FORM + Garmin: The Ultimate Open Water Swim Experience
Do you ever find yourself wondering where you are actually at in the open water when swim training or racing? Do you think how far I have swum? How fast am I going? Or if my heart rate is where it should be?
You’re not alone.
Open water swimming strips away the structure of the pool—no lane lines, no pace clocks, no clear idea of how far you’ve gone or how quickly you’re going. It can be disorienting, frustrating, and hard to track progress.
That’s exactly why FORM and Garmin teamed up, all the way back in 2020, to bring you the most innovative open water training setup out there.
With real-time GPS distance and pace from Garmin, plus in-goggle metrics, heart rate tracking, and SwimStraight™ navigation from FORM, you’ll always know exactly where you are and how you're performing.
This summer, take the guesswork out of open water. Swim smarter to swim faster. Swim with FORM + Garmin.
The Power of FORM + Garmin
When you pair FORM Smart Swim Goggles with a compatible Garmin smartwatch, you unlock a seamless open water experience that gives you the information and data you need, when and where you need it.
FORM’s augmented reality display puts real-time metrics like stroke rate, heart rate, and elapsed time directly in your line of sight in open water. Additionally, FORM’s SwimStraight™ feature delivers unparalleled in-water navigation, assisting with course navigation and general open water awareness by providing a swimmer's bearings in real-time.
At the same time, Garmin’s GPS technology built into their watches delivers access to all important GPS distance and pace data points when swimming in open water, which, when connected to FORM goggles, ensures you are seeing data in real time, even in unpredictable open water environments. This means you can verify your pace, track your distance, and make informed decisions during your swim.
FORM and Garmin deliver the most innovative open water toolkit available. No stopping. No guesswork. Just constant, confidence-building feedback as you swim.
Why Real-Time Data Matters in Open Water
Open water can be unpredictable, but that’s also what makes it exciting. With real-time data right in your goggles, powered by Garmin and FORM, you get the confidence and clarity to swim smarter and stronger.
You can assess where you are on course, relating to the distance marker buoys, when racing a triathlon or open water event by seeing your GPS distance in your goggles. Use your real-time pace and heart rate data to decide whether to surge with the front pack or conserve energy, if that’s the smarter play. Feel more assured about being in the unknown by having data to focus on, rather than letting your mind wander about the body of water you're in.
Whether you're targeting a personal best or just trying to hold a steady effort, the ability to see how you're doing in the moment makes all the difference. Furthermore, SwimStraight ensures you can assess your bearings and make smart navigational choices if faced with currents or changeable weather/water conditions.
How It All Works
Pairing your Garmin watch with FORM Smart Swim Goggles gives you the best open water swim experience—real-time data, right when and where you need it. Below, we go into great detail about how our integration works.
Real-Time GPS in Your Goggles
When you connect a compatible Garmin watch to your FORM goggles, you unlock two important real-time metrics, GPS distance and pace streamed from your watch into your goggles’ display. No more guessing your pace or checking your wrist mid-swim—just metrics, visible in the moment.
This integration allows you to:
- See GPS-based distance and pace as you swim
- Swim with more focus and confidence
- Make more informed in-the-moment decisions during training and races
Know Your Metrics: FORM Goggles Vs. Watch
In a recent software update, we introduced clearer data labelling so you can now tell which metrics come from your goggles and which come from your Garmin watch.
Open water swimming brings unique challenges to data tracking, and this update gives you better visibility and understanding, reducing confusion and giving you confidence in your numbers.
You can also customize your open water dashboard and choose which metrics you want to see in your goggles, those provided by Garmin or FORM, and yes, you can mix your selections.
Getting Set Up
Pairing a Garmin watch to FORM goggles is quick and easy.
Here are the first few steps in the process:
- Ensure you have your compatible Garmin watch and your fully-charged FORM goggles
- Open the FORM App on your compatible smartphone and navigate to the "My Goggles" tab, then "Connected Devices"
- Tap on the "+" sign next to "Garmin Watch"
- If your goggles are not on the latest firmware, you will be prompted to update them
- If your FORM App account is not already linked to your Garmin account, you will be prompted to enable that connection
- Follow the on-screen instructions in our app and in Connect IQ to install the FORM data field onto your Garmin watch
You can check out our full setup guide here:
👉 How do I connect a Garmin watch to the goggles?
Most Popular Compatible Garmin Watches
While many Garmin models are supported, some of the most commonly used ones include:
- Garmin fēnix 8 Series
- Garmin Forerunner 955 / 965
- Garmin epix 2
- Garmin Enduro 2
- Garmin tactix 7
- Garmin MARQ (Gen 2)
Check the full compatibility list:
👉 List of all FORM-supported Garmin watches
How to Optimize the Connection Between Goggles and a Watch
The connection works when both devices (your FORM goggles and Garmin watch) are out of the water at the same time. You can ensure the best connection possible by following these recommendations:
- Keep your goggles and watch on the same side of your body.
- For one-sided breathers, the goggles display and the watch should both be on your breathing side.
- If you breathe bilaterally (on both sides), you can wear the watch on either wrist.
Swim freestyle. - Wear the watch outside of your wetsuit (if you're wearing one).
SwimStraight™ Improvements: Calibrate Once, Swim All Day
For triathletes and open water racers, every moment before the start matters. The last thing you need is another technical task when you're managing pre-race nerves at 6 a.m.
That’s why we’ve upgraded SwimStraight™, which now holds calibration for 12 hours. Calibrate once—during your morning warm-up—and you’re good to go for the rest of the day. No need to recalibrate or worry about timing perfectly with your race start. We’ve got you covered!
General note: GPS does not work underwater.
