Can You Wear an Apple Watch While Playing Sports?

The Apple Watch is one of the most beautifully designed and engineered smartwatches of our generation. And although Apple wasn’t the first to introduce a smartwatch, their design, flawless engineering, and seamless integration with the iPhone have made it one of the best selling tech products of the last decade.

And while an Apple Watch isn’t necessarily meant for use while at the gym or while playing a contact sport, many of us opt to do so.

Below, we are going to look at just whether or not you can wear an Apple Watch while playing sports. In addition, we will discuss both the pros and cons to doing so. Of-course, the final judgment call will be yours to make, but our in-depth review should better assist you in making a more informed decision.

What is the Apple Watch?

The Apple Watch, for those who may not know, is a line of smartwatches produced by Apple and are primarily meant to align and enhance a users Apple tech-stack, including their iPhone, Apple MacBook, iPad, and AirPods.

The Apple Watch incorporates fitness tracking, health-oriented capabilities, and wireless communications all into one wearable device that can be easily accessed via the users wrist.

First released in April 2015, the Apple Watch quickly became one of the fastest selling wearable devices in the world, with an estimated 100 million people wearing an Apple Watch by the end of 2020. And while most Apple Watches work in conjunction with a users iPhone, certain Apple Watch models can work independently of an iPhone with an LTE mobile network connection.

Benefits of an Apple Watch

While the latest generations of the Apple Watch are jam-packed with additional fitness related features and capabilities, there are a plethora of additional features which are often overlooked when deciding whether or not to purchase an Apple Watch.

Below, we are going to review some of the best benefits to owning and wearing an Apple Watch.

• Timekeeping – perhaps the most forgotten, but one of the most concrete and tangible, benefits to owning an Apple Watch is the timekeeping functionality. And while many of us have long since ditched our reliance on physical watches, instead opting to check the time on our phones, being able to take a quick glance at your wrist is infinitely easier than having to pull out your phone just to see the time.

• Access to notifications – whether you like to get notifications from all your apps or just a select few, the Apple Watch is great in that it allows you to quickly view and see what your latest notifications are. Whether you’re walking, playing a game of basketball, or talking to a friend, being able to timely see a notification allows you to decide whether or not it necessitates your pulling out your phone.

• Apple Pay – an oft overlooked feature of some of the newer Apple Watches is its Apple Pay integration. With a simple double-tap on the side of the watch, you are able to pull up the Apple Pay functionality and pay with your watch wherever Apple Pay is accepted.

• Control certain functions on your iPhone – perhaps one of our favorite uses for the Apple Watch is the ability to control certain functions on your iPhone. From changing a song to hiring the volume to accepting calls, this functionality makes the Apple Watch necessary for anyone who loves to listen to music on their phone.

• Find your iPhone – if you frequently misplace your iPhone, the Apple Watch has a simple one-touch button that will allow your phone to ping loudly to better assist you in finding it. A great feature and one that we, unfortunately, utilize all the time.

• Health and fitness capabilities – as you’re reading this article to find out just whether or not you should wear an Apple Watch while playing sports, the health and fitness capabilities are probably the most important to you. And there are many. The Apple Watch can alert you to both high and low heart rate notifications, an irregular heart rate notification, fall and emergency SOS contacts, blood oxygen levels, and even sleep tracking. And with a dedicated fitness app on both the Apple Watch and iPhone, you can track your exercises, your daily steps, and your daily caloric output.

Best Apple Watch for Sports

While there are quite a few Apple Watches available for purchase, not all of them are suitable for fitness and sports related activities. Rather, some of the higher-end and more durable models are better suited to be worn during a game or exercise activity and you should consider investing in those models to better ensure your watch can keep up with your fitness routine.

In addition, many of the different Apple Watch models have different bands which come with the watch. Some of these bands are better suited to sports and physical activity, whereas some of the higher-end bands will cause chafing and may not be the best for the gym.

• Apple Watch Series 7 With Starlight Sports Band – our top recommendation for the best Apple Watch for sporting activities is the Apple Watch Series 7 With Starlight Sports Band. Although it contains many of the same features as other series 7 models, the sports band is elastic and allows for some breathing room while being worn. Comfortable even when worn all day, the band is light and doesn’t add to much extra weight to your wrist.

However, as the Apple Watch bands are replaceable, a better option, particularly if you already have or own an Apple Watch, is to simply purchase a replacement band. These bands can be mixed-and-matched depending on your style for the day and are great for use at the gym or while working out.

Personally, we’ve opted for these replaceable bands. Stylish and coming in many different colors, including pink, black, white, pine green, and lavender, these replacement Apple Watch bands feature punctured holes throughout allowing for breathability and comfort while being worn.

Pros and Cons to Wearing an Apple Watch While Exercising

Admittedly, an Apple Watch may not be the best option when completing certain exercises. In particular, any physical, full-contact, or sports where you risk taking a fall can negatively impact the face of the watch and require a repair.

However, below, we are going to list some of the pros and cons of wearing an Apple Watch while exercising.

Pros of Wearing an Apple Watch While Exercising

• Ability to track workouts – by far the number one reason you will want to wear an Apple Watch while exercising is to take advantage of the watch’s ability to track your workouts and the number of calories expended. The Apple Watch does a great job calculating calories burnt and can be a great motivating tool to help you stick to your fitness routines.

• Ability to keep in touch – similarly, if you are exercising and don’t have quick access to your phone, such as when you are running a marathon or swimming in a pool, the Apple Watch can be a great alternative. Allowing you to view and reply to messages and phone calls easily, you won’t have to interrupt your session to view or reply to a notification.

• Ability to leave your phone behind – if you opt to purchase, or already have, an LTE enabled Apple Watch, then you won’t need to lug your phone with you to the gym, the pool, or the basketball court. Rather, your watch will act as your phone and you will still be able to receive all the notifications as if you had your phone on you.

Cons of Wearing an Apple Watch While Exercising

• Potential for the watch face to scratch – the biggest issue and deterrence we’ve found to wearing an Apple Watch while exercising is that, all-too-often, a simply bump against a hard surface, dumbbell, or jagged edge can scratch the face of the watch. There are two options here, firstly, you can invest in an Apple Watch screen protector, which will help to keep the watch face free from dirt, debris, and scratches. However, if you’re not a fan of screen protectors, consider getting AppleCare+. Regularly bundled with a purchase of the Apple Watch, AppleCare+ extends your warranty coverage on the watch and provides you with 24/7 priority access to technical support to troubleshoot your watch.

• Discomfort while sweating – a common issue we’ve heard, but one that we haven’t felt, is the discomfort that comes along when wearing an Apple Watch and sweating. In this scenario, we would recommend pausing your workout momentarily and removing the Apple Watch. Allowing for a few minutes to let fresh air hit the affected area and for the watch to cool down should help.

• A prohibited item – lastly, in some professional leagues, wearing of an Apple Watch or another fitness tracker is prohibited. If that is the case, you will simply have to remove the Apple Watch and keep it safely secured until the end of the workout.