A new swimsuit is challenging Apple Watch with a stealth sensor built into the lining that will track and log swim workouts, alleviating the need for third-party wrist-worn devices.
Swim.com and Spire announced this week a new collaboration in which the Spire Health Tag wearable can be permanently installed onto existing swimsuits on SwimOutlet.com for an additional $30.
The device, which automatically starts and stops as a swimmer moves off and on the wall, will initially collect basic information about distance, time and laps.
But the Spire sensors can calculate more advanced metrics as well, such as stroke type and count. Some of those advanced features are already offered on Apple Watch and will likely be added to Swim.com’s products over time. The two are also developing ways to leverage Spire’s proprietary breathing sensor.
Data logged will be automatically uploaded to Swim.com’s existing swim workout platform via Bluetooth where swimmers can keep track of their workouts and analyze them with algorithms.
Price was an important component of the Spire swimsuits, according to Swim.com President Davis Wuolle, because the companies wanted to offer swimmers the ability to affordably begin tracking swims without having to shell out $300 for a smartwatch. While Apple offers swim analysis through its software partnerships with MySwimPro, and Garmin and Speedo launched a similar smartwatch-based swimming platform in beta last July, both of those have higher upfront costs because of the price of the watches.
With the Spire suits, consumers ordering a bathing suit on SwimOutlet.com (there are thousands to pick from) can pay $30 to have the device stitched into the swimsuit just under the belt line, which lasts the lifetime of the bathing suit without needing to be recharged.
“We’ve found a lot of swimmers don’t want to spend that extra money to purchase something like an Apple Watch just to track swims,” Wuolle said. “People purchase wearables, where them for a few weeks then put them in a drawer, don’t remember to charge it, start it or stop it. This takes all that extra user effort away, and all you have to do is wear your swimsuit like normal.”
Get The Latest Sports Tech News In Your Inbox!
The goal of the first-generation smart swimsuits are to get people used to the idea of tracking their workouts automatically with no added effort. Since it’s low profile and built into the suit’s lining, Wuolle said it won’t impact swimmers as they use their arms to propel through the water like a watch might. Users also don’t have to worry about hitting a start or stop button, or recharging a device.
“This is by far the easiest and most cost-effective way to track your swims ,” he said. “There’s no more forgetting your watch at home and no more charging or button-pressing to track your swim. It’s so thin, lightweight, and compact that you won’t even know it’s there.”
One issue with swim trackers in general, according to Wuolle, is the heart rate sensor. While Spire and Apple Watch both have heart rate sensors, Wuolle said the flow of water can impact and provide less reliable readings. Swim.com, therefore, has opted to keep heart rate data hidden for now.