TW’s Short List of Best Waterproof Fitness Trackers
There are almost as many different fitness trackers as there are activities to track. But now that we’re into the heat of summer and beach days, there aren’t as many waterproof fitness trackers as we’d like.
In fact, the Fitbit Flex 2 is the only Fitbit model that is ‘swim proof’, meaning it’s waterproof to 50 meters in both fresh and salt water. The Fitbit Alta is ‘shower proof’, which really doesn’t tell us much about how truly water resistant it is.
With so many active people jumping in pools and heading to the beach, you would think that water resistance would be higher up on the list of fitness tracker features.
Even tech-giant Samsung has yet to produce a fully waterproof fitness tracker. The Samsung Gear S2 is only IP67, meaning water resistant to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes. Which really means it’s okay for doing the dishes or taking a shower, but really not suitable for watersports.
Garmin, who started out in wearables as a leader is GPS Running Watches, has grown their lineup to attach the word ‘Smart’ to their devices to make them all-in fitness trackers.
The Garmin 735XT and and Forerunner 35 capture two segments of the GPS Smart Running Watch segment and are both safe to use in the pool. Both models monitor Heart Rate and have a built-in Sleep Tracking feature in addition to counting steps. In-app features really extend the sports and activities that can be tracked with both Garmin wearables.
What we like about the Forerunner 35 is it allows us to monitor bike rides, walks, runs and track whether we’re hitting our target heart rate zones. And as a bonus we can use the Forerunner to control the music on our smartphone.
The Polar 360 rounds out our list of Best Waterproof Fitness Trackers because it has a great price point (under $150) and isn’t as bulky as some other fitness trackers. It’s waterproof, has Heart Rate monitoring, uses the info it collects to give you solid advice on improving your fitness.
The one feature we love about the Polar A360 is that it has ‘swappable’ wristbands to change up your colors as your style or mood dictates.
As further advancements in waterproofing electronic devices continues to improve, expect most manufacturers to continue to keep a slice of their offering in the waterproof category. But due to the sensitive nature of electronic wearables and how they’re made, don’t expect a lot of growth in this segment.
In many cases you may end up buying more or less fitness tracker than you actually need or want, just to have better water resistance. The Fitbit Flex 2 keeps it simple and is best if you’re just counting steps, while the Garmin’s and Polar fitness trackers take it to a higher level so you ‘don’t miss a beat’ no matter where your day takes you.
