Introduction
I’ve been using a Whoop band for over a month, and this is my honest review. I’ll discuss what I like and dislike about it and the best and worst features. Is it worth buying for someone who isn’t an athlete or doesn’t exercise for fitness goals but wants to gain insights and improve their overall health?
Is Whoop worth it? I would say yes, but it is not perfect, let’s dive in.Â
What is the Whoop Band?
The Whoop band is a fitness tracker designed to be worn 24/7. It collects enormous data from sleep to recovery, strain, and much more. It is focused on measuring your fitness performance and recovery so you can analyze your data and push yourself to achieve new fitness goals.
Design and Hardware
Whoop band design is unique because it doesn’t have a screen. I love it, as screens distract me. The lack of a screen makes it more comfortable to wear and sleep.Â
Another unique design of Whoop is that you don’t need to remove it from your wrist to charge it. You charge the battery separately and slide it onto the Whoop Band.Â
You can choose from different band colors and textures or go for their standard black band. You can also add Whoop to your biceps to Whoop apparel like thong.
Whoop App Design and Features
Look at the Whoop App’s screen recording ( coming soon), where I break down all the features and Data captured. The longer you use the Whoop app, the more data it collects and highlights areas you should focus on.Â
Overall, the app design is okay. Some of the data is slightly scattered, and the user journey could be improved. After using it for a while, you do get used to it, but it could be simplified.
Whoop Band Pros and Cons
ProsÂ
1. BAND DESIGN.Â
I love the band’s design. It is sleek and minimal and fits any style. I also love that you can personalize the straps.Â
Charging is very innovative. You don’t need to remove the band; instead, you charge the battery and slide it on your band. It takes around two hours to charge fully and lasts around 5 days.Â
I love that Whoop doesn’t have a screen, as I try to minimize distractions, but I understand that some people would find having a screen beneficial.Â
2. APP INTERFACE.Â
Whoop collects a lot of data and presents it very cleanly. You can customize your home screen to the metrics that are most important to you. It might be a bit overwhelming initially, and you will need to invest some time learning what all the metrics mean.Â
3. IT HELPS TO BUILD BETTER HABITS.Â
Without Whoop, I would not have known how little deep sleep I get, which impacted not only my recovery but also my brain function. It made me rate my sleeping habits. I was also shocked to see how alcohol affects my sleep and body; even if I am not a regular drinker, it makes me not want to touch drinks at all, well maybe just on special occasions rather than every weekend to make sure my body recovers.
4. COMMUNITY
I love the community section, where you can invite friends with a Whoop band and push each other. I have joined a group with my best friend, who is way more athletic than I am, so it is a great way to motivate me to do a bit more strenuous exercise. I found big groups a bit more overwhelming and not as useful as a few-person group where you can discuss your results and ask each other questions. Â
Cons
1. SYNCIC ISSUES
I don’t know if it is just for me, but my Whoop band struggles to sync data. Some mornings, I wake up at all the night data, which still needs to sync, and it sometimes takes hours to catch up. I need to reboot the device manually, which is frustrating.Â
2. DATA ACCURACY
I want to test the step accuracy, but it sometimes seems too much. One day, I woke up and was still in bed, and it showed 60 steps. My whoop showed zero steps the other few times, even after walking quite a bit. The step count is still in the Beta stage, so hopefully, it will improve after a while.Â
3. IT CAN CAUSE STRESS
It might only be for some, as tracing your data daily can cause stress. I was fixating on different measures and worrying about my health a bit too much. So remember that Whopp is not a medical device and can be inaccurate.Â
4. IT MIGHT HINDER ABILITY TO LISTEN TO YOUR BODY.Â
People like the Whoop band were okay without technology for many years. And, yes, it does help us live an optimal life, but we need to make sure we don’t rely on technology to tell us if we get enough sleep or feel tired.
5. COST
While Whoop is much cheaper than other tracking devices and does not need upfront payment, it gets expensive if you wear it for a few years. In the Pricing and Value section, I break down all the costs and how to save money.
What have I learned from wearing a whoop band for over a month?
We are all individuals, and every person learns something unique about themselves. Seeing what is perfect and what I need to improve was good.Â
Here are my findings:Â
Just before getting the whoop ban, I had COVID. Whoop band picked up on my very low blood oxygen levels. The norm is 95 to 100%. Mine dropped to 89% at some point. It was quite worrying, but when I tested the blood oxygen levels with a finger tester, they were up to 95%. I am still monitoring the levels, but they seem fine now.
I have also learned that I don’t get enough REM sleep, and I am focusing on improving my sleep routine, like not eating too late and not scrolling before bed.Â
I have also learned that even a tiny amount of alcohol causes stress while sleeping and affects recovery; however, every time I had a glass of wine, my rem sleep became better. Therefore, I am more conscious about having a drink.Â
I am still learning about all the data that Whoop Band collects, so I am sure I will be discovering even more useful measurements in months to come.Â
Pricing and Value
One of the reasons I have chosen Whoop was the price. Although it is not cheap it is much more affordable than an Apple watch, Ganni Watch, or Aura Ring.Â
There are a few ways to save money when buying the Whoop band.Â
You can start with a month-long free trial, which is great for testing it without committing to a long-term payment. I was pretty lucky as they had a Black Friday deal running, so I got my year’s worth of subscriptions for 199 euros ($210) when it usually is 264 euros ($278) for a year. If you choose their free regular Whoop band, it comes to 0,5 euros a day to use the app and get your personalized data; it is not too bad.Â
If they sign up, you can refer a friend and get a free month of Whoop subscription.Â
Overall, the price is reasonable if you want a tracker for a year. Still, if you are thinking of having it for more than that, you might want to consider a competitor device with a more significant upfront cost that would save you money in the long term.Â
Who is the WHOOP Band For?
I am not a professional athlete; I only exercise for longevity and feeling better rather than trying to achieve specific sports goals. I was worried that Whoop might not be suitable for me, as my initial understanding of the Whoop band was that it is best suited to athletes and people who want to improve their recovery and achieve sports goals.Â
I was pleasantly surprised by how much data I found helpful in my day-to-day life, especially the quality of my sleep. I thought I was getting amazing sleep most of the night, but according to Whoop, I had insufficient REM and deep sleep. This data made me rethink my sleeping routine, and I am working on improving my deep sleep.Â
So, who is the Whoop band for? It is for everyone who wants to care for their health and loves learning about data.
Who shouldn’t get the whoop band?
Don’t get the whoop band if you get obsessed and over-worried about numbers, and it can cause you anxiety.
I would not recommend the whoop band if you only want to focus on steps, as they are not very accurate, and there are way better trackers for that.Â
I would also not get it if you want a screen and love checking your data while exercising.
Final Verdict
Like all technology, the Whoop band is not perfect. It has lags; the data is not always accurate, and wearing the band constantly can get a bit uncomfortable, but overall, I love it. It is great to see what areas of your life you can improve.Â
To answer the question, is the Whoop band worth it? I think it is.
Since getting Whoop, I started to run more. I am more intentional about my sleep protocol, meditate, and practice yoga nidra more often. It also motivates me to exercise when my recovery is good. I am also way more conscious about consuming alcohol as I can see how badly it affects my sleep and recovery.Â
Therefore, I think the Whoop band is worth the investment, and I will continue wearing it for a year.
FAQ
Does Whoop track steps?
Yes, it does, but the tracking feature is still in beta and is not very accurate.
Is Whoop waterproof?
Yes, it is, but their regular band gets wet. It dries quickly, but keep it in mind when showering. I prefer to take it off in the shower. If you do many water sports or sweat a lot, I suggest getting their Sportflex band made from silicone or a fast-drying HydroKnit band.
Is Whoop band comfortable?Â
It took me a week or so to wear it 24/7. It did feel a bit strange to start with but after wearing it for a week or so , you don’t even notice it.Â
Have you tried Whoop? Do you like it, or have you swapped it for another wearable tech? Let me know your experience in the comments, and if you haven’t, go check it out here and test it out for a month for free. If you don’t find it helpful, you can return it and pay only for the postage.Â
Just so you know, this post is my honest, not sponsored review, which contains affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission if you buy through them at no extra cost to you. For more details, please check out my Affiliate Disclosure.
Silvija Meilunaite PN1-NC, is a certified nutrition coach and a writer in the nutrition and self-improvement field with a passion for exploring science-based knowledge focusing on holistic health and plant-based nutrition.
Featured in the Wellness on Time magazine.
