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10 Best Garmin Swim Watches 2025 in the United States

#1

Winner

10.0 score

Garmin fēnix® 8 – 51 mm, AMOLED, Sapphire, Premium Multisport GPS Smartwatch, Long-Lasting Battery Life, Dive-Rated, Built-in LED Flashlight, Carbon Gray DLC Titanium with Pebble Gray Band

The Garmin fēnix 8 is a premium multisport smartwatch designed for athletes who need robust features both in and out of the water. It has a solid 40-meter dive rating and leakproof metal buttons, making it reliable for swimming and even scuba diving. The large, bright 1.4-inch AMOLED screen with a sapphire lens ensures excellent visibility underwater and durability against scratches. Garmin’s multisport watches typically offer detailed swim tracking, including stroke count and distance, which should be expected here. Heart rate monitoring is available 24/7 with advanced sensors, though wrist-based heart rate accuracy can sometimes be less precise in water compared to chest straps. GPS tracking is highly accurate with multi-band SatIQ technology, helpful for open water swims or triathlons.

Rating
10.0
Chosen by1,154
Swim Metrics
Battery Life
Comfort and Design

Most important from
1428 reviews

Swim Metrics
Garmin’s multisport features provide detailed swim metrics that athletes can rely on for training and performance analysis.
Battery Life
The battery life is exceptional, lasting over 30 days without charging, far surpassing many other smartwatches.
Comfort and Design
The 51mm size feels rugged yet surprisingly manageable once accustomed to its weight and dimensions.
#2
9.4 score

Garmin vívoactive® 6, Health and Fitness GPS Smartwatch, AMOLED Display, Up to 11 Days of Battery, Lunar Gold with Bone Band

The Garmin vívoactive 6 is a versatile fitness smartwatch that offers a solid range of health and activity tracking features, including built-in GPS and wrist-based heart rate monitoring. Its bright 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen makes it easy to read underwater and in bright sunlight. With a battery life of up to 11 days in smartwatch mode, it can keep up with long swim sessions and everyday use without frequent charging. The watch supports over 80 sports apps, including swimming, which is handy for tracking various workouts.

Rating
9.4
Heart Rate Monitoring
GPS Tracking
Battery Life

Most important from
638 reviews

Heart Rate Monitoring
Fitness and health tracking features, including GPS and heart rate monitoring, are accurate and reliable.
GPS Tracking
Fitness and health tracking features, including GPS and heart rate monitoring, are accurate and reliable.
Battery Life
Battery life easily lasts over a week, making it a major upgrade compared to many other smartwatches.
Smart Features
The interface is user-friendly but setting up custom workouts and plans can be time-consuming due to extensive customization options.
Comfort and Design
The AMOLED display is bright, crystal clear, and easy to read both underwater and in bright sunlight.
#3
8.2 score

Garmin® Forerunner® 970, Premium GPS Running and Triathlon Smartwatch, AMOLED Display, Built-in LED Flashlight, Titanium with Whitestone Case and Whitestone/Translucent Amp Yellow Band

The Garmin Forerunner 970 is a high-end triathlon smartwatch that suits swimmers who also want an all-around sports watch. It offers solid water resistance and multisport auto-transition, which helps automatically track swim, bike, and run segments—ideal for triathlon training. Garmin watches typically provide reliable tracking for swim distance, stroke count, and pace. The watch has an impressive AMOLED display, making it easy to read even underwater or in bright light, and the titanium bezel and sapphire lens add durability and comfort.

Rating
8.2
Battery Life
Comfort and Design
Swim Metrics

Most important from
120 reviews

Battery Life
The watch delivers exceptional battery life, lasting around 10 to 14 days on a single charge and recharging fully in about an hour.
Comfort and Design
Its sapphire glass and premium bezel materials provide outstanding durability and a high-end look and feel.
Swim Metrics
Advanced sensors track fitness metrics accurately, including important data like fitness age and VO2max.
Smart Features
The Garmin Connect app offers detailed analysis, personalized reminders, and training recommendations to help improve performance.

Top 10 Best Garmin Swim Watches 2025 in the United States

#1

Winner

10.0  score

Garmin fēnix® 8 – 51 mm, AMOLED, Sapphire, Premium Multisport GPS Smartwatch, Long-Lasting Battery Life, Dive-Rated, Built-in LED Flashlight, Carbon Gray DLC Titanium with Pebble Gray Band

Water Resistance: 40-meter dive rating
Swim Metrics: stroke count and distance
Heart Rate Monitoring: 24/7 advanced sensor monitoring
GPS Tracking: Built-in GPS with multi-band SatIQ
Battery Life: 29 days smartwatch, 84 hours GPS
Smart Features: calls, voice commands, health monitoring
Comfort and Design: titanium case, gray band, 51mm, 102g

Chosen by 1154 this week

Garmin vívoactive® 6, Health and Fitness GPS Smartwatch, AMOLED Display, Up to 11 Days of Battery, Lunar Gold with Bone Band

Water Resistance: suitable for pool and open water
Swim Metrics: general swim metrics, no advanced analytics
Heart Rate Monitoring: wrist-based heart rate monitoring
GPS Tracking: built-in GPS for outdoor swims
Battery Life: up to 11 days smartwatch mode
Smart Features: activity tracker, alarm, cycle tracking
Comfort and Design: lightweight design with bone band

Garmin® Forerunner® 970, Premium GPS Running and Triathlon Smartwatch, AMOLED Display, Built-in LED Flashlight, Titanium with Whitestone Case and Whitestone/Translucent Amp Yellow Band

Water Resistance: solid water resistance
Swim Metrics: distance, stroke count, pace
Heart Rate Monitoring: advanced, includes ECG and running economy
GPS Tracking: built-in GPS, multi-band support
Battery Life: 15 days smartwatch, 26 hours GPS
Smart Features: phone calls, voice assistant support
Comfort and Design: titanium bezel, sapphire lens, lightweight

Garmin Forerunner 165, Running Smartwatch, Colorful AMOLED Display, Training Metrics and Recovery Insights, Black

Heart Rate Monitoring: wrist-based heart rate
GPS Tracking: built-in GPS
Battery Life: up to 11 days, 19 hours GPS
Smart Features: notifications, Garmin Pay, Connect app
Comfort and Design: lightweight, 1.2-inch screen

PlayBetter Garmin Fenix 8 Solar Sapphire (51mm, Titanium/Amp Yellow) Multisport GPS Smartwatch Bundle - 1.4” Touchscreen, Built-in LED Flashlight Portable Charger & Screen Protectors

Water Resistance: dives up to 40 meters
Swim Metrics: detailed swim metrics
Heart Rate Monitoring: advanced heart rate monitoring
GPS Tracking: Built-in GPS
Battery Life: solar charging extends battery life
Smart Features: calls, music, Garmin Pay, notifications
Comfort and Design: titanium, 1.4-inch AMOLED, sapphire lens

Garmin Venu 3S Soft Gold Stainless Steel Bezel 1.2-Inch AMOLED Touchscreen Display Smart Watch with 41mm French Gray Case and Silicone Band

Swim Metrics: Multiple sports modes, including swimming
Heart Rate Monitoring: Included
GPS Tracking: Built-in GPS
Battery Life: Up to 10 days
Smart Features: Take calls, respond to messages
Comfort and Design: Colorful AMOLED display

Garmin 010-02638-10 Forerunner® 955, GPS Running Smartwatch, Tailored to Triathletes, Long-Lasting Battery, Black

Water Resistance: solid water resistance
Swim Metrics: less detailed swim tracking than specialized watches
Heart Rate Monitoring: advanced with HRV status features
GPS Tracking: accurate GPS with multiple satellite systems
Battery Life: up to 15 days smartwatch mode
Smart Features: training scores, race predictions, workouts
Comfort and Design: lightweight, comfortable for extended wear

Garmin Forerunner® 955 Solar, GPS Running Smartwatch with Solar Charging Capabilities, Tailored to Triathletes, Long-Lasting Battery, Whitestone

Water Resistance: suitable for swimming
Swim Metrics: reliable with Garmin software
Heart Rate Monitoring: advanced HRV analysis
GPS Tracking: multi-frequency satellite support
Battery Life: 20 days smartwatch; 49 hours GPS
Smart Features: training scores, race widgets, reports
Comfort and Design: lightweight, continuous wear, large screen

Garmin Descent™ Mk3i, Dive Computer and Multisport GPS Smartwatch, Air Integration, Black Titanium

Water Resistance: 200-meter
Heart Rate Monitoring: Heart rate and all-day tracking
GPS Tracking: Built-in GPS, multi-band, surface use
Smart Features: Bluetooth, sync with Garmin Dive app
Comfort and Design: Titanium bezel, optional bracelet, 165.9g

Garmin Forerunner® 255, GPS Running Smartwatch, Advanced Insights, Long-Lasting Battery, Slate Gray

Water Resistance: Yes
Swim Metrics: Lap counts, stroke efficiency
Heart Rate Monitoring: Yes
GPS Tracking: Yes
Battery Life: 14 days smartwatch, 30 hours GPS
Smart Features: Morning Report, HRV Status, Built-In Apps
Comfort and Design: Sleek design, vibrant display
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Buying Guide for the Best Garmin Swim Watches

When choosing a Garmin swim watch, it's important to consider your specific needs and preferences. Garmin offers a range of swim watches with various features designed to enhance your swimming experience, track your performance, and help you achieve your fitness goals. Understanding the key specifications and how they align with your requirements will help you make an informed decision.
Water ResistanceWater resistance is a crucial spec for swim watches as it determines how well the watch can withstand water exposure. Garmin swim watches typically offer water resistance up to 50 meters or more, making them suitable for swimming in pools and open water. If you are a casual swimmer, a watch with 50 meters of water resistance should suffice. However, if you engage in more intense water activities or open water swimming, you might want to consider a watch with higher water resistance to ensure durability and performance.
Swim MetricsSwim metrics refer to the various data points that the watch can track during your swim sessions, such as distance, stroke count, stroke type, pace, and SWOLF (a measure of swimming efficiency). These metrics are important for monitoring your performance and progress. If you are a beginner, basic metrics like distance and stroke count might be enough. For more advanced swimmers, detailed metrics like SWOLF and stroke type can provide valuable insights to improve technique and efficiency.
Heart Rate MonitoringHeart rate monitoring allows you to track your heart rate during swim sessions, providing insights into your cardiovascular performance and helping you optimize your training. Some Garmin swim watches offer wrist-based heart rate monitoring, while others may require a compatible chest strap. If heart rate data is important to you, look for a watch with reliable heart rate monitoring capabilities. For those who want more accurate readings, a chest strap might be a better option.
GPS TrackingGPS tracking is useful for open water swimmers as it allows you to track your route, distance, and speed accurately. This feature is less critical for pool swimmers since the watch can track laps and distance without GPS. If you primarily swim in open water, a watch with built-in GPS will provide more accurate data and help you analyze your swims better. Pool swimmers can opt for models without GPS to save on cost and battery life.
Battery LifeBattery life determines how long the watch can operate before needing a recharge. This is important for ensuring that your watch lasts through your swim sessions and other activities. Garmin swim watches offer varying battery life, with some models lasting several days on a single charge. If you swim frequently or engage in long swim sessions, look for a watch with longer battery life to avoid frequent recharging. For occasional swimmers, a watch with moderate battery life should be sufficient.
Smart FeaturesSmart features include notifications, music control, and compatibility with fitness apps. These features can enhance your overall experience by allowing you to stay connected and entertained while swimming. If you value staying connected and having access to smart features, look for a watch that offers these capabilities. However, if you prefer a more straightforward swim watch focused solely on swim metrics, you can opt for a model with fewer smart features.
Comfort and DesignComfort and design are important for ensuring that the watch feels good on your wrist and suits your style. Garmin swim watches come in various designs, sizes, and materials. Consider the watch's weight, strap material, and overall design to ensure it is comfortable to wear during swim sessions. If you have a smaller wrist, look for a watch with a more compact design. Additionally, choose a design that matches your personal style and preferences.

FAQ