7 Best Watches for Swimming (Review) 2020

True to its name the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 is an active-feature loaded smartwatch. It’s functions include automatic workout tracking, an accurate heart rate monitor, and even a Running Coach function that gives workout advice in real time. It is an excellent watch for swimming athletes.

The Galaxy Watch Active 2 is housed in a lightweight aluminum case with the tough Gorilla Glass DX+ protecting its dial, and a  strap made of a strong chemical resistant synthetic rubber called fluoroelastomer. It also boasts military grade shock resistance perfect for rigorous training. 

The design of the dial of the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 is very clear with ts default watch face showing very large digits for easy reading in the water or straight out of it.

The Garmin Forerunner 945 is another excellent athletic watch for swimming. Among its features is a status Training Status function which is designed for optimum training performance. Included in this function are heat, altitude acclimation status, training load focus, recovery time and aerobic and anaerobic training effects.

The Forerunner 945 has 3 different battery modes: a smartwatch mode which allows for up to 2 weeks battery life, a 30 hour GPS mode, and a 60 hour UltraTrac or training mode. This allows for efficient use of battery power, especially in swims remote locations for extended periods of time.

This smartwatch is housed in fiber reinforced polymer with a Corning Gorilla Glass 3 + DX coating and rests comfortably on the wrist with a silicone band. The Forerunner 945 is a heavy-duty watch that could keep up with the intense training of athletic swimming.

Compared to the previous entries, the Apple Watch Series 5 is a smartwatch marketed not as an athletic smartwatch, but a watch fit for day to day use. While it still has athletic features like its optical and electrical heart sensors, most of its features are for more casual swimmers. 

However, Apple watches can be fitted with a host of apps from the Apple Store. The functions may not be as effective as specialized athletic watches for swimming, but these apps allow your casual day to day smartwatch to be used for sports. Having the option to download apps also allows for more variation.

Housed in the aluminum case and sapphire crystal of the Apple Watch Series 5 is a powerful 64-bit dual-core processor with 32GB memory, and an Apple watchOS 5. This microcomputer is powered by a lithium-ion battery with up to 18h of battery life, which is relatively short compared to others on this list. It makes up for this shorter life through its formidable set of features. Its LTPO OLED retina-display makes this watch easily readable even underwater.

The Polar Vantage V is another smartwatch specifically designed for athletic use. It has multiple athletic programs geared towards cross-training athletes. The general training features along with its swimming and running programs collect a hefty amount of data which include distances, heart rates, and even calories.

The Polar Vantage V is marketed as a heavy duty triathlon watch, promising military grade durability, and a 40 hour battery life. Training for triathlons demand quite a lot from the athlete and the Polar Vantage V is a watch that intends to keep up with the rigors involved. 

The Vantage V is encased in stainless steel which makes it slightly larger and heavier than the other entries on this list, but makes up for it in increased durability and increased functionality. The large dial also allows for increased readability during a swim.

Famous for its pioneering of wrist-strapped fitness gadgets, Fitbit has entered the smartwatch space with the affordable yet robust Fitbit Ionic Watch. Most of its features like the heart rate monitor and swim tracker are available on other entries on this list, but what makes it stand out is its copyrighted SmartTrack function.

SmartTrack automatically recognizes and records data on activities that the user does, giving accurate statistics of your workouts and daily activities including your heart rate, respiration, and calories through the day. 

The Ionic Watch is housed in an aluminum case and Corning Gorilla Glass much like other pricier watches on the list, and beats most of them through a multi-day battery life. What makes it stand out is that it only asks for almost half the price.

The Timex Ironman Sleek 150 is a digital watch that could compete fairly well with the Smartwatches on our list. While its digital interface and quartz battery make it extremely affordable, it manages to carve a niche in the market among more high-tech swimming watches through basic exercise features.

Ironman Sleek 150’s features include a target time pacer, lap management system, lap memory, chronograph, and 199-lap counter. These features come in a simple but hardy all-resin case and band covered by acrylic glass. It is also water resistant up to 100m which means it can also be used for more demanding water activities like snorkeling.

The main advantage of the Timex Ironman Sleek 150 is its price. It can not keep up with the microcomputers and the technology inside modern smartwatches, but for the swimmer who doesn’t need any expensive features, the Ironman Sleek 150 is the way to go.

The Seiko Prospex Diver Chronograph is the fashionable choice among the watches on this list. Its only features are a 24 hour hand and a chronograph, but its beautiful design, water resistance, and practically limitless battery life make this watch worthwhile. It’s just the right watch for the casual swimmer.

The Prospex Diver Chronograph is, as its name implies, a diver’s watch. It has a water resistance of 200m making it sturdy enough to withstand swimming, snorkeling, jet skiing, and diving. The movement of the Prospex Diver is powered by solar energy, eliminating the need to charge and giving its quartz battery a much longer battery life even compared to other quartz powered watches, which usually have batteries lasting up to 5 years.

Swimming in the Prospex Diver Chronograph, while limited in its athletic capabilities, deserves a place on our list as it serves swimmers who are much more into making a statement on the beach than fine tuning their athleticism.