The Subtle Strength of Smart Rings: Revolutionizing Wellness Tracking
The Ultimate Guide to Sleek and Efficient Fitness Rings for Tracking Your Health Metrics
Top fitness rings for slim and accurate health tracking
If you’re a tech-savvy fitness fanatic, you’re probably familiar with the clunkiness of some smartwatches and the fashion faux pas of mismatched smartwatch bands. But fear not! There’s a subtler, lighter, and newer form of wellness tracking that might just be up your alley: smart rings.
These sleek devices, equipped with built-in sensors that monitor everything from heart rate to blood oxygen levels, are revolutionizing the fitness wearable landscape. They allow users to effortlessly track their health and improve their fitness without needing to constantly reach for their phones or wait for doctor results. Plus, unlike their screen-heavy counterparts, fitness rings connect via a smartphone app, providing a distraction-free approach to health and technology.
ENBLE got hands-on with one of our top picks, the incredibly popular Oura Ring Gen 3 Horizon. Needless to say, we were impressed. With its comprehensive health suite, comfortable wear, premium material, and impressive battery life, it’s no wonder this ring is making waves in the fitness ring market. And the excitement doesn’t end there! Two highly anticipated fitness ring options are set to be released in the coming months. But how do they compare to the current leading brands? Let’s find out.
The Best Fitness Rings of 2023: Smarter, Sleeker, Stronger
1. Oura Ring Gen 3 Horizon: A Style Statement with Unparalleled Performance
Pros – Best sleep tracking on the market – Tracks steps and active calories – Heart rate monitor sensors to gauge workout intensity
Cons – Pricey, with a monthly membership required – Battery life can vary – Tarnishes when in contact with abrasive weights
More Details – Sizing: 6-13 – Material: Durable titanium and PVD coating – Colors: Silver, black, stealth, gold, rose gold – Water resistance: Up to 328 feet – Sensors: Heart rate, blood oxygen, PPG, skin temperature, 3D accelerometer – Connectivity: Bluetooth Low-Energy, Airplane Mode – Battery: Up to seven days
The Oura Ring Gen 3 Horizon is currently one of the most successful fitness rings on the market. With its four color options and various sizes, it offers both style and customization. ENBLE’s Sherin Shibu put the Heritage Oura ring to the test, taking it through rigorous activities like strength training, cycling classes, and yoga sessions. What impressed us most about this ring is its ability to simplify data. You get a straightforward activity, sleep, and readiness score that you can use to improve your overall wellness. And if you’re a data junkie, it also provides detailed charts monitoring your heart rate and body temperature.
But where the Oura Ring truly shines is in its sleep tracking. It goes above and beyond, providing insights that surpass what you’d get from a Fitbit or other smart rings. Its advanced sleep tracking features display your HRV balance, temperature changes during sleep (helpful for predicting menstrual cycles), blood oxygen levels, and the duration of each sleep stage.
Not only is the Oura Ring exceptional at sleep tracking, but it also excels in activity tracking. It monitors your steps, calories burned (including active calories), heart rate during exercise, and training volume. In fact, in a head-to-head comparison with a Garmin Vivomove Sport watch, the Oura Ring was within 200 steps of Garmin’s tracked steps.
If you’re ready to elevate your wellness game, you can get the Oura Ring Gen 3 Horizon starting at $349.
2. Go2sleep: Affordable Sleep Tracking at Your Fingertips
Pros – Affordable – “Find the Ring” feature – Heart rate, HRV, and blood oxygen sensors
Cons – No exercise data – Some reported inaccuracies
More Details – Sizing: Three sizing options – Material: Food-grade silicon – Color: White – Water resistance: Up to three feet for 30 minutes – Sensors: Heart rate, blood oxygen, HRV – Connectivity: Bluetooth – Battery: Two nights
As the name suggests, the Go2sleep fitness ring specializes in monitoring your sleep. Along with tracking your heart rate, it gathers other key sleep data such as blood oxygen level (SpO2), AHI, heart rate variability (HRV), and perfusion index. The device even features vibration feedback, making it convenient to receive notifications.
With the Go2sleep app, you can share your sleep data with family members to compare sleep patterns. It also allows you to download your sleep reports as Excel files, perfect for sharing information with your medical provider.
What sets the Go2sleep ring apart is its alarm function. It’s designed to wake you up during your lightest sleep phase in the morning, ensuring a smoother wake-up experience. The device also offers an auto-sync feature with the Health app on iOS devices and a ring-finding function to help you locate the device if it goes missing (or gets lost in the sheets while sleeping).
While the Go2sleep ring may not offer exercise data, its affordable price tag of $99 makes it an attractive option for those primarily interested in sleep tracking.
3. Movano Evie Ring: Unleashing the Power of Women’s Health
Pros – Medical-grade data for women – Sleep, activity, and menstrual cycle tracking – Personalized goals and progress tracking
Cons – Not yet released – Geared towards women only
More Details – Sizing: 5-11 – Material: N/A – Colors: Silver, rose gold, gold – Water resistance: N/A – Sensors: Heart rate, heart rate variability, SpO₂, skin temperature, active metabolic calorie burn – Connectivity: N/A – Battery: N/A
Movano’s upcoming Evie Ring made a grand entrance at CES 2023. This fitness ring is set to be the first wearable fitness tracker to receive FDA certification as a medical device, potentially even as a licensed pulse oximeter. It’s specifically designed to cater to women’s health needs, making it a groundbreaking addition to fitness devices.
The Evie Ring offers “actionable insights” that help women understand the reasons behind their physical and emotional states. Movano claims that the ring can even “mood track.” Its skin temperature sensors predict menstrual cycles and ovulation, providing valuable insights into women’s health.
But that’s not all! The Evie Ring also offers a standard activity profile, displaying total steps taken, continuous movement stats, and calorie output.
Although the Evie Ring isn’t available for purchase just yet, you can sign up to receive preorder updates when it becomes available later in November.
4. Circular Ring: The Vibrating Reminder of Your Fitness Quest
Pros – Provides an energy score with automatic workout tracking – Vibrates during guided meditations – Personalized timers with vibrating alerts
Cons – Not shipping until November in the U.S.
More Details – Sizing: 6-13 – Material: High-grade alloy of stainless steel and carbon fiber with coating – Colors: Silver, black, rose gold, gold – Water resistance: Only suitable for light water, cannot shower or wash hands with ring on – Sensors: Heart rate, heart rate variability, SpO₂, skin temperature, active metabolic calorie burn – Connectivity: Bluetooth Smart Low Energy, Airplane Mode – Battery: Up to four days
While most fitness rings blend seamlessly into your daily routine, the Circular Ring adds a touch of excitement with its vibration notifications. It accompanies you during guided meditations, acts as an alarm clock in the morning, and allows you to set personalized timers throughout the day that trigger vibrating alerts.
But it’s not just about reminders and notifications. The Circular Ring tracks your heart rate, breathing rate, blood oxygen levels, temperature, and motion during sleep, with a focus on quality, duration, and circadian rhythm. It even sends you notifications about any irregular heart rates and blood oxygen levels detected.
With the Circular Ring, you also get an energy score that tells you how much energy you’ve exerted throughout the day. The ring automatically tracks your workouts, so you don’t have to worry about manually logging your activities.
Ready to add some vibration to your fitness journey? The Circular Ring can be yours for $284.
Choosing Your Perfect Match: Finding the Ideal Fitness Ring for You
With so many options to choose from, navigating the fitness ring market can be overwhelming. But fear not! We’ve got you covered with expert recommendations to help you find the best fitness ring that suits your personal needs.
Choose the Oura Ring Gen 3 Horizon if you want…
A stylish, yet reliable fitness ring. With its exceptional sleep tracking features, the Oura Ring provides insightful data like HRV balance, temperature changes, and blood oxygen levels during sleep, surpassing its competitors. It also tracks steps, active calories, and offers heart rate sensors to monitor your workout progress.
Choose the Go2sleep if you want…
An affordable fitness ring focused primarily on sleep tracking. With heart rate, blood oxygen, and HRV sensors, the Go2sleep analyzes your sleep quality and provides useful data that you can even access and download as Excel files.
Choose the Movano Evie Ring if you want…
A fitness ring built specifically for women’s health, providing unmatched insights and tracking capabilities. The Evie Ring monitors your sleep, activity, and menstrual cycle, empowering you to take control of your well-being.
Choose the Circular Ring if you want…
Vibrations and reminders accompanied by fitness tracking. This ring adds an exciting touch to your fitness routine, vibrating during guided meditations, acting as an alarm clock, and allowing you to set personalized timers. It also tracks crucial health metrics for a comprehensive fitness overview.
How We Selected the Best Fitness Rings
Now, you might be wondering how we chose the best fitness rings. We took several factors into consideration, including:
- Material: The composition of the ring affects its weight and comfort. Most fitness rings are made of durable, lightweight titanium.
- Battery: We made sure the battery life is sufficient for uninterrupted wear.
- Features: Special features like sleep tracking, period prediction, and fitness tracking were weighed. These extras provide valuable insights and help you identify areas for improvement.
- Price: The cost of fitness rings can vary significantly. Our selection includes options ranging from $100 to $400, ensuring there’s something for every budget.
As you embark on your fitness ring journey, consider which features are most important to you and explore your options. Finding the perfect fit for your needs is just a ring away!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are fitness rings, and how do they work?
Fitness rings, also known as smart rings, are electronic devices worn on your finger to monitor your health and activity. Equipped with sensors and advanced chips, these sleek rings track and record your information. Some offer water resistance, making them suitable for swimming, while others provide vibrating alerts for alarms and personal reminders.
Is the Oura Ring better than an Apple Watch?
This ultimately comes down to personal preference. If you value a screen interface and features like texting and streaming music, the Apple Watch might be your go-to choice. However, if you’re looking for accurate sleep tracking, the Oura Ring outshines the competition. It may not have fancy notifications, but it offers comparable activity tracking to the Apple Watch.
Are fitness rings accurate in tracking activity, sleep, and other health metrics?
Fitness rings can provide reasonably accurate data on health metrics such as heart rate, steps taken, and sleep patterns. However, accuracy can vary depending on the specific device and the quality of the sensors used. It’s important to choose a fitness ring with reliable sensor technology, keeping in mind that no wearable device can provide perfect accuracy.
Are there alternative fitness rings worth considering?
While the fitness ring market is still growing, there are a few other options worth checking out. Make sure to explore these alternatives for a comprehensive view of what’s available.
Conclusion: Find the Perfect Fitness Ring for Your Journey
With the ever-evolving world of wellness tracking, fitness rings have emerged as a stylish and reliable choice for tech-savvy health enthusiasts. Whether you prioritize sleep tracking, want insights into women’s health, or desire a vibrating reminder to keep you on track, there’s a fitness ring that’s just right for you.
Explore the best fitness rings of 2023 and find the perfect match for your fitness goals. Remember to consider factors like material, battery life, features, and, most importantly, your budget. Armed with these expert recommendations, you’re one step closer to achieving your fitness aspirations.
So, which fitness ring will accompany you on your path to wellness? Choose wisely, and let the journey begin!
