Bloody smart watches and swimming!

[cherrypickles]

I am relatively new to swimming and swim a lot so primarily want it for that, someplace the old garmin DH gave me (fenix 6). But I have an iPhone and love the look of the Apple Watch

I bought and Apple series 9 but had these problems it was £399

1. The screen went blank l during a swim and locked couldn't track the work out during the workout
2. The strap was silicone strap was sweat and uncomfortable especially at night and I'd like to track sleep.
3. The slightly domed sensor on the back was slightly uncomfortable

However I love the look and the Apple-ness of it (sorry Apple haters)

Anyway I sent the watch back and got a full refund.

Next I bought a Garmin venu2s (£299) DH said it was better for swimming.

I have these problems

1. It's not an Apple Watch
2. The strap is still sweaty
3. It looks a bit crap
4. I can't talk or text from it and lots less functionality than Apple generally.

But it does measure my swim nicely and the sensor is flat.

Should I just get an Apple Watch and try and make it work for a swim? Does anyone know how to keep the watch always on during a swim?

Or should I keep the garmin and then also get an Apple Watch for day to day.

I could get the Apple Watch SE? Or the 9?

I can't have a non silicon band for the pool.

Or I could send the garmin back and get a Garmin swim 2 which I have no idea what it is like at all but slightly cheaper.

I have daytime watch that is a Tag Heuer aquaracer.

I saved up a lot for all these watches! I do not have a massive budget but for the purpose of this exercise pretend money is no object.

I use my Apple watch to track swims all the time and I've never had a problem. Do you have it on tight enough? And I take it you're starting a swim workout in the fitness app?

You can get different garmin straps. I've had the venu 2s since it came out (a while ago) and it still works like new.
It's there to track health rather than answer calls etc. I get alerts for messages and notifications and I decide whether to grab my phone.

Maybe your option is the swim and use it only for swimming?
Garmin venu 2s had one of the most accurate sleep data but apple has that ecg thing?
Depends really what you're after.

Or just apple watch day to day and a garmin swim (ive not used this, no idea if any good). If I was insane and liked apple it's what I would do. Apple day to day for all other functions and for swimming I'd get the cheap garmin swim.
Or just do your best at the pool with the apple and check over data after swims. Don't pay attention to the watch at all and always do your best and hope to get to know your body.

How do you check it mid swim to see metric like distance and time? Mainly distance?

I use my Apple Watch all the time to track swims. You need to start a swim workout first though.
I use mine with a nylon woven sports loop - the Nike one. It’s the most comfortable strap I’ve ever used and doesn’t feel wet when you get out the pool

I use mine for swimming all the time too and from the really basic research I did (already had the watch for a while before I started to swim), the Apple Watch is supposed to be excellent at tracking swimming. Mine is anyway!

I think they would all get a bit sweaty at night to be honest, I don't wear mine at night. It doesn't have to be really tight either, I have a bit of movement on my wrist with mine

I use Apple Watch for swimming too. Start a workout in the app (before you get the screen wet) and set pool length, then just lift the watch to view distance/time/laps.
Presume you know you have to unlock screen by holding the crown button after swim?

@Mindyourfunkybusiness

Thank you for your reply. Super helpful

What other straps would be suitable for swimming?

DH says the same about it being a health tracker.

I do I need to check it mid swim. I'm not very good but aim for 1km of breast stroke

Oh so I just lift it to light up the face? And it will tell lengths and distance?

I can borrow my mums Apple
Watch SE to try in the pool again.

Feeling a bit thick about this.

You just tap it mid-swim and all the data shows up. I think it only does this if you start the workout before you get in the water as it then locks. When you are done you press and hold the crown to unlock and it vibrates and says its expelling water from the speakers.

Sorry for the double quote

Yes but I ended unlock the water lock during a rest to see metrics

Do I need to pause the Apple Watch for laps? Assuming not

I use my Samsung for swimming and no problems. However i dont use the silicon straps, i have a resin strap like this which doesnt sweat.

No it works out laps/lengths. Yes just lift it to face to show screen during swim. No need to unlock.

Yep another one who uses it for swimming without that issue. I can’t remember if I just lift my wrist or have to tap the screen, but it definitely shows me how many lengths I’ve done while swimming (and I think can change to distance too).

There is a woven sports strap that you can wear while swimming, as I also don’t like the rubber strap.

Ive never really noticed the domed back, were you perhaps wearing it too tight?

@bruffin so I don't need silicon strap for the pool

@WhollyGlorious the domed back is a weird thing for me I think my wrist bones are odd!

No get a woven sports loop, they are really comfortable and don’t feel wet when you get out the pool.

You can track lengths and distance and number of strokes, also knows what stroke you are swimming

I see you are borrowing an SE to check this time, SE watches are a lower spec so check first that it does what you want or you may think it's not working. It will be likely ok as I think it is some of the health functions are missing and the always on.

My SE is fine for swimming

I've never had a problem with my Apple Watch swimming. Firstly buy a different strap for swimming rather than using a silicon strap. I just lift my watch to my face to see my lengths then hold the crown to get rid of the water at the end.

I'm unsure which strap for swimming but people here have good answers.

Garmin is good that you can check whenever and has auto start on sports if you turn that on (although walking the dog sometimes makes my watch think I'm doing epileptical or something)

But it seems the answer for your apple is to turn it on before doing the sport - which you can do on garmin too for more accuracy!

I'd say give the apple a try with all the advice here - ad its the ideal watch for you.

Well the resin straps say they are waterproof and sweatproof. I usually get sweat rashes from watch straps and dont with the resin ones. I usually spend a couple of hours in the pool once a week and dont seem to have a problem with these resin straps.

You don’t need to worry at all about the water lock until you need to end the workoit

on apple, (I have an 8) roll up bezel to see the workout icon, press that and look for pools swim. Put in the pool length then just start.

you will be able to see the metrics on screen until the end of your workout.

to end workout press and hold the bezel to unlock the water, then you’ll be able to slide the workout over and press the x to end it.

im a masters swimmer, we train a few times a week and the swim workout measures everything, including kick sets. Its fab.

before this I had a garmin and while it did the job, im loving the Apple Watch, it does all the swimmy stuff way better and you have the added phone functionality

I locked myself out of the house early one morning and could ring my ds to let me in again!

I didn’t know you could use it for swimming! Am delighted!

I don't believe you can talk through any of the Garmins as I asked about this on a thread I started. I wanted to be able to call from the Garmin for my own safety when running in the middle of nowhere.