Apple Watch’s activity app tracks your daily movement, encouraging you to achieve your fitness objectives.
The app measures different fitness metrics, including how regularly you stand, your movements, sleep time, and the amount of time spent working out.
Three rings in three colors summarize your fitness progress. You need to complete each ring by moving more, sitting less, and exercising daily.
But can the Apple Watch accurately count steps when you wear it on the ankle?
The short answer is no.
While the watch will count steps when worn on your ankle, those steps may be inaccurate because Apple designed the device to be in contact with the wrist skin to function effectively.
This post will explore the design features and sensors that rely on the device’s wrist placement. We will also assess the accuracy of step-counting when wearing the watch on your ankle vs the wrist.
The article also talks about other step-counting devices that function effectively when worn on the ankle.
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Apple Watch Design and Functionality
Apple Watch has various features that make it a wrist-worn device. Here are the main ones.
Activity Rings
The device’s activity rings display your everyday activity, such as the total steps, workouts, and active calories completed. Don’t forget to close your rings each day.
Getting motivated to reach your fitness goals can be challenging. That’s why you will find awards, activity competitions, and personalized coaching on your watch.
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Track Your Workout
The Apple Watch provides different ways to record your workouts, including strength training, pilates, HIIT, and yoga when worn on your wrist.
But that’s not all. It also uses advanced views and metrics, such as Zones, Heart Rate, Elevation, and Power, to show your progress.
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Designed for Different Environments
Whether you like hiking, biking, running, surfing, or swimming, you can wear the watch on your wrist and go on your outdoor adventure.
It gets better. Apple Watch Ultra 2 is waterproof and lets you snorkel, freedive, and scuba dive to a whopping 40 meters! The latest watchOS version helps detect any irregular rhythms when engaging in these activities
For optimal results, the Apple Watch’s back should be in touch with the skin for features such as the Taptic Engine, Wrist Detect, and the optical and electrical heart sensors.
Skin-Friendly Materials
Apple invests in thorough research before selecting materials for the watch. Other than using materials that meet the required regulations, they have a specification for evaluating each material that touches your skin via the Apple Watch.
The specification includes:
- Trial studies with thousands of prototypes for trial studies
- Thousands of tests for material composition
- Consulting board-certified dermatologists
- Thousands of toxicological evaluations
Examples of the skin-friendly materials used on the Apple Watch or its bands include nickel and acrylates. However, the bands are mostly designed using stainless steel, nylon with titanium, silicone, woven iron, leather with stainless steel, and more.
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High-End Sensors
The sensors have been designed to function when the Apple Watch is neither too loose nor too tight.
Plus, they only work effectively when you wear the watch on the top of the wrist.
The watch has an advanced sensor and application that measures blood oxygen levels, an essential wellness metric. Check out more details on how the blood oxygen app works.
The sensors can track unusually low or high heart rates and abnormal heart rhythms that could signal a serious condition. You will receive notifications from the Heart Rate app regarding these irregular heart rhythms so you can consult a healthcare provider.
The watch has another sensor that tracks the body temperature while asleep. The Cycle Tracking functionality uses this data to estimate when your ovulation occurred. This information can be handy in family planning.
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ECG On Your Wrist
An electrocardiogram is a test known to record the strength and timing of electrical signals that trigger heartbeats. Doctors use an ECG to get insights about the heart rhythm and related irregularities.
The Apple Watch has an ECG app, which uses an electrical sensor to record your heart pulse and rhythm. It also checks the recording for irregular rhythms, such as atrial fibrillation.
Check out this page for a detailed explanation of how the ECG app works.
Accuracy of Step-Counting on the Ankle
The Apple Watch is famous for tracking steps accurately, but can it count steps on your ankle? Unfortunately, it isn’t created to track steps on your ankle.
Here’s why: The watch uses an integrated accelerometer that depends on the arm’s swinging motion to count steps.
Differences In Motion Tracking And Sensor Placement Between The Wrist And Ankle
As aforementioned, the Apple Watch is meant to be strapped on the wrist; its step-tracking capabilities are optimized for wrist placement.
However, some users have shown interest in wearing a fitness watch on the ankle to track steps. For example, healthcare professionals working in facilities with the bare-below-elbow policy aren’t allowed to wear watches or anything else around their wrists.
Professional runners may want to wear the watch on their ankles because, for them, every step counts. Additionally, cyclists may prefer the ankle, as wearing it on the wrist can be distracting.
Here’s the thing: The swinging motion reduces when you wear the watch on the ankle, resulting in inaccuracies in step tracking.
Besides, Apple Watch’s fitness capabilities are enhanced by various sensors. Since the sensors are located at the back of the device, they require skin contact to operate effectively. Therefore, the sensors won’t work accurately when you strap the watch around the ankle.
Other factors that influence the step tracking’s accuracy include the activity type you are engaged in and the watch’s position.
Thus, to achieve highly accurate results in step-tracking, it’s recommended to wear the Apple Watch on the wrist.
While wearing the watch on your ankle will track your steps, it may be less accurate than wearing it on the wrist.
Overall, consider comfort, personal preferences, and the purpose of motion tracking before you decide whether to wear the watch on the ankle or wrist.
If the Apple Watch can’t give you the desired results when worn on the ankle, consider using other fitness trackers that function effectively when placed around the ankle.
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Alternative Wearable Devices for Step Counting on the Ankle
1. Garmin vivofit r. 2
This fitness tracker designed for kids has a customizable color screen, allowing users to switch to their desired color. Your child can display the Spider-Man style everywhere and anytime, such as during bathtime, sleeping, and playing.
Like the Apple Watch, this tracker is swim-friendly, so you can focus on exploring the waters without worrying about it getting damaged.
It comes with a replaceable battery to last you an entire year. You don’t need to recharge it.
The device has a parent-controlled app that lets you access chore management and other reward tools for your child, motivating them to exercise with this fitness tracker.
Garmin vivofit Jr. 2 motivates children to attain various goals that unlock games, adventure, and icons that feature the Marvel Spider-Man in the ending battle against evil.
This fitness gadget tracks sleep, steps, and sixty minutes of the recommended daily activity for a kid.
The kid’s fitness tracker also provides reminder alerts and a task timer to keep your kid on top of chores like brushing teeth, practice time, and homework.
2. Fitbit Flex 2
This wearable device tracks distance, steps, active minutes, and the calories you burn, helping you reach your daily fitness goals. The LED display glows to reveal the progress set for your daily goal.
This ultra-thin removable tracker hides well in pendants, bands, and bangles. So, if you have various ankle bands, you can place the tracker in a different band each day and continue with your activities.
Running, cycling, and walking aren’t the only activities that Fitbit Flex 2 tracks. You can wear it when swimming in the pool, while showering, and even diving in the ocean. Being swim-proof makes that possible.
The Smart Track feature automatically detects select activities, such as sports, running, and aerobic workouts, and connects with the Fitbit app for recording.
The device automatically tracks your sleep duration and quality and sets a silent alarm with a slight vibration to wake you up. The Apple Smart Watch tracks sleeping, as well.
It’s common to get busy with daily work and forget to move. Flex 2 has a reminder feature to notify and encourage you to stay active and take about 250 steps each hour.
You can also connect with family and friends, see the steps they have achieved, and get challenged to improve. You can also organize challenges and adventures.
Fitbit Coach provides personalized video exercises to follow and work out more. You can also log walks, runs, and other workouts.
Most users claim it counts steps perfectly when worn around the ankle.
3. 3D FitBud Step Counter with Clip
If you are looking for a simple 3D pedometer, this 3D Fitbud will do. Its simple design makes it ideal for women, men, children, and the elderly interested in tracking steps and staying motivated to achieve their fitness goals.
The step counter effectively counts your daily steps, allowing you to view the progress and motivate you towards moving more.
Setting up is easy with no complicated programs; simply start by pressing the button at the back.
This step counter uses 3D Tri-Axis Sensor technology, which is more accurate than other sensors. The technology is famous for providing exceptional accuracy in step counting from any angle, including down, up, side, or flat.
It offers multiple wearing options; you can clip it on your ankle band, hip, or pocket. You can also wear it around the neck or place it in the bag. It tracks steps accurately regardless of where you place it, including the ankle. This feature makes it superior for step counting than the Apple Watch.
Moreover, the extra large digital display lets you read the numbers on the screen at a glance without straining.
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4. Realalt 3DTriSport Walking Pedometer
Like the 3D FitBud, the 3DTriSport pedometer uses an advanced 3D Tri-Axis Sensor to track your everyday activity with stellar results.
This sensor is known for accuracy, so you can clip the device on your waist or wear it around the neck. You can also place it in your bag or pocket and count steps hassle-free. It comes with a lanyard, allowing you to wear it around the neck.
Wearing it on the ankle works accurately, too; just be sure to strap it well. Some users claim it tracks steps more accurately when tucked under the socks. This functionality beats the Apple Watch, which doesn’t provide accurate tracking when won on the ankle.
Use it to record the number of steps when running and walking. It also measures the distance covered in miles and kilometers, exercise time, and calories burned.
It stores up to thirty days of daily records, letting you track your progress and remain motivated to meet your fitness goals. You can set a daily step target and see progress over 30 days.
Setting up and using this pedometer is easy. The manual is easy to follow. You can also watch the valuable operation and setup videos for guidance.
However, this step counter doesn’t support smartphone connections or downloads. It is simple enough to be used by people of all ages, including children, adults, and seniors.
The large display is clear and easy to read. It includes a timer, clock, and step goal, too.
5. PINGKO Pedometer for Walking
This accurate step counter will track your steps, helping you achieve those exercise goals. You can also track the calories burned and the distance traveled in kilometers or miles.
The PINGKO pedometer can count steps up to 99,999 and track distances up to 999.9 miles or kilometers.
The large LCD screen makes this pedometer easy to read. It displays the step count and current time.
You can wear it on your waist or put it in your pocket or bag. You can also clip it on your clothing or ankle strap and jump on a treadmill and hike, run, or walk for accurate step-tracking. It is more versatile than the Apple Watch, which is designed for your wrist.
It comes with straightforward instructions for easy programming. You don’t need to connect to a mobile app for it to work.
6. OZO Fitness 3D Digital Pedometer
If you are looking for one of the most accurate and user-friendly ankle step counters, you will love the OZO 3D Digital Pedometer.
It has a highly visible display with simple operation, making it suitable for everyone, including seniors and kids.
Setting it up is a breeze; there are no complicated operations, such as connecting to a smartphone or other apps. It’s exclusively designed to count steps, making it more accurate.
The most unique feature of this pedometer is that it starts step-counting after the first eight consecutive steps to minimize false motion counts. Apple Watch doesn’t count steps this way.
Its digital sensor tracks the steps you make when moving and the distance in kilometers or miles. You can also use it to track the calories consumed and duration used to run, jog, or walk.
You can use it to achieve long-term fitness goals, as it shows the daily activity right from the day you started using it. The 30-day memory log includes the previous day’s tracking and shows aggregated totals. A built-in clock always auto-resets to daily at midnight.
Setting up is a breeze; use the two buttons to configure it and start using it immediately. You can place it in your purse, bag, or pocket.
If you prefer it around the neck for easy access and reading, wear it there using the included lanyard cord.
Besides, you can clip it on the belt, waistband, bra, or ankle band. Use the included long-life battery, which can last a year, to count your steps all day and track your fitness goals.
7. NESKLA 3D Pedometer for Walking
This simple design and functionality make this step counter ideal for children, adults, and the elderly.
It has no Bluetooth, meaning you don’t need to connect it to your phone or apps to work. It only features one reset button; to reset the step to zero, press and hold it for three to five seconds.
The large LCD display makes reading any values at a glance easy.
You will enjoy the portability of this pedometer. It only weighs 25.6g, which is more lightweight than most Apple Watch versions.
Speaking of portability, the pedometer has a lanyard and clip, making it easy to attach to your belt, shoes, pants, or ankle. You can also hang it around the neck.
The CR2032 battery can last up to a year. When not moving, this pedometer auto-sleeps. When you start moving, it auto-wakes and counts your steps.
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Conclusion
The Apple Watch is a suitable fitness tracker if you want to wear it around the wrist and count steps when running, hiking, walking, and more.
However, it’s less accurate when worn on the ankle, as the ankle doesn’t put the watch’s back (the sensors’ location) in contact with the skin.
Thus, if you prefer wearing a pedometer on the ankle or working in an environment that forbids wearing devices on the wrist, you should explore alternatives like those listed above.
Most of these step counters have a highly accurate sensor, are easy to set up and use, and don’t need to be connected to the phone or apps to count steps accurately.
To track your steps accurately and achieve your long-term fitness goals, it’s essential to understand the device placement and compatibility.
