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Pool swimming with Apple Watch.

cubodado said:
I use a case to protect it (For swimming I suggest Misxi water proof, doesn’t affect touchscreen)
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Wait…do you leave the Misxi case on the whole time, or do you just put it on for swimming?

If it’s the latter…protect it from what while swimming?

To be clear, I’m not criticizing—I’m wondering if there is more context for that level of thoroughness? For example, did a previous swimming watch die on you, so now you’re extra, extra, extra careful?

I ask because I’ve been accused of “babying”stuff by people in my life…but as someone who’s had regular swimming/chlorinated pool/salt water time with a Series 0->2–>3->4 and now an Ultra and never had an issue with the only “maintenance” being a still-on-wrist-after-swim-shower rinse-off—your routine is next-level!
 
I've worn my watches for almost 1,000 miles of swimming since the Series 2, and I do not typically rinse after pool swimming (I remove it before I get in the shower). I do give it a quick rinse after ocean or lake swimming.
 
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Series 2, used it three times a week for years for pool swimming, never explicitly rinsed the watch and never an issue.
 
The Cockney Rebel said:
If you swim in a pool, with your Apple Watch, do you rinse it off afterwards?

I’m thinking the chlorine could affect it in some way?

Thinking of taking up swimming, hence my question.

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.
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I do nothing special after lane swimming in any type of water - salty ocean or chlorine pool or freshwater lake.

I avoid getting soapy suds on it.

It does a great job in open water long distance swims.

Don’t worry about it would be my advice.
 
The Cockney Rebel said:
If you swim in a pool, with your Apple Watch, do you rinse it off afterwards?

I’m thinking the chlorine could affect it in some way?

Thinking of taking up swimming, hence my question.

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.
Click to expand...
Short answer is yes you can swim with it, and no, you don’t need to rinse it off (but you can).

My son is a top high school competitive swimmer and swims 2-4 hours per day 6 days a week 11 months a year. He has worn a watch 3 for nearly every practice for years. (The only “rinse” it gets is in the shower after practice).

He has had no issues with the watch nor the band.

The watch will be technologically obsolete long before chlorine becomes a problem.
 
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I don’t swim but regularly (about 3-4 times a week) use it in my hot tub in 40 degrees of water. I am a stickler for the Chlorine/PH levels and over the last 6 years of 3-4 months use never had a problem with watches from S5–>AWU.

To answer your question, yes I always rinse it after as I do take a shower after.

I didn’t always put the water lock on previous watches but the AWU does this automatically with the depth app. Also tells me that the water really is 38-40 degrees lol.

Edit: As an aside for anyone that has issues sleeping or general aches and pains, a nice 60 min session in a hot tub (or warm bath) is excellent. I track sleep worn my Oura ring and it is noticeable the sleep quality difference.
 
The answer you're looking for is yes. I'm a swimmer. You should rinse it off. Especially the band. The chlorine will discolor the band over time (the color will fade). No harm to the watch itself. And yes, always use watercock and unlock at the end of the workout. Although it is waterproof, there is a reason that it has a water lock. When you unlock it you'll see water being pushed out. That's you proof that it was a good idea.
 
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klowy79 said:
The answer you're looking for is yes. I'm a swimmer. You should rinse it off. Especially the band. The chlorine will discolor the band over time (the color will fade). No harm to the watch itself. And yes, always use watercock and unlock at the end of the workout. Although it is waterproof, there is a reason that it has a water lock. When you unlock it you'll see water being pushed out. That's you proof that it was a good idea.
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Yeah forgot to mention the bands. The Apple Sports seem to have held up ok, but any 3rd party ones definitely fade quickly with Chlorine. To be honest I only use my cheap £3-5 Ali Express sports bands in a pool/hot tub now.
 
All non-Ultra models are not certified to be used whilst swimming. In contrast to the Ultra they are not water proof, they are merely water resistant. Hence Apple has replaced Ultra watches for water damage for free, but not other models. You should always rinse it off with water especially after salt water but the faucet should not be fully open, the pressure from the stream can otherwise overstress the seals and allow water to get in.
 
Apple has a web page where they have this documented:

About Apple Watch water resistance - Apple Support (CA)

Learn about water resistance on your Apple Watch and what to do if your device gets wet.
support.apple.com support.apple.com

* None of the current watches are waterproof, they are all water resistant.
* All the current watches can be used for swimming.
* The watch should be rinsed afterwards
 
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I swim 3 times a week in a local 50m and never had a single issue. Have a series 6 for about 2 years, I don't do anything in particular after I leave the pool. The Watch is designed for pool swimming. Don't worry about it at all.
 
The Cockney Rebel said:
If you swim in a pool, with your Apple Watch, do you rinse it off afterwards?

I’m thinking the chlorine could affect it in some way?

Thinking of taking up swimming, hence my question.

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.
Click to expand...
AW series 4 here. Apple recommends rinsing your watch. "After swimming, gently rinse Apple Watch Series 2 and later under lightly running, warm, fresh water. Dry Apple Watch and the band thoroughly afterwards." So I'd just do that and call it a day. I haven't found any article stating chlorine damages the watch. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205000

That being said, honestly, I have never rinsed my watch. I've taken it in chlorine pools, frequent river trips, and beaches and it still works like new. I wouldn't lose sleep over this
 
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I have taken my S8 swimming in our pool this summer. I have not rinsed it off with water after (but maybe I probably should?). But I have not encountered any issues — same with my wife who also swims with her S8.
 
Can’t you just take it off while swimming? So you could enjoy swimming without thinking about your watch? It seems to me like you are “prisoner” of your gadget. 😊
 
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Howard2k said:
Apple has a web page where they have this documented:

About Apple Watch water resistance - Apple Support (CA)

Learn about water resistance on your Apple Watch and what to do if your device gets wet.
support.apple.com support.apple.com

* None of the current watches are waterproof, they are all water resistant.
* All the current watches can be used for swimming.
* The watch should be rinsed afterwards
Click to expand...
That's the officially recommendations and I think we should leave it at that.

So, yes, you can swim (not dive, unless you have an Ultra) in a chlorinated pool, ocean, or any other body of water. But you should always clean it off afterwards, according to Apple.

I think you should clean it in warm water (never add soap), or wear it in the shower after workouts or swimming, and then take it off and pat it dry with a towel and make sure the speaker is free from water and then not worry any further about it.
 
I swim 4-5x a week and mine just gets rinsed when I’m in the showers afterwards as it’s on my arm. I’ve done this since the 3, and various models to the ultra. My daughter had my launch day 3 after me until literally last week when the screen has finally popped off the front, which I’m certain is the battery and not the chlorine causing issues!
the only time I’ll wash the back is when I take it off to charge and think the back looks a bit gross. I just use plain water and dry with a towel.
 
klowy79 said:
The answer you're looking for is yes. I'm a swimmer. You should rinse it off. Especially the band. The chlorine will discolor the band over time (the color will fade). No harm to the watch itself. And yes, always use watercock and unlock at the end of the workout. Although it is waterproof, there is a reason that it has a water lock. When you unlock it you'll see water being pushed out. That's you proof that it was a good idea.
Click to expand...
All the water lock does is prevent accidental screen presses from the water making the screen think its being touched so you dont end up with your recording pausing etc. The watch will be waterproof as per Apples recommendations whether you activate water lock or not. If you dont do it for whatever reason then its no big issue. If you want to eject the water later on just turn it on then and do the process to turn it off ejecting the water in the process.
 
Who's actually rinsing and drying their AW each time after going for a swim on a day out by the beach? Apple's advice doesn't seem compatible with the real world, I need my watch to just work ("it just works"). Unless it's a water park I have to bring my own drinking water. You can bet I won't waste that on giving my AW a shower.
 
okkibs said:
Who's actually rinsing and drying their AW each time after going for a swim on a day out by the beach? Apple's advice doesn't seem compatible with the real world, I need my watch to just work ("it just works"). Unless it's a water park I have to bring my own drinking water. You can bet I won't waste that on giving my AW a shower.
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When I rinse the salt off my body at the fresh water showers at the beach, or when I take a regular shower I’ll rinse my watch too. Restroom breaks are good for a watch rinse when I’m washing my hands. It’s tiny extra effort because I’m already rinsing. Plus, I’d prefer to not have salt crystals build up on the speaker membrane and muffle sounds. I don’t usually go out of my way to rinse just the watch.
 
okkibs said:
Who's actually rinsing and drying their AW each time after going for a swim on a day out by the beach? Apple's advice doesn't seem compatible with the real world, I need my watch to just work ("it just works"). Unless it's a water park I have to bring my own drinking water. You can bet I won't waste that on giving my AW a shower.
Click to expand...

I exercise with my watch on and if I'm running it gets pretty sweaty, so I do clean it fairly regularly. Every week or so I'd say.

I don't bother rinsing coming out of the shower but coming out of the sea, a lake, or a pool, I take a few seconds to rinse it.
 
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