How to Wear a Fitness Tracker Without Putting It on Your Wrist

The quintessential spot for a fitness tracker is on your wrist, but not everyone favors wearing a watch, especially in certain professions where it’s not permitted. (Calling all chefs and surgeons.) Alternatively, you might prefer to adorn your wrist with a traditional timepiece and reserve another spot for your fitness tracker. Luckily, you have a plethora of options.

Some trackers eschew the wrist entirely, like the trendy ring trackers gaining popularity. Others are wrist-centric but can be adapted for other areas with aftermarket bands or clips. Let’s explore your choices, from rings and clips to bicep bands, ankle straps, and even clothing.

Utilize an Ankle Strap

If you’re attached to your current device, perhaps all you need is a new strap. When I delved into kettlebell workouts, I managed to repurpose my Apple Watch band onto my ankle—although it’s not a universal solution. Thankfully, you can invest in extended bands for various fitness trackers, like this one for the Fitbit Charge 5, for instance.

Besides ankle wear, the same band can be adapted for use on your arm. (It’s akin to what Whoop refers to as a “bicep band,” although anatomically it’s worn above, not directly on, your bicep.)

Pros: Tracks steps and often detects heart rate (depending on positioning against your skin—some experimentation may be necessary)

Cons: Inconvenient for checking the time or using interactive features. Pausing your workout may require sitting down. Additionally, certain tracker models may lack available aftermarket bands.

Opt for a Fitness Ring

As a long-standing fan of the Oura ring, this is my preferred choice. Wearing a watch around the clock irks me, but I hardly notice a ring. If Oura doesn’t appeal to you, Ultrahuman and other brands offer high-quality alternatives. Budget-friendly options, like this one from Zopsc, are also flooding the market.

Clip it to Your Belt

Previously, Fitbit offered models that tallied steps via a clip-on accessory for your belt or bra. (I fondly recall the bra clip from a now-defunct brand, Misfit.) While Fitbit no longer produces such models, you can still acquire aftermarket clips for certain Fitbit and Garmin devices, such as the Inspire. Simply detach it from the wristband and affix it to a clip like this.

Pros: Accurately tracks steps regardless of hand movements.

Cons: Lacks access to heart rate data and other skin sensor-dependent features. May end up in the laundry if forgotten on your waistband.

Incorporate it into Your Clothing

Whoop’s tracker is typically worn on the wrist or bicep, but the company also offers a “Body” line of apparel with built-in pockets to house the device. I received one of their bras upon the collection’s launch, and I effortlessly slipped my Whoop device (minus its strap) into a pocket under my left armpit. It remained comfortable, secure, and collected data effectively.

Their collection also includes shorts and underwear with waistband pockets, as well as a swimsuit with a pocket in the same location as the bra. If you’re adept with a needle and thread, fashioning your own versions of these items is certainly feasible.

Pros: No additional straps to manage. It’s easy to forget you’re wearing it.

Cons: Buttons and displays are inaccessible (which aligns perfectly with Whoop’s design). Requires foresight to wear Whoop-compatible garments, and duplicates are advisable for laundry rotation.