The best swimming watches in the UK (2024)

Classic smartwatches and fitness watches are mainly known for the support they offer in various sports, such as running or cycling.

But what many people don't know is that these smart gadgets can also support you when swimming. 🏊

In addition, swim watches have two important features that distinguish them from other smartwatches:

• Water-resistance
• Swimming modes

Most important feature: water resistance

Smartwatches must, of course, be water-resistant for you to be able to wear it in the pool. 💦

There are many different standards and classifications of water resistance. This can easily cause confusion.

To help clear things up, we’ve broken down this important topic later on.

Water lock for preventing water input

High-quality sports watches for swimming also have a water lock.

This locks the display of your wearable while you are in the water.

This means that no settings can be changed by water or accidental touch. 🙌

After your workout, you can release this lock. Any liquid that has penetrated the case will then be ejected by the swim tracker.

Different swimming modes

Of course, water resistance isn’t all that matters when it comes to swim watches.

In addition, your smartwatch should support you with various swimming modes.

Not only should your smartwatch for swimming recognise your stroke type all by itself, but it should also record different data:

• Distance travelled
• Number of lanes
• Average lap time
• Stroke rate
• Best time
• Rest time
• SWOLF
• Pulse and heart rate
• Calories burned

After your training, you will receive a detailed analysis of your session.

With a high-quality smartwatch for swimming, you can improve your swimming style and effectively improve your performance.

Thanks to GPS tracking, your training can be recorded as accurately as possible even when swimming in open water. 🙌

Let’s have a closer look at these functions below. 👇

To be able to take your smartwatch into the water with you when swimming, it must of course be water-resistant. 💧

However, just because a smartwatch is labelled “waterproof” does not mean you can safely take your watch swimming with you.

That’s why we’ve laid out which standard a swimming watch should be classified with below. 👇

IP standard for classifying water-resistance

The standardised International Protection Code provides information on how well a device can withstand various ambient and environmental conditions.

Often this classification is also simply referred to as IP code, IP classification or IP protection class.

This IP standard has the following format: "IP-XX".

In place of the "XX" there are two numbers:

• 1st digit: Degree of protection against foreign bodies (dust, sand)
• 2nd digit: Degree of protection against water

No information is given on contact with more aggressive liquids, such as salt water or soapy water.

However, such liquids can attack and damage the seals and housing of your smartwatch under certain circumstances.

Most smartwatches are classified according to IP67 or IP68.

Watches that are only labelled "water-resistant" or "waterproof" without a classification following it can only withstand individual splashes of water.

IP67 waterproof smartwatches

Many smartwatches have an IP67 rating.

With a wearable like this, however, you should be careful when taking it into the water.

When swimming, however, it’s entirely possible for your watch to be underwater for longer or at a deeper level.

For this reason, smartwatches with IP67 are not suitable for swimming.

IP68 waterproof smartwatches

Many smartwatches today have an IP68 rating.

These wearables are not only completely dustproof, but also protected against continuous submersion.

Here, too, the maximum depth is only 1 metre.

We therefore advise against using these fitness watches for swimming.

ATM / Bar - Water pressure classification

To be able to take your smartwatch swimming, it should be able to withstand a certain amount of water pressure.

This water resistance is given in ATM / Bar.

The unit ATM (atmosphere) corresponds to a bar of water pressure. This means that the smartwatch can withstand the pressure of a water column of 10 metres.

A watch that is water-resistant to 5 ATM (50 metres) can therefore withstand the pressure of a water column of 50 metres.

However, this does not mean that it is waterproof at a depth of 50 metres underwater.

What ATM rating does a water-resistant smartwatch need for swimming?

What ATM classification does your smartwatch need so that you can take it swimming without hesitation? 🤔

Our recommendation for water-resistance

If you want to take your smartwatch swimming, it must of course be water-resistant.

But as we have seen, there are many different classifications here.

We recommend that your wearable should be able to withstand a pressure of at least 5 ATM, or preferably 10 ATM.

To ensure water resistance and swimming suitability, your smartwatch must not be penetrable by water.

Therefore, certain materials are used for such fitness watches.

Swimming watch case material

Water-resistant smartwatches for swimming usually have a stainless steel or aluminium case.

Additional rubber seals protect your watch from moisture penetration.

Display of waterproof fitness watches

The majority of water-resistant fitness watches have an AMOLED display that is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass. This material is ideal for wet conditions.

Smartwatches should also be able to automatically adjust the brightness of the display.

This way, you can easily read the recorded data even in water and sunlight. ☀️

The best straps for swimming: silicone, nylon or rubber

We recommend a strap made of silicone, nylon or rubber for your swim tracker.

These materials sit comfortably and snugly on your wrist, even in the water. 🙌

In theory, a strap made of stainless steel could also be worn in water, but in our experience it feels rather uncomfortable.

Swimming watches for men and women

Most brands offer smartwatches for swimming in different sizes.

We recommend swimming watches with a smaller diameter for the narrower wrists of ladies. 💃

On the wider wrists of men, on the other hand, larger models with a physical bezel look particularly good.

You can, of course, wear your swim watch for purposes other than swimming.

These smart wearables can also support you in other sports and in your day-to-day life. 🥳

Let’s take a look at what else these smart gadgets have to offer. 👇

Many different sport modes and training plans

Whether rowing, mountain climbing, cycling or running - the best fitness watches come with plenty of different activity modes.

The wearables support you not only during swimming, but also during various sports on land.

This possibility is particularly exciting for triathletes, especially on Multisport watches.

Many pre-installed training plans help you to plan your workouts. Of course, it is also possible to build your own training plans.

During your workout, the wearables record all your important data and make it available to you in the companion app. 📱

Smartwatches help you get the most out of your training and effectively improve your performance with extensive fitness tracking.

24/7 activity tracking and tons of health functions

In everyday life, your smartwatch is constantly recording your important health data.

The following metrics are normally included:

• Pulse and heart rate
• Activity tracker
• Pedometer
• Elevation
• Calories burned

You can also set personal goals for your day. As soon as you have reached them, you will receive a notification from your smartwatch.

Many smartwatches are also able to determine your stress level and energy reserves.

Some wearables can even create an ECG, measure your blood pressure and check blood oxygen levels. 💓

Smart features for your everyday life

The best wearables support you in your day-to-day activities with various smart features:

• Viewing and replying to notifications
• Call function
• Music control with Bluetooth
• Contactless payment
• Voice assistant

Smartwatches with integrated LTE even allow you to access the internet independently of your smartphone and receive messages when your phone isn’t nearby.

Smartwatches from different brands are equipped with different smart functions.

So before you buy, think carefully about which features are particularly important to you.

Compatibility with your phone

The most important point when buying a smartwatch is, of course, that the wearable is also compatible with your mobile phone.

Because, ultimately, you will need your smartphone to access all the recorded information in the app. 📱

Here’s a breakdown of smartwatch compatibility:

• Apple Watch Series models are only compatible with iPhones.
• Smartwatches with Google's Wear OS operating system usually run with both Android and iOS smartphones.
• From the Galaxy Watch 4 onwards, Samsung's wearables are only compatible with Android phones.
• Operating systems from other brands (e.g. Garmin, Fitbit, Polar) can be used by both Android and iPhone users.

The best smartwatches on the market often come with a price tag of several hundred pounds. 💰

Swimming watches can also be quite expensive.

High-end devices from brands like Garmin, Polar and Apple play in the big leagues when it comes to pricing.

However, many brands drop their prices sharply a few months after the launch of a new model. 💶

This is hardly surprising, as a new model is usually launched on the market every year.