A good waterproof heart rate monitor is essential to maximizing any workout session or exercise routine.
Apart from its obvious heart monitoring capabilities, a heart rate monitor can also help you safely maintain workout intensity, avoid over-training and resulting burnout, track your progress, and of course, motivate you.
Whether it’s for swimming, diving, jogging, running, or whatever activity it may be, our list of the Best Waterproof Heart Rate Monitors 2019 will guarantee you get the most out of any routine.
Heart rate monitors come in all different shapes, sizes, and varieties, so we’ve sectioned our list into 3 broad categories: Wrist Band Monitors & HRM Watches, Chest Strap Monitors, and Head Strap Monitors.
At the top of our list, and falling into the wrist strap / heart rate monitor watch category, is the Timex Ironman Heart Rate Monitor. It looks like your everyday, run of the mill sports watch, but it’s packed with all the bells and whistles you’ll ever want in a heart rate monitor. The best part is, of all the waterproof heart rate monitors we’ve reviewed, it’s the only one that is water-resistant to 300ft (100m).
Best Waterproof Heart Rate Monitors 2019 – Wrist Bands & HRM Watches
For those of you who want to enjoy the convenience of having your heart rate information at your fingertips, or in this case on your wrist, a wrist-based heart rate monitor may be the best option. Wrist monitors can be easily worn like a watch and after a while, you don’t even remember that it’s there.
Timex Ironman Heart Rate Monitor Watch
Pros:
- Waterproof rated IPX-8
- Recovery heart rate timer
- Calories burned display
- Doubles as a regular watch
- 50-lap memory
Cons:
- Strap can break
Our top pick, from Timex, is a wrist strap heart rate monitor that looks like a regular sports watch but comes fully loaded with the trinkets needed in a waterproof heart rate monitor.
Specifications
A Flex-Tech digital sensor eliminates any potential electronic interference or heart rate monitor cross-talk. It has an Indiglo light-up watch dial, Indiglo night light, and is water resistant up to 330 ft. (100m) subsequently making it IPX-8-rated.
Features
The Timex Ironman features 50-lap chronograph memory, with average heart rate per lap, which is great for jogging and running. Target heart rate zones and average heart rate per workout and lap help you keep an accurate track of exactly what your heart is doing and when it’s doing it. A recovery heart rate timer prevents over-training and over-exertion, and a calories burned display serves as a true motivator. Max heart rate display is read in either beat per minute (BPM) or as a percentage (%).
Garmin Vívosmart HR Wrist Heart Rate Monitor
Pros:
- Waterproof IPX-8
- Integrated barometric altimeter
- Keeps you connected
Cons:
- Notifications can’t be controlled
This comfortable-to-wear, sleek, band monitors your all-day heart rate without the need for a chest strap. Last, but not least, in the Wrist Strap Category, this accurate heart rate monitor provides optimum heart rate data needed for workouts and training sessions.
Specifications
Water resistant to 164ft. (50m) – IPX-8-rated, this portable heart rate monitor comes with an integrated barometric altimeter that tracks when you put in that extra effort.
Features
With the Garmin Vívosmart activity tracker, you can stay connected while you workout. It displays steps, distance, calories, heart rate, floors climbed, and activity intensity, meanwhile, you can still receive texts, calls, and check social media alerts.
Mio ALPHA 2 Heart Rate Monitor Watch
Pros:
- Waterproof IPX-8
- No chest strap needed
- Can set heart rate goals & zones
- 25 hours of data memory
- Bluetooth
Cons:
- App is not very user-friendly
This Mio heart rate monitor offers accurate wrist-based heart data during exercise, workouts, and demanding sessions.
Specifications
With the ability to store up to 25 hours of workout data, this wireless heart rate monitor syncs wirelessly via Bluetooth (4.0) to most popular fitness apps – specifically the Mio PAI (Personal Activity Intelligence) app. It’s water resistant up to 100ft. (30m) – making it IPX-8 (3ATM) -rated.
Features
The ALPHA 2, as expected, tracks workouts, routines, and exercises, and includes information on steps, calories, and distance.
Waterproof Chest Strap Heart Rate Monitors
It may not always be convenient to purchase or wear a wrist heart rate monitor, and for a few reasons. Compared to wrist and head strapped monitors, sometimes chest heart rate monitors prove to be more accurate, more affordable, and even carry longer battery lives. Chest monitors are very popular in swimming and water sports.
Suunto Smart Belt
Pros:
- Waterproof
- Computer compatible
- iOS & Android compatible
- Replaceable battery
Cons:
- Battery lip cover breaks easily
Weighing in at 1.4 oz, this lightweight chest strap heart rate monitor stores your heart rate data and transfers it wirelessly to either the Ambit3 watch or the Suunto app.
Specifications
Housed in textile and plastic material, yet ruggedly built, the Suunto Smart Belt is fully computer compatible, supported by Bluetooth smart devices such as Android and iOS. It carries a user-replaceable battery and is suitable for swimming.
Features
The sensor stores heart rate data and wirelessly transfers it to your device via the Suunto app or to your Ambit3 watch. With the Suunto app, users can analyze, review, and share every movement that was made.
Polar H7 Waterproof Chest Heart Rate Monitor
Pros:
- Waterproof rated IPX-8
- Lightweight & slim
- Good battery life
Cons:
- Requires an app for use
This slim, lightweight, waterproof chest heart rate monitor is the top of our list in Chest Strap category.
Specifications
This exercise heart monitor by Polar is ideal for planning, training, analyzing, and sharing exercise routines. It provides real-time heart rate information and is compatible with mobile training apps such as, Polar Beat and Polar Flow – via Bluetooth technology.
Features
Compatible with iOS and Android devices, the H7 features optimal battery life – it’s recommended you detach the transmitter from the device after use to ensure optimal battery life expectancy. As advanced as this waterproof heart rate monitor is, basic calorie burn count and heart rate-based features keep training simple.
Wahoo TICKR X Waterproof Workout Tracker with Heart Rate Monitor
Pros:
- Waterproof rated to IPX-7
- Compatible with Android 4.3 & iPhone 4S and above
- Built-in memory
Cons:
- Distance accuracy impacted by cellphone distance from the unit
This heart rate monitor detects and sends heart rate data to your smartphone in real-time and accurately, and also features information on training zones and calories burned.
Specifications
This chest strap is the official heart rate monitor of Team Sky (Tour de France champions). Bluetooth 4.0 and ANT+ technology make connectivity to smartphones, tablets, Garmin and Polar GPS watches possible. It is compatible with iPhone 4S and later, and Android 4.3 and later.
Features
This is heart rate monitor features automatic rep count when used with the Wahoo 7 Minute Workout or Pear Sports apps. A built-in memory gives you the freedom and option to train without a phone – it captures data and syncs it to your phone later.
Buyer’s Guide – Should I Go With Wrist or Chest Band Heart Monitors? What Else Should I Look For?
As always, we at All Things Waterproof try to give you, our friends, some tips, hints, and general guidance in choosing waterproof products. In this case, we’ve outlined a few tips to keep in mind when choosing the best in waterproof heart rate monitors.
Wrist or Chest Band Heart Monitors – Which One?
Our comparison table below shows the advantages and disadvantages of each category of heart rate monitors. i.e Wrist or Chest band monitors. Let’s have a look.
What Else Should I Look For?
Here are a few things you should look out for when buying waterproof heart rate monitor.
Waterproofing
It’s in our nature, and our name, to always consider waterproofing as top priority in choosing any product. In most strenuous activities perspiration is quite likely to occur. With outdoor activities, exposure to moisture may be inevitable, incidents involving water are always a possibility, and of course, you may want to simply use your heart rate monitor for swimming or other water sports. With that said, always check the IP-rating and its subsequent meaning – which can be found here. In addition to IP-ratings, an equally important rating to check is the atmospheres, or ATM, rating. We’ll explain that further in this article.
Comfort
Monitoring your heart rate is essential to maximizing your workout routine or exercise session, but equally as important is your comfort level. Naturally, the more comfortable you feel during a workout, the more you’ll be motivated, and subsequently, the more satisfying your workout experience will be.
Choosing a comfortable waterproof heart rate monitor that doesn’t require many adjustments once it’s attached is great for added comfort.
Compatibility
Compatibility can be considered an extension to comfort. Waterproof wrist or chest band monitors that can be wirelessly connected to your smartphone, tablet, or mobile device, are great for monitoring workout trends, progress, and data – especially real-time trackers. After all, what use is a workout routine in the pool if you can’t review the data.
Cool Stuff
There are a number of additional features that will definitely make you feel like you’ve earned your keep in purchasing waterproof heart rate trackers. Things like:
1. Notifications that alert you of excessive heart rates.
3. Sleep trackers to monitor quality of sleep.
4. In-ear audio announcements of heart data.
5. Wrist monitors that double as watches and/or clocks.
6. Wireless connectivity and real-time data transmission.
7. Features that allow you to set heart rate zones and goals.
8. Movement bars that prompt you to get going when you appear to be inactive.
9. Calories burned calculator or recorder.
10. Features that prevent or reduce outside interference.
11. Phone call, SMS, and social media notifications.
ATM Rating
You may see this term, ATM-rating, pop up once or twice in the wonderful world of water pressure. But, what exactly does it mean, and what exactly does it refer to? Well, simply put, although certain devices such as; watches, smartphones, and media players – to name a few, may be able to withstand a certain level of water exposure, there’s a limit to the pressure these devices can withstand. The same can be said of waterproof heart rate monitors.
Yes, they are waterproof but can only withstand so much water pressure. Pressure tests are measured in ATMs, which stands for atmospheres, and we’ve created a table that simplifies the meaning behind these ATM ratings.
Conclusion
General care and preventative maintenance, similar to what you’d carry out on your typical waterproof devices, will always play a role in extending the lifespan of your waterproof heart rate monitor. Most ATM and IP tests are conducted in fresh water, so after salt-water use, it’s always a good idea to give your device a rinse and thoroughly dry with a clean, dry cloth.
There are many reasons you might want to invest in a waterproof heart rate monitor. Well, whatever the reason, we’ve given you the best the market has to offer, along with expert tips and hints in choosing the perfect heart rate monitor that suits your needs.