For Ana Espinal, the frustration of her Apple Watch failing to register her workouts at the gym led to an unconventional yet effective solution—wearing it on her ankle.
With small wrists, Espinal often found that her smartwatch’s fitness tracking would shut down mid-workout, likely due to a loose fit. Seeking advice online, she discovered a niche community of users who had moved their watches to their ankles for improved accuracy. A simple Velcro strap from Marshalls allowed her to secure the device in place, solving the problem instantly.
“It’s perfect,” said Espinal, a fitness influencer with over 80,000 TikTok followers. Her viral post—captioned, “Me putting my Apple Watch on my ankle while I work out cause if you know you know”—resonated with many, proving she wasn’t alone in her discovery.
A Growing Trend Among Fitness Enthusiasts
Though unconventional, the practice has been gaining traction for several years. Many Apple Watch users have resorted to strapping the device to their ankles due to practical or medical reasons. Some professionals, such as healthcare workers, are prohibited from wearing accessories on their wrists. Others experience skin irritation, or have tattoos that interfere with the watch’s sensors.
Step counters and fitness devotees argue that wearing the watch on their ankle yields more precise activity tracking. Espinal, 23, now sees herself as an advocate for this alternative placement.
“I have to tell my people about this,” she said.
Shaniece Gale, a 33-year-old medical assistant from Brampton, Ontario, also turned to the ankle placement out of necessity. After the birth of her son in 2023, she noticed that pushing his stroller prevented her watch from counting steps unless she deliberately swung her free arm—an exhausting workaround.
“So I was like, ‘You know what? Let me put it on my ankle,’” Gale said.
Zoe Hughley Beasley, a loan officer from Missouri, made a similar switch after her office introduced walking pads. She quickly realized that typing at her standing desk prevented her Apple Watch from detecting her steps.
“Because I’m just typing emails, and you’re attached to your keyboard,” she explained.
Like Gale, Hughley Beasley now places the watch on her ankle when pushing her newborn’s stroller. Despite its unconventionality, she insists the method produces accurate health metrics.
“I know it’s ridiculous,” she admitted.
The Perception Problem
Not everyone immediately understands the reasoning behind an ankle-worn Apple Watch. Espinal recalled an incident at the gym when an older woman, noticing the device on her ankle, mistakenly assumed it was an electronic monitor.
“‘Oh, my God,’” the woman said. “‘What happened? You got in trouble?’”
Espinal had to clarify that it was, in fact, just a fitness hack.
Hughley Beasley has faced similar encounters, often feeling the need to reassure neighbors that she is not under house arrest.
“It’s not what it looks like,” she laughed. “I promise.”
Apple’s Official Stance
While Apple has not officially commented on the growing trend, its support materials emphasize that key features, such as heart rate monitoring, are specifically calibrated for wrist placement. The watch uses LED lights and semiconductors to detect blood flow, a function optimized for wrist-based wear.
Despite this, users continue to find alternative placements beneficial, even if it leads to occasional misunderstandings.
When It Is an Ankle Monitor
In a humorous twist, some who have actually worn ankle monitors see the resemblance. Jason Rogers, an actor and author from Houston, recalled wearing a court-ordered ankle monitor following a 2019 arrest for impaired driving.
“My niece asked, ‘Why are you wearing an Apple Watch on your ankle?’” he said.
Rogers turned the moment into a viral TikTok, playfully using the Blackstreet lyric, “You got your problems, baby, I got mine.”
Though he spent two years wearing an ankle monitor, Rogers has since moved on. Asked whether he would voluntarily wear a device on his ankle again, he laughed, leaving the question open-ended.
For now, Apple Watches on ankles remain an unusual yet practical trend—one that continues to spark curiosity, confusion, and conversation.
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