You’ve seen it. You’re scrolling through your "For You" page, and some fitness creator is doing a high-intensity interval workout or pushing a stroller through a park. Everything looks normal until the camera pans down, and there it is—a glowing screen strapped right above their sneaker.
TikTok influencers are wearing apple watches on their ankles, and honestly, it’s not just for the aesthetic.
It looks like an ankle monitor. People have actually joked about looking like they’re under house arrest, but for a specific corner of the internet, this is the ultimate productivity hack. Whether it’s moms trying to get credit for miles walked with a stroller or people using "walking pads" under their standing desks, the wrist just isn't cutting it anymore.
Why the Wrist Fails for Modern Movement
The Apple Watch is a piece of engineering magic, but it’s basically built on one giant assumption: your arms are going to swing.
When you walk, the accelerometer and gyroscope inside the watch look for that rhythmic "swoosh" of your arm. But think about how we actually move in 2026. If you’re at a standing desk typing away while your feet are moving at 2.5 mph on a treadmill, your wrist is stationary. Your watch thinks you’re sitting on the couch.
Same goes for pushing a stroller. If your hands are locked onto a handlebar, your watch misses almost every step. It’s frustrating. You’ve done three miles, but your rings haven't moved an inch.
Fitness influencers like Ana Espinal and Kristen Hollingshaus have been some of the most vocal about this. Espinal, who has a massive following on TikTok, famously pointed out that for those with tiny wrists, the watch often fits too loosely to even register a consistent heart rate. Moving it to the ankle—where the "wrist" is naturally thicker—solves the fit issue and the step-tracking issue in one go.
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The Science of the "Ankle Hack"
Does it actually work? Well, sort of.
If you care about step counts, the ankle is arguably superior for specific activities. When your watch is on your leg, it’s physically impossible for it to miss a step. Every stride is a direct movement that the sensors can pick up. TikTok user @MediocreMomAdventures actually tested this, walking around a grocery store with one watch on her wrist and one on her ankle. The ankle watch picked up hundreds of steps that the wrist watch missed because she was pushing a shopping cart.
But there’s a catch. A big one.
The Heart Rate Problem
Apple’s sensors use something called photoplethysmography. It’s a fancy word for "shining a green light into your skin to see how much blood is pumping." This technology is calibrated for the skin and blood flow patterns of the wrist.
The anatomy of your ankle is different. The skin is thicker in some spots, and the bone structure can interfere with the sensor’s "seal." In tests conducted by tech reviewers at AppleInsider and Tom’s Guide, heart rate readings on the ankle were often lower or more erratic than wrist readings. One tester found their ankle watch read 63 BPM while their wrist was actually at 75 BPM.
Features That Break
If you’re wearing your Apple Watch on your ankle, you can pretty much say goodbye to:
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- ECG Readings: These require you to touch the Digital Crown with your opposite hand while the watch is on your wrist. Unless you’re a yoga master, that’s not happening on your ankle.
- Blood Oxygen (SpO2): This sensor is notoriously finicky. Even a slightly loose fit on the ankle will cause it to fail.
- Apple Pay: Good luck double-clicking that side button and hovering your leg over the card reader at Starbucks.
The Fashion and "Probation" Aesthetic
We have to talk about the elephant in the room. It looks weird.
For many, the first thought upon seeing someone with a black strap around their ankle isn't "Oh, they must be tracking their zone minutes." It’s "What did they do to get on house arrest?"
The "Anna Delvey" aesthetic is a real thing. Influencers have leaned into this, sometimes even bedazzling their ankle straps or using high-end leather bands to make it look more like jewelry. It’s a "stylistic hacking" of sorts. You’re taking a piece of tech and wearing it in a way that feels subversive.
There’s also a practical side for professionals. Surgeons, nurses, and chefs often work in "bare below the elbows" environments for hygiene reasons. For them, the ankle is the only way to close their rings during a 12-hour shift.
How to Actually Do It (The Right Way)
If you’re going to try this, don’t just use your regular silicon solo loop. It’s going to be too small, and you’ll end up cutting off your circulation.
- Get a Velcro Sport Loop: These are adjustable enough to fit most ankles.
- Look for Extenders: Companies like Andrea Rees Design or various Amazon sellers make specific "ankle bands" that house the watch face securely.
- Turn Off Wrist Detection: This is the "secret sauce." If you don't turn this off in the settings, the watch will constantly lock itself because it doesn't think it’s on a body part.
- Positioning: Place the sensor just above the ankle bone on the inside of your leg. This is usually the "flattest" spot where the green light can get the best reading of your blood flow.
Is it Worth the Hassle?
Honestly? It depends on your goals.
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If you are a data junkie who needs every single step recorded while you use your walking pad, then yes, the ankle is your new best friend. It’s the only way to get a true reflection of your movement when your arms are stationary.
However, if you rely on your Apple Watch for heart health notifications, sleep tracking, or keeping an eye on your VO2 Max, stay with the wrist. The algorithms just aren't there yet to treat a leg like an arm.
The trend is a fascinating look at how we’ve become obsessed with "closing the rings." We’ve reached a point where the physical exertion of a workout isn't enough; we need the digital validation to prove it happened. If that means looking like we’re out on bail while we’re on the elliptical, so be it.
Practical Steps for New Ankle-Wearers
If you’re ready to jump on the trend, start by doing a "calibration walk." Wear your watch on your ankle for a 10-minute walk where you manually count your steps. Compare your count to the watch's data. If it's within a 5% margin, you're good to go for step tracking. Just remember to move it back to your wrist before you try to use a gesture to answer a phone call, or you’ll be doing some very awkward leg lifts in public.
Next time you see a creator with a glowing ankle, don't judge. They’re probably just trying to get credit for that 45-minute stroll with the double stroller.
Actionable Insight: If you decide to try ankle-wearing, disable "Auto-Pause" in your workout settings. Because the watch expects wrist-based movement patterns, it may mistakenly think you've stopped moving during a run or walk, causing the workout to pause repeatedly. Turning this off ensures the session stays active even if the leg-to-wrist translation is slightly "lost in translation."