Agreed. For such a well-funded startup, their product and feature releases are too few and far between.
Without having the time to scroll through the entire thread, has anyone done wrist-to-wrist comparisons with a Garmin watch and Whoop 4.0? I’m currently doing just that with a FR 255. Mainly interested in HRV, resting HR, and sleep tracking, as these are the metrics I value and want to use to indicate ‘readiness’ rather than whatever the algorithm from either device tells me. In this respect Whoop has actually been great for me, despite @dcrainmaker’s review, I just don’t worry about a little extra strain or weird algorithm takes. It is bloody expensive though. I’ll come back when I have enough data from my new Garmin.
2 Likes
I use both the WHOOP and the OURA ring. They both do essentially the same thing in terms of sleep and HRV tracking, but (apart from the obvious form factor difference) have very different styles. OURA seems more touchy-feely and directed at non-athletes, and doesn’t have a developed and intuitive strain score like WHOOP does. But WHOOP completely shoots itself in the foot—it doesn’t admit how bad their sensor is at tracking HR during exercise, and this data is essential for determining the strain score which is central to the app. OURA has the same HRM accuracy issue during exercise, but they are smart/humble enough to pull workouts from third party apps like Strava, so you don’t have to rely on the device for exercise HRM as in the case of WHOOP. I agree with DC Rainmaker—WHOOP’s strain score is central to its value proposition, but its terrible exercise HRM capability, combined with its “not invented here” unwillingness to use (much higher quality) third party HRM data, mean the strain score is sort of a joke. Forcing customers to spend extra money buying underwear and whatnot to get a more accurate HRM reading shows you that they “hate their customers,” as Steve Jobs used to say about cellphone carriers. Nevertheless, I do check my WHOOP sleep score every morning and compare it to OURA’s. It’s like a “second opinion” from a doctor. There are also a couple ways WHOOP is more flexible than OURA. For example, if you take a nap and the device doesn’t notice it (happens 90% of the time with WHOOP, about 30% of the time with OURA), at least with WHOOP you can manually add the nap and then WHOOP will show you the sleep data (why it didn’t realize you took a nap when it already has the sleep data is a take-home exercise).
4 Likes
I was a whoop user for 3 years. I eventually got sick of the inaccuracy or the hrm and essentially just used it for the sleep and hrv measurements (which I believe were good)
During I tried the garmin venu 2 and the new vivo active watches which I really like in terms of build and comfort/looks however the hrm again did not work for me. Seemed ok at rest but as soon as I started to exercise they just went all over the place, even on the indoor trainer!
I recently changed to an Apple Watch 7 and it beats the hell out of the whoop in every single way. Sleep seems spot on for me, HR has never been more than 1 beat out versus my chest strap in the tests I’ve done both on and off the bike.
Plus all of the independent reviews (quantative scientist is a great resource) keep touting the Apple Watch as the most accurate wrist based hrm. I trust the data now.
1 Like
I’m with you and DCR.
Think it would be a total game-changer for WHOOP if they would allow you to use chest strap or other types of higher-accuracy HRMs during workouts and periods of high HR variability/intensity.
2 Likes
@Tom_Gurden any app recommendations for tracking sleep and/or HRV? Liked my whoop, but not the subscription. Would prefer to do it all via my watch.
I find the Apple sleep and health apps are already great since they’ve been updated recently to include sleep stages. I’ve also been using AutoSleep app for more in depth detail and another app called HeartWatch for more detailed heart rye information too.
2 Likes
When the time comes, I’ll be switching to a Garmin Vivosmart 5 (or whatever the next version is by the end of next year.)
Has anyone got any experiece with an Android smart watch alternative to the Whoop? The lack of accuracy with the HR during on exercise is putting me off.
1 Like
Does it have to be Android? I’ve had good luck with my Garmin Venu 2 and the Forerunner 955 I picked up a few months back. These will do most of the standard smart watch stuff when paired to an Android phone (notifications, etc) and I personally have found the Garmin metrics very useful.
1 Like
Im being dumb. Totally forgot that other watches will connect to an android phone.
1 Like
I picked one up because I could get most of the cost for a 6 month subscription reimbursed through health insurance, and it was cheaper than any alternative wearables. I also liked the battery life and the lack of screen.
So far so good, I did a threshold workout yesterday and it was within a couple beats of my chest strap.
As a parent of a newborn, I’m most interested in the sleep tracking. It’s honestly hard for me to gauge how much sleep I get (or don’t), and I hope this will help me see some patterns and change them.
As a parent of a 16M old you’ll be amazed how you can function off of almost no sleep. Some days/nights are like “oh we woke up 6 times and I slept a total of about 4h and I still feel good” other are like “I woke up twice, slept 8 hours and feel like shit”. Just go with the flow and don’t try to plan or force too much training ahead of time. Be flexibel and overcommunicate with your partner. All the best with your newborn. It’s magical.
2 Likes
Were you recording a ride o the fenix or just relying on the HR info from the “home” screen?
That was 4 years ago. 
1 Like
I see Whoop actually lowered their prices today to make it a bit more reasonable.
I’ve been using an Apple Watch app called Athlytic that does something similar but wondering if I’m missing some of the more advanced features along with some accuracy. With the price drop maybe now’s the time to make the switch.
Has anyone done a comparison between the two?
I’m still not paying a monthly fee for a watch, especially not $20 a month. Garmin does it all for free.
2 Likes
Where do you get this free Garmin watch?
3 Likes
I picked up a Vivosmart 4 on sale and wear it on the opposite wrist from my whoop. Pretty much convinced me I’m not renewing this year. IMHO the only thing whoop has going for it at this point is a more comfortable and potentially colorful wrist band.
1 Like
One time, hundred dollar purchase vs $240 per year for the same stuff. Or you can go a little more expensive and get a GPS watch that does way more than whoop. Again one time cost. No brainer imo.
7 Likes