Waterproof Activity Tracker – Top 5 Fitness Watch Under $150
Update – 12 April 2017 :: New Additions Fitbit Flex 2 and Swimovate Poolmate
For those of you who enjoy fitness, particularly in the water, a waterproof activity tracker could be exactly what you’ve been looking for. Many people believe fitness trackers to be extremely expensive, when in reality, there are many trackers that can be purchased for under $150. So for our readers who like to swim, run and cycle, here’s a look at just five waterproof fitness watch bands:
Best Waterproof Fitness Tracker For Less Than $150 – The Top 5
Garmin VivoSmart HR
Garmin Vivosmart HR – First on our list we’ll take a look at the Garmin Vivosmart. Garmin fitness trackers are renowned for their electronic devices, and the Vivosmart is no exception. Coming in at around $145, the Vivosmart HR is ideal for people with a keen interest in watersports and physical activity. This band is sleek and comfortable to wear, there is a display which is constantly on, the device allows you to control music via a smart device, alerts you of incoming smartphone notifications (sms, calls, emails and more), and plenty more.
For health and fitness purposes, the tracker displays calories, steps taken, floors climbed, distance covered, heart rate and quality of zeds. For those who enjoy getting in the water, the device is also water resistant for up to 50 metres.If you want a GPS in your Vivosmart, check out the review of the Garmin Vivosmart HR+, the latest upgrade to the popular Vivosmart.
Garmin Swim
Garmin Swim – With a name like Swim, as you might expect, this waterproof activity tracker is especially beneficial for those who like to get their heads wet, and focus on training and swim technique. The device resembles a watch, it records lengths swam, distance covered, pace stroke counts, and more besides. It is resistant up to 50 metres, it has a twelve-month battery life, and it even wirelessly uploads to Garmin connect via ANT. At around $133, this fitness watch is a swimmer’s best friend, and you can also wear it as a sports watch to read time and more. A true fitness tracker for swimming.
Fitbit Flex 2
Fitbit Flex 2 – The first actual Fitbit waterproof fitness tracker built for land and swim. Yippy – I can hear from the Fitbit fans.
With the Flex 2, you can track your swim use in the pool, open water swimming or bath with it. The Flex 2 has a waterproof rating to depths of 50 meters and has a handy 5 to 6 day battery life, and includes LED light alerts or prompts, Smart Track and sleek inter-changeable bands.
The Fitbit Flex 2 can also record active step, active distance walked, calories burnt, your active minutes, whole day sleep tracking, a smart alarm, basic smart notifications (call & text), an alert to prompt you to move and goal achievement celebrations.
In addition, Fitbit Flex 2 will auto recognise four swimming strokes: freestyle, back-stroke, butter-fly to breast-stroke. And if you are a data nut, the Flex 2 will not provide a comprehensive metrics to a swim session but it will track the swim duration, swimming distance and swimming pace.
The Fitbit Flex 2 will suit the beginners and the casual swimmers … and individuals who wants the flexibility of both land and water training for general well-being.
Swimovate Poolmate Live
Swimovate Poolmate Live – With a battery life of between 6 to 12 months, this little known brand has a nice array of waterproof fitness trackers built for swimmers and best of well, it is well priced.
The Poolmate Live will automatically monitor a swimmer’s strokes and record lap numbers, style of stroke, stroke length, rate of swim stroke, distance swum, calories swam off, pace, swim efficiency and rest period. In regards to the data, you can sync the device to a PC/Mac for in-depth analysis – but an extra purchase is needed for a download clip.
Unfortunately, the Swimovate Poolmate Live lacks any kind of GPS, but it can be used in ocean water or at your local swimming pool!
If you do require a heart rate sensor, you will need to purchase a PoolMate Heart-Rate chest strap.
A nice innovation built into this waterproof fitness tracker is the goal target vibrating alarm – which will vibrate when a goal such as lap numbers, distance swum or even interval times are reached. For sure, this is quite a unique feature to help any swimmer stay focused.
Garmin Vivoactive
Garmin Vivoactive – The Garmin Vivoactive is a waterproof fitness watch that is ideal for somebody looking for a relatively basic, straight-to-the-point, fitness tracker without all of the fancy thrills associated with other devices. The watch features a built-in GPS tracking device, it has the feel and the appearance of a smart watch, and it is perfect for dedicated fitness lovers that are perhaps not quite as into technology as they are fitness.
Ok, it doesn’t look too attractive as it looks like a geek’s watch from the early 90’s, but with that said, it functions very well. The screen is an LCD panel which is 204 x 148 which is also a colour screen. The device is always on provided the battery is charged, and it is compatible with both Android, and IOS devices. You can track running, walking, cycling, golfing, and of course, swimming workouts, making this device ideal. You can track times, calories burnt, heart rate, and much more. Plus the Vivoactive offers incoming messaging alerts from your smartphone. You can also download the Garmin mobile app and really get the most out of this great waterproof activity tracker watch.
