You can expect a fitness tracker to be a bit more resilient than your average smartwatch, able to handle the bumps, shakes, and most importantly, sweat, that comes with a workout. Any fitness tracker worth considering is resistant to moisture and splashes, because exercise can result in sticky dampness. But this doesn't mean that all fitness trackers are actually waterproof. In fact, most of them are not.
Choose Carefully
Just because a fitness tracker is splash or water resistant doesn't mean you should wear it the next time you swim a few laps in the pool. For swimming, you need a fitness tracker that's completely waterproof. That means it's sealed and submersible, and will survive a consistent soaking. We've compiled a list of the 10 best waterproof trackers we've tested here. Rest assured, all of these devices can be worn in the water—and will still be in good working order once you dry off.
You don't need to settle for merely waterproof. The same seals that keep water from ruining the electronics in swim-friendly fitness trackers also protects them from the pressure of that water. Most waterproof fitness trackers are rated for a certain depth, which is handy if you want to go diving. Typically, these devices have a 5ATM rating, which means you can plunge them up to 50 meters (164 feet) underwater, though some are only rated for 3ATM (30 meters, or 98 feet).
All fitness trackers measure activity, but many have other useful features that come into play both during and after your workout. Built-in heart rate monitors are becoming increasingly popular, as is the ability to track your position with GPS, and a few can even give you notifications of calls and text messages (if you swim with your phone, be sure you have a waterproof case for it, too). Increasingly, we're also seeing these features in smartwatches, like the Apple Watch Series 2 and Apple Watch Nike+.
If you don't need a waterproof tracker, check out our list of The Best Fitness Trackers for a look at the top contenders in the category overall.