“Are you wearing two watches?”
I get this question almost daily—at the gym, during meetings, even from my barista who’s memorized my coffee order but still can’t wrap his head around my double-wristed approach to fitness tracking.
Yes, I wear both a Garmin and a WHOOP. No, I’m not trying to track time in multiple dimensions. There’s actually a method to what looks like madness to most people.
The awkward conversation starter
I was at a work conference last month when a colleague pointed at my wrists during lunch. “Are you wearing two fitness trackers? Isn’t that… redundant?”
Everyone at the table turned to look, and I launched into what has become my well-rehearsed explanation. By dessert, two people had asked for my WHOOP referral link. (More on that later—yes, you can try it free too.)
Why I started this unusual setup
My journey into dual-device territory started about 18 months ago. I’d been a devoted Garmin user for years—half-marathon training, hiking trips, the works. My Garmin was perfect for tracking activities, mapping routes, and all the metrics you’d expect.
Then I hit a wall with my training. Despite following my usual routines, my performance was all over the place. Some days I crushed my workouts; other days I dragged myself through them. Something was missing, and that something turned out to be recovery data.
A training partner showed me his WHOOP metrics after a particularly grueling session. While my Garmin told me basic sleep duration and heart rate, his WHOOP displayed detailed sleep cycles, recovery scores, and strain metrics I’d never seen before.
I was skeptical initially—who needs TWO expensive devices doing seemingly the same job? But curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to try WHOOP for a month.
That was supposed to be a short experiment. Eighteen months later, I’m still wearing both.
What my Garmin gives me that WHOOP doesn’t
Let’s clear something up: these devices complement each other far more than they overlap. My Garmin Forerunner remains essential for:
• GPS tracking and maps: Critical for my trail runs and cycling routes
• Real-time data during workouts: Pace, distance, elevation—all visible at a glance
• Structured workout guidance: Interval prompts, pacing alerts
• Music control: Because running without tunes isn’t running
• Smartwatch functionality: Notifications, weather updates, etc.
• Long battery life: Depending on usage, I can go nearly two weeks between charges
For activity tracking and outdoor adventures, Garmin remains my go-to. It’s built for performance in the moment.
Why WHOOP earned its permanent spot on my other wrist
WHOOP serves an entirely different purpose. While Garmin helps me execute workouts, WHOOP helps me decide if I should be working out at all—and how hard I should push.
Here’s what WHOOP provides that transformed my approach to fitness:
• Recovery scoring: Each morning, I get a personalized recovery percentage based on heart rate variability, resting heart rate, sleep quality, and respiratory rate
• Strain coaching: Recommendations for how much exertion my body can handle based on my recovery
• Sleep coaching: Tells me exactly how much sleep I need tonight based on today’s strain
• Weekly and monthly performance assessments: Patterns I never noticed before
• Detailed sleep tracking: Not just duration but quality, disturbances, and sleep stages
The real game-changer was understanding the relationship between my lifestyle choices and recovery. One memorable example: I tracked a week where I had similar workout intensity each day but drastically different recovery scores. The data revealed that even two glasses of wine with dinner tanked my heart rate variability and sleep quality, affecting my recovery for the next 36 hours.
That kind of insight wasn’t available from my Garmin alone.
The unexpected benefits I never anticipated
Beyond the technical specs, wearing both devices has brought unexpected advantages:
1. Accountability from different angles: Garmin keeps me accountable to my activity goals; WHOOP keeps me accountable to my recovery needs
2. Better tapering for events: Before races, I now taper based on recovery data, not just reduced mileage
3. Lifestyle optimization: I’ve made surprising adjustments to my sleep environment, nutrition timing, and stress management techniques based on the combined data
4. Community aspects: The WHOOP community features have connected me with like-minded fitness enthusiasts I wouldn’t have met otherwise
“But isn’t it expensive to have both?”
Yes, maintaining two subscriptions isn’t cheap. But considering what I used to spend on personal training sessions without this level of insight, it’s actually cost-effective for the value I receive.
WHOOP’s subscription model initially gave me pause, but the continuous improvements to the platform and algorithms have proven worth it. And honestly, the behavioral changes I’ve made based on the data have saved me from at least two potential overtraining injuries—which would have cost far more in physical therapy and lost training time.
For those curious about trying WHOOP without the full commitment, you can get a free WHOOP device and one month free when you join with my link: https://join.whoop.com/9F62BC9A
The bottom line: Different tools for different jobs
I no longer view my dual-device setup as strange—just strategic. Garmin tells me what I’m doing; WHOOP tells me what I should be doing and how my body is responding to what I’ve done.
Together, they’ve helped me train smarter, recover better, and progress more consistently than either could alone. My performance has improved not because I’m training more, but because I’m training more intelligently.
So next time someone points at my wrists with that familiar confused expression, I’ll smile knowing that beneath the apparent redundancy lies a system that’s transformed my approach to fitness.
Sometimes two really is better than one.
What’s your experience with fitness trackers? Have you tried using complementary devices? Drop your thoughts in the comments below—I’d love to hear how others are optimizing their training and recovery!