Muscle Evolved

Health Tracking Ring: Oura Ring Review

By Caleb Hester · · Updated

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Over the past decade, smart wearable products have not only changed the way we communicate and consume technology but the way we track our own personal health.

You may be familiar with wearable tech watches such as Fitbit, Samsung smartwatch, Apple Watch, and a whole list of others.

If you are interested in seeing other more budget-friendly workout watches, check out this article.

These devices have helped health-conscious individuals track their health. This could be tracking steps, tracking sleep patterns, monitoring heart rate, and a host of other uses. They have become incredibly helpful for many people over the last decade.

Smart rings shrink this technology down to the size of a ring. Here we go over what the Oura Ring offers for health tracking and what you need to know before buying.

What Is a Health Tracking Ring?

Health tracking rings are similar to fitness trackers like Fitbit. They track your steps, heart rate, sleep patterns, and more. They have a much smaller footprint, so many people forget they are wearing them.

Health tracking rings have not been around as long as health tracking watches or even phone applications that track your steps and sleep, but they have grown quickly and are worth your attention.

Health monitoring rings appeal to people who prefer not to wear a watch or something that large on their wrists.

One advantage of a ring is that nothing sits on your wrist during exercises like push-ups or wrist-heavy lifts. Rings also have a simple, low-profile look that doesn't date as quickly as a smartwatch design.

What Is The Oura Ring?

Oura is among the best-known makers of health tracking rings.

Oura Rings sit at the higher end of the price range for health monitoring rings, and their sleep tracking holds up well in research.

The rings give you detailed sleep reports and tips to improve your sleep score. A 2025 meta-analysis found Oura's total sleep time and sleep stage estimates close to medical-grade sleep studies on average, though it cannot replace clinical sleep testing.

Additionally, the rings estimate your steps and activity. The ring has no built-in GPS, so it doesn't map your runs on its own, and step counts are less precise: one validation study found the ring tended to overcount steps, with large errors compared with a research-grade activity monitor.

The Oura rings also track skin temperature trends and heart rate around the clock. These are wellness insights, not medical diagnoses.

The Oura rings are premium health trackers aimed mainly at people who care most about sleep and recovery data.

Is The Oura Ring Waterproof?

Mostly yes. Oura rates the ring as water-resistant up to 100 meters (about 330 feet). That covers showering, swimming, and washing dishes, but it isn't designed for scuba diving.

This is something I feel should come with a ring of this sort, so it is good to know you can wear it in the water.

Is The Oura Ring Worth It?

When we first reviewed it, the Oura Ring started at $299, and Oura also charges a monthly membership for full access to its data. Prices have changed with newer models, so check the current price. For most individuals, the Oura ring just isn't worth it, considering you can get a basic Fitbit for under $100. However, for those that are heavily invested in working out, the Oura Ring may be worth the high price.

Although these small pieces of smart tech are pretty to look at and helpful, if you really consider the pros and cons, you can easily get these features, plus a screen and time telling, for way under the price of the Oura Ring.

Even in an article that we here at MuscleEvolved have written, Best Budget Workout Watches, show options, although budget, offer more than the Oura ring offers.

Some of the budget watches are under $50, yet, have message integration, can receive phone calls, have running maps, and so much more.

Now, with the rings, you really only get information that can be displayed with your partnered phone. Although the concept is great and I love the way they look, I think the Oura ring would be much easier to recommend at a lower price.

Oura Ring Vs Fitbit

If you are deciding between the Oura ring or the Fitbit, the Fitbit undoubtedly offers more features for either the same price as the Oura Ring or considerably less.

If the ring form factor is extremely important to you, then the Oura ring may be worth the purchase, but consider that many Fitbit models offer more features, such as a screen and notifications.

The Fitbit gives you more flexibility. You get most of the same tracking features as the ring, plus a screen and, on many models, call and text notifications.

The rings are a great concept, but at around $300 or more, plus a membership, they are a tough sell against Fitbit, Samsung, and Apple watches on value alone.

Conclusion

The Oura ring is a great concept and a good product, especially for sleep tracking. In terms of pricing, we don't think it is worth the cost for most people, given the ring price plus the monthly membership. This technology is impressive for such a small device, but for value, a fitness watch is still the better buy for most people.

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