How sweat proof is it?

[michael31986]

So I usually sweat a lot during cardio like dripping. Should I be worried about sweat getting into the watch and ruining it?

 

[Swiss-G]

So I usually sweat a lot during cardio like dripping. Should I be worried about sweat getting into the watch and ruining it?

No:

Exposure to liquid Apple Watch is water resistant but not waterproof. You may, for example, wear and use Apple Watch during exercise (exposure to sweat is OK), in the rain, and while washing your hands. If water splashes on to the watch, wipe it off with a nonabrasive, lint-free cloth.

Submerging Apple Watch is not recommended. Apple Watch has a water resistance rating of IPX7 under IEC standard 60529. The leather bands are not water resistant. Water resistance is not a permanent condition and Apple Watch cannot be rechecked or resealed for water resistance. The following may affect the water resistance of Apple Watch and should be avoided:

• Dropping Apple Watch or subjecting it to other impacts.
• Submerging Apple Watch in water for long periods of time.
• Swimming or bathing with Apple Watch.
• Exposing Apple Watch to pressurized water or high velocity water, for example, showering, water skiing, wake boarding, surfing, jet skiing, and so on.
• Wearing Apple Watch in the sauna or steam room.

Excerpt From: Apple Inc. “Apple Watch User Guide.” iBooks. https://itun.es/gb/4HEW6.l

 

[Julien]

The Watch is >99.9% sweat proof. As added proof just find a single thread or complaint about any water damage.

 

[boshii]

It's so waterproof, Apple advises that you clean it under running water.

 

[PLamarine]

I shower with mine.

 

[Julien]

The bottom of a 10' pool multiple times and all day IN a water park.

Video proof the Watch is water proof
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjtTpRcDM3U

 

[michael31986]

Thanks guys. Just get worried since sweat is more sticky/salty than water and thought it would damage inside.

 

[samiznaetekto]

Thanks guys. Just get worried since sweat is more sticky/salty than water and thought it would damage inside.

We'll have the answer in a few months, now it's too early. There's no doubt, however, that sweat gunk WILL accumulate in speaker and mic orifices, band release channels and buttons, and crown. We'll see. My gut feeling is that in a few months the Internetz will be FLOODED with screams and curses.

 

[dyt1983]

edit: remove personal identifiable info not relevant to the thread.

 

[michael31986]

We'll have the answer in a few months, now it's too early. There's no doubt, however, that sweat gunk WILL accumulate in speaker and mic orifices, band release channels and buttons, and crown. We'll see. My gut feeling is that in a few months the Internetz will be FLOODED with screams and curses.

I tend to agree. That's why I think I should avoid using it with cardio much. But then why have sports watch lol

 

[Chupa Chupa]

We'll have the answer in a few months, now it's too early. There's no doubt, however, that sweat gunk WILL accumulate in speaker and mic orifices, band release channels and buttons, and crown. We'll see. My gut feeling is that in a few months the Internetz will be FLOODED with screams and curses.

AW is rated and advertised IPX7 so sweat will not have any negative effects unless one has a defective watch.

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I tend to agree. That's why I think I should avoid using it with cardio much. But then why have sports watch lol

The AW has a one year warranty. Use the watch as it was intended to be used. HRM and exercise monitoring is one of it's biggest advertised features.

 

[samiznaetekto]

AW is rated and advertised IPX7 so sweat will not have any negative effects unless one has a defective watch.

IPX7 = withstands single exposure, not forever. For that, you need IPX8. Only time can tell. Chlorine in pools and showers is bad for gaskets in the long run.

 

[Julien]

IPX7 = withstands single exposure, not forever. For that, you need IPX8. Only time can tell. Chlorine in pools and showers is bad for gaskets in the long run.

I had a Garmin 210 that was IPx7 rated and worked out 5 - 6 times a week (extreme trail running, rain, mist, etc), swam and showered daily for over 2 years and never had a problem. Before that I had several other sport watches treated the same way and never a problem.

The Watch almost certainly far exceeds the IPx7 rating and is likely closer to an ATM5 rating. Apple is rightfully being very conservative. I bet gen 2 gets an ATM 5 rating.

I'm about to head to the gym now and after will be my 11th shower and I plan on doing this until I get my next Watch.

 

[samiznaetekto]

I had a Garmin 210 that was IPx7 rated and worked out 5 - 6 times a week (extreme trail running, rain, mist, etc), swam and showered daily for over 2 years and never had a problem. Before that I had several other sport watches treated the same way and never a problem.

The Watch almost certainly far exceeds the IPx7 rating and is likely closer to an ATM5 rating. Apple is rightfully being very conservative. I bet gen 2 gets an ATM 5 rating.

I'm about to head to the gym now and after will be my 11th shower and I plan on doing this until I get my next Watch.

For Garmin, you have historical data. For i⌚, you're just extrapolating from a tiny fraction of a 2-year period. Only time will tell.

 

[ryanasimov]

I am drenched after my runs so I have a concern about sweat. The people who say, "It's rated for sweat, Apple says so" never address that sweat is more than water; it contains salt and oil. The tiny mic and speaker apertures could easily become clogged over time.

 

[samiznaetekto]

I am drenched after my runs so I have a concern about sweat. The people who say, "It's rated for sweat, Apple says so" never address that sweat is more than water; it contains salt and oil. The tiny mic and speaker apertures could easily become clogged over time.

And don't forget that awkward moment when you push the band release button but it doesn't move. Or rotate the crown and hear the sand squeaking and you can no longer rotate it.

 

[Julien]

Today's below average and about 10 minute post workout. So far about 9 or 10 of these complete and about 350 or so to go before gen 2. Now time for shower number 11.

 

[AtheistP3ace]

I get sweaty when I exercise and haven't had any issues. I clean mine with a wet washcloth after I exercise as well and then dry it.

 

[redman042]

If your name is Steve Ballmer, you might think twice. Otherwise you'll be fine.

 

[texasstar1981]

Hmm, chlorine or bromine = not so good for rubber gaskets. The effect is not immediate as you have attested, but over time, those items will get hard or brittle and lose their sealing power, and chlorine greatly speeds up this degradation.

Watch manufacturers realize that the gaskets degrade and recommend their replacement; Apple has stated that "Apple Watch cannot be rechecked or resealed for water resistance" but it's unknown if that translates to "replacement gaskets will unavailable".

(That's one reason I have a salt water pool.)

the o-rings should be made out of synthetic rubber (same as the sport band) which is MUCH MUCH more resistant to chemicals and aging...

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I am drenched after my runs so I have a concern about sweat. The people who say, "It's rated for sweat, Apple says so" never address that sweat is more than water; it contains salt and oil. The tiny mic and speaker apertures could easily become clogged over time.

just rinse it under the faucet after working out.... your sweat is easily removed by water....

 

[michael31986]

I just been quickly passing it underwater on the top and underside of the watch. hope that helps it! IT will be nice to see how these watches are doing after months. especially the ones that get submerged and brought to pools

 

[MICHAELSD]

I'm more worried about sweat wearing the case or band than it causing it not to function: that won't happen.

 

[velleity]

For what it's worth, I've been sweating on this thing for a good two weeks now with no incidents.

Really, a good solution here might be buying AppleCare+. That way you're insured against anything, and you can happily use the watch without fear of something catastrophic happening. Though it seems reasonable that a watch designed to calculate and store athletic data would be replaced by Apple should sweat wear down the internals.

 

[Mac 128]

It's so waterproof, Apple advises that you clean it under running water.

No, they advise sticking the crown portion under lightly running tap water for :10.

They also recommend not using compressed air to clean it.

 

[jorsuss]

I've been seeing some quirky behavior and the only explanation I can come up with is sweat. I usually do an hour of cardio and there is a lot of sweat. When I raise my wrist the display turns on for a second, and then turns right off. Same thing if I tap the screen. This only happens when I'm in the middle of cardio and it is not consistent. Sometimes it stays on and sometimes it doesn't. Also a weird issue with the music glance. When I flick my finger up to open the glance, it turns the volume up or down immediately without even touching the controls. You can see the volume controls illuminate green and hear the change. If I try to go to the next song it registers as volume tap. This behavior only happens at the gym when i'm doing the cardio and the only thing I can think is the sweat. I tried turning on and off the watch. Today I unpaired and repaired. Next time I will disable activate on wrist raise. So I don't think the sweat does any real damage but so far for me just some weird behavior.