Smart rings

Author
Discussion

defblade

Original Poster:

7,786 posts

226 months

Saturday 30th November 2024
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I'm comfortably over 50, like to cycle, have a medium-stressful job, and long standing hypertension.

I'd quite like to track my heart health, fitness, stress and sleep, but don't like wearing a watch outside of work, so I'm quite drawn to these rings - most likely the Oura, despite the costs (perks of a stressful job is some disposable income).

Anyone using them?
Is the info they provide actually useful?? - which is something the reviews don't really go into...

defblade

Original Poster:

7,786 posts

226 months

Monday 2nd December 2024
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Bueller? Anyone?

SP_

2,938 posts

118 months

Monday 2nd December 2024
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What phone do you have?

defblade

Original Poster:

7,786 posts

226 months

Monday 2nd December 2024
quotequote all
SP_ said:
What phone do you have?
A Pixel 3a XL, which cost less than the ring would rofl

doogle83

783 posts

160 months

Tuesday 3rd December 2024
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I got an Ultrahuman ring through the wellness scheme at work. Liked the idea as I prefer to wear proper watches over smart watches, and I could keep this on at night to monitor sleep.

After a few weeks it all felt like a bit of a gimmick. I checked it in the mornings just to confirm "yes, that was a crap night's sleep" ...and that was about it. Step counting was too inaccurate, as was any fitness tracking.

I also had to replace 2 rings under warranty in 4 months as they both just gave up and refused to connect to my phone. Sold the 3rd replacement on eBay.

A colleague got an Oura. He's had no issues over the same period but is similar in saying he just checks the data out of habit now. Not really helping him improve his life in any real way.

defblade

Original Poster:

7,786 posts

226 months

Tuesday 3rd December 2024
quotequote all
doogle83 said:
but is similar in saying he just checks the data out of habit now. Not really helping him improve his life in any real way.
This is the bit that worries me, and the advertorial is all very light on...

White-Noise

5,074 posts

261 months

Tuesday 3rd December 2024
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I know it's not what you are looking for but I find the data on my Garmin watch very helpful. The Rings are getting better all the time though from what I have seen.

phil4

1,431 posts

251 months

Wednesday 4th December 2024
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Perhaps it's less the ring you need (ie. as people say, the values aren't terribly accurate or reflect what you already knew), but the software which sets goals that take you just past what you can already do.

If so, I'd look into which provides that sort of service, or integrates with one that does. You're not in the apple ecosystem, but their fitness stuff does just that, I'm sure there are others that also do.

judas

6,135 posts

272 months

Wednesday 4th December 2024
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I got a Samsung Ring at launch. As I'm a lazy-ass, I'm not finding it terribly worthwhile so going to move it on.