Introduction of Garmin Swim 2 Slate

Always consult your physician before you begin or modify any exercise program. See the Important Safety and Product Information guide in the product box for product warnings and other important information.

Detailed Specifications

The Swim 2 Slate is a high-tech smartwatch designed specifically for swimmers. It boasts a sleek and stylish design with a 1.2-inch color display and a comfortable silicone band. The watch is water-resistant up to 165 feet (50 meters) and features a battery life of up to 7 days in smartwatch mode and up to 13 hours in GPS and swimming mode. It also includes advanced swim features such as stroke type detection, SWOLF score, critical swim speed, and underwater heart rate monitoring.
USB ANT Stick Specifications

Description of Garmin Swim 2 Slate

The  Swim 2 Slate is the ultimate smartwatch for serious swimmers. With its advanced features and sleek design, it's perfect for both training and everyday wear. The watch is easy to use and customize, with a variety of watch faces and widgets to choose from. It tracks your swims with precision and accuracy, providing detailed metrics such as distance, pace, stroke count, and heart rate. The underwater heart rate monitoring is a game-changer, allowing you to track your heart rate during swims without the need for a separate heart rate monitor. The battery life is also impressive, lasting up to 7 days in smartwatch mode and up to 13 hours in GPS and swimming mode.

Getting Started

When using your Garmin Swim for the first time, complete these tasks.

1. Select any key to turn on the device.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions.
3. Select , and set the pool size.
4. Go for a swim (Going for a Swim, page 1).
5. View your history (Viewing History, page 2).
6. Send your history to your computer (Sending History to Your Computer, page 2).

Keys

Icons

Training

Going for a Swim
 

1. Select .The first time you use the device, you are prompted to set the pool size. Each time you switch pools, you must set the pool size (Setting the Pool Size, page 3).

2. Select   to start the timer.History is recorded only while the timer is running. Your total distance 1 and total time 2 appear on the TOTAL page.

   

3. Select to view more swim data. You can customize an additional page of data fields (Data Fields, page 3).

4. When resting, select  to pause the timer. 

   

   
   The paused screen includes the interval number 3, interval distance 4, and swim time for the interval 5. The screen appears inverted (Inverting the Display of the Training Pages, page 4) until you select and resume swimming.

5. 5 After completing your session, select .
6. Select an option
   • Select RESUME to continue swimming. The timer resumes.
   • Select SAVE to save the session to history.
   • Select DELETE to delete the session without saving.

About Distance Recording
The Garmin Swim measures and records distance by completed lengths. The pool size must be correct to display accurate distance (Setting the Pool Size, page 3).
TIP: For accurate results, swim the entire length, and use one stroke type for the entire length. Pause the timer when resting.
TIP: To help the device count your lengths, use a strong push off the wall and glide before your first stroke.
TIP: When doing drills, you must either pause the timer or use the drill logging feature. For more information about the drill logging feature, see Training with the Drill Log, page 2.
Training with the Drill Log
You can use the drill log setting to manually record kick sets, one-arm swimming, or any type of swimming that is not one of the four major strokes. The drill time is recorded, and you must enter the distance. The drill log feature can be enabled before a swim session or during a swim session with the timer paused.

1. Select > SWIMMING > DRILL LOG > ENABLE.
2. During your swim session, select until the DRILL page appears.
3. Select .
4. The timer records your total drill time. 4 After completing a drill interval, select . 
5. Enter the drill distance. Distance increments are based on pool size (Setting the Pool Size, page 3). The drill is saved, and the timer is paused.
6. Continue your swim session.

Training with the Rest Timer
You can enable the rest timer if your training includes timed sets. For example, you want to do 12 intervals of 50 m on 55 seconds. The following training scenario is one way to use the rest timer. The rest timer can be enabled before a swim session or during a swim session with the timer paused.

1. Select  > SWIMMING > REST TIMER > ENABLE.
2. During your swim session, select > .
3. After completing a set of 50 m, select .
   A temporary message appears showing your distance and time for the set. The rest timer page shows you the interval number 1 , swim time plus rest time 2, and rest time 3.
4. Rest until the time 2 is 55 seconds.
5. Select , and swim another 50 m.
6. Repeat steps 4–6 until you complete 12 intervals.

Alert Tones

Alert tones sound when you select during an activity. To open the setting of the alert tone, select > SWIMMING > ALERT TONES.
 

Swim Terminology

• A length is one trip down the pool.
• An interval is made up of one or more lengths. When you select to rest, you create an interval.
• A stroke is counted every time your arm wearing the device completes a full cycle.
• Your swolf score is the sum of the time for one length and the number of strokes for that length. For example, 30 seconds plus 15 strokes equals a swolf score of 45. Swolf is a measurement of swimming efficiency and, like golf, a lower score is better.

Stroke Types
Stroke types appear when you are viewing interval history. You can also select stroke type as a custom data field (Data Fields, page 3).

• FREE: Freestyle
• BACK: Backstroke
• BRST: Breaststroke
• FLY: Butterfly
• MIXED: More than one stroke type in an interval
• DRILL: Used with drill logging (Training with the Drill Log, page 2)

History

Your Garmin Swim can store approximately 30 swims based on typical use. When the memory is full, your oldest data is overwritten and a warning message appears.
NOTE: History is not recorded while the timer is stopped or paused.
Viewing History
The history displays the date, total session time, total swim time, total distance, total lengths, average pace, average stroke count, average swim efficiency, total calories, and intervals data (if used)

1. Select > HISTORY > VIEW.2
2. Select an option
   • Select TOTALS to view your accumulated distance, total time, and swim time. Totals appear using the current pool size.
   • Select WEEKS to view your totals for a specific week. Totals appear using the current pool size.
   • Select SESSIONS to view details for a specific session. A session appears using the pool size selected when the session was completed. You can also view interval details (if used).

Using Garmin Connect Garmin 
Connect is web-based software for storing and analyzing your data.

• Go to https://connect.garmin.com/
• Follow the on-screen instructions.

Sending History to Your Computer
You must have a Garmin Connect account (Using Garmin Connect™, page 2), and you must pair the device with your computer using the USB ANT Stick™ (Sending History to Your Computer, page 2). The watch cannot be in sleep mode while pairing or transferring data.

1. Plug the USB ANT Stick into a USB port on your computer. The USB ANT Stick drivers automatically install the ANT Agent™. You can download the ANT Agent if the drivers do not automatically install.
2. Bring your device within range (9 ft. or 3 m) of your computer.3
3. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Turning Off Computer Pairing
You can prevent transferring data to and from any computer, even a paired computer.
Select > SYSTEM > COMPUTER > DISABLE PAIRING.

Transferring All of Your Data
Before you can transfer all of your history to your computer, you must be in range of the USB ANT Stick that is connected to your computer.
Select > HISTORY > TRANSFER ALL > YES.

Deleting History

1. Select > HISTORY > DELETE.2
2. Select an option
   • Select ALL to delete all data from the history.
   • Select TOTALS to reset the distance, time, and swim time totals.
   • Select SESSIONS to select a specific session to delete.3
3. Select YES.

Customizing Your Device

Setting the Pool Size1

• Select > SWIMMING > POOL SIZE.2
• Select your pool size or enter a custom size.

Customizing Your Weekly Distance
Your weekly (starting on Monday) total distance appears on the time page as DISTANCE THIS WEEK. You can change the first day or turn off the weekly distance.

1. Select > SWIMMING > WEEK DISTANCE.2
2. Select an option:
   • Select SET DAY 1, and select the day.
   • Select DISABLE to turn off the weekly distance.

Setting the Time and Date
You can set the time of day for two time zones.

1. Select > CLOCK.
2. Select TIME 1 or TIME 2.
3. Select ON.
4. Select a 12-hour or 24-hour time format.
5. Enter the time.
6. Enter the date.

Setting the Alarm1

1. Select > CLOCK > ALARM.2
2. Select ONCE or DAILY.3
3. Enter the time.4
4. Select to return to the time of day page.

When the alarm is set, appears.

Using the Stopwatch
NOTE: The stopwatch does not record time, and no swim data is saved to history. 

1. Do not use the stopwatch for swimming.
2. Select > CLOCK > STOPWATCH.
3. Select to start the timer.
4. Select to stop the timer.
5. Select to reset the timer.

NOTE: If you leave the stopwatch page, the stopwatch automatically resets after 10 seconds.

System Settings
Select > SYSTEM.

• LANGUAGE: Sets the device language.
• BUTTON TONES: Sets the device to use audible tones for key presses.
• SLEEP MODE: Turns sleep mode on or off (Sleep Mode, page 3). Turning off sleep mode reduces battery life by approximately 20%.
• COMPUTER: Sets the device to pair with your computer using the USB ANT Stick.
• ABOUT: Displays important software information and your unit ID. Sleep Mode

The device goes into sleep mode if it has been motionless for one minute. This extends the battery life. As soon as you move the device again, it wakes up.

Setting Your Weight

1. Select > WEIGHT.
2. Select the units, and enter your weight.

Customizing a Training Page
You can customize page 5 in the training page loop (About the Training Pages, page 1). You can add up to three data fields on the page.

1. Select > SWIMMING > CUSTOM PAGE > ADD PAGE.
2. Select the number of data fields you want to see on the page.
3. Select a data type and a data field.

For example, select TOTAL > LENGTHS.

Data Fields
Data fields with the * symbol display statute or metric units. The units are determined by the pool size setting (Setting the Pool Size, page 3). Interval fields display data for the current interval (when swimming) or the most recently completed interval (when paused)

• CALORIES: Amount of total calories burned.
• DISTANCE*: Distance traveled during the current activity or interval.
• LENGTHS: Amount of pool lengths completed during the current activity or interval.
• PACE*: Average pace during the current activity, interval, or last length.
• STROKE RATE: Average strokes per minute (spm) during the current activity, interval, or last length.
• STROKES: Average number of strokes per length during the current activity, interval, or last length.
• STROKE TYPE: Stroke type during the interval or last length.
• SWOLF: Swolf score is the sum of the time for one length plus the number of strokes for that length (Swim Terminology, page 2). You can select a data field to display the average swolf score during the current activity, interval, or last length
• TIME ELAPSED: Total time recorded during the current activity or interval. For example, for an activity, if you swim 10 minutes, then pause the timer for 5 minutes, then start the timer again and swim for 20 minutes, your elapsed time is 35 minutes.

Inverting the Display of the Training Pages
The default appearance of the training pages is black on white while swimming and white on black (inverted) while paused.

1. Select > SWIMMING > INVERTED SCREEN.
2. Select an option:
   • Select PAUSED to invert the screen colors when the timer is paused.
   • Select SWIMMING to invert the screen colors when the timer is running.

Device Information

Device Care

NOTICE

• Avoid extreme shock and harsh treatment, because it can degrade the life of the product.
• Thoroughly rinse the device with fresh water after exposure to chlorinated or salt water environments.
• Do not use a sharp object to clean the device.
• Avoid chemical cleaners, solvents, and insect repellents that can damage plastic components and finishes.
• Always wipe the device dry after cleaning.
• Do not store the device where prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures can occur, because it can cause permanent damage.

Replacing the Battery
NOTICE
Use extreme care when replacing the battery. Do not damage the battery contacts, battery compartment, or O-ring. Damage can compromise the water resistance of the device.

1. Wrap the end of a small flat screwdriver 1 with tape. The tape protects the watch exterior, O-ring, and battery compartment from damage.

   

2. Carefully pry the battery cover 2 off.
3. Remove the battery 3.

4. Make sure the O-ring 4 is not damaged and that it is completely seated in the lowest groove.

   

5. Tip the new battery under the two plastic tabs 5 , and press it into place.

6. Do not damage the contacts 6.

   

Troubleshooting

Resetting the Device to Factory Settings

If the device stops responding, you may need to reset it.
NOTE: This deletes all user-entered information including your history.

1. Hold , , and  simultaneously.
2. Select YES.

Updating the Software Using Garmin Connect
You must have a Garmin Connect account (Using Garmin Connect™, page 2), and you must pair the device with your computer using the USB ANT Stick (Sending History to Your Computer, page 2). The watch cannot be in sleep mode while pairing or transferring data.
NOTE: This deletes all user‑entered information including your history.

1. If new software is available, Garmin Connect alerts you to update the software.2
2. Follow the on-screen instructions.3
3. Keep your device in range (3 m) of the computer during the update process.

Pros & Cons of Garmin Swim 2 Slate

Pros

• Advanced swim features such as stroke type detection and SWOLF score
• Underwater heart rate monitoring
• Long battery life
• Sleek and stylish design
• Comfortable silicone band

Cons

• Limited smartwatch features compared to other Garmin watches
• The display can be difficult to read in direct sunlight
• Pricey compared to other swim watches

Customer Reviews about Swim 2 Slate

Customers love the Swim 2 Slate for its advanced swim features and sleek design. They appreciate the underwater heart rate monitoring and long battery life, and find the watch to be comfortable and easy to use. However, some customers have noted that the display can be difficult to read in direct sunlight, and that the watch is pricey compared to other swim watches. The most common complaints are about the limited smartwatch features compared to other Garmin watches.