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Smartwatches to Wear Rowing

smartwatches to wear rowing

Introduction

If you’re a rowing enthusiast you might wonder if there are smartwatches to wear rowing and help with your training and performance. When shopping for such a device, it’s really important to know what features are best to look for in a watch you can wear specifically for rowing. 

Being able to track your rowing data lets you see very clearly where you’re at in your session. It provides a great overview of your performance after you’re finished training.

Until very recently, rowing-specific watches weren’t a thing. Thanks to the smartwatch and fitness tracker world being so highly competitive, the need for innovation has brought light to this niche market. The watches discussed in this review are great for either indoor or outdoor rowing.

What does a good rowing watch look like?

There are plenty of wearables and smartwatches who cater specifically to active people. They’re typically for running, swimming and general fitness. More often than not, they come with a dedicated app too.

Rowing has got some focus now. This review will look at the features that should be considered when purchasing a rowing-friendly watch. 

Importance of data

Tracking your data during your rowing session gives its user an accurate overview which aids improvement. It allows for analysis of things like heart rate, strength, speed and stroke rate. Without this information, you’re blindly going at your training without knowing where exactly improvement is needed.

Indoor rowing 

Regarding indoor rowing or erging, you should be able to know your exact stroke rate and count, timing and heart rate. You’ll be able to find an app that will connect your smartwatch to the rowing machine you’re using for the ultimate data experience.

woman gym

Outdoor rowing

Regarding outdoor rowing, you are going to want something that offers a GPS function as well as telling you your heart rate, distance and speed. Obviously, the device needs to be waterproof.

Heart Rate

Arguably a really important thing needed for tracking your training. A lot of sports watches come with a chest strap that needs to be worn around the body for the most accurate measurement. Luckily, companies have developed this and you’ll more than likely find this feature from just the wrist wearable. They offer the same level of accuracy as its predecessor and frees your torso for movement during your ride.

GPS

This isn’t an imperative function for all sports watches, ie, those that are based indoors. It is worth investing in if you’re into outdoor rowing. This means you can track your distance in the water. It’s also super-useful for directions.

Stroke rate

This is a really key feature for rowing enthusiasts as it tells you exactly how effective you are at rowing. This data tells you how to best improve or maintain your optimal performance levels. It’ll also monitor your strength.

Without further ado, let’s look at some examples of great rowing watches.

Garmin Vivioactive Heart Rate version

$200 / £175

If you’re into watches that give you more for you money, this is a wonderful device. The large display is incredibly clear; great when rowing. It’s slimline, but not so much that it’ll get caught up your sleeve. 

The wristband has a clasp that ensures a snug fit on your wrist. This is great when you’re aiming to row fast. It offers features like a heart rate monitor and a waterproof rating that can take water pressure up to 165ft. It’ll track your steps as well as distance and even has a sleep quality sensor.

Garmin Forerunner 245

For a very similar price, this device looks a little better and offers a little more innovation. No two athletes are the same. This device helps you to set goals around your workouts.

Garmin Forerunner 235

This GPS watch has a heart rate monitor. It’ll also deliver data on pace, distance, time and a plethora of other bits of information. There’s activity tracking for things like steps and general daily activities.

It has wifi functionality so you can link up with your pals, even compete. You can share your results with one another, as well as use this information for your own personal improvement.

Reduced Price
Garmin Forerunner 245, GPS Running Smartwatch with Advanced Dynamics, Slate Gray
Garmin Forerunner 245, GPS Running Smartwatch with Advanced Dynamics, Slate Gray
  • GPS running smartwatch with advanced training features
  • Evaluates your current training status to indicate if you’re undertraining or overdoing it; offers...
  • Get free adaptive training plans from Garmin Coach, or create your own custom workouts on our Garmin...
Check Amazon Price

Garmin Fenix 3 HR

Here you’ll find data delivered on your stroke count and rate, distance, timing and heart rate. The Fenix has everything you’ll need for rowing. It has precise data. This data accuracy, including that of your general fitness, can only benefit you in the long run.

This device offers freedom from straps worn around the chest. It’ll monitor your heart rate from your pulse on your wrist.

It has a feature known as Training Status. This monitors your performance and delivers a truly precise record of your productivity, peaks and over-training. 

Garmin Fenix 3 HR GPS Watch with Titanium and Sport Bands
Garmin Fenix 3 HR GPS Watch with Titanium and Sport Bands
  • Precision satellite navigation: Omni directional stainless steel EXO antenna connects to GPS and...
  • Activity and sleep tracking: Sensors monitor your steps during day, with automatic goals assigned...
  • Heart rate monitoring: Elevate wrist heart technology measures your heart rate without the need for...
Check Amazon Price

Polar M400

Garmin doesn’t have the monopoly on the rowing watch world. Polar’s M400 is a wonderful bridge-gapper between run of the mill fitness trackers and GPS watches.

It’ll keep track of the number of steps you’ve taken, the quality of your sleep cycles and the number of calories you’ve burned. 

It has a silicone strap with a special security loop so you won’t lose it when rowing, even vigorously. It has a large display, which is incredibly useful for readability at a glance. It’s also very comfortable.

Conclusion

These wearables have been evolving over many years and the tech involved is still being innovated for specific sports, like rowing. Companies are battling in competition with one another and so the devices hitting the market are getting better all the time. 

Are there alternatives?

Certainly. With the important features mentioned above, a keen rower might want to consider a GPS watch. Take a look at our review of the best GPS watches to help your journey to purchasing.

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Waterproof Watches for Kids

Pink smart watch worn by girl

For generations, choosing a suitable watch for your son or daughter has been a headache. How do you find a model which offers plenty of functionality and is tough enough to withstand the rigours of everyday life on the wrist of a child! However, there are now some excellent waterproof watches designed specifically for young wearers which give parents peace of mind, but which also suit the tastes of kids. Here are just a few of the very best on the market today for you to choose from.

1. Timex Kids’ T71912 Digital Watch

Timex has been one of the best-known watch brands for more than a century and a half, and this one certainly lives up to its reputation for quality. Functional yet affordable, this digital watch has a camouflage print elastic fabric strap which is stylish and comfortable to wear.

The digital display is easy to read, while a timer and an alarm feature will help your child be on time. There’s also a night-light, a chronograph and water resistance built in. The band can easily be adjusted to fit even the smallest wrist and with its elasticated fabric, it can be put on and taken off with no problems.

Older children can set this watch and adjust it themselves, giving them greater independence; along with its budget-friendly price tag, it’s a great choice for parents who want their kids to have a“proper”watch but without spending a fortune.

2. Timex Kids’ T79051 “My First” Watch

For older children who are transitioning from a watch aimed at young kids to a more adult model, the Timex Kids’ T79051 is a great choice. Its stylish yet robust black canvas strap features a Velcro fastener so your son or daughter can easily put it on or take it off independently.

It also features an analogue display which is very useful when teaching children have to read the time properly. Its quartz movement ensures accuracy while its protective crystal window ensures it remains resilient and resistant to damage and scratches; something which is all-too-likely to occur when worn by a child! The watch also features luminosity, a second hand and is water resistant down to 99 feet.

Thanks to its plain black and stainless steel appearance, this watch can be worn for all occasions, even school. Furthermore, the larger than average numbers on the face make it easier for children to tell the time.

3. Misskt Waterproof/Outdoor Kids’ Digital Watch

If you’re looking for a waterproof watch that will suit your child for years to come, the Misskt Waterproof/Outdoor Kids’ Digital Watch is hard to beat. Available in blue, black or a red/blue combination, this is a unisex choice for children ranging from six up to 15 years of age. Suitable to wear for swimming, it presents the time in an easy to read digital format and features a date display.

4. SKNBC Waterproof Sports Watch For Kids

This sports watch is suitable for children from just 6 years, but older kids and teenagers are still going to love this watch. It comes in a choice of four models; a black/red, black/yellow, black/blue and pink colour schemes to suit both boys and girls. If your son or daughter loves being active, being outdoors or is into sports, they’re sure to love this scratch-resistant, shock-resistant and highly durable watch that will withstand anything they can throw at it. It even has a light-up feature to make it easier to read in poor lighting conditions. Not only can this watch show the time, it also has a day display, a stopwatch and an alarm, and the wearer can choose between a 24 hour or 12 hour format.

5. Timex Girls’ T89022 Floral Elastic “Time Teacher” Watch

If you have a young daughter who is learning how to read the time and wants a watch that reflects their tastes and personality; the Timex Girls’ Floral Elastic Time Teacher watch is ideal. Its minute and hour hands are clearly labelled, and the analogue face is simple to read.

Its Indiglo night light is an appealing feature. Whilst the elastic fabric strap is comfortable to wear and easy to adjust. It’s also water-resistant down to 99 feet, so you won’t have to worry about accidental damage. Suitable for children from just three years old, this easy-fit watch is appealingly colourful and fun to wear.

6. SZBXD Waterproof Kids’ Smartwatch

Smartwatches are all the rage at the moment, but some of the adult-oriented smartwatches are unsuitable for young children because of their complexity or fragility.

The SZBXD waterproof kids’ smartwatch is the ideal solution. Ideally suited to children aged between five and nine years of age; this model comes with its own inbuilt GPS tracker for monitoring your child. It’s capable of both receiving and making calls thanks to the micro-chat voice feature. It is also waterproof for peace of mind. Parents need to be aware that this watch requires a data plan if its call features are going to work, but for those who want their kids to have access to the latest technology in a kid-friendly way, this smartwatch is going to tick all the boxes.

These are just six of the best waterproof watches on the market today aimed at young children. One of these models is sure to be ideal for your son or daughter.

How Do We Test Smartwatches?

We take pride in the amount of time and effort that we put into testing and reviewing smartwatches. We know that you’re relying on us to give you the key information that you need to decide whether a certain model is right for your needs, and that’s why we put each and every one through its paces with a rigorous approach to testing.

We examine the design of each watch to see whether it’s stylish and appealing while also remaining highly functional and easy to use. Is it comfortable to wear? Does it look good on wrists of all sizes? Does it offer customisation options or interchangeable straps and faces? We examine all of these elements.

We look closely at integrated features and fitness tracking capabilities. Is there GPS? Are there LTE capabilities? Can you make contactless payments? Is there storage for songs and podcasts? Sleep tracking and activity tracking for different sports? We test these elements and look at the effect that each have on the power, processing capacity, memory and battery life of each device.

Then we bring all this information together in an informative review so that you can make the best choice about whether the smartwatch that we’re reviewing is really the best one for your requirements. 

Waterproof Watches for Women

Woman surfing and wearing smartwatch

Are you a woman looking for a great waterproof watch? Here’s our pick of the best ones on the market today.

Whether you’re a woman who loves swimming, sailing or surfing, or whether you just want to make sure that your watch will be safe from sweat, rain or accidental soakings, you need it to be waterproof. With narrower wrists than men, a woman needs a waterproof watch which is comfortable to wear and doesn’t look too bulky. With this in mind, we’ve brought you our selection of contenders for the crown of best waterproof watch for women.

1. Timex Ironman Sleek 50

Don’t be put off by the word“man”in the title! The Timex brand is certainly famous for its high-quality timepieces and the Ironman Sleek 50 won’t disappoint. With its modern, bold design, this model has sporty undertones and a comfortable polyurethane strap which is flexible and well-ventilated. It fits comfortably on even the slimmest wrist without looking bulky or inhibiting movement.

Not only does it boast a sleek design, it also has a simple push-button format so you can access the features with ease; the Indiglo function also means you can read the display easily in low-lighting conditions. Furthermore, there is a training log which records your workouts by lap time, total exercise time and date so you can keep on top of your fitness.

2. Armitron Digital Sports Watch

If you want a watch that’s perfect for swimming and tracking other sports, the Armitron 45/7053 LTG digital sports watch is ideal. Its stylish casing is highly durable while its strap is made from soft-touch resin which remains comfortably in place around your wrist all day long. In addition, this watch is capable of supporting dual time zones, boasts three easy-set alarms, a lap timer and a backlight feature. With water resistance built up down to 100 meters, it’s certainly perfect for swimmers. Above all, its affordable price tag is an even greater bonus.

3. Casio G-Shock S Series

When you need an extremely durable watch that will withstand even the most rigorous sporting activity, the Casio G-Shock S series could definitely be the one. Shock resistant, water resistant to 200m and magnetic resistant. It also has an incredibly accurate stopwatch feature.

Meanwhile, its stylish and slim design is perfect for slim wrists, sitting around the wrist comfortably without hindering its movement or function. It has five daily alarms, a 60-minute time signal, an automatic LED light with an afterglow and the function to record as many as 29 different time zones. It also has both analog and digital faces, a speed indicator and anti-slip buttons.

4. Garmin Vivoactive 3

The Garmin brand is well-known for its high quality sports watches, and its Vivoactive 3 model is perfect for women who want a sleek and modern design with all of the functionality of Garmin’s standard watch range. Suitable for wear both in the gym and in the office; this watch tracks your fitness level and workouts and monitors your health and sleep 24/7. It also boasts a heartrate monitor and a durable and comfortable strap. Thanks to Garmin’s unrivalled GPS system, it’s easier than ever to track both outdoor and indoor activities with no worries about signal dropouts. Although the base model can’t support music, the upgraded model has storage capacity for 500 MP3 files and access to the iHeartRadio app.

5. The Fitbit Ionic

The Fitbit brand is known for its high-quality sports trackers and the Ionic is the first model from this brand to look like a regular watch instead of a basic fitness tracker. Its choice of interchangeable leather or plastic strap makes this a great choice for all occasions. Furthermore, the 384 x 250 LCD display is easy to read with an impressive brightness level.

Thanks to its touchscreen you can cycle rapidly through the various app choices while the side buttons allow even greater choice of functionality. This waterproof watch tracks your activities including swimming, cycling, weightlifting and running, and it also has inbuilt workouts to add into your daily routine. Meanwhile, the inbuilt heartrate monitor gives you accurate measurements and the GPS feature maps your location.

Garmin waterproof

6. Garmin Forerunner 35

Garmin is a popular and high-quality brand and the Forerunner series offers a range of impressive watches with the Forerunner 35 being no exception. Instead of the bulky, industrial design which is seen in the other Garmin models, this watch has a modern, sleek design which won’t impede your movements. It also offers sport tracking features with an inbuilt GPS so you can track your distance, location and speed as well as heartrate and number of calories burned. You can then upload your stats to fitness apps like Strava or Garmin Connect and compare your results with your family and friends. You’ll receive notifications via a vibration alert and with waterproofing down to 50m, you won’t have to worry about getting this watch wet.

7. Suunto Spartan Trainer

Finally, the newest model from Suunto is the Spartan Trainer, a sleek version of its Spartan Sports model. Designed for wear on thin wrists, this lighter watch has a 218 x 218 resolution screen and a bunch of great options. It has a highly accurate heartrate monitor as well as impressive GPS to map your routes. Since this model also uses maps which you’ve downloaded, it’ll give you the optimal running routes. Its long lasting battery can hold its charge for around 3-4 days even when you’re covering lots of activities and while the app isn’t fantastic, it still gives you access to your data just a few seconds after you’ve worked out.

If you’re looking for one of the best waterproof watches for women on the market today, one of these seven options is sure to be the one for you.

How Do We Test Smartwatches?

We take pride in the amount of time and effort that we put into testing and reviewing smartwatches. We know that you’re relying on us to give you the key information that you need to decide whether a certain model is right for your needs, and that’s why we put each and every one through its paces with a rigorous approach to testing.

Here at Superwatches we examine the design of each watch to see whether it’s stylish and appealing while also remaining highly functional and easy to use. Is it comfortable to wear? Does it look good on wrists of all sizes? Does it offer customisation options or interchangeable straps and faces? We examine all of these elements.

We look closely at integrated features and fitness tracking capabilities. Is there GPS? Are there LTE capabilities? Can you make contactless payments? Is there storage for songs and podcasts? Sleep tracking and activity tracking for different sports? We test these elements and look at the effect that each have on the power, processing capacity, memory and battery life of each device.

Then we bring all this information together in an informative review so that you can make the best choice about whether the smartwatch that we’re reviewing is really the best one for your requirements. 

We take pride in the amount of time and effort that we put into testing and reviewing smartwatches. We know that you’re relying on us to give you the key information that you need to decide whether a certain model is right for your needs, and that’s why we put each and every one through its paces with a rigorous approach to testing.