Finding the perfect & best swimming heart rate monitors for swimmers can be a difficult task. Imagine all the models out there and you have to search each products and check everything just to make sure you're getting the right model.
If this seems so confusing, hold on for a bit. Because, I am going to show you the best waterproof swimming heart rate monitor for swimmers.
This is a complete research for 15+ hours going through everything and summarizing the list for you.
These products will measure your heart rate while you're in the water.
Best Waterproof Swimming Heart Rate Monitor 2020
1. Garmin HRM-Swim Heart Rate Monitor
- SWIM HEART RATE1 - Stores up to 20 hours of heart rate data during swims, then forwards it to a compatible device at the end of the session. It also sends real-time heart rate and interval summaries to the watch.
- NON-SLIP DESIGN - Keeps the monitor in place, even during push-offs from pool walls.
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Most of Garmin devices now come with an optical heart rate monitoring. The challenge with such is they don’t support optical heart rate while underwater. In this case, how would you rate your HR zones?
With Garmin’s HRM Swimming, that is how. Made of thick, almost webbing material with a sticky back, Garmin HRM-Swim keeps in place in the water to make sure you get that date you need. & that's why we picked it as one of the top underwater heart rate monitor.
While in the pool, your swimming date is recorded which can then be synced to your device later.
HRM-Swim by Garmin has an internal clock that can be synced with your Garmin watch.
Overall, garmin swim does exactly what it is supposed to do. A very proficient swimming HR strap, it is instantly one of the best swim devices in the market.
But, you may also consider its relatively narrower band – HRM-Tri. If you are a lot into swimming, this is the device for you.
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2. Fitbit Versa 2 Waterproof HRM For Swimmers
- Use amazon Alexa built in to get quick news and information, check the weather, set timers and alarms, control your smart home devices and more all through the sound of your voice (third party app may be required; amazon Alexa not available in all countries)
- Based on your heart rate, time asleep and restlessness, sleep score helps you better understand your sleep quality each night. Also track your time in light, deep and REM sleep stages and get personal insights
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Versa 2 by Fitbit proves that being less is so much more. This brand of fitness products has taken everything that made the innovative budget smartwatch improve on other features like fiddly voice assistant and almost perfect fitness tracker that has the best smartwatch perks.
You can use this smartwatch for just about any physical activity you are into – running, cycling, gym workout, and swimming.
All while listening to your favorite playlist on Spotify. Its beautiful touchscreen is waterproof and can go up to 5 ATM as you dive into the pool.
While wrist-worn heart rate monitors can not match the tracking ability of strapped trackers, especially during rapid move changes like doing a flip-turn, as long as you can live with its limitations, it is still a pretty good swim watch you can get yourself.
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3. Garmin HRM-Tri Heart Rate Monitor
- COMPACT AND COMFORTABLE - HRM-Tri is the smallest and lightest heart rate monitor from Garmin. Designed with rounded edges and no exposed seams, the strap remains comfortable during extended hours of training.
- SWIM HEART RATE1 - Stores up to 20 hours of heart rate data during swims, then forwards it to a compatible device at the end of the session. It also sends real-time heart rate to the watch when the monitor is out of the water
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Your all in one swimming gadget, HRM-Tri by Garmin is one of the best heart rate monitors you can get yourself if you are into swimming and so much more.
Comprised of a chest-strap design that is small but stiff, it is the smallest and lightest heart rate monitor by Garmin thus far.
As the name suggests, HRM-Tri is ideal to wear for your triathlon events. Wear it as you swim, run, or cycle.
Worry not about hanging loose or falling off, it is made with a bi-fold adjustment that makes sizing easy for you.
Pair it with your Garmin Smartwatch and you can use it up to 10 months for a daily hour of physical activity.
This provides you a good amount of chance to improve your triathlon experience greatly.
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4. Willful Swim Watch Heart Rate Monitor
- ★【Smart Watches for Men Women 】- If you want a decent fitness tracker that adds a part of functions of a smartphone on your wrist but with limited budget,or if you want a nice watch that could go from casual to dressy for work,this watch will be a good choice for you.The HD full touch screen is responsive and accurate (brightness adjustable).7-10 days battery life,easy to set up,solid build and user friendly,it can give you exact data to motivate you to walk more, move more and know yourself
- ★【Smart watch for iPhone and Android Phones 】- Compatible with most iOS 8.0 & Android 4.4 above smartphones (follow this steps to check your cellphone version:settings-about phone).You can get text,call, calendar,email and smartphone app notifications,also support messages reading on this watch.
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Just because a smartwatch is priced cheap doesn’t mean it can’t catch up with more expensive ones.
This smartwatch by Willful is a cheap priced watch that is worthy of your consideration.
In under $100, you can pick from four stylish color schemes of blue, black, purple, and red.
It comes loaded with features that make it the best deal for any fitness buff who wants a loyal companion through their tough fitness regimes.
While it may not compare with more expensive watches in terms of water resistance, its IP68 capability allows for a dip in the swimming pool.
Even a little sweat during cardio won’t be a problem. It is running to hear monitor counts your step throughout the day to keep track of just how much calories you’ve burnt.
Its 7 to 10-day battery life is not so bad for a cheap smartwatch, especially if it is just going to take you two full hours of charging.
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5. Fitbit Versa
- Includes all Versa Lite Edition features plus: store and play 300 plus songs, utilize on screen workouts that play on your wrist and coach you through every move and track swim laps and floors climbed
- Track your all day activity, 24/7 heart rate, & sleep stages, all with a 4 plus day battery life (varies with use and other factors), charge time (0 to 100 percent): two hours. Slim, comfortable design with a lightweight, anodized aluminum watch body
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The predecessor of Versa 2 by Fitbit, Versa is one smartwatch that despite its age, is not embarrassing to wear in and out of the gym.
Most even claim that it is more comfortable to wear than an Apple watch. Switch the bands from leather to rubber to make it more stylish.
An interesting feature Versa by Fitbit has is its female-health tracking features that include periods.
This feature gives women users the ability to log their period symptoms for them to gain insight into fertility as well as potential health conditions right at your watch’s face.
This feature is identifiable to most women, after all, a woman’s cycle is a key part of her overall health.
That of which has a great effect on sleep quality, exercise, and food intake. Despite its pretty basic health-tracking features, Versa smartwatch is still game-changing from software to physical appearance.
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6. SUUNTO Smart Sensor
- Measures your heart rate with great comfort and accuracy
- Smallest Bluetooth Smart compatible heart rate sensor on the market
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7. Moov HR Sweat Monitor For Swim
- Workout in the optimal zones, see calorie burn, Beat plateaus and crush your goals.
- First ever real-time heart rate based coaching.
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Benefits of Monitoring Your Heart Rate While Swimming
It lets you know how hard you are working. Any workout when done can feel hard - 5 minutes may feel “working hard.” However, without an unbiased measure of your effort, it can be fairly simple to weigh our reps.
Monitoring your heart rate while you swim tells you with cold accuracy how much effort you are exerting.
It sets workable goals for you. No matter what you are trying to achieve, it will give you an idea of the goals you need to set for yourself.
Regardless whether they are for an interval, time for a long and continuous set of swimming, or hitting a number of repetitions in a particular time, keeping a close eye on your numbers gives you measurables to track and compare.
Aids in maintaining your prescribed training boundaries. This is for the most part useful for people who are on their way to recovery, where keeping your heart rate low is your goal.
There have been numerous instances when the momentum of a workout leads into pushing yourself too far when you’re only supposed to take it easy.
Helps design your training pattern. Heart rate monitors are not necessary when you are simply swimming for leisure.
But, if you have goals you want to accomplish, it is helpful to understand where you are at to have an idea of how to plan your future swimming sessions.
Challenges of Swimming With Heart Rate Trackers/Monitors
Over the years, we could refine the characteristics that make fitness trackers, sleep sensors, or vital health monitors great by testing countless of them.
However, in the world of swimming, sensors have a few challenges that should be conquered.
To start off, heart rate trackers for swimming needs to be waterproof – not just water resistant.
It has to function well underwater. However, it is not that simple to produce a waterproof tracker.
Secondly, water movements in water are a bit more difficult to analyze. Tallying the turns, Identifying swimming styles, and gauging vital health parameters are so much of a challenge.
What Apple did to measure this complex set of movements was to gather data from over 700 swimmers and over 1500 swim sessions. This is what they studied so they know the kind of data they will need to send to your wrist via nearby satellites.
Lastly, measuring the heart rate in water is more complex than when running or biking.
Most methods of measurements used in the latter activities do not work in waters. Most of the trackers use a series of green lights that gleam against the skin to sense the changes in blood volume.
These changes in blood volume generate the BPM (Beats Per Minute) readings. This is why chest straps are also better at being heart rate monitors under waters than wrist-worn trackers.
But, with today’s technology, companies have surely found out how to overcome these.
Our Top Pick
HRM-Swim by Garmin topped our list of the best swimming heart rate monitor. Its chest straps that are snug-fit lessens the odds of falling or sliding off your abdomen as you push your way through the waters.
The sticky, silicone-ish material that sucks up to your skin beats all the reason for it falling off.
Additionally, the most common worry of any swimmer for their swimming heart rate monitor is the corrosive materials most pools have for treatment.
Garmin has HRM-Swim designed to withstand and endure these elements.
With a battery life of 235 hours, it won’t let you down in terms of recording every physical activity you put your body into.
Conclusion
There you have it. Our list of best swimming heart rate monitor for 2020. The list is fully updated and we will add new item that we test periodically.
Taking part in various sporting activities, especially swimming is better when you track down your performance.
With the items we listed, you can keep a detailed note of your entire swimming activity to have an idea of how you are progressing.
If you haven't started to track your performance while you're in the water, start doing with a HRM that specifically made for swimmers. The listed items are a good start to explore.
Last update on 2021-01-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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