Is Garmin Forerunner 35 Waterproof? | Swim, Shower, Rain

Yes, it has a Swim, 5 ATM rating, so it handles rain, showers, and pool swims, but not diving or high-speed water sports.

If you own a Garmin Forerunner 35, water resistance matters more than most people expect. You wear this watch on runs, in sweat, in rain, at the sink, and sometimes in the pool. One wrong assumption can end with a dead screen, a foggy sensor, or a warranty fight.

The good news is simple: Garmin lists the Forerunner 35 with a “Swim, 5 ATM” water rating. That puts it in the swim-safe range for normal use in fresh water, which includes pool sessions and day-to-day splashes. The part that trips people up is the word “waterproof.” Watch brands and buyers use that word loosely, while water ratings are based on test conditions and pressure rules.

This article clears that up in plain language. You’ll get a direct answer, what 5 ATM means in real life, what you can do with the watch in water, what to avoid, and how to care for it so the seals last longer.

Is Garmin Forerunner 35 Waterproof? What The Rating Means

Garmin’s published specification for the Forerunner 35 shows a water rating of “Swim, 5 ATM.” In the same spec note, Garmin states the device withstands pressure equivalent to a depth of 50 meters. That sounds like “50 meters underwater,” and that’s where many buyers get confused.

That number is a lab pressure rating, not a promise that you can take the watch 50 meters down while swimming or diving. Water pressure changes fast when you move, jump, hit the water, or push buttons underwater. A calm test condition and real activity are not the same thing.

So, is it waterproof in the way most runners mean it? Yes, for normal wet use and surface swimming. No, if you mean scuba diving, high-speed water impact, or long underwater sessions beyond what Garmin’s swim rating covers.

What “Swim, 5 ATM” Means In Plain English

Think of 5 ATM as a level built for regular water contact, not a free pass for every water sport. It’s made for workouts and daily wear. You can sweat in it, get caught in heavy rain, wash your hands, shower, and swim laps.

Where people get into trouble is treating a running watch like a dive watch. The Forerunner 35 is not built for scuba diving, and it is not the watch to wear behind a jet ski or while doing high-speed tow sports.

Why “Waterproof” Is A Sloppy Word For Watches

Most watch brands use water-resistance ratings, not a permanent “waterproof” promise. Gaskets age. Button seals wear. Soap, sunscreen, heat, and sudden pressure changes can weaken resistance over time. A watch that handled water well when new can become less tolerant years later.

That does not mean your Forerunner 35 is fragile. It means the rating should guide your use. Treating the watch within the rating is the smart move if you want it to last.

Where The Garmin Forerunner 35 Handles Water Well In Daily Use

For most owners, the watch is safe in the situations that come up each week. Running in rain is fine. Sweat from long workouts is fine. Hand washing is fine. Pool swimming is fine, which matches Garmin’s “Swim” wording on the spec sheet.

That’s why many runners wear it all day without swapping devices. You don’t need to baby it every time water shows up. You just need to stay inside the rating.

Safe Uses Most Owners Care About

Pool laps, recovery swims, and casual time in shallow water are the normal use cases that fit a 5 ATM swim-rated watch. Light splashes at the sink and weather exposure during runs are routine and expected.

A quick shower is commonly fine too, though many watch owners still take it off in hot showers to reduce long-term wear from heat, soap, and shampoo residue. That’s a durability habit, not a sign that the watch can’t handle water contact.

Water Exposure That Feels Harmless But Adds Stress

Hot water, steam, and chemicals can be tougher on seals than plain cool water. A steaming shower, hot tub session, or sauna puts heat and pressure changes into the mix. Chlorine and salt can also leave residue on the watch body and sensor window.

The fix is easy: rinse the watch with fresh water after pool or salt-water use, then dry it with a soft cloth before charging.

Taking The Watch In Water: Practical Rules That Prevent Damage

If you want the Forerunner 35 to stay dependable, use a few habits that match how water-resistant electronics behave in the real world.

Do Not Press Buttons Underwater

Buttons are common leak points on many watches. Pressing them while submerged can force water past seals. Even if the watch survives once, repeated stress is not a good bet.

Start or stop your activity before you get in, or wait until your wrist is out of the water.

Rinse After Pool Or Salt Water

Chlorine and salt leave residue that can irritate the strap and build up around openings. A short fresh-water rinse after swimming helps keep the watch body, optical sensor area, and strap cleaner. Dry it well before putting it on a charger.

Skip Hot Tubs And Saunas

Heat can stress seals and adhesives. Even if the watch survives a few sessions, repeated heat exposure can shorten its life. A running watch does not gain anything from that risk.

Check The Charging Port Area Before Charging

Make sure the watch is dry before you clip on the charger. Water and charging contacts are a bad mix for corrosion over time.

Use Case	Forerunner 35 Fit	Notes
Running in rain	Yes	Normal use for a 5 ATM swim-rated watch.
Sweaty workouts	Yes	Rinse band and case now and then to reduce buildup.
Hand washing	Yes	Dry the watch after repeated sink splashes.
Shower	Usually yes	Plain water is one thing; hot water and soap add wear over time.
Pool swimming	Yes	Matches Garmin’s “Swim, 5 ATM” wording.
Open-water swim near surface	Usually yes	Rinse after salt water; avoid button presses underwater.
Snorkeling (shallow, casual)	Use caution	Surface use is the safer lane; depth and impact raise stress.
Scuba diving	No	This is outside the intended use for a 5 ATM swim-rated running watch.
Jet skiing / tow sports	No	High-speed impact can exceed rating conditions.
Hot tub / sauna	No	Heat can wear seals and adhesives faster.

Garmin’s Rating Details And Why They Matter Before You Swim

Garmin lists the Forerunner 35 specification in its owner manual pages, where the device is marked “Swim, 5 ATM.” If you want the source line, the official spec page is here: Forerunner 35 specifications.

Garmin also explains water-resistance ratings and usage limits in its water-resistance help material. That page helps decode the difference between a depth-equivalent pressure rating and real activity limits: Garmin water-resistance guidance.

These two pages matter because they answer the two most common questions at once: what the watch is rated for, and how to interpret that rating without stretching it past its intended use.

“50 Meters” Does Not Mean “Dive To 50 Meters”

This is the single biggest misunderstanding. The rating references pressure equivalent to 50 meters in a test setting. It does not mean the Forerunner 35 is a dive watch rated for 50-meter dives.

Fast movement in water, diving entries, and impact can create pressure spikes that do not match calm lab conditions. That’s why a swim-rated running watch can be safe for laps and still be a poor choice for scuba diving.

How To Tell If Water Resistance Has Started To Drop

Water resistance is not a button you can switch on or off. It fades through wear, dirt, impact, and age. A cracked screen, a damaged case edge, or a hard knock can weaken the seal even if the watch still works.

Watch for signs that your Forerunner 35 needs extra care around water:

• Condensation under the display after water exposure
• Buttons that feel sticky or loose
• Corrosion around charging contacts
• Cracks in the case, screen, or sensor window
• Skin irritation from trapped residue under the strap

If you spot any of these, skip swimming until the watch is checked or replaced. A watch can still power on and still be at risk from the next pool session.

Strap Care Also Affects Daily Water Use

The strap does not change the water rating of the watch body, though a worn or dirty strap can make wet use less comfortable. Rinse the strap after sweat and pool sessions, then dry it. That cuts odor and helps the watch feel better on the wrist during longer runs.

Clean gear gets worn more. Worn gear gets more useful data. That matters more than people think with an older running watch like the Forerunner 35.

Problem	Likely Cause	What To Do
Fogging under screen	Moisture ingress	Stop water use and get the watch inspected.
Skin irritation after swimming	Chlorine/salt residue on strap	Rinse strap and case with fresh water, then dry well.
Charging issues after wet use	Moisture on contacts or corrosion	Dry fully before charging; clean contacts gently.
Button feels stiff after pool use	Residue around button area	Rinse in fresh water, dry, and avoid underwater presses.
Loose fit in water	Band adjustment too relaxed	Tighten one notch for swims, then loosen after.
Worry after a hard impact	Seal stress from drop or hit	Avoid swim use until you confirm no cracks or fogging.

Should You Swim With A Garmin Forerunner 35 Every Day?

If the watch is in good shape, daily swimming is within the intent of a “Swim, 5 ATM” rating. The better question is whether you care for it like a device that sees water often. Rinse after pool or sea use. Dry it before charging. Avoid heat and underwater button presses. Those habits do more for longevity than any spec line.

If your watch is years old, has taken a few knocks, or has any sign of seal wear, be more cautious. Age alone does not mean failure, though age plus impact plus pool chemicals can stack up.

When It Makes Sense To Upgrade

The Forerunner 35 still works well for many runners, though older devices can show wear in battery life, charging contacts, and straps. If you swim often and want stronger swim features, newer Garmin models add more pool metrics and newer hardware. That is a feature choice, not a water-safety panic.

For the narrow question in this article, the answer stays the same: the Forerunner 35 is swim-rated and rain-safe when used within Garmin’s 5 ATM limits.

What Most Buyers Mean When They Ask This Question

When someone asks if this watch is waterproof, they usually mean one of three things: “Can I run in rain?”, “Can I shower with it?”, or “Can I swim laps with it?” For all three, a Forerunner 35 in good condition is built for that kind of use.

If they mean scuba diving, cliff jumps, tow sports, or hot tubs, the answer changes. Those uses push past the lane for a swim-rated running watch.

That simple split is the cleanest way to avoid damage: daily water and surface swimming, yes; deep or high-impact water use, no.