I’ve been wearing the Oura Ring for a little over a month now—and let me just say: I have some thoughts. So what, exactly, are those thoughts—and would I recommend the Oura Ring to others?
Let’s take a look at my Oura Ring review ahead. I’m sharing everything you need to know about the Oura Ring and how to use it for best results.
What is an Oura Ring?
First things first: Before we jump into my Oura Ring review, let’s quickly touch on the basics—starting with what is Oura Ring?
The Oura Ring is a smart ring designed to track a variety of health metrics—and then analyze those metrics to provide key insights into several areas, including sleep, activity, recovery, and overall well-being.
The Oura Ring is made out of titanium—a strong (and hypoallergenic!) type of metal—and comes in multiple finishes.
Some key claims and features to know about the Oura Ring include:
- Tracks a variety of health metrics. The Oura Ring tracks a number of different metrics, including heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), and body temperature. It also tracks activity levels (for example, the number of steps taken per day and total calorie burn) as well as sleep.
- Provides key insights into health metrics. The Oura Ring doesn’t just give you health metrics; it also analyzes those health metrics to give you key insights into your health. For example, the Oura Ring delivers key insights into sleep stages (like how much time a user spends in light, REM, and deep sleep), sleep quality, and stress levels.
- Provides personalized scores. One unique feature of the Oura Ring is that it not only tracks metrics and offers insights individually. It also takes all the data and uses it to calculate three daily scores: a “readiness score,” which tells you how rested and recovered your body is on any given day, a “sleep score,” which tells you how well (or not well) you slept, and an “activity score,” which tells you how well you’re balancing your need for activity and rest. These scores allow you to quickly and easily assess each area of your health—and adjust your daily routine accordingly.
- Cycle tracking. The Oura Ring can also help people with periods better monitor and track their cycles by measuring changes in certain biometrics, like body temperature and heart rate.
- App features. The Oura app offers a variety of features to support users, like shareable reports (which allows you to share your health data with medical professionals), a daily timeline, and Circles, which allows you to connect with friends and family members that are also using the Oura Ring.
The Oura Ring is also waterproof and offers an extended battery life (which, depending on the model, may last up to eight days).
How does the Oura Ring work?
Now that you know what the Oura Ring is, let’s quickly touch on how it works.
The Oura Ring features sensors that continually collect data on multiple biometric markers—and then use that data to calculate the scores and make personalized health recommendations for each user.
The newest model, the Oura Ring 4, uses a sensing platform called “Smart Sensing.” Here’s how Oura describes the Smart Sensing system on the Oura blog:
“Smart Sensing is powered by an algorithm that works alongside the research-grade sensors within Oura Ring 4 to respond to each member’s unique finger physiology, including the structure and distinct features of your finger (i.e. skin tone, BMI, and age).
The multiple sensors form an 18-path multi-wavelength photoplethysmography (PPG) subsystem, which adjusts dynamically to your lifestyle throughout the day and night.
The sensors in Oura Ring 4 include:
- Red and infrared LEDs, which measure blood oxygen levels while you sleep
- Green and infrared LEDs, which alternate to measure heart rate and heart rate variability 24/7 and respiration rate as you sleep
- A digital temperature sensor, which measures your skin temperature variations
- An accelerometer, which tracks movement and activity”
The Sensing System claims to provide “unparalleled accuracy and personalization.”
My Oura Ring review
We’ve covered what the Oura Ring is. We’ve covered how it works. Now, let’s cover my personal experience with it in my Oura Ring review.
The first thing I appreciated about the Oura Ring versus other trackers is the sizing kit. When you purchase an Oura Ring, you get sent a kit that has rings in multiple sizes; that way, you can try each size on and figure out which feels the most comfortable.
Then, you can scan a QR code which takes you directly to the page where you choose your ring size and finish. The process was super easy and straightforward—and I loved that I could try the ring on beforehand before committing to a size.
I opted for a size 9 that I wear on my index finger; it’s snug enough that it doesn’t move throughout the day—and snug enough that the sensors can do their job—but not so tight that it feels uncomfortable or is hard to get on or off.
(If I hadn’t had the sizing kit, I probably would’ve ordered a smaller size, which would’ve meant having to exchange the ring after arrival—so the sizing kit definitely came in handy.)
I also was able to pick out the color and finish of my ring. I got the Oura Ring 4, which comes in six different finishes; I opted for the black. (What can I say? I’m a neutral gal—and black matches with everything!)
Once I submitted my size and finish request, the Oura Ring was quick to arrive—and setup was really simple. You download the Oura app, connect the device via the app, put on the ring, and you’re good to go.
For me, the biggest draw of the Oura Ring compared to other fitness trackers was the design. The ring was sleek, smooth, and easy to wear. In fact, sometimes, I would forget I was even wearing it!
That was a huge difference from other trackers I’ve worn (mostly around my wrist) that can feel clunky and intrusive—especially during sleep.
But that’s not all it has to offer. The more I used the Oura Ring, the more impressed I was with the data it collected—and how it analyzed that data and used it to give me actionable insights to improve my health.
For me, the biggest draw of the Oura Ring compared to other fitness trackers was the design. The ring was sleek, smooth, and easy to wear. In fact, sometimes, I would forget I was even wearing it!
I’m a bit of a data nerd, so most days I would dive into the data to get a deeper understanding of what was going on with my body on any given day.
But on days I didn’t have the time, energy, or desire to take that deep dive, it was totally fine—because the personalized sleep, readiness, and activity scores summarized everything I needed to know.
Low readiness score? Probably best to take it easy that day. Unusually high sleep score? It probably makes sense to review my bedtime routine the previous day to see if there was anything different I did that led to me getting such a good night’s sleep.
Speaking of sleep, I can definitely say that using the Oura Ring for approximately a month has helped me get better sleep.
It’s helped me prioritize when I needed sleep, analyze my sleep challenges (for example, I learned I wasn’t getting nearly enough deep sleep!), and figure out a plan for maximizing my schedule, habits, and sleep hygiene to get the best rest possible.
I always enjoyed the personalized recommendations; for example, the night before I wrote this review, I didn’t get the best rest—and the Oura Ring suggested that, if I was tired, I should take a walk before starting my day to boost my energy. So, I did—and it absolutely worked!
If you’re looking for a sleep tracker that doesn’t just track your sleep but actually helps you improve it? The Oura Ring is definitely one to consider.
One thing I noticed is that, while Oura claims that the Oura 4’s battery life can last up to eight days, for me it was more like five days before the ring needed to recharge. But still—five days is a solid amount of time to go without charging!
Bottom line: Would I recommend the Oura Ring—and, more specifically, would I recommend that Oura 4? Absolutely. I loved the design, I loved the data (and the way that data was analyzed and presented), I loved the app, I loved the convenience…really, I loved the whole experience.
Pros and cons of the Oura Ring
For me, the Oura Ring offered mostly pros, including:
- High comfortability/ease of wear
- Sleek design
- Solid ordering and sizing process
- Easy-to-navigate app
- Cutting-edge sensor technology that offers improved accuracy
- Variety of metrics tracked
- Data presented in an easy-to-digest way
- Customized health recommendations
While I had a mostly positive experience with the Oura Ring, there were a few cons, including:
- Shorter-than-expected battery life
- Easy to lose (because it’s so small, if you take it off, it’s easy to lose track of!)
- Had a few days where my fitness tracking didn’t seem accurate (for example, low calorie burn after a high-intensity workout or more steps-pre-day calculated than I felt I had taken)
FAQs
What is an Oura Ring used for?
The Oura Ring is used to monitor and track a variety of health metrics—and then use those metrics to gain insights into your health, including sleep, recovery, and activity.
What finger is best for Oura Ring?
I wore the Oura Ring on my index finger, which is what Oura recommends—but the ring will also work on the middle and ring fingers.
Are Oura Rings metal?
They are! More specifically, Oura Rings are made out of titanium.
Does Oura Ring track steps?
Yes! The Oura Ring uses a 3D accelerometer that tracks movement in all directions—including steps.
Is Oura Ring worth it?
Depending on the finish, the Oura Ring 4 retails for between $349 and $499—which is definitely an investment. (Gen3 models start at $249.) But I was impressed with both the design and functionality—so if it’s within your budget and you’re on the market for a high-quality, accurate health tracker, I’d definitely say it’s worth it. (It’s also worth noting that Oura Rings are HSA/FSA eligible.)
Why trust our review
I’ve been writing on health and wellness—including sleep—for almost a decade, both on the editorial side and the brand side. I also have experience reviewing fitness equipment and wearables; I have regularly tested these types of products and shared my honest thoughts, insights, and experience with readers to help them decide whether a product is right for them and their own wellness journey.
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Images courtesy of Oura Ring