Swimming and watersports are both great ways to get some extra activity into your day. If you’re trying to get more active or you’re trying to lose weight, then it’s only natural that you would want to track your progress. One of the best ways to do that is to have a good quality waterproof smart watch.
Now, as a diver you would probably want a dedicated dive watch, but waterproof smartwatches are a great piece of gear when your hanging out around the boat or beaches, or if you are going on a snorkel trip.
Smartwatches are getting more and more popular as time goes on - they aren’t just for tracking steps any more!
As you may imagine though, a lot more brands are creating their smartwatches, so the market is saturated with so many different options. If you’re struggling to find the best waterproof smartwatch for you, don’t worry!
We’ve compiled a list of the best waterproof smartwatches and included a handy buyer’s guide further below to help guide your decision making process.
5 Best Waterproof Smartwatches for Water Activities Reviews
BEST OVERALL
Pros
- Waterproof up to 50 meters
- Can use it to store up to 300 songs
- Comes with more than 15 exercise modes
Cons
- Doesn’t have a built in GPS
FitBit is one of the most well known brands out there when it comes to fitness watches. The Fitbit Versa Smart Watch is one of the best waterproof smartwatches on the market and it’s also incredibly affordable!
Despite the lower cost of this device, you will get a whole host of fantastic features. The watch is waterproof up to 50 meters, comes with 15 different exercise presets. Not only that, but it can also track all of your activity and sleep around the clock.
You can use it to store up to 300 songs too, so you can listen to music while you get a work out in. The watch is fairly lightweight too, so it doesn’t weigh down your wrist.
The FitBit also comes with a female health tracking feature too, which is ideal for women wanting to get more in sync with their menstrual cycle. You can even choose from 500 or so apps. Unfortunately this device is lacking a GPS.
EDITORS FAVORITE
Garmin VivoActive 3
Pros
- Waterproof up to 50 meters
- In depth work out tracking
- Comes with a preloaded swimming app
Cons
- Doesn’t have any onboard storage
The Garmin Vivoactive 3 is waterproof up to 50 meters, which already makes it a great choice for a waterproof smartwatch.
Not only that, but it’s ideal for people that are really into their fitness. This versatile smartwatch comes with a built in GPS, and you can use it to monitor all sorts of stats, from your heart rate, to your stress levels and all of the other key metrics you need for a healthy lifestyle.
The watch is very attractive, with a modern look and an analog style face, which you are able to change if you wish to do so. The watch is easy to use, and it even has a contactless payment feature. You can download up to 1600 compatible apps.
In addition to this, the watch comes with a preloaded swimming app that will allow you to keep track of your swimming metrics.
If you are a keen swimmer then this is certainly a big selling point. It should be noted that the watch doesn’t come with any onboard storage, which may be a little off putting for some.
BEST VALUE
Garmin Forerunner 235
Pros
- Lightweight
- Fantastic health and fitness tracking
- Affordable
- Good value for money
- Decent battery life
Cons
- The watch does not have a touch screen.
This is yet another fantastic Garmin model. The Garmin Forerunner is a slightly older smartwatch, but it’s more than good enough for people looking for a reliable waterproof smartwatch.
The watch is ideal if you wish to track your running. Not only that, but you can use to to keep track of your heart rate, calories and so much more.
It comes with four main presets, including run, run indoor, cycle and ‘other.’ If you are outdoors the Forerunner will track your location using the inbuilt GPS.
This is a very affordable model if you are looking to save a little money. It’s also pretty lightweight, despite the larger face on the watch.
As it is a slightly older model, the watch does not have a touchscreen, which may take a little getting used to! It’s also aimed more towards fitness than viewing online notifications, so you should keep this in mind.
MOST STYLISH
Apple Watch Series 4
Pros
- GPS connectivity
- Waterproof up to 50 meters
- Large display size
Cons
- Cannot be used with other smartphones
You really can’t go wrong with an Apple product, especially if you already have an iPhone. This particular watch features a big display, allowing you to see all of your apps with crystal clear quality.
Never has a workout been so enjoyable as it is with the Apple Watch Series 4.
If you are a keen swimmer or watersports fanatic, the Apple Watch Series 4 is a great choice for you. This handy gadget features automatic workout detection and even a water lock system.
Its water rating is 5 ATM, meaning that it can be submerged underwater up to 50 meters in total. When you aren’t swimming, you can use the watch to check on your notifications, calls and texts on the go.
The watch features GPS connectivity, which means that you can use it to track your location and see where you are going much more easily. It uses electrical and optical heart sensors in order to detect your heart rate as you are on the move too.
Of course, the biggest issue with the Apple watch is that you simply cannot use it with any other phone other than an Apple phone/ So, if you are an avid Android user, this is certainly not the choice for you.
RUGGED & DURABLE
Samsung Gear S3 Frontier
Pros
- Good battery life
- Attractive design
- Can be used both with iOS and Android
Cons
- Bulky
If Apple just isn’t your style, we have a solution - the Samsung Gear S3 Frontier is a smartwatch that’s just as good for a lot less money!
This military grade watch is incredibly durable, and can resist any dust, water and temperatures you throw at it. It is water resistant up to 5 feet up to 30 minutes total.
You can use the Samsung Gear S3 with all sorts of devices, including Android, Apple and Samsung phones. It should be noted that you won’t get all of the features when you pair it with an iPhone, and for the best productivity you are better off pairing it with a Samsung Galazy smart phone.
The phone also has an incredibly 2 to 3 day battery life on just one charge.
You can also use the device with Samsung Pay, and with the GPS. You can also use it to track your workouts, step counts and your sleep quality. Definitely a great choice for a fitness enthusiast!
Waterproof Smartwatch Buying Guide
So, those are just a few of the best waterproof smartwatches on the market.
Now that you’ve seen your options, how do you choose between them? Here are just a few of the key things that you should think about when you are buying a waterproof smartwatch.
Waterproof vs Water Resistant
You may not know this, but waterproof and water resistant are not words that are synonymous with each other. They are both different things and understanding the difference between the two is key to making sure that you make the right choice for you.
To put it in laymans terms, a water resistant smartwatch, or anything else that is supposed to be water resistant, should handle a smidge of water on occasion but unfortunately it will not be suitable for underwater activities and being submerged.
So if you want to wear it in the bathtub or you want to wear it swimming, you’re out of luck if the smartwatch is only water resistant. In essence, there are measures in place to ensure that no water gets into the electrical parts.
Waterproof is also often misunderstood, because not everything is the same degree of ‘waterproof’. For instance, there are some products that will have more waterproof capabilities than others.
For this reason, it’s important that you clarify how waterproof the smartwatch actually is. Check the waterproof rating to see how deep in the water the smartwatch can go before it gets damaged.
Other Features
The chances are, you aren’t just buying a smartwatch to track your laps.
You want it for a range of different purposes, so here are some extra things you should think about.
Notifications
One of the coolest things about smartwatches is that they essentially allow you to use your mobile device without carrying a hefty phone around with you everywhere.
Answering texts and calls?
You can simply click a button on your smartwatch to do so, looking like a secret agent in the process.
Not all smartwatches are made equally, however. Some can display notifications from calls and texts and will even let you respond to them. Others will let you see them but not respond.
Some will allow you to see your social media and calendar notifications, others will not. You need to make sure that the smart watch you have in mind has all of the notification functions that you desire, as no two watches are made equally.
Battery Life
In order for a smartwatch to be effective, it needs to be alive. If the battery dies after 0.00005 seconds, then it’s no use to you.
Some smartwatches will have a poor battery life of around half a day, whereas there are some others that can ask days or weeks at a time. Of course, the battery life is going to depend on a few things, such as your usage and what exactly you are doing on the smartwatch.
So, it’s important to check the battery life in advance, especially if you plan on using the smartwatch often. If you are going to use the smartwatch to log a few laps of swimming then a shorter battery life may not be an issue.
If you want to do a multiple day long hiking trail, then you may want something that can survive for longer periods of time.
Phone Compatibility
Smartwatches are usually designed with a pre existing kind of phone in mind, so it’s important that you make sure that the smartwatch you are thinking of buying is compatible with your phone.
For instance, an Apple Watch is only compatible with - you guessed it - Apple phones. Likewise, a Galaxy Watch is designed for Galaxy phones (though some will allow you to use Android Watches with Apple Apps).
Some other smartwatches are designed to be used on all sorts of different smartphones. For instance, FitBit devices can generally be used on both Android and iPhone.
Design
Let’s be honest here - whenever we’re looking for an electronic device, we’re looking at it’s surface attractiveness first.
What does the watch look like, do you find it appealing? Smartwatch manufacturer’s are making their designs in all sorts of different shapes and sizes these days, so you have a lot to choose from.
To put it simply, there are three main types of smartwatch currently in the market. These types are the round shape smartwatch, the square shape smartwatch and the rectangular shape smartwatch.
Then you will either get a classic or a digital smart watch. You will usually find classic design smartwatches in the round shape. Digital smartwatches can come in pretty much any shape.
Sometimes you can even change the appearance of the smartwatch, allowing you to transform a classic smartwatch into a digital design smartwatch instead.
In addition to this, pretty much every smartwatch on the market comes with two straps, buttons on the side for functionality and a heart rate sensor positioned on the back.
Color
You may not find the color of your watch all that important, but if you are looking for a final deciding factor on which watch to go for, it’s certainly worth thinking about one that has a design that you enjoy!
It’s possible to change your watch’s face based on a number of different themes available, but you can also choose the color of the body and straps of your device.
You can get both in a range of colors. As far as the body is concerned, the main colors you may see include gold, black, metal black, rose gold and white.
You can also look at some online retailers if you want to change the straps. You can find a range of different designs to match your personal style!
Sensors
One handy feature that most smartwatches have is the ability to track your health data. You can use your smartwatch to track metrics from your workouts, which can make it ideal if you are looking to improve your fitness.
Naturally, the more sensors that the smartwatch has, the more data about yourself you will be able to see.
Some of the main things included in smartwatches including the following: HRM, Accelerometer, gyroscope and GPS. The HRM is the main one to look out for, as this will monitor the heart bears per minute when you are exercising, allowing you to see if your heart rate is in the right zone to achieve your goals.
The accelerometer can track your steps, in addition to the calories burned and the way you sleep. A gyroscope is important for tracking things like cycling and other rotational movements, while the GPS will track where you are and how far you move. It can even show you your destination.
Display
Ultimately the display size is largely dependent on the overall size of the watch you are getting. You should make sure that you get a watch that can fit with your wrist size that will look and feel good on you.
Of course, it should certainly be noted that if you have a larger screen you will get a little bit more flexibility when you are looking through the apps. You can do more things with the watch and you will see the apps a lot easier.
There are a range of different display sizes based on the shape and design of your watch as a whole. For instance, a wrist band smartwatch has the smallest display of all.
There aren’t many customization options with these watches, though some will allow you to change the appearance and the arrangement of your display.
Convenience
Some of the other features that smartwatches can offer can be handy too.
For instance, do you want to be able to answer calls and texts right from your wrist? You can certainly do that with some smartwatches, but not all of them have this feature. You can also use the watch to make mobile payments too.
All you need to do is put your wrist on a card reader and away you go - no credit card required.