Which Finger Do You Wear An Oura Ring On?

Which ring you wear the Oura Ring on affects its accuracy. Why does Oura recommend index finger? How much of a difference does it make?

I have been using an Oura Ring for the last year, and I used to wear it on my middle finger, but I use the index finger now. Studies show that the ring takes more accurate results that way. 

The Ring Works On Any Finger

The Oura Ring works reasonably well regardless of which finger you use. Even if you use your pinky finger, you still get reasonably accurate results. 

You can also wear the ring on your thumb and get somewhat accurate measurements. However, index finger results are the best, even if it works reasonably well on any finger. 

Oura Rings are Thick

Oura Rings are also thicker than ordinary rings that don’t have any internal electronics. Wearing the Oura Ring on your middle finger while wearing another ring on your ring finger isn’t a good idea. The two rings might rub against each other, which could lead to scratches. 

Why Does Oura Recommend Our Index Finger? 

The different fingers are of different shapes and sizes. The Oura Ring needs to press firmly against the skin to take a good measurement. 

With the index finger, the ring passes over the small knuckle easily and reaches the back of the finger, which is not much narrower. This makes the ring snug against the skin, leading to accurate readings. 

Things don’t work quite as well if you use your middle finger. The middle finger is wider at the knuckle than behind it, so the ring won’t press firmly against the skin. 

Can You Wear the Ring On Your Toe?

Wearing an Oura Ring on any of your toes is a bad idea. Your toes are not the same (the arteries are in different spots), so you won’t get accurate measurements. 

If you could make a sleep/fitness tracker ring that works on your toe, it would have to be designed as a toe ring. A ring designed as a finger ring won’t work on any of your toes. The Oura Ring may also get stuck on your toe. 

Can You Damage Your Oura Ring Accidentally?

Yes, it is somewhat possible to damage your Oura ring accidentally when exercising or in some other way. You might trip and fall and break it, or you might scratch it doing everyday things. Some forms of exercise increase the risk. 

Use Fingers On Your Non-Dominant Hand

If you are right-handed, use your left index finger, or your right index finger if left-handed. Since you use your dominant hand more often, you are more likely to bump, scratch, or damage the ring if you wear it on your dominant hand. 

Does Which Hand You Use Affect Accuracy?

No, the accuracy is the same either way. A right-handed person can wear it on their left index finger and not reduce the accuracy at all. 

Get An Oura Ring of the Right Size

If your Oura Ring doesn’t fit properly, the sensors won’t work as well, and you won’t get accurate information. You can wear a sizing ring to figure out what size is best for you. 

As strange as it sounds, your fingers can actually change size during the day and night. Leave the sizing ring on for 24 hours to confirm that the size is right for you. 

Keeping Your Oura Ring Clean

Another way to make sure your Oura Ring gives accurate readings is to clean it regularly. Clean it weekly, or else the dirt and dust will prevent the sensors from working. 

When to Remove Your Oura Ring

You can wear your Oura Ring for almost the whole day. You don’t have to take it off when you are doing something other than sleeping or exercising. However, there are some situations where it might damage your ring to leave it on. 

Your Oura Ring can withstand a wide range of temperatures (anywhere from 14 degrees to 125 degrees Fahrenheit). However, that is no guarantee that heat or cold won’t damage your ring. It may take time for the heat or cold to do damage, so you don’t have to be paranoid. 

Oura Claims That Hot/Cold Temperatures Are Mostly Safe

The company claims that you can wear the ring in a sauna, a hot tub, an ice bath, or a cryotherapy tank. However, they claim that the safe range of temperature is from 14F to 125F (-10C to 52C). 

A sauna can be far hotter than 125 degrees. 

Possibly, just being somewhat careful with temperature is enough. Oura Rings can usually tolerate any exposure to heat or cold that your skin can tolerate. 

You don’t necessarily have to take your ring off and put it in your locker before you go into a sauna. However, you might do this if you want to be on the safe side, as a sauna is outside of the temperature range. 

Is the Oura Ring Waterproof?

Yes, the Oura Ring is water-resistant enough that you usually don’t have to worry about water. You can wash dishes, have a shower, or even go swimming with the Oura Ring on and not damage it. 

Excessive water exposure might eventually damage the ring. For example, if you use the Oura Ring as a fitness tracker while scuba diving, you might damage it. Long-term exposure to water is not good, and it can’t handle being deep underwater.

Other Ways to Avoid Damage

Don’t Wear the Ring When Lifting Weights

Many people use fitness trackers when lifting weights. However, this isn’t a good idea with the Oura Ring. You wear it on your finger, so it will rub against the weights. 

Moving rough metal weights around will create a lot of friction on your Oura Ring. Friction can gradually wear it out and damage it. Oura Rings are not very expensive, but they are expensive enough that you want them to last. 

Take the Ring Off Before Using Tools

You should leave your Oura Ring at home when you are working with tools. You may gradually damage it by friction. Even if the ring is on the hand you use less, you may still damage it.

Carrying heavy objects around when wearing the ring also isn’t a good idea. If you are moving into or helping someone into a house, don’t wear your ring.

If you are carrying heavy objects around, wearing the ring isn’t a good idea, especially not ceramic or metal objects. 

Be Careful With Sharp Objects

While friction can damage the ring over time, a sharp object can ruin it immediately. Anything that punctures the Oura Ring can wreck it. 

Keep Your Oura Ring Charged 

To make your Oura Ring last a long time, keep it charged. If you habitually let the battery get below 40%, you may damage it. Many electronic devices work this way – the more often you drain the battery, the faster the battery wears out. 

Don’t let the battery get too low while you are asleep. Charge it during the day when you get a chance. 

The battery lasts a long time on one charge, so it’s not a hassle to do this. 

You can enable a notification that tells you when the battery is low. If the battery wears out, there is no way to replace it. 

Charging Your Oura Ring

Plug a charger into the wall, and then use a USB cord to connect that to your Oura Ring. It is the same as charging a cell phone.

The light will begin pulsing on and off if it is connected properly. If the light doesn’t blink, this means that the ring isn’t charging.

Check to make sure everything is connected properly. If it still doesn’t work even with everything connected, something is wrong with your wall outlet, charger, USB cord, or ring. 

Do Oura Rings Have a Warranty? 

Yes, but it won’t cover a ring you damage accidentally. If there is anything wrong with the ring that makes it break early, the company will replace it. 

However, if you damage the ring by using it when you lift weights or work with tools, the warranty doesn’t apply. A generation 3 Oura Ring has a one-year warranty. For generation 2 rings, it is two years. 

Key Takeaways

• You should wear your Oura Ring on your index finger. Your readings will be more accurate that way. The accuracy is half decent regardless of which finger you use, but the index finger is the best.
• If the Oura Ring fits closely against the skin, the reading is more accurate. It fits most snugly on the index finger. This is because the index finger doesn’t get much narrower behind the knuckle.
• Within reason, you can wear your Oura Ring wherever you want. It is resistant to water, heat, and cold. Something like scuba diving could wreck it. Long-term exposure to high temperatures can harm the battery. 
• Don’t try wearing the Oura Ring on your toe. It won’t work (the arteries are not in the same spot, so you won’t get an accurate measurement), and you might hurt your toe when removing the ring. 
• If you are right-handed, you should wear the Oura Ring on your left hand, and vice versa. You are less likely to bump or scratch the ring on the hand you use less often.