The truth about wearing a smartwatch on your ankle

PULSE gets an expert's view on the growing TikTok trend

Another day, another TikTok trend causing raised eyebrows in the wearables industry. This time, a rising number of viral videos show Apple Watch users fastening their devices to their ankles to monitor workouts and daily activities.

Earlier this week, The New York Times interviewed devoted fans who argued that wearing their Apple Watch on the ankle was more comfortable and resulted in more precise tracking. The piece has been gaining plenty of traction.

For instance, one convert said the trend helped them obtain better heart rate data, as their small wrists meant their watch fit too loosely to get accurate readings.

Meanwhile, another mentioned that keeping one hand free to track step counts was difficult while pushing a baby stroller. They found that wearing the device on her ankle enabled her to keep monitoring her steps.

Attaching a smartwatch to your leg may seem unusual, but this isn’t the first time individuals have suggested placing a device on a different body part to yield enhanced data collection and improve accuracy.

So, are we missing a trick by wearing our smartwatches the old-fashioned way? PULSE spoke to an expert to find out.

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Ankle Mode

The placement of wearables has diversified dramatically in the last half-decade. The heart rate-powered Whoop 4.0 can be worn on the bicep and even in garments like underwear. Moov Now is a fitness-focused wearable designed to be worn on the ankle to provide more insightful coaching for runners and cyclists.

More recently, Evolve Mvmt arrived—an ankle-worn wearable developed by a physiotherapist that promises to correct walking form and even register the quality of your steps. In contrast to smartwatches, these devices are intended for use away from the wrist.