athlete in water checking watch before race

Dive In: The Best Waterproof Fitness Trackers

Everywhere you look, it seems, there’s a new piece of wearable tech. Watches, bracelets, clip-on trackers, shoe inserts, and the list goes on. There are so many options it can be intimidating. Until, that is, you start looking for waterproof fitness trackers. I don’t mean a little sweat-proof. I mean laps in the pool, triathlon, IRONMAN Kona waterproof. The market shrinks. A lot. So, we did some searching and have found some great options for you swim-obsessed champs. Take a look:

  • Garmin Forerunner 735XT – If there is a bell or whistle available, the Forerunner probably has it. It seems like it was designed with the triathlete in mind. Different accessory packages include a chest strap for monitoring heart rate while running or a different strap that can measure heart rate while swimming. This Garmin will measure your cadence, buzz if you’re in active too long during training, and even has a pace alarm to let you know if you get too far from your desired pace. It is at the top of the price range for trackers, but really does everything you could want a tracker to do.
  • Polar M400 – This stylish piece comes ready do whatever you’re ready to do. It is waterproof up to 30 meters and can track you swimming performance. The downside for swimmers, however, is that the tracking isn’t real time – you code the activity as swimming after the fact to get your stats. But really, you’ll be busy in the water until your ready to check your numbers anyway! The GPS feature lets you track your outdoor running. The Polar M400 can monitor heart rate, but requires a separate monitor to do so.
  • Garmin Vivoactive – Garmin’s Vivoactive is ready to go with you anywhere—from your run or swim to a quick 18 holes of golf on the weekend. The amazing battery life keeps the Vivoactive going for weeks between charges and for up to 10 hours using GPS. Speaking of, the GPS tracks runs or cycling sessions. The swim feature can track ideal strokes based on pool size, interval and length pace, and much more.
  • Misfit Vapor – As small as the waterproof market of fitness trackers may be, it is growing. This tracker is slated to hit the market later this summer. It will be waterproof, but we don’t know yet if it will have trackers specifically from swimming. It’s a stylish tracker that will store music so you can leave your phone at home, track your runs and rides via GPS, and gives you access to great widgets and apps.

 There are some wonderful products on the market today and the future looks promising for improved technology and expanded product offerings. The key is determining your price point, the metrics you want to measure, and what additional features are important to you. Then, use the new information at your fingertips to step your game.

Tell us what tracker you use and how wearable tech has changed how you train. You can keep in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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