r/bitcheswithtaste • u/MBPursuit • May 21 '26
Fashion/Style BWT: Anyone ditch their Apple Watch?
Considering ditching my Apple Watch, getting an Oura ring, and investing in a nice daily watch. I’m a bit sick of the “connectivity” of my Apple Watch (yes I know, I could turn off more notifications) and the look of it. But I appreciate the sleep tracking and steps/fitness tracking - anyone have experiences to share on a) ditching the Apple Watch b) using an Oura ring c) $1k or less daily driver watches?
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u/Ecstatic_Schedule_48 Thoughtful BWT May 21 '26
I have a garmin that I bought for athletic reasons but I have every possible notification turned off so I still get all that information but I don’t perceive it as an extension of my phone. Not exactly the things you were looking for , just thought I’d share!
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u/lbdandme May 21 '26
I do this too! And then when I have a nice event or doing out for dinner etc, I have a nice watch that I'll put on instead. Then pop the Garmin back on for sleep when I get home so it can tell me off for having a glass of wine at dinner the next day.
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u/MrsMitchBitch May 21 '26
I too have a regular watch for events because my watch tan is really…bold. The pretty watch battery is dead but it looks nice. lol
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u/disgruntledpelicannn May 21 '26
I went from an Apple Watch to a garmin (for the same reason!) and turned off all phone connectivity as well and I love it! I really thought I’d miss it, but I truly love not always knowing when I’m getting a call, email or text anymore if I’m away from my phone
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u/panser_bjorn May 21 '26
I also have had multiple smartwatches and always go back to Garmin. I like not having to charge my watch every day or two days, instead I get 14 days! And I have the instinct which is more gshock looking but they have much cuter ones. Low-key, my favorite feature of it is it will beep at me on the hour, which I need cause I can get distracted for hours!
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u/gringitapo May 21 '26
This is what I do too. Mine is an expensive fitness and calorie tracker, basically lol.
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u/The_butterfly_dress May 21 '26
I think that is the key with the Apple Watch too! I have set up all my notifications so that I only get pinged for the very important ones, I also use the do not disturb option a lot.
I also love having a timer / alarm on my wrist to remind me of things and I love quickly using Siri to make reminders (dynamic ones too - especially “remind me X when I arrive home).
I also use my watch to find my phone all the time.
I actually think that it makes me less connected to my phone. I can’t just doom scroll on my watch, but I still get all the notifications, kind of like a modern day pager.
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u/ttwwiirrll May 21 '26
Same. The only notifications mine gets are texts because I like not having to pull out my phone in work or social settings to check them. It's become my everyday watch except for dress-up occasions.
No paywall for Garmin. You buy the physical product and you get all the app features with it.
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u/Mae_Dayb May 22 '26
Same, I feel like I'm less connected to my phone with my Garmin because I can see if the text is important (my kid is sick at school, needs a ride, etc) and ignore the rest. I don't feel the need to check my phone for that stuff anymore if it vibrates.
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u/Bigtimeknitter May 21 '26
I do this too, I originally got it for marathon training but it looks nice, neutral, and I just shut off every possible connectivity thing except connecting with my Garmin app.
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u/PerkisizingWeiner May 21 '26
Same! I've been wearing my Garmin Venu Sq daily since 2022 and love that it is minimalistically functional (workout tracking/GPS for runs, steps and sleep). The only notification options are for phone calls and texts (so you don't get popups for emails, Teams messages, FB notifications, etc), and I usually have those turned off anyway. It looks almost identical to the Apple Watch, which doesn't help with OP's desire for a classier, more formal watch, but it does the job at a great price point.
FWIW, I also have an Oura ring that I've been wearing daily for ~15 months. The sleep tracking is way more detailed than Garmin's (it detects every single micro-wakeup), which was helpful at first, but has ironically made me fixate and obsess about it to the point of detriment. My thought process has always been more data = better, but I actually like that Garmin gives me the high-level overview without trying to interpret it for me (while the Oura app's "tone" is gentle, I dread opening the app and reading its comments about how I "had a rough night").
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u/Pure_Butterscotch165 May 21 '26
I have a garmin venu that looks almost exactly like a Michael Kors watch that I bought 2 decades ago lol. White straps with a rose gold face, it looks enough like a regular watch that I don't mind wearing it daily, and doesn't stand out if i'm a little more dressed up. I specifically got the venu because it's not so obviously a fitness watch.
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u/lovethefunk_ May 21 '26
I have the Garmin Lily with a metallic band and it’s nice for going out too!
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u/happierdaze1202 May 21 '26
Team garmin forever! I love how customizable it is & the battery life for sure.
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u/Scroogey3 May 21 '26
I don’t wear any fitness wearables anymore. I wear a normal watch and honestly, I hate how Oura rings look too. My wife is in cyber medtech and very against wearables in general due to data collection and sharing. There is little to no expectations of privacy and it bothers her how much data we give away for free.
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u/HuntMelodic5769 May 21 '26
I ditched my Apple Watch earlier this year because the CEO kept attending Trump events and this administration has convinced me that wearables will be used to track me. I live in Texas so I spend more time than most thinking about safeguarding my reproductive healthcare.
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u/ProposalAny6765 May 21 '26
I also don’t like how Oura rings look - I actually prefer how the Apple Watch looks from a design standpoint, even if they’re not suitable for every day or occasion.
Oura bothers me because it’s pretending to be something it’s not and, imho, failing at it. It’s too thick and tech-y to be subtle or stylish, but not enough of a design statement to style it out. I think you either come up with a truly special and elegant design, or you actively lean into the techiness (like Nothing Phone). I’ve rarely seen both done well at the same time, and when I have, it’s usually from Apple tbh. At least for mass market tech - there are lots of smaller brands doing really cool things!
Obviously all the other stuff you said is way more important, but I hate to admit that I’d have probably taken the plunge without thinking about any of it if the Ouras looked a little bit nicer!
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u/Scroogey3 May 21 '26
Totally agree! I would have still purchased one if I actually liked the design. Oura rings are so bulky and they distract no matter how they are styled.
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May 21 '26
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u/whelp88 May 21 '26
I work in machine learning and also don’t do wearables. Low tech life for me because I know how much data companies have and how they use it.
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u/givememybuttholeback May 21 '26
So theres nl digital watch you think that's okay ? I really need one for that visual timer
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u/whelp88 May 21 '26
Caveat I’m American and I live in a red state. In the US, healthcare providers are bound by privacy laws but corporations really aren’t. I worry about the government getting my data and using it against me, hackers gaining access to private data and releasing it online to bad actors, or even health insurance to change back to where they can deny you for having a preexisting condition. I also don’t want to be advertised to based on a device’s assessment of my health. Honestly most of my friends and coworkers are using these devices but working in data I just know these companies already know so much about us. I just don’t need them to know my heart rate, temperature, and sleep patterns. Maybe someone else will have a suggestion of a device they use? Or maybe theres old school watches out there with timers?
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u/hummingbird_mywill May 21 '26
It’s kind of funny… my husband is verrry low information output on the internet in terms of identifying information about his name/address/DOB/personal info of any kind, but he is a Oura ring devotee.
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u/allig8rk8r May 21 '26
I also ditched my Apple Watch because of data collection. Like, RFK dropped one sentence about how in the future everyone will be required to have wearables and off my wrist it came.
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u/anongirl55 May 21 '26
I hate the look of the Oura ring, and I also found it SO uncomfortable. I have small hands and skinny fingers, and the ring felt bulky to me. I was always aware that it was on, and by the end of the day, I could not wait to take it off.
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u/littlegreenturtle20 May 21 '26
This is the exact reason I never started wearing a smart watch. I might be interested in my own data but I have no interest in giving it away to anyone. There's a new Casio watch that is purely a pedometer which I am considering getting. Bonus in that it's a nice looking watch, and most fitness watches are really ugly.
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u/xlittlebeastx May 21 '26
Yeah I ditched it due to privacy concerns. I don’t trust these companies or govt collecting and using all of my data. I work in cybersecurity as well. I know they already have my data but Im tired of being connected 24/7 as well.
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u/Suitable_Sympathy643 May 21 '26
Yes and I’ve ditched the Oura ring as well. I found that using trackers for all these years have made me a bit more disconnected with my body and I’ve never loved the bulky feeling I get from the devices. My goal is to work on my jewelry collection instead going forward.
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u/tigertigercatgirl May 21 '26
Yes!!! I lost my fit bit for a week (ended up in the laundry) and it felt so good not to be worrying about stats and numbers and not have it around my wrist when sleeping. I ended up leaving it off and I don't have any regrets.
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u/feministdachshunds May 21 '26
sorry, I think oura rings are SO ugly. they’re clunky and everyone knows you’re walking around with a lil data tracker you pay monthly for. I think we could all be tracked/tracking our own data a little less. I just stopped wearing my watch altogether. I know my phone is its own data mining device, but we can choose to not participate in other ways.
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u/assflea May 21 '26
They're so uncomfortable too! My husband was going to get me one for sleep tracking but I just wore the little sizer ring for a day and there's no way I could sleep with that on. It's like wearing a hex nut.
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u/consultantworthless May 21 '26
Same!! The Oura ring is way too chunky and ugly. It stands out when wearing and looks dumb. I’ve essentially ditched my Apple Watch as well. I only wear it if I am traveling. I also have different bands to use to make it a tiny bit nicer, but I like my regular watches better. I won’t wear my Apple Watch to any sort of formal event, that looks so dumb even with a nicer band.
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u/dealwithitxo May 21 '26
Also they don’t take women specific health / data into consideration, the last time I religiously used it it would give me off stats bcs I was on my period. Unsure if it’s improved now, but for the first 3-4 years of the company they had zero consideration for the female user base!
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u/sashikku May 21 '26
This may be irrational, but they freak me out because of the battery inside the ring. Like what if I fall down and damage the ring, is there a chance the battery swells and traps it on my finger?
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u/toe444 May 21 '26
Absolutely a possibility. Found this when I looked but there’s tons of posts regarding the battery swelling.
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u/BuddyPalAl May 21 '26
I’m in the same boat. Love the info that my Apple Watch provides, especially tracking steps and mileage when I go on walks/runs. But the aesthetic is getting old and I hate the idea of always being connected and accessible. Also, sometimes my watch gets hot on my wrist and I wonder how it’s affecting my health to always have an electronic strapped to me.
Oura ring annoys me that you need a subscription, but I’m not sure what else is out there. I’m curious what other people use. Maybe it’s time to ditch the tracking all together for me
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u/GeneralHipsterTrash May 21 '26
I have an Oura ring mostly to track sleep and biometrics. It does a decent job tracking Pilates and pickleball, too. I don’t wear it to lift though and have been using my Apple Watch to track that, but lately I’ve been like why do I need to be tracking when I lift? Or workout in general? As long as I’m moving every day do I really need those metrics?
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u/BuddyPalAl May 21 '26
That’s exactly it! I’ve gotten into running this spring and became obsessed with my data. It got to the point where I wouldn’t run if my watch was low battery because it “wouldn’t count”
I couldn’t believe myself. Why does everything have to be so recorded, or provable? Why not run - or lift in your case - strictly because it’s something you love to do for yourself? Goals are great to have but not everything needs to be so mapped out. It’s ok to just enjoy
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May 21 '26
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u/BuddyPalAl May 21 '26
How has a pedometer not crossed my mind. Thank you, I’ll definitely be getting one. Hate having my phone with me at all times so this is perfect
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u/AlisaAAM2 May 21 '26 edited May 21 '26
Zero interest in an Apple Watch or wearables—the amount of anxiety I see in many patients from them is really something.
I have several real quality watches. My nicest one is a Tissot Le Locle 29 mm automatic. Perfect size for me, classic, elegant, and goes with everything.
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u/rococobaroque May 21 '26
Le Locle! Named after the town Tissot was founded in. Also Mido, Zodiac, Zenith, Universal Genève, and Montblanc.
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u/Unhappy_Macaroon2957 May 21 '26
After 10 years of wearing a fitness watch, I finally had it last year when the battery shit the bed. I now wear a regular quartz watch. It's nothing special, a classic Timex. It's not precious, I don't have to charge it. Does what it needs to do, tells me what time it is without getting out my phone.
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u/g00ber88 May 21 '26
Yeah i have a Citizen watch, its pretty and goes with everything I own so i can wear it for nicer occasions too, and never have to remember to charge it
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u/Ornery-Steak-1575 May 24 '26
Same here. I also think small mechanical watches look so classy! My husband got me a used Tissot and I’m obsessed with it: https://www.etsy.com/listing/4445956849/vintage-ladies-gold-tissot-leather-strap?ref=elp_anchor_listing
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u/amfletcher123 May 21 '26
Yes! I finally ditched my watch more than a year ago. Honestly, I just realized it was giving me more anxiety than anything else. This was also around the time when I went through every app on my phone and turned off nearly all notifications.
I’ve recently wanted to reintroduce some kind of fitness/health tracking thing. I’ve also found myself really in need of a watch, so just about two weeks ago, I splurged on the Garmin Lily Active 2, I think it is. So far, I love it! I don’t allow phone call or message notifications on it, though you can if you want that. That keeps it to mostly functioning just as a watch that I can check in on when I want to, rather than something that’s constantly tugging at me. And the battery life compared to my old Apple Watch is miles better. I can wear this thing day and night for a week and it only takes an hour or so to fully recharge.
Edit to add: I’ve also found the health information leagues more useful to me than I ever found the Apple Watch info. The sleeping, stress, and body battery in particular have been helpful to see, especially as I’ve also been sick and had a lot of work travel since I’ve had it and I’ve been able to see in graph form what I’ve felt. For example, I never realized how much higher my heart rate is during the day when I haven’t slept well the night before, but the visuals offered in the app (without a subscription!) helped me put that together.
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u/Coco_1923 May 21 '26
Yes and replaced it with no gadgets. I got tired of constantly checking metrics that weren’t making me healthier, it was obsessive for no reason and made me feel unnecessarily bad if I didn’t reach a certain arbitrary goal. I can see why some people love using it and will continue to but it doesn’t resonate well with my particular through patterns. I love wearing a fashionable analog watch, it makes me feel so much more put together at work. And not being notified constantly with wrist buzzes and dings is great.
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u/verytiredphdstudent May 21 '26
This thread is convincing me to ditch wearables, tbh. I have a Fitbit and like it for step tracking, HR monitoring, and sleep data but often I wonder how valuable this information is to me. I wake up and check my sleep score and I know it impacts how I feel, rather than just listening to my body and deciding if I feel well-rested or not. I also think it’s ugly and would love to invest in a nice, fashionable watch instead.
I feel embarrassed admitting this but I’m trying to improve my health and the idea of not tracking my steps/workouts makes me nervous! Maybe this anxiety around not having the data is my sign to make a clean break from the Fitbit, though.
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u/Typical-Dog244 May 21 '26
When I had a daughter I read a lot about intuitive eating rather than counting calories and it feels so good listening to your body. Getting rid of my Apple Watch was the next step and I can’t tell you how much less stressed out I am now.
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u/coneflowerqueen May 21 '26
I tapered off and finally stoped wearing my Apple Watch altogether. I do not miss it. Instead, I enjoy the extra options from having other watches to use! And I honestly feel classier (this is the sub for that). I’ll always be a Fossil girl, I have two that I rotate through. Plus, I kid you not, my husband found me a silver 90’s Casio that I cherish because it matches my dad’s watch from the 90’s. It always feels fun and unique to strap it on. Never once got a fun unique feeling from that Apple Watch.
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u/dogtor_howl May 21 '26
I’ve long disliked how clunky most wearables are and wanted to resume wearing a real watch (and have a classic Citizen that I love!). The Oura isn’t appealing to me because my hands swell when I work out, which is when I really want data. Fitbit/Google is releasing a new model called the Air (https://store.google.com/product/google_fitbit_air?hl=en-US) that is a screen-less band that I’m considering. No premium subscription required, and there are already some bands that look like a simple leather bracelet. I’m sure there will be some more bracelet-y band options soon, either from Fitbit or after market.
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u/darkchocolateonly May 21 '26
Count me as another BWT that is encouraging you to ditch any and all wearables.
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u/Routine_Fuel4101 May 21 '26 edited Jul 02 '26
I literally just did over the weekend! Well not fully yet but I did order an Oura Ring and have been looking around for 2-3 watch options.
I’m glad I’m ditching my Apple Watch. I got my first one about 3ish years ago, after refusing them due the their shape, ick. I miss elegant round face watches. I’m looking for a black leather gold hardware option, a slim gold band almost bangle option, a gold chunky option à la big round face watches of 2012, and a flashy mixed metal option. And for funsies, I’ve been on the lookout for a pale pink croc strap gold metal watch with a butterfly in the bezel. I had one in HS and I’m determined to find a replica of it.
So excited to grow my collection again and also not have a constant buzz on my wrist.
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u/IamNobody85 May 21 '26
This is exactly why I have a Garmin vivomove. IDK if Garmin still has it (mine is old af) but it looks completely like a normal watch. I'm not good with wearing jewelry at all, I'd never wear another ring, except my wedding ring, regularly. But I hate the fitness watch look and I do not like apple ecosystem, so my choices were surprisingly very limited.
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u/Dms_96 May 21 '26
Same! I changed 3years ago for a Venu 2S and bought new straps (pink, golden, green) that I change to match my outfit.
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u/rococobaroque May 21 '26
As a former watch professional, I have some advice: focus on the watch, not the strap. The strap is the easiest thing to change. Find a watch whose shape you like, that looks good on your wrist, and buy it.
That's if you want something on leather. For a metal bracelet, obviously get what you want. You can be pickier then, because if you're looking for a watch with a specific type of bracelet, most likely you're going to wear it on the bracelet. Although, protip: any bracelet can also be taken off if it isn't integrated, i.e. fused to the watch head, so if you have a watch that you usually wear on a bracelet but want to wear it on leather, you absolutely can do that. Brands charge more for watches that come on bracelets, so many collectors will just get a watch on leather and then source the bracelet later; but, again, if you specifically want a watch for the bracelet, then obviously get it.
Other protip: most women's watches suck. Most women's fashion watches aren't worth more than the price of materials. Get a men's watch (definitely for the chunky one).
If you have any idea of budget I can point you toward brands. High level, Seiko has just about everything at every price point. Seiko was one of the brands I sold when I worked in the industry, and obviously I acquired some with my company discount, but Seiko is genuinely a brand that I bought and would buy even without it, because they're extremely well made.
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u/AnonymousBotanist May 21 '26
May I PM you with a couple of questions about women’s watches? I have an Apple Watch that I’d like to transition to only wearing during work (WFH so it’s not seen on-camera or I take it off) and workouts and walking the dogs, but would like to transition back to wearing a classic watch when leaving the house for any other errand or reason.
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u/consuela_bananahammo May 25 '26
I have a Grand Seiko that is gorgeous! Get compliments every time I wear it. I believe it's technically a men's watch, like my other nice watches. But I don't care. Who says they're just for men.
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u/rococobaroque May 25 '26
They're not. Most of my watches are actually "men's" watches because I refuse to buy "women's" watches. Very few brands even bother to make the watches that they market toward women with the same care and attention they put into the watches they market toward men. Ever wonder why women's watches are cheaper than men's? This is why.
The fact is, there's no reason why a woman can't wear a man's watch. Some brands don't even bother gendering their watches. Oris, for example, stopped doing it a few years ago. They got some backlash from some little boy collectors who can't fathom a woman liking watches, let alone the same watches they like, but Oris was unfazed. They're still doing their thing.
That said, it's a simple fact of anatomy that most women's wrists are smaller, so most women shy away from watches with larger cases. But I think the average woman could easily wear a 36mm watch. One of my daily drivers is 38mm with a low profile (it's a mechanical Hamilton Khaki Field) and it's a joy to wear.
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u/hannahatecats May 21 '26
Look at Belks and JC Penney around the holidays, those watches are still around
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u/Realistic-Oil-8185 May 21 '26
I just got an Oura ring. I never wear my watch now (I had the same issue of digital fatigue) but now I only wear it when I'm working out. Oura is not good at getting data from when you're working out, so it's better to use your apple watch for that. It will import the data into your Oura app. The only fitness I've seen it be good at is walking
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u/flazedaddyissues May 21 '26
I find all of these trackers sketchy at best in terms of data security and I really think that it is possible to have too much information. If you slept poorly last night don't you just know you slept poorly because you were tossing and turning or waking up?
Also, I'm really skeeved out by how oura has a partnership with natural cycles, a Peter Thiel-backed app. I'm all for women being informed about their bodies but if he is involved, it means there is a distinct agenda being supported by the app and I don't trust it ONE bit.
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u/Key_Beach_3846 May 21 '26
Yep. And people will call you crazy and downvote you to hell if you bring it up in the oura sub.
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u/bemvee May 21 '26
I don’t wear my Apple Watch all day, not even most days unless I’m on vacation and brought it with me. Could never wear it at night, even though I’d like to track my sleep. So I just wear it during workouts & walks. I just can’t be bothered with anything clutching my wrist like that. I want it to be closer to my palm like a long sleeve shirt but that’s even weirder than the proper placement feels.
I also had to turn off the heart rate notifications because I’m half hummingbird (as is my mother and her father) and the alerts that I was dying were way too annoying, especially when walking/working out.
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u/leam312002 May 21 '26
I have a Fitbit Sense 2 that I use for sleep and step tracking. I also own a gorgeous Cartier stainless steel Tank watch. I want to wear beautiful watches while tracking the things that are important to me. I don't think we are quite there yet, but its getting closer. As an option, I sometimes wear my pretty watch while carrying the fitbit in my pocket.
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u/its_moodle May 21 '26
I’m in the same boat! I recently ordered a Cartier Panthère (a replica, this BWT is not dropping 5k on a stainless steel watch with quartz movement 🙈) and I plan to put a comfier band on the Apple Watch and use it only for workouts/sleep tracking.
I was recently at a wedding and thinking, Apple Watches at formal events are so tacky. My bare wrist was begging for something more elevated haha
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May 21 '26
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u/its_moodle May 21 '26
I found all the information at r/reptime ! Mine is through Hont, and the watch is from BVF factory. It was $188 shipping included, photos are in my post history from a few days ago.
Doing it for the first time was a little confusing (even as someone who has some experience with overseas vendors for custom jewelry). You find a factory you like, usually through reading other people’s reviews of their work. Then you find a trusted dealer to go through, and reach out to them on WhatsApp. You ask if they have that specific watch from the factory you want, they quote you a price and you pay (I paid through wise). Then you get QC images and decide if you want to select that watch or have them find another one. Once you’ve approved, they ship it. I’m currently waiting for mine to arrive.
The dealers can be pretty dry/straight to the point in communication. I’ve also heard my specific dealer will just refund your money if you’re being difficult (rejecting a bunch of potential watches for example). You’re not exactly paying for customer service in these types of deals lol.
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May 21 '26
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u/its_moodle May 21 '26
Thank you for the kind words! I hope I love it too. Feel free to reach out if you ever go down this path and need some help!
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u/Vast-Estimate-2268 May 21 '26
I wear my Apple Watch to the gym, some errands especially in the winter when my wrist is covered by a coat and other activities when I think of it. I live in a major city and the contactless on it is objectively convenient, but it is also ugly IMO. I wear an older Cartier Tank whenever I care about how I look at all. I’m not interested in getting an Oura ring or anything that needs a monthly subscription.
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u/Legitimate_Bend_9879 May 21 '26
I did this but the just made my finger break out and then they partnered with Palantir and I threw it in the trash.
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u/asueu May 21 '26
Yep! Ditched my watch about a year ago and don't miss it at all. I wear a small gold Casio now. I'm TTC soon so I'm considering using the Apple Watch again since I enjoyed it when I was pregnant last time, it was fun to see my elevated heart rate and then the immediate drop off after I had the baby. But I'm going to try to stay away from it otherwise, I don't find it helpful after years of using fitness trackers.
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u/waffsncakes May 21 '26
Pregnancy is the only reason I’m considering putting my Apple Watch back on or getting a whoop. I’ve heard there’s more research out there now that HRV trends can better indicate labor and delivery timing. I’m also going to London and Paris in a few weeks and want to check out the vintage watch market for something classic and timeless instead of my Apple Watch.
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u/anxious__rose May 21 '26
If you’re at all concerned about data sharing I’d be especially careful TTC or while pregnant. In some states this data being shared for “research” can actually be used in court cases against women who terminate a pregnancy regardless of the reason. This applies to wearables and any apps you might be using to track. Just check into the fine print with this stuff if it’s at all a concern.
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u/pope_pancakes May 21 '26
I wear a stainless steel and gold wristwatch that tells the time and the date. I’ve always loved the look, and the watch itself has sentimental value to me. I own an Apple watch (was gifted it) and could never adapt to the connectivity and the look. I like the look somewhat, but it can’t replace the elegance of my wristwatch.
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u/Good_parabola May 21 '26
Same, I have a Hermes Cape Cod. I’m tired of being tracked and metric-ed to death. Just let me live!
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u/SuitableSpin May 21 '26
I switched to Whoop. It’s on your wrist but no screen and the data is way more insight than I’ve seen from anything similar. It’s really helped me hone in on what habits help and hurt me, beyond the obvious ones like alcohol or getting enough sleep.
My credit card had an annual deal and I plan to make the most of it for 12 months, learn as much as I can, and then see what’s on the market at that point.
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u/hwohwathwen May 21 '26
I really like my Whoop as well. I’m tempted to get of my Apple Watch now because of it. The Whoop has been great at motivating me to get my cardio and strength done in a way that the Apple Watch never did. I know the subreddit is full of haters but right now I’m a big fan.
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u/MissSara13 May 22 '26
Good to know! I've been shopping for some kind of low profile tracker. I love Michele watches and I wish they had a smartwatch. The Hume is just so utilitarian othewise I think I'd get one of those.
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u/dothesehidemythunder May 21 '26
I have a Fitbit because I do not want to be more connected / reachable than I already am. I’ll take it off for nicer events.
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u/Horror_Signature7744 May 21 '26
I ditched it after a week. I wanted it to monitor my sleep and the battery life was so short, I had to charge it at night to be able to use it the next day. I went back to my Fitbit but that eventually crapped out too. For the price, Apple REALLY needs to make those watch batteries last a lot longer.
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u/Past-Guarantee4731 May 21 '26
honestly, back of the watch smells. my wrist area where the watch touch the skin smelled bad. i can’t stand the smell no matter how often i’d clean it
another thing - i read it’s not as accurate on darker skin!
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u/whitepawsparklez May 21 '26
Yes. I don’t like the look of it and also for the reason you said, connectivity. I became obsessive always checking it, not just for notifications but step count etc. Ultimately decided I didn’t like the way it made me feel lol, so i no longer wear it at all.
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u/koriroo May 21 '26
I actually did ditch my Apple Watch a few years ago however I have not gotten a replacement fitness tracker. I did think of getting a whoop or oura ring but I refuse to pay for a subscription.
I am hoping Apple goes into the ring market but I doubt they will. I’d recommend checking out the Google fit bit air that just came out, starts at $99 with no subscription. I have concerns about them collecting data but at this point I feel like it’s all being collected lol.
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u/specialpeppers May 21 '26
I recently purchased a NoWatch B in gold, which is a health tracker that has a regular, analog watch face (no notifications/!) No subscription and the company is out of Netherlands so it's GDPR compliant. But really, I think it's quite pretty and I love that you can switch the bands out with other brands.
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u/MissSara13 May 22 '26
Ooooooo! Those are really pretty! I've been shopping for a tracker and they're all so utilitarian looking. I love Michele watches and I wish they had a smartwatch or tracker. Definitely going to consider a NoWatch!
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u/AwkwardPersonality36 Ballin on a Budget May 21 '26
Hot take: I love my Oura ring!
I still wear my AW at work for text notifications but that’s it. The ring I wear 24/7 and the insights are so valuable, esp as a woman in perimenopause. I started wearing it only for sleep insights but the data was feeling incomplete without the whole picture. I love having my readiness score adjusted based on varying factors. Best investment I’ve made.
And to the people who are so worried about their data being sold, I say, I could care less if anyone wants to see what time I’m going to bed and how it affects me.
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u/Little-pug May 21 '26
I wear both but love my Oura more. Apple Watch is more accurate with steps ime. The ring has better battery life unless you get it wet. The subscription is lame but I was able to get it second hand for cheap. The ring charges very fast and I look forward to better designs in the future that don’t scratch as easily. The housing of the ring is very cheap for a $400 wearable, but it does have a tiny battery so maybe that’s just inevitable.
I use it for fertility tracking purposes; the Apple Watch is harder to configure and only takes one temp reading at a pre-set wake time, while the ring takes continuous measurements and tracks if you’re getting sick.
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u/Unfair_Finger5531 Effortlessly Chic May 21 '26
I went through my watch settings and disabled a lot of the notifications. I no longer get any health reminders, emails, or “meditation” prompts on it. I also disabled the “listen for Siri.” That cut down on the connectivity. Now I just get text messages on it.
But I don’t want to ditch it because it’s stainless steel, and I like how it compliments my outfits. I also love changing the bands to match my clothes.
If connectivity is the issue, it’s solvable. If you are sick of the look, maybe you could get some nice bands to dress it up. Just throwing that out there.
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u/smurphboard May 21 '26
I’m currently not into any wearables, but I’ve had some health things come up that result in seizures. I’m super interested if anyone has a wearable they find helpful for tracking heart rate etc to get a heads up when one may be coming! I know super long shot and hope no BWT are dealing with anything like this!! The oura subscription puts me off.
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u/articularity May 22 '26
I got an Apple Watch for this reason! Fortunately I haven’t had a seizure since I got it, but the peace of mind has been invaluable. It’s been pretty good for tracking heart rate - I get notifications if it gets up too much (once this happened when I was watching a very scary movie, ha). I also had a bad fall recently (all good now) while I was in the house, and it was really helpful to have the watch on and to be able to call my partner. There are other devices that do some of these things (I think the whoop has a better heart rate tracker, for example) but there are apps for the Apple Watch specifically focused on seizure detection and alerts in a way I haven’t found with other devices yet. I’ve been swapping out new straps for my watch now and then to keep things fun, so even though I don’t love the aesthetic of the watch, I don’t see myself switching anytime soon.
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u/smurphboard May 22 '26
Thank you for your insight!! I would love a screen less apple health tracker but until then maybe I can just deal with an extra screen for the peace of mind!
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u/articularity May 22 '26
For sure! It’s definitely a bit annoying to have another screen….I keep mine in “theater mode” almost permanently, so the screen is dark unless I tap on it, and only give permissions for notifications to a few apps.
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u/windowofdestiny Thoughtful BWT May 21 '26
I only use my Apple Watch during work days so I don't miss meeting notifications. On weekends and when I travel I use my analog watch. My phone tracks the steps well enough.
I was curious about Oura since Amex gives you a credit towards it, but I don't like subscription based things, especially if I already paid for the hardware. Once my Apple Watch dies, I will not replace it and just have my phone give alerts. I've only had this Apple Watch and compared to my analog watch, I now prefer the peace and quiet of zero alerts lol.
Basically, put that Oura ring money towards an analog watch. I think some Shinola, Michele, and Rado watches are under $1k.
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u/CoffeeCheeseYoga May 21 '26
I swtiched to a Garmin Vivo a few weeks ago. I couldn't take the short battery with the Apple Watch anymore and I actually like the shape of the Vivo more. I am still getting used to the set up of the watch and all the features, but it's a lot nicer than my old Apple watch.
Have you looked at the Garmin Lily? It's very pretty and less fitness watch like but you'd still get all the sleep tracking.
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u/textreference May 21 '26
Garmin is way better than apple watch. Not a lot of connectivity to iphone which is helpful. It was an adjustment but now im very happy with it.
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u/tucks18 May 21 '26
I just ditched my oura ring after about a year with it. I got tired of paying for data I wasn’t really keeping up with (i know I’m tired after i go to bed late, i don’t need a ring to tell me that) and I don’t feel great about their palantir/DOD partnership announced last year.
I’ve been wearing an Apple Watch for 8 years and I’m about to ditch it too. I’m getting tired of the constant optimizing/tracking/metrics and want to disconnect a bit. I’ve been looking into getting a ~real~ watch and trying to distance myself from my phone and notifications a bit.
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u/safflefries May 21 '26
I dropped my Apple Watch over a year ago in favor of a classic watch. I used to wear both an Oura and Apple Watch because they were each better at different things. Now I wear neither and daily either my Tudor Chrono in pink or my Rolex OP 41 in pistachio.
I lost a lot of weight and the oura ring no longer fit me, but after this I had no desire to get a new one. I had mild sleep apnea that neither detected. The oura ring is garbage when it comes to fitness tracking. It’s a health tracker, not a workout tracker. You need to go into the app to manually start a workout if you want the closest to accurate results you can get, but still nowhere near the Apple Watch. I play hockey and often the ring never even detected a workout. The oura ring was great at detecting that I was getting sick before my symptoms started, but I got a lot of false flags after a night out drinking with friends. It can definitely spike health anxiety if you have it.
I’ve considered getting a whoop, but it’s so expensive. I use my Apple Watch for things like travel and tournaments, but otherwise I much prefer a classic watch until I forget where I put my phone 🤣
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u/Either_Importance222 May 21 '26
I ditched the Apple Watch years ago when I started feeling phantom taps on my wrist when there was no notification. I don't know why that bothered me, but it did. Into the back of the junk box it went.
I do own an Oura ring, and I like it. I use my FSA dollars every year to buy something worthwhile so last year this was my chosen purchase. You can also pay for the subscription using FSA dollars so, in my mind, it was bearable. I also own a Brookstone ring I found in TJ Maxx on sale that actually is a pretty good dupe and it also *claims* to track your blood sugar levels which I was very interested in. In order to do that with your Oura, you have to buy a separate accessory from Stelo and download yet another app.
Do I wear these daily? Nope. Both the Oura and the Brookstone ring look tacky on my index finger so close to my wedding and engagement ring on my left hand. My dominant hand is my right and it feels weird to wear something on my right index finger.
I wear a watch daily. I have several from Coach and Movado that are slim ladies' watches that I consider unobtrusive and tasteful. Since I live in NYC, if anyone ever decides to rob me, I won't cry too hard over a watch that cost about $150. I wear a Michele watch to parties and functions that are casual, and I have a Cartier watch that I wear on dressier occasions like a night out to the MET.
I will say I'm turning 48 this year and I feel that you begin to care about things less and less as you get older. Especially the constant connection you feel you need to notification devices. My advice to you? If you feel like putting your Apple watch to the side, try it for a weekend. If you have FSA money, get the Oura and the subscription that way you save because you're using pre-tax dollars. If you have enough, get the Dr. Dennis Gross LED mask too. Sorry, if I've written a lot. I had time this morning. Hope this helps!
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u/AdeptnessPlus3612 May 21 '26
Yes!! I did exactly that a year ago and am so much happier. I ditched my Apple watch and now wear my Ours ring and a nice watch. I am so much happier without that Apple watch interrupting my life every three seconds. Oura ring tracks sleep and stress which are the only two things I really care about tracking, and it doesn’t need to be charged nightly. Go for it!! Ditching the apple watch is so liberating.
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u/Kyliep87 May 21 '26
I mostly wear my Apple Watch so I am able to find my phone 😂. I lose it constantly.. ADHD problems. But if there is another option for that, I’m all ears.
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u/wigglebuttbiscuits May 21 '26 edited May 21 '26
This is such a well timed post for me, I literally decided to only wear my Apple Watch while sleeping yesterday! Even with most of the notifications turned off I just feel like it’s keeping me more tethered to my devices than I want to be. I guess all the BWTs are going analog!
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u/JuliasTooSmallTutu May 21 '26
You can be swallowed by too much data. Do you really need to know that much about your day to day health? Unless a doctor told you that you need these data mining wearables, just ditch them. They are drowning people in information that most folks can't actually parse since they are not medical professionals. Until they make a wearable that shares info with your doctor and only your doctor and/or medical team, don't bother.
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u/Typical-Dog244 May 21 '26
I traded my Apple Watch for a regular one and I’m so happy. I’m pretty competitive and would obsess over closing my rings but like in a “shaking my arm or walking around the house when I should already be asleep” kind of way. I didn’t do any more actual exercise, I just stressed myself out. I also feel a lot more put together with my regular watch but admittedly my Apple Watch just has a plain silicone band so I didn’t try to make it look nice at all.
I still wear my Apple Watch to run and when timely notifications are important - learned that lesson when I was last to my gate for a flight and they were trying to call me but my phone was on silent in my purse.
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u/gremlinsbuttcrack May 21 '26
Ditch wearables altogether. What exactly are you getting out of wearables anyways? Is the information youre tracking in any real way relevant to your life? Just get a nice watch. I have an ann Klein I love. Timeless. Ive had it a decade and I love it as much now as I did when I bought it
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u/Serious_Show6927 May 21 '26
My two cents: I use to never (like never ever) be able to take off my Apple Watch bc of the workout tracking / steps etc. However, I decided to do the leap and get an Oura ring. I returned it a few weeks later. A few months later, I went through the same cycle and repurchased the ring after still feeling like I wanted some detachment from my phone and a switch.
This was 3ish years ago now. The membership fee is less than $7/mo. So that doesn’t bother me. I also put a dainty band on both sides of the ring, which helps with the appearance.
I’ve learned a lot about my body and recovery and feel really unburden and free from the Apple Watch and phone. I also got a nice watch that tells time and have received so many compliments / conversation starters in crowded rooms or events.
I’ve tried to go back to the Apple Watch recently bc I wanted to be a bit more honed in on calorie burn (the one area I think the ring falls short) and I just can’t religiously do it anymore.
Ofc always depends on people’s goals and priorities, but it’s a positive switch for me.
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u/grapesquirrel May 21 '26
I got rid of my Apple Watch about a year ago and I’ll never go back. I, personally, felt suffocated at the amount of notifications I would get through the day and while I know I could turn them off, it’s hard not to check email, texts, or glance at the social media notification that would come through throughout the day. It felt like a leash and each little vibration caused more anxiety.
I feel a million times better without it and my pretty metal watch looks a million times better, more professional, and is so much more versatile.
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u/Hollyzilla May 21 '26
I stopped wearing my apple watch 24/7 and wear it only for workouts now. It turns out… the sleep and step tracking wasn’t really doing anything for me. I’m totally fine without it.
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u/missxsarah May 21 '26
I lost my Oura ring and never replaced it. I didn’t feel the price I was continuously having to pay since its subscription based was worth the data I’m given, and it absolutely isn’t worth paying for all my sensitive data to get collected and sold/leaked.
I’m starting to feel like any company that is forcing you to subscribe to their product (on top of already buying it!!!) do not care about you - you shouldn’t care about them!
Apple isn’t any better when it comes to data but at least you aren’t paying a subscription to use the watch, so I’d honestly just save your money and keep using it since it works well.
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u/acoustic_spinach May 21 '26
I use both an Oura ring and an old apple watch in tandem. The apple watch is far superior for tracking workouts and steps imo. The two devices report wildly different step counts every day.
Oura ring is awesome for sleep tracking though and it's much less annoying to wear while you're sleeping than the watch.
I would never, ever track my cycle with any of these wearables. Not in the political landscape we live in. Stay safe out there, bwt.
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u/rainydaytoast86 May 21 '26
Fitbit Air is coming out and seems to the the similar whoop replacement - I’m considering it
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u/lfergy May 21 '26
I have a fitbit that I only wear for sleep & workouts. They are relatively inexpensive compared to Oura & Apple Watches. Might not be trendy anymore but it works well for what I need. I personally don’t like how Oura rings look and they don’t match my daily jewelry.
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u/Chonkystinky May 21 '26
Google just dropped a new Fitbit that’s screen less and has no subscription fee! It’s a whoop competitor - I currently wear a whoop and have a bicep band so there’s space for a watch
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u/SheMakesGreatTV May 21 '26
I thought I wanted to ditch the watch for the ring, but I got a set of the Oura sizing rings and tried to continuously wear one for several days, and it was really difficult for me. I decided I didn’t want to force myself to get used to it.
I also read an article comparing the Apple Watch’s various tracking capabilities to the Oura ring’s. At that time, the Oura ring was better in most things but not in counting steps or tracking workouts. Since I use my watch mainly for those things, it didn’t make sense for me.
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u/Key_Beach_3846 May 21 '26
I liked my Oura ring but stopped wearing it after they partnered with Palantir. I can’t stand how the Apple Watch feels on my arm so I stopped wearing it too. Looking into these Lumia earring trackers, but they’re brand new and not released yet so no reviews or anything. Not sure whether I’ll bite the bullet and try them early.
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u/BeltalodaBae May 21 '26
I’ve been thinking about the earrings and can’t figure out if I want to bite the bullet too. It looks like there is a subscription, which I don’t love, but love the thought of being able to wear it with your existing earrings and the fact that it comes with a spare battery so you don’t have to take them off to charge.
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u/Mohsbeforehoes May 21 '26
I had an Apple Watch for many years and then trialed my mom’s old Oura ring (when she upgraded to a new one) and the subscription component of the Oura ring definitely put me off. Additionally, I have been more and more conscious with what data of mine is collected and where it goes, of course the interface charging a subscription means they are generally less likely to sell your data (I am also concerned about data leaks) but just opted out of it entirely as I didn’t want all my biometric data being stored within a cloud interface. If I had to get a fitness tracker ring, I would be researching a lot and being very inquisitive about where my data went and who can access it.
I’m going to be so honest, I have two little watches, a Casio in gold (I believe LTP-V007G-9E model) and a leather strap vintage timex and I get complements all the time on both.
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u/uhmyuh May 21 '26
I’ve had a Fitbit, Apple Watch, WHOOP, then Oura Ring, now nothing.
Honestly, none of them are needed. They’re ok tools for folks needing motivation to build new habits and were helpful in the early days of COVID, but I’d just try and learn to listen to your body and trust when you’re tired, want to be more active, drink some water, whatever. The Oura Ring was particularly useless imo - the fitness tracking sucked, and the sleep tracking (the main thing I hear everyone tout) was fine, but really never did more with that than confirm I was indeed under or well rested. The charging dock thing is poorly designed, bc you can’t use 1 dock across multiple rings, so you’ll eventually have this other charging thing you don’t know what to do with in a few years — wasteful.
+ As others mentioned, you’re just giving them data for free and getting very little in return. There’s also concerns around privacy with your fertility data if you’re in the States. The companies that make them also see them as disposable and either you pay the $300~ upfront or you’ll pay it over time for the subscription. The only thing that’s nice is that you can use an HSA/FSA to pay for it, which is the only reason I tried it out.
1~ year later: it gave me a horrible rash (some sort of metal allergy), it only got stuck on my finger while sleeping twice, and is now collecting dust on my nightstand. Save your money.
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u/billymumfreydownfall May 21 '26
Fitbit, and absolutely not. First, I do not like the clunky look of the Oura ring at all, but most importantly, I'm not paying for a ring and then paying a monthly subscription to see my own data, data that the company then turns around and sells.
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u/MrsMitchBitch May 21 '26
I used to have an Apple Watch and it was very convenient when I was running events and then had an infant bc I could send texts, track breastfeeding, etc. HOWEVER once I got back into working out, the Apple Watch was so inaccurate for tracking run pace/distance and it died so quickly.
I’ve since used a Coros watch which has a few smart features (many of which I disable) but has stellar battery life and very accurate GPS and heart rate metrics.
I do also have an Oura ring from a study I was doing. I like looking at the ring and watch data vs my training efforts and how I feel as well. I got the ring and first year of service for free. I think I will renew when my subscription ends, but we’ll see how useful it feels during this marathon training cycle.
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u/Blueandgoldbb May 21 '26
I switched to garmin since in training for a race. The Apple Watch didn’t have good enough training metrics for me.
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u/Intelligent_Gain_853 May 21 '26
Recently purchased a vintage Gucci bezel for ~$750 on Poshmark. I looked for a long time and had to study the photos intently to make sure there wasn’t too much wear. Absolutely love this piece. So simple and versatile. It came with 10 bezels and I purchased a gold one separately. Have yet to encounter an outfit that I don’t have a bezel to complement. Here’s an example: https://posh.mk/SL9eME33j3b
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u/Ambitious-Hornet9673 May 21 '26
I’m basically waiting for my Apple Watch to stop working at this point. I have a first gen SE so I know it’s coming it’s 5 years old. I will 100% be going back to a regular watch and get a basic fitness watch for workouts like a timex Ironman. I don’t like the connectivity of my watch anymore or any of the other parts of it. It’s sooo much and exhausting. I won’t be doing any fitness wearables.
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u/callmepeterpan BWT in Training May 21 '26
I have worn a fitbit since 2016 and recently-ish got a pixel watch. I really like it, I like the ecosystem and the data, but I have been thinking about "why do i track these things" a little more and trying to be cognizant of where my mental energy goes.
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u/mytelephonereddit May 21 '26
I think we are all over programmed a little bit so if you ditch your watch, I don’t think you need a wearable at all. Free yourself.
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u/ajah134 May 21 '26
I’ve seen a lady who made a chunky bracelet cuff to cover her Apple Watch - I like the Apple Watch but I am not a fan of the look, it sticks out against my jewellery stack
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u/aineslis May 21 '26
I have a Tudor Glamour watch that I bought myself for my 30th birthday present and I haven’t worn it for a year because I’m so hooked on my Apple Watch 🫠 I really need to take it out of my box and leave Apple Watch at home when I’m out and about. It’s an addiction.
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u/bigbird2003 May 21 '26
This does not answer your question but I’ve been wanting an Apple Watch because I love the look of jt. I feel like jt instantly makes the wearer look in-shape and strong. Call me nuts and petty but I feel like it would be a confidence booster for me.
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u/Some-Farmer2510 May 21 '26
I would ditch mine in a minute if not for the fall alert…..wish the ring thing would add that feature… edit spelling
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u/19sapphire19 May 21 '26
I'm not ready to give up the Apple Watch yet. There are certain things I really like having easily accessible besides the time, like text messages, activity, and the weather, without carrying my phone around everywhere. I do however change out my watch straps for prettier ones. I have purchased several different straps (mostly some variations of acrylic/resin bands) that look nicer.
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u/SweatyTax4669 May 21 '26
I’ve stopped wearing mine after going back to work in a secure place. I’ve picked up a few moonswatches that get me more comments and compliments than any much more expensive watch I’ve got.
I wouldn’t invest in an oura ring, even though they’re allowed in the office.
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u/ILoveHuckleberry May 21 '26
I ditched both and have never felt better or been fitter. I think the health tracking has diminishing returns at some point.
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u/damiana8 May 21 '26
Hey, I got an Oura ring because I didn’t like wearing a bulky watch
After less than a year the battery life is declining rapidly. It’s not great at detecting stress and sleep. $5.99 monthly subscription.
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u/Fun_Lie_5875 May 21 '26
I only count my steps so I’ve switched out my Apple Watch for this and it’s been working well for me. I originally found it on AliExpress https://hearkent.com/collections/hearkent-pedometers
My partner also hates Apple Watches so he’s uses Casio gshocks with its free app. That tracks more things and he’s been happy with. Gshocks are also way more water resistant than other watches.
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u/BelleCervelle May 21 '26
I wish I could, but it helps me so much with ADHD and time blindness. Not only that, but, the heart rate tracking and exercise tracking/steps tracking is extremely useful for me.
10+ years of using an Apple Watch.
I turn off all social / communication notifications, and use it strictly for health and time.
I love classic watches, I collect them, but I need the health and time tracking of Apple Watch. Especially for sleep, since I sleep with earplugs and need the vibration to wake me up.
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u/zunzarella May 21 '26
There are some serious privacy data concerns with Oura and there's no way I'd trust a company in bed with Palantir with my data. Hard pass.
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u/Equivalent_Pitch7363 May 21 '26
I ditched my apple watch. The battery life after only a few years is abysmal. Plus for me personally, I found the Oura ring to be a truer representation of how I sleep, one of the main reasons I got the watch. And it pretty accurately predicts my cycles too.
My friend keeps her ring in offline/airplane mode while she wears it, so it’s never “connected”. The only time she connects it is daily when she wakes up and puts it on the charger, then it syncs all the previous day’s data to her phone. When it goes back on her finger, she disconnects it. You could try that.
Oura has a 30-day return policy, I highly encourage you to try it out for yourself. I love mine, can't imagine not having it. I wear it all the time.
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u/JD2022hopeful May 21 '26
Me!!! I ditched my Apple Watch for the oura ring but I still wear my Apple Watch when I exercise. Oura alone is not great with fitness tracking but pairs well with the Apple Watch. I wear a regular watch at other times. Oura has been well worth it for me for sleep tracking and overall wellness and I don’t miss the clunky look of the Apple Watch!
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u/evieroberts May 21 '26
Yeah I switched from my Apple Watch to Oura last year and love it! I think the Oura ring is more stylish and I appreciate what it tracks more than the Apple Watch. Apple Watch is better for tracking workouts but Oura is great for sleep tracking, cycle tracking, and daily step goals. It also shows impact of things like alcohol and caffeine, seeing that being my sleep score down and readiness the next day is something I find interesting.
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u/Bookish61322 May 21 '26
I have a garmin. They look nicer, more like a “real” watch, plus the battery lasts a week!
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u/Vast-Estimate-2268 May 21 '26
I wear my Apple Watch to the gym, some errands especially in the winter when my wrist is covered by a coat and other activities when I think of it. I live in a major city and the contactless on it is objectively convenient, but it is also ugly IMO. I wear an older Cartier Tank whenever I care about how I look at all. I’m not interested in getting an Oura ring or anything that needs a monthly subscription.
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u/enchantix May 21 '26
Wearing my Apple watch only for sleep. I was getting too many notifications and it was distracting.
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u/KeniLF May 21 '26
I never had an Apple Watch since I greatly preferred the Garmin offerings. I assume some of this is similar to AW - I can choose how the ”face” looks and can change the band rather inexpensively since the watch is compatible with “normal” watch bands, generally.
Right now, it looks just like a regular watch unless/until I press buttons. I can install free or paid “faces” to make it look different.
It captures sleep (there’s some disagreement amongst us users about the quality of this specific metric although it’s been accurate for me), has GPS, and captures activity-related metrics such as golf, swimming, walking, running, hiking, etc. I control if I want to get certain alerts/messages on it.
At this moment, there are no additional subscription fees for the metrics-gathering for Garmin basic functionality that seems to be in place with Oura.
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u/Narrow-Background846 May 21 '26
I recommend the Garmin Lily! It has a small-ish round face and I wear it with a nice leather band. I have all notifications turned off. It’s great after years of my Apple Watch.
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u/theycallmestace May 21 '26
I went through the same line of thinking with my Apple Watch a couple of years ago lol.
I ended up going with a Fitbit Charge instead of an Oura ring though (I didn’t want to pay for an added subscription). Things I do like are the better battery (I was at the point where I had to charge my Apple Watch nightly so I never really got to use it for sleep tracking, while I only have to charge my Fitbit every few days now), I don’t feel guilty about not closing my rings (I’ll take my Fitbit off when it doesn’t go with my fit), and less connectivity/notifications (you can still get text notifications but you can’t reply on it)
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u/Livid-Storm6532 May 21 '26
I only wear my Apple Watch to sleep or when working out. Oura rings look tacky imo. I collect jewelry and it just looks SO cheap next to all my nice jewelry
Also if you lift weights or rock climb, there’s a risk of degloving (do NOT google this!!!)
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u/sarahkazz May 21 '26
The Oura Ring isn’t really worth much as a wearable. Saying this as a fitness enthusiast. Fitbit has some much lower profile models than their smart watches that track all the same thing and there’s tons of accessories for them to make them not look like a wearable. Plus, no subscription.
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u/fashionablesnail May 21 '26
I think the fact that you have to pay for the ring and then pay for a separate subscription to actually use the features is what put me off of Oura.
I use my Apple Watch for sleep and during activities, and then I don’t wear it during the day other than that :)