From Pool to Ocean – Top Smart Watches for Water Sports
Summer means pool parties, beach time with the family, and fun water adventures. However, staying worried about your expensive gadgets sucks the joy out of water sports. As a water sports enthusiast and former college swimmer, I prefer waterproof gadgets.
My time in the pool has taught me that most brands advertise their water-resistant tech gadgets as waterproof. I know this mainly because I have wasted a lot of money on these brands. A good waterproof gadget should not just be able to withstand a few splashes; instead, it should be able to survive a consistent soaking as well.
To help you avoid costly mistakes, I have listed some of my favorite smartwatches that are perfect for diving and high-velocity water sports.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
| Make And Model | Best For | Price |
| Fitbit Ace 3 | Budget-Friendly Kids Option | Starting at $73.99 on Amazon |
| Apple Watch Series 9 | Apple Users | Starting at $399 on the Apple Store |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 | Android Users | Starting at $199.99 on Samsung store |
| Garmin Lily 2 | Women | $249.99 on Walmart |
| Garmin Venu Sq 2 | Long Battery Life | Starting at $239.99 on Amazon |
How Do We Test Our Top Favorites?
To pick the best options, we test smartwatches in pool water and open water. Moreover, these options are tested based on the brand advertisement for consistency. For instance, brands advertising their products for swimming features, fitness, or advanced phone features are tested accordingly.
Since most of these smart watches require pairing with phones and the internet, we standardized the testing environment by using the same internet connection i.e., Spectrum Internet, and the same phone i.e. iPhone 14 and Samsung Z Fold. This helps in ensuring consistency and removing bias from the test.
Our Top Picks in Detail
1. Fitbit Ace 3
This smartwatch is water-resistant to 50m and is swimming-friendly. Considering the features and price tag, Fitbit Ace 3 is a perfect summer investment for your kids.
What we love?
- Tracks Sleep: It helps you keep track of your kid’s sleep cycle, and set bedtime reminders and silent alarms.
- Solid Battery Life: It offers up to 8 days of battery time.
- Comfortable, Waterproof Design: Its simple silicon baseband offers a gentle yet firm grip.
- Swappable Bands: swappable colorful band options for everyday fit
- Text Notifications: stay connected with your kids at all times
- Major Motivation: It builds habits with virtual achievement badges.
What buyers should consider?
- Location/GPS tracking: Fitbit Ace 3 doesn’t offer a location tracking option.
- Charging Cable: The charging cable is very short, limiting mobility.
- Heart Rate Monitoring: No heart rate monitoring or fitness options
Features
| Memory Storage Capacity | 6400 MB |
| Special Feature | Activity Tracker |
| Battery Capacity | 91 Milliamp Hours |
| Connectivity Technology | Bluetooth |
| Wireless Communication Standard | Bluetooth |
| Battery Cell Composition | Lithium Ion |
| Screen Size | 0.96 Inches |
Who should buy this?
This is a perfect pick for 6+ kids who like to play around. It can also be a good investment for teenagers who are on a budget.
2. Apple Watch Series 9
As an iOS user, it doesn’t get better than getting the Apple Watch Series 9. Although most people prefer the Apple Watch Series 9 Uultra for its price, the flagship series 9 is a much better option.
What we love?
- Powerful Processor: enjoy a robust and seamless app experience with a powerful S9 SiP processor
- Bright Display: Its up to 2000 nits maximum brightness allows you to wear your watch in broad daylight or at night with full confidence
- Double-tap Gesture: ditch the touch with hands-free operation
- On-device Siri: Get instant access to information, control your music and podcasts with Siri.
- Carbon Neutral Build Option: The Apple Watch Series 9 with aluminum case is the perfect eco-friendly option for climate enthusiasts.
What buyers should consider?
- Old Design: the same old boring design as all the other Apple watches
- Price Variation: price varies based on model and location
Features
| Size | 41mm or 45mm height
35mm or 37mm width |
| Fitness and movement tracking | heart rate, Irregular rhythm, and cardio monitoring |
| Health tracking | Temperature and ovulation tracking |
| Emergency features | Emergency call, Fall, and Crash Detection |
| Water resistance limit | 50mm |
| GPS | available cellular connectivity |
| Battery life | Up to 18 hours |
Who should buy this?
This is a perfect pick for iPhone users seeking a good watch with the latest features without breaking the bank.
3. Samsung Galaxy Watch 6
For Android users, it does not get better than Samsung. The brand has excellent build quality, exceptional repute in tech, and some top-notch features to give heads on competition to other innovation-first brands.
What we love?
Bigger and brighter: the screen of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is much brighter and bigger than the previous models i.e. Samsung Galaxy Watch 5, 4 etc
Excellent Sleep Insights: perfect for sleep coaching, sleep cycle tracking and other sleep-related insights
Temperature Sensor: detects change in temperature with an active skin temperature sensor
Workout Detection: Reliable and automatic movement detection helps with workout and sports
Two Case Sizes: freedom to pick size option and LTE connectivity
What buyers should consider?
Battery Life: just one-day battery life makes it a bad choice for trips, camping or other outdoor activities
Heart Rate Inaccuracy: heart rate detection and other fitness trackers are not as precise
GPS Route tracking: doesn’t offer GPS route tracking option
Features
| Screen Size | 37.3mm | 33.3mm |
| Fitness feature | Irregular Heart Rate
Notification, Infrared Temperature Sensor, Cycle Tracking |
| Advance health feature | Body Composition, sleep coaching |
| Emergency feature | Fall Detection |
| Weight | 33.3g | 28.7g |
| Material | Aluminum |
Who should buy this?
This is a perfect option for Android users. This smartwatch is not just good for swimming in open waters; it also offers third-party app compatibility so you can use it regardless of the brand of your phone.
4. Garmin Lily 2
When it comes to navigation, water sports, and other marine activities, Garmin is the name you can trust. Within their sleek and fashionable Garmin Lily 2, the brand has proved their reputation is true.
What we love?
Activity Tracking: comes with advanced tracking features including fitness and health monitoring
Fashionable Design: perfect for fashion-forward women seeking a chic design to match their aesthetics
Good Battery Life: A 5-day battery life makes it a perfect choice for outdoor activities like camping, tracking, etc.
Fitness Tracking: monitor your heart rate, sleep, oxygen level at all times
Garmin Pay Support: enjoy cashless transactions everywhere you go
What buyers should consider?
No onboard GPS: doesn’t determine its location using GPS satellites independently
Grayscale Display: the grayscale display might not be a top pick for tech-savvy people
Features
| Compatibility | iOS and Android |
| Battery life | Up to 5 days |
| Fitness features | Heart rate, sleep score, stress tracking, pulse ox sensor, cycle tracking, hydration |
| Ttracking | Connected GPS |
| Smart connectivity | Smart notifications |
Who should buy this?
Garmin Lilly 2 is a perfect pick for people seeking a fashion-forward look with all the essential features. The chic design and swappable straps make it a popular option among female swimmers and water sports enthusiasts.
5. Garmin Venu Sq 2
What we love?
Touch Screen: Large enough for readability yet sleek enough to match your fashion
Weeklong Battery Life: stay connected during all the outdoor adventures without worrying about charging
Plenty of Health Metrics: widest range of health and fitness features to keep you informed about your body
Contactless Payments: enjoy a cashless experience everywhere
What buyers should consider?
Limited Animation: Preloaded workouts do not have animation, which exercises difficult to follow
Lifestyle Features: considering the fitness features, this smartwatch doesn’t offer enough lifestyle features
Features
| Display Type | AMOLED |
| Fitness tracking | Heart rate monitor, sleep tracker, sleep score, energy monitoring, stress tracking, health snapshot, women’s health tracking, pulse ox sensor, fitness age, hydration and respiration tracking |
| Battery Life | Uup to 11 days |
Who should buy this?
This is a perfect pick for professional swimmers and athletes. With a wide range of fitness features, a sleek design, and an 11-day battery life, this smartwatch is a dream watch for every health enthusiast.
Key Tips To Take Care of Waterproof Smartwatch
- Rinse your watch after water sports to remove salt and chlorine
- Keep your watch covered to avoid exposure to extreme temperatures during outdoor activities
- Charge your watch at least once a week, depending on the battery time and brand
Last Updated on August 28, 2024