Garmin Advanced Swim Features | new to 945 & Fenix 6 Series

Garmin Forerunner 945 & Fenix 6 | new Swimming Features |

New Garmin swimming features for pool and OWS have recently made their way to both the Fenix 6 series and Forerunner 945 after their debut on the new Swim 2 in October 2019. With a bit of luck, these same features might make their way to the Fenix 5 Plus watches but probably not to the earlier Fenix 5 series…only time will tell.

Background

Both pool and outdoor swim profiles have been around for a long time on Garmin multisport watches and these profiles have cleverly been able to be incorporated into many kinds of custom multisport profiles. For example, as well as a regular triathlon you could create your own pool-based triathlon profile.

That sounds relatively trivial but you’ll be lucky to find that sort of customisation available on competitor triathlon watches.

Then if you’ve correctly set your swim HR Zone in Garmin Connect (specific device settings>user settings), all your swimming efforts should hopefully be enumerated through all the Firstbeat physiology metrics on your watch.

 

And it gets better. The beauty of Garmin’s swimming offerings lies in their details. Soon after their introduction came swimming workouts (2016) and then the more advanced watches also include the ability to log drills and incorporate rest screens. Alerts? Sure. Metrics? Galore!

Since their initial introduction, MANY tiny improvements have gone under the radar. For example, look at the swim workout image to the right from Garmin Mobile where the last rest period in a repeat block is ignored. Just as it should usually be

I’m sure you don’t use the Garmin Swim features to their fullest and neither do I. However the features you do use probably aren’t available on competitor watches either. For example, of those features I just mentioned, I only use the REST screen…yet you won’t find that on a Polar Vantage.

Current Swim Feature Set

This section talks about the current SWIM feature set. It will never be implemented in full on all swim-capable watches BUT WILL probably be implemented in full on the current crop of top-end watches and beyond ie it is already on the Swim 2, Forerunner 945 (v3.77 beta), Fenix 6 (v5.72) and it will be on this 2020/21’s 955 LTE.

I will go through the JUST-added features in a minute but first here’s a quick recap and summary of what swimming features are available.

Available swim profiles (new ones in  red**)Pool swimming, open-water swimming (OWS)*
Open-water swim metric categories (distance, pace, stroke count/rate, stroke distance, swim efficiency (SWOLF), HR, calories)OWS
Swim metric categories (lengths/intervals, distance, pace, time, HR, stroke count, swim efficiency (SWOLF), rest/repeat, calories)Pool
Stroke type detection (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly)Pool
Swim Dead Reckoning (predictive positioning applies pace to last known location)OWS
Drill loggingPool
Basic rest timer (up from 0)Pool
“Repeat on” rest timerPool
Auto RestPool
Time and distance alertsPool/OWS
Pacing alertsPool
3s countdown startPool
Pool swim workouts & TestsPool
Critical swim speed (CSS)Pool
Underwater wrist-based oHR heart rate (newish)
Pool/OWS
Heart rate from HRM-TRI/SWIM (real-time during rests, interval and session stats during rests, and automatic heart rate download post-swim)Pool/OWS

* There is also a special Otillo/SwimRun Profile which has an auto-sport change (not tested)

** Depending on when you read this they might still be in public beta

OK, finally, here are the new features in more detail and I’ll cover some of the older features a little too.

AUTO REST

You may currently have a manually triggered rest screen. I have my rest screen to display white text on a black background so that it’s clear it’s in rest mode when I press the lap button. My customisable rest screen pops up data metrics like REST TIMER and LAST INTERVAL DISTANCE, other people in my lane choose to also show the REPEAT ON metric.

With AUTO REST enabled, the rest mode is automatically entered once you have stopped swimming. It automatically clears when you start swimming. No surprises there!

However, the definition of how well this feature works must include how correctly and how quickly it recognises rests at the end of lengths. So, for example, in a crowded lane, you wouldn’t want to identify inadvertent mid-lane stops as a rest. Auto Rest seems to work well, though, by allowing itself some delay/leeway when entering or leaving that mode…ie it gives itself time to make sure you’ve stopped/started and it might even factor in your average time to do a length as a further sanity check.

Based on limited swimming usage this seems to work OK. I’ll update if more swims change my opinion on this (or ping me below if I forget and you want to know…it is turned on NOW 😉 )

Rests are then stored in the FIT file and shown appropriately on Garmin Connect and elsewhere.

Underwater oHR

I use this all the time now, despite initially vowing never to let oHR near my wrists ever again. On the occasions that I checked the numbers, it certainly was NOT correct BUT the HR was accurate enough to get my time-in-zones vaguely accurately, and that’s all I personally need for my training load calculations. The HR graphs produced at the end do look sensible despite containing numerous inaccuracies, like this…

I can only apologise to you all for letting my HR data gathering standards drop 🙂 I’d say, “I won’t let it happen again, but I will.”

An interesting alternative way for you to approach HR is to enable oHR AND wear a chest strap. That way you can see live HR from the wrist and the chest strap’s track might overwrite it. I say ‘might’ as I’ve not tried that for swimming and, on the occasions I’ve REALLY looked inside a FIT file on a line-by-line basis for oHR/chest strap combo details, there were times when both sources were mixed and matched throughout a (bike) workout, so the same might happen for swimming. (FYI: the innards of a FIT file can show the sensor responsible for certain records, like HR)

See also FORM Goggles for live HR via HUD

CSS Support

Every triathlete reading this will benefit from understanding their CSS speed and training to raise it. CSS is your best 1500m pace, ie your threshold pace, and it’s estimated from two shorter efforts that form a CSS test as Paul explains in this GOOD video.

 

You’ve guessed it, that CSS test is now part of Garmin’s swim features and it’s delivered using a pre-made Garmin structured workout.

If you’ve already done the test, you can instead use Swimsmooth’s CSS calculator, here.

Swim Workouts

Garmin’s workout creator was ported to Connect Mobile some time ago and, at least to me, it’s always delivered a logical way to structure and create Run & Bike workouts. Applying the same principle to swim workouts seems wholly sensible.

Garmin has even tweaked the features a little, for example adding the ability to say which of your swimming toys you should be using – and you can see on one of the following watch images that a tiny POOLBUOY icon appears indicating its expected usage.

 

SWIM DEAD RECKONING (OWS)

I’ve not used this at all.

In OWS Swim mode you can follow a course, compass heading, or follow a map as you swim.

My guess is that the SWIM DEAD RECKONING ability kicks in when you are following a COURSE or BEARING/HEADING. Your Garmin has an idea of when it last knew where you were and there might also be confidence limits attached to the accuracy of that information. Thus, in the absence of a decent GPS signal, it also could estimate your speed from either your stroke rate and/or your normal speed. With that information, it can effectively guess your position based on an assumption that you are following the heading/route correctly.

Having said I’ve never used this feature, I’m not sure I ever will either. I’ve never got lost when swimming, then again I’ve never done Otillo.

Swim Futures

I would not be at all surprised to see new features this year that use CSS. For example, CSS-based watch metrics like “Last Set % CSS”. This could then be expanded upon by improved, basic reporting of CSS-based performance in Garmin Connect.

Swimmers tend not to use electronic gadgets as much as cyclists or runners. Maybe that will change in the future?  Who knows? Sometimes technical innovations create a need in the market rather than just responding to one…if swimmers can see a ‘game-changer’ invention, like Nike Next% shoes for runners, I reckon they will go for it, as evidenced by the now-banned swimming body skins

I suspect that the features Garmin offer on the wrist are close to ‘peak-swim’. Not too much more can be meaningfully added to a watch. Yet there are plenty of advances in poolside/coaching tech that are possible, including technique analysis such as with Incus Nova or TraineSense Paddles and then different feedback mechanisms such as those already offered by the excellent FORM GOGGLES which I now regularly use myself. Just as Garmin bought Alphamantis (Garmin Vector Air) for cycling I could easily see Garmin buying FORM Swim, even though the Incus Nova is a more similar type of product to Garmin Vector Air.

Having suggested that we are close to ‘peak swim’ with on-the-watch features, triathletes can still hold out for the introduction of AUTO-TRANSITION which might already be in the SwimRun profile in some form and which builds on some of the logic already used in the swimmer’s AUTO-REST feature we discussed earlier.

Thoughts

Swimming has always been fun for me. Challenging but fun. Tech wasn’t THAT useful for group lane swims where my goal was ‘keep up’ and try to progress further up the lane order – until another ‘new fast guy’ joined the club and demoted me #Sigh.

From a data point of view, I just used to try to collect an accurate HR track (as an input into my overall load calculations) and then to look at the approximate total distance swam and then, from time to time, check specific times over specific distances to verify that I was indeed going the same speed that I always used to go at!

FORM Swim Goggles Review Specifications

Yet over the last 6 months, the ever UNchanging world of swim has changed for me. Here’s how

  • I’ve got some new custom goggles (theMAGIC5) for group swims.
  • I use the FORM goggles when I swim on my own and actively check HR and pace on the heads-up-display
  • I have given up my search for HR accuracy in the pool and now rely on the new oHR on the 945 (previously I either guessed the load or used HRM-TRI). FORM gets accurate data from the Polar OH1+
  • I’ve got new ROKA bouyancy shorts
  • I’ve got a new ZONE3 wetsuit that lets my shoulders move #Handy
  • And I use the new autopause swim feature

That’s WAY too much change for 6 months. I need to calm down a bit and put my running shoes on.

Reader-Powered Content

This content is not sponsored. It’s mostly me behind the labour of love which is this site and I appreciate everyone who follows, subscribes or Buys Me A Coffee ❤️ Alternatively please buy the reviewed product from my partners. Thank you! FTC: Affiliate Disclosure: Links pay commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

17 thoughts on “Garmin Advanced Swim Features | new to 945 & Fenix 6 Series

  1. The one feature I’d like added to the Garmin swim features, is the ability to set a goal pace range for swim workouts. Currently any swim workouts you make in TrainingPeaks can’t sync over due to this (though there might be some other issues behind the scenes), and I frankly forget how fast/slow I should be aiming for in my training at times. I’m sure there’s other features to be added, but that’s the last big one to fully automate my workout tracking flowing together smoothly.

    1. you can set swim pace alerts on the watch.

      not sure if they work alongside a structured workout. they should do. but you’d have to set the alert criteria manually on the watch, i think.

      but i think you are saying you can’t specify the alert criteria in TP which i am sure is correct as you don’t seem to be able to set that in Connect mobile either.

      1. Kind of… If you make a structured run workout (example: https://i.imgur.com/egVe1PW.png You can set a duration target of (e.g. time, distance), and an intensity target (e.g. pace, speed, heart rate zones).

        For a structured swim workout (example: https://i.imgur.com/TjOpDXt.png) you can only set a duration target (along with a stroke type and equipment) but there’s no intensity target. TP needs the intensity target to set for swimming to sync properly, or if you just want to make your own (I’m doing the 80/20 Tri plan which uses a bunch of zones)

      2. ok sort of
        I already saw that GC doesn’t allow swim pace targets.
        i meant set the targets manually on the watch after syncing a workout with no target (although i guess its pointless having one target for an entire structured workout with varying paces)
        then you say “TP needs the intensity target to set for swimming to sync properly,” which i guess means that you cant do what i’m suggesting as you cant see any swim workout from tp on your watch
        how do you know it requires a pace target to sync a swim workout?

        one for tp support i reckon.

      3. Right, I could do it manually on the watch, but as you said one target for a structured workout of varying paces isn’t ideal.

        I was googling for a while and on TrainingPeakssite it has (https://help.trainingpeaks.com/hc/en-us/articles/115001844087-Structured-Workout-Export-FAQs), TP needs some changes on Garmin’s end.

        Why can’t I export or sync my swimming workouts to my Garmin?

        Garmin has not made their formatting for structured swim workouts publicly available yet. They have indicated that they are planning to and we will start working on making swim workouts compatible as soon as we have that information.

        And there has been a feature request since 2017 for this on TP’s Customer Feedback Forum (https://peaksware.uservoice.com/forums/106657-trainingpeaks-customer-feedback/suggestions/18822358-push-swimming-workout-on-trainingpeaks-app-for-gar)

        I don’t mean my desire to sound like I don’t appreciate all the enhancements Garmin made to swimming on the 945, I love them! It is an assumption that TP needs the pace targets to sync as otherwise it’s just distance, which is something I suppose.

      4. i’d be interested to hear what you think of the 80/20 plans..as per https://www.8020endurance.com/training-plans/ ??
        what made you think that approach was right for you with respect to your target race/performance, previous experience and available hours.
        do you actually manage to go HARD on the more intense 20% workouts? how are you told you have had breakthrough sessions?
        and do you manage to go in z2 for the 80%s or do you often find yourself z1/z2 borders with unexplained detours into z3.
        indeed do the workouts even consider intensity fro swim?

        just interested to know….

      5. I’ve been doing the 80/20 plan for about three weeks now. Before I started I was, until September last year, almost exclusively a weightlifter. After that I did one of the Garmin Coach 5k plans and figured what the hell let’s go for a Triathlon.

        Obviously then, I’m training for my first triathlon. The main reason I chose the 80/20 plan was that I liked it’s structure, that it could sync to Garmin well, and on /r/triathlon it was recommended quite a bit. I feel like I’m improving, though that could just be beginner gains. With how the program sync to my Garmin, staying in the zones is fairly easy as I target the center of the zone for heart rate, and on a treadmill at least it’s easy enough for pace, I slip out of the correct zone for a few seconds in each lap but as the watch buzzes to let you know, I just speed up/slow down. Swimming is a whole different issue. While there are paces you’re supposed to be aiming for, since Garmin only lets you plan workouts for distance, it’s harder to really recall what pace you’re aiming for unless you remember the paces and can quickly do the math. But 80/20 does set intensity target for swim, it only does pace, but it wants you to find your CSS and creates zones based on that.

        I do feel I manage to go HARD on the 20% sessions, seeing as it is winter here, it’s easy enough to set the treadmill to a faster pace and on the bike just setting up the intensity to hit my heart rate (with all the caveats of heart rate lagging, I don’t have a power meter yet either). 80/20 just this week released a Connect IQ app which does help with an unplanned workout to stay in the zone.

        I’d say I’m a fan, it’s working well for my training for my June race. Not sure about the breakthrough sessions but it does have as part of it to do Tempo runs to retest your zones.

      6. sounds cool
        i guess your STRENGTH background weill make the faster stuff generally easier.
        pobably also the biggest area to get improvement is aerobic as you know. after three weeks you shoudl start to see the difference starting.

  2. Tried Venu and now Fenix 6X, both couldn’t get the laps right, counting 50 instead of 40…

  3. Does anyone know what two numbers bottom right corner on the map mean. I first thought it was water temperature and wind speed. But today’s water was closer to 10 degree than 1degree.

  4. I have been using my Fenix 6 Pro in my backyard pool on OWS function with GPS turned off while swimming static. I understand it was designed mainly for OWS whenever GPS signal or positional confidence was poor. But I find it somewhat useful during the pandemic during static swims for training (albeit unreliable). It’s a technology that in my opinion resembles that of indoor treadmill or bike training regarding distance estimates. It’s been a while since I last swam OW. But I’ll let you know if I see any major differences. Thank you.

    1. FWIW: I use OWS mode with GPS turned off on my indoor VASA erg! I have to use a ciq field to record the power but that ok, the other reason was to still get stroke detection and the correct labelling of the sport in the fit file.

      1. Interesting device, this Vasa erg.! Never knew it existed… I cancelled my membership at our local community center since we installed our pool. I’ve improved a lot due to Static Swim Belt, and I am curious as to how much I have improved in a lap pool. Thank you.

Comments are closed.

wp_footer()