5 of the Best Waterproof Clothing for Swimmers

Water and electronics don’t always mix, but there are water-resistant devices like waterproof Bluetooth speakers that are perfect for poolside fun. There are even wearable devices that can survive water, some of which are perfect for swimmers. If you’re looking for something you can keep going while you swim, it’s important to know that not all devices capable of withstanding exposure to water are suitable for prolonged submersion. Companies also call their products water-resistant rather than waterproof to indicate that they are not guaranteed to work in the deepest depths.

There are two systems for rating water resistance. The first is the Protection Index (IP), which measures how well enclosed equipment protects against dust or water. Items score in two digits, but only the second digit counts for swimming because it represents water resistance. The other is ATM (short for atmosphere), which tells you how deep you can sink your device and how much water pressure it can handle. For a wearable to be suitable for swimming, it must be at least 5 ATM or IPX8. Just be aware that water resistance also degrades over time, so your laptop will naturally become more vulnerable as it ages.

The following wearables are some of the best options for swimmers. Most are smartwatches, but there are other types of devices, including one designed specifically for swimmers. Many of these wearables have swimming-focused features that will help you track your workouts and progress. At the very least, you won’t have to panic if you forgot to take one of these devices off before jumping in the pool.

Perhaps the coolest wearable for swimmers is the Form Smart Swim 2, a set of goggles that work like smart glasses for water. These use an augmented reality display in the lenses to provide real-time information about your workout like cadence, stroke count and distance. There’s also a Form app you can connect to for more detailed post-workout analysis, and you can easily share your data with other fitness apps you might use like Apple Health, Final Surge, and Strava. It even features Form’s SwimStraight technology, a digital compass to help you navigate when swimming in open water.

Smart Swim 2 reviews say the glasses are remarkably accurate and provide useful information. CNET’s Aly Lopez even said that they “transformed” her swimming style and that she couldn’t imagine starting to swim again without them. That said, all that cool data is going to block your vision to some extent, which can be uncomfortable or even dangerous. They are also not suitable for eyeglass wearers who rely on corrective glasses.

At $199, Smart Swim 2 is more affordable than many wearables, although the nature of the product means it’s really only usable for swimming. This is great if that’s your only goal, but there are much more versatile fitness wearables if you want something for more general use.

Garmin watches are considered the best wearables by many swimmers, with the company offering various smartwatches designed for swimming, triathlons, and other sports. The thing to check when choosing a Garmin for swimming is if it has waterproof inductive buttons, a unique technology that prevents water from entering if you press the buttons on your device underwater. Many 5ATM models like the Forerunner 570 don’t have this, which is why the best overall option for water sports is the Garmin Descent G2.

At $699.99, it’s a happy medium between Garmin’s budget and high-end models, and it’s rated to dive up to 100m (10ATM), receiving the highest water rating on Garmin’s scale. The Descent G2 also has many swimming-specific features, including tracking different pool and open water metrics such as distance, pace, stroke count, and swim efficiency. It can also measure your heart rate, record exercises, and give you time and distance alerts. The Descent G2 can even detect whether you’re swimming freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke, or butterfly, showing how well this smartwatch is tailored to the needs of swimmers.

Apple devices are known for the way they interact seamlessly with each other, so if you’re an iPhone user who wants a wearable with maximum features and convenience, you might want to get an Apple Watch. All Series 2 and SE models can handle some exposure to water and even have a Water Lock feature to prevent unintentional taps underwater and to clear the speakers when you go out.

The Apple Watch Series 6, Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) and later have a water resistance rating of 50m, which the company says makes them suitable for “shallow water activities like swimming in a pool or the ocean.” This will be fine for casual swimmers, but the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is by far the best for swimming and other water activities. While it’s not cheap at $799, it has greater water resistance (100m) and Apple approves it for snorkeling and scuba diving up to 40m. The Ultra 3 also has satellite communications capabilities, making it a safer choice for open water swimmers.

If you want a fitness tracker rather than a smartwatch to track your workouts, the Fitbit Charge 6 is a great budget option at $159.95. In addition to a 5 ATM water protection rating, it also has a Water Lock function that you can activate from the device or by starting a swim workout in the app, a very smart built-in security. With a small screen that shows the time, your heart rate and step count, it’s less bulky and distracting than smartwatches like the Garmin Descent G2 or Apple Watch Ultra 3 while still offering conveniences like Google Maps and Google Wallet.

That said, there are obvious downsides. In May, Google overhauled the Fitbit app, now called Google Health, in a way that Fitbit users can’t stand. The main frustration is the app’s new emphasis on AI coaching and summaries that make it difficult to see everything the AI ​​thinks you don’t want to see, features that can’t be turned off. Given all the complaints, it’s likely Google will make some changes, but it’s something to consider for now.

Overall, the Fitbit Charge 6 is a good option for swimmers who want a fitness-focused wearable. It’s also great for those who use Google products and services, but unlike Apple and Android Watches, they’re not exclusive to a single platform.

Finally, if you want a small and simple wearable device that can provide you with detailed information about your health without being a distraction, smart rings are a great option. Best for swimming is the recently released Oura Ring 5, which is waterproof to 100m (10ATM) and tracks even more health metrics than its predecessor, including blood pressure and breathing habits. Oura also promises that its new ring is even more efficient and accurate at tracking data than previous models, and at $399, it doesn’t cost much more than the $349 Oura Ring 4.

Although not specifically a swimming device, Oura Rings are ideal for those who want detailed insights into their health and recovery. They also have the support of legendary swimmer Katie Ledecky, one of the most decorated Olympic athletes of all time. In an interview with Oura in 2022, Ledecky said she received an Oura ring in 2019 to track her sleep and recovery after competition, and was “fascinated” by the data.

That said, there are some things to know before purchasing an Oura Ring, including the fact that you’ll also need a subscription (which costs $5.99/month or $69.99/year) for the ring and app to be fully useful. If that’s not a problem and you prefer passive monitoring over real-time data and support while you swim, a smart ring like the Oura Ring 5 is the best choice.

This list covers a range of wearable devices that are safe to use while swimming in a pool and, in most cases possible, in open water. This of course means that everything mentioned meets water resistance ratings of at least 5ATM, IPX8 or their equivalent according to the brand’s scale.

Since smartwatches make up a large portion of the wearable technology market, we wanted to include other device types where possible and choose smartwatches that meet a variety of different needs, from casual swimmers to hardcore athletes. Because these products focused on water resistance and swimming features, price was less of a factor. That said, we have mentioned some budget alternatives where possible.