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swimming watches

Swimming Watches – What Are They Really?

Swimming watches

The term ‘water-resistant’ is seen as standard on most smartwatches today so what makes the difference with swimming watches? It’s a useful feature that protects the tech that lies within watches, but there’s actually more to this function than you might realise.  

What does ‘waterproof’ actually mean?

No watch is 100% waterproof. There is a limit to the amount of water pressure any watch can handle and while the word might suggest that it won’t take in water under any circumstance, this isn’t the case. A water-resistant watch may simply resist a shower, or be suitable for deep diving – you need to know which before getting it wet.

If you’ve invested in an expensive multisport watch, for example, it’s important to get it tested annually. The rating only applies to it when you get it out of the box. Don’t expect it to offer the same thing five years later.

How is it measured?

Watches are rated by ATMs or atmospheres. 1ATM is about 10m. 

Should I get a diving watch if I’m a swimmer?

Divers watches can stand very deep depths – up to 200m in some cases. They have few openings to limit vulnerability to water ingress. If your interests extend to scuba diving, surfing, boating or anything of that ilk, you’re advised to get a diving watch.

If you’re a triathlete, however, there are multisport watches that will suit you better, offering accurate performance data and fitness tracking. 

testing swimming watches

Testing a watch for swimming

If the advert boasts that the watch is water-resistant to 30m it doesn’t mean you can dive 30m with it on, as many times as you like, and expect the watch to keep working. It’s the biggest misconception. 

During testing, in a lab, the watch will undergo a pressure test that mimics water pressure, which is actually done under only 10cm of water, over the course of 60 minutes. The ATM measurement is given following this test.

The key thing to remember is that this test is done in still water. In real-life situations, water is not static. Imagine a wave coming at you, a hose being sprayed, or the impact of you diving into a pool; this will change the water pressure instantly.

Understanding the ratings

There is a range of classifications for watches that can be used in water – here’s a quick guide:

  • If there’s nothing stated at all about water resistance, you shouldn’t get it wet at all.
  • Water-resistant means you can splash it, but not submerge it.
  • 30m – This can withstand rain and hand-washing type splashes but you shouldn’t wear it during lengthy swimming sessions or diving.
  • 50m – Some swimming and water sports on the surface, rather than under it. Still not good for diving.
  • 100m – Can be used underwater. Good for swimming and diving and most water sports.
  • 200m – Pretty much anything except for really deep water dives.
Swimming Watches

What should I buy?

Swimming-dedicated trackers range from budget models ideal for casual swimmers who are interested in lap times, up to complex analytical data gathering multisport watches for triathletes. The right watch for you depends on exactly what you need from it.

Summary

Swimming trackers have been trending for a while now – no surprise considering the amount of complicated tech being packed into smartwatches. Even if a waterproof watch isn’t being used to monitor and analyse swimming data, the waterproofing will protect the expensive hardware in the case.

The choice isn’t plentiful, yet. A lot of fitness trackers will boast their waterproof features, but look carefully at the classification and understand what you can and cannot do with them. Realise too that an overall fitness tracker won’t provide extensive swim-specific data.

There are some great features to look out for, like automatic detection of your stroke, lap and distance tracking in the pool and GPS capability to monitor your open water sessions. If you can get hold of one with a heart rate monitor you’ll also know your calorie burn and efficiency. All these features offer insights that will help you to get the most out of your training.

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Maygen
Maygen

Maygen is a multifaceted writer, proofreader and an experienced smartwatch industry writing and editing professional.

December 13, 2020 By Maygen Leave a Comment Filed Under: Buying Guides Tagged With: diving watches, sport watches, swimming watches, waterproof watches

Garmin Swim 2 Review

Swimming watch terminology

Several years ago, the Swim was introduced to the market by the Garmin brand as its first-ever swimming fitness watch. While the original Swim was cutting-edge in its day, it was overtaken by the brand’s other, new fitness trackers and watches. However, it was only a matter of time before Garmin followed up on their original success by introducing Swim 2. It’s better than the original (but also a lot more expensive!). So, what can we expect from Garmin’s Swim 2 watch? Is it worth the investment? Let’s take a closer look.

Garmin 010-02247-00 Swim 2 GPS Swimming Smartwatch Slate Bundle with Care Extension
Garmin 010-02247-00 Swim 2 GPS Swimming Smartwatch Slate Bundle with Care Extension
  • Garmin SWIM 2 GPS Swimming Smartwatch Slate
  • 7 Days of Battery Life
  • IN THE BOX: Charging Cable
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Who Is The Garmin Swim 2 For?

The Garmin Swim 2 is aimed at keen swimmers who want a smart and accurate way to track their workouts in the water. Building on the original’s success, Swim 2 promises water fanatics a brand new way of monitoring health, progress, and fitness.

This device is fully equipped with an integrated GPS and is perfect for tracking pool and open water swimming. It can also monitor other key metrics including stroke count, heart rate, pace, distance covered and distance per stroke. It even has features to allow for timed sets or logging drills.

With all of this in mind, it’s clear that Garmin has designed Swim 2 to track workouts for all kinds of swimming enthusiasts. Whether you’re a competitive swimmer or an amateur who is trying to keep fit, this is the swim watch for you. Even the most advanced and professional swimmers won’t be disappointed by the functionality of this watch. It can monitor all kinds of key health metrics throughout the day.

man with swimming watch celebrating open swim

How Well Does Swim 2 Track Your Swimming Activity?

Of course, Swim 2 was designed with tracking swimming in mind and it certainly excels when in the pool. It can detect the kind of stroke you’re doing and calculate your SWOLF (the metric which tracks your swim efficiency). You can also download customised workouts while training and configure alerts which will keep you to your chosen pace.

Swim 2 Tracks Your Fitness In And Out Of The Water

As you’d imagine, Garmin has designed Swim 2 to offer full swim tracking functionality. However, once you get out of the water, its features carry on working for your benefit. This device can monitor the quality of your sleep, track your steps and pair with your smartphone. It can upload its collected fitness data automatically to the online Garmin Connect fitness community. You can easily compare swims with instructors or friends utilizing the same platform. You can even use the Garmin Body Battery to monitor your energy reserves and stress levels to stay on top of your well-being.

The Swim 2 version supports three different sports, unlike the original version that only tracked swimming. These include indoor cardio workouts, cycling, and running. Every sports mode features its metrics and is configurable with customized data screens.

What Can I Expect From Swim 2’s Design And Other Features?

While the Garmin Swim 2 offers an impressive fitness tracking functionality, its excellent features don’t stop there. When users pair their smartphone with their device, they can access their social media and text messages right from their wrist. This makes it a convenient choice if you want to go out without your smartphone in your pocket.

This new swim watch also boasts seven days of battery life when used in its smartwatch mode, or 13 hours of life when in optical heart rate and GPS mode. It is available in a choice of two colours – whitestone or slate. This watch is stylishly designed and suitable to wear both in and out of the pool.

Swim 2 also boasts heart rate monitoring in real-time, even when you’re under the water. This makes Swim 2 stand out from the crowd since many other fitness trackers are unable to accommodate this.

Another highlight feature offered by the Swim 2 watch is its auto-rest function. This is similar to an auto-pause function that can be used while walking or running. It allows swimming beginners to pause their workout or take a short break without needing to adjust their watch. It also allows advanced swimmers to stop and turn at walls while their laps are automatically logged. There’s no need to press a button with every turn!

What Are The Advantages Of Swim 2?

  • Auto-rest functionality
  • Long 7-day battery life
  • Real-time heart rate monitoring, even underwater
  • Suitable for use for both open water and pool swimming
  • Receive notifications from your smartphone direct to your watch
  • Sleep tracking function
  • Integrated GPS for greater accuracy
  • Tracks other sports as well as swimming
Garmin Swim 2 GPS Swimming Smartwatch with Wearable4U Power Pack Bundle (Whitestone)
Garmin Swim 2 GPS Swimming Smartwatch with Wearable4U Power Pack Bundle (Whitestone)
  • IN THE BOX: 1 x Garmin Swim 2SmartWatch, 1 x Wearable4U Ultimate Power Pack that contains Wearable4U...
  • Swim anywhere, train everywhere with Garmin Swim 2, the GPS swimming smartwatch. Use it in the pool...
  • Pool swim mode: Records distance, pace, stroke count, stroke type and SWOLF (gauges swimming...
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What Are The Downsides Of Swim 2?

  • Only two colors are available
  • Only tracks three sports besides swimming

Should I Buy The Garmin Swim 2?

If you’re a fitness enthusiast who particularly enjoys keeping fit in the water, you’re sure to like the Garmin Swim 2. The Garmin brand is already well-known for the quality of its fitness trackers and smartwatches, and this one won’t disappoint. It offers better functionality and features than the original Swim watch and is suited to both amateur enthusiasts and professional competitive swimmers.

If you’re looking for a sports watch that offers a host of tracking functionality for a wide range of activities, Swim 2 isn’t for you since it can only track three sports other than swimming. However, if you’re only interested in keeping an eye on your swimming metrics, this is one of the best swim-focused sports watches on the market from a reliable and popular brand.

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December 13, 2020 By Jacquelyn Ellis 3 Comments Filed Under: Fitness & Sports Watches, Reviews Tagged With: Garmin, Garmin reviews, Garmin Swim 2, Garmin Swim 2 Review, swimming watches

Top 5 Apps for Swimming (used with smartwatches)

Apps for swimming

Being able to track your swimming progression is certainly an awesome way to keep on track and stay motivated. Here are five apps for swimming that are compatible with fitness trackers and swimming watches.

MySwimPro

Firstly, If you need to advance your swimming progress, using MySwimPro with almost any waterproof wearable is going to do the trick. With your smartwatch, you’re able to leave your phone in your bag and get in the pool with MySwimPro.

The app will guide you through a custom training session so there’s no need to count laps or keeping track of your split times. Furthermore, your heart rate is tracked and strokes seamlessly recorded.

You can enjoy an unlimited library of workouts, with a new one added every day. A personal customised algorithm learns your speed and, consequently, creates customises intervals to suit. There’s unlimited logging, saving of workouts and sharing features. 

MySwimPro offers heart rate analysis, works out your strokes per lap, splits and your SWOLF score.

Lastly, the great thing about MySwimPro is that you can load it on to almost any waterproof smartwatch or fitness tracker from popular brands like Garmin, Fitbit, Apple and  WearOS.

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Fitbit Charge 4 Fitness and Activity Tracker with Built-in GPS, Heart Rate, Sleep & Swim Tracking,...
Fitbit Charge 4 Fitness and Activity Tracker with Built-in GPS, Heart Rate, Sleep & Swim Tracking,...
  • Use built-in GPS to see your pace and distance on screen during outdoor runs, rides, hikes and more...
  • With Active Zone Minutes, feel a buzz when you reach your target heart rate zones during exercise,...
  • Get a 90-day free trial of the Fitbit Premium to help you stay active, sleep well and manage stress....
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It’s $9.99 a month, but you can try it for free for seven days first.

Swim.com

Swim.com certainly offers a simple tool to track your own training and compare your statistics with peers. The app automates the capture of information about your swimming performance meanwhile offering motivation. It’s great for people who like to go it alone or swim as part of a team.

One of the core features on offer is automation so it takes away the need to pause to record your swims. You can create a bespoke workout and have it delivered directly to your wrist. It’s aimed at helping you to track your progress, improve and maybe even compete.

It’s compatible with Apple, Garmin, Samsung and WearOS smartwatches.

New Apple Watch SE (GPS, 40mm) - Space Gray Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band
New Apple Watch SE (GPS, 40mm) - Space Gray Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band
  • GPS model lets you take calls and reply to texts from your wrist
  • Large Retina OLED display
  • Up to 2x faster processor than Series 3
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Strava

Strava is known as one of the best apps for recording any sports activity. Swimming is no different. There are tons of multisport watches that are compatible – though it works better on some than others. 

The most popular options are the Garmin Fenix (5 and 6), Forerunner Family, Polar v800, Suunto 7 and TomTom Spark 3.

For indoor swimming, Strava will ask for the pool length before you start so it can display your laps. It will also use this to calculate your distance and further uses this to figure out your pace based on your times.

For outdoor swimming, your activity is recorded via your GPS function on a map, which you can see on Strava.

Strava is free to download, with premium paid subscriptions if you want.

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Garmin 010-01733-00 Fenix 5X Sapphire - Slate Gray with Black Band
Garmin 010-01733-00 Fenix 5X Sapphire - Slate Gray with Black Band
  • Ultimate multisport GPS watch with full color Topo U.S. mapping, routable cycling maps and other...
  • Fit for adventure with rugged design that features stainless steel bezel, buttons and rear case:...
  • Built in navigation sensors include GPS and Glonass capability to track in more challenging...
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TrainingPeaks

TrainingPeaks is great if you’re a beginner or training for a triathlon. You’re able to track your efforts and in doing so you can improve your performance. You’re offered a step-by-step guide to help set swim zones and general tips are given to you to which help you get better.

There’s a library of tried and tested plans to pick from and the best bit is that there is the option to hire a qualified coach who can help you on the route to success.

TrainingPeaks is compatible with about 100 apps and devices. Your completed workouts are automatically uploaded to the TrainingPeaks so you can look at your data, analyse it and manage it.

The good folk at TrainingPeaks take your complicated data and deliver it to you in a digestible format for post-workout feedback. You can watch your fitness improve as time goes on, which should give you confidence that your performance is improving.

TrainingPeaks has a free option, but if you need more features, there are paid options. It works best with Garmin devices.

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Garmin fenix 6 Pro, Premium Multisport GPS Watch, Features Mapping, Music, Grade-Adjusted Pace Guidance and...
Garmin fenix 6 Pro, Premium Multisport GPS Watch, Features Mapping, Music, Grade-Adjusted Pace Guidance and...
  • Fit for performance with rugged, sophisticated design that features an always-on 1.3” (18% larger...
  • Enhanced estimated wrist heart rate and Pulse Ox to support advanced sleep monitoring and altitude...
  • Advanced training features include PacePro for grade-adjusted pace guidance throughout your activity...
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Tri Swim Coach

This app is great for the more advanced swimmer who’s looking to take on a big challenge. You have a regular pool, you’ve nailed the basic strokes and you want to prepare for a big swim leg. Using My Tri Swim, which costs $2, you can have access to a full set of drills which are customised to the season and level that you pick.

If you are a beginner to triathlons (not to swimming), there’s something here to get you started, and once you nail that there are progressive training options. It’s got you covered from the basics to Olympic, half or full Ironman.

You’ll probably enjoy the four seasonal options; off, base, build or peak, which are designed to help you throughout the year. If you log in using your smartphone or tablet/laptop, you’ll see that all drills come with instructions and videos so you know exactly what you’re doing. 

It works with Apple and WearOS .

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New Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS + Cellular, 40mm) - Blue Aluminum Case with Deep Navy Sport Band
New Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS + Cellular, 40mm) - Blue Aluminum Case with Deep Navy Sport Band
  • GPS + Cellular model lets you call, text, and get directions without your phone
  • Measure your blood oxygen with an all-new sensor and app
  • Check your heart rhythm with the ECG app
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Summary

Swimmers had to sit and look on in envy when wearable fitness tech first came out. They’ve waited patiently whilst their land-loving counterparts analysed their data and made leaps and bounds in their performance. Now that smartwatches are waterproof, there’s nothing stopping people jumping into that pool and getting the laps in. Now you don’t have to stop to check your time, or mentally keep track of your laps – you can get your head down and focus on just performing whilst your smartwatch and chosen app do the number crunching for you.

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Maygen
Maygen

Maygen is a multifaceted writer, proofreader and an experienced smartwatch industry writing and editing professional.

December 13, 2020 By Maygen Leave a Comment Filed Under: Fitness & Sports Watches Tagged With: Apps for swimming, Apps to track swimming, Swimming, swimming watches, watches for swimming

The Suunto D5 Review

Suunto D5 Diving Watch

We couldn’t wait to introduce the Suunto D5. Suunto was an early entrant into the market for electronic dive computers. Having launched its SME-ML model back in the late 1980s. This innovative unit was considerably smaller than its rivals. Around the same size as a depth-gauge so that it would fit neatly onto the wrist. Even better, it was more affordable. It’s no wonder that the Suunto brand is still around while its two main rivals from back then are long gone.

Today, the Suunto brand remains one of the top contenders in the dive computer field. It offers a diverse variety of products. These suit both the requirements of recreational divers and those who want to push the boundaries of technical diving. The D5 is one of Suunto’s latest releases – a wristwatch-style computer that is designed with recreational divers in mind. Despite being created for this market, it’s capable of handling advanced recreational diving. It’s possible to switch between 3 air/nitrox mix notifications when underwater.

What’s The Suunto D5’s Design Like?

The Suunto D5 is designed for wear as a dress watch. For this reason, the brand has really focused on its choice of straps. For diving, its Zulu strap is designed to be just as secure as a NATO strap. It passes through two pins to guard against loss of the device. There are even extension straps available to accommodate people with larger wrists and thicker dive suits. With so many different casing colours and straps, it couldn’t be easier to keep track of your own unit even when you’re diving with someone else who owns one.

The D5 features relatively large numbers, and this makes it quite simple to see the information onscreen. Thanks to the custom functions, it’s possible to change the layout of the screen to suit your own needs and preferences. The screen is illuminated at all times by a powerful, adjustable-intensity LED.

What About The Suunto D5’s Features?

The D5 features an RGBM algorithm – the Fused 2 Buhlmann 16gf – which was designed by the Suunto brand itself to minimize silent bubbles.
The D5 is different from its other dive computers since it allows shorter decompression times after a deep-air dive. It’s capable of handling nitrox and regular air along with two extra switchable nitrox decompression mixtures up to 99% oxygen. It’s possible to adjust the algorithm to allow for different amounts of liberalism or conservatism. Altitude ranges can be manually selected and so can maximum oxygen partial pressures.
Dives can be logged and viewed onscreen, transferred onto paper or sent wirelessly to a smartphone thanks to the Suunto app.

It’s also possible to integrate the D5 with your stage tanks and main cylinder thanks to the Suunto POD. You’ll need one for each cylinder to predict how much gas remains, based on the breathing rate. There is even a gauge mode to suit those who want to plan dives with tables as well as a freediving mode.

What Are The Suunto D5s Dive Capabilities?

Alarms are integrated into the Suunto D5’s design which can be pre-set to give an alert at set times and depths. There is both an audible and a graphic warning to make sure that the alert is noticed by the user. The device even vibrates to ensure that you remain informed about your air, depth and time.

The deco feature allows you to link with the POD to the gas supply so you can see roughly how long you can expect it to last. You’ll also be able to view your total ascent time so you can judge whether you have sufficient breathing gas to cover that time. The D5 will indicate your optimal decompressing depth and ceiling so you have the information at your fingertips to help you decide how far you want to take things. There’s even a deep-stop option that comes into use on a no-stop dive to ask for a short stop at about half of the greatest depth attained.

Another excellent feature is the electronic compass. This has an easily visible degree scale which is set around the perimeter of the device. You’re also able to present your heading so you can easily navigate back to the exit point.

Deep diving

What Are The Main Advantages of The Suunto D5?

  • A long-life rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery
  • The software can be updated
  • Water-resistant down to 328 feet (100 meters)
  • Several modes including gauge, digital compass, free dive and air/nitrox options
  • Wireless tank pressure can be monitoring
  • There is a wireless Bluetooth mobile connection with the Suunto app for syncing data
  • A choice of straps including exchangeable leisure and silicone straps
  • There are vibrating, audible and visual alarms and alerts

What Are The Main Disadvantages Of The Suunto D5?

  • The Plan mode may be too simple – there’s no ability to run a complete depth/time simulation

Should I Buy The Suunto D5 Dive Computer?

If you’re a keen recreational diver who tackles a range of dive types including those which are more advanced, the Suunto D5 could be the ideal choice for you. Its well-thought-out design allows users to easily read the display, even in the darkest areas while its audible, visual and vibrating alarms ensure that you won’t miss key alerts for your own safety. Always worth comparing Suunto vs Garmin and more specifically you may want to review Garmin Descent MK1.

This device boasts user-updatable features as well as the capability to switch between three nitrox/air mixes. This makes it an excellent choice for more able divers who are keen to push their boundaries underwater. There is even the facility to sync data to social media from the D5, so this adds up to one pretty impressive dive computer.

The interchangeable straps only add to the style and visual appeal of this device. It can be worn out of the water just as easily as in it, and this makes the Suunto D5 a great choice for all kinds of recreational divers.

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December 13, 2020 By Jacquelyn Ellis 1 Comment Filed Under: Fitness & Sports Watches, Reviews Tagged With: diving watches, Suunto D5 Review, suunto reviews, swimming watches, watches for diving, waterproof watches

The Suunto 3 Fitness Watch

Suunto 3 Fitness Watch

The Suunto 3 Fitness Watch is slick looking and a capable tool for boosting your fitness. Thanks to its affordable price tag, it’s a great choice for those who are new to a fitness regime but who want to keep a careful eye on their progress. Designed for function as well as style, this release from the popular Suunto brand has plenty to offer buyers.

Suunto 3

What’s The Suunto 3 Fitness Design Like?

While the Suunto 3 Fitness Watch has quite a simple design, it’s stylish. Especially when compared with some of the other chunky and bulky smartwatches on the market today. There are five different designs to choose from, so there’s sure to be one that works with your style. While the material used in manufacturing is not the best, it’s lightweight and easy to wear. Weighing just 36 grams, it’s considerably lighter than other models from this brand. That makes it a great choice to wear when you’re working out.

The screen is round and classic in design, although its colour reproduction and resolution are relatively low. Even the backlight isn’t the strongest, but the status is easy to read even on the go. One major downside is that there’s no touchscreen, so all controls are achieved via tapping and swiping.

The strap is made from silicone, so it won’t be damaged by water or sweat. However, it’s not the most comfortable to wear.

What About The Suunto 3 Fitness’s Features?

The Suunto 3 Fitness receives notifications from any connected smartphone including Google Chat alerts, telephone calls, texts, and emails. There’s no way of tailoring which apps you want to accept notifications from. This means that there could be an excessive amount of beeping if you’re very popular!

This device also has an integrated sleep tracker. This gives you a quality score between 0 and 100 for your sleep. It’s quite basic, but it’s also accurate. On the downside, there’s no feedback about the times you wake or go to sleep. The device can’t automatically spot if you go to sleep earlier than the bedtime that you’ve set or slept for longer than the time you’ve set for waking.

This device also has an integrated heart rate monitor. This is a great feature, but unfortunately not as accurate as those provided by some of its rivals. There is some lag between the tracking on the Suunto 3 Fitness when compared with the readings found on other devices, however, once the readings have stabilized, the data appears to be broadly accurate, and enough to suit any amateur fitness enthusiast.

What Are The Suunto 3 Fitness Sports Capabilities?

Suunto has worked hard to match up to Polar and Garmin’s recent offerings, however, the fitness features fall behind in that there is no inbuilt GPS. Nevertheless, there’s a lot to offer including calorie, distance and pace tracking for walking, swimming, cycling and running. There’s also an optical heart rate monitor as well as 24/7 heart rate tracking. Sleep tracking is also integrated, and with waterproofing down to 30m, it can be used in the pool.

One top feature of this watch is its adaptive training feature. These are guided workouts that help to boost your fitness level, supported by advice about recovery times and ways of seeing the stress level your body is subject to in real-time. The plan is adapted to your own unique needs to suit your fitness level, recorded exercises and profile with an aim of gradually improving your fitness without putting your body under excessive stress. This makes the Suunto 3 Fitness a brilliant choice for anyone who is new to working out.

What Are The Main Advantages of The Suunto 3 Fitness?

  • Integrated heart rate monitor
  • Sleep tracking capabilities
  • Lightweight design
  • Waterproofing to 30m
  • Adaptive training feature with workout programs to suit your individual needs

What Are The Main Disadvantages Of The Suunto 3 Fitness?

  • No integrated GPS
  • Uncomfortable strap

Are There Any Rivals To The Suunto 3 Fitness?

The Suunto 3 Fitness’ major advantage is its low price tag. With its affordable cost, it ranks highly amongst many of its rivals on the market today. Of course, this also means that it can’t compete with serious contenders like the Apple Watch or top of the range Garmin fitness trackers. Read more on how to choose between Suunto or Garmin.

The Garmin Fenix 5 smartwatch offers many of the same features as this model, but with a more sleek and impressive appearance. The Fenix 5 has a much more stylish appearance, with less of a cheap look, and a much more comfortable strap. Of course, it also comes with a higher price tag.
While the Suunto 3 Fitness is a good option for beginners in the workout arena, it really isn’t ideal for anyone who is already serious about fitness.

For anyone who wants a Suunto fitness tracker but needs greater functionality and more impressive capabilities in terms of recording sports-related data, the Suunto Spartan Trainer Wrist HR could be a better choice. This is a more robust device that is better suited to the extreme needs of true fitness enthusiasts. Built to handle the most rigorous environments and the most demanding sports, it’s a better option for someone who needs more advanced tracking.

Should I Buy The Suunto 3 Fitness Watch?

This smartwatch and fitness tracker from the popular Suunto brand is a great choice for anybody who is only beginning on their journey towards greater fitness. Its adaptive training plans and integral heart rate monitor take it beyond just a basic activity tracker.

However, there are some significant downsides to choosing this model. With no way to tailor your training plan to your specific fitness goal and the lack of integrated GPS, it isn’t ideal for anybody who is serious about improving their fitness. The silicone strap is also rather uncomfortable to wear, especially if you want to use the sleep tracking function overnight, but the low price tag is a major advantage if you need a fully functioning device that fits into your budget.

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December 13, 2020 By Jacquelyn Ellis Leave a Comment Filed Under: Fitness & Sports Watches, Reviews Tagged With: cycling watches, fitness tracker reviews, fitness watches, sports watches, Suunto, swimming watches, waterproof watches

Amazfit Stratos 3 – Does The Flagship Hold Up To The Hype?

Amazfit Stratos 3 watch and display box

The third generation of Huami’s Amazfit Stratos 3 is certainly an upgrade from its predecessors in terms of functionality and design. For example, they’ve used higher quality materials and added some great features. As a result of these improvements, we get a blend of fitness tracking and fashion.

In fact, the Amazfit Stratos 3 was released alongside a selection of other smartwatches by Huami. But, this was specifically realised to cater to the different requirements of wearable tech users and enthusiasts. Additionally, the line also includes Amazfit GTR, Amazfit GTS, Amazfit Nexo, Amazfit Verge Lite and Amazfit BIP Lite.

Specifically, the Stratos was introduced as a competitor to full-function sports watches by industry leaders like Garmin in a very similar shell. So, with the look and feel of a higher-end smartwatch, does it live up to its claims?

Features

1.3″ full round always-on LCD displayStandalone music player
Provides smartwatch functionality including receiving calls, alerts and notifications4 GB storage capacity
19 sports modes and analytics availableIn-built air pressure sensor for altitude calculation
Water resistantTracks heart rate and sleep
14 day battery lifeContinuous GPS tracking
Preview
Amazfit Stratos 3 Sports Smartwatch Powered by FirstBeat, 1.34” Full Round Display, 80-Sports Modes,...
Garmin vívoactive 3, GPS Smartwatch Contactless Payments Built-In Sports Apps, Black/Slate
Suunto 3 Fitness Tracker Sports Watch, All Black
Amazfit T-Rex Smartwatch, Military Standard Certified, Tough Body, GPS, 20-Day Battery Life, 1.3'' AMOLED...
Title
Amazfit Stratos 3 Sports Smartwatch Powered by FirstBeat, 1.34” Full Round Display, 80-Sports Modes,...
Garmin vívoactive 3, GPS Smartwatch Contactless Payments Built-In Sports Apps, Black/Slate
Suunto 3 Fitness Tracker Sports Watch, All Black
Amazfit T-Rex Smartwatch, Military Standard Certified, Tough Body, GPS, 20-Day Battery Life, 1.3'' AMOLED...
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Preview
Amazfit Stratos 3 Sports Smartwatch Powered by FirstBeat, 1.34” Full Round Display, 80-Sports Modes,...
Title
Amazfit Stratos 3 Sports Smartwatch Powered by FirstBeat, 1.34” Full Round Display, 80-Sports Modes,...
Verdict
Ratings
Price
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Preview
Garmin vívoactive 3, GPS Smartwatch Contactless Payments Built-In Sports Apps, Black/Slate
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Amazfit T-Rex Smartwatch, Military Standard Certified, Tough Body, GPS, 20-Day Battery Life, 1.3'' AMOLED...
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Amazfit T-Rex Smartwatch, Military Standard Certified, Tough Body, GPS, 20-Day Battery Life, 1.3'' AMOLED...
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Appearance and Design

Firstly, the Amazfit Stratos 3 looks similar to its predecessor when it comes to its 1.34 inch, round dial body, which is more robust now thanks to Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protecting the screen. Secondly, the OLED is replaced by a Full Moon display, an always-on low-power colour panel that allows for greater visibility in various light without draining on the battery unduly. Additionally, it has a decent display resolution of 320×320 pixels that deliver vivid colours and clarity.

Amazfit T-Rex Smartwatch, Military Standard Certified, Tough Body, GPS, 20-Day Battery Life, 1.3'' AMOLED...
Amazfit T-Rex Smartwatch, Military Standard Certified, Tough Body, GPS, 20-Day Battery Life, 1.3'' AMOLED...
  • MILITARY STANDARD: Amazfit T-Rex smartwatch passed 12 military grade certifications, ensuring its...
  • ULTR-LONG BATTERY LIFE: A deep power optimization give the Amazfit T-Rex a longer battery life of up...
  • POWERFUL ALWAYS ON DISPLAY: The Amazfit T-Rex uses a 1.3” AMOLED color screen which supports...
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As well as that, its body is made from stainless steel, the bezel is zirconia ceramic and the bottom casing is plastic. Thus this provides the durability required without weighing down the smartwatch and gives it a luxury look. Finally, the silicone strap is a standard 22mm and can be replaced if needed.

Finally, there are four physical buttons on its exterior allowing you to quickly perform certain functions without touching the screen.

Battery

A typical charge will depend on your usage, but you should get around seven days on the default Smart mode, which provides full functionality. However, stripping down some elements by using the Ultra mode allows 14 days of uninterrupted use.

In fact, with 300 mAh Li-Ion Polymer battery and magnetic charging support, you can fast charge the watch to its full capacity within two hours.

We wrote a comparison of smartwatches with the best battery life, here.

Functionality

When it comes to performance, the Stratos 3 provides both fitness tracking and smartwatch capabilities.

GPS Tracking

Up to 70 hours of continuous GPS tracking but it depends on what you’re monitoring – can be saved within the watch, providing accurate data to evaluate your running, walking, hiking or swimming sessions.

Multiple Sports Modes

Also, Huami has increased the number of sports modes available from 11 to 19 activities with rich analytics backing each.

RunningIndoor Cycle
TreadmillJump Rope
Trail RunPool Swim
WalkOpen Water
EllipticalHike
TennisTriathalon
SkiMultisport
FootballRower
Outdoor CycleFitness

Additionally, its Firstbeat algorithm allows you to view sport-respective data in order to help understand your current fitness potential and allow you to chart a path towards your goals.

BioTracker

Of course, no sports watch is complete without heart rate monitoring and the Stratos 3 is equipped with Huami’s proprietary BioTracker sensor to give readings. You can set the watch to continuously manage your heart rate and notify you in case of an excessively high reading or interval value.

heart tracking

Standalone Music Player

Furthermore, the Huami is one of the few fitness trackers come with its own music player enabling you to fill your workouts with your own music without a smartphone. Additionally, you can use its built-in Bluetooth with a pair of headphones to enjoy tunes on the go – the watch comes with 4GB of storage giving you plenty of space to fill with your favourite playlists.

Swim Proof

Not only that but with water resistance to a depth of 50 meters, the smartwatch can be used to track your swim sessions or rainy runs. In addition, it uses GPS to accurately gauge your swimming position and analyse data like your pace, SWOLF and calorie consumption.

swim tracking

Advanced Performance Analytics

Besides fitness tracking, the watch comes with a companion app which uses age, height and weight data to provide analytics for your daily activities and performance. It should be noted it also relays the data through a well-designed UI packed with numbers and graphs to make it understandable. Additionally, it displays your GPS tracking route, heart rate figures and sleep pattern.

Besides this, you can also use the app to customize the watch face with up to 100+ different options or set your own personal wallpaper.

Notifications

As a smartwatch, it show notifications from major apps while receiving call and message alerts. Unfortunately, there is no built-in mic or speaker so you can’t respond to calls. Notification details can be viewed by swiping down, but you will need your phone and its keyboard in order to reply back.

Lastly, the Amazfit Stratos 3 currently supports Android 5.0 and IOS 10.0 or above.

Main AdvantagesMain Disadvantages
Premium design with always-on displayNo NFC payment option
Long battery lifeNo microphone or speaker
Tracks up to 19 physical activities
Onboard music functionality with 4GB storage available
GPS tracking
Waterproof
Can receive calls, emails and texts
Sleep analysis
Amazfit Stratos 3 Sports Smartwatch Powered by FirstBeat, 1.34” Full Round Display, 80-Sports Modes,...
Amazfit Stratos 3 Sports Smartwatch Powered by FirstBeat, 1.34” Full Round Display, 80-Sports Modes,...
  • Powered by FirstBeat Analytics: Amazfit Stratos 3 provides in-depth analytics of the sport you play...
  • Transreflective Professional Sports Display: Amazfit Stratos 3 adopts a 1.34-inch full round...
  • Dual Chip System: Stratos 3 is integrated with two main control chips and two operating systems and...
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Summary

Overall, Amazfit Stratos 3 is packed with features for tracking your fitness activities while providing a comprehensive data against your personalized profile. It comes with on-device storage and playback allowing you to focus on your activities while providing fairly accurate GPS tracking to help you train efficiently. In fact, you’ll be able to track your efforts across 19 different fitness activities with accompanying analytics to help you review your performance and goals.

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Emma Morris
Emma Morris

Emma is an experienced Virtual Assistant and is our Copy and Visual Editor and Social Media Manager. When not working, Emma enjoys life with her little girl, partner and Jack Russell Terrier in the lovely countryside of the South West UK.

December 13, 2020 By Emma Morris 3 Comments Filed Under: Fitness & Sports Watches, News, Reviews Tagged With: Amazfit, hiking watches, luxury smartwatches, sport watches, swimming watches, trail running watches, Xiaomi

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