Is the Oura Ring Worth the Hype

Every time I post a reel or photo of myself it never fails to elicit a bevy of DMs about the ring I’m wearing on my right index finger (sometimes my middle finger). I feel like health tracker rings have recently become the new “ I’m in my healthy girl era” signaler. For me, however, it is much more “I’m in my perimenopause era” and just trying to figure out what is going on.

There is something very strange about turning 50 (now 51) and how you think about the approaching years differently. I still think I’m 32 in my mind (will this always be the case?) but I’m very aware that I’ve firmly arrived at middle age, whether I identify with it or not (I don’t), and if I don’t prioritize my health now, then the future will likely be less kind.

I know, this is supposed to be about the Oura Ring, hang on, I’m getting there…. A little set up is in order. I started going through perimenopause around age 47 and I’m on the tail end of it now at 51. It’s such a strange time because things you took for granted - regular cycles, quality sleep, thicker hair, reading menus in dark restaurants, all start to disappear. Sometimes without much warning. I felt like all of a sudden I was waking up at 3:00 in the morning and my mind would start racing and it would take 2 hours to fall back asleep. I had always been a really good sleeper and not super anxious by nature so this threw me for a loop. Enter the wearable health trackers…

I a HUGE believer in trying lifestyle modifications to target ongoing problems and the thought of getting daily data on my own health felt VERY empowering. I began wearing a WHOOP (bracelet was free, monthly subscription was not). It’s smaller than an Apple Watch but equally unattractive. Sorry. The data it provided was fascinating though. I was able to see Deep and REM sleep cycles over time, I learned the optimal time for me to go to bed to ensure the highest quality sleep. I learned how eating close to bedtime impacted my heart rate and sleep, what happened if I drank a cocktail, how physical activity impacted my sleep, and much more. There was a daily questionaire that helped me zero in on a whole host of daily habits and how they impacted my recovery - supplements, reading before bed, eating a high protein diet. The biggest down side for me was how it looked. I also didn’t like the lack of a step counter, but I think the new version has this feature. And since I sleep with my hand close to my face, the EMFs were a little concerning.

After my annual WHOOP subscription ran out, I switched to the Oura Ring (I have the gold finish). The ring is a bit pricey if you go for the upgraded finish, but the monthly subscription is much less, so all in all, less expensive than a WHOOP. I much preferred the wearability and look, I also prefer the app interface and user experience. The data is similar to the WHOOP, you get a lot of the same data points, but they are presented in a very encouraging and positive way. Aside from aesthetics, I find the Oura Ring is more helpful at keeping me mindful to move throughout the day. I used to think once I checked the box on my daily workout I was good to go for the day, but I’ve learned it’s much more important to move as much as possible during the day. And it lets me know when I’m likely to be most productive. I also like being able to put the OURA ring in airplane mode at night, it will still track your sleep, but reduces EMFs.

Now for some of your Q&As (that weren’t answered above):

Has my sleep improved?

100% yes! If you use these devices and make changes you will see an improvement. If the thought of getting a grade each morning on how you slept completely stresses you out, then maybe these aren’t the best tool. When I charge my phone in another room, take magnesium and Vitamin D at night, use white noise, read before bed and try to be asleep before 11:00 - I get optimal results. Reading this back that should all seem intuitive, yet it wasn’t. Do all the stars align every night? Of course not, but the phone charging location and taking supplements are non negotiable at this point.

Does it help with weight loss?

I don’t know. I would not recommend either wearable for calorie tracking. For perspective the WHOOP calorie tracking was so low it was laughable and the OURA Ring thinks I burn calories like an olympic athlete so I wouldn’t rely on either. I think it’s awesome if you want to use it for step counting. I typically log 10-20K steps per day. The step counting is HIGHLY accurate. If I do a cardio workout and take a walk I’m easily at 20K, but if I do pilates and a walk, I’m usually squeezing in those last couple thousand steps at night.

Does it track your blood pressure?

No, it does track heart rate and heart rate variability and how well you recover from stress during the day and at night.

Is it comfortable?

Very! No issues for me. I don’t really notice I’m wearing it. I’ve read complaints that it is hard to wear when lifting weights, I use hand weights in sculpt classes and pulley systems in Lagree/Pilates and don’t have any trouble. I imagine if you are lifting dumbbells it might be different.

How long will you continue to wear it?

I don’t know. I feel like it gives me a level of accountability and a daily check in on my health that has become part of my routine so I don’t really have an end in sight.

Do I recommend it?

Yes and no. So helpful, right? I do think we are on a bit of slippery slope in the wellness space as a whole lately that I find very off putting. A lot of blame and alarmist facts and figures are thrown at us on the daily about food, fitness and yes, sleep too. Fear that if we aren’t getting 7-8 hours of sleep a night, eating 100% organic (mostly plant based but still with plenty of animal protein - the grass fed kind only, but be careful because even then they are filled with microplastics), drinking exclusively from glass or steel water bottles, avoiding every drop of seed oil (and sugar! and flour!), getting the perfect balance of weight training and cardio (but not too much cardio after age 40) then we will all die early deaths from preventable chronic diseases and have dementia as a result of our terrible lifestyle choices. This is NO way to live. So if there is any chance that having your hands on so much daily data might set you off in a health spiral, then you are healthier without it. Truly. But, if like me, you are motivated by knowing all the minutia and love tinkering with lifestyle modifications to feel your best, then by all means, give it a try!