Wearing an Apple Watch on the Ankle? New Report Explains the Trend

[MacRumors]

A report from The New York Times over the weekend highlighted the trend of people wearing an Apple Watch on their ankles, instead of the wrist.

The report highlighted reasons why some people prefer to wear the Apple Watch on the ankle:

• Some people with tiny wrists find the Apple Watch fits too loosely for heart rate sensing.
• Some people with wrist tattoos believe the ink may interfere with heart rate sensing, which is something that Apple acknowledges in a support document. Apple says some tattoos can "block light" from the heart rate sensor on the bottom of the Apple Watch, making it "difficult to get reliable readings."
• Some people believe the Apple Watch provides more accurate step counting when it is worn on the ankle, compared to the wrist.
• Some people with skin conditions prefer to wear the Apple Watch on the ankle.
• Some medical professionals cannot wear anything on their wrists.

Apple has not commented on the report, but its support documents and white papers for the Apple Watch mention that the device's heart rate and calorie measuring functions are validated for wear on the wrist, with no mention of the ankle anywhere. Apple has not publicly come out and advised people against wearing the Apple Watch on the ankle, but it is not something that its documentation acknowledges at this time.

Article Link: Wearing an Apple Watch on the Ankle? New Report Explains the Trend

 

[vertsix]

Interesting article. I am an avid athlete that does a lot of long-distance running and swimming. I have noticed Apple Watch being quite inaccurate for swimming in particular, especially when it comes to HR measurements and compared to competing devices such as Garmins and dedicated monitors like the Polar Verity Sense (in my experience).

The only issue I see with wearing Apple Watch on the ankles, for example, is the watch inaccurately measuring other metrics aside of steps and heart rate. For running, smartwatches rely to be placed on the wrist to determine stride length, GCT, cadence, and other metrics as per set algorithms. Same goes for swimming such as stroke rate and SWOLF. So I wouldn't count on accuracy on those metrics.

I'd rather have less accurate HR measurements and have accurate statistics everywhere else as it helps me more to optimize my training. But ultimately, for truly professional athleticism, Apple Watch isn't the best choice.

 

[bigboy29]

In related news: Hilarious things that happen when notifications come in!

 

[7thson]

Clearly outliers, people who do this. I’ve never seen anyone do this. If I wanted a pedometer to measure my steps but couldn’t wear it on my wrist, there are much cheaper options to wear on an ankle. Smh

 

[BabyBoii]

criminal fashion

 

[guttbinder]

Old news… this is the Apple support suggested workaround for tracking steps that don’t involve arm movement… such as working at a treadmill desk or having your arms float stagnant while moving your feet when guarding a dribbling basketball/calling a play.

 

[BabyBoii]

make ankle monitors great again

 

[Moonjumper]

I don't have an Apple Watch, but I can believe the bit about mor eaccurate step counting. I use StepsApp on my iPhone to see how far I walk. It is only acccurate if I carry it in my trouser pocket. If I carry it in a coat pocket (even if on my arm) or on the back of my shorts, it registers a much smaller distance.

 

[bigboy29]

I'm a bit confused that you'd wear it over clothes / on top of socks even if you chose to do this.

 

[dontwalkhand]

Something tells me there is significant overlap between this and people who sag their pants, and possibly people who bring Bluetooth speakers on trains.

 

[caliguy]

This is how my golden retriever wears his Apple Watch as well.

 

[ridgero]

Or: Some people may be pretty stupid out there.

 

[jz0309]

A trend???
The watch and the sensor array were designed and optimized to be worn on the wrist, but, whatever works for you…

 

[WarmWinterHat]

I've heard about it here at work (hospital). In some areas, there is a "nothing below the elbow" policy; no rings, watches, nails, etc.

 

[DrKarl]

Let's see some photos of limber ankle-wearers using ApplePay on their watch 🤣
Seems dumb to take a device capable of so many functions and put it where it can't be used... vs just getting a dedicated heart monitor device if the wrist doesn't work for them.

 

[ignatius345]

Clearly outliers, people who do this. I’ve never seen anyone do this.

You actually wouldn't know if you had, given how pants work

 

[melliflu]

This is how I wear my watch in Paris.

 

[pdaholic]

“I’m not staring at my crotch, I’m just trying to figure out what time it is.”

 

[TwoBytes]

Let's see some photos of limber ankle-wearers using ApplePay on their watch 🤣
Seems dumb to take a device capable of so many functions and put it where it can't be used... vs just getting a dedicated heart monitor device if the wrist doesn't work for them.

Karate kicking the POS terminal is a fun way to pay.
Cobra Kai.

 

[Zest28]

That's how I wear my Apple Watch in the hood.

 

[Kar98]

I just don’t wanna look like a douche wearing a submariner on one wrist and and Apple Watch on the other.

 

[brianj922]

I take a Rumble Boxing class every now and then because of where the watch sits on my wrist it's ALWAYS paused mid-workout by the glove. I've work my watch using the sport loop on my ankle because of this and it works like a charm.

 

[peterharte]

Only in America….

 

[Hogswarts]

I wear one Watch on my ankle and one on my wrist. I reach my goals twice as fast.

 

[LordArchie]

Not that I would do it.. but would be helpful for CarKey.. when I wear a posh watch, I have to always carry my phone.