SmartWatches

Garmin Swim Watch : Review

Sports watches for runners and cyclists are found in dozens, but when it comes to swimming, the situation changes and the availability of swimwear watches becomes very limited.

Of course, it is of course possible to apply to multidisciplinary models that cover the entire triathlon activity but, perhaps, it is not worth it. Buying one of these models would expose you to a great expense that would be overwhelming if all you want to do is have 60 pools in the pool.

The Garmin Swim Watch, on the other hand, is the perfect watch for you. In our review, we will evaluate the product from the point of view of design and functionality, features, but above all with a focus on underwater pool use.

Garmin Swim Watch with Garmin Connect
Records swim distance pace stroke count and pool lengths , Water resistant to 50 meters; Offers advanced features for timed sets and logging drills
$199.95

Product prices and availability are subject to change. Any price and availablility information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of any products.

Appearance and Design

First of all, let’s start by telling you that the Garmin Swim Watch is a model with a great wearability even though its appearance is not its best feature but meanwhile under the crystal-clear water of the pool you will only notice its intense blue color. Design lets you guess the choice of a highly unisex device with a small enough surface to be worn by a woman without being too gentle on a man’s wrist.

The Garmin Swim Watch weighs only 40 grams and has a thickness of 1.3 cm. It is also only available in black with turquoise reflections: it would have been nice to be able to choose different colors, but it is understandable the approach chosen by Garmin for this device.

Small note of demeanor for the Garmin Swim Watch strap: it is rather hard. It looks assembled with cheap materials and finally transmits a feeling of ” plasticity ” but in the end, no water will notice the differences. This aspect makes the Garmin Swim a watch to be used by the sea or the pool. With some extra attention, it could have been a class device to wear all day long.


Functionality and Features

This underwater clock has six well-marked buttons and easy to press on the dial. Each of them is identified by the icons on the board, and those engraved on the metal. Thanks to this choice of the production house, there is never the danger of getting lost by trying to remember the various key features. Use is very simplified. It may seem like a little detail but it is very important to have a wrist watch and intuitive use.

Especially when using the Garmin Swim Watch at the Sea or Pool. But the most important key of all, is the big and colorful button with the swimming icon: it activates all Garmin Swim functions in the pool.


Focus – Practical Testing

To design our review of the Garmin Swim Watch, we tested for you the features of this watch thanks to a field practice test, or rather in water. First of all, we want to point out that the Garmin Swim is a watch suitable for swimming in the outdoor pool but also lends itself well to indoor swimming activities. This is because the Garmin Swim Watch does not have GPS: the watch is unable to detect our position accurately and is unable to tell us how fast we are swimming.

Very important for proper use of the Garmin Swim in the pool is to know the size of the same and set it properly. This watch comes with standard options of 25m, 33.3m, 50m and 33.3m but you can also set a custom setting. You can also set your body weight and height.

The gyros and accelerometers inside the watch are pretty advanced to be able to provide you with a whole host of information about your swimming pool. The Garmin Swim Watch can detect the style of your swim, keep track of tanks, arms, distance, rhythm, and ultimately make an estimate of the calories you burned.

To start using the Garmin Swim Watch in the pool or the sea, you just have to use all of its features to the maximum. Once you’ve set up the Garmin Swim, just press the START button and begin your pool workout. Remember to always press the PAUSE button when you stop to resume your breath. When you finish your workout, you will have to press the STOP button.

Finally, by setting the SWOLF parameter, this clock will give you an opportunity to evaluate the efficiency of your arm.


Software and Apps

Once you’ve completed your workout, you can upload all the data saved from your underwater watch to the Garmin Connect platform, the platform used by Garmin Swim. On this site you will find a rich community of swimming enthusiasts with about 80 million activities loaded by swimmers all over the world. Thanks to the convenient Garmin Swim app, you can easily view the data saved by the smartwatch and the goals you want to achieve.

Garmin Connect also has a mobile version and a web version. Garmin desktop software automatically loads data every time the device is in the vicinity of the PC. You must connect the USB to rescue it.

It is important to point out, that for the moment the app does not provide a specific swimming training program. This is unlike what happens with similar products dedicated to running or cycling. To help with this momentary shortage, you can integrate data from Garmin Swim Watch by downloading the Speedo app available for both iPhone and Android. This interesting application allows swimming enthusiasts to record training sessions by setting the goals to be achieved. Speedo also allows you to choose and customize programs to achieve your goals.


Battery and Charging

According to the initial settings, the screen shuts off automatically if the smartwatch stays motionless for 60 seconds. To light it, just move your arm. Apart from being a great idea by Garmin, this lighting system saves a lot of battery life.

The Swim model has a standard smartwatch battery that can last up to 3/4 months before replacing it. You understand, the Swim Watch battery is not rechargeable, so it needs to be changed after a few months, depending on your use. We conclude our review with a Garmin video showing how to change the Swim Battery. Good vision!


Conclusion

PROS :

  • Sea, Pool, Swimming …
  • Complete
  • Monitoring
  • Garmin Quality

CONS : 

  • Strap
  • Battery
Garmin Swim Watch with Garmin Connect
1,723 Reviews
Garmin Swim Watch with Garmin Connect
  • Records swim distance pace stroke count and pool lengths , Water resistant to 50...
  • Physical size 1.7 x 1.9 x 0.5 inches.Wireless uploads using ANT to Garmin Connect to...
  • Offers advanced features for timed sets and logging drills

Product prices and availability are subject to change. Any price and availablility information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of any products.

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