTom Spark Cardio. Besides having all the mod cons you could possibly want, it also allows you to listen to music while working out. Add to that the fact it is customizable to wear with any outfit, and you have won any girl’s heart!
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