I’ve used Whoop for several years now and my biggest complaint is that I have to sleep with the sensor in a bralette (thank goodness they’re comfortable) to get accurate sleep/recovery data, based on their suggestion. I am 5’7” but have a smaller bone structure. The 4.0 sensor doesn’t read well on my wrist. They wanted me to wear it halfway up my forearm to solve the issue and I thought that to be ridiculous and uncomfortable. The compromise was the bralette. I hope the smaller sensor will improve the experience for people will smaller frames. Even as I’m annoyed to have to replace the wearables I’ve accumulated the last several years when I upgrade in the fall.
Also, have they talked about how they’ll protect the data of cycling women who use the app to track their periods? I’m in menopause so it doesn’t apply to me. But I know that some data privacy folks have urged caution for people who menstruate because of how said apps could be potentially used for surveillance in light of the political environment surrounding abortion and pregnancy loss.
Hi! I also have very small wrists and did a size comparison in my stories. I think the smaller size will work better for you. I wear mine two fingers above my wrist bone.
I did ask them, when Roe v Wade fell, about their hormonal cycle data protection. Your data isn’t even accessible to WHOOP, unless you specifically authorize that (like asking them a question about your specific data). However, if I was of childbearing are and lived in a state looking to prosecute people for abortion, I would not put my personal health data anywhere, into any app, period.
This update felt very "Black Mirror" to me (those who have seen the new season would understand). Why make the new hardware 7% smaller? It's a negligible size difference, but one which creates an impressive amount of waste because neither the bands nor the battery packs would work on the new hardware. Giving it to someone else is not a real upcycle, let's face it. Whoop clearly is not considering our precious environment. Also, wasn't new hardware guaranteed less than a year ago if you were a paying member? :( I'm very unhappy with this whole thing, and while I like the product overall, and have enjoyed their diligent work providing female-specific research and data, the money is not worth it, and I have cancelled my membership. Am I the only one seeing the obvious? Melissa, forever grateful for your guidance in health and wellness. I don't regret getting Whoop last year following your recommendation. I wish I could recycle my bands and hardware, though. :/
Oh, I will also add this, gifting your 4.0 to someone is actually a very viable solution. The 4.0 is going to continue to be updated and has all of the same features as the 5.0 in terms of software, with the Peak subscription. Whether someone wants to dip their toe into WHOOP or just doesn’t need the advanced functionality of the MG, the 4.0 would be a fantastic gift. (After all, it’s worked so well for all of us for so many years!) Again, it’s no different than giving your 14 model iPhone to your teen or parent. No, it’s not brand new, but it still gives you so much functionality!
I’m hearing a lot of this, so you’re not alone. People are upset for the reasons you mentioned, including the lack of transfer for the bands/battery. (In fact, when I did my intro call with them a few weeks ago about the new product, I said, “Oh, people will not like this.”) But then I thought about it, and every time you get an iPhone, you have to buy a new case and a new screen protector because they change the size. I thought maybe this would provoke a similar sentiment, like “Well that sucks, but we get it.” I definitely know people are upset about not being able to upgrade earlier. For example, I talked to someone yesterday who has her membership paid through November. This means she won’t be able to upgrade to the new hardware for free until October, when she extends her membership. Which I also get. Like, yes it’s free, but you have to wait. Appreciate the feedback and the kindness with which you shared it. ❤️
Well I guess it’s a good thing we didn’t get a Melissa v4 band! I guess I will keep patiently but not patiently waiting for the Melissa Urban collab band v5. 😏
I am a “founding member” of whoop so they gave me a sweet deal for upgrading. I realize it’s not practical for everyone. I have a 4.0 and lots of bands I am willing to gift to someone.
Yes, I forgot to mention that Founding Members do get a sweet deal! And we'll keep pushing for that collab. I'm going to gift my 4.0 and band collection as well, happy it will go to someone who can use it, and happy knowing the 4.0 will continue to be updated!
I was motivated by your past posts on this subject to decide on either oura or Samsung rings or Whoop as tracking devices, with particular focus on sleep monitoring.
What I read from several geeky reviews without a vested interest is that all of them are fine for monitoring normal sleep patterns -- but if the sleep patterns are not typical for any number of reasons -- the readings are not that useful. Mine are more in the not normal range. Fitbit says it up front that it can only supply data for uninterrupted ranges of sleep data over three hours -- so not useful if one's sleep pattern does not reach that Promised Land.
What do you know about this fine point on sleep monitoring and might version 5 be better at sleep monitoring and reporting. If so, I'm in.
Hi William! This is an excellent question, so buckle up. WHOOP can provide reasonably accurate sleep tracking, but you're right, their accuracy drops in people with disturbed sleep patterns. If you have frequent awakenings, insomnia, or sleep apnea, ANY tracker will struggle with sleep stage accuracy (wakefulness vs. light sleep); accurately tracking wakefulness (especially if it's brief); identifying when sleep starts and stops; and REM/deep sleep estimations (as these are only inferred based on other data).
Studies comparing WHOOP to polysomnography show decent accuracy for total sleep time and time in bed, but poor accuracy for sleep stages, especially REM and deep sleep. However, WHOOP is considered more accurate than Fitbit.
So will it work as well for you as it does for me, with normal sleep patterns? Likely not, at a micro level. But will it accurately identify sleep trends over time? Yes! And it can also help you identify which behaviors affect your sleep the most, with the journal feature.
Melissa, thank you for your thoughtful and thorough response. I've observed how much you invest in authentically and "off-script" responding to people in your community. It's winning, relatively rare, and admirable.
What I'm most interested in are the sleep stages—REM and deep sleep—and my sense is that Whoop and Oura/Samsung rings are equally challenged in identifying those, while Fitbit isn't even a contender. I'm pretty observant of behaviors and environments that influence my waking and non-waking state, so Whoop may not be a decisive helper here, but there are other areas in which it can be. So, I still may experiment with it, and now with calibrated expectations in the sleep zone.
57yo female. I used whoop for a full year, ending summer 2023. I was frustrated the full year bc 1. Low HRV that i was never able to improve over 12 months, and 2. Cumbersome/complicated (for me... a lifelong pattern not specific to whoop) software that intimidated me into not fully understanding/exploring the APP. I never found a worthy beginner's video that explained how to properly use and interpret the APP, and I'm concerned i will pay much $ to have the same experience if i choose to try whoop again. Any video recommendations that can help me learn how to fully navigate/interpret the APP? Much appreciated.
Hi Michelle! I totally understand, it’s frustrating to have software or hardware and feel like you’re only utilizing 10% of the capabilities. I made a lot of videos about the 4.0, and will absolutely do the same for the 5.0. Not as a means of winning you back, but because I know there are a lot of people Who could use the tips and tricks!
I’ve used Whoop for several years now and my biggest complaint is that I have to sleep with the sensor in a bralette (thank goodness they’re comfortable) to get accurate sleep/recovery data, based on their suggestion. I am 5’7” but have a smaller bone structure. The 4.0 sensor doesn’t read well on my wrist. They wanted me to wear it halfway up my forearm to solve the issue and I thought that to be ridiculous and uncomfortable. The compromise was the bralette. I hope the smaller sensor will improve the experience for people will smaller frames. Even as I’m annoyed to have to replace the wearables I’ve accumulated the last several years when I upgrade in the fall.
Also, have they talked about how they’ll protect the data of cycling women who use the app to track their periods? I’m in menopause so it doesn’t apply to me. But I know that some data privacy folks have urged caution for people who menstruate because of how said apps could be potentially used for surveillance in light of the political environment surrounding abortion and pregnancy loss.
Hi! I also have very small wrists and did a size comparison in my stories. I think the smaller size will work better for you. I wear mine two fingers above my wrist bone.
I did ask them, when Roe v Wade fell, about their hormonal cycle data protection. Your data isn’t even accessible to WHOOP, unless you specifically authorize that (like asking them a question about your specific data). However, if I was of childbearing are and lived in a state looking to prosecute people for abortion, I would not put my personal health data anywhere, into any app, period.
I’m cautiously hopeful about the smaller size. I’d love to be able to sleep with it on my wrist and get accurate info.
Also, I love that you asked them about the data after Roe fell!
This update felt very "Black Mirror" to me (those who have seen the new season would understand). Why make the new hardware 7% smaller? It's a negligible size difference, but one which creates an impressive amount of waste because neither the bands nor the battery packs would work on the new hardware. Giving it to someone else is not a real upcycle, let's face it. Whoop clearly is not considering our precious environment. Also, wasn't new hardware guaranteed less than a year ago if you were a paying member? :( I'm very unhappy with this whole thing, and while I like the product overall, and have enjoyed their diligent work providing female-specific research and data, the money is not worth it, and I have cancelled my membership. Am I the only one seeing the obvious? Melissa, forever grateful for your guidance in health and wellness. I don't regret getting Whoop last year following your recommendation. I wish I could recycle my bands and hardware, though. :/
Oh, I will also add this, gifting your 4.0 to someone is actually a very viable solution. The 4.0 is going to continue to be updated and has all of the same features as the 5.0 in terms of software, with the Peak subscription. Whether someone wants to dip their toe into WHOOP or just doesn’t need the advanced functionality of the MG, the 4.0 would be a fantastic gift. (After all, it’s worked so well for all of us for so many years!) Again, it’s no different than giving your 14 model iPhone to your teen or parent. No, it’s not brand new, but it still gives you so much functionality!
I’m hearing a lot of this, so you’re not alone. People are upset for the reasons you mentioned, including the lack of transfer for the bands/battery. (In fact, when I did my intro call with them a few weeks ago about the new product, I said, “Oh, people will not like this.”) But then I thought about it, and every time you get an iPhone, you have to buy a new case and a new screen protector because they change the size. I thought maybe this would provoke a similar sentiment, like “Well that sucks, but we get it.” I definitely know people are upset about not being able to upgrade earlier. For example, I talked to someone yesterday who has her membership paid through November. This means she won’t be able to upgrade to the new hardware for free until October, when she extends her membership. Which I also get. Like, yes it’s free, but you have to wait. Appreciate the feedback and the kindness with which you shared it. ❤️
Well I guess it’s a good thing we didn’t get a Melissa v4 band! I guess I will keep patiently but not patiently waiting for the Melissa Urban collab band v5. 😏
I am a “founding member” of whoop so they gave me a sweet deal for upgrading. I realize it’s not practical for everyone. I have a 4.0 and lots of bands I am willing to gift to someone.
Yes, I forgot to mention that Founding Members do get a sweet deal! And we'll keep pushing for that collab. I'm going to gift my 4.0 and band collection as well, happy it will go to someone who can use it, and happy knowing the 4.0 will continue to be updated!
Greetings, Melissa
I was motivated by your past posts on this subject to decide on either oura or Samsung rings or Whoop as tracking devices, with particular focus on sleep monitoring.
What I read from several geeky reviews without a vested interest is that all of them are fine for monitoring normal sleep patterns -- but if the sleep patterns are not typical for any number of reasons -- the readings are not that useful. Mine are more in the not normal range. Fitbit says it up front that it can only supply data for uninterrupted ranges of sleep data over three hours -- so not useful if one's sleep pattern does not reach that Promised Land.
What do you know about this fine point on sleep monitoring and might version 5 be better at sleep monitoring and reporting. If so, I'm in.
Hi William! This is an excellent question, so buckle up. WHOOP can provide reasonably accurate sleep tracking, but you're right, their accuracy drops in people with disturbed sleep patterns. If you have frequent awakenings, insomnia, or sleep apnea, ANY tracker will struggle with sleep stage accuracy (wakefulness vs. light sleep); accurately tracking wakefulness (especially if it's brief); identifying when sleep starts and stops; and REM/deep sleep estimations (as these are only inferred based on other data).
Studies comparing WHOOP to polysomnography show decent accuracy for total sleep time and time in bed, but poor accuracy for sleep stages, especially REM and deep sleep. However, WHOOP is considered more accurate than Fitbit.
So will it work as well for you as it does for me, with normal sleep patterns? Likely not, at a micro level. But will it accurately identify sleep trends over time? Yes! And it can also help you identify which behaviors affect your sleep the most, with the journal feature.
Melissa, thank you for your thoughtful and thorough response. I've observed how much you invest in authentically and "off-script" responding to people in your community. It's winning, relatively rare, and admirable.
What I'm most interested in are the sleep stages—REM and deep sleep—and my sense is that Whoop and Oura/Samsung rings are equally challenged in identifying those, while Fitbit isn't even a contender. I'm pretty observant of behaviors and environments that influence my waking and non-waking state, so Whoop may not be a decisive helper here, but there are other areas in which it can be. So, I still may experiment with it, and now with calibrated expectations in the sleep zone.
Excited for the new options! Thank you for the breakdown of the 5.0 vs MG.
Happy to help!
57yo female. I used whoop for a full year, ending summer 2023. I was frustrated the full year bc 1. Low HRV that i was never able to improve over 12 months, and 2. Cumbersome/complicated (for me... a lifelong pattern not specific to whoop) software that intimidated me into not fully understanding/exploring the APP. I never found a worthy beginner's video that explained how to properly use and interpret the APP, and I'm concerned i will pay much $ to have the same experience if i choose to try whoop again. Any video recommendations that can help me learn how to fully navigate/interpret the APP? Much appreciated.
Hi Michelle! I totally understand, it’s frustrating to have software or hardware and feel like you’re only utilizing 10% of the capabilities. I made a lot of videos about the 4.0, and will absolutely do the same for the 5.0. Not as a means of winning you back, but because I know there are a lot of people Who could use the tips and tricks!