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Best Swimming Watches Available Now – 2023

By Emma Morris. Updated: Jan 2, 2023

Swimming Watches

Lots of fitness watches claim to be suitable for swimmers, but very few live up to this claim. This is because some ‘swimming watches’ are vulnerable to water damage. Also, whilst most swimming watches can record open water swims, few can record lane swims.

Having said that, there are some great swimming watches out there. And, if you want to improve your performance, it’s worth investing in one. For more in-depth information of what makes a swimming watch different, read our guide.

Table of Contents

  • What are the benefits of swimming watches?
    • 1. Garmin Swim 2
    • 2. Apple Watch Ultra or 8
    • 3. Fitbit Charge 5
    • 4. Garmin Forerunner 55
    • 5. Coros Pace 2
    • 6. Amazfit GTS 4
    • 7. Samsung Gear Fit 2 (Pro)
    • 8. Garmin Forerunner 955
    • 9. Suunto Spartan Trainer Wrist HR
    • 10. Fitbit Charge 3/4 (previous gen to the 5)
    • 11. Xiaomi Mi Band 7/pRO
    • 12. Garmin Epix 2
    • Further reading
    • Choosing a swimming watch

What are the benefits of swimming watches?

Advantages and benefits of swimming watches
The Advantages of Swimming Watches

If you’re new to fitness tracking, you might be wondering what the point of a swimming watch is. Well, a good one can:

  • Track lengths – When swimming in a pool, it’s easy to lose count of how many lengths you’ve swum, so length tracking is handy.
  • Length-by-length data – The ability to differentiate lap data, for example, which lap you swam the fastest.
  • Technique monitoring – Some of the more sophisticated watches will analyze your swimming technique. It will tell you if your stroke rate is too fast, slow, or optimum.
  • Share your data – You can share and compare your fitness data with others. Swimming is a lone sport, so sharing your data can be motivational. It can also help you to build a supportive community.

So, whether you’re a doggy paddler or the next Michael Phelps, here are 4 swimming watches that will help you reach your goals.

1. Garmin Swim 2

Garmin Swim 2 and woman swimming
Garmin Swim

Specifically designed for swimming and open water activities, the Garmin Swim is an excellent choice. Track your swim with GPS and measure your heart rate, even underwater. It comes with all the usual activity tracking features of a Garmin watch and is fit for many other sports activities.

For the pool, it can record your distance, pace and stroke efficiency. It can also help with your swimming drills. The Garmin Swim 2 is designed for swimming and is lightweight, luminous and easy to work in the water. It could give you real-time pacing alerts while swimming. You can read our full review of the Garmin Swim 2 here.

Garmin Swimming
Garmin Swimming

GPS mode allows up to 13 hours combined with heart rate measuring. Otherwise, it could last for up to 72 hours in pool mode and 72 hours with standard mode.

Pros:

  • Designed for swimming
  • Lightweight – Only 36g
  • 5 ATM
  • Sunlight visible

Cons:

  • Slightly more expensive than other models at $249
  • Not necessarily a diving watch
  • No touch functions
Garmin Swim 2, GPS Swimming Smartwatch for Pool and Open Water, Underwater Heart Rate, Records...
Garmin Swim 2, GPS Swimming Smartwatch for Pool and Open Water, Underwater Heart Rate, Records...
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    2. Apple Watch Ultra or 8

    Apple Watch 7 outdoor with water
    The previous model 7 shown here.

    If you are worried about wearing your Apple Watch Ultra in the water then you are seriously missing out. This new Apple Watch Ultra is tested to 810-Mil standard and to a depth of 100m. It’s also got a water temperature sensor for when you swim or dive. The Apple Watch 8 is also a great watch for swimming and is a good choice depending on your sports and style. Whether you are surfing or playing water polo, or just open water swimming, the Apple Watch keeps track of it all.

    The Apple Watch 8 is already more durable than the 7. The Apple Watch Ultra was also made substantially more rugged than previous versions and the 8 as well. In any case, any water impact made during these water activities should not harm your Apple Watch watch.

    Pros :

    • Can track a number of popular water-based activites beyond just swimming.
    • Hardened shell and glass resistant to any impact from water activities.
    • Has additional features outside just swimming activites.

    Cons:

    • None for swimming, apart from the fact it’s not a dedicated swimming watch.

    Compare prices and choose your favorite merchant to buy the Apple Watch

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    3. Fitbit Charge 5

    Fitbit Charge 5 woman's hand
    Fitbit Charge 5

    The Fitbit Charge 5 is one of the more advanced Fitbit styles you can purchase. This is especially true when it comes to swimming features. With automatic detection, you can keep track of your swim lengths, distance, duration, and pace. You can also just use the exercise app which will keep track of all the mentioned as well.

    Fitbit Charge 5 Advanced Fitness & Health Tracker with Built-in GPS, Stress Management Tools,...
    Fitbit Charge 5 Advanced Fitness & Health Tracker with Built-in GPS, Stress Management Tools,...
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      The Fitbit Charge 5 however isn’t just what they can offer you during the workout. It’s what the stats show after the workout. Seeing how swimming affects your blood oxygen levels is interesting and with the Fitbit Charge 5, you can do this.

      Pros :

      • A sleek design offering important swimming statistics from workouts.
      • Offers other advanced insights into health that are a result of your workouts.

      Cons:

      • Battery level lasts for roughly 7 days which is shorter than some other options.

      4. Garmin Forerunner 55

      Garmin Forerunner 55, GPS Running Watch with Daily Suggested Workouts, Up to 2 weeks of Battery...
      Garmin Forerunner 55, GPS Running Watch with Daily Suggested Workouts, Up to 2 weeks of Battery...
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        Not many will talk about the Garmin Forerunner 55 in terms of swimming because the watch is dominantly known to be a no-frills runner’s watch. While that remains true, it is also a no-frills swimming watch. Now the no thrills thing isn’t bad cause it’s functionally is perfect.

        With a water resistance of up to 5ATM, there is no need to worry about the watch getting soggy. It also tracks your swims covering the absolute very basics. It’s skinny on the wrist making it easy to wear when taking on those water workouts.

        Pros :

        • Dedicated profiles to track running, cycling, and swimming making it the ultimate iron man watch.
        • No overwhleming features. Easy-to-use watch.

        Cons:

        • No touch screen.

        5. Coros Pace 2

        Fitbit Charge 5 Advanced Fitness & Health Tracker with Built-in GPS, Stress Management Tools,...
        Fitbit Charge 5 Advanced Fitness & Health Tracker with Built-in GPS, Stress Management Tools,...
          Check Amazon Price

          Coros Pace 2 is a slightly less popular household name but those who use their gear love it. With GPS and aquatic activities mode, you can smoothly track your open water swims without issue. Something that Coros Pace 2 does particularly well is keeping consistent tracking so you can stay up-to-date as you go.

          This watch in particular can be useful for competitive swimming where the seconds and distance updates really do make a difference. An upside to the style is that it actually looks like a watch so it’s good to wear out anytime.

          Pros :

          • Affordable watch with great precision tracking in terms of water sports.
          • Can be used for other sports as well such as running.

          Cons:

          • Recovery and stamina scores have slight deviations making them a little less accurate.

          6. Amazfit GTS 4

          Amazfit GTS Fitness Smartwatch with Heart Rate Monitor, 14-Day Battery Life, Music Control,...
          Amazfit GTS Fitness Smartwatch with Heart Rate Monitor, 14-Day Battery Life, Music Control,...
            Check Amazon Price

            Saving one of the best for last is the Amazfit GTS 4. With its fantastic heart rate monitoring capabilities above water, you can now take advantage of them below water too. The BioTracker was made to give you important data like Blood Oxygen Levels, heart rate, stress levels, and more. The new GTS 4 also offers fall detection and dual-band GPS positioning. There’s also a mini version for smaller wrists.

            Not only that but the display has Ultra HD brightness making it easy to see underwater as well as extreme lightness so you aren’t weighed down during any of your workouts. This is the overall choice for someone who wants to take advantage of recovery stats to work out harder and smarter in the water.

            Amazfit GTS 4 Smart Watch for Men, Dual-Band GPS, Alexa Built-in, Bluetooth Calls, 150+ Sports...
            Amazfit GTS 4 Smart Watch for Men, Dual-Band GPS, Alexa Built-in, Bluetooth Calls, 150+ Sports...
              Check Amazon Price

              Pros :

              • 15-day battery life (normal use) making it more convenient to use.
              • Power saver mode will last up to 45 days.
              • Large display at -1.75″ AMOLED (great underwater)
              • Ultra bright and light making it easy to see and easy to wear.

              Cons:

              • Less swim measurements compared to some of the other specified watches.

              7. Samsung Gear Fit 2 (Pro)

              This is a versatile fitness tracker that is great for measuring swims. It is reliably water-resistant so there’s little chance of water damage (as long as you stick to surface swimming).

              This watch can track lane swims as well as open water swims. It’s also compatible with many Swim Apps that offer training plans, community support and swimming tips! One of the best things is that you can see your data in real-time (i.e. laps swam), which can be really motivating.

              Pros:

              • Water-resistant up to 50 meters (though it is marketed for surface swimming and light snorkelling only)
              • Smartphone notifications
              • Built-in GPS – so great for Triathlons
              • Slim and discreet design
              • 4gb storage for music

              Cons:

              • Battery life is 1-2 days – some comparable devices last up to 5 days.
              • It struggles to detect stair climbing (may not be an issue if you are only using it for swimming)

              8. Garmin Forerunner 955

              Forerunner 955
              Garmin Forerunner 955

              The Garmin Forerunner 955 is an activity tracker that does it all. Though not specifically a swimming watch, many people prefer it to the Garmin Swim watch because it can do so much more. For example, it can track running, walking, hiking, and swimming, to name but a few sports.

              If you enjoy open swimming, you’ll really appreciate this watch because the in-built GPS and compass are useful for navigation.  

              Like many other swimming watches, it struggles to capture your heart rate whilst swimming. However, you can purchase a Garmin accessory which will accurately measure your heart rate whilst swimming.

              Pros:

              • It’s a multisport activity tracker
              • Water-resistant up to 5ATM (not for scuba diving)
              • It provides advanced output data for swimming, running, and cycling – great for triathletes!

              Cons :

              • There may be some accuracy issues when measuring pool lengths – though these issues seem to have been resolved.
              • A masculine design so probably not the best fitness tracker for women
              • A bit expensive
              Garmin Forerunner 945 LTE, Premium GPS Running/Triathlon Smartwatch with LTE Connectivity,...
              Garmin Forerunner 945 LTE, Premium GPS Running/Triathlon Smartwatch with LTE Connectivity,...
                Check Amazon Price

                9. Suunto Spartan Trainer Wrist HR

                Suunto Spartan Trainer Wrist HR with swimming pool on the background
                Suunto Spartan Trainer Wrist HR

                Suunto Sport Wrist HR Baro Stealth Watch
                Suunto Sport Wrist HR Baro Stealth Watch
                  Check Amazon Price

                  Suunto devices are extremely accurate fitness trackers targeted towards athletes. If you’re a serious swimmer, check out the Suunto Spartan Trainer.

                  This device is excellent for tracking swims, cycles, runs, hikes, etc. It’s very lightweight, so it won’t slow you down. It’s argued that the design is a little masculine but this purely down to taste. It is also resistant to 100 meters, which is unique for a swimming watch! You can read our full review of the Suunto Spartan here.

                  Pros :

                  • Precision is second to none
                  • Inbuilt GPS so it can track a variety of activities
                  • Good for pool and open water swimming
                  • Extremely lightweight so it won’t get in the way of your front crawl

                  Cons :

                  • 10 hours of battery life when in training mode. If battery life is your priority, choose the Fitbit Charge 3 instead.
                  Product
                  Garmin Swim 2, GPS Swimming Smartwatch for Pool and Open Water, Underwater Heart Rate, Records...
                  SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch 3 (41mm, GPS, Bluetooth, Unlocked LTE) Smart Watch with Advanced Health...
                  Fitbit Charge 4 Fitness and Activity Tracker with Built-in GPS, Heart Rate, Sleep & Swim...
                  Samsung Gear Fit2 Smartwatch Large, Black
                  Title
                  Garmin Swim 2, GPS Swimming Smartwatch for Pool and Open Water, Underwater Heart Rate, Records...
                  SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch 3 (41mm, GPS, Bluetooth, Unlocked LTE) Smart Watch with Advanced Health...
                  Fitbit Charge 4 Fitness and Activity Tracker with Built-in GPS, Heart Rate, Sleep & Swim...
                  Samsung Gear Fit2 Smartwatch Large, Black
                  Real Time Tracking
                  Ratings
                  More Price Details
                  Check Amazon Price
                  Check Amazon Price
                  Check Amazon Price
                  Check Amazon Price
                  Product
                  Garmin Swim 2, GPS Swimming Smartwatch for Pool and Open Water, Underwater Heart Rate, Records...
                  Title
                  Garmin Swim 2, GPS Swimming Smartwatch for Pool and Open Water, Underwater Heart Rate, Records...
                  Real Time Tracking
                  Ratings
                  More Price Details
                  Check Amazon Price
                  Product
                  SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch 3 (41mm, GPS, Bluetooth, Unlocked LTE) Smart Watch with Advanced Health...
                  Title
                  SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch 3 (41mm, GPS, Bluetooth, Unlocked LTE) Smart Watch with Advanced Health...
                  Real Time Tracking
                  Ratings
                  More Price Details
                  Check Amazon Price
                  Product
                  Fitbit Charge 4 Fitness and Activity Tracker with Built-in GPS, Heart Rate, Sleep & Swim...
                  Title
                  Fitbit Charge 4 Fitness and Activity Tracker with Built-in GPS, Heart Rate, Sleep & Swim...
                  Real Time Tracking
                  Ratings
                  More Price Details
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                  Product
                  Samsung Gear Fit2 Smartwatch Large, Black
                  Title
                  Samsung Gear Fit2 Smartwatch Large, Black
                  Real Time Tracking
                  Ratings
                  More Price Details
                  Check Amazon Price

                  10. Fitbit Charge 3/4 (previous gen to the 5)

                  fitbit charge 3
                  Fitbit Charge 3

                  If you’re looking for a swimming watch from the Fitbit range, the Charge 3 or the newer Charge 4 could be the one. This is a great watch that can track all sorts of swimming data.

                  The only downside to the Charge 3 is that it doesn’t show your data in real-time. You’ll have to dry off before you can see how many lengths you’ve swum. If you can live without this feature, the 3 is great value for money. The Charge 4 does offer real-time tracking and has GPS.

                  Pros :

                  • It’s very affordable, especially compared to other swimming watches
                  • It’s a multisport activity tracker (though not as sophisticated as the Garmin Forerunner 945)
                  • Offers detailed swim technique insights via the Fitbit App
                  • 7+ days battery life
                  • Slim design

                  Cons:

                  • It’s not an open water swimming watch
                  • It doesn’t offer real-time updates, which is disappointing to some

                  11. Xiaomi Mi Band 7/pRO

                  Despite being an inexpensive fitness tracker, Xiaomi provides the option to measure time spent in the pool as part of its capabilities. Compared to the Mi Band 5, the AMOLED display on the Mi Band 7 is the most noticeable upgrade. This means that you can now check your real-time metrics at a glance. For those wishing to have a bigger screen and built-in GPS – have a look at the Xiaomi Smart Band 7 Pro.

                  Xiaomi Band 7 Pro Smartwatch with GPS(Global Version), Health & Fitness Activity Tracker...
                  Xiaomi Band 7 Pro Smartwatch with GPS(Global Version), Health & Fitness Activity Tracker...
                    Check Amazon Price

                    In the water, the band can withstand a depth of up to 50 metres thanks to its 5ATM water resistance certification, and the touchscreen colour display indicates time, distance travelled, and an estimated number of calories burned.

                    Xiaomi Mi Smart band 7 pro
                    Xiaomi Mi Smart band 7 pro

                    The Xiaomi Mi Fit companion app has extra information on stroke type, SWOLF, and average strokes per minute if you want to go further into your performance. You can see the average pace and stroke rate from the pool session in simple graphs.

                    Both short and long pool swims have high levels of precision, which is critical. The Mi Band 7 is an excellent indoor swimming partner if you don’t want to spend a lot of money.

                    Pros:

                    • Crystal-clear visuals
                    • In-pool swim tracking that is accurate
                    • Strava is supported
                    • The 5ATM grade indicates that it is watertight
                    • 14 days of battery life (standard mode)

                    Cons:

                    • For displaying info on a small screen
                    • Pool swim tracking only

                    12. Garmin Epix 2

                    It’s possible to get a less expensive Garmin watch that monitors open-water and pool swims, but the Epix 2‘s combination of multisport Fenix capabilities and a gorgeous colour touchscreen is a great treat.

                    Swimming sessions may be set up and monitored using the watch’s swim-tracking capabilities that measure distance, pace, and stroke count. Even if you only peek at the screen, you’ll be able to see your numbers clearly.

                    If you want to get a more precise measurement of your heart rate while swimming, you may use Garmin’s HRM-Swim chest strap monitor or HRM-Pro to link with the Epix 2.

                    It’s possible to share your data with a variety of other applications, like Strava and TrainingPeaks, using Garmin’s Connect app. Garmin’s Connect IQ store offers a variety of other swim-tracking apps that you can download to your watch and customise with additional data fields.

                    Additionally, it has a design that is comfortable to wear both in and out of the pool. If you’re willing to spend the money, a wonderful Garmin watch for swimming and other activities is available.

                    Pros:

                    • Beautiful design
                    • Bright display
                    • Long battery life
                    • Several tracking functions

                    Cons:

                    • Expensive
                    • Less smartwatch functionality than Apple or Samsung
                    • Only available in one size

                    Further reading

                    We wrote in depth reviews on the Charge 3 and Charge 4.

                    Check out the Fitbit Versa 3 as a smart alternative.

                    Read our comprehensive guide for a range of waterproof watch options from Fitbit.

                    Fitbit Charge 4 Fitness and Activity Tracker with Built-in GPS, Heart Rate, Sleep & Swim...
                    Fitbit Charge 4 Fitness and Activity Tracker with Built-in GPS, Heart Rate, Sleep & Swim...
                      Check Amazon Price

                      Choosing a swimming watch

                      So, there you have four of the best swimming watches for 2022. On balance, the Fitbit Charge 4 is probably the favourite. Not only does it offer great value for money, but it also encourages you to focus and improve. The Suunto Spartan Trainer is precise and the Garmin Swim 2 is an excellent choice for the pros.

                      As always, know what features you are looking for before you make a purchase. To help you decide, you could read our guide on how to find a great watch for swimming and a few more swimming watch alternatives.

                      Although the swimming watches mentioned in this article are water-resistant, they are not waterproof. None of these would be suitable for diving. If you want a watch that’s suitable for swimming and diving, look for a dedicated scuba diving watch instead.

                      Last Updated on January 2, 2023

                      Emma Morris
                      Emma Morris( Editor and Social Media Manager )

                      Emma brings over a decade of freelance copy and content writing experience and is our Editor, Social Media Manager, and regular contributor. Specializing in long-form content such as blogs, articles, lead magnets, and white papers, Emma also provides businesses with email marketing, website copy, and landing pages.

                      Notice: Qualifying purchases through links may support us with commission. Read our editorial policy.
                      January 2, 2023 By Emma Morris Filed Under: Buying Guides, Fitness & Sports Watches, Swimming

                      You are here: Superwatches > Buying Guides > Best Swimming Watches Available Now – 2023

                      Reader Interactions

                      Comments

                      1. Christiano Ribeiro says

                        March 31, 2020 at 7:55 pm

                        Are you sure that Samsung Gear Fit 2 Pro does track openwater swiming? I have got this device and it’s GPS does not work in swiming mode, in order to track openwater swiming.

                      2. Pete Coppel says

                        July 10, 2020 at 6:09 pm

                        I spoke with Fitbit support and they stated the Charge 4 DOES track laps in real time, while the Charge 3 does not.

                      3. Emma says

                        October 23, 2020 at 12:55 pm

                        I am an open water swimmer and have a fitbit versa 2 which does not do what it says it does and keeps failing. Fed up i have decided to give to my daughter and get myself a garmin forerunner, even though I prefer the look of the fitbit.

                        • Emma Morris says

                          October 27, 2020 at 1:06 pm

                          Hi Emma, that’s unfortunate. Maybe contact Fitbit as it may be an issue with that particular watch rather than the model. However, the Garmin Forerunner is an excellent choice of watch for tracking

                      4. Neil Cullum says

                        November 19, 2020 at 11:17 am

                        Samsung no longer supports speedo on their gearfit pro 2 so watch basically useless for swimming now

                        • Emma Morris says

                          November 19, 2020 at 11:34 am

                          Hi Neil, thank you for your comment. There certainly seems to be a lot of issues with the Speedo On app in general at the moment. We will add a note in this article to make people aware of the changes.

                          We hope you enjoy our content, please be sure to follow us on social media for our latest updates.

                          Many thanks

                      5. To bby says

                        November 29, 2020 at 12:19 am

                        Fitbit Charge 4 is for swimming but the GPS does not work for open water swimming. Only tracks laps for pool swimming. Only found this out when I went to set up for swimming. Took it back and got a refund. Really misleading.

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