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Top 11 Waterproof Fitness Tracker Bands For Swimming, Running & More

Below, we have listed features and functions of the top 7 swimming heart rate monitors and 4 waterproof fitness trackers with no heart rate monitor.

Whether you are a casual swimmer, a swimming junky, a runner or a multi-activity fitness buff there are a variety of activity trackers to choose from. However, if you are in a rush, read this snapshot post on the 11 of the best waterproof fitness trackers.

Otherwise, scroll down now for the big reveal!

Waterproof Fitness Trackers With Heart Rate Monitor

Garmin Vivosmart HR+

In terms of biometric advanced fitness trackers, it just beat out the Fitbit Charge HR. The Garmin Vivosmart HR+ monitors your heart rate for the entire the day you wear the device and displays your resting heart rate on the watch. The icing on its cake is its own ‘built-in’ GPS tracking and 5ATM waterproofing rating!

Hence it has a waterproof heart rate monitor with GPS features that tracks your run! But it has an overly complex app and settings menus. So this can be time-consuming to work your way round with the device. Whilst it does not have a Swimming mode, you can get round this by using the ‘Cardio’ Mode which gives you data to GPS distance, heart rate, timed session, and amount of calories burnt,

However, the cool thing about it, you can take it into the pool to do workouts whilst your heart rate is tracked, this is counted towards your daily goal. And it will measure the intensity of your fitness activities.

Once your workout is over, you will receive your notifications. Other performance features include – step counting, calories burned, distance, heart rate, floors climbed, intensity minutes, sleep tracking, idle prompt alerts, Move IQ and dedicated modes for running and cardio.  In regards to the smartwatch features, the HR+ will provide time of day, smart alerts, plus a huge range of smart notifications like weather details, text messages, caller id, emails and so on!

Overall, the Garmin Vivosmart HR+ Activity Tracker is a great option if you’re looking for a water resistant fitness tracker with a built-in heart rate monitor and location GPS. You can’t go wrong with it. Read This – Garmin Vivosmart HR+ Review

Waterproof rating: 5ATM (50m)

Garmin Vivoactive HR

Compared to a majority of other waterproof fitness trackers in the market, Garmin is serious when it comes to water proofing. The Vivoactive has a slim and lightweight design which comes with a 5 ATM rating, along with smart notifications, built-in GPS, a dedicated app for swimming, running, rowing, cycling, gold and much more.

Specifically for swimmers, it is one of the top fitness tracker for swimmers as it provides data on number of lanes swam, tracks total and interval distance swam, interval and length pace, strokes per length, temperature, distance count, stroke count, approximate calories burned, and swimming efficiency indicator (in house SWOLF rating).  The Interval Count allows the swimmer to pause and afterwards resume the training.

And a nice feature about the Vivoactive HR, it will alert you as you meet certain midway targets.

As well, it has great battery life which can last up to 3 weeks in a normal usages. As well it has a built in GPS tracker to record your running, biking, golfing, other activity tracking and as well monitor your sleep patterns including your restless sleep periods. Plus you can receive smart features to stay connected with phone calls, sms messages, social media accounts, updates on the weather and even control your music options.

The Garmin Vivoactive HR is a really nice multi-activity tracker!  Truly, it is a quality waterproof fitness tracker for swimming and other activities.

Waterproof rating: 5ATM (50m)

Apple Watch Series 2

Normally smartwatches don’t do fitness tracking well. Period. But the the Apple Watch Series 2 is one premium waterproof smartwatch with great tracking capabilities for swimmers.

Here’s what you get with the Apple Watch Series 2 – it can be used for recording a swim in both the pool and open water swimming, a heart rate sensor and as well, it has a GPS tracker built into the Apple watch. In other words, just set the Apple Watch Series 2 to ‘Indoor Pool’ in the ‘workout mode’ and swim your heart out. After a swim session, you will get a steady stream of data from style of swimming stroke, length of your stroke, distance swam, and average swim pace.

One note with the Apple Watch Series 2, if you want to monitor the progress of a swim you will have to raise you arm as the touchscreen will be in inactive mode.

With a battery life of around 8 hours of activity, this is a decent waterproof fitness tracker for swimmers, and will suit both men and women. And for the data junkies, your metrics can be synced and downloaded to the Apple Watch App and other compatible swimming apps.

Waterproof rating: 5ATM (50m)

TomTom Multi Gps Sports Watch

The TomTom Multi GPS Sports Watch can be strapped comfortably on the wrist to track your training and plan workout routes. What also makes this simple to use is the “One Button” function, which acts like a four way navigational pad. It literally makes navigating round the screen menu with ease and simplicity!

Hence for runners, cyclists and swimmers, this is a quality fitness wearable that tracks all 3 activities. In regards to swimming, the TomTom Multi Sports Watch does not use the GPS, instead it employs it’s own in-built accelerometer to measure SWOLF rating, the number of strokes, the type of swim stroke, number of laps swum, distance swum and of course the number of calories burnt off during a workout.  Note – the distance is calculated using the number of turns and then multiplied to the distance of the swimming pool (length of the pool must be calibrated before a swim).

However the only drawback, it does not have a built-in heart rate monitor.  But the TomTom Multi GPS Sports Watch is a great multi-purpose fitness tracker (with GPS) designed for athletes and superb for tracking cycling, swimming, running and interval training.

Waterproof rating: 5ATM (50m)

Polar V800

When it comes to swimming, this is definitely among the finest waterproof fitness trackers.

This device tracks your swimming performance effectively and is able to detect what your specific swimming style is automatically. The measurements of rest times, strokes, pace and distance are standard use case. There is a GPS integrated into the device and its dual-mode transmitter allows your heart rate to be measured even when you are under water. You can buy the Polar V800 GPS Sports Watch with Heart Rate Monitor at Amazon here.

Other performance features of note – it has Heart rate monitoring and it offers GPS enabled multi-sport training for serious triathletes, endurance type runners.

The Polar V800 is quite expensive, but it is a very popular device used among professional athletes and it is waterproof to a depth of 30 metres.

Waterproof rating: 3ATM (30m)

Mio Alpha 2

Another small player in the market, and you probably haven’t heard much about the Alpha 2 smartwatch unless you have been looking specifically for a waterproof fitness tracker. However, it comes with a 3 ATM rating along with a wide range of other monitoring features and a customisable display as well.

The neat feature of the Mio Alpha 2 is the heart rate training that helps runners, cyclists and swimmers to enhance their performance by keeping their exertion in check. The device comes with a heart rate monitor that records your EKG (no chest strap is needed), and the device has indicator lights that flashes a different color to show the heart rate zone you are training in. In addition, there are vibrating alerts that will prompt should you train ‘outside of’ or ‘drop off’ from one of the 5 training zones which ensure you are working toward the desired training effect. Plus the LCD is readable in bright sunlight conditions.

Also included are various timer apps that allow you to track your swimming performance. Unfortunately it has no in built GPS, and lacks some features found in other water resistance fitness trackers, but overall a good activity tracker for swimming.

Waterproof rating: 3ATM (30m)

Garmin Forerunner 920XT

This is another Garmin waterproof fitness tracker, the Forerunner 920XT, but a really top quality multi-sport purpose fitness tracker – everything you need in one premium device. Not only is this ideal for swimming, but this is fantastic for the serious triathletes and fitness buff who wants to monitor every bit of their open water swimming, cycling and running endurance.

It is the top of the line performance smart watch which incredibly can track seven activities bike, indoor cycling, run, indoor running, outdoor/open water swimming, indoor swimming and triathlon!

Other features in this fitness watch includes sleep tracking, step counting, calories burned, distance covered, monitoring of non movement activity, live tracking function and smartphone styled notification. Especially for swimmers, it can measure your stroke rate, distance and SWOLF score for swimming efficiency.

Plus you can calibrate two timers that allows you to time different sessions for specific training goals. For heart rate monitoring, the 920XT requires a chest strap for more pintpoint accuracy for high itensity training or heart rate zone training.

The Garmin Forerunner 920XT literally combines all the best features from all it’s product range into one super multi sport fitness tracker! What more do you want, especially for the fitness buffs and triathletes who switches their workout between bike, run and swim – this is the best waterproof fitness tracker.

Waterproof rating: 5ATM (50m)

Waterproof Fitness Tracker With No Heart Rate Monitor

Fitbit Flex 2

The much needed upgrade to the Fitbit Flex and Fitbit’s first ‘swim friendly’ fitness wristband! For Fitbit fans this is a huge bonus.

Whether it is for use in the swimming pool, ocean swimming or a shower, the Fitbit Flex 2 has a water resistant rating to a depth of 50m which includes a useful 5 day battery juice, LED light notifications/alerts, Smart Track and inter-changeable accessories. Activity tracking includes step counting, active distance, burnt calories, active minutes, auto-sleep tracking, smart alarm, smart notifications (call & text), idle alert and goal celebrations.

Plus Fitbit Flex 2 will track the 4 main swimming styles: freestyle, back-stroke, breast-stroke and butterfly. But if you are into stats and in depth analysis, the Fitbit Flex 2 is not for you.  The Flex 2 does not produce a comprehensive list of swim data, but it will record duration of a swim, distance swum and pace of a swim session.

The new Fitbit Flex 2 is really suited to the entry level and the casual swim club and someone who only wants a basic breakdown of a swim workout and daily activities. Read this – Fitbit Flex 2 Review

Waterproof rating: 5 ATM (50m)

Moov Now

The Moov NOW fitness watch is more than merely a tracker, it can count reps and it also offers built-in coaching which comes with a digital coarse voice coach that guides you through activities as you run, cycle, swim, cardio box, do bodyweight workouts and more- great for beginners learning their way round an exercise.   In regards to the inbuilt voice sports coaching, it is available for cycling, running, swimming and boxing sessions.

For example, if you needed to improve your cycling rhythm and tempo, the voice guidance will advise you to change gear for better performance.

The 7-minute workout is also a blast. It is an interval training based program using your body-weight for training.  No expensive gym membership is required.  As well, it has a database of various training blueprint with the intent to assist anyone to reach their fitness goals.  Plus the digital voice coach will keep track on the number of reps, and explain how to improve your performance as you progress to each level of difficulty.

Aside from day-to-day general activity monitoring it can also keep tabs of sleep patterns.

It’s small, lightweight and elegant design is equipped to provide metrics on how to improve your swimming efficiency and form in the device, can recognise your strokes and keep count on the number of strokes swum and lastly,  it has a 9-axis omni motion sensor to track and analyze all the movements in 3D. In fact it can measure a great range of motion than most fitness trackers – a huge positive.

The current generation Moov app comes with a dedicated swimming mode. All you need to remember to do is turn it on before you start your swim. After your swimming session is over, you will have a data on efficiency, distance per stroke, calories burned, stroke count and stroke rate, turn time, rest time, lap times and an overall indication of what your pool stamina is.  With a battery life of 6 months, this is a waterproof fitness tracker worth considering.

The drawback about the Moov Now is the Coaching requires a nearby smartphone, which can be troublesome to carry out while you train or swim.

Remember – you can also use it for walking, running, cycling, boxing and even more! Check Out Moov NOW at AmazonWaterproof rating: 0.3ATM (3m)

Garmin Swim

Garmin Swim is a nice device ideal for serious swimmers who would like to monitor the technique in the pool more than other types of activities. It is designed for pool training. It records stroke type, strokes per minute, distance covered, pace, total swimming time, time per 100m and approximate calories burned in the process.  And you can wirelessly upload your swimming data online directly to Garmin Connect for further analysis. This waterproof fitness tracker allows you to focus on your training instead of what lap you’re on.

The Garmin Swim Watch can also be used a standard watch, and it has a battery life of around 12 months.

Waterproof rating: 5ATM (50m)

Swimovate PoolMate Live

Swimovate’s has an impressive host of waterproof fitness trackers on offer – but for the purpose of this article let’s focus on “Poolmate Live”, which is a quality swim device that features solid tracking functions for swimming, and best of all, affordably priced.

With Poolmate Live, it will automatically track and calculate the swimmer’s arm movements to record the number of laps, type of stroke, length of stroke, rate of stroke, distance swam, calories burnt, speed, efficiency and rest time. After a swim workout, your metrics can be sycned to the PC or Mac for analysis – but you will need to pay extra for the download clip.

However, the fitness tracker does not have any GPS built into the device, but the positive things about this wearable, you can swim with the Swimovate Poolmate Live in open water and in the pool! Do note though, if you are a keen open water swimmer, please update the software at every opportunity for the latest version.

And for those who wants a heart rate sensor, you will require a PoolMate HR chest strap.

A great innovation of this fitness watch which helps set it apart from other swim wearables is the goal oriented vibrating alarm. This unique vibrating function will alert you when you have met a certain target like lap numbers, distance of a swim session or interval times. Seriously, this is a nice innovation to help a swimmer stay focused and motivated.

As well, the PoolMate Live has Battery life of between 6 to 12 months.