How do you keep track of your workouts and the development of your performance? Swimming watches are one of the best tools to help you see how much progress you’ve made over time.
But with so many manufacturers vying for the attention of swimmers and swimming club members, which model should you choose? Despite having similar functions, it would be wrong to say they’re all the same.
Here are our top 6 swimming watches we’d recommend right now.
Garmin Swim 2
Garmin has become one of the top wearable developers and manufacturers across countless sports. Triathletes, runners, and other endurance athletes love the company’s products, and the Garmin Swim 2 makes it easy to see why it’s one of the leading products for swimmers.
The watch helps you count laps if you’re likely to lose track, and you can program different pool sizes. The watch recognises all four strokes, and if you enjoy a bit of entertainment alongside your workout, you’ll love its SWOLF scores which analyse your speed and stroke rate to help you become more efficient.
And these are only the swimming-specific benefits. The Garmin Swim 2 is also equipped with GPS, and it can log and track other sports. Plus, it’s light and comfortable to wear with long battery life.
Suunto 9
Suunto has been setting benchmarks for multi-sport GPS watches for years, so it should come as no surprise that the Suunto 9 has made our list. It’s packed with features you’ll love across many sports.
For swimming specifically, we think you’ll enjoy the different modes for pool-based and open-water training as well as being able to look at your heart rate during your workouts. The Suunto watch allows you to break down your swims by pool length, laps, stroke rate, and type. You will also be able to improve your efficiency, thanks to SWOLF scores. Automatic intervals and interval lap tables round out what this watch has to offer.
Polar Vantage V
The Polar Vantage V is another comfortable and convenient option for swimmers who love to track their progress in the pool or the open water.
This watch offers dedicated pool and open water swimming modes that recognize your stroke, measure your swimming efficiency, and track your heart rate from your wrist thanks to Polar Precision Prime sensor fusion technology. To get the most out of heart monitoring, remember to wear your swimming watch as snugly as you can to help the sensor record accurate measurements.
Fitbit Versa 2
If you’re not yet familiar with Fitbit watches, here is the main difference between them and other swimming watches: they measure not only your laps but your overall activity and even your sleep.
Plus, these watches can help you keep track of fitness classes, measure your oxygen saturation levels, and connect to hundreds of other fitness apps. If you’re looking for an all-around fitness watch, rather than a swimming-specific product, the Versa 2 is worth considering.
Apple Watch Series 6
Think of the Apple Watch Series 6 as your digital home on your wrist. You can send and receive messages, play your favourite songs – and track your swim training, too.
Stroke recognition, lap counts, and strokes per lap to measure efficiency are all part of the package with the native app. Because the watch senses when you stop, it also tracks any resting periods. If you’re looking to add more features, check out swimming-specific apps. Like other Apple products, the smartwatch is ready to download countless apps that should satisfy even the most discerning user.
Misfit Shine 2
Where the Fitbit and Apple watch options are trying to cover all bases as all-in-one smartwatches, the Misfit Shine 2 takes a different approach. This specialist swim watch features a clean, minimalistic design that has no LED display.
That means you can only see how your workout has gone once you sync your data to an Android or iOS app. That may sound like a disadvantage to some, but it’s really useful for those who get easily distracted. Plus, it makes this watch one of the smallest swim wearables on the market. Swim-specific features are one area where it packs a punch: stroke types and numbers, distance, and average time.
Plus, the Misfit Shine 2 can also track the calories you burn and your sleep quality. One thing it can’t do is measure your heart rate, but perhaps its size and sleek design make up for that.
If you found this article useful, check out our guide to the 6 must-have gadgets for professional swimmers.