Move Better, Recover Smarter: Why These Two Wearables Are Better Than One

Published on: March 3, 2025

Introduction

When I first started tracking my health and fitness, I relied solely on my Apple Watch. It provided great real-time activity tracking, but I often felt like something was missing when it came to understanding my recovery and sleep. I needed more insights around my stress and recovery without having to constantly participate in a sleep lab.

That’s when I decided to incorporate the Oura Ring into my routine. I first learned about Oura through my wife and I was vehemently against it for myself only because I'm a big Subscription Hater. I understand that's the world we live in now, but if I can avoid adding yet another monthly cost to my spending, then I sure as heck will try.

But what I quickly realized was that the combination of both devices provided a level of insight I couldn't get from one alone. I’ll dive into how using both the Oura Ring and Apple Watch has helped me live a healthier life and why I believe this combination is superior to using just one.

The Strengths and Weaknesses of Each Device

Apple Watch:

• Pro: I didn’t want to give up my Apple Watch and its notifications because I rely on them for meeting reminders and texting and calling notifications.

• Pro: The Apple Watch excels in active tracking. It provides real-time heart rate monitoring, detailed workout tracking, GPS for outdoor activities, and seamless integration with third-party fitness apps since it's a popular device.

• Con: Per advice from Audrey, my friend and colleague, I tried to keep my Apple Watch charged so that I could sleep with it, but remembering to charge it throughout the day was extremely cumbersome.

• Con: Its sleep tracking, while improved in recent years, still lacks the depth and accuracy needed to make truly informed recovery decisions.

Oura Ring:

• Pro: On the other hand, the Oura Ring is the gold standard for passive tracking, particularly for sleep and recovery insights. A study from October 2024 found that Oura was 5% more accurate than the Apple Watch in four-stage sleep classification when compared to clinical sleep studies. Oura also provides Readiness Scores, heart rate variability (HRV) insights, and detailed sleep staging that helps users better understand how well their body is recovering.

• Pro: It also doesn't hurt that a full charge lasts several days (about five to six for me) whereas the Apple Watch only lasts one.

• Con: I use Apple Watch to select my workouts because I don’t like solely relying on what Oura “detects” as a way of measuring my workouts, especially after it’s over. It lacks real-time activity tracking, notifications, and workout-specific data that the Apple Watch provides.

• Con: Folks have mentioned that their Oura Ring affects their ability to grip a barbell and lift weights, but it hasn't caused me any trouble. I lift my dumbbells just fine, but there are silicone covers on Amazon in case people want to cover their ring.

• Con: Subscriptions suck, but alas, that’s the world we live in now. I just pay for it annually to snag that discount.

How They Complement Each Other

One of the biggest advantages of using both devices is how they fill in each other’s gaps. For example:

• Balancing Activity & Recovery: I use the Apple Watch to track my runs and workouts, but before pushing hard on any given day, I check my Oura Readiness Score. If Oura suggests my recovery is low due to poor sleep or elevated resting heart rate, I adjust my workout intensity accordingly.

• Deeper Sleep & Energy Insights: The Apple Watch tells me how much I move during the day, but Oura helps me understand how that movement impacts my sleep. Studies have shown that Oura has the highest sensitivity for deep sleep detection at 79.5% compared to 50.5% for the Apple Watch; this level of accuracy allows me to make informed choices about my nighttime routine.

• Passive vs. Active Tracking: The Oura Ring continuously gathers biometric data in the background, helping me understand long-term trends in my body’s recovery and daytime stress while the Apple Watch actively pushes me to hit my daily movement goals.

Real-Life Impact on My Health

Since incorporating both devices into my routine, I’ve noticed significant improvements in my overall health and fitness.

• Improved Sleep Patterns: Before using the Oura Ring, I had no idea how the granular sleep stages affected my readiness the next day. By following Oura’s insights, I’ve optimized my nighttime routine and have seen a noticeable improvement in my overall energy levels.

• More Strategic Training: I used to push myself hard every day, leading to burnout. With Oura’s Readiness Score, I now know when to take a rest day. I’ve seen better results in my running performance because of it, especially when Oura is so quick about informing me when my body is experiencing biometric strains.

• Better Lifestyle Choices: Both flag when I've been too sedentary and will flag when it's time for me to get up and move. Oura specifically will call out when I'm experiencing too much stress and encourage me to do a breathing exercise or meditation.

Would I Recommend This Combo?

Absolutely, especially if you’re someone who values a holistic approach to health tracking! The Apple Watch is perfect for those who want motivation to move and track workouts while the Oura Ring is ideal for anyone who wants deeper insights into their recovery, sleep, and overall wellness.

• Downsides? The cost of owning both devices can be a factor, and Oura requires a monthly subscription for full access to its features. However, if you're serious about optimizing both performance and recovery, the investment is worth it.

• If I Had to Pick Just One? If my priority was fitness tracking and daily movement goals, I’d stick with the Apple Watch. But if I wanted the most accurate sleep and recovery insights, I’d go with the Oura Ring.

Conclusion

By combining the Apple Watch and Oura Ring, I’ve gained a 360-degree view of my health that neither device could provide alone. The Apple Watch keeps me accountable for movement while Oura ensures I understand the importance of rest and recovery. This dynamic duo has changed the way I train, sleep, and make health decisions daily. If you’re looking to optimize your well-being, I highly recommend giving both a try.

After about four months, these are the top three most meaningful insights I've gained from owning this specific combination of devices.

• Monitoring daytime stress helped me realize I’m not as stressed as I thought I was, which helped me chill out even more, if you can believe that. I thought I was someone struggling with anxiety every minute of every day, but that might have just been a self-fulfilling prophecy. The reality is that I'm fine and experience a normal amount of stress.

• I saw what late meals and alcohol were doing to my heart rate while sleeping so I just generally don’t drink anymore (which is also a byproduct of participating in Dry January) and I stop eating three hours before bed. This has also helped regulate my metabolism and I wake up feeling better in the mornings.

• Oura senses when my internal body temperature starts rising (i.e. fever) and is a hard piece of evidence to take it easy that day. When I choose to ignore their suggestions, the data patterns that follow show me that I am, indeed, paying for it.

If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to reach out and I'm happy to share more details about my experience owning the two. 😄