Watch on ankle?

[Night Spring]

Just saw this headline.

An Ankle Monitor? No, That’s My Apple Watch.

In pursuit of tracking fitness goals in a comfortable manner, a growing number of people are relocating their watches (and causing some confusion along the way).

www.nytimes.com

It's paywalled, maybe someone with a subscription can give us a gift link?

Anyway, I sometimes snap the watch onto my ankle when I'm doing dishes to avoid it getting wet. But it kind of never occurred to me that other people might also wear the watch on their ankle. Anyone here who does this?

 

[Howard2k]

No, not for me, not even when doing dishes but I guess if you're someone who is concerned about how the "one watch on each wrist" thing looks then it's a substitute? Even if I was going two smartwatches I'd just do one on each wrist.

 

[MarkX]

Just saw this headline.

An Ankle Monitor? No, That’s My Apple Watch.

In pursuit of tracking fitness goals in a comfortable manner, a growing number of people are relocating their watches (and causing some confusion along the way).

www.nytimes.com

It's paywalled, maybe someone with a subscription can give us a gift link?

Anyway, I sometimes snap the watch onto my ankle when I'm doing dishes to avoid it getting wet. But it kind of never occurred to me that other people might also wear the watch on their ankle. Anyone here who does this?

I'm not sure why getting the watch wet should concern you it's water resistant. If getting it wet is a concern why not just remove it for the time it takes to do what you need to do then put it back on? Seems a little pointless to put it on your ankle to me for 5 or 10 minutes!

The article mentions that she has no problem getting reliable metrics whilst it's on her ankle but the picture has it strapped over the top of her leggings

 

[Night Spring]

I'm not sure why getting the watch wet should concern you it's water resistant. If getting it wet is a concern why not just remove it for the time it takes to do what you need to do then put it back on? Seems a little pointless to put it on your ankle to me for 5 or 10 minutes!

I just don't like the feel of wet watch on my wrist.

If I'm wearing clothes with pockets, I put it in my pocket, but when I don't have any pockets, putting the watch on my ankle saves me the hassle of finding a place to put it down.

The article mentions that she has no problem getting reliable metrics whilst it's on her ankle but the picture has it strapped over the top of her leggings

Hmmm, that could give her step counts, but not heart rate. Though I've managed to get the watch to read my heartbeat through very thin fabric.

As I mentioned, I only wear it on my ankle for short periods of time, but my impression is that it registers fewer step counts than when on my wrist. Also, it tends not to register a stand hour. Like, I wash my dishes with the watch on my ankle, walk back to my bedroom before putting it back on my wrist, and the stand hour doesn't increment. But the same amount of walking when the watch is on my wrist will register a stand hour.

 

[jz0309]

I mean, if that works for you, fine. Nothing in the watch was designed to be worn on ankle, so while you get readings I don’t know that one should call that “reliable” as in the article.
And while I can appreciate people not wanting to get their watch wet for whatever reason, I’m kinda like the opposite wearing mine during shower.

 

[Total Respray]

Sure, who doesn’t appreciate the ‘convicted felon with an ankle monitor’ vibe?

 

[Bichon]

Watch on my ankle? No thanks, just my luck I'd kick myself in the head when I go to check the time. 🤣

 

[Apple_Robert]

Sure, who doesn’t appreciate the ‘convicted felon with an ankle monitor’ vibe?

I have been told that that look is a real chick magnet. I may invest in said look and see if I can make some ankle alarm noise with the right woman.

 

[russell_314]

Sure, who doesn’t appreciate the ‘convicted felon with an ankle monitor’ vibe?

If you’re going to do it just go all out with the convicted felon look. I bet it would look amazing with an orange shirt!

Watch on my ankle? No thanks, just my luck I'd kick myself in the head when I go to check the time. 🤣

I would fall over trying to check the time 😂

I have been told that that look is a real chick magnet. I may invest in said look and see if I can make some ankle alarm noise with the right woman.

I might have to try this. It’s the new trend in 2025 anyway 😂



Seriously though this should be an option for Apple Watch. For those working with their hands but still want fitness tracking.

 

[surferfb]

While I would love the Apple Watch health features without giving up my mechanical watches, I’m not down with the “ankle monitor” vibe - I’m client-facing and not sure it’d be good for business.

Maybe Apple could just make a ring?

 

[klasma]

It's paywalled, maybe someone with a subscription can give us a gift link?

Just use https://archive.ph/72UX0.

Anyone here who does this?

I used to wear a wristwatch on my ankle as a teenager (this was before mobile phones), because I didn’t like having something attached to my wrist. Still the reason I don’t wear watches today.

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

All the way down there?

I would either be standing on one leg or doing some crazy yoga position to see or touch the display.

No, I’m not wearing it on my ankle. I’d take it off altogether before attempting that.

 

[Parowdy]

Yeah let’s put something that’s already in a tough spot to do what it does in a spot it’s not supposed to be in.
In honesty, I’ve thought about doing this but I really can’t be bothered. Unless you have a very flexible/wide or fully opening watch band it’s more a hassle than just not wearing it for 10 minutes imo. How do you actually compare how reliable it is anyway?

 

[Parowdy]

All the way down there?

I would either be standing on one leg or doing some crazy yoga position to see or touch the display.

No, I’m not wearing it on my ankle. I’d take it off altogether before attempting that.

You could, in theory, use the „Apple Watch Mirroring“ feature on your iPhone for that.
Although in my experience doing yoga would be far less frustrating.

 

[AJACs3]

Gift link… reading now…

Why Are People Wearing Apple Watches on Their Ankles? (Gift Article)

In pursuit of tracking fitness goals in a comfortable manner, a growing number of people are relocating their watches (and causing some confusion along the way).

www.nytimes.com

 

[Parowdy]

Just use https://archive.ph/72UX0.


I used to wear a wristwatch on my ankle as a teenager (this was before mobile phones), because I didn’t like having something attached to my wrist. Still the reason I don’t wear watches today.

Has anyone ever asked you what time it was? Please tell me they looked super confused when you made half a step back and lifted one of your legs to tell them it’s quarter past 10 with the straightest face ever.

 

[Parowdy]

If you’re going to do it just go all out with the convicted felon look. I bet it would look amazing with an orange shirt!



I would fall over trying to check the time 😂



I might have to try this. It’s the new trend in 2025 anyway 😂



Seriously though this should be an option for Apple Watch. For those working with their hands but still want fitness tracking.

I suppose for the complete look you’d need an Ultra in silver with a chungus watch band wearing shorts

 

[windysaturday2025]

For my dog yes, and it is with Hermes leather band

 

[jz0309]

You could, in theory, use the „Apple Watch Mirroring“ feature on your iPhone for that.
Although in my experience doing yoga would be far less frustrating.

Thanks, had no idea that existed.
Tried it, butter initially showing the watch face it goes black and can't get it back to life. Also seems that you have to invoke this every time you want to use it. 13PM and Ultra 2.
Regardless, do you know when this was introduced?

 

[Night Spring]

Thanks, had no idea that existed.
Tried it, butter initially showing the watch face it goes black and can't get it back to life. Also seems that you have to invoke this every time you want to use it. 13PM and Ultra 2.
Regardless, do you know when this was introduced?

I think about 2 or 3 years back. I skipped watchOS 10, so I don't know how it was then, but with watchOS 9, it stayed up a lot longer and was therefore much more useful.

 

[klasma]

Has anyone ever asked you what time it was? Please tell me they looked super confused when you made half a step back and lifted one of your legs to tell them it’s quarter past 10 with the straightest face ever.

Yes, that actually happened once when I was walking in the city. No step back, just lifted my leg and briefly held it with the hand to read the time. (That’s actually quite easy when the watch faces inwards.) They were confused for a moment and then chuckled IIRC.

 

[Night Spring]

Yes, that actually happened once when I was walking in the city. No step back, just lifted my leg and briefly held it with the hand to read the time. They were confused for a moment and then chuckled IIRC.

Hah! I'd lose my balance if I tried that!

But seriously, I suspect people who wear their Apple watch on their ankles do so for health/activity tracking, and they have other means of telling time.

 

[klasma]

Hah! I'd lose my balance if I tried that!

You just cross your lower leg over the other knee. Similar to how when you want to see if you have dirt under your sole.

Like this (first-person perspective):

 

[Night Spring]

You just cross your lower leg over the other knee. Similar to how when you want to see if you have dirt under your sole.

Like this (first-person perspective):

View attachment 2480440

I can do that sitting down, but not standing up. Like I said, I'd lose my balance.

 

[mk313]

I haven't read the article, but I do remember seeing this come up a few years ago. The guy who mentioned he did it worked in a job (nurse maybe but I don't remember) where he was not allowed to wear a watch on his arm, so he kept it on his ankle to keep track of his vitals, etc (and IIRC he was getting pretty good accuracy, but obviously YMMV). Who knows, maybe he was using it to get notifications as well. I suppose with the crossing your leg thing, it would work ok.

I agree that it's not something most people would use, but if you can't wear one on your wrist, the ankle might be the only place you can, if it's important to you to have access to one.