WHOOP is great. If you can justify the recurring cost, there are no wearables (bar the Oura ring) that monitor your sleep, workouts and recovery in quite the same always-on manner. However, there’s one aspect of the WHOOP 4.0 that I have always struggled to overlook: the wrist band.
I’m a heavy sweater. Not chronically, but enough where I get salt lines on my gym wear and skin after workouts. I’ll leave the oversharing there, but what it has meant is that, whenever I exercise, my WHOOP’s default SuperKnit band absorbs so much sweat and moisture that the smell becomes, let’s just say, antisocial.
At £44 for a replacement, that’s a costly problem I’ve thus far resisted. Alternatively, I could forgo the continuous data collection with regular washes, which, while not the end of the world, is against the whole point of wearing a WHOOP in the first place. Thankfully, the brand’s latest accessory, the silicon SportFlex band, has addressed this issue head on.
Cons
- Expensive
- Some users find it bulky
- May or may not be compatible with rumoured next-gen device
Sweatproof, waterproof, dirtproof and srainproof, the SportFlex band means WHOOP users can now wear their WHOOP during workouts and simply rinse it clean afterwards. And the best part? It looks so much better.
The SportFlex band essentially looks like a Garmin watch, just without the watch face and more aesthetically pleasing. I got it mine in the Surge Orange colourway, but it also comes in grey, blue, black and purple.
In terms of performance, the band has a soft yet premium finish and the new buckle and locking mechanism, while a bit fiddly, is far easier to adjust and put on than the previous band. It’s also compatible with the existing charging pack.
Talking Points
I’m sold, but a Reddit thread does raise a few valid concerns. The first is that the new band is too bulky. While slightly thicker than the standard band, it’s a small price to pay for a more hygienic and exercise friendly product. And for anyone who already wears a fitness tracker all day, the experience is similar, if not more comfortable.
The SportFlex features a wrist watch-style buckle
Water beads off the new silicone SportFlex band
The other talking point is the eyebrow raising price. You won’t likely need to buy more than one of these, but at £54 it’s another expense on top of the annual cost that existing users could probably do without. As for new customers, it would be nice to be given the option of both the SuperKnit and the SportFlex when buying for the first time. Currently, you’re stuck with the original.
Then there’s the rumoured WHOOP 5.0. This comes up a few times in the Reddit thread, with users speculating whether or not the SportFlex would be compatible with a new version of the device should it launch in the near future.
The WHOOP website states the silicone band is ‘only compatible with WHOOP 4.0’, which some users have taken to infer that it won’t be. At £54, you’d certainly hope it would be.
Verdict
Overall, if you’re a WHOOP user who shares in my frustration of the default SuperKnit band, the new SportFlex offering is not only better looking, but more hygienic, more comfortable and has a better buckle. All of which should make it easier for sporty users (which is most) to wear their device 24/7. The only question left to ask is, why didn’t WHOOP release one sooner?
Luke Chamberlain is the ecommerce editor for Men’s Health UK where he compiles expert-led buying guides and in-depth product reviews across gym wear, fitness tech, supplements, and grooming. Responsible for testing everything from the latest gym headphones to the best manscaping tools, Luke also enlists the help of leading health and wellness experts to help readers make informed choices when shopping online – whether it’s to debunk the latest viral hair growth trend or to get the lowdown on a new type of recovery tech. He also covers major sales events for Men’s Health, such as Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day, scouting and verifying hundreds of discounts in order to recommend only the most genuine deals on offer. A magazine journalism graduate from the University of Sheffield in 2018, Luke has also worked as assistant editor for Outdoor Swimmer magazine and as an ecommerce writer for The Recommended. When he’s not testing the latest health and fitness products, he’s busy plotting routes for his next trail run or gravel ride out of London. Follow Luke on Instagram at @lukeochamb
