Some people are redefining how smartwatches are worn.
As a smartwatch user, I have noticed that my device has loosened up over time, which felt annoying but also made me realize that it might not be accurately tracking my workouts.
At first, I tried changing the strap of the watch, but that didn’t help much. Not knowing what to do, I left the problem be, until I learned that I’m not the only one with this issue. The only thing is that these smartwatch users have already come up with a solution – to wear their smartwatch on their ankles.
Why do users wear their smartwatch on their ankles?
There are several reasons why people have decided to switch and wear their health tracking devices on their ankles.
Fitness influencer Ana Espinal told the New York Times that she does it because she has thin wrists. She noticed that because of this, her loose smartwatch isn’t able to measure her heart rate properly.
Some users can’t wear watches and trackers because of their profession. For example, medical workers can’t wear watches or jewelry due to strict hygiene requirements. So, counting steps while on duty became possible for those who decided to wear their smartwatch on their ankle.
It’s also been discovered that users with skin conditions or wrist tattoos can also receive inaccurate tracking measurements because the ink can impact watch sensors.
When it comes to skin conditions, what’s interesting is that not long ago, it was discovered that smartwatch bands could also impact a person’s skin, but in a whole other way. It was shared that some smartwatch bands are made from materials with “forever chemicals” that can have a negative impact on user’s health.
In fact, a class-action lawsuit filed in the northern district of California claims that Apple sold wristbands containing per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) but advertised its products as supporting a healthy lifestyle, thus misleading customers.
Is it really better to wear your smartwatch on your ankle?
Apparently, this watch-as-a-monitor trend has been going around for a couple of years now. We’ve been scouting for related posts on TikTok, and many of them appear to be shared in 2022.
Since then, some users have found that their smartwatch shows more accurate statistics this way. Or so they say.
However, Apple has indicated that the watch was designed to be worn on a wrist for metrics such as heart rate since it’s equipped with technology that counts on the blood flowing specifically through the wrist.
Some users who used to wear the device the “conventional” way have noticed that their steps sometimes aren’t counted when they’re on a walking pad working on their computer. This is likely because they aren’t swinging their arms, so the watch doesn’t understand that they’re walking.
Such and similar scenarios made people start wearing the smartwatch on their ankles.
When it comes to other measurements, such as heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, and standing minutes, users have a different take on the matter.
“There doesn't appear to be any difference for me in terms of heart rate or HRV accuracy when worn on ankle vs. arm. The measurements are basically consistent,” wrote one user, who also shared that while the watch is on the ankle, it can’t provide data on blood oxygen saturation.
On the contrary, other Redditor online shared that since they started wearing the watch on their ankle, the readings they’ve received have told them that their “fitness level is poorer” and their “heart rate is worse.”
You're one step away from Anna Delvey look
Those who have tried this trend agree that seeing someone with a watch on their ankle might look weird.
Some users had even shared that their device was mistaken for an ankle monitor, the one that a con artist Anna Delvey had to wear when she was released from prison and put on house arrest. It didn’t take her too long to make it into her customized accessory.
“Going for that court-ordered look,” wrote one Redditor, referring to the trend with someone calling it the “Anna Delvey Special.”
“I like the idea of programming it to be location sensitive. When your friend wants you to go out and you want to stay in, you ACT like you are ready to get in his car, but the watch starts beeping crazily,” wrote another commentator.
Some users have also joked that, in this case, the watch “loses” some of its main features, such as showing time and being used as a payment method.
More People Are Now Wearing Apple Watch On Their Ankle
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“Super trendy, but I find it really hard to use Apple Pay at store checkouts now,” wrote Redditor online.
“Awkward when somebody asks what time it is,” said another user online, with another joking that it’s “kick them in the teeth- o’clock.”
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