This article contains affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Ask a swimmer how far they swam and you’ll often get a shrug: somewhere around lap 40 the count goes fuzzy. That’s the first job of a swim wearable: counting laps so you don’t have to. The good ones also log pace, stroke type and stroke count, track open-water swims by GPS, and give you a heart-rate picture of how hard you worked. This page sorts out the best swimming wearables: swim-tracking watches, smart goggles, heart-rate straps that work in the pool, and the recovery trackers swimmers wear to bed, with waterproof headphones as a side note. Whether you’re a masters swimmer, a triathlete, a high school or college swimmer, or someone doing laps before work, here’s what each does and which to get first.
Prices change often. The prices below are what we saw at the maker or a major retailer in October 2026; check the current price before you buy. Back to the swimming hub.
Our top picks
Garmin Swim 2
- Pool and open-water GPS modes
- Stroke type, SWOLF, wrist HR
- About $250
Garmin Forerunner 570
- Pool and open-water profiles
- Up to 11 days smartwatch
- About $550
FORM Smart Swim 2
- Live metrics in your goggles
- HR sensor at the temple
- About $199 + optional membership
Garmin HRM 600
- Stores swim heart rate
- Rechargeable, 5 ATM
- About $160
Oura Ring 5
- Water resistant to 100 m
- 6 to 9 day battery
- From about $399 + $5.99/month
Swim wearables compared
| Device | Type | What it tracks in the water | Battery | About (Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garmin Swim 2 | Swim watch | Laps, distance, pace, stroke count and type, SWOLF, wrist HR; open-water GPS | Up to 7 days watch, 13 h GPS, 72 h pool | $250 |
| Garmin Forerunner 570 | Multisport watch | Pool and open-water swims, plus run and bike; Training Readiness | Up to 11 days watch, 18 h GPS | $550 |
| FORM Smart Swim 2 | Smart goggles | 9 live metrics incl. pace, stroke rate, splits, HR (temple) | Up to 14 h | $199; membership $119/yr optional |
| Garmin HRM 600 | Chest strap | Stores heart rate during swims, syncs after | Rechargeable, up to about 2 months | $160 |
| Oura Ring 5 | Smart ring | Sleep, readiness, HRV (wear it in the pool if you like; 100 m rated) | 6–9 days | $399 + $5.99/mo |
| Shokz OpenSwim Pro | Headphones | Music from built-in 32 GB storage underwater | Up to 9 h | $230 |
What to buy first
- Lap swimmers and masters: a swim watch that counts laps, pace and strokes. That’s most of the value.
- Triathletes and open-water swimmers: a multisport watch with open-water GPS covers swim, bike and run in one device.
- Club and college swimmers: your coach writes the sets, so a watch mostly helps with logging and heart rate. Smart goggles show your splits without looking at the clock.
- Anyone training hard or doing early practices: a recovery tracker for sleep and heart-rate variability trends (see our swimmer recovery page).
A word on heart rate in the water
Wrist heart rate is harder in the pool. Water, a moving arm and a loose strap all get in the way of the optical sensor. In a study of swimmers doing front crawl, an optical sensor worn at the temple matched a chest strap well, while a wrist watch read significantly lower, with wide error. So treat wrist heart rate from a swim as a rough guide. For better numbers, use a chest strap made to store data underwater (Bluetooth doesn’t travel well through water, so many straps record during the swim and sync afterward), or a temple sensor like the one built into smart goggles. Our best heart rate monitors guide covers more straps.
Swim watches
1. Garmin Swim 2: best swim watch
Built for swimmers first. In pool mode, Garmin says the Swim 2 records distance, pace, stroke count, stroke type and SWOLF (a swimming-efficiency score that adds strokes and seconds per length). In open water it uses GPS for lakes, oceans and rivers. It estimates heart rate from the wrist underwater, logs drills and helps you stay on pace. Battery is listed at up to 7 days as a smartwatch, 13 hours with GPS and wrist heart rate, and 72 hours in pool mode with wrist heart rate. It’s not a running or triathlon watch, which keeps it simple.
- Good: swim-focused, long pool battery, pool and open-water modes.
- Watch out: an older model; no multisport mode for triathlon.
- Best for: lap swimmers, masters and club swimmers who mostly swim.
Check the Garmin Swim 2 price on Amazon
2. Garmin Forerunner 570: best for swim, bike and run
The Forerunner 570 is a running and triathlon watch with pool swim and open-water swim profiles and a 5 ATM water rating. It adds Garmin’s Training Readiness score (based on sleep, recovery, training load and HRV status), training plans and a bright AMOLED screen. Battery is up to 11 days as a smartwatch and up to 18 hours with GPS (47 mm). It pairs with chest straps like the HRM 600 for better swim heart rate.
- Good: one watch for every sport, recovery metrics, great screen.
- Watch out: more than twice the price of the Swim 2; more than a pure swimmer needs.
- Best for: triathletes and swimmers who also run or ride.
Check the Garmin Forerunner 570 price on Amazon
Smart goggles
3. FORM Smart Swim 2: best smart goggles
The FORM Smart Swim 2 puts your numbers inside the goggle lens as you swim. FORM lists nine live metrics, including heart rate, pace, stroke rate, stroke count, distance per stroke and split times, with heart rate read from the temple. In open water it adds a built-in compass and can show GPS pace when paired with a compatible Apple Watch or Garmin. Battery is up to 14 hours. Core features work without a subscription; FORM’s Premium membership (workouts and coaching) is $119 a year or $15 a month after a free first month. A cheaper LT version ($149) drops the heart-rate sensor.
- Good: see splits without looking up at the clock; temple heart rate.
- Watch out: fit matters with goggles, and the best workout features cost extra.
- Best for: data-minded lap swimmers and triathletes.
Check the FORM Smart Swim 2 price on Amazon
Heart-rate straps
4. Garmin HRM 600: best heart-rate strap for swimming
The HRM 600 is a rechargeable chest strap (up to about 2 months at an hour a day) rated 5 ATM, and it stores heart-rate data during swims and sends it to a compatible Garmin watch afterward. It can also record on its own without a watch. It’s the simplest way to get reliable heart rate from pool sessions with a Garmin.
Check the Garmin HRM 600 price on Amazon
Recovery trackers
5. Oura Ring 5: best for sleep and recovery
With early practices cutting into sleep, many swimmers care most about the night. The Oura Ring 5 is a titanium ring water resistant to 100 m that tracks sleep, heart-rate variability and readiness, with a 6–9 day battery. It costs from about $399 plus a $5.99 monthly membership. A screenless band like WHOOP (waterproof, sold as a yearly membership) is the other popular option. Compare them in WHOOP vs Oura vs Garmin, best smart rings and HRV for athletes.
Check the Oura Ring 5 price on Amazon
An aside: waterproof headphones
Some lap swimmers love music for long, easy sets. The Shokz OpenSwim Pro sits on the cheekbones (open-ear, bone conduction), stores music on 32 GB of built-in memory, and is rated IP68, down to 2 meters for 2 hours. Shokz is clear that Bluetooth doesn’t work underwater, so you load songs and use MP3 mode in the pool. Battery is up to 9 hours. Keep it to solo lap swimming: in team practice you need to hear your coach, and in open water you need to hear what’s around you. Check your pool’s rules too.
How to choose a swim wearable
- Pool only or open water too? Open water needs GPS (or a watch paired with goggles).
- Swimming only or triathlon? A multisport watch saves buying twice.
- How much do you care about heart rate? If a lot, add a chest strap that stores swim data, or use a temple sensor.
- Check the water rating for swimming (5 ATM or more) and that the strap or band fits snugly when wet.
- Watch for subscriptions. Rings, bands and some goggles charge monthly or yearly fees for full features.
For using the data, see swimming training. For how team-sport athletes use trackers, see our soccer wearables page.
Swim wearables: FAQs
What is the best watch for lap swimming?
For swimmers who mostly swim, a dedicated swim watch like the Garmin Swim 2 covers laps, pace, stroke type and SWOLF with a long pool battery. Triathletes are better served by a multisport watch like the Forerunner 570.
Is wrist heart rate accurate when swimming?
Less accurate than on land. In a front-crawl study, a temple sensor matched a chest strap well while a wrist watch read lower with wide error. Use a chest strap that stores swim data or smart goggles with a temple sensor for better numbers.
Do smart swim goggles need a subscription?
FORM’s core features work without one. Its Premium membership, with workouts and coaching features, costs $119 a year or $15 a month after a free first month.
Can you listen to music while swimming?
Yes, with waterproof headphones that store music on board, like the Shokz OpenSwim Pro in MP3 mode. Bluetooth doesn’t work underwater. Use them only for solo lap swimming where you don’t need to hear a coach or your surroundings.
Can I wear a smart ring in the pool?
The Oura Ring 5 is water resistant to 100 m, so swimming is fine. Most swimmers wear it mainly for sleep and recovery tracking rather than workout data.