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It’s never been easier to track your fitness levels and well-being, thanks in part to smart wearables like the Whoop band. Wearable technology of this kind allows you to track all your biometric data in one place and optimize your health based on the results.
Prince William is the latest celebrity to be spotted wearing the Whoop wellness tracker, and he’s in good company. Sports icons like LeBron James and Rory McIlroy are already fans of the wearable. William played with his band Whoop as he supported England at the Euros this weekend in their match against Switzerland.
So what do we know about the latest iteration of Whoop? And fit for royalty?
What is wearing Whoop?
For the uninitiated, Whoop is one of the most advanced wellness devices on the market. Worn on the wrist like a watch, the wristband uses sensors to capture biometric data such as heart rate, temperature and sleep patterns to give you a comprehensive view of what’s going on with your health.
The app then creates a series of baselines and predictions using your health data. He breaks it down in a way that is easy to understand and gives you recommendations on how to improve. The band and app essentially act as a 24/7 health coach to help you adjust your habits and take better care of your health and well-being.
Obviously, Whoop is a hit with athletes and people for whom training is their life, but anyone can use the technology to improve their fitness, make lifestyle changes and track the metrics that matter to them. Prince William is just the latest in a long list of celebrities who have chosen to use Whoop to optimize their well-being. But is the investment worth it?
Is Whoop worth it?
Well, the Whoop is said to have the best level of accuracy of any wearable of its kind, with five LEDs and four photodiodes built into the band. In our review of the tracker, the user experience was praised for being pretty straightforward, with three different phases of your health that can be tracked: exercise, rest and recovery. For each one, you’ll receive a score to help you adjust your activity throughout the week.
Our testers also ranked Whoop the highest of all sleep optimization devices. The bracelet analyzes your sleep quality and suggests how much sleep you’ll need, as well as sending reminders to track your own behavior throughout the day to make better predictions and suggestions to support sleep hygiene. Battery life is pretty decent too – lasting five days with a removable battery that you can charge on the go.
In terms of price, the Whoop works much like other wearables in that you pay for an app subscription and the band is part of your subscription. An annual membership will set you back £229, which is less than £20 a month. But before you commit, you can try a free month to test out a used device instead of opting for a brand new one.
If you prefer a brand new band, there are about 30 different styles of bands to choose from for a small upgrade fee. Choose an elegant braided belt in your favorite color or use a classic onyx a la Prince William.
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Looking for more wear recommendations? Read our review of the best smart rings