Overview
- Jump To Details
Apple Watch Series 9
Best for Pool and Open Water Swims - Jump To Details
Fitbit Charge 6
Best for Automatic Swim Tracking - Jump To Details
Polar Grit X
Best for Triathletes - Jump To Details
Garmin Lily 2
Best for Women - Jump To Details
Garmin Venu Sq 2
Best Battery Life - Jump To Details
Apple Watch Ultra 2
Best for Diving and High-Velocity Water Sports - Jump To Details
Apple Watch SE (2022)
Most Affordable Apple Watch - Jump To Details
Fitbit Versa 4 Fitness Smartwatch (Black)
Best for Heart Rate Zone Alerts - Jump To Details
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 40mm Bluetooth Smartwatch (Gold)
Best for Third-Party Swim Apps - Jump To Details
Fitbit Ace 3
Best for Kids
Any fitness tracker worth considering should resist moisture and splashes, but the best waterproof fitness trackers are sealed and submersible to survive a consistent soaking. Models meant for diving and high-velocity water sports require even more protection. We've been reviewing fitness trackers since 2013 and have rigorously tested every model on this list, so you've come to the right place when searching for the right wearable for your needs and budget. Our top pick, the Apple Watch Series 9, is safe for pool and open-water swimming and offers tracking for both. If you need an even more durable device you can wear while scuba diving or waterskiing, or one that works with Android phones, our list of the best waterproof fitness trackers has you covered, with options covering a variety of features, prices, and styles. Read on to find your perfect fit.
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Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Apple Watch Series 9
Best for Pool and Open Water SwimsWhy We Picked It
Apple's flagship smartwatch, the Series 9, has a WR50 rating, meaning it's water-resistant to 164 feet and suitable for shallow-water activities like swimming in a pool or the ocean close to shore. It's also safe to wear in the shower or a hot tub. Its Workout app offers separate tracking options for Pool and Open Water swimming, as well as a Multisport mode for triathletes. The Series 9 also has an IP6X certification (a spec the more affordable Watch SE can't match), meaning it's totally dustproof and immune to damage from sand if you wear it to the beach.
Who It's For
The Apple Watch Series 9 is an excellent option if you want a smartwatch that tracks swimming and keeps you connected outside the water. It requires an iPhone XS or later running iOS 17 or higher, so it's not an option if you use Android. Note that, unlike the Apple Watch Ultra 2, the Series 9 is not safe for scuba diving, waterskiing, or other activities involving high-velocity water or deep submersion.
Pros
- Powerful processor
- Bright display
- Double-tap gesture for hands-free operation
- On-device Siri
- Precision Finding for iPhone 15 family
- Carbon neutral build option
Cons
- Familiar design
Learn MoreApple Watch Series 9 ReviewFitbit Charge 6
Best for Automatic Swim TrackingWhy We Picked It
Fitbit's most popular fitness tracker, the Charge 6, is water-resistant to 164 feet and safe to wear in the rain or pool. The Exercise app offers a tracking option for swimming, and the device features a Water Lock setting, which prevents the screen from activating when you're in the water. The Water Lock automatically turns on when you start a swim in the Exercise app, or you can enable it at any time via the Quick Settings menu. Additionally, Fitbit's SmartTrack feature automatically recognizes and records certain types of workouts, including swimming.
Who It's For
The Charge 6 is an excellent investment for casual swimmers as well as anyone who wants to improve their health without spending a bundle. Note that Fitbit cautions against regularly wearing the Charge 6 in the shower, as exposure to soaps and conditioners may diminish its water resistance. It's not safe for the hot tub or sauna either. Regular beachgoers and outdoor adventurers should also consider a more rugged device because the Charge 6 doesn't have a dust protection rating.
Pros
- Affordable
- 40 exercise modes (up from 20)
- Connects to exercise machines
- Google Maps, Google Wallet, and YouTube Music apps
- Helpful side button
- Excellent mobile app
Cons
- No Spotify controls
- No app store
- Some metrics require a Premium subscription
Learn MoreFitbit Charge 6 ReviewPolar Grit X
Best for TriathletesWhy We Picked It
Like the Apple Watch Ultra, the Polar Grit X has a WR100 rating and is waterproof to 328 feet. It's safe to wear in the pool or open water and offers separate swimming profiles for both. It recognizes different swimming strokes including freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly; can track your underwater heart rate; and records metrics such as pace, distance, strokes, stroke rate, and SWOLF.
Who It's For
With a rugged build and outdoor-specific features, the Polar Grit X is an excellent choice for swimmers, trail runners, downhill skiers, hikers, and mountain bikers. This multisport GPS watch offers longer battery life than the Apple Watch Ultra 2, with similar durability. Casual pool swimmers can go with something less rugged, but the Grit X is a top option for serious outdoor athletes.
Pros
- Tracks hill ascent and descent
- Features Komoot route planning
- Fueling reminders for long events and training sessions
- Offers training advice
- Data-rich companion app
- Tracks sleep
- Long battery life
- Always-on display with a dedicated button to light up the screen
Cons
- Expensive
- No smartwatch features aside from phone notifications
Learn MorePolar Grit X ReviewGarmin Lily 2
Best for WomenWhy We Picked It
Just because you’re swimming doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice your sense of fashion. Like a lot of other models on this list, the Garmin Lily 2 has a 5ATM water resistance rating, so you can safely swim with it to a depth of 164 feet. It includes an exercise mode for pool swimming and tracks a variety of other health attributes like sleep, heart rate, and SpO2 when you’re not doing laps. Beyond the useful functionality, what this watch really has going for it is a chic design and a large variety of interchangeable straps.
Who It’s For
The Garmin Lily 2 is a top pick for women specifically given its size and swagger, but it’s one of the best fitness trackers out there for anyone with small wrists or a penchant for style. It can’t track open water swimming, but look here to look good while you’re putting in those pool laps.
Pros
- Plenty of options for activity tracking
- Slim and chic design with interchangeable bands
- Good battery life
- All stats are available in Garmin Connect app for free
- Tracks heart rate, sleep, SpO2
- Many useful widgets to customize metrics
- Garmin Pay support (on Classic models)
Cons
- No onboard GPS
- Lacks a barometric altimeter for tracking stairs climbed
- Grayscale display
- Cannot broadcast your heart rate via ANT+ or Bluetooth Smart
Learn MoreGarmin Lily 2 ReviewGarmin Venu Sq 2
Best Battery LifeWhy We Picked It
The Garmin Venu Sq 2 has a 5ATM water-resistance rating, meaning it can withstand pressure at depths of up to 164 feet and is safe to wear in the shower or pool. It offers more than 25 built-in indoor and GPS profiles, including pool swimming, rowing, and SUP. For swimming, it tracks metrics including underwater heart rate, stroke type, and SWOLF.
Who It's For
The Venu Sq 2 is a top choice if you need a waterproof fitness tracker with long battery life. In testing, it outpaced all the other models on this list by running for around nine days. If you're willing to trade some battery life, you might prefer the Garmin Vivoactive 4 for its traditional round design and more sunlight-friendly display transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) display. Neither tracks open water swimming though, a feature that is available on the newer Garmin Vivoactive 5.
Pros
- Large AMOLED touch screen
- Weeklong battery life
- Lightweight design
- Plenty of health metrics
- Contactless payments
- Integrated GPS
Cons
- Does not track floors climbed
- Preloaded workouts are not animated
- Limited lifestyle features
Learn MoreGarmin Venu Sq 2 ReviewApple Watch Ultra 2
Best for Diving and High-Velocity Water SportsWhy We Picked It
Apple's rugged Watch Ultra 2 has a WR100 rating, which means it can withstand depths of up to 328 feet; it offers twice the water resistance of the Series 9 and the Watch SE. Notably, the Ultra 2 is suitable for high-speed water sports like kitesurfing, wakeboarding, and jet skiing. The Ultra 2 also meets the EN13319 international standard for dive computers and gauges; it's safe for recreational scuba diving down to 130 feet. The Ultra 2 further one-ups the Series 9's IP6X dust protection rating with a much stronger MIL-STD 810H certification. It can survive high altitudes, extreme temperatures, freezing/thawing, blowing sand, and other environmental stressors such as vibrations and shocks. Its screen gets even brighter than its predecessor (up to 3,000 nits from 2,000) without sacrificing any battery life and is therefore easier to read in direct sunlight.
Who It's For
With a more rugged build, longer battery life, and improved water resistance compared with its siblings, the Ultra 2 is the best Apple Watch for outdoor adventurers, endurance athletes, and ocean enthusiasts. It's also a nice option for scuba divers thanks to its depth gauge and water temperature sensor, features that also aren't available on the Series 9. Divers should check out the Oceanic+ app ($9.99 per month), which turns the Ultra 2 into a dive computer. For similar durability and longer battery life, check out the Polar Grit X.
Pros
- 3,000-nit display
- Powerful processor
- Expanded operating altitude
- Carbon-neutral build option
- Excellent connectivity features
Cons
- Expensive
- Some map limitations
Learn MoreApple Watch Ultra 2 ReviewApple Watch SE (2022)
Most Affordable Apple WatchWhy We Picked It
The second-generation Watch SE is the smallest and least expensive smartwatch in Apple's lineup. You need to be careful with it around sand because it lacks the IP6X dust-resistance rating of the Series 9, but it's safe to wear while you swim or shower thanks to its WR50 rating.
Who It's For
The Apple Watch SE is a worthy alternative to the Series 9 for monitoring your water activities on a budget. It offers Pool Swim, Open Water Swim, and Multisport (triathlon) tracking options, but beachgoers might prefer the more durable Series 9. Neither is suitable for deep or high-velocity water, however; for that, you need to step up to the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
Pros
- Upgraded processor from previous model
- New motion sensor with support for Crash Detection
- Improved real-world battery life
- Lightweight
- Excellent app selection and safety features
- Lower price than first-generation model
Cons
- No always-on display
- Lacks sensors for ECG, SpO2, or body temperature
- No rating for dust resistance
Learn MoreApple Watch SE (2022) ReviewFitbit Versa 4 Fitness Smartwatch (Black)
Best for Heart Rate Zone AlertsWhy We Picked It
The Fitbit Versa 4 is water-resistant to 164 feet, which means you can wear it in the shower or while you swim (even in salt water) without issue. Fitbit advises against bringing it into a hot tub or sauna, however. Like the Charge 6, the Versa 4's Exercise app offers a tracking option for swimming and supports SmartTrack automatic exercise recognition. It also provides helpful heart rate zone alerts to let you know when you reach a target zone during exercise.
Who It's For
The swim-friendly Versa 4 is a compelling alternative to the Apple Watch and Wear OS smartwatches for its affordability and multi-day battery life. Plus, it offers some usability improvements over the Versa 3 including a more tactile mechanical button instead of a haptic one, but that highly rated third-generation model is still available as a now regularly discounted alternative.
Pros
- Attractive, comfortable design
- Better touch-screen responsiveness than predecessor
- Physical button improves usability
- 40 exercise modes (up from 20)
- Long battery life
- Lots of watch faces
- Tracks overnight skin temperature variation
Cons
- No third-party app support
- Some lifestyle apps from previous generation removed
- Lacks ECG, stress sensors
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 40mm Bluetooth Smartwatch (Gold)
Best for Third-Party Swim AppsWhy We Picked It
The Galaxy Watch 6 features both a 5ATM and IP68 rating, so it's waterproof to depths of 164 feet and can withstand dust, dirt, and sand. It also meets the MIL-STD-810H standard, so it should survive extreme temperatures and other environmental stressors such as vibration and shock. Samsung further says the device can safely stay under 5 feet of water for up to 30 minutes. The Watch 6 series offers more than 90 activity options including swimming, rowing, beach volleyball, aqua aerobics, kayaking, snowshoeing, and water skiing. It also features a Water Lock mode to prevent the screen from activating when you're in the water. Finally, access to the Google Play Store means you can download a wide selection of apps, including Swim.com.
Who It's For
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is best for Android users who need a waterproof smartwatch with ample connectivity and health features. It's a nice option for pool and open water swimmers, even if it's not safe for diving or high-velocity water sports. Similar to how the Apple Watch only works with iOS devices, the Galaxy Watch 6 series is exclusive to phones that run Android 10.0 (or newer) and have more than 1.5GB of RAM. For comparison, the Classic model offers the same water- and dust-resistance specs, but includes a rotating bezel.
Pros
- Bigger, brighter screen than previous model
- Good app selection
- Digital bezel for quick scrolling
- Excellent sleep insights
- Active skin temperature sensor
- Reliable automatic workout detection
- Two case sizes, optional LTE connectivity
Cons
- One-day battery life
- Minor workout heart rate accuracy issues
Fitbit Ace 3
Best for KidsWhy We Picked It
The Fitbit Ace 3 is a swim-friendly fitness tracker for children. It's water-resistant up to 164 feet and holds up to cannonballs. Outside of the water, it tracks your little one's step count, active minutes, hourly movement, and sleep.
Who It's For
The Ace 3 is ideal for children ages six and up. It offers longer battery life (eight days vs. five), than the second-generation model, but still doesn't have location tracking or apps. For location tracking and a more feature rich experience, check out the Fitbit Ace LTE.
Pros
- Tracks activity and sleep
- Good battery life
- Comfortable, waterproof design
- Stylish, swappable bands
- Can receive text notifications
Cons
- No location/GPS tracking
- Short charging cable
- No heart rate monitoring
Learn MoreFitbit Ace 3 Review
Buying Guide: The Best Waterproof Fitness Trackers for 2024
What to Look For in a Waterproof Fitness Tracker
You don't need to settle for merely waterproof. The same seals that keep water from ruining the electronics in swim-friendly fitness trackers also protect them from water pressure. Most waterproof fitness trackers are rated for a certain depth. Typically, these devices have a 5ATM rating, which means you can plunge them up to 164 feet underwater. Some have a lesser 3ATM rating, meaning they are submersible up to 98 feet. A 5ATM rating does not make a watch safe for scuba diving, however. Samsung says devices certified to 5ATM can only withstand depths up to 164 feet for 10 minutes.
You should consider what you want your tracker to do. Are you more interested in viewing your data during or after a workout? If you want to keep an eye on your laps while you're in the pool, you should look for a tracker with a bright screen. You should also make sure it's capable of responding to your strokes underwater.
Another thing to keep in mind is how swim-centric you want your device to be. If swimming is your primary source of exercise, verify that your tracker supports multiple underwater activities.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is one of the most water-friendly models on this list with a WR100 rating, which means it can withstand depths of up to 328 feet—twice that of the Series 9. Notably, the Ultra 2 is suitable for high-speed water sports like kitesurfing, wakeboarding, and jet skiing. The Ultra 2 is also certified to the EN13319 international standard for dive computers and gauges, meaning it's safe for recreational scuba diving descents down to 130 feet.
(Credit: Fitbit)What Are the Best Smartwatches for Swimmers?
The line between fitness trackers and smartwatches is increasingly blurry. These days, many of the big smartwatches feature heart rate monitors and GPS, just like fitness trackers. Add a waterproof build, and many become suitable for use in the pool and ocean.
An additional benefit is that they tend to be more stylish than their fitness-focused counterparts. You can easily switch your swim-friendly silicone strap for a classier metal or leather band after you towel off.
Most of the models on this list are safe for swimming in a pool or the ocean as well as wearing in the shower or a hot tub, but be sure to check our reviews for water resistance details. With the exception of the Ultra and the Ultra 2, Apple Watches are not suitable for scuba diving, water skiing, or other high-velocity water sports.
(Credit: Fitbit)Which Fitbits Are Waterproof?
The good news is that all Fitbit trackers and smartwatches are water-resistant: They can handle rain, sweat, and faucet pressure. Some older Fitbits were not safe for swimming, like the child-focused Ace, but all current models in Fitbit's lineup are. That includes the Charge 6, Inspire 3, Sense 2, Versa 4, and the kid-friendly Ace LTE. You can wear them in the pool and they can track swimming stats like lap counts, pace, and total duration.
Regardless of brand, be sure to remove your wearable after it gets wet and wait for it and your wrist to completely dry before putting it back on. Most waterproof wearables are safe to wear in the shower, but soap can cause damage to some materials, so be careful when sudsing up.
For more options, check out our list of the best fitness trackers overall. And to better understand how manufacturers rate gadgets for durability, check out our explainer on IP ratings.
