If you needed a reminder, those formerly clunky wrist gadgets known as smartwatches are cool now, and they’re ace at tracking fitness too. Most modern models are waterproof enough to withstand post-gym showers and hardcore swim sessions alike, and some offer great health features to boot. You’ll find our tried-and-tested top 10 smart watch waterproof below.
Is a Smartwatch the Same as a Fitness Tracker?
Smartwatches and fitness trackers are from the same tech family, but they have their own quirks. They can both be used to log and analyse a range of workouts to help you smash your fitness goals, but fitness trackers have long been superior at this, as that’s all they do.
Smartwatches, meanwhile, also act like mini extensions of your smartphone, often letting you make and take calls, read and reply to WhatsApp messages and emails, stream music and much more besides. The best smartwatches now rival the best fitness trackers, so if you’ve got the cash, you know what to do.
How to Choose a Smartwatch
Smartwatches vary in price and functionality, so consider which features you’ll actually use before parting with your dough. Some devices can track 100 types of exercise while others are limited to 20, but that might well be enough. Every smartwatch on our list logs swimming but some can only be used to count laps in a pool, which won’t appeal to open water swimmers.
Turning to stats, all the below smartwatches track distance covered, calories burnt and strokes taken if swimming. Swimmers should note that only the Garmin and Apple models can auto-identify which stroke you’re doing, and only the Garmin, Samsung and Huawei gadgets will calculate a ‘SWOLF’ efficiency reading based on your stroke count and time. They’re all waterproof to a depth of at least 50 metres.
If you want to keep a close eye on your overall health, as well as your fitness, look for a smartwatch that can monitor your blood oxygen level and take an ECG. Built-in heart rate monitors are now standard.
How We Test Waterproof Smartwatches
We put multiple waterproof smartwatches to the test, judging each device on its fitness tracking accuracy, range of features, ease of use, design and overall performance.
