Which Fēnix 6 series can measure HR while swimming ?

I'm a happy owner of 3 Garmin watches (Fēnix 3, Vivoactive 3 and Vivomove 2). My everyday watch is the Vivoactive 3.I use the Fēnix 3 while on treck, for its GPS and other functions.

My only disappointment with the Vivoactive was that it cannot measure my heartrate while I'm swimming. I see that the Swim 2 can do precisely this, but I don't need all its advanced Swimming functions. I could consider buying the Fénix 6 when I have a bit more budget, as outdoor is my favorite sport area. But does it have this function ? Can I bring it to the swimming pool and measure my heartrate while swimming? Which Fēnix 6 model would do that?

If I could, it would be great, and be the only Garmin I ever need.

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+1 KRONK78 over 5 years ago

Yes, all Fenix 6 models measure your heartrate while you swim.

0 PierreJohnson over 5 years ago in reply to KRONK78

Thanks for the answer !

0 AndreiDracul over 5 years ago in reply to PierreJohnson

But they, Garmin, also claims not to rely on it and wear a strap instead lol!

F6x here, hr is working, correctly?, haven't checked as I don't have strap. It does not read correctly as my heart is beating out of my chest but watch wont register it.

Garmin will tell you to shave and make tight but not too tight

0 jlgranth over 5 years ago

One of the reasons I upgraded to a fenix 6 was for the ability to use the OHR during swimming and ditch the chest strap. I have a 6X and am very happy with it. Here is my swim from this morning with heart rate from the wrist OHR... The heart rate is typical of what I had seen from my fenix 5+ using the HRM-SWIM. I know that the fenix 6 series OHR has not worked well for some, but my experience with the 6X has been very good overall.

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/4230238638

0 phn55 over 5 years ago

All 6 series measure OHR while swimming - but they dont (due sw bug) show your swimming calories - just in case this is important for you as is for me - to see on watch face how active was the day. Check the forum for more infos.

0 3713258 over 5 years ago in reply to phn55

I’ve got a fenix 6 sapphire and it did not measure OHR while lap swimming. Is there anything I missed to switch on? Or does it just not work with that model?

+1 Dr Phil over 5 years ago in reply to 3713258

Go to WHR in Settings and Sensors and make sure it is set to ON while swimming. Count me as one of those for whom the WHR does not work well while swimming. I'll get a similar pattern tracking intensity that I see on a strap but usually 20-30 beats lower.

0 3713258 over 5 years ago in reply to Dr Phil

Thanks so much! I’ve been through a lot of menus lately and it’s gorgeous what can be done but sometimes it’s just too much and you miss this ONE setting - you saved me from buying a strap I don’t need and I was just one click away

0 Former Member over 4 years ago

Ugh, I should have seen this thread before buying a strap. I swapped my Fenix 3 for a Fenix 6s exactly for the advantage of puls monitoring while swimming. But i didn't get the WHR while swimming. After googling, and reading garmins own info I bought a strap. Now i seem to be able to see the puls for the swim in activity, but the puls doesn't come up on the daily puls chart, and doesn't count in intensity minutes, Also, I don't think the strap measures correctly. I feel like I'm at my max puls after some intervals, but the meausre is at about 65% of max..... Pretty annoying

0 Chabier over 4 years ago in reply to Former Member

Yes, that's a big fail in my opinion, and swimming activities SHOULD count for the training status. I swim almost every day and If I check my training status always show "no status" unless I go running a couple of days. That's absurd since the watch can track more activities that just running or cycling.

I'd like to see an indicator of kms swam during the week in the watch face instead of that little man running icon, just like in the Garmin swim 2.