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The Oura Ring provides users with daily reports on their sleep, activity, and recovery, which may encourage them to take part in physical activity.

This article explores the Oura company, its reputation, how the Oura Ring works, alternative fitness rings available for purchase, and whether fitness rings can positively impact health.

Oura started its business in 2013. The company has a headquarters office in Finland and offices in San Francisco, California.

The brand aims to offer a convenient way for people to track their health metrics, including sleep data and temperature changes. As such, the company developed the Oura Ring to give individuals access to health information and guidance through a discreet, wearable device.

At the time of publishing, Oura has a rating of 1.7 stars out of 5 on Trustpilot.

Positive reviews state that the ring provides accurate health and sleep metrics. One reviewer reports that the temperature measurements were sensitive enough to suggest when they were due to start their period. Other users say Oura’s customer service team is friendly, answers any queries quickly, and promptly sends replacement rings.

However, negative reviewers note that the battery does not last a long time, with several users having to send for a replacement ring within a year of purchase. Additionally, some customers from the United Kingdom stated they were not aware of the amount of extra tax they had to pay to receive the ring.

Negative reviews mentioned the questionable reliability of the Oura Ring, with several users stating that their device does not sync with the Oura app and does not accurately track sleep data within months of purchase. Other reviewers say the customer service team was not helpful in processing refunds and did not keep them informed about shipping delays.

The Oura Ring is a health-tracking device that monitors vital signs and provides users with daily scores on an individual’s readiness, sleep, and activity. Its tracking scores derive from how much specific readings differ from a person’s baseline measurements. It takes 2 weeks of use for the device to gather enough data to establish this baseline.

The following table describes this product’s key specifications.

Sizes6–13
Weight4–6 grams (g)
Water resistancemore than 328 feet (ft)
Waking hour tracking• activity levels
• calories
• inactive times
• naps
Sleep tracking• resting heart rate
• heart rate variability
• respiratory rate
• body temperature
• sleep stages
Charge time20–80 minutes
Battery life5–7 days
Pricefrom $299

How it works

The company designed this ring for people to wear 24 hours a day, and it measures bodily functions continuously during that time. The ring works by using infrared light sensors on the finger arteries to measure temperature from the skin. Users can review their daily readouts and enter any other additional information using the free Oura app and a smartphone.

During the day, the Oura Ring measures:

  • activity levels
  • calories
  • inactive times
  • naps

When users sleep, the Oura Ring measures:

  • resting heart rate
  • heart rate variability
  • respiratory rate
  • body temperature
  • light, deep, and REM sleep
  • nighttime movement
  • sleep timing and quality

Features

The Oura Ring has the following features:

  • water resistance
  • nonallergenic titanium band
  • weight of 4–6 g
  • full battery charge in 20–80 minutes, which lasts 5–7 days
  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • airplane mode

The ring comes with a wireless ring charger and a USB-A to USB-C charging cable that users can plug into a charging source.

People can also download the Oura app on their smartphones, which displays the ring’s tracking metrics.

The Oura app measures three different metrics:

  • Readiness: May signal a person’s capacity to perform at their mental, emotional, and physical best. The ring tracks daily signals and habits to determine if an individual is well-rested or not.
  • Sleep: Oura tracks a person’s sleep metrics through resting heart rate, heart rate variability, body temperature, respiratory rate, and movement to determine the sleep quality they are getting.
  • Activity: This feature notifies people about when they are inactive and any daily activity goals. It also tracks movement, which may help individuals reach their fitness goals.

Additionally, the Oura Ring is compatible with Apple Health and Google Fit, enabling people to sync their fitness and health metrics to their smartphones.

Individuals who wish to purchase a fitness ring may consider the Circular Ring.

The Circular Ring is a water-resistant health and tracking ring that is also suitable for high altitudes. The device tracks biosignals and activities to help people improve their sleep, physical fitness, and general health. This ring’s battery charge lasts for 4 days and can store data for 22 days before needing to reconnect with a Bluetooth device.

The Circular Ring measures several metrics, including:

  • steps
  • calories burned
  • temperature
  • respiratory rate
  • VO2 max

Individuals also have the option of purchasing other wearable health and fitness trackers, including smartwatches. These products offer similar benefits, such as tracking health and sleep metrics, and they can be as discreet as fitness rings.

Learn more about smartwatches.

Research suggests that wearable devices can encourage people to monitor their physical activity and may be beneficial in tracking the effects of any health conditions.

A lack of physical activity increases the risk of individuals developing chronic health conditions, such as:

The above research suggests that activity trackers, such as the Oura Ring and other wearable monitors, may encourage people to become more physically active. Although trackers measured other activities, such as sleep, research participants were more likely to increase the amount of time they were physically active while wearing these devices.

Partaking in any physical activity can lead to the following health benefits:

  • improving thinking, learning, and judgment skills
  • reducing the risk of developing depression and anxiety
  • improving sleep quality
  • maintaining a moderate weight
  • reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers
  • strengthening bones and muscles
  • reducing the risk of falls in older adults

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adults perform 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week, including aerobic and muscle strengthening exercises.

Aerobic exercises can include walking, swimming, jogging, and running, while muscle strengthening exercises can involve lifting weights, using resistance bands, and some forms of yoga.

Here we answer some common questions about this fitness ring.

Does Oura Ring have a monthly fee?

Yes, the Oura Ring has a mandatory monthly fee. This costs $5.99 per month, or around $0.20 per day.

Can I shower with the Oura Ring?

The company states that the Oura Ring is water-resistant up to 330 ft. This means that people can shower while wearing this ring.

Can the Oura Ring wake me up?

The Oura Ring does not have an alarm, unlike many other fitness trackers.

Wearable health and fitness devices, such as the Oura Ring, allow people to track various health and sleep metrics. Individuals may find these products beneficial in reaching their fitness and health goals.

Physical activity can lead to several health benefits, such as lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.

Adults may want to consider aiming to perform 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week.

Please note: Medical News Today does not imply warranty of fitness for a particular purpose or endorse any of these applications. These apps have not been evaluated for medical accuracy by Medical News Today. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved them unless otherwise indicated.