Oura

Besides sleep tracking, what proved helpful were indications throughout the day when I was relaxed and when I wasn't.

Lots of it is noise, but some is true signal: i.e. I was relaxed when doing this type of work as opposed to that type of work. This re-inforced me to focus more on the former and delegate/not do the latter

- problem that I haven't seen mentioned anywhere: the skin might harden at the finger you are wearing it. also, very important: if you don't go with their recommended index finger, you may need to decide between a proper fit or being comfortable and easy to remove it
- broadly speaking, I feel its directionally accurate, but not 100% (i.e. with regards to sleep stages)

improve my sleep

great sleep metrics; continuously developing further (I started using it in 2020) with optimized sleep tracking, body signals for diseases etc

battery worsens over time (needs charging every 2-3 days already)
activity tracking is not optimal (not important for me because I use other wearables)
some sports don't go well with wearing a ring (e.g. beachvolleyball)

1. improve sleep
2. listen more to my body because I have the tendency to start too early or overlook signs

The Oura Ring 3 has been a key tool in better understanding my health and making informed lifestyle choices. Its elegant design and robust tracking capabilities set it apart in the wearable tech market.

Strengths:
Sleep Tracking:
The ring’s sleep tracking is exceptionally accurate, providing detailed insights into REM, deep sleep, and waking phases. This has been incredibly helpful for understanding how well I truly slept, especially during those moments where we all wonder if we were asleep or just resting lightly. Additionally, it helped me align my routine with my circadian rhythm, optimizing the brain’s glymphatic system—critical for waste clearance during sleep. Missing this window, for instance by going to bed too late, can’t be compensated for in the same night, making this insight invaluable.

Health Metrics:
Reliable tracking of Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV, an important measure of blood vessel stiffness, values cross-checked against measurements taken by my cardiologist), heart rate variability (HRV), and resting heart rate offers helpful long-term data, particularly for someone like me managing cardiovascular health. The SpO2 monitoring at night is also very valuable, as it reliably detects breathing issues, for example, when dealing with nasal congestion.
The Resilience scoring for stress provided by the Oura Ring seems to be quite accurate based on my experience. It effectively reflects how well my body is coping with stress, particularly in relation to heart rate variability and recovery patterns.

Design:
I particularly enjoy the ring design compared to bulkier alternatives like smartwatches. It’s discreet, comfortable, and wearable in any setting without feeling like a gadget.

Customer Support:
After 12 months, the battery unexpectedly failed—an issue that, while disappointing, is not uncommon with rechargeable devices. Oura replaced the ring within 48 hours, providing exceptional customer service and ensuring my trust in the product.

Activity Tracking:
While the Oura Ring tracks activity and calories reliably, its heavy reliance on heart rate can sometimes lead to misleading results. For example, under stress or during non-physical activities, the body might consume more energy, reflected in a higher calorie burn. However, this is not necessarily "activity" in the sense of physical exertion involving full cardiovascular activation. This nuance can occasionally misrepresent actual physical activity levels.

Readiness Score:
While useful as an overall indicator, feels a bit more ambiguous in my case. At times, it doesn’t align perfectly with how I actually feel or perform, making it slightly less actionable compared to the more specific stress resilience metrics.

My primary goal with the Oura Ring is to track key metrics relevant to managing my cardiovascular disease (atherosclerosis), which progress is strongly connected to stress and sleep quality. By monitoring pulse wave velocity (a measure of blood vessel stiffness), heart rate variability (HRV), resting heart rate, and sleep stages, I aim to gain insights into my body’s recovery and vascular health, enabling me to make informed lifestyle adjustments to support my cardiovascular health and overall well-being.

I love this ring, I've been using it almost 3 years and learned a lot about sleep, stress, activity

Battery life

I wanted to track sleep and activity with smaller device I'd comfortably wear during night

I'm very happy with this ring. I've learned a lot about my sleep, what impacts it, and how I can improve it. I also love the cycle tracking feature; it's 100% accurate.

Sometimes, I have a hard time finding what I’m looking for, as the interface has changed since I got it. It’s also not comfortable during training with dumbbells

improvements in my sleep and stress levels

- Accurate informations

- Low battery life ( < 7 days)

- track & improve sleep

- comfortable to wear especially at night
- accurate sleep phase tracking (awake, light, deep, REM)
- heart rate variability tracking (HRV)
- additonal ressources to e.g. meditate
- recommendations on how to improve results
- activity tracking with recommendations to move when you are sitting too long

I need to take it of for strength training with weights so I cannot measure my heart rate during those exercises

Sleep tracking and monitoring effects and changes I implemented or am going to implement / change