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Garmin Vivosmart 5 Waterproof? Yes! Here’s What You Need to Know

ByOlsen Ia

The Garmin Vivosmart 5 is the latest fitness tracker to hit the market and it’s a good one! This stylish watch is perfect for those who want a minimalistic design with all of the features they need. But what about the water rating? Is the Garmin Vivosmart 5 waterproof?

The answer is yes! This fitness tracker has a water rating of 5ATM, which means you can wear it while swimming or even diving! So if you’re looking for a fitness tracker that you can wear in any situation, the Garmin Vivosmart 5 is perfect for you.

The Garmin Vivosmart 5 has a Water Rating of 5ATM

The Vivosmart is a fitness tracker that is marketed towards people who enjoy the outdoors. This means that the water rating is an important feature to consider before purchasing the device.

The Vivosmart has a water rating of five atmospheres. The 5ATM rating seems to be a standard water rating feature across the board. Or better yet across the smart watch or fitness tracker market. For a low cost fitness tracker, I have to admit that this feature is a very positive one.

Does the Garmin Vivosmart 5 Meets ISO 228101 : 2010 Standards?

ISO stands for International Organization for Standardization. This organisation creates standards that are used in many industries, including the fitness tracker industry. The ISO 228101 : 2010 standard is the international standard for watches and waterproofing.

After some research the Garmin Vivosmart 5 does not dictate that it meets the ISO 228101 : 2010 standards.

ISO is a global standard. ISO makes clear and transparent guidelines where the information can be easily accessed and understood by all. To meet ISO standards there is a testing process products must go through to ensure they meet the guidelines.

The standards are important for many industries, not just fitness tracker industry. Many products will list on their website or product if it meets ISO standards.

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The Garmin Vivosmart does not explicitly state that it meets ISO 228101 : 2010 standards, but this does not mean that the device is not waterproof. The Water rating is determined internally by Garmin and is not related to the ISO standard. This means that the Vivosmart is still a great choice for those who are looking for a waterproof fitness tracker.

You think of the flagship watches that Garmin have released. You have the Garmin Fenix series and Epix Series. Both watches focus on multi-sport. When it comes to multi-sports you have to have a good water rating.

Because of this I would have to say that the internal water rating testing by Garmin is very trusted. I would say the water rating is very good

Is the Garmin Vivosmart 5 Water Proof?

Unfortunately no, it is water resistant with a water rating of 50 meters. This means that it can withstand rain, sweat, and splashes of water. What this really means is that you must maintain a steady discipline.

However, it is not recommended to wear the Vivosmart while swimming or diving. Either way it isn’t too bad. High velocity water’s can cause serious damage for life.

Why is the Garmin Vivosmart 5 not Ideal for Swimming or Diving?

The Garmin Vivosmart 5 is not for one reason only, high velocity water. Even though they may say that the Vivosmart 5 is ideal for swimming. In my opinion it is not. When your watch is moving under water, technically that is high velocity water. Your arm moving in the water is moving faster than the water around it. This could potentially damage the seals on your watch.

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It won’t happen right away but what it does is that it diminishes your watch’s ability to resist water. Slowly but surely the water rating get’s lower and before you know it. Your watch is no longer water resistant.

Tips to Maintain Your Water Resistant Rating for Your Garmin Vivosmart 5

These tips will help maintain your Garmin Vivosmart 5 water rating. Not to mention these tips will steer you away from warranty issue’s in case you make a claim.

  • Do not use your watch in a hot tub or sauna. The high temperatures can damage the seals on your watch. Heat can cause any material to expand under thermal expansion. When a material expands, it immediately reduces the water rating. Place the Garmin Vivosmart 5 in cold fresh water immediately.
  • Be sure to avoid chemicals such as detergent, perfume, and lotion. These chemicals can also damage the seals on your watch. Any liquids with solvents can diminish the water rating of your Garmin Vivosmart 5. Make sure to wash your watch with fresh water.
  • Make sure to clean your watch regularly. Dirt and debris can also damage the seals on your watch.
  • Avoid any vibration. Any impact against the watch can gradually diminish the water rating of your watch. Avoid dropping watch, or any hard impact against your Garmin Vivosmart 5.
  • Clean your watch when in contact with salt water. Rinse your Garmin Vivosmart 5 with fresh water immediately. Don’t allow the salt water to settle to cause more damage.
  • Clean your watch after a intense workout. As your body gives off body heat, the heat transfers under your watch. All of your bodily fluids can diminish the water rating slowly. Be sure to clean your Garmin Vivosmart 5 with fresh water
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By following these tips, you can be sure that your Garmin Vivosmart will maintain its water rating. What you can see is rinse your watch with fresh water. What you have to remember is that when the water testing was conducted, fresh water was used.

Make sure that if you expose your Garmin Vivosmart 5 to any of these conditions rinse with fresh water. Actually make it a golden rule. These are the kind of things that will get the best value. When I say value, best bang for your buck.

Final Conclusion

The Garmin Vivosmart is a great choice for those who are looking for a waterproof fitness tracker. The water rating is very good and the watch is marketed for people who enjoy the outdoors.

What you have to remember is that the Garmin Vivosmart 5 is not ideal for swimming or diving. The reason being is that high velocity water can damage the seals on your watch. Slowly but surely, the water rating will get lower and before you know it, your watch is no longer waterproof. Not to mention if you wave your watch under water a lot, the water rating diminishes quickly.

One other thing to remember is that Garmin’s internal water rating testing is trusted . This is the same water rating system Garmin uses to test their Flagship watches. Like the Garmin Fenix series or the Epix series.

So if you’re looking for a great waterproof fitness tracker, the Garmin Vivosmart is a great choice. Just remember to take care of it and follow the tips I’ve given you to maintain that water rating.

I hope that you found this article very helpful. Another thing also is that, I hope that I have answered your question.