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.

No, unless you stop and rest between laps?

Make sure that the workout has started before you push off for your first length otherwise it doesn't count the first one.

@cherrypickles I’ve never had any issues tracking swims on my AppleWatch and am able to view metrics throughout. I have a stainless steel strap which I love, and find much more comfortable than silicon straps.

Then Venu3 ones can but you would need phone in with Bluetooth in vicinity

My garmin sends out a distress message and a link my exact location to like 5 people on my emergency contact list if it notices something abnormal (I'm sure their website has info on this) it's quite sensitive and you have a couple seconds to cancel it if all is good (like you were just sprinting briefly) or if you can't cancel it, your emergency contacts will get a GPS location and message.

My dog pulled me down a hill (with my emergency contacts watching) and I couldn't stop and I was screaming running full speed almost fell head first downhill in the middle of the Sussex countryside where there is barely any phone reception. My emergency contacts in London got immediate messages and my emergency contacts who were with me got it once we got a patch of reception.

In all fairness, if I'm getting attacked or running away from something, the last thought is try to call someone more like I hope garmin sends a message and someone calls for help or comes to help 😂if uncertain of area (when jogging in London) I use my earpiece to call as I don't have to hold my arm up to communicate and it lowers risk of peope seeing my fancy watch or my phone and trying to rob me. And the people who I call hear me better on earpiece.

Ok so second dilemma

I bought the Apple Watch ages ago (November I reckon)it from currys as I had a voucher from DH (like a cash back incentive thing from a phone contract not a gift £120)

As I bought it online you can send it back after 14 days. I was really devastated I couldn't get on with it so took it back to the store I collected it from and they told me I could request a collection as it was bought online though distance selling regulations. It is then resold as open box. You cannot return store bought.

Anyway I then got a refund voucher and finally bought the Garmin and collected that on Saturday.

Would it be taking the loss out of curry to send it back and then buy another Apple Watch

Part if me think yes taking the piss
Part of me thinks it's fine curry's is a massive industry so fuck it!

I could use a different account to buy the new Apple Watch and the voucher isn't really traceable

Will currys care at all?

If they accept the return then it’s fine, they won’t stop it (I worked there for a while). But they don’t actually have to give you a full refund if you’ve opened it and tried it so you might have got lucky with the first return, and no guarantee you’ll get lucky with the second one.

I spoke to the store manger and he said they accept all returns if it bought online and it's up than 14 days under the distance selling regs.

I said I used it and he said it's fine they will take it back. I was a bit nervous. But I got a full refund.

Have I misunderstood?

If the Garmin is still in mint condition, Currys won’t bat an eyelid if you just want to exchange it for the Apple Watch. You don’t need to make a new account.

I’ve got a stretchy elastic strap on my Apple Watch; I’ve got bony wrists and it’s the best strap I’ve tried for comfort.

I’m just hopping on this as I’m having the same dilemma. I want the apple 9 but have read so many stories of Apple Watches dying when swimming. Wondering if garmin swim is better but I just can’t get excited about it!
I want it for swimming firstly. But I also like all the health trackers especially the sleep tracker.

My opinion won't be popular but Huawei GT

Best smartwatch ever and I have used Garmin, Fitbit, Apple (battery life a joke, I don't know how anyone does with that).

Battery last at least a week, I have just bought a second one which is the GT4, £284 which included free delivery and free ear buds. They are beautiful watches and great for running and swimming.

consumer.huawei.com/my/wearables/watch-gt4/buy/

I have bought the silver one

Thank you I’ll take a look!

I have the series 9 it's been in the pool and hot tub without issue. Get AppleCare so if it does die you can just get a new one off them. If you want the screen on during a swim you need to get it to always on before putting in swim mode.....I don't rate apple straps I prefer a cloth strap so just change it to the rubber when I need too

My garmin sends out a distress message

yeah... I'm the emergency contact for a few people on that. I never see the msg quickly & it's always been a false alarm so far.