For rowers, a standard fitness tracker simply won’t cut it. The sport demands specialized data: stroke rate, pace, distance, and heart rate zones, all while withstanding the elements. The right watch acts as a digital coxswain, providing the crucial performance metrics needed to refine technique, build power, and shave seconds off your time.
Tracking your performance on the water requires a device built for precision and durability. From advanced GPS mapping to stroke-specific analytics and long-lasting batteries, the best rowing watches offer a suite of features tailored to the unique challenges of the sport. Whether you’re on a serene lake or a choppy river, having immediate access to this data can fundamentally change your training approach and competitive edge.
Our Top Picks for Rowing Watches
- Garmin Fenix 3 HR, Gray
- Garmin Fenix 5X Sapphire – Slate Gray
- Garmin Vivoactive 3 GPS Fitness Smartwatch
- Apple Watch Series 4 (GPS + Cellular)
- Garmin fēnix 7X Pro Sapphire Solar
- Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar
- Fitbit Versa 4 Fitness Smartwatch
- Garmin Venu 2 Plus, GPS Smartwatch
- Suunto 9 Peak Pro GPS Sports Watch
Garmin Fenix 3 HR, Gray
This model is a robust starting point for rowers seeking comprehensive data without a chest strap. Its Garmin Elevate wrist heart rate technology provides continuous monitoring directly from your wrist, allowing for a more comfortable and streamlined training experience. This is particularly useful for long rows where every piece of gear matters.
The Chroma display is designed for excellent visibility even in direct sunlight, a common challenge when out on the water. Paired with a durable black silicone band that resists discoloration from water and sweat, the Fenix 3 HR is built to handle the demanding environment of rowing while delivering the key metrics you need.
Garmin Fenix 5X Sapphire – Slate Gray
For the rower who also navigates, the Fenix 5X Sapphire is a powerful tool. It comes preloaded with full-color Topo U.S. mapping, which can be invaluable for exploring new waterways or understanding your position on a large lake. Its rugged construction, featuring a stainless steel bezel, ensures it can take the knocks associated with boat handling.
This watch enhances tracking reliability with its combined GPS and Glonass satellite reception, providing more consistent data in challenging environments like tree-lined rivers or under bridges. The built-in barometric altimeter adds another layer of data, tracking weather changes that could affect your rowing conditions.
Garmin Vivoactive 3 GPS Fitness Smartwatch
The Garmin Vivoactive 3 offers a sleek and versatile smartwatch experience tailored for an active lifestyle, including rowing. Its slim profile makes it comfortable for all-day wear, seamlessly transitioning from your workout to daily activities. The on-screen animated workouts can be useful for land-based strength training that complements your rowing.
With built-in GPS for tracking your route and distance on the water, it covers the essential data points for a rowing session. The inclusion of Garmin Pay adds a layer of convenience, allowing you to make purchases after your workout without needing your wallet.
Apple Watch Series 4 (GPS + Cellular)
The Apple Watch Series 4 with cellular connectivity provides significant freedom for rowers. You can stream music, receive calls, and stay connected even when your phone is left safely on shore. The over 30% larger display offers ample space to view your stats at a glance, which is crucial when you need to maintain focus on your form.
Advanced electrical and optical heart sensors provide detailed heart rate data and can even take an ECG. For rowers using apps like StrokeCoach or other rowing-specific applications from the App Store, the Apple Watch serves as a highly capable and connected platform for tracking performance.
Garmin fēnix 7X Pro Sapphire Solar
This watch represents the peak of Garmin’s multisport technology, making it an exceptional choice for the serious rower. The large 1.4” display is easy to read mid-stroke, and the scratch-resistant Power Sapphire lens leverages solar charging to dramatically extend battery life, perfect for long training days or multi-day excursions.
A standout feature for rowers who train in low-light conditions is the built-in LED flashlight. It provides illumination for early morning or late evening sessions, increasing safety and awareness. The watch’s rugged titanium build is designed to withstand the harshest conditions, both on and off the water.
Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar
Tailored for endurance athletes, the Forerunner 955 Solar is a top contender for rowers focused on long-distance performance. Its impressive battery life, extended further by solar charging, ensures it won’t run out of power during your longest sessions. The always-on, full-color display remains clearly visible in bright sunlight.
It offers advanced training metrics and recovery insights, which are vital for periodized training plans. The responsive touchscreen, combined with traditional button controls, allows for easy navigation through maps and performance data even with wet hands, a common scenario in rowing.
Fitbit Versa 4 Fitness Smartwatch
The Fitbit Versa 4 provides a user-friendly approach to fitness tracking for rowers. Its built-in GPS accurately charts your route and distance without needing a phone. The Daily Readiness Score is a useful feature that helps you decide if you’re prepared for a strenuous row or if you should focus on recovery.
With over 40 exercise modes and automatic exercise tracking, it simplifies logging your workouts. Being water-resistant to 50 meters, it is more than capable of handling splashes and rain. The focus on sleep tracking also provides valuable insights into your overall recovery, which is directly tied to on-water performance.
Garmin Venu 2 Plus
This watch combines advanced health monitoring with smartwatch convenience. The ability to take calls and reply to texts directly from your wrist is a significant advantage for rowers who want to stay connected during training without interrupting their session. The bright AMOLED display ensures your data is always sharp and easy to read.
With up to 9 days of battery life, you can wear it continuously to get a complete picture of your health, including sleep and stress data. The inclusion of an ECG app offers advanced heart health monitoring, providing peace of mind for athletes pushing their cardiovascular limits.
Suunto 9 Peak Pro GPS Sports Watch
Suunto has a long history in endurance sports, and the 9 Peak Pro is built with this heritage in mind. It is known for its exceptional battery life and robust build quality, capable of enduring the toughest conditions. The watch provides over 95 sport modes, including dedicated tracking for rowing, ensuring you get the specific metrics you need.
Its intelligent battery management system automatically adjusts settings to extend battery life during long activities, a critical feature for day-long rows or regattas. The sleek, lightweight design offers a low-profile fit that won’t interfere with your stroke, while still delivering professional-grade performance data.
Buying Guide: What to Look For in a Watch for Rowing
Finding the right watch for rowing isn’t just about telling time; it’s about finding a dedicated training partner. As someone who spends a lot of time on the water, I look for specific features that help me track my progress and understand my performance on a deeper level. The goal is to find a device that accurately captures the unique metrics of the sport. If you’re searching for the 9 best watches for rowing | top models for tracking performance data, you need to know what separates a good watch from a great one.
First and foremost, you need a watch with a dedicated rowing activity profile. This might seem obvious, but not all fitness watches have one. A specialized profile means the watch’s algorithms are tuned for the motion of rowing, leading to more accurate data for stroke rate, pace, and distance. Without it, you might be stuck using a generic “cardio” or “other” setting, which won’t give you the insights you need.
Next, focus on the data fields. The most critical metrics for a rower are stroke rate (how many strokes you take per minute), split time (your pace per 500 meters), and heart rate. A good watch will display these in real-time on an easy-to-read screen. For more advanced training, look for features like a built-in GPS to map your outdoor rows, a heart rate monitor (either on the wrist or compatible with a chest strap for greater accuracy), and the ability to track your recovery.
Battery life is a huge factor, especially for long training sessions or multi-day trips. You don’t want your watch to die halfway through a 20k row. Look for a model that can last your entire workout with GPS and heart rate monitoring active. Durability is another key point. A rowing watch should be water-resistant to at least 50 meters, but more importantly, it should be built to withstand sweat, sun, and the occasional bump against the oar.
Finally, consider the ecosystem. Many watches sync with smartphone apps and online platforms where you can analyze your data over time. This long-term tracking is where you can really see your improvement. Think about which platform you prefer and choose a watch that integrates seamlessly. By focusing on these key areas—a dedicated rowing mode, essential metrics, battery life, and durability—you’ll be well on your way to selecting one of the top models for tracking performance data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a regular running watch for rowing?
You can, but you won’t get the same quality of data. A running watch uses an accelerometer tuned for the forward motion of running. Rowing involves a different, more complex movement pattern. A watch with a dedicated rowing profile uses specific algorithms to accurately count your strokes and calculate your pace and distance. For casual use, a running watch might be okay, but for serious training focused on improving your performance, a watch designed for rowing is a much better investment.
Is a chest strap heart rate monitor better than the wrist-based sensor?
For most rowers, yes, a chest strap is more accurate. The repetitive motion of rowing can sometimes cause the optical sensor on your wrist to lose contact or get confused, leading to erratic heart rate readings. A chest strap monitor, which measures the electrical activity of your heart, provides a more consistent and reliable signal. Many of the top watches for rowing are compatible with ANT+ or Bluetooth chest straps, giving you the option for the most precise data during your intense pieces.
How important is GPS for indoor rowing?
GPS is completely irrelevant for indoor rowing on a machine like a Concept2. Since you’re not moving across the earth, the GPS serves no purpose. However, GPS is absolutely essential for tracking outdoor, on-the-water rows. It maps your route, calculates your speed over the ground, and provides accurate distance measurements. When looking at the 9 best watches for rowing | top models for tracking performance data, all the top contenders will have GPS for outdoor use, but you’ll simply disable it for indoor sessions.
What does “stroke rate” mean and why is it important?
Stroke rate refers to the number of strokes you take per minute (spm). It’s a fundamental metric in rowing, similar to cadence in cycling. Monitoring your stroke rate helps you manage the intensity and efficiency of your workout. A lower rate is often used for steady-state, aerobic pieces, while a high stroke rate is for sprinting and power pieces. By tracking it, you can learn to maintain power at different rates, which is a key skill for effective pacing and race strategy.
Can these watches connect to my rowing machine?
Some high-end watches can connect directly to certain rowing machines using ANT+ or Bluetooth Smart technology. This allows the watch to display data sent from the machine itself, which can be more accurate than the watch’s own estimates. For example, you might see your pace and stroke rate from the PM5 monitor on your Concept2 displayed right on your wrist. Check the compatibility of both your watch and your rowing machine to see if this feature is supported.