How to Wear a Fitness Tracker Without Putting It on Your Wrist
The go-to place for a fitness tracker is on your wrist, but not everyone likes to wear a watch, and not everyone is allowed to do so at work. (Chefs and surgeons, I see you.) Or maybe you like watches so much that you’d rather wear a real watch on your wrist and let your fitness tracker live somewhere else. Luckily, you have plenty of options.
Some of them are never worn on the wrist, such as ring trackers that have become popular recently. Others were designed for the wrist, but can be worn anywhere with straps or clips. Let’s look at the options of rings, clips, biceps, ankle straps and even clothing.
Use an ankle strap
If you already have a favorite gadget, perhaps all you need is a new band. When I started lifting weights a lot, I was able to attach my Apple Watch to my ankle, which is definitely not suitable for all body types. Luckily, you can buy an extended band for your Apple Watch or various fitness trackers. Here, for example, is one for Fitbit Charge 5 .
The same tape can be used not only on the ankle, but also on the arm. (This is the same idea as what Whoop calls a “bicep band”, but to be anatomically correct, I should note that you wear it on top , not on the bicep.)
Pros : Tracks steps and can usually measure your heart rate (depending on exactly how it fits against your skin – you may need to experiment with positioning).
Cons : It’s awkward to look at the clock or use any interactive features. You may need to sit down to pause your workout. Additionally, the strap may not be available in the aftermarket for some wearable device models.
Try a fitness ring
I’ve been a longtime fan of the Oura ring (it’s tough love, but love nonetheless), so I chose this route. Wearing a watch 24/7 drives me crazy, but I can completely ignore a ring. If Oura isn’t your thing, Ultrahuman and others offer upscale alternatives. Now there are also a lot of budget rings on the market, for example , from Zopsc .
Pros : Easy to put on and take off. The feeling that it is not there (if you are used to wearing rings).
Cons : Cannot be worn when lifting heavy objects. More beautiful rings have a higher price.
Attach it to your belt
Fitbit used to sell models that counted your steps using a clip on your belt or bra. (I remember liking the now-defunct Misfit brand’s bra clip.) You can still purchase an aftermarket bra clip for some Fitbit and Garmin models, such as the Inspire. Just take it out of the bracelet and insert it into this clip .
Pros : Counts steps well, no matter what your hands do.
Cons : No access to heart rate data or anything else that requires a skin sensor. It may end up in the wash if you forget to remove it from your belt.
Wear it in your clothes
The Whoop tracker is typically worn on the wrist or bicep, but the company also has a line of Body clothing with small pockets in which the device can be placed. The company sent me one of their bras back when the collection launched, and I was able to stash my Whoop device (without the strap) in the small pocket on the strap under my left armpit. It was comfortable, stayed in place, and data collection was good.
Their other offerings include shorts and underwear with a device pocket on the waistband, and even a swimsuit with a device pocket in roughly the same place as the bra. If you’re handy with a needle and thread, you can easily make your own versions of these items.
Pros : No extra straps to keep track of. You can definitely forget you’re wearing it.
Cons : Buttons and display are not available (this is why it works so well with Whoop, since Whoop has no buttons or display). You’ll need to plan ahead on how to wear your Whoop-compatible underwear, and you’ll need duplicates to get through the wash cycle.