There are plenty of fitness-freaks out there who love the benefit of a fitness tracker, but for one reason or another cannot wear them on their wrist. If you are one of these few, you might be asking yourself if you can wear your Fitbit fitness tracker on your ankle, and the answer is yes, technically.
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How Does It Work
So first things first, there is nothing to stop you from wearing a Fitbit on your ankle. Heck, if you wanted to stick it to your forehead with a bit of cello tape you could. After all, who’s going to stop you?
The real question is if your Fitbit still works if you wear it on your ankle. Sort of. Bear in mind Fitbits are designed to be worn on the wrist. The technology assumes that they are being worn on the wrist, and it interprets the data feed into it as though it is coming from the wrist.
If you want to simply count your steps, then chances are you should be all good to go. Your Fitbit works by using three-axis accelerometers to gather data and matching that data to some pre-existing information to calculate how many steps you take.
All this data is derived under the assumption that the Fitbit is being worn on the wrist. So while you might still get some data on your physical activities, it may not be as accurate as it could be. However, the same can be said about wearing the tracker on the wrist as well.
There are times, such as pushing a shopping trolley or a pram where your arm doesn’t move around so much. Situations like these can mean that your step tracker is inaccurate regardless, and in fact, many people opt to wear their Fitbit on their ankle because of this.
What Are the Downsides?
There are a few notable downsides to wearing your Fitbit on your ankle:
- It is not recommended by the manufacturing company
- You cannot track your heart rate and how many calories you burn
- You cannot accurately track your sleep
- You are not able to see any data that is on the screen
- You have no access to the other apps and functionality that comes with your Fitbit
Can I Use My Fitbit On My Ankle for Cycling?
As before, nothing is stopping you. It gives you a rough estimate of your step count, but that’s pretty much all. You won’t have access to information like your heart rate, and the information you do have may be inaccurate.
How Do I Wear a Fitbit On My Ankle?
If you are still determined to wear your Fitbit on your ankle, then you’re in luck. Chances are that your default Fitbit won’t do the trick for ankle wear. However Fitbit, not wanting to miss out on the market share, has a model dedicated to non-wrist wear.
Notice the non-wrist wear, not ankle wear.
That’s because they are designed to be worn on the body, not the ankle specifically, but it might just be your best alternative. The model is called the Fitbit Zip and retails for about $100 dollars if you’re interested.
There are also rudimentary ankle fitness bands, which are elasticated bands that wrap around your ankle and house your Fitbit tracker. So that’s also an option you have.
Are There Any Other Ankle Fitness Trackers?
There are true. The ankle fitness tracker market has an avid consumer spoiled for choice when it comes to available models. The most popular one at the minute has to be the Moov Now ankle fitness tracker. The Moov Now is a great little tracker. It has all the features you would expect in a fitness tracker. This includes support for your mobile and headphones, as well as the ability to sync up with most of your other devices.
It also comes with a built-in voice coach, which you can use to set goals and track progress. It comes with GPS support and retails for a very modest $40 dollars. So this may be your best bet. If you’re more of a runner, you have the option of the Garmin Foot Pod available to you.
This little fitness tracker attaches to your laces while you’re out for a jog or on the treadmill. It doesn’t give you health-related information such as heart rate, breathing rate, and so on, but it does give you running metrics. Things like distance, speed, and cadence are all tracked through this little device.
However, it’s worth knowing that the Garmin Foot Pod only works with compatible Garmin watches, so your ability to use it may be limited. If you are determined to use your Fitbit though, then the previously mentioned ankle bands are the way to go.
This is the most popular option among Fitbit users, and it does the job just fine. If you have no problem with giving up access to your heart rate, and only care about your steps counter, then you should go with this.
TLDR
You can use your Fitbit on your ankle if you want. Doing so, however, means you don’t have access to information like your heart rate. You only have the ability to see your step count.
This information you get may also be slightly incorrect. The Fitbit is designed to be worn on the wrist, and its technologies reflect that. So by wearing it on your ankle, you run the risk of skewing that information.
If you are still determined, you can purchase a Fitbit Zip. This is a Fitbit model designed for non-wrist use. Not ankle specifically, but it may be a good alternative for you.
Otherwise, you are better off going with a different choice of fitness tracker or purchasing an ankle band. There are plenty of great ankle / foot-based fitness trackers on the market, so you are bound to find something that you’ll use.
If you are committed to your Fitbit, then get yourself an ankle band. They house your tracker and just slip around your ankle, essentially acting as an elongated strap. Again though, this may skew the data you receive.
Long story short, if you have the option just wear your Fitbit on your wrist, otherwise check out your alternatives and decide what best suits your needs.
