Introduction to the Oladance OWS Pro

As an avid open water swimmer for over a decade, I have tested countless GPS smartwatches seeking the ideal training partner. This past season, the Oladance OWS Pro has emerged as a top contender – offering advanced metrics tailored to open water dynamics plus robust customization options.

In this hands-on review, I will break down how the Oladance OWS Pro stacks up across core performance, usability and value dimensions compared to alternatives. For open-water specialists seeking more immersive data insights, this newcomer warrants consideration.

Oladance OWS Pro Hardware & Setup

Right out of the box, the Oladance impresses with quality craftsmanship:

• Durable Polymer Body – Light yet rugged build to withstand open water friction. Integrated strap avoids awkward clasps.
• Sunlight Readable Display – Crisp, color display remains clearly visible even in glaring sunshine. Touch capabilities work reliably wet or dry.
• Waterproof Construction – 50 meter water resistance rating enables usage for any open water training without concerns.
• Multi-GNSS Location – Combines GPS, GLONASS and Galileo for accurate swim tracking even among challenging tower or bridge sightlines.

Set up proves straightforward – sync via Bluetooth to iOS/Android to configure watch faces, alerts, auto lap settings and other preferences.

In-Depth Analytics for Open Water Dynamics

Where the Oladance OWS Pro truly differentiates is deep, specialized tracking for the open water environment:

• Enhanced Stroke Metrics – Unlike pool lap counters, it adapts stroke detection for choppy cadences and non-linear paths. Reliably tracks overall strokes, distance per stroke, stroke rates and more.
• Underwater Time Tracking – Analyze time between strokes as it fluctuates between surface swimming and underneath sighting to optimize ‘dolphin kicking’ efficiency.
• Turbulence Detection – Unique turbulence tracking quantifies surges and swells disrupting strokes. Ensure course selections do not carry unnecessarily pacifying currents.
• Exit Point Navigation – Built-in breadcrumb features guide you straight back to entry coordinates, providing directional and distance guidance to take sighting guesswork out of returning to shore.

These enhancements above typical smartwatch fare cater directly to the open water swimming enthusiast seeking every edge.

Verdict on the Oladance OWS Pro

In the end, the Oladance OWS Pro claimed a permanent spot on my wrist this past swim season. For under $300, it packs high-end quality into dedicated open water tracking. Battery easily lasts 8+ hour training days while the app supplies plenty of post-swim analysis.

Sure – overkill exists for casual swimmers. But for devoted open water athletes, this specialized tool unlocks truly game-changing guidance. Other devices simply pale regarding advanced metrics within real open water dynamics. I eagerly await what added features future firmware updates bring!

More In-Depth Feature Analysis:

• Battery Life & Charging – The Oladance packs a 300 mAh lithium polymer battery that reliably delivers over 8 hours of GPS tracking on a single charge. It recharges from 0-100% in under 90 minutes via included magnetic USB cable.
• Onboard Storage – 16GB of storage built into the watch allows keeping multiple seasons worth of swim data onboard before needing to sync back to the app. Comes in handy when cell service is spotty at remote lakes.
• Customizable Display Screens – The Oladance offers a variety of information dashboard configurations including pace, distance, stroke metrics, time, etc. These can be swapped with a button press mid-swim to match situational needs.
• Smart Alerts – Automatic lap splitting, turbulence warnings, exit navigation triggers and more alerts can provide in-the-moment guidance to optimize training efficiency or safety. Vibration is suitable to sense even mid-swim.

Comparative Analysis:

While the Garmin Swim 2 offers a great overall cross-training smartwatch experience, the Oladance OWS Pro proves far more specialized specifically for open water dynamics tracking at a competitive price point.

I’d compare the Oladance favorably to the Form Swim Goggles for those seeking a wearable open water AI coach. While the goggles do provide form correction, they lack the holistic performance metrics and navigation features found in the Oladance.