Cycle tracking and monitoring technology has grown incredibly in the last five years with GPS watches, shape-lock sensors, and power meters expanding the world of performance performance for us. , weekend warriors. Even amateur soccer is now supported with GPS monitors now available for casual gamers. For swimmers, however, the story is different. It took some time for people who like to hang out by the pool to feel as much love as their earth-loving compatriots. Brands like Fitbit, Apple and Samsung are using to modernize their sports watches and fitness trackers with new waterproof models and integrated swim tracking technology. Although there aren't many dedicated swim trackers yet, the best all-around fitness trackers now offer automatic stroke detection, accurate lap and distance tracking in the pool and open water, and some even offer fairly accurate heart rate monitoring in the pool. water. But the prices range from less than 100 USD / 100 GBP to more than 500 USD / 500 GBP. We test market leading products to find the best swim watch for every budget.
1.Apple Watch 5
The best iPhone smartwatch is perfect for swimmersCase Weight: 30,1 - 47,9g | Battery life: up to 18 hours | Sealing note: 5ATM Automatic Stroke Detection Easy multisport transitions Rated by swim tracking Best for casual swimmers. With each generation, the Apple Watch becomes a more serious fitness device. In addition to its updated heart rate abilities, the combination of Apple Watch 5 and watchOS 6 has improved the understanding of swimming. Designed for swimming in the pool and in open water like the Apple Watch 4, the Watch 5 features automatic shot detection, automatic sets, and detailed splits that you can filter to 25, 50, and 100 meters. the training app. You can also use third-party swim tracker apps if you think Apple's offering isn't enough for you. We appreciate the fact that it has a handy little feature to expel water from the speaker. Just turn the digital crown for brilliant sound. The addition of a permanent screen is also interesting to see. This is an excellent swimmer, but we think there are better options for the more serious swimmer who frequents the pool every day. Read the full Apple Watch 5 review.
2.Samsung Galaxy Watch
A bold new name with some new featuresBox Weight: 49-63g | Battery life: 3 to 4 days | Sealing note: 5ATM Impressive four day battery life. Great basic software Bixby exclusive wireless charger isn't great The Samsung Galaxy Watch is an excellent all-around fitness tracker and swimming is one of the activities you can track thanks to the fact that it's waterproof and has a 5 ATM rating. You can customize the information on the swim tracker screen, including your goal, the data you want to display while swimming, the length of the pool (default 25m), and the guidance frequency. Like many similar smartwatches, it disables touch sensitivity. You must use the side buttons to control it while swimming. And, just like the Apple Watch 4, you can press the button to wake up the touchscreen and a bit of your cheek to clean the speaker. Once you're done swimming, the data is pretty detailed, you can see your fastest duration, your duration, your calories, your pace, your heart rate and more, assuming you've set the correct pool length. This may not be as advanced as some trackers designed purely for swim tracking, but for casual swimmers, it's a solid choice. Read the full Samsung Galaxy Watch review.
3. Moov now
The best option for swimming-fitness on a budgetWeight: 6g | Battery life: 200 sessions | Seal note: 3ATM Cheap, very cheap Good autonomy Some accuracy issues No real-time performance feedback in the pool Like many other devices on this list, the Moov Now does more than keep an eye on your training sessions in the pool. As such, we'd describe it as a versatile fitness tracker capable of driving the sea, which would justify it as our best fitness tracker of 2017. This lightweight little tracker clips onto a soft, comfortable silicone strap that you wear on your wrist and It uses built-in sensors to track turns, distance, time, speed, swimming style, and number of shots. . We really loved the fact that Moov broke down our session data into individual sections where you can see how many shots you've fired, how long it took you, your turn times, what breaks you took, and what you took a dip in. With such attention to detail, the Moov Now is about to be one of the best products on the list. However, there are significant drawbacks. First, you need to start your session from your phone. In most cases, this means you have to do it in the changing rooms where you can leave your smartphone safe and dry in your locker. A bit boring and made worse by the lack of screens at the moment meaning you can't see what's going on when you swim. We often wonder if it was really a follow up. He also struggled a bit with precision, unleashing spin and counting shots for length. But then look at the price, for €50 / €60 / €79 and with a battery life that allows you to connect to over 200 workouts, you'll get your money's worth and if you're a casual swimmer as part of a regimen Broader exercises is hard to beat. Read the full Moov Now trial
4. Fitbit Versa 2
A light and happy smartwatch in the poolWeight: 38g | Battery life: more than 4 days | Sealing note: 5ATM Light weight Easy to understand tracking Too simple for passionate swimmers No GPS The Fitbit Versa 2 is packed with formatting features and allows you to track them in a very intuitive and easy way. Thanks to 5 ATM waterproofing, the Versa 2 can track your swim and displays measured lengths and meters according to the time spent. It accurately tracks your turns in a pool, identifies in real time when you have reached the other side, and begins your next turn. What really surprised us was that the Versa 2 was able to deliver clear and concise on-screen information thanks to its underwater display below the screen. Although the data collected during our swims isn't really detailed, it has provided enough data for casual swimmers and you can go further by opening the Fitbit app. Don't forget there's no GPS so you can't follow your route if you're swimming in open water. Read the full Fitbit Versa 2 test.
Garmin Forerunner 5
The most powerful multisport watch to dateWeight: 49g | Battery life: up to 24 hours in GPS mode | Seal Note: 5ATM An overview of advanced training. One-Button Triathlon Transitions Wanted Overspecified for Casual Swimmers Some of the other devices on this list cater to the needs of general athletes, but the Garmin Forerunner 935 is about as serious a multisport device as it gets. Like combining the features of a Fenix 5 with the looks of a Forerunner 635, this triathlon watch combines pool-specific intelligence and performance features that make it the perfect choice. For competitive athletes runners cyclists. The watch comes with built-in activity profiles for swimming in the pool and in open water. You can also create your own workouts or download sessions through Garmin Connect. You can also check your SWOLF score - AKA your swimming efficiency. You get your SWOLF score by adding your shots for length and the time it took you to finish the length. For example. A length of 25 m to 30 seconds for 20 hits corresponds to a SWOLF score of 50. The lower your SWOLF, the more effective you are. Because it is important? Well, for starters, it makes it easier for you to compare your swimming performance in different sized pools. In the water, Forerunner 935 automatically detects line type, as well as length, distance, pace, and number of strokes. There are also time and distance alerts, a convenient countdown start, advanced rest timers, and open water swim metrics. One of the things we really liked, mainly because other trackers didn't offer it, is the ability to enter exercises manually. This means you can also record all the hard work you're doing that isn't solely based on your stroke, such as typing exercises and one-arm exercises. However, we found that it didn't follow the arrival duration here and there. Once you've completed your sessions, the new Training Status feature helps you spot your overtraining by evaluating your recent drill history and performance indicators, which is great for tracking training, performance, and training. recovery. There's no wrist-based heart rate in the water, but you can pair the Forerunner 935 with an HRM-Tri or HRM-Swim heart rate monitor for additional information. You can also sync wireless data via your smartphone to Garmin Connect, and then to the Speedo On web platform for training tips for the competition, the community and Strava-like. Read hands on Garmin Forerunner 935 reviews
