Where else can you wear an Apple Watch and STILL get accurate measurements?

[jkel777]

I used to wear an Apple Watch on my wrist daily years ago. Shortly after, I got into mechanical watches, but I still missed the health tracking features of the AW that synced perfectly with the Apple Health app. I've tried WHOOP twice but I don't like wearing it 24/7 (I prefer to not have anything on my wrist/arm when I'm sleeping) and it doesn't really sync very good data to Apple's Health app. I currently have a Casio G-SHOCK DWH5600 that's sort of a hybrid smartwatch, but again, the syncing to the Apple Health app isn't very good.

In the past, I had a bicep band that I used to wear the AW on my upper arm when I wanted to wear a mechanical watch and still track my fitness using the AW. However, it would always over-estimate my stand minutes (understandably so, my upper arm is vertical most of the time even when I'm sitting down) and kind of stuck out a bit under my shirts (also, understandable). So I was wondering; has anybody found a good spot to wear the AW that's hidden enough and still get fairly accurate data? I want to be able to still wear it all day even when I'm wearing a mechanical watch.

 

[Howard2k]

Inside of the bicep? Ankle?

 

[jkel777]

Inside of the bicep? Ankle?

That's what I was considering too. Only ever wore it on the outside of the bicep. I wonder how comfortable it would be on the inside of the bicep though...

Ankle/upper leg also crossed my mind. However it would probably still over-estimate stand minutes.

 

[macguy167]

Not an Apple user, but my dad use to wear his watches as a pocket watch. He made custom leather loops on his belt, on a neck chain, as a pocket watch, or in his pant's pocket. This would work to accurately record steps, stand minutes/hours, and all other health data (except for skin temperature, et al which require skin contact). The ankle is where I use to wear my second dive watch. This also allows you to get fitness/health data. I also never liked to get a wrist watch tan on my arm! I also like to wear mechanical watches on my wrist. I hope you find a solution to your problem. Later... 🙂

 

[ndouglas]

Great question, that unfortunately I don’t have any answer to. I was just thinking recently after a long bike ride, how it’s a little annoying that the watch doesn’t seem to count many (or any? Hard to tell) of the pedaling as steps. I guess I can imagine some argument about pedaling not being “steps” in super strict technical ways, but it seem close enough to me that they should count them, if not 1-1 then 1-3 or so, 1 step being a few pedals, for example.

A few times years back I put my Fitbit “pebble” in my shoe and then in my shoe laces, and tried the ankle, before feeling kind of odd to have tried any of that. 😅

I don’t think there much answer to your good question. I’d love to know if there is one. Icertainly don’t have huge biceps, or ankles, but neither is an option for the too-small band length for that

 

[Howard2k]

Great question, that unfortunately I don’t have any answer to. I was just thinking recently after a long bike ride, how it’s a little annoying that the watch doesn’t seem to count many (or any? Hard to tell) of the pedaling as steps. I guess I can imagine some argument about pedaling not being “steps” in super strict technical ways, but it seem close enough to me that they should count them, if not 1-1 then 1-3 or so, 1 step being a few pedals, for example.

A few times years back I put my Fitbit “pebble” in my shoe and then in my shoe laces, and tried the ankle, before feeling kind of odd to have tried any of that. 😅

I don’t think there much answer to your good question. I’d love to know if there is one. Icertainly don’t have huge biceps, or ankles, but neither is an option for the too-small band length for that

It counts it as a bicycle exercise, assuming you had the workout activated. That’s far more accurate a metric than steps. I have to believe that’s why Apple appears to try to differentiate by not focusing on steps like some other products do.

 

[jkel777]

Great question, that unfortunately I don’t have any answer to. I was just thinking recently after a long bike ride, how it’s a little annoying that the watch doesn’t seem to count many (or any? Hard to tell) of the pedaling as steps. I guess I can imagine some argument about pedaling not being “steps” in super strict technical ways, but it seem close enough to me that they should count them, if not 1-1 then 1-3 or so, 1 step being a few pedals, for example.

A few times years back I put my Fitbit “pebble” in my shoe and then in my shoe laces, and tried the ankle, before feeling kind of odd to have tried any of that. 😅

I don’t think there much answer to your good question. I’d love to know if there is one. Icertainly don’t have huge biceps, or ankles, but neither is an option for the too-small band length for that

I was using a bicep band for the Apple Watch that I got on Amazon for pretty cheap. It did the trick but would always over-estimate my stand minutes due to the Apple Watch being on the upper arm vs. the wrist. It was also a bit bulky and awkward vs. the Whoop (obviously, it's a smart watch). Everything else worked great though. Counted steps and filled the Move and Exercise rings just fine.

I really wish Apple would make something like the Whoop, but have it track the same metrics that the Apple Watch does. No screen, slim, constant heart rate monitoring, and can be worn on the biceps easily.

 

[waw74]

another option for you might be the Oura ring, it gives you similar health tracking, but in a ring format.
Battery lasts up to 7 days, and charges in around an hour

I don't have one, but a couple of my friends do.

 

[jkel777]

another option for you might be the Oura ring, it gives you similar health tracking, but in a ring format.
Battery lasts up to 7 days, and charges in around an hour

I don't have one, but a couple of my friends do.

I considered that too. I don't really like wearing rings either but it does look good and would blend in nicely. Unfortunately after reading reviews, it looks like it's not a great fitness tracker, but a really good sleep tracker.

I bit the bullet and got a Apple Watch Series 9 on a Black Friday sale on Amazon lol. At least I have two months to return it. I'll give the bicep band another go.

 

[ThrowerGB]

How would you feel about having the AW on the opposite wrist?

 

[jkel777]

How would you feel about having the AW on the opposite wrist?

Personally, I couldn’t do it. I just don’t think that looks very good, but that’s just my opinion.

 

[jkel777]

Wore it on the inner bicep last night. Still got inaccurate stand minutes while I was seated at dinner. Said I was standing for 50 out of 60 minutes lol. Obviously it makes sense since my upper arm is somewhat vertical compared to my wrist. I’m gonna try wearing it upside down on my inner bicep but I doubt that will trick it at all. Still got accurate heart rate readings and everything else.

 

[smartlet]

I had exactly this problem and eventually built a solution for it.The bicep band has two issues you already identified: stand hour overcounting because the arm stays vertical, and reduced heart rate accuracy at rest because the watch is not on the wrist.The Oura ring covers sleep tracking but does not close the Apple Health activity loop the same way.

What I built is a modular strap adapter that mounts to the mechanical watch via standard spring bar, with a built-in Apple Watch receiver. Both sit on the same wrist in proper skin contact. The Apple Watch does not know the setup is different because it is not. It is on your wrist. ECG works. SpO2 works. Stand detection is accurate. Sleep tracking is accurate. Nothing is compromised.

Setup: remove existing mechanical strap, mount adapter via included spring bars, slide Apple Watch band into the receiver using the standard Apple Watch band motion. Under two minutes.

Compatible with any mechanical watch with a standard spring bar between 18mm and 24mm lug width.

Product is Smartlet. Technical details and compatibility guide at smartlet.io.

Happy to go deeper on sensor performance or specific watch compatibility.