Why Do People Tape Fitness Trackers to Their Wrists?
The beauty of a smartband is that it’s not a watch, and it doesn’t need to act like one. This also applies to where it’s worn: Whoop did the right thing with its bicep band and clothing, which can be worn anywhere. Since Google hasn’t released a bicep band for the Fitbit Air, some users are taking matters into their own hands—using rolls of duct tape.
I’ve been watching this trend unfold on the Fitbit Air subreddit, where one person after another is realizing they can simply attach the device to their arm or anywhere else with tape. I once did something similar myself—a few years ago, I tried attaching a Whoop to my ankle, and then I thought, “Wait, can’t I just attach it to the side of my leg?” (I did, and it worked.)
Why do people use tape to attach Fitbit fitness trackers to their wrists (and what tape is best)?
By attaching the Fitbit Air to your wrist with tape (without the strap, of course), you eliminate the need to wear it on your wrist. This means the device won’t interfere with wristbands or weights, and you can wear any sleeves or accessories without worrying about the Fitbit getting in the way or ruining your style. These are minor issues, of course. But sometimes it’s nice to just forget you’re wearing anything.
People experiment with different types of adhesive. One of the most popular is kinesiology tape (KT tape) , which athletes often use to stabilize a body part that’s causing minor problems. Sports or medical tape can also be used, but I’m not a big fan of them. I’ve found that kinesiology tape can start to peel off after just a day if you sweat heavily during a workout and then shower. This may not be the case , but it can happen. Long strips of tape have enough adhesive to hold, but a small piece—the size of a fitness tracker—will have a harder time doing its job.
The best option for this task is likely a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) patch. CGMs, or continuous glucose monitoring devices, are small plastic devices that are typically adhered to the back of the forearm. A thread pierces the skin to take readings, but the device has an adhesive backing for secure placement. A larger patch, called a patch, can be used for additional security.
These wrist straps are ideal for keeping your Fitbit securely on your wrist during extended use. A typical continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) cycle lasts about two weeks, and the Fitbit Air’s battery lasts about a week. If you want to keep the device on your wrist during workouts and showers, the strap is more than up to the task.
Does attaching a fitness tracker to your wrist with tape really work?
Although I’ve worn various devices before, I decided to give the Fitbit Air a full-blown experiment. I attached it to the back of my arm with a bandage (similar to this one ) and went for a run. It held up well, despite the sweat, and recorded heart rate data that matched well with the other devices I used for comparison.
One of the risks of adhesively attaching a fitness tracker to the body is that not all areas of the body will record heart rate equally well. Accessing blood vessels on the forearm may be difficult for everyone (everyone is different), but on the other hand, applying it under a patch ensures a tight seal and blocks ambient light. These factors generally improve accuracy.
However, activity recognition can be challenging. Fitbit evaluates your movements based on what it thinks your wrist should be doing during a workout. Your upper arm movement will differ from your wrist movement, so automatic recognition may not work correctly. When I took my Fitbit on a run, it didn’t automatically recognize my run. On my second run, I started the workout manually, and things improved.
Overall, I don’t think wearing a Fitbit on your wrist is a bad idea. However, it does have some drawbacks. Automatic workout detection may not work as well, and the accuracy of heart rate measurements will likely depend on your exact location (and how well it works may vary from person to person).
Another thing I’m afraid of is what will happen when I remove the patch. The adhesive on the patch is often so strong that it’s difficult to remove after two weeks of continuous glucose monitoring. If my fitness tracker’s battery dies after just a week, I’ll have to remove the patch to recharge it, possibly with great difficulty and pain. (Tip: remove these things in the shower; warm water helps a lot.)
Plus, putting on patches every week will be expensive, but it might be worth it if you really don’t like the bracelet or if you only want to do it for a specific occasion. Overall, I’d say it’s not such a bad idea.