5 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Jump on the Hottest Apple Watch Trend

I’ve been wearing an Apple Watch for years and, admittedly, never thought to strap it to my ankle … but alas, that’s the latest trend.

As spotlighted by The New York Times earlier this week, a growing number of people are wearing Apple Watches on their ankles. The reason? Well, there are several.

According to the article, the most common reason was that people with small wrists found that their fitness app would turn mid-workout. This was because their Apple Watch was too loose and couldn’t register a heart rate.

Some found that strapping an Apple Watch to their ankles yielded more accurate step-counting results. Others with wrist tattoos found that heart-rate readings weren’t accurate with the Apple Watch worn on their wrists.

Additionally, some physicians and medical professionals aren’t allowed to wear watches on their wrists due to hospitals’ hygiene rules.

Whatever the reason, I frankly find this Apple Watch trend a little bit ridiculous. No, you shouldn’t wear an Apple Watch on your ankle —here’s why.

Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

Defeats the smartwatch’s purpose

It’s obvious, but wearing an Apple Watch on your ankle takes away most of a smartwatch’s greatest conveniences. You can’t use it to quickly check messages or answer calls, which are two things I use my Apple Watch most for. And as for normal watch stuff, like checking the time, it just makes it awkward.

With an Apple Watch around your ankle, you’ll be forced to pull out your iPhone more often. And that’s more screen time, which we could all cut down on.

You’ll need a bigger band

Unsurprisingly, Apple doesn’t make Apple Watch bands for ankles. In fact, as far as I’m aware, no third-party accessory brand does, either. This means that unless you have a watch band that’s highly adjustable or stretchy — which you likely don’t — you’ll almost have to buy a new one that can fit your ankle.

Also, if you’ve ever tried to put an Apple Watch around your foot and on your ankle — it’s not easy.

(Thought: Since most watch straps aren’t big or stretchy enough to fit around, I’d probably recommend going with an arm strap, such as the Twelve South’s ActionSleeve, for those really committed to this trend.)

Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

Better heart-rate accuracy?

The idea of wearing an Apple Watch on your ankle for better heart-rate accuracy seems a little farfetched. For the most accurate reading, surely you’d want the sensor to be the closest to your heart … and moving that sensor down to your ankle doesn’t achieve that.

Also, what about socks? You need the Apple Watch’s sensor directly against your skin for an accurate reading. So unless you wear really low socks, you’ll probably have to place your watch under your socks … which, again, is awkward.

If you really care that much about heart rate accuracy, I’d suggest buying a chest strap heart rate monitor. There are several options, such as the Polar H10, that are compatible with the Apple Watch.

A more vulnerable position

Wearing an Apple Watch around your ankle positions it closer to shoe level, making it more susceptible to dirt, gravel and mud. Not only is your Apple Watch more likely to get dirty, but it’s also likely to get dinged up when worn at ankle level.

So, do you really want to put an expensive smartwatch down there?

Is that an ankle monitor?

Seeing somebody wearing a gadget around their ankles isn’t a common sight for most people. As noted in the New York Times article, you’ll probably be forced to have awkward conversations explaining how you’re not under house arrest.

And nobody wants to do that.

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