The fitness world is witnessing an unexpected trend: strapping the Apple Watch to the ankle. This surprising usage, recently highlighted in various articles, has yielded mixed results for users. As a fitness editor, I embarked on a personal experiment to gauge whether wearing an Apple Watch on the ankle offers any genuine benefits or if it’s just a passing fad.
Understanding the Ankle-Wearing Trend
For some individuals, wearing an Apple Watch around the ankle makes perfect sense. Certain medical professionals cannot wear wristwatches due to occupational requirements, and some users with tattoos on their wrists may find that they interfere with the heart rate monitoring function. Additionally, individuals performing activities like strolling with a stroller have reported more accurate tracking when the watch is on their ankle.
However, Apple has not endorsed this trend. The supporting documents clearly state that the heart rate monitor and calorie measuring functions are designed for wrist use. Intrigued, I decided to conduct a test using both my Apple Watch Series 9 and Garmin Epix Pro to compare their performance on different parts of the body.
My Personal Experiment: Apple Watch on the Ankle
To observe the results firsthand, I wore my Apple Watch Series 9 on my ankle and my Garmin Epix Pro on my wrist during a 4.5-mile run. Here’s what I discovered.
The Apple Watch Missed Half of My Run
My normal route includes a train crossing where I occasionally pause. During this run, I noticed the Apple Watch paused after the first stop and didn’t resume. This happened repeatedly, recording only 2.23 miles out of my 4.5-mile run.
The Pace and Heart Rate Data Weren’t Too Far Off
Despite missing most of the run, the Apple Watch still captured accurate data for pace and heart rate. My Garmin tracked a pace of 8:33 min/mile, while the Apple Watch recorded 8:23 min/mile. Similarly, the Garmin recorded an average heart rate of 158 bpm, compared to the Apple Watch’s 159 bpm.
I Wouldn’t Want to Do This Again
Several practical issues arose during my experiment. Most notably, I felt concerned about my watch being mistaken for an ankle monitor, potentially leading to neighbors confusing me with someone under house arrest. Additionally, the Apple Watch’s position on my foot prevented me from using Apple Pay easily at local businesses, making transactions inconvenient.
Lastly, I was worried about my baby pink Apple Watch band getting damaged by muddy sidewalks and my running stance. While this might be less of a concern for treadmill use, it remains a significant deterrent for outdoor activities for me.
The Future of Wearable Fitness Devices
The trend of wearing fitness trackers on unusual parts of the body highlights the evolving nature of wearable technology. While the ankle-wearing trend offers some potential benefits for specific users, for most individuals, wearing these devices on the wrist remains the most practical and effective choice.
As technology advances, manufacturers
