A waterproof fitness tracker is a smart wearable device that you can use for keeping track of your daily health and fitness activities. Furthermore, these are waterproof to deliver high performance even in harsh weather conditions.
Using a fitness tracker lets you be more focused and disciplined in life. Furthermore, when you accomplish your daily-set fitness goals, you feel motivated to work even harder and eat healthily.
Several features determine the best waterproof fitness tracker, such as IP and ATM rating, the addition of a heart rate monitor, compatibility, versatility, design, accuracy, screen quality with inbuilt GPS (Source).
Waterproof fitness trackers operate using a chargeable Li-ion battery installed in the wearable gadget. The power source runs all the applications and features present in the unit. Besides the features, including fitness tracker, social media app notifications, etc., a fitness smartwatch is worn over the wrist. Several brands offer a variety of strap designs as well.
The waterproofing feature works in these trackers because of a highly compact body that seals off all gaps. As a result, water cannot enter the device. Nowadays, several fitness trackers offer features based on your interests, such as sports activities, cardio workouts, running, etc. (Source).
In this review, let’s look at top-rated waterproof fitness trackers that you can choose online. We have shortlisted the most efficient models for you to suit your budget, style, and desire for features.
Comparing the Best Waterproof Fitness Trackers
Tracker Name | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Garmin Forerunner 920XT –Our #1 Pick | ||||||
Fitbit Blaze Smart | ||||||
Fitbit Alta Fitness Tracker | ||||||
Garmin vívoactive | ||||||
Fitbit One Wireless | ||||||
TomTom Runner 3 | ||||||
Polar M400 GPS | ||||||
Garmin vívosmart HR+ | ||||||
Polar A360 | ||||||
Huawei Fit Smart Watch |
1. Garmin Forerunner 920XT Black/Blue Watch – Best Overall
Table of Contents
- 1 1. Garmin Forerunner 920XT Black/Blue Watch – Best Overall
- 2 2. Fitbit Blaze Smart Fitness Watch – Best for Tracking Any Exercise
- 3 3. Fitbit Alta Fitness Tracker, Silver/Black, Small – Best for Tracking Workouts
- 4 4. Garmin vívoactive Black – Best For Swimming
- 5 5. Fitbit One Wireless Activity Plus Sleep Tracker – Most Accurate Fitness Tracker
- 6 6. TomTom Runner 3 Music, GPS Fitness Watch – Best For Hiking & Outdoors
- 7 7. Polar M400 GPS Smart Sports Watch – Best on Budget
- 8 8. Garmin vívosmart HR+ – Best for Calories & Health Tracking
- 9 9. Polar A360 Fitness Tracker with Wrist Heart Rate Monitor – Top Heart Rate Activity Tracker
- 10 10. Huawei Fit Smart Fitness Watch – Most Versatile Fitness Tracker
- 11 Things You Must Know Before Buying a Waterproof Fitness Tracker
- 12 Waterproofing – IP rating and ATM
- 13 Heart Rate Monitor
- 14 What Activities Can a Fitness Tracker Track?
- 15 What Performance Functions Does It Provide?
- 16 Compatibility, Apps, and Bluetooth
- 17 Accuracy
- 18 Select the Right Design
- 19 Battery Life and Charging
- 20 Screen Display
- 21 Band Quality
- 22 Brand Warranty
- 23 Splash Resistance vs. Waterproof
This premium multisport watch is intended for both pool and open water swimming. It’s a powerful smartwatch ideal for those serious about their pavement, swimming, and cycling pounding. This device is designed to be a perfect companion for swimming, running, cycling or a mixture of the three so that it’s useful for triathletes.
While wearing it on your hand, you can measure all the important metrics of your workout, including SWOLF score, distance, speed, ascent/descent, and stroke rate. It can also measure calories burned and identify any stroke type.
It supports GPS and social connectivity, meaning you can make use of this device to contrast and compare your activity levels together with other fitness buddies. Plus, there is an option to add the heart-rate monitor.
The 920XT can also estimate your VO2 max and predict race times for a few different distances when used along with heart rate. Since it doesn’t include a fitted heart rate monitor, you will need the compatible Garmin HRM chest band to keep track of your heart rate while taking a dip.
Why the Garmin Forerunner 920XT is Our Top Pick
There are smart functions included like automated syncing and text messaging. Just make sure to set two different timers before starting your workout, and you’ll be notified when you reach a specific time goal or distance.
The functions and buttons are quite intuitive and well-labeled. In fact, the 920XT contains a total of 6 buttons — 2 below the face and 2 on each side. That makes navigation a breeze. The large 0.8 x 1.1-inch screen allows you to see lots of information at once.
But it can also display just one metric (e.g. heart rate) in large numbers as per your needs. Although this is a color display, most data is displayed in black or white to be visible when you use it in sunlight.
Compared to its predecessor (Forerunner 910XT), this model is about 15% lighter. It’s very flexible and comfortable to wear all day, thereby ideal for day-long activity tracking. Note that this multi-sport GPS fitness tracker is waterproof up to 50 meters (5 ATM).
- Multi-sport watch
- Wetsuit friendly
- Everyday activity tracker
- Includes plenty of functions
- Smart notifications
- VO2 max estimate
- Compatible with Garmin HRM and HRM-Run
- No heart rate monitor included
- Rubber strap is a weak point
2. Fitbit Blaze Smart Fitness Watch – Best for Tracking Any Exercise
Fitbit Blaze is meant to be an easy-to-wear wrist device which can act both as a smartwatch and a fitness tracker. No need to carry a smartphone and wear a fitness tracker along with a watch when heading to a morning run; all you need is wrapped up in a single device.Maybe this device isn’t the most stylish fitness tracker, but it supports a number of platforms and offers lots of valuable features like more expensive trackers that have all the bells and whistles.
With this wearable device, you can monitor and track everything from the number of steps you take and floors you climb throughout the day, to calories burned and your stationary time.
The device takes care of your health all the time. If you’re working in a stressful environment or have a chaotic schedule, Blaze Smart Fitness watch will suggest that you take a break and practice a breathing session.
Make use of multi-sport tracking to monitor your runs, biking, cardio, cross-training, and more. It also lets you learn more about your health and movement while sleeping. You’ll be able to track different stages of your sleep, from REM to light.
Further Review of the Fitbit Blaze
You can get it connected to the Internet or Bluetooth LE to send the phone notifications. Otherwise, the Fitbit Blaze will sync automatically to mobile devices or computers up to 30 feet away. Connect it to GPS when your smartphone is nearby to see your run stats and map your routes.
The notifications do not always appear promptly, though. This is particularly true for calendar alerts that tend to appear with a delay. Calls usually come through in a timely manner.
With a rubber-textured strap, metal frame, and 1.2″ flat screen, the Blaze looks like a sports smartwatch. Its 240 x 180-pixel resolution screen displays data in color-coded segments, unlike its predecessors. That move to color makes a huge difference in reading information, especially when it comes to heart rate and step count.
The Blaze excels at battery life. On a single charge, the battery is proven to last 5 days with moderate use. This typically entails tracking the morning runs while checking the incoming alerts and time with display brightness in the middle setting.
- Wrist-based continuous heart rate monitoring
- Convenient automatic exercise tracking
- Accurate activity tracking
- FitStar workouts
- Comfortable enough to wear
- Can be connected to the nearby mobile devices
- Well-designed tracking screen
- Body, bands, and frame feel cheap
- Inconvenient, clunky charging cradle
3. Fitbit Alta Fitness Tracker, Silver/Black, Small – Best for Tracking Workouts
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Looking for a stylish yet functional fitness tracker that is largely focused on the basics? The Fitbit Alta could be one you were looking for.Designed to fit both men and women, as well as to suit all design sensibilities, the Fitbit Alta supports all fitness levels. It’s all about motivation.
Whether you’re a professional striving for long-term goals or a beginner who has just started out with a hectic workout schedule, this spectacular tracker will keep you motivated throughout your fitness journey.
This watch provides all the information and statistics necessary to stay motivated, including the number of steps you made, floors you climbed, workout assistance, calories burned, active time, and so on. It will also track your sleep patterns to ensure you achieve your health goals. All the info is obtained via built-in sensors and displayed on the OLED tap screen.
The slim design makes sure the device doesn’t feel cumbersome or uncomfortable at all on your wrist. For an expanded experience, connect it to your phone and enjoy tracking your data wirelessly. It can wirelessly and automatically sync to all the leading Windows, iOS, and Android devices by means of Bluetooth 4.0 technology.
The Alta boasts the stellar battery life. A single charge can yield from 5 to 7 days of use. Once the battery dies, you can back it to full health with just about an hour of recharge.
However, you shouldn’t bother yourself with how much juice you have left. The device will warn you when there are less than 24 hours of battery life remaining.
- Track any activity levels
- Easy to understand graphical interface
- Can be synced to Windows, iOS, and Android devices
- Easy to use app
- Decent battery life
- Sleek, stylish design
- Splash, rain, and sweat proof
- Fair price
- No third-party app alerts
- The 1.4-inch screen is pretty small
- Reminders get repetitive
4. Garmin vívoactive Black – Best For Swimming
Although there’s a new version of the Vívoactive (called Vívoactive HR) available on the market, the original version is still continuing to be the best seller. So what can you expect to get from this solid device?It includes sturdy design, built-in GPS, plenty of great functions, a variety of apps, and long battery life. All the metrics are clearly shown on the high-resolution color touch screen.
Perhaps this sunlight-readable screen is a little bulky, but its rather thin profile definitely comes in handy. It allows you to fit your activity and style while switching around the display square face.
This ultra-thin, waterproof device can track your swimming length, stroke count, the number of lanes, depth, calories burned, time, pace, speed, temperature, and SWOLF score (swimming efficiency indicator).
Aside from swimming, it can also be used for a wide range of activities, such as running, walking, hiking, golfing, and cycling. That makes it the best versatile smartwatch.
The Vivoactive comes with only 2 physical buttons and 2 capacitive keys. The right button serves to activate the app drawer and you can also use it to start or stop your activities. The left button triggers the tracker’s backlight; you can also use this button to power the device on/off with a long press.
As for the capacitive keys, a menu button lets you access more options whereas a back one lets you get back to the previous screens.
Further Review of the Garmin vívoactive Black
Keep in mind that the product is water resistant up to 50m. It involves notifications for Instagram and email. There are also a weather app and music controls. Besides the standard programs, you can also download additional data fields and extra applications alike.
Make sure to check out the mobile app called Garmin Connect. It’s available for both Android and iOS. That app provides some valuable information on the workouts and daily activities. This is where you’ll customize notifications as per your needs. You’ll be able to remove or add Connect IQ apps, watch faces, and widgets.
NOTE: It can only work with the default music player on iOS devices.
- Comfortable for all-day wear
- Suitable for different types of activities
- Broad range of on-screen swim data
- High-resolution, sunlight-readable touchscreen
- Detailed post-swim analysis
- Full GPS tracking
- Long battery life
- Affordable price
- User interface isn’t on par with advanced brands
- Not that accurate when it comes to laps counting in the water
- Prone to quit syncing after a while
5. Fitbit One Wireless Activity Plus Sleep Tracker – Most Accurate Fitness Tracker
It even lets you know whether you get a restful sleep or not. All these features make it one of the best products among fitness trackers.
Compared to its predecessor (Fitbit Ultra), this model comes with a removable clip, sharper display, Gothic color options, and a new Silent Wake Alarm. It syncs with iPhones via Bluetooth.
The Fitbit One combines an OLED display, a vibration motor, a MEMS three-axis accelerometer, an altimeter, and only one button into a 1.89-inch long smooth capsule, which slips well into a detachable a metal clip enclosed by silicone.
By using the clip, you can easily attach the gadget to clothing, be it a shirt, belt, or pants pocket. Once clipped on, it’s all set to record your daily activities.
One of the biggest drawbacks is that you’ll have to take the tracker away from the clip sheath and put it in a cloth strap which is specially designed for night use. Many users find this an awkward additional step.
Besides, the device largely relies on a separate strap when tackling sleep duty that could be an issue.
More on the Fitbit One
To get you informed about your overall fitness, the Fitbit One automates a hard work. Plus, it uploads all the data to a companion online account, allowing users to add additional information. The tracker boasts an impressive accuracy and a great compatibility with a lot of apps.
You can sift your data online either through iOS and Android mobile apps or via Fitbit’s desktop website. It lets you easily see your daily, weekly, monthly, or even yearly stats. What’s more, the Fitbit service allows the users to enter the drinks and food they consume.
- High accuracy
- Futuristic, sleek design
- Great OLED display
- A new silent alarm feature
- Syncs with an iPhone
- Supports Android and iOS devices
- Competitively priced
- Wireless syncing is somewhat confusing to set up
- Checking current stats is slightly difficult
- The clip tends to come loose
6. TomTom Runner 3 Music, GPS Fitness Watch – Best For Hiking & Outdoors
TomTom Runner 3 is a sensibly-priced, solid GPS smartwatch for fitness-obsessed people willing to miss out on their phone notifications.Although this runner’s watch is significantly cheaper than high-end smartwatches and fitness trackers, it still provides smart-enough appearance, decent battery life, and full GPS multisport tracking.
Those using the old Runner 2 version are probably wondering if there is any difference. Well, this new model got a compass as well as on-screen basic route tracking which will assist you when getting lost in the forest or wilds. However, it’s otherwise much the same as its predecessor.
The key features include route exploration, multisport mode, 3-week activity tracking, and GPS tracking up to 11 hours. Considering its rich heritage in the field of satellite navigation, it should not come as a surprise that the Runner 3 watches have a built-in navigation system.
If you are using a fitness tracker during hiking, consider buying dual-band ham radio which is a perfect way to communicate whether for socializing or case of emergency. They are handy for long-range communication.
When you want to go out and begin running, go for the Route Exploration and find your way home without getting lost.
The Runner 3 provides a fairly consistent tracking experience. Without any runs or gym sessions, the battery can last for up to two weeks of regular activity tracking. When used with GPS and without heart rate, the battery can last for nearly 11 hours.
It lasts about 9 hours with the heart rate tracking and it will drop to just about 5 hours when the music streaming is on. Just to mention that this device is water-resistant up to 40 meters, so it can be safely used for pool training as well.
- Solid HR and GPS tracking
- Fairly feature-rich
- Easy to use
- Route exploration
- Hard plastic watch module
- Includes wireless headphones and Bluetooth music player
- Can be used underwater
- No phone notifications
- Not good for open water swimming
- Bundled headphones are not great
7. Polar M400 GPS Smart Sports Watch – Best on Budget
In a nutshell, the Polar M400 is a smart fitness tracker that measures daily activities and logs outdoor runs via GPS. That makes it a compelling choice for both pro and beginner runners.It is primarily tailored for those who want to count their steps without adhering to a strict workout schedule. if you’re running up to 30 miles per week and need a GPS tracker with lots of functionality, the Polar M400 is a good way to go.
This waterproof device tracks steps, monitors sleep metrics, supports Android and iOS push notifications, syncs data with smartphones, and features an excellent battery life. On the top of this, it keeps track of outdoor activity with GPS.
Another big plus of this device is its big dot-matrix monochrome screen that lets you clearly see what’s happening while one is charging about, on the contrary to smaller smartwatches. It offers a stellar backlight and sharp contrast for use in low-visibility circumstances such as driving rain.
Battery life with no alert trickery is more than satisfactory, offering roughly 8 hours of life when you turn on the GPS; it translates to a casual two weeks worth of training runs on a regular basis. Charging is quite simple thanks to the micro USB instead of complex cradles.
On the downside, it is inelegant and chunky for an all-day wear sports watch. Note that it’s not designed to read heart rate while you wear it on your wrist. But it can be paired with a compatible heart rate monitor if needed.
- GPS running watch
- Sleep tracking
- Durable
- Waterproof
- Supports push notifications
- Great app for athletes
- Impressive battery life
- Inelegant design
- A bit chunky
- Monochrome screen
- Slow syncing
8. Garmin vívosmart HR+ – Best for Calories & Health Tracking
With its waterproof, rugged, and durable design, Garmin created this wearable gadget with the active on-the-go lifestyle in mind.The Garmin vívosmart HR+ is an activity tracker that doesn’t only tracks your workouts but also gets you informed about how well you sleep. It counts every step you take, measures calories you burn, your personal records, records the floors you climb, and more.
To keep track of nearly every activity you make, this device uses GPS satellite signals. All of this makes it perfect for the outdoor enthusiasts.
Like the majority of Garmin’s models, the Vivosmart HR+ doesn’t pretend to be an attractive modern version of the classic sports watch like some similar brands we have seen on the market. Instead, this device is completely designed for fitness.
That said, it features traditional buckle-style strap as well as rubber and plastic body that ensures the device can withstand drops and knocks. That makes it suitable for running on the rough terrain.
The tracker is equipped with a built-in heart rate monitor. Apart from the heart rate monitoring twenty-four hours a day, you can also utilize automatic tracking for swimming, biking, walking, and running. And that’s not all.
You can also use this smart wearable device to receive social media notifications, call, and text. But don’t worry. It will not bug you with phone notifications when you are at night rest.
- Rugged, sturdy construction
- GPS integration
- Vibration alerts
- Comfortable to wear
- 5 ATM waterproof rating
- 24/7 heart rate monitoring
- Includes smart notifications
- Bulky on smaller wrists
- Difficult to read screen in dark conditions
- Calorie burn may way off
9. Polar A360 Fitness Tracker with Wrist Heart Rate Monitor – Top Heart Rate Activity Tracker
If you’re looking for an affordable do-it-all activity tracker with wrist heart rate monitor, look no further than the Polar A360. This waterproof fitness tracker is designed to track all-day fitness metrics and take care of the sleep quality.Combined with an optical heart rate monitor and color touchscreen display, this advanced fitness tracker is a great choice for those taking more than 10,000 steps a day and people who aim to improve their health. It ensures that you get detailed info about your body.
Besides, the Polar A360 includes a few smartphone features like text and call notification. You can connect it to your smartphone or computer.
Bear in mind that the initial setup involves some software updates. The tracker can support push notifications from both iOS and Android devices. It’s also possible to pair it with a compatible chest strap via Bluetooth.
With changeable color wristbands, color touchscreen, soft rubber material, and elongated design, the Polar A360 is one of the most catchy options available on the market. It comes with a stylish silky-smooth silicon strap – in white, pink, or black – which can be attached via metal snap fasteners that prevent the band from dropping.
While Polar claims that the battery can last for up to 14 days, it mostly depends on the training sessions and way of use. It involves a Micro USB cable for charging, which is the thumbs up for this tracker, but note that you’ll have to pop the device out of its wristband when charging it.
- Built-in optical heart rate monitor
- 24/7 activity tracking
- Sleep quality tracking
- Helpful coaching features
- Changeable wristbands
- Color touchscreen
- Comfortable
- Excellent battery life
- No built-in GPS
- Heart rate isn’t accurate in the water
- Sleep data is presented poorly
10. Huawei Fit Smart Fitness Watch – Most Versatile Fitness Tracker
Like other fitness trackers, this one can track steps, sleep, calories, and heart rate. What sets it apart from other smartwatches in the same price range is on-face chart display of heart rate right. Also, you can receive text/call Facebook and Gmail notifications right on the watch.Some of the key features include an always-on display, IP68 water resistance, heart rate sensors, and Android & iOS support. 5 ATM water-resistance and multi-sport modes let you use this device for different types of activities, including running, walking, cycling, and treadmill workouts.
The Huawei free app gives you an option to create a workout program specifically tailored to you, whether you train for a 5k, 10k, half marathon, or full marathon. This program is especially interesting for everyday runners training for an upcoming race.
Huawei’s fitness tracker is created to be light and slim enough for slender wrists. It highlights a water-resistant metal body and circular one-inch screen with a 208 x 208 px resolution. The traditional watch design is complemented with an oversize bezel with hour markings. Since it involves touchscreen controls, there’s no button at all.
The Huawei Fit is an all-star when it comes to the battery life, as it can last up to a week. if you do not care about having to exercise with your smartphone and social features, then go for this entry-level fitness tracker.
- Accurate heart rate tracking
- Water-resistant, metal body
- Cross-platform compatibility
- Interchangeable straps
- Comfortable and discreet design
- Training plan
- Bezel is too big
- Poor Bluetooth connectivity
- Poor notification appearance
Things You Must Know Before Buying a Waterproof Fitness Tracker
Choosing the right waterproof fitness tracker is not a big deal if you know what you’re looking for, but there are certain factors to take into account.
Your decision mainly depends on what you’re planning to do, where and when you’ll be wearing it, as well as how your daily routine looks like.
Be sure to follow these factors when purchasing the activity tracker.
Waterproofing – IP rating and ATM
Don’t skimp on features related to waterproofing. This is particularly important for those who will wear the tracker while swimming. You will find a lot of cheap options with a lower IP-rating.
Keep in mind that exposure to water isn’t always intentional (e.g. in event of sudden downfalls or swimming pool incidents), so it’s worth spending the extra couple of buck for high-grade waterproofing. Otherwise, you are likely to spend money replacing or fixing your activity fitness tracker because of water damage.
Ideally, the IP rating of your fitness tracker should be either 7 or 8. That means it will be able to withstand all water-related activities.
You should consider the ATM standards, too. ATM is the unit of atmospheric pressure that shows you how effectively a device can withstand the pressure till a particular depth. You’re advised to choose an activity tracker rated with at least 1 ATM. Such a device is waterproof up to about 10 meters in depth.
Heart Rate Monitor
Picking a fitness tracker which contains a heart rate monitor is essential for fitness buffs. Your heart rate can tell you a lot about your stress index and health throughout the day.
The heart rate monitoring lets you make the most of your training routines or workouts. It prevents over-training that results in injuries like fainting, dehydration, etc. Equally, this feature helps you avoid under-training which often leads to frustration and delayed results.
The type of heart rate tracking differs hugely. While some activity bands can keep track of the heart rate 24/7, others make a note of the resting heart rate only while you are awake. Some trackers are capable of tracking heart rate throughout timed sessions or monitoring real-time exercises.
What Activities Can a Fitness Tracker Track?
The majority of fitness trackers and smartwatches are solely capable of breaking down simple activities like cycling or running while calculating calories burned. However, not many fitness tracking devices can analyze a broad range of activities and exercises, including running, walking, hiking, cycling, swimming, boxing, and golfing.
More advanced trackers are fitted with a GPS. Others can be linked to smartphones in order to break down the specific location data. Yet, bear in mind that adding a GPS will also add to the weight and price of an activity tracker.
What Performance Functions Does It Provide?
Your tracking device is supposed to have some key functionalities. When it comes to the swimmer’s trackers, they need to provide basic performance functions, such as distance measurement, calories consumption counter, automatic lap counting, stroke rate, and stroke count.
Fitness trackers should be able to monitor and track activity levels, daily step count, heart rate, stopwatch functionality, and sleep. These basic functions allow you to clearly indicate your performance, improve your sleep, and get the most out of your training.
Compatibility, Apps, and Bluetooth
Purchasing a gadget that is not compatible with your computer or smartphone doesn’t make sense, right? Such a device is virtually useless and made just for the sake of style.
That being said, you should look for a tracker that is compatible with other devices (both Android or iOS) and can work with the best smartphone apps.
The apps, such as the Garmin Connect and Fitbit app for workouts, can be employed to monitor your progress and achieve activity targets.
There are quite a few apps and gadgets that track the quality of sleep. They allow you to change the times manually when you wake up in the app.
You may use this great feature just in case the automatic-sleep tracking of your device is not perfect. Pay close attention to the design of apps. Things like clean typography, bold colors, charts, and an intuitive layout can make a big difference in understanding your data.
In addition, consider the Bluetooth requirements to remotely pair your device with a fitness tracker. Most activity trackers require at least Bluetooth 4.0 to assure successful remote connection. Go for a fitness tracker that can support phone call and SMS functions, along with social media notifications.
Whether you are in the pool, go for a jog, or a leisurely walk, the tracker will make you stay connected to other people all the time.
Accuracy
Remember that most wrist-worn trackers cannot provide a perfect accuracy as you can get from high-end GPS devices and chest-mounted heart rate monitors. The fitness trackers are primarily intended for encouraging activities and incremental improvements.
The good news is that new generation tracking gadgets are getting improved and better, especially in regards to measuring heart rate and counting steps.
Select the Right Design
The most waterproof fitness trackers are designed as a sports watch or wristband that wraps around the wrist. But you can also find dongle trackers that afford more comfortable wearing clipping on your clothing.
There are also trackers which can be worn either in pockets or on clips. Others come with a variety of stylish accessories and can be worn around the neck.
Speaking of design, you should also consider the color, size, and screen. The simplest tracking devices are the ones that can be worn all day without any considerable interaction.
To indicate your progress, most fitness trackers use color or monochrome LEDs. With more expensive and more advanced trackers come larger displays (OLED displays or touchscreens). Those trackers look like big watches with square or round faces, displaying a wide range of information.
Moreover, those let users interact with their data. They tend to be uncomfortably large and aren’t suited for people with small wrists.
Battery Life and Charging
The most fitness activity trackers excel at battery life; the battery tends to last from a couple of days to 6 months. This is really impressive compared to smartwatches.
Charging your tracker every few days could bother you and affect your fitness regime negatively. Most today’s fitness trackers are falling into two groups: those devices that need charging via a USB cable every 5 days and those that last approximately 6 months and use a cell battery.
Keep in mind that the battery life depends on the activity you perform, i.e. in which mode you use the tracker. For example, the Garmin Vivosmart HR+ has a battery that lasts 5-6 days on a single charge. However, it will only last around 8 hours if you constantly use the GPS.
Screen Display
One important consideration is what the screen of your fitness tracker displays. There are many options available on the market, as simple as glowing dots and as complex as providing access to your favorite phone apps.
The base model of most fitness trackers simply has glowing dots which measure your progress. This means they show you a certain number of dots based on how close you are to your daily goal. If you are solely focused on reaching a certain number of steps or going a specific distance, this can be a perfect option.
The next level of fitness trackers allows you to see more of your data. They may allow you to see your resting heart rate, current heart rate, number of steps, number of active minutes, and even the date and time.
If you are not as goal-focused, but are instead concerned with your overall health, this is certainly another option for you. Additionally, as many athletes are becoming more concerned with heart rate zones, this can be an excellent option to track your energy output.
More on Screen Display
The next tier of tracker also allows you to see incoming text messages or calls. This can be nice if you are not near a phone and would like to stay up to date. For many athletes, this is a nice feature, as they can quickly see if the text message is an emergency or not.
Finally, we have the top tier of fitness trackers. These function almost like your cell phone, and allow you to see various apps. You can send text messages from these trackers and can access things like the weather or Facebook. If you are busy and on the go, the efficiency of this can be helpful.
These top of the line fitness trackers also normally have a GPS tracker. If you run long distances by yourself or if you swim long distances on your own, this is an extremely important quality in a fitness tracker. Having a GPS tracker will keep you safe and let your family know where you are.
We highly recommend considering a fitness tracker with a GPS system in it.
Band Quality
When you spend a significant amount of money on a fitness tracker, you want to make sure it lasts. Typically, the first thing to break on these trackers is the band. Read on to find out how to assess your band quality and which companies provide warranties for their bands.
In order to keep the fitness bands comfortable, they must be made of a rubber material. Often these are kept thin to prevent the excess weight from being added to you when you exercise. However, these materials quickly fall apart and are broken.
It is recommended that you clean your band after each workout with a light alcohol. If you use soap to clean your band, ensure that the band has been rinsed thoroughly. Some soaps can cause a skin reaction if they are left on the band.
Be aware, as well, of any metals used on the band itself. If you have a nickel allergy, a band with a nickel latch could make you break out or have a reaction.
Brand Warranty
Garmin, Fitbit, Misfit, and Apple all have a 1-year limited warranty for their fitness trackers. Some companies offer warranties on the tracker, but not the band. That being said, these warranties often have to be examined thoroughly before the company will fix your device.
Sometimes the company merely requires that you send in a picture of the damage, provide the serial number, and they will issue you new parts. However, some companies require you to return your entire device before they will issue you new parts.
This can be incredibly frustrating, as it means you are without your tracker for several days. We recommend that you thoroughly read your tracker’s warranty plan before purchasing.
Splash Resistance vs. Waterproof
Many fitness tracker owners purchase a tracker which is labeled as “water resistant” and assume this is the same as waterproof. However, water resistant also means splash resistant and has a very different meaning that waterproof.
Water resistant or splash resistant fitness trackers are typically not safe for swimming. Remember, these trackers often have a low IP number and a 1ATM or 3ATM rating. Neither of these is safe for swimming and should only be used around water “on accident”.
However, waterproof trackers should completely repel water. In order to swim in a waterproof tracker, you want to have an IP number of over 8. An IP lower than this can resist sprays of water or can be in the water for a very short period of time. You also want an ATM rating of over 5. Anything under 5 is dangerous, because water pressure can vary, no matter the depth of the water.
How Does Water Pressure Vary By Location?
Typically water pressure changes every 10 meters. This means, as your progress down 10 meters, the water pressure will increase until you enter the next category of “water pressure”.
However, water pressure can also vary depending on where you are around the world. Without getting into the science of it, there are a few things impacting water pressure around the world. First, the gravitational pull of the earth changes the water pressure in different places around the world. For instance, this pressure is stronger at the equator than it is at the poles.
Additionally, the amount of salt in the water can make the water more or less dense. This can cause the same issues as the gravitational pull. Finally, the temperature of the water can also cause a higher pressure or a lower pressure to form.
What does this mean for you and your fitness tracker? If you are a world traveler and will be swimming in many different locations, get the highest ATM rating you can possibly get. This will protect your fitness tracker from becoming ruined when you are swimming around the equator.
Ready to Buy a Fitness Tracker?
Regardless of your buying motive when searching for a fitness tracker, whether it is for outdoor activities, exercise, or workouts, make sure to pick the best deal that provides real-time, accurate data.
Luckily, most of today’s waterproof fitness trackers are multi-functional, stylish, and affordable. They come with satisfactory accuracy and have a wide variety of abilities.
We have conducted thorough research and picked some of the best fitness trackers available on the market today. Follow the factors mentioned above before buying a fitness tracker.
If you are a professional athlete consider buying exercise bikes as they are used to increase general fitness for weight loss, training for cycle events and so on.
What’s your favorite fitness tracker? Share with us in the comments!
Bought myself the FitBit Blaze, really good tracker. The Garmin one definitely looks good though, lots of features for an activity tracker.
Rob, thanks for stopping by. I actually bought myself the Forerunner 920XT this last Christmas as a gift. I mostly use it to track my runs in the evening and for activity/calories burned in the gym…very useful and no doubt the best tracker I’ve used!
Wow Garmin looks like a great fitness tracker – wish it had a heart rate monitor but besides that it seems all-around the best watch. Definitely interested in getting one next time there’s any good deal.
I have the Garmin Forerunner 920XT fitness tracker myself. I seriously love it. I don’t even want to upgrade – I think it’s still up to the date with even the other models coming out to market. I think it’s one of the best out.
I, for one, loves swimming and going to the beach. Of course, I would want a fitness tracker that’s built to last under water. I saw this Garmin-Forerunner 920XT at a mall and it looked stunning, I almost bought it. I didn’t have enough in my pocket at the time, though. But if it pairs great with my smartphone, then I’d get one right away.
For a professional athlete or for someone who enjoys swimming it is really important to know the distance, time, strokes and number of calories, especially when you want to control weight and gain muscle, it is stimulating to know that this Garmin technology is in the wrist of your hand
Dora, you’re right. Everyone knows them for their GPS systems, but they are really breaking into wearable technology. Fitness trackers are becoming a big thing and Garmin wants a piece of the pie! 🙂
I like the Fitbit Alta Fitness tracker, it seems ideal to track my workouts and very easy to use and accuracy wich and is a plus.
Garmin Forerunner 920XT is my dream smartwatch. I was sure it was the best for triathletes and your review only confirmed that. But for the time being, I guess I’ll have to stick to my TomTom Runner 2 – which is not bad, but definitely not the one I’d like to be wearing!
Thanks for your detailed post on the fitness trackers. It will help anyone to choose the fitness tracker based on their need as you have summarized the usage of each product very well.
It’s a great list of waterproof fitness trackers you have here. If tempted to choose, I would go for the Garmin Forerunner. I sweat a lot so I think a waterproof fitness tracker is a great idea.
I own a Fitbit One Wireless Tracker and I’m satisfied with it. Still works perfectly fine, it helps me with my fitness journey.
the garmin forerunner looks awesome, im just kind of surprised about not having a heart rate monitor. thats not really a con tho, you can always feel your own pulse after. i’d love to be able to record swimming data
Well put review. Garmin Forerunner is ideal for me. It measures all the important metrics of my workout and it supports GPS and social connectivity.
Good devices that can do what you need. They have pretty good pros; for each, any of the above is good, only that you will have to go with your design.
I like that polar A360, particularly cuz it has a heart monitor. Battery life could be better though.
FitBit Blaze waterproof? Since when exactly? Blaze isn’t waterproof. Waterproof and water-resistant, two different things