Measure Out Your Next Swim With the Best Waterproof Fitness Trackers of 2024

Not all of the best fitness trackers can stand up to deeper waters. Whether it’s for swimming, diving, or water aerobics, you’ll need something that can handle moisture—and a lot of it. 

That’s why for this roundup, we’ve tested and gathered together our picks for the best waterproof fitness trackers. From watches and bands to rings and goggles, we’ve compiled a variety of options to suit your aquatic activities.

Although our team at Garage Gym Reviews lives above sea level, we still have the expertise in fitness to provide you with the best information on these waterproof fitness trackers. We’ve got a team of certified personal trainers, competitive athletes, coaches, and other experts ready to give you our honest and expert opinions on wearable fitness technology.

When testing out these waterproof fitness trackers, we noted their water resistance, then rated them scores of 1 to 5 in these features:

• Aesthetics and design: What colorways and designs are available?
• Adjustability: Does the sizing and fit accommodate different people?
• Technological Capabilities: What metrics and other features does the fitness tracker incorporate?
• Durability: How is the fitness tracker built out? And what’s the battery life?
• Value: Does the price make sense for the features and functionality you’re getting?

So let’s adjust our flippers and goggles and dive right into the best waterproof fitness trackers.

The 9 Best Waterproof Fitness Trackers

• Best Waterproof Fitness Tracker Overall: Fitbit Sense 2
• Best Waterproof Smartwatch: Apple Watch Series 9
• Best Waterproof Fitness Tracker for Triathletes: Garmin Forerunner 265
• Best Waterproof Fitness Tracker Ring: Oura Ring Gen 3
• Best Budget Waterproof Fitness Tracker: Fitbit Inspire 3
• Best Waterproof Fitness Tracker for Beginners: Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 7
• Best Waterproof Fitness Tracker for Swimming: FORM Smart Swim 2 Goggles
• Best Waterproof Fitness Tracker for Android Users: Samsung Galaxy Watch5
• Best Waterproof Fitness Tracker for Diving: Garmin fēnix 7X Sapphire Solar

Best Waterproof Fitness Tracker Overall: Fitbit Sense 2

Good for: Swimmers looking for a well-rounded fitness tracker that can handle swimming workouts

Best Overall

Fitbit Sense 2

GGR Score: 4.15

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Product Highlights

• Smart watch and fitness tracker with a square screen
• Fitbit’s most advanced smartwatch
• Tracks exercise, sleep, heart rate, and stress
• Features cEDA, ECG, red, and infrared sensors
• Available in 3 colors

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Tracks your sleep and provides sleep score
• Fast charge—get 1 day of battery with 12 minute charge
• Amazon Alexa assistant built-in
• Includes 6 months of Fitbit Premium
• cEDA sensors to track stress
• Built-in GPS for phone-free workouts
• High and low heart rate notifications

Cons

• Google account required
• Full functionality—like readiness score—requires Fitbit Premium
• No music controls
• Customer reviews frustrated with customer support
• Reviews state the advertised battery life is not accurate

Bottom Line

The Fitbit Sense 2 is FitBit’s most advanced tracker designed to help users manage their fitness and stress better. It can track exercise, sleep, heart rate, and stress. Most reviews for this watch were positive. Customers disliked that some features and data required a Fitbit Premium subscription.

If you’re looking for a smartwatch fitness tracker that tracks tons of workouts and metrics and can handle your swim workouts, I’d recommend going with the Fitbit Sense 2, our best overall pick and rated for up to 50 meters of water resistance. GGR Head of Content and certified personal trainer Nicole Davis has used quite a few fitness trackers through the years, and really enjoys the Sense 2.

RELATED: Fitbit Promo Code

“I’ve had several other fitness trackers in the past, including an Apple Watch, the Fitbit Inspire 3, and the Garmin Forerunner 245, and I think the Fitbit Sense 2 is my favorite of them,” Nicole says. “The amount of stuff this thing tracks is crazy, and I really like to be able to look at my stats to see trends in my health and activity,” she adds, rating the tracker’s technological capabilities a 4.5 out of 5.

What can the Fitbit Sense 2 do? It tracks your heart rate, sleep, workouts, calories, steps, blood oxygen, ECG, and more. Most notably, Nicole says the stress management score is a unique feature, giving you a score based on other metrics it’s measuring. It also gives call and text notifications. 

“It actually reminds me of an Apple Watch,” Nicole says on the look of the Sense. She rates the aesthetics and design a 4 out of 5, though, as the watch face is just a bit larger than she’d prefer. Still, people wanting a smartwatch without the Apple Watch price might look into this option, as it earns a 4 out of 5 for its value. Nicole found it on sale on Amazon for $250…and that price is still there as of this writing.

Best Waterproof Smartwatch: Apple Watch Series 9

Good for: iPhone users who want to track their health and fitness metrics

Best Smartwatch

Apple Watch Series 9

GGR Score: 4.51

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Product Highlights

• Pricing starts at $399
• 18-hour battery life
• Seamless integration with other Apple devices
• Tracks heart rate and steps
• Can track body temperature and energy expenditure
• Optional data plan available
• Added data unlocks calls and texts without your phone

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Tracks heart rate, body temperature, ECG readings, and more
• Stream music, calls, and texts with a data plan
• Works seamlessly with other Apple products

Cons

• Battery only lasts up to 18 hours
• Sensors don't work well with tattooed skin
• Not much different from previous models

Bottom Line

The Apple Watch Series 9 is a fantastic smart watch with integrated health and fitness tracking, especially for those who use other Apple products. The battery isn't very long, and the design hasn't changed much over the years, but this is a great choice for those who want a smartwatch that functions like a small iPhone.

Very few people want to dive into a pool with their smartphone. For people wanting to track their swim workouts while still having their iPhone at hand, I recommend the Apple Watch Series 9—don’t worry Android users; we have you covered later on.

Rated for a depth of 50 meters, the Apple Watch is perfect for pool swimming sessions where you may want to text your coach (or friend) in between laps. GGR Staff Writer Matt Dustin, CES, PN1-NC, uses the Series 9 and says, “The Apple Watch does nearly everything an iPhone can do. There are way too many cool things to list.”

Still, I’m going to try. The Apple Watch can track tons of metrics: heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen, ECG, step count, calories, and more. Along with this, you can download and add countless Apple and third-party apps to the watch to optimize its functionality. “It’s literally like a small iPhone on your wrist…minus the camera,” Matt adds, rating the technological capabilities a 5 out of 5.

The iconic square shape of the Apple Watch has mixed reviews, according to Matt. “I think for most people, you either love it or you hate it. Still, I like it, even though I’d prefer a round watch face instead of a square one.” He rates the design and look of the watch a 4 out of 5.

The Apple Watch Series 9 is rated for 50 meters of depth, but it still isn’t the most durable watch. Matt says, “I use a screen protector on the watch, but it still seems a little fragile. It’s gotten some dings from clanging around with dumbbells in my garage gym,” he adds, rating the durability a 4 out of 5.

It still earns a 5 out of 5 in its value, although Matt emphasizes its value is highest if you’re already using Apple products. Between $399 and over $700, it could still be out of some people’s budgets, though.

Best Waterproof Fitness Tracker for Triathletes: Garmin Forerunner 265

Good for: Triathletes looking for a fitness tracker that can endure a multitude of environments

Best for Triathletes

Garmin Forerunner 265

GGR Score: 4.3

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Product Highlights

• Fitness tracking watch designed for runners
• Up to 15 days of battery in smartwatch mode
• Comes in 2 sizes
• Tracks heart rate, sleep, stress levels, hydration, and more
• Morning report feature presents readiness levels

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Long battery life
• Multiple sizes
• Available in 6 colors
• Morning report feature presents readiness levels

Cons

• Pricier fitness tracker
• No wireless charging option

Bottom Line

The Forerunner 265 is one of Garmin’s latest fitness trackers for runners, available in six colors and two different sizes. It has a few more features than the Forerunner 165, but not as many as the 965, which gives it a middle-of-the-road price. Along with heart rate monitoring and sleep insights, the morning report presents readiness levels, each day.

We like the Forerunner 265 for triathletes as it comes equipped with an actual function to measure triathlons and similar workouts. Plus, with a water resistance rating of 5 ATM, this Garmin fitness tracker is well suited to withstand surface-level swimming for extended periods of time.

Along with triathlon tracking, it can cover each part individually—biking, running, and swimming—and tons of other activities and workouts like strength training, HIIT, Pilates, yoga, hiking, climbing, archery, boxing, mixed martial arts, inline skating, and many team sports in and out of the pool.

Certified personal trainer and Senior Staff Writer Lauren Strong rates the technological capabilities a 4 out of 5, saying, “This smartwatch can do a ton of stuff; I don’t know if my husband or I could ever get through using all of the features available.” Along with the many activities the Forerunner tracks, it also measures heart rate, respiration, sleep, hydration, menstrual cycles, recovery, stress, calories, and steps. That’s a lot of functionality in a watch.

Lauren rates the look of the watch a 4.5 out of 5, saying, “It has a big watch face with neon numbers, but it actually looks pretty neutral for a smartwatch.” 

Still, with its sharp look, Lauren wishes it was a bit more adjustable, giving the watch only a 3.5 out of 5. It comes in two display sizes—42 or 46 millimeters—and Lauren got the larger of the two, which her husband mostly tested, as it was too small for her wrist. Still, the watch’s band was only on the last couple holes on her husband’s wrist, making Lauren wish there was a larger band. 

Larger triathletes may have to look for adjustable bands on Amazon to make this smartwatch work, although for the many metrics it can cover, it might be worth the slight inconvenience.

Read our Garmin Forerunner 265 review for a more in-depth look.

Best Waterproof Fitness Tracker Ring: Oura Ring Gen 3

Good for: Swimmers who prefer a ring over a wristwatch or band tracker

Best Ring

Oura Ring

GGR Score: 4.2

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Product Highlights

• Measures your heart rate, oxygen saturation levels, and skin temperature
• Over time, it can track your sleep patterns and suggest improvements
• Battery lasts 7 days and can fully charge in 20 minutes
• Can help you find your balance between activity and recovery
• Water resistant up to 100 m

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Long battery life
• Fast charging
• No membership required

Cons

• May develop scratches with daily wear
• Limited statistics without membership
• Comparably expensive

Bottom Line

If you are looking for a fitness tracker that is more subtle and sleek than a traditional wrist tracker, the Oura Ring is a great alternative option.

WIthstanding pressures at depths of 100 meters, the Oura Ring is one of the more waterproof options on our list. Also, it’s a fitness tracker ring, meaning it can often feel less clunky than a watch or band.

Morgan, a former NCAA Division 1 swimmer and partner of GGR Performance Editor Anthony O’Reilly, has used the Oura Ring for a while now and loves its convenience, saying, “I can easily forget I’m wearing a fitness tracker sometimes. Plus, the seven-day battery means I don’t have to worry about charging it every single day.” It receives a 4.5 out of 5 for its durability.

She’s used it for sleep tracking, which in my experience is what the Oura Ring is most popular for. I myself used it leading up to the Tokyo Olympics held in 2021. For sleep insights, the Oura Ring gives you a score based on your REM cycles, heart rate, and heart rate variability (HRV) during the night, as well as tracking wakeful moments. This sleep score then also gives you a recovery score to see how prepared you are for the day. I found it very useful to gauge and adjust my workouts as needed.

In addition to these metrics, the Oura Ring measures your body temperature, calories, blood oxygen, and more, earning it a 4.5 out of 5 for technological capabilities.

The ring obviously isn’t large enough to have its own display, so you’ll need the app on your smart device, which unfortunately has a monthly subscription. The cost is just under $6 per month, so it’s not a terrible price, but any subscription may deter some users. Still, for its sleep tracking alone, this waterproof ring may be worth the cost. You can check out our Oura Ring review for more info.

Best Budget Waterproof Fitness Tracker: Fitbit Inspire 3

Good for: Active consumers looking for an inexpensive tracker still packed with tons of metrics

Best Budget

Fitbit Inspire 3

GGR Score: 4.42

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Product Highlights

• Affordable fitness tracker
• 3 colorways 
• Additional bands available for purchase
• Up to 10 days battery life
• Water resistant up to 50 m
• Tracks heart rate, steps, blood oxygen, and more
• Provides sleep and stress scores 

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Under $100
• 10 days of battery life
• Water resistant
• Color touchscreen
• Multiple colorways

Cons

• Small screen
• Needs to be connected to your phone for GPS
• Syncing to phone requires internet connection

Bottom Line

The Fitbit Inspire 3 is an affordable fitness tracker that still tracks a variety of activities and metrics—although the data is more basic than some more robust trackers. The Inspire 3 improves upon the design and aesthetic of the Inspire 2 with a streamlined look and color touchscreen. Additionally, it’s added a blood oxygen measurement feature, something that the Inspire line didn’t have up to this point.

The Fitbit Inspire 3 is a basic fitness tracker with more-than-basic metrics. Still, it costs less than $100, making it a great pick for those who aren’t looking to drop hundreds of dollars on a smartwatch.

Nicole Davis, CPT, PN1-NC, and GGR Head of Content, tried out the Fitbit Inspire 3. Having been a long-time user of the Fitbit Inspire 2, she likes the upgraded version, rating it a 4.5 out of 5 for its aesthetics and design. “Having used the Sense 2 and the Apple Watch in the past, I really like the slim look of this tracker.” She continues, “I also like the Inspire 3’s different color ptions, and that they updated the touchscreen to color.”

Compared to the Inspire 2, most of the upgrades dealt with the design and aesthetics, although the Inspire 3 tracks another metric that the previous generation didn’t: blood oxygen. It earns a 4.5 out of 5 for its technological capabilities. Nicole explains, “It does basically everything more advanced smartwatches can do, but in a smaller package.”

The tracker comes with two band sizes; the smaller one fit Nicole fine, while the larger band fit her husband’s wrist well. She rates the adjustability a 4 out of 5. “It’s very easy to switch the bands in and out,” Nicole adds.

One drawback is that the GPS isn’t built-in; instead, you’ll have to connect to your smartphone for GPS mapping. Still, this is a powerful fitness tracker with tons of metrics, and its 5 ATM water resistance makes it a budget-friendly waterproof device ideal for swimming and pool exercises.

Best Waterproof Fitness Tracker for Beginners: Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 7

Good for: Swimmers looking for an inexpensive way to track basic metrics and workouts

Best for Beginners

Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 7

GGR Score: 4.1

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Product Highlights

• Fitness tracker band
• Tracks heart rate, SpO2, sleep, and menstrual health
• Over 110 workout modes
• Water resistant to 50 m

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Budget-friendly
• 110+ workout profiles
• Color touchscreen
• Water resistant to 50 m
• Long battery life

Cons

• Website and customer service is difficult to navigate
• Metrics aren't as accurate as other competitors

Bottom Line

The Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 7 is a fitness tracker that boasts over 110 workout modes. This fitness tracker tracks basic metrics, and at a competitive price of under $50. While the tracker isn't as accurate as other trackers (according to customer reviews), this is a solid option for beginners new to tracking their fitness.

If you’re new to tracking your health and workouts with a fitness tracker, then the Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 7 is a solid option. At under $50 and boasting more than 110 sports modes, this band has decent metrics and workout profiles available for ridiculous value.

While we have yet to try out the Smart Band 7, our product tester Caroline Lubinsky, CF-L1, tried out the previous generation, the Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 6, and liked it for its value. Its design and look, on the other hand, is a different story, as she rated the band a 3.5 out of 5. She says, “I don’t quite hate how it looks, but it’s definitely not the prettiest fitness tracker I’ve ever seen.”

The design of the Smart Band 7 is a bit different, however, as the screen is larger and there are customizable screen faces, too. With different colorways available, this makes for a fairly stylish upgraded fitness tracker.

Caroline liked the quick charge and 14-day battery life of the Mi Smart Band 6, and the next gen version seems to maintain the same level of battery power, earning it a 5 out of 5 for durability.

One thing to note, however, is that the website can be hard to navigate. Caroline explains, “This is a global company based in Hong Kong. The website shows customer service information for 20 different countries, including the U.S. Because of this, navigating the website for your answers can be a bit of a chore.”

Another thing of note is that Caroline mentions the metrics aren’t always the most accurate, as the Smart Band 6 had difficulty being accurate with her heart rate at times. Still, for less than $50, the value of this is fantastic for people and athletes entering the world of fitness and metric tracking.

Best Waterproof Fitness Tracker for Swimming: FORM Smart Swim 2 Goggles

Good for: Swimmers looking for a pair of smart goggles for their next aquatic workout

Best for Swimming

FORM Smart Swim 2 Goggles

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Product Highlights

• Waterproof fitness tracking goggles
• Augmented-reality display
• Updated eye seal to prevent leaks
• Tracks heart rate and swim-specific metrics (stroke count, stroke pace, etc.)
• 15% smaller tech than original model to increase peripheral vision

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 2-year warranty
• Swimming-specific metrics
• 15% smaller tech than original model
• Waterproof

Cons

• Not as versatile as other fitness trackers
• 14-hour battery life is shorter than other trackers

Bottom Line

The FORM Smart Swim 2 Goggles are a fitness tracking pair of goggles that measures metrics specific to swimming, along with heart rate, calories burned, and distance travelled. The augmented-reality display is projected onto the goggles while swimming. While the battery life is relatively short with only 14 hours of power, the goggles are sport-specific to swimming, meaning that you'll rarely wear out the goggles on one use.

One of the most unique fitness trackers on the list was made for swimming—literally. The FORM Smart Swim 2 Goggles appear to be simple goggles for pool or open water swimming, but it packs a decent amount of technology, measuring heart rate, time, calories, and metrics on your swim stroke and pace.

We haven’t had a chance to test out these goggles, and while they don’t openly state the water resistance rating, FORM claims that the goggles are ideal for surface-level swimming, which makes me guess they’re rated around 50 meters. The goggles also come with proprietary eye seals to prevent any leaking into your eyes while swimming.

These goggles have been upgraded from the first iteration of the FORM Smart Swim, with the built-in tech being 15% smaller than the original version. The computer measures heart rate, distance, and other metrics, and displays them on the actual goggles, allowing you to see your results in real-time.

At $249, these are quite a pricey pair of goggles, and may not be suitable for people who’d like a more versatile fitness tracker. However, for those athletes who spend tons of time in the pool or at the beach, these can be a worthwhile investment.

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Best Waterproof Fitness Tracker for Android Users: Samsung Galaxy Watch5

Good for: Android users wanting seamless connectivity with their fitness tracker

Best for Android Users

Samsung Galaxy Watch5

GGR Score: 4

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Product Highlights

• Fitness watch for Android phones
• “Advanced Sleep Coaching” capabilities
• Claims their curved sensor provides a more accurate reading because it’s closer to the skin
• Up to 50 hours of battery life
• Customizable face watches and bands

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Built to work with Android phones
• Highly customizable
• Auto workout tracking
• Two size options
• Only takes 30 minutes to achieve 45 percent charge

Cons

• Expensive
• Water resistant only up to 5 feet

Bottom Line

The Samsung Galaxy Watch5 is the watch of choice for Android users looking for a smartwatch that syncs well with their phones.

I use predominantly Android technology, so I’m excited to present to the rest of the Android community our pick for the best waterproof fitness tracker for Android: the Samsung Galaxy Watch5. With a water resistance of up to 50 meters, this is great for swimming, as well as basic sauna or cold plunge use.

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I haven’t used the Watch5 myself, but I do use the previous generation—the Galaxy Watch4 Classic. The Classic is pretty close to being identical to the original, but has a more durable case and a different default display screen—although it can be customized to suit your style.

I like the look of the Galaxy Watch4, giving it a 4.5 out of 5 for its aesthetics and design. It comes in neutral colors and has a traditional round face, making it look fairly similar to a traditional wristwatch. The design of the Watch5 is pretty similar, although the screen is in between the size of the Watch4 and Watch4 Classic—44 millimeters.

One nice improvement on the Galaxy Watch5 is the battery life. The previous iteration had a watch that could run up to 40 hours with minimal use (I never had it last that long); the Watch5, however, boasts a larger battery of up to 50 hours. Charging is quick too, taking under 2 hours to charge a nearly drained battery.

I have a Samsung Galaxy phone, so connecting to the watch was simple and easy. It comes loaded with health apps and basic social media apps, too, where you can get notifications from those apps, as well as calls or texts. I rate the Galaxy Watch a 4.5 out of 5 for its robust technological capabilities.

With many people choosing between an Apple or Android ecosystem, this type of smartwatch may be a bit divisive. Still, if you land on the Android side of life, this is a solid pick for a smartwatch fitness tracker.

Best Waterproof Fitness Tracker for Diving: Garmin fēnix 7X Sapphire Solar

Good for: Swimmers looking to swim deeper than just the water’s surface

Best for Diving

Garmin Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar

GGR Score: 4.51

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Product Highlights

• Fitness tracker designed for outdoor activities and sports
• Solar charging can increase battery life up to 37 days
• Multi-band GPS
• Provides wellness tracking and suggested workouts

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Tracks for many outdoor sports
• Multiple colors and sizes available
• Water resistant up to 100 m
• GPS tracking

Cons

• Expensive
• Somewhat bulky appearance

Bottom Line

The Garmin Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar is a rugged smartwatch that can track a variety of outdoor sports, including golf, swimming, and horseback riding. The watch boasts a 28-day battery life that can boost up to 37 days with solar charging. It’s a pricey smartwatch, but it’s also durable, with water resistance that can withstand pressures up to 100 meters.

Although a water resistance of 5 ATM is considered waterproof, it’s ideal mostly for surface-level swimming. If you’re looking to snorkel or dive to the deep end of the pool, you’ll need a higher water resistance. Fortunately, the Garmin fēnix 7X has a rating of 10 ATM, equivalent to a depth of 100 meters.

This watch is made for the outdoors with its ruggedness and durability. The battery life lasts 28 days in Smartwatch Mode, plus an extra 9 days if you use its solar-charging feature. 

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GGR Head of Content Nicole Davis, CPT, PN1-NC, rates the fēnix 7X’s durability a 5 out of 5 and says about the watch, “My husband Rob has had this fitness tracker for 3 years and wears it every day. He’s notoriously hard on his clothes, shoes, watches—everything really—so this is a huge testament to this watch’s durability.”

The technological capabilities also earn a 5 out of 5, as the smartwatch boasts more than 30 different exercise modes and plenty of metrics: heart rate, body battery, respiration, pulse ox, sleep, menstrual health, recovery, stress, calories, and plenty more. “It’s wild how much data this watch can track and present,” Nicole mentions.

The largest drawback of this smartwatch is its price of nearly $900. Still, Nicole rates the value a 4 out of 5, saying, “Despite the large price, Rob has definitely gotten his money’s worth from the first year alone.” If you’re looking for a durable fitness tracker that can handle being submerged in water for a long while, this is a great choice.

Other Waterproof Fitness Trackers We Researched

Many waterproof fitness trackers are available on the market now, but not all can make our final list. Here are a few trackers we’ve researched and tested that didn’t quite make our top picks.

• Whoop 4.0: We are big fans of the Whoop band, as seen in our Whoop 4.0 review. However, it’s not quite as resistant as other waterproof picks on this list, with a rated water resistance of up to 10 meters.
• Ultrahuman Ring AIR: The Ring AIR is a nice fitness tracker with a water resistance of up to 100 meters. Still, we like the metrics tracked (and value) of the Oura Ring a bit more.
• Garmin Forerunner 965: This smartwatch from Garmin is loaded with features and a long battery life; however, we went with the more affordable Forerunner 265 as our pick for triathletes, since it still has a ton of features at a lower cost. Read our Garmin Forerunner 965 review for a more in-depth look. 
• Fitbit Charge 6: While we’ve liked previous iterations of the Charge, we’re currently in the middle of testing out the Charge 6, and may update this roundup once we get our results in.

How We Picked and Tested the Best Waterproof Fitness Trackers

We’ve tested over 30 of the top fitness trackers on the market from a multitude of brands and price ranges. So we’ve had some decent experience prior to tackling this lineup for waterproof fitness trackers.

While testing out fitness trackers, we rate the following features 1 to 5, along with the warranty, return policies, and customer service:

• Aesthetics and design: Once we have the band, watch, or ring on, we take a look in the mirror to observe how stylish we are…OK, maybe that’s just me, but we do take a look at the design and style of the fitness tracker. We also note the number and aesthetics of different colorway options.
• Adjustability: How easily can you adjust the fitness tracker for your proper sizing? Are different sizes available? We also noted how easily the adjustments can be made.
• Technological capabilities: We take a look at how many metrics the fitness tracker can measure and how accurate they are. Additionally, we look at how many workout profiles it can track as well.
• Durability: For the fitness tracker’s durability, we note aspects of the build of the fitness tracker: materials used and the general feel of the tracker’s construction. Along with this, we look at the battery life and longevity of the tracker.
• Community: The apps associated with fitness trackers can have a pretty robust community, or have features to connect you to other users, helping with motivation and accountability. We took a look at any of these features and their ease of use.
• Value: The cost of the fitness tracker should match its features, functionality, and durability. Looking at the product as a whole, we determine if the price is competitive with similar fitness trackers, and if the price makes sense for what you’re getting out of it.

After rating each fitness tracker, we looked at the water resistance ratings of each tracker. Those with lackluster ratings were tossed to the side in favor of more durable options—we aimed for a water resistance rating of at least 50 meters. Once we determined which watches fit the criteria, we took our top picks and created the list before you.

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Benefits of Waterproof Fitness Trackers

Here are some benefits of fitness trackers—particularly those that have waterproof features.

Water Sports and Exercises

The biggest benefit of waterproof fitness trackers is for swimmers, divers, and people who participate in water sports. Many fitness trackers also double as activity trackers, and waterproof fitness trackers can easily track underwater activities. 

Many have the ability to measure basic swimming workouts, but others can get specific water activities, like water aerobics, water polo, and more. (Still, for water sports where you’ll be under water for long periods, I’d look for a rating beyond 5 ATM, or 50 meters.) 

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Ease of Use

Now and then, I’m a little forgetful, and I can sometimes forget to take off my wedding band or watch before washing the dishes. The same goes for fitness trackers; if your fitness watch or tracker doesn’t have water resistance, this can be detrimental to your tracker.

Fortunately, waterproof fitness trackers can protect your tracker while you’re washing dishes or in the shower, making them a very convenient piece of fitness technology. You don’t have to worry about when you should or shouldn’t have your tracker on or off; it’s protected.

Goal Tracking

If you’re having a hard time meeting your goals, the simple act of tracking your progress can be a huge motivator. A review from 2017¹ showed that the personalized feedback of fitness trackers were able to help individuals stay motivated and actually change habits and behaviors for the better. A tracker can be a big help for more efficient goal setting and tracking.

Better Recovery

Many fitness trackers provide sleep tracking to provide insights on how to improve your sleep—tracking your REM cycles and light and deep sleep. Along with this, they can provide a recovery score to help determine how well-rested you are from the previous day. These sleep trackers can give you tips and pointers on improving your sleep hygiene (like avoiding blue light or keeping a consistent sleep schedule). Better sleep means better recovery.

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What to Look for in Waterproof Fitness Trackers

If you’re ready to make that purchase for a waterproof fitness tracker, you’ll need to first make sure the health tracker you’re looking at has the features you want. Here are some things to consider before you buy:

Water Resistance

Many fitness trackers are water resistant, but some are more than others. The water resistance of an object is usually given with a rating system of atmospheric pressure, or ATM. Here’s a brief rundown of what each measurement can equate to:

• 1 ATM: Equivalent to 10 m depth; essentially not waterproof
• 3 ATM: Equivalent to 30 m depth; protects against light splashes, but still not durable enough for swimming or home sauna use
• 5 ATM: 50 m depth; can handle showering and surface water swimming, although not recommended for lengthy periods
• 10 ATM: 100 m depth; handles swimming and open water snorkeling, but not scuba diving
• 20 ATM: 200 m depth; suitable for scuba diving, although not deep diving 
• 30 ATM: 300 m depth; works for deep diving and professional diving

Most users who want a waterproof fitness tracker will find ratings of 5 ATM or 10 ATM to be suitable for most activity tracking they’re looking for. However, professional (or recreational) scuba divers might need a higher rating to last the pressures and waters at deeper depths.

It’s also important to note that the resistance rating won’t be permanent; as the watch or band ages, seals can wear or become brittle, allowing for the possibility of leaks. Heat can impact this as well, so to best protect your fitness tracker, it’s recommended not to use it in a sauna. It is possible to use it in a sauna, as long as the water resistance is high enough, but for the best preservation, limit or avoid sauna use.

Battery Life

The battery can vary from product to product. More tracking and real-time data can also mean more power usage, so more intensive smartwatches might have less than 24 hours of battery life. However, some fitness trackers have extensive batteries, capable of lasting a week or longer—although your tracking usage may change the length of battery life.

Metrics, Activities, and Features

If you’re a swimmer, you’re going to want your sports watch to handle swim tracking, but the best smartwatches and fitness trackers can handle many more metrics and activities. Most, but not all, trackers can act as pedometers and keep track of your step count throughout the day. Fitness trackers will also track workouts and have different sports modes; some even have specific water sports available for tracking.

Most will also feature heart rate tracking, along with other metrics, such as sleep tracking, stress levels, and blood oxygen levels. Some fitness trackers keep the metrics basic, while others provide more data than you may know what to do with.

Additionally, some trackers will have a built-in GPS. Others will feature GPS tracking that only works while connected to your smartphone (via Bluetooth or WiFi). Other phone features will be text and call notifications, and even calendar reminders.

Cost

Fitness trackers can vary wildly in price, from under $100 to over $1,000. While the metrics measured can vary from gadget to gadget, other aspects that can impact the price are the durability, battery life, and even the waterproof rating. Whatever your fitness goals, make sure your fitness tracker purchase fits within your budget.

Many brands offer financing options on their fitness trackers, too, which may help with the upfront cost. 

Best Waterproof Fitness Trackers: FAQs

References

1. Sullivan AN, Lachman ME. Behavior Change with Fitness Technology in Sedentary Adults: A Review of the Evidence for Increasing Physical Activity. Front Public Health. 2017 Jan 11;4:289. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2016.00289. PMID: 28123997; PMCID: PMC5225122.

Caine Wilkes, OLY, CNC, USAW-L1

Caine Wilkes is an Olympian, placing 9th in weightlifting at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. A former gym owner, he also has more than 15 years of experience coaching other athletes in weightlifting, CrossFit, and functional fitness.

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