Ranking of the best waterproof fitness bracelets and swim watches of 2022

The introduction of modern technologies into everyday life has allowed athletes to train better than before. Smart gadgets analyze the intensity of training and the load on the athlete's body, providing up-to-date data on at what stage it is necessary to make more efforts, and at what stage - to take a break.

Thanks to the evaluation of a large number of parameters, smart bracelets allow you to find “weak points”, identify errors and carry out work to correct and prevent them.

In this article, we will tell you how to choose a fitness bracelet for use in the water, what to look for in order not to make mistakes when choosing, make a rating of high-quality waterproof fitness trackers, and also find out what parameters the fitness bracelet measures in the pool.

Types of devices for swimming

Most of the gadgets on sale fall into 2 broad categories – chronographs and smartwatches. The main task of the first category is to record the execution time of a particular task. Gadgets of the second category are universal - they combine several devices at once - a watch, a heart rate monitor, a thermometer, reflect the level of oxygen in the blood, etc.

Criteria for choosing electronics for swimmers

1. The class of dust and moisture protection (IP) is one of the most important criteria, since the performance of the entire device depends on this parameter. The protection class is determined in numerical terms, 3 options are suitable for swimmers - 7 (no diving, swimming no more than 30 minutes), 8 (swimming without restrictions, without diving), 9 (swimming and diving without restrictions). Some manufacturers disclose this criterion, indicating the pressure that the device can withstand. It is expressed in atmospheres (or the number of meters that can be submerged in water). The following varieties are distinguished: up to 3 atmospheres (30 meters - cannot be used in the pool), up to 5 atmospheres (50 meters - suitable for swimming, without diving), up to 10 atmospheres (100 meters - shallow diving), 20 or more (without restrictions) .
2. Application area.Some devices are designed for use only in enclosed spaces and fresh water, others can be used in the open sea. Gadgets belonging to the second category are usually equipped with a GPS sensor that allows you to plot a route and determine the location. Enabling this feature drains the battery quickly, so it is not recommended to use it unnecessarily.
3. Strap fastening, clasp. Since the fitness tracker for swimmers is subjected to water pressure, and is located on the arm that is used to swing, there is a possibility of losing the device. In order to avoid such a nuisance, it is necessary when buying to choose only those models that are securely fixed. As a rule, there is no such problem in the products of well-known brands, however, some popular Chinese models still suffer from this drawback.
4. Ease of wearing - for a thin hand it is better to choose models with a narrow strap, for a wide one - any will do.
5. Screen size - all displayed information should be readable, alphanumeric combinations should be contrasting, easy to view underwater.
6. Functional. As previously mentioned, there are a large number of types of gadgets for swimmers, some of them only track the activity of an athlete, others can perform additional functions (ECG, NFC - contactless payment, GPS, having your own SIM card and the ability to make calls from a device (or with phone or tablet).
7. Price. This criterion is determined individually - there are a large number of options that differ from each other in price.At the same time, it is not necessary that a cheap tracker will be significantly worse than an expensive one - the difference can only be in the number of functions and the manufacturer (as a rule, Chinese products are much cheaper than goods from the best manufacturers of wearable electronics).
8. The presence of scratch-resistant glass is an additional advantage when buying, and it is important for athletes who wear the gadget for a long time without removing it, in which case it is advisable to choose a device with a tempered glass screen.

Tips and tricks for choosing smart bracelets

• If the screen is analog, the arrows and stripes should be bright and reflect the incident light. The size of the figures should be sufficient to read at a glance.
• The strap should be long so that, if necessary, it can be fastened over clothing (wetsuit).
• According to buyers, special attention should be paid to the presence of water resistance - in case you plan to dive even to a shallow depth.
• Before heading to the store, you need to evaluate the functionality that you expect from the purchase - if some features do not matter, you can save on them.
• OS Compatibility: Android, iOS, Windows. If you have a smartphone, this criterion is also important, since high-tech gadgets can not only send notifications about an incoming call to a fitness tracker, but also generate a training report, track sleep phases, etc.
• Before making a final decision, it is recommended to try on the watch, evaluate the convenience of their location on the hand, as well as the absence of discomfort during movements.
• Evaluate the appearance of the product - there are often cases when a person purchases a device that does not suit him in terms of design, but meets the requirements for functionality. After some time, the device is simply placed in a “long box”, since wearing it does not cause positive emotions. To avoid such a situation, it is recommended to buy only the smart bracelet that you like in appearance.
• Before going to the store, evaluate the range of purchased products. It would be useful to read customer reviews, read the relevant forums in order to understand what you expect from the purchase.

Rating of the best waterproof fitness bracelets

Budget (up to 5,000 rubles)

Xiaomi Mi band 5

The review begins with the products of the best-selling Chinese manufacturer, which many buyers call “the most anticipated novelty of 2022”. The popularity of this model is associated not only with an inexpensive price (even a schoolboy can afford a device), but also with wide functionality. The touch screen tracker can work both standalone and in conjunction with a proprietary application that saves and analyzes the information received from the bracelet, provides recommendations for a healthy lifestyle, monitors sleep phases, and much more.

The manufacturer claims compatibility with Android and iOS, so the user does not have to worry about whether his smartphone will be able to work with the device. Since the Mi Band is the flagship among the budget fitness trackers of 2022, in most respects it is not inferior, and in some it is superior to competitors.Of the features, convenient charging can be noted (finally, the manufacturer has finalized it and made it possible to connect the cable without removing the capsule from the strap), a 1.1-inch high-resolution display, the presence of tempered glass, long battery life (about 2 weeks), moisture protection of 5 ATM, connection with a smartphone via Bluetooth 5.0, etc.

Compared to previous generations, the manufacturer has made several improvements. The main ones are: the number of workouts has increased (up to 11), a women's calendar has been added, the ability to control the phone's camera from a bracelet, activity analysis using the PAI index, the weight of the gadget has decreased while the screen diagonal has increased.

Buyers note a large number of options for displaying images on the screen, there are even animated options. The sensors of the pedometer and heart rate monitor have been improved, according to the manufacturer, the final values ​​​​are 40% closer to the correct parameter. The average price of a product is 3,000 rubles, and if you order it from China, you can get significant savings.

• The best ratio of price and quality;
• Has a built-in heart rate monitor
• in a proprietary application, monitoring of sleep, physical activity, calories is implemented;
• since the model is popular with buyers, on the Internet on the forms you can find out about all the problems and how to fix them.

• no compatibility with Windows;
• The NFC bracelet only makes contactless payments in China;
• there is no way to measure the level of oxygen in the blood.

Honor Band 5

The product under consideration is a direct competitor of the previous applicant. It is also made in China, and has similar functional characteristics.The manufacturer of this model works at an accelerated pace - updates of models can occur several times a year. Due to such a high upgrade rate, customers are noticing a small number of changes taking place in the device compared to previous versions.

The novelty has a similar appearance with the previous generation, differing from it only in a small set of characteristics. Customers appreciate the improved AMOLED True Color display, which reproduces true-to-life colors and has an anti-reflective surface, as well as convenient charging, which does not require detaching the strap from the capsule. The touch screen is in constant standby mode; to turn it on, you need to press the round button located at the bottom of the front panel. Unlike the Mi band, the strap is attached to the capsule in the same way as in a watch.

The device works with the proprietary Health application, which accumulates information collected by the bracelet and analyzes it. The tracker has 10 workout modes, including pool swimming and rowing. In the process of monitoring activity, you can constantly monitor the heart rate. Athletes note that, unlike competitors' products, which give a distorted result when immersed under water, this product does not have such a problem. The gadget can determine the swimming style, measure the stroke rate (average, and also shows the value for a certain period of time). Other pluses include eight different widgets, as well as the ability to read the text of received notifications. The average price of a product is 2,000 rubles.

• many buyers like that the gadget looks like a classic watch;
• low cost;
• waterproof case allows you to use the watch even at great depths;
• you can measure the level of oxygen in the blood, which is important during a pandemic.

• short battery life (up to 6 days).

Amazfit Bip

The model in question in appearance resembles a men's watch, and is mainly purchased by men, since it looks massive on a thin female hand. The manufacturer is indirectly related to the popular company Xiaomi (it is its sub-brand).

A distinctive feature of the watch is battery life - compared to models of expensive brands, it can reach 30 days. Such a duration of operation of a rather massive device is ensured by the use of a reflective screen manufacturing technology, which requires a small amount of energy for operation. Unlike other similar devices, the image on the screen is constantly displayed, only the backlight turns off. The user is given a choice of a large number of display widgets that can be downloaded not only from the official website, but also from third-party sources.

The device has a built-in GPS module, which allows you to track activity in relation to the location. This feature is useful when swimming in open water. The glass has an oleophobic and protective coating Gorilla Glass. Of the minuses of the device, it can be distinguished that it cannot be used at sea, since salt can ruin the device. As in other budget devices, the NFC function is not available in Russia. There is also no music control function on the smartphone. The average price of a product is 4,900 rubles.

• budget cost;
• battery life of 30 or more days;
• built-in GPS module;
• Lots of screens to choose from.

• cannot be used at sea;
• NFC does not work in Russia.

Average price category (from 5,000 to 10,000 rubles)

Samsung Galaxy Fit

The tracker entered the market in 2019 and has two modifications - with a black and white and color screen. Both devices are supplied with an instruction manual, a warranty card, and a charging cable (via a USB port, there is no power supply included).

Customers note the ease of use of the charger, as it is equipped with a magnet that holds the connector without allowing it to move. Before buying, it is worth considering that the length of the strap is 14-19 centimeters, which is why the bracelet may not fit a wide male hand. The strap has a non-standard mount, which may make it difficult for the user to find a replacement.

Compared to competitors, the display of this model has brightness adjustment, which allows you to customize it to individual needs. The range of adjustments is from 1 to 10. The fitness tracker has a moisture-proof housing, diving to a depth of up to 50 meters is allowed. Since the tracker is completely sealed, it has a built-in pressure release button, which some confuse with resetting the device. According to buyers, the gadget is compact and lightweight (weight - 23 grams), and looks good on a thin female hand.

The smartphone is synchronized with the tracker using the Samsung Wearable app. Owners of smartphones of this brand do not even have to download the application - it is preinstalled at the factory. Workout tracking is done in a different app called Samsung Health. The user can select and install a widget from those allowed by the developer (there are 24 options to choose from).

As for activity tracking, the tracker can automatically detect this or that type of training and immediately start tracking. All parameters are stored in the gadget's memory and, when synchronized with the phone, are transferred to it. Among the shortcomings, one can single out a short battery life - up to 7 days (with many useful functions disabled). The average price of a product is 7,000 rubles.

• attractive appearance;
• convenient synchronization with the phone;
• activity tracking with pulse counting in the pool.

• missing oxygen level monitoring, barometer, and GPS sensor;
• takes a long time to charge;
• short battery life.

Misfit Shine 2

The second generation of watches was designed specifically for swimmers. In appearance, they only resemble watches - in fact, there is no display, the tablet is made of aluminum, on which LEDs are placed around the perimeter. The gadget has an accelerometer as well as a magnetometer. They collect data on the activity of the athlete, and also monitor his sleep.

The LEDs located on the front of the panel indicate whether the daily goal has been reached (if all LEDs are on, the plan for the day has been completed). They also show the current time, as well as notifications about receiving a message or a call to the phone. A feature of the model is a rare charge - the battery needs to be replaced only once every six months. The front panel is touch-sensitive, when you click on it, you can get the required information.

Users note a convenient application for the phone, in which you can determine the distance you have swum, the number of pools, and also track your heart rate during a workout.Among the shortcomings, one can note the lack of high-quality translation in the application - there are grammatical errors, as well as extraneous characters. Physical activity is measured in points (which differ depending on what exercises you do), which takes some getting used to after switching from a tracker from another manufacturer. The average price of a product is 7,900 rubles.

• unusual appearance;
• compatibility with Windows Phone, iOS, Android;
• long battery life (up to 6 months).

• not the screen in its usual form.

PoolMate 2

The review continues with watches popular with swimmers and designed to track activity in the pool, combining quality and reasonable price (5,700 rubles). The fact that the device is aimed at swimmers becomes clear immediately after reading its name (“pool” in English means “pool”). In the manufacturer's line of models, this one occupies the initial position, more expensive modifications have more synchronization options.

According to the manufacturer, the gadget registers the best measurements in pools with a length of 18 meters or more. The following parameters are recorded: the number of pools, strokes, the time taken to pass a particular stage, the swimming style, the number of calories burned, etc.

A gadget with detailed monitoring in swimming mode can be used not only in the pool, but also in open water - for this it must be properly configured. If you don't want to spend time setting up, you can simply swim 50 meters in one direction, and the device will rebuild automatically.All workouts are recorded in the memory of the device, at the same time it can contain up to 50 files. In addition to swimming, the device can also be used for other activities such as walking, running, cycling. Among the features of the product, we can note the fact that the device in a black case does not have a backlight (and is made with reverse contrast), unlike models of other colors.

• the product is aimed at athletes, thanks to which all measurements are carried out at a decent level;
• long strap;
• good value for money;
• many positive customer reviews.

• the gadget is not suitable for women - it looks massive on a thin hand.

Premium models (over 10,000 rubles)

Garmin Vivoactive HR

The product of a well-known brand is aimed at professional athletes, and not every amateur can afford to buy it because of the high cost (about 22,000 rubles). The main feature of the choice by buyers of this particular model, compared to those that are on sale, is the presence of a GPS module, which allows you to track movements not only in the pool, but also on the high seas. The gadget also has a built-in accelerometer, a heart rate sensor, a barometer (tracks climbing stairs).

The display in the model is touch, color. A fitness tracker with a timer and a stopwatch allows you to control the time of training, mark the speed of passing the distance. There is a function of continuous measurement of heart rate not only on land, but also under water.The device works with the Garmin Connect phone application, which accumulates the received data and analyzes them, providing the user with information about the quality of a particular workout, daily activity, nighttime sleep, etc. Users note that the model has the best heart rate tracking module, which can only compete with the Apple Watch.

Swimming workouts are reflected on the screen of the device, only with some delay. At any time, each of them can be deleted, saved, paused and resumed. After the workout is saved, you can track detailed statistics - the total time, the duration of the swim itself, the number of strokes and their effectiveness, etc. Among the shortcomings, we can note the poor contact of wet fingers with the display, which makes it difficult to control the device in the pool. The heart rate monitor is optional, it is possible to use not only the built-in one, but also connect an external heart rate sensor, which is considered more accurate.

• wide functionality;
• a large number of settings;
• accuracy of measurements.

• high price.

Fitbit Ionic

The products of this manufacturer are focused exclusively on athletes, due to which they have a number of characteristics that are not available in the budget models of competitors. It is the presence of high-quality components that explains how much the product costs - in some stores its cost can reach up to 24,000 rubles. The package includes a watch, a strap, a charger, as well as an instruction describing the main features of the device.

The model is sold in three colors - gray, graphite and gold.The strap for the watch is suitable only for branded ones, and it is not easy to find a replacement for a damaged one on sale. The body is made of aluminium.

Users note the accuracy of the measurements of the heart rate monitor, and it does not lose efficiency under water, as is the case in budget trackers. The display is covered with protective glass Corning Gorilla Glass 3, which provides protection from scratches and other mechanical damage. When using a GPS sensor, the device can work without charging up to 5 hours, and when using only basic functions, autonomy is extended up to 10 days.

Among the shortcomings, one can single out the lack of Russification of the menu (since the watch is not officially sold in Russia), as well as the not always correct operation of notifications (for example, notification of incoming calls comes only after the user has picked up the phone). The watch has a built-in personal trainer, which includes a small number of free workouts, the full version can be purchased for a fee.

• focused on athletes, able to control a large number of activity parameters;
• many settings;
• a large number of positive customer reviews.

• not officially sold in Russia;
• high price.

Apple Watch Series 6

This model is the undisputed leader in all areas, including swimming. Despite how much the gadget costs (38,000 rubles), when asked which company’s smart watch is better to buy, most athletes will point to this particular model. Many experienced athletes tend to buy a smartwatch with an external heart rate monitor, but in this device, the built-in sensor is in no way inferior to the remote one.

The choice of the buyer is offered 5 different body colors - red, silver, gray, gold and blue. Only branded straps are suitable for the gadget, the price of which “bites” (on average, about 3,900 rubles). On sale you can find both standard silicone and monobracelets (wicker). Unlike other smartwatches, here the display is always on, which is not to the liking of all users, and increases battery consumption.

An improved processor is built into the device, which differs from its predecessors in an increased data processing speed. The watch has a sensor for measuring the level of oxygen in the blood, which is important not only for athletes, but also for those who monitor their health during a pandemic.

The device transmits the collected information to the Health or Activity application, here you can track the quality of training, physical activity per day, sleep level, etc. triggered by water droplets). This mode at the end of the workout will “push out” the water that has got inside the case. Parameters such as time, number of calories burned, number of strokes, speed, heart rate, total distance, etc. are controlled.

Among the shortcomings, users highlight the short life of the device (which is typical for most Apple products) - with all the functions turned on, only 30% of the charge remains by the evening.

• a large number of settings and monitored parameters;
• attractive appearance;
• suitable for professional use.

• little autonomy;
• high price.

Conclusion

On sale you can find a large number of smart watches and fitness trackers designed for use while swimming. It is difficult to navigate in their diversity, but it is possible. We recommend that you do not spend a large amount of money if you are an amateur swimmer. Most budget models are able to take basic measurements. At the same time, accuracy of measurements is important for professional athletes, so they should turn their attention to more expensive models, since in this case such a purchase will be justified by necessity.

We hope that our review will help you make the right choice!