Exercising is an essential aspect of our daily lives, especially with the numerous processed foods on the market. Rowing, as earlier stated, is one of the best full-body exercises due to the earlier stated reasons. However, while exercising, monitoring your physiological processes and location is advisable. Therefore, utilizing the below stated rowing watches will help you stay on track to a healthier lifestyle.
Best watches for rowing
We are advised to exercise due to various reasons, due to the health benefits of exercising. Exercise like weight lifting, jogging, walking, and numerous others are fantastic for our health. However, these exercises tend to target specific muscle groups.
If you want an exercise that will impact all your muscle groups, rowing is the exercise for you. Rowing has numerous proven benefits like:
- Improved stamina
- A strengthened cardiovascular system
- Improved immune system
- Balanced mood
- Calm and meditative effect due to the repetitive nature of the rowing
If you utilize a rowing machine, you could easily derive a full body work out from the process also
However, as most of us know, exercising is challenging since, when done correctly, it will push your body functions to higher levels, impacting your physiological metrics.
If you keep track of your physiological process, you will be able to monitor your progress.
To help you do this, watch manufacturers have designed watches that will monitor your progress. Therefore, you can adjust your exercise regime following your body’s response. Therefore, this article will walk you through a list of the best rowing watches in the market.
1. Garmin- Instinct
If you want a rugged smartwatch with GPS Capabilities and the durability to withstand extreme conditions, the Garmin – Instinct is the watch for you.
The watch adheres to the U.S. Military Standard 810G in its shock, thermal, and water resistance. Moreover, the watch has tactical features for better performance.
The watch has:
- A three-axis compass
- Barometric capabilities
- Altimeter capability
- GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo for geographical navigation
- Trackback feature to help you explore new rivers without losing your way
- Garmin apps connectivity enable you to keep in touch with other watch users and receive information directly from the Garmin manufacturers
- Stealth features such as wireless connectivity and GPS disabling make you untraceable if you so desire
- Scratch-resistant display equipped with night vision mode
- The rechargeable lithium-ion battery has a life of about 16 hours while in the GPS mode or 14 days while operating in the time mode.
Pros
- The GPS is reliable and does not take long to detect your location
- The watch incorporates various technological features for functionality
- The design is comfortable, allowing for continuous use
- Affordable
Cons
- The display is a low resolution
- When worn on smaller wrists, the watch looks significantly larger
- The watch only supports Garmin apps
2. Polar M400 GPS Smart Sports Watch
With a slim, light, and water-resistant design, the Polar M400 GPS Smart Sports Watch is one of the best rowing watches in the market.
Whereas the watch does not incorporate features such as:
- Distance covered per unit stroke
- The rower’s stroke rate
- Stroke count
The watch is:
- Comfortable
- Easy to wear
- Accurately measures your heart rate and distance covered.
To improve the heart rate count, the watch incorporates a chest strap.
Moreover, the watch utilizes GPS to measure time accurately and keep track of your location if you are outdoors.
The watch is fitted with a 128 by 128-pixel screen with adequate function ability.
The Polar M400 GPS Smart Sports Watch can also connect wirelessly to your phone. Therefore, whenever you are inactive for long periods, it alerts you to push through and exercise more.
The watch incorporates numerous other features like:
- Five touch-proof navigation buttons
- A USB port to charge the watch
- Long-lasting battery
Pros
- Lightweight
- Relatively affordable
- The watch employs high accuracy GPS functionality
- The watch has an attractive design
Cons
- The watch is unable to track rowing-specific metrics.
3. Garmin Fenix 5X Sapphire
Unlike the Polar M400 GPS Smart Sports Watch, the Garmin Fenix 5X Sapphire has a more rugged yet durable design. Moreover, this watch is capable of measuring rowing specific metrics whether you are rowing indoors or outdoors.
The watch incorporates numerous features such as:
- The Garmin Elevate heart rate technology accurately measures your heart rate from your wrists without the need for a chest strap
- The watch can calculate the number of calories you burn and the intensity of the exercise
- A high resolution LED screen fitted with :
- Garmin Chroma Display
- full-color support
- Backlighting
All of which makes the watch easy to read, whether in bright light or the dark.
- The watch is also both iOS and Android compatible
- The watch incorporates onboard maps for easy navigation in the open world.
- The watch incorporates the training status that evaluates the effectiveness of the rowing exercise.
- The battery has a long life span, lasting more than ten days in normal mode and almost 20 hours in GPS mode.
Pros
- The Garmin Fenix 5X Sapphire incorporates rowing-specific metrics
- An attractive design
- Durable
- No need for a chest strap to monitor the rower’s heart rate
Cons
- Relatively expensive
4. Apple Watch Series 4
With smaller bezels, a sleeker design, and a larger screen, this watch is unlike previous entries from the Apple Watch Series.
The Series 4 incorporates features like:
- Heart monitor
- Barometer
- GPS
However, the watch does not incorporate rowing–specific metrics like distance per stroke and your stroke rate.
Nevertheless, its iOS compatibility allows you to get these metrics from applications like Rowing SPM and PowerRow.
The watch also has:
- A GPS
- Health and fitness monitors
- An optical and an electrical heart sensor.
- The electrical heart sensor uses electrical impulses from your body to measure your heart’s rhythm. Therefore, it will notify you of any irregularities to avoid complications.
- Improved gyroscope
- The watch utilizes a 40 by 44 mm OLED Screen that incorporates the Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide (LTPO). The technology will adjust battery consumption that will allow you to save on battery energy.
- The watch can also make and receive phone calls.
Pros
- Long battery life
- Good display
Cons
- The watch is relatively expensive
- The watch is only iOS suitable
5. Garmin Fenix 5
Like the previous Garmin entry, this watch does not incorporate a lightweight design. However, it maintains a durable classic design. Moreover, it can measure both indoor and outdoor rowing specific measurements.
The Garmin Fenix 5incorporates the Garmin Elevate heart rate technology that improves the measurement of your heart rate from the wrists.
The watch is also capable of:
- Monitoring the number of calories burnt in the exercise
- Capable of measuring exercise intensity
- Measuring the direction and distance using a gyroscope
- The watch has a 240 by 240 pixel LED Screen that supports 64 colors with high resolution.
- The screen also incorporates the Garmin Chroma Display that controls the screen brightness, regulating battery energy consumption.
- The strap is adjustable and comfortable to wear.
- The watch incorporates the training status that evaluates the effectiveness of the rowing exercise.
- The Ultratrac battery has a long life span, lasting almost 60 hours depending on the use.
- The watch has a live track feature that you can use to track your rowing partners’ locations.
Pros
- Long battery life
- Waterproof design
- Attractive
Cons
- Relatively expensive
6. Garmin Fenix 3 HR
The Garmin Fenix 3 HR, unlike the other entries, is compatible with IOS, Windows, and Android that gives it a broader range of compatible devices.
- The Garmin Fenix 3HR incorporates the Garmin Elevate heart rate technology that improves the measurement of your heart rate from the wrists.
- The watch has a 218 by 218 pixel LED Screen that supports 64 colors with high resolution.
- The screen also incorporates the Garmin Chroma Display that controls the screen brightness, regulating battery energy consumption.
- The watch incorporates a barometer and a 3-axis compass that supplement the functionality of the GPS for better accuracy.
- The watch has a live track feature that you can use to track your rowing partners’ locations.
- The watch incorporates the training status that evaluates the effectiveness of the rowing exercise.
- The watch also features wireless cellular notifications.
Pros
- Long battery life
- Waterproof design
- Attractive
Cons
- Relatively expensive
7. Apple Watch Series 5
Incorporating similar feature to the Apple Watch Series 4, the Series 5 has:
- Smaller bezels
- Sleeker design
- A larger screen
- The Series 5 incorporates features like:
- Heart monitor
- Barometer
- GPS
However, the watch does not incorporate rowing–specific metrics like distance per stroke and your stroke rate.
However, its iOS compatibility allows you to get these metrics from applications like Rowing SPM and PowerRow.
Unlike the series 4, the series 5 utilizes the S5 processor for enhanced performance and faster frame rate refreshment.
The fitness and health trackers measure the number of calories burnt and heart rate.
The watch also utilizes a gyroscope that, coupled with GPS, allows for accurate distance measurement and navigation.
Like in Series 4, Series 5, an electrical heart sensor uses electrical impulses from your body to measure your heart’s rhythm. Therefore, it will notify you of any irregularities to avoid complications.
The series 5 also utilizes a 40 by 44 mm OLED Screen that incorporates the Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide (LTPO). The technology will adjust battery consumption that will allow you to save on battery energy.
The watch incorporates health apps that help you monitor noise levels and various health issues.
Pros
- Long battery life
- Good display
- Electric heart monitor
- Attractive design
- Large storage size
Cons
- The watch is relatively expensive
- The watch is only iOS suitable
8. Garmin vivoactive HR GPS Smart Watch
Unlike the FenixVersioons, the Vivoactive HR has a sleek and lightweight design. Moreover, it supports both Android and iOS,
Like the FenixVersions, the Vivoactive HR supports both outdoor and indoor rowing-specific metrics.
The Garmin Vivoactive HR incorporates the Garmin Elevate heart rate technology that improves the measurement of your heart rate from the wrists. Moreover, the watch can monitor your heart rate all day long.
The watch can measure:
- Heart rate
- Floors climbed
- Calories burnt
- Sleep duration
The watch also utilizes an accelerometer, GPS, and compass for effective navigation.
The screen also incorporates the Garmin Chroma Display that controls the screen brightness, regulating battery energy consumption.
The watch’s touch screen is also sensitive to the extent of easy operation with a glove worn.
The watch has a live track feature that you can use to track your rowing partners’ locations.
On a full charge, the battery can last eight days and 12 hours on GPS functionality.
Pros
- All-day heart rate monitoring
- Waterproof design
Cons
- You might find the touch screen a bit too sensitive
- The mobile app is challenging to use
9. Garmin Vivoactive 3
Watch manufacturers equipped the watch with a stainless steel bezel, corning gorilla glass, and a unique circular shape that made the watch attractive.
Like with the earlier mentioned watches, this watch incorporates both indoor and outdoor rowing-specific metrics measurements. It is also android and ios compatibility.
The watch utilizes GPS supplemented with accelerometers and a compass to give it accurate navigation. Moreover, with a water resistance of up to 50M, the watch is suitable for outdoor rowing.
The watch, like most rowing watches, measures:
- Monitoring the number of calories burnt in the exercise
- Capable of measuring exercise intensity
However, unlike the vivoactive HR, the vivoactive 3 is capable of:
- Stress monitoring
- Fitness age approximation
- Maximum oxygen intake
The watch also has a live track feature that you can use to track your rowing partners’ locations.
The Garmin Elevate heart rate technology accurately measures your heart rate from your wrists without the need for a chest strap.
The screen also incorporates the Garmin Chroma Display that controls the screen brightness, regulating battery energy consumption.
Unlike other Garmin models, this model utilizes a unique Garmin Pay system for wireless payment.
The watches’ battery is long-lasting, capable of lasting 13 hours in the GPS mode, and seven days under normal use when fully charged.
Pros
- Affordable
- Long battery life
- Attractive design
- High screen resolution
Cons
- The watch utilizes a chest strap for enhanced heart measurements.
10. Garmin Fenix 6 Pro
Designed as an upgrade of the Garmin Fenix 5X, the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro is lighter, more rugged, and classier than the Fenix 5. Moreover, it utilizes scratchproof Sapphire glass for an attractive look.
The watch has:
- Swappable and easy to adjust silicone straps
- Measure rowing metrics
- Android and ios compatibility
- Utilization of GPS, GALILEO, and GLONASS navigation systems
- Altimeter
- Gyroscope
The watch GPS and GLONASS utilize an additional 24 Satellites for unparalleled speed.
The watch incorporates hundreds of topographical maps and different routes around the world for easy navigation.
The watch is waterproof to a depth of 50m that makes it suitable for rowing outdoors.
The watch utilizes a 240 by 240-pixel resolution with an extra feature known as the body battery that measures body energy levels.
The large screen is capable of 6 field display
The watch, like most rowing watches, measures:
- Monitoring the number of calories burnt in the exercise
- Capable of measuring exercise intensity
However, unlike the vivoactive HR, the vivoactive 3 is capable of:
- Stress monitoring
- Fitness age approximation
- Maximum oxygen intake
- The watch also has a live track feature that you can use to track your rowing partners’ locations.
- The Garmin Elevate heart rate technology accurately measures your heart rate from your wrists without the need for a chest strap.
- The watch has durable batteries that last 36 hours in GPS mode and 46 days under usual use.
Pros
- Long battery life
- Attractive design
- High screen resolution
- High performance backed by numerous satellites
Cons
- Quite expensive
FAQs
Do rowing watches have warranties?
Yes, depending on where you buy the watch, you will find a warranty.
Are rowing watches only for rowing?
It is important to note that though manufacturers label these watches as rowing watches, you can also acquire them regardless of whether you go rowing or not.
How long rowing watches last?
Rowing watches, like most watches, durability depends on how you use the watch.