Although expensive, Garmin Instinct is one of the best Garmin watches you can buy today. With the watch you will monitor your heart rate, calories burned, stress, steps, and distance traveled. Garmin Instinct wil also track swimming activities but, is Garmin Instinct really waterproof?
Yes, Garmin Instinct is waterproof and built to the U.S military standard. It is among the most water-resistant Garmin watches, great for swimming in deep waters thanks to the 10 ATM water resistance rating. You can also wear Garmin Instinct while in the shower of in the rains.
In this post we are going to share what’s is meant by Garmin Water rating, mention to you other examples of waterproof Garmin Watches, and tell you what makes Garmin Instinct waterproof. Let’s get started!
Interesting: Garmin Instinct features a U.S military standard-810 for shock and thermal resistance.
What is meant by Gamin Water Rating?
Before a Garmin watch is released it goes through a series of tests to make sure it has the protection needed for each activity it monitors.
Garmin makes the watches waterproof because they are aware most of their users are biathlons indulging in multi-sports like running, cycling, and swimming.
They have most of their watches waterproof at 5 ATM and 10 ATM. Waterproof Garmin watches rated at 5 ATM mean they are waterproof up to a level of 50 meters below the water while Garmin watches that have a water resistance rating of 10 ATM mean they are waterproof up to 100 meters below water.
Garmin watches that are waterproof up to 50 and 100 meters can both be best for swimming, taking a shower/bathing, and diving among other water activities that don’t make use of scuba gears.
Apart from Garmin Instinct and Fenix 6, another Garmin watch that is waterproof up to 100 meters is the Instinct Solar.
Which Garmin Watches Are Waterproof?
Apart from Garmin Instinct, there are still other Garmin smartwatches that are waterproof but up to certain levels.
One of the most expensive Garmin watches that is waterproof is Fenix 6. The Fenix 6 has a water-resistance rating of up to 10 ATM, meaning it will withstand water pressures equivalent to 100 meters when submerged in water.
Below we have a table of all Garmin’s most popular GPS and sports watches and their water-resistant rating.
| GARMIN WATCH MODEL | WATER-RESISTANCE RATING |
| Garmin Instinct | 10 ATM |
| Garmin Marq Series | 10 ATM |
| Garmin Fenix 6 | 10 ATM |
| Garmin Vivoactive 4/4S | 5 ATM |
| Garmin Venu | 5 ATM |
| Garmin Vivomove | 5 ATM |
| Garmin Forerunner 945 | 5 ATM |
| Garmin Vivofit Jr 2 | 5 ATM |
| Garmin Approach S62 | 5 ATM |
| Garmin Forerunner 245/245 Music | 5 ATM |
| Garmin Vivosmart 4 | 5 ATM |
| Garmin Vivosmart 4 | 5 ATM |
| Garmin Vivosport | 5 ATM |
| Garmin Swim 2 | 5 ATM |
| Garmin Vivofit 4 | 5 ATM |
What makes Garmin Instinct Waterproof?
Apart from adding durability the polymer case also ensures no water goes through the watch when you are in the water.
Also Read: Is Garmin Forerunner 45 Waterproof?
Can You Swim with Garmin Instinct?
Yes, you can swim with Garmin Instinct all you want. You don’t have to worry about getting it water damaged because it comes with a water resistance rating of 10 ATM.
Apart from just swimming with the watch, you can also have it in the shower but ensure you keep it away from detergents and ensure the water is not hot because, like Fitbit watches, Garmin watches are not friends with the sauna.
How Long Can You Swim with a Garmin Instinct?
Garmin Instinct comes with an internal lithium battery that can let you enjoy your swimming long enough.
On watch mode, it can last you 14 days and when on GPS mode it can last you for about 16 hours but when you use the UltraTrac™ battery saver mode it may serve you for up to 40 hours.
Garmin Instinct
If you are looking for the best-rugged smartwatch look no more because you already have the Garmin Instinct Series to choose from.
Although it won’t offer what the Fenix 6 series would offer it is still waterproof up to 100 meters.
Instinct Series will be able to keep track of your open pool activities which includes open water swimming and provide you with analyzed metrics.
Which other Garmin is Waterproof?
1. Garmin Vivofit Jr 2
Garmin Vivofit Jr 2 comes with a water-resistant rating of up to 5 ATM hence withstanding water pressures of about 50 meters.
Vivofit Jr is the best Garmin for Kids, so if your child loves keeping fit like you it is the right watch to get him or her.
Your boy(s) or girl(s) will love the watch because it tracks swimming with the help of a swim tracking feature.
No need to worry about your son or daughter getting the watch damaged, the watch is already made with them in mind and therefore a wearable for them to live with.
2. Garmin Fenix 6 Series
Every Garmin watch in the Fenix 6 Series is best for swimming in the pool and doing open water activities because they have a water resistance rating of 100 meters.
If you are a Garmin watch lover and want to have an eye on your swimming sessions, Garmin Fenix 6 and 6S are for you. Fenix 6 models will be able to track swimrun activities, and pool workouts.
3. Garmin Venu
Garmin Venu is the best swim tracker because like Fenix 6 and Instinct Series it has a pool swim tracking mode. Which gives it the ability to track swim lengths and types of swimming strokes used.
All the analyses made from swimming can be accessed on the Garmin Connect application.
Unfortunately, unlike the Garmin Instinct and Fenix 6 Series, Venu can only resist water pressures of up to 50 meters below water.
4. Garmin Vivoactive 4/4S
The Vivoactive 4 series are all able to withstand water pressure of up to 50 meters when submerged at the swimming pool or beach.
They also come with swim tacking sessions that will let you monitor your swimming distances and uptime.
Garmin Vivoactive 4/4S also uses the heart rate to monitor your crawls on open water swimming.
5. Garmin Vivomove
Have been in search of a Garmin smartwatch that is an analog rugged hybrid smartwatch?
Well, you can have the Garmin Vivomove watch, it is a Garmin hybrid/analog watch.
Like the already mentioned Garmin watches, the Vivomove is also able to monitor your swimming activities thanks to the included swim tracking mode feature.
Without forgetting, Vivomove can withstand water pressure of up to 50 meters which also makes it the best watch for the shower.