Price: $10.
MySwimPro
For swimmers, MySwimPro is as good an app as you can get. The free app will let you create and track swim workouts (instead of just tracking how many lengths you’ve swim). If you’re really trying train instead of just doing some exercises, this makes a big difference.
There is also an Elite subscription plan ($20/month) that will give you custom coaching if you want.
Price: Free Elite, options from $20/month, adds coaching and other features.
The best app for outdoor activities
Continuous use of GPS on your Apple Watch will drain the battery faster than normal daily use, so if you’re planning a multi-day backpacking trip, you’ll need to bring a battery. However, for most casual half-day hiking or skiing sessions, it should work just fine.
Work in the open air
Work in the open air Add vector maps to your Apple Watch, which can even be stored for offline use. If you’re hitting trails for walking, running, or skiing, you can add a GPX route to follow so you don’t get lost.
It’s basically an app that turns your Apple Watch into something akin to one of Garmin’s adventure watches.
Price: $6.
SkiTracks
SkiTracks is the ultimate ski tracking app, at least if you’re skiing down slopes with lifts. It can track the number of runs you’ve done, your average speed, and of course the vertical you’ve slipped up to that day.
You can then look back at the day’s skiing and see it all presented on a 3D topographic map on your iPhone.
Price: $1.
The best app for the gym
One area where the Apple Watch excels is the gym. If you want to track your weight, reps and sets, or sweat a lot during an interval workout, there are apps that make it easy.
Strong
Strong allows you to record your entire workout, including all exercises, reps and sets, without the need for a phone. Great if you want to avoid the distractions of Twitter during your break by leaving your phone in a locker.
With the free version of the app, you’re limited to three custom workflows at once—which is enough to save a single push/pull/split foot. If you want more custom routines, Strong PRO starts at $5/month.
Price: Strong PRO is free, option from $5/month to get more custom processes and other features.
Seconds Pro
If high-intensity interval training is your thing, Seconds Pro is one of the best apps out there. You can create a variety of brightly colored and legible custom timers for your workouts depending on your needs.
Price: $5.
And get an external heart rate monitor
Wrist-based heart rate monitoring, like you get with the Apple Watch, not exactly like chest strapsand it gets worse the harder you practice. If you want your Apple Watch to be able to record your heart rate while you’re deep in a painful cave, an external heart rate monitor will go a long way.
Check out our guide to best heart rate monitor for a few suggestions.
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