A great fitness watch designed specifically for swimming can transform your training in the pool or open water. With the ability to accurately count laps, detect stroke type, monitor heart rate under water, and more – having the right swimming watch provides invaluable metrics and feedback.
With new models hitting the market every year from leading brands like Garmin, Apple, and COROS – it can be tricky to determine which is the best swimming watch for your individual needs and budget.
That‘s why I‘ve compiled this guide to the 5 best fitness watches for swimming in 2024. From hardcore swimmers wanting the top accuracy and stats to casual fitness enthusiasts on a budget – there’s a great swimming watch option for everyone.
How I Selected the Best Swimming Watches
In determining the top 5 swimming watch models for 2024, I evaluated over a dozen options across several key factors:
- Accuracy – The ability to precisely track lap counts, distance, stroke detection, pacing, and more.
- Waterproof Rating – Watches needed a water rating of 5ATM or better to make the cut.
- Battery Life – Long battery life for uninterrupted training sessions.
- Price – Options at different budget levels to suit different needs.
- Features – Inclusion of specialized swimming features like drill logging, pace alerts, etc.
- Comfort – A comfortable and non-restrictive fit for long swim sessions.
Using these selection criteria, I narrowed down the field to 5 watches that represent the best all-around options tailored to swimmers in 2024.
The 5 Best Swimming Watches of 2024
1. Best Overall: Garmin Swim 2
Price: $249
Key Features:
- Up to 13 hours GPS battery life
- Tracks distance, pace, stroke count/type
- WiFi connectivity
- Underwater heart rate monitoring
When it comes to the best all-around swimming watch, the Garmin Swim 2 tops the list for 2024. Building on the popular original Garmin Swim, the Swim 2 delivers even more advanced metrics and connectivity.
Under the hood, it packs GLONASS and GPS functionality for accurately tracking pace and distance both indoors and outdoors. Additionally, it auto-detects stroke type and logs swim drills for later analysis.
While cheaper than premium multi-sport watches from Garmin, the Swim 2 still connects to the Garmin Connect ecosystem for storing, analyzing, and sharing swim data. It also supports custom workouts and pace alerts.
For these reasons and more, the Garmin Swim 2 represents the best blend of swimming-focused features at a reasonable price point for 2024.
Key Pros
- Very accurate GPS and lap counting
- Garmin Connect integration and analysis
- Good balance of features and price
Key Cons
- Touchscreen can be finicky in water
- Optical HR sensor accuracy varies
2. Best for Activewear Fashion: Apple Watch Series 8
Price: $399+ (depending on size and connectivity options)
Key Features:
- Trendy design and band options
- Waterproof up to 50 meters
- Stroke detection and tracking
- Heart rate monitoring
- Emergency features like fall detection
While hardcore Garmin watches cater best to performance swimmers, the Apple Watch Series 8 hits the sweet spot for those wanting a stylish everyday smartwatch that also handles swim tracking.
Apple equips the latest Series 8 model with a new high-precision dual-frequency GPS for accurate pace and distance data both in and out of the water. Additionally, the watch auto-detects stroke type and swimming efficiency using the built-in motion sensors.
Paired with the Apple Health app, the Series 8 Watch provides visibility into important metrics like heart rate trends, VO2 max, and more. And if style matters, it comes in two sizes and dozens of trendy band options to match any look.
Key Pros
- Stylish smartwatch with swim tracking
- Accurate built-in GPS
- Top-notch health/activity app
Key Cons
- Very expensive
- Touchscreen can be finicky
3. Best Battery Life: COROS Pace 2
Price: $199
Key Features:
- 30 hour GPS battery life
- Accurate wrist-based heart rate
- Open water swimming mode with GPS
- Easy-to-use buttons
Boasting an impressive 30 hours of continuous GPS tracking per charge, the COROS Pace 2 is a great pick for swimmers needing extended battery life for long sessions.
It lasts up to 20 days in regular smartwatch mode and packs an accurate optical heart rate sensor, altitude sensor, compass, and thermometer. When it‘s time to hit the water, an open water mode delivers key swim stats.
While COROS doesn‘t have the name recognition of Garmin, the durable Pace 2 punches above its weight class in terms of features and battery life. The buttons provide an alternative to frustrating touchscreens, too.
Key Pros
- Incredible GPS battery life
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Full-featured for price
Key Cons
- App needs improvement
- Open water tracking can be glitchy
4. Best Budget Pick: Fitbit Versa 4
Price: $150-$200 (depending on size and band)
Key Features:
- Heart rate tracking
- Built-in GPS
- Activity tracking and sleep monitoring
- 6+ day battery life
- Notifications from phone
The recently updated Fitbit Versa 4 delivers reliable swim tracking and full smartwatch capability at a budget-friendly price point.
While swim metrics don‘t match premium dedicated devices, it covers the basics like lap counting, distance, pace, strokes per length, and more. Plus, it doubles as an everyday activity tracker and smartwatch out of the water.
Consider the Versa 4 if you want an affordable jack-of-all-trades watch that handles pool and open water swims while also keeping up with notifications, music, and everyday health data.
Key Pros
- Affordable price
- All-around fitness watch capability
- Great app and community
Key Cons
- Swim tracking lacks high-end stats
- Fit and finish feel cheaper
5. Best for Triathletes: Garmin Forerunner 955
Price: $500
Key Features:
- Multisport activity profiles
- Accurate open water swim tracking
- Up to 15 days smartwatch battery life
- Training readiness and recovery metrics
- Garmin Coach adaptive training plan guidance
Serious triathletes require a watch that seamlessly transitions across swim, bike, and run disciplines while providing robust data and training guidance. That’s exactly what the Garmin Forerunner 955 brings to the table.
It packs a full-color display visible in direct sunlight along with button and touchscreen control options. When it’s time for the swim portion, open water mode provides precise tracking of distance, stroke metrics, pacing, and more.
The Forerunner 955 also syncs wirelessly with compatible Garmin bike computers and accessories for unified tracking. Off the course, itdoubles down on training readiness scores, recovery time, sleep monitoring and more to optimize performance.
Key Pros
- Leading accuracy across all tri disciplines
- Top-notch training/recovery metrics
- Long battery life up to 15 days
Key Cons
- Very expensive
- Overkill if not training for triathlon
What To Consider When Buying a Swimming Watch
With many options on the market catering to various swim tracking needs and budgets, it’s important to weigh a few key factors as you shop for a new swimming watch:
Swimming Frequency and Goals
Consider how often you swim and what your objectives are. Casual or beginner swimmers can likely get by with more affordable mainstream fitness trackers that cover the basics. But competitive swimmers and triathletes need to look at high-end models boasting specialized swim tracking functionality.
Open Water Versus Pool Swimming
Determine whether you’ll be swimming primarily in a pool or doing open water sessions. You’ll want GPS tracking for any open water swimming to accurately measure distance and pace. Some pool swim watches omit GPS to improve battery life or reduce cost.
Smartwatch Versus Dedicated Swimming Watch
Everyday smartwatches like the Apple Watch Series 8 do offer swim tracking but usually target more casual fitness enthusiasts. Hardcore swimmers may want a device focused specifically on advanced swimming metrics even if it lacks broader smartwatch features.
Optical Heart Rate Accuracy
Most watches depend on optical wrist-based heart rate sensors these days. But many struggle with consistent accuracy while swimming due to erratic arm motions. Try the optical HR tracking out first before buying when possible or look for ECG capability.
Battery Life Needs
Determine the necessary battery life based on your typical swim session duration along with GPS, music, and smartwatch usage. For occasional hour-long swims, most watches can go multiple sessions before needing a charge. But marathon swimmers will demand extended battery performance.
Getting the Right Fit For Your Swimming Watch
Beyond just the right features, getting a comfortable and secure fit is paramount to happy swimming with your new watch. Here are quick tips for fit best practices with your swimming watch:
- Position the watch face on the inside of your wrist rather than topside for better HR reading and water dynamics.
- The band should feel snug but not painfully tight on your wrist bones.
- Swim-specific bands usually have holes throughout for improved water flow and quick drying.
- Test wrist bands of various materials that suit your comfort and skin sensitivity needs.
- Consider adding an optional secondary band for a few dollars to switch in and out between swim sessions.
The Future of Swimming Watch Technology
As the demand for swimming watches grows, companies like Garmin, Apple, Fitbit, and COROS continue releasing better products every year. Here are some exciting areas of innovation to look for in 2025 and beyond when it comes to swimming watch tech:
- Even more advanced stroke detection and correction – Think real-time coaching on your wrist.
- Streamlined form factors and slimmer bands for increased comfort.
- Optional accessory bands packing sensors for additional biometrics.
- Enhanced display visibility and responsiveness when wet.
- Extended battery life measured in days/weeks rather than just hours.
- Better onboard swim workout planning/guidance.
- Seamless connectivity across devices for unified data tracking.
The Right Swimming Watch Can Transform Your Training
Finding the right swimming watch for your particular needs and budget can provide huge benefits to your time in the water. From motivation to improve with better visibility into performance metrics to eliminating the headache of manually tracking repetitions – it‘s a worthwhile investment.
Use this guide to the best swimming fitness watches of 2024 as a starting point in your buying journey. Let the swimming watch tech innovations on the horizon drive you to get the most out of your training now and hit the ground running faster in coming years!
