WHOOP is a screen-less, 24/7 fitness and recovery tracker built for people who care about sleep, strain, stress, and readiness. It pairs with a membership that unlocks insights and coaching in the app.
What is WHOOP (in simple words)?
WHOOP tracks what matters most: sleep, strain, stress, recovery, HRV, resting heart rate, respiratory rate, and more. You wear it all day and night; the app turns your data into clear guidance you can act on. That’s the whole pitch from WHOOP itself: measure → guidance → change.
Unlike smartwatches, WHOOP has no screen—your stats live in the app. That design choice is well documented in independent reviews noting it “lacks a screen” by design.
WHOOP’s three headline scores
- Recovery — a daily 0–100 score that blends your sleep sufficiency and consistency, HRV, resting heart rate, and respiratory rate to tell you how ready you are to train today.
- Strain — your total daily load from 0–21 based on cardiovascular and muscular effort.
- Sleep — staging, quality, and a Sleep Need vs Sleep Performance view, with coaching for better timing and duration.
WHOOP also calculates one Recovery per sleep-to-sleep cycle (naps don’t replace it).
The WHOOP membership (and what you actually get)
WHOOP runs on a membership model. The device comes with your plan:
- WHOOP One — includes a WHOOP 5.0 device, basic charger, and Jet Black CoreKnit band.
- WHOOP Peak — WHOOP 5.0, wireless PowerPack, Onyx SuperKnit band.
- WHOOP Life — WHOOP MG device, wireless PowerPack, Titanium SuperKnit Luxe band.
WHOOP 5.0 is IP68—dust-tight and water-resistant to 10 meters.
Founder spotlight: Who is Will Ahmed?
Will Ahmed is WHOOP’s Founder & CEO. He started the company in 2012 after competing as a varsity squash player at Harvard.
How to wash a WHOOP strap (the official way)
WHOOP’s own care guide is clear:
- Wash every 3–4 wears using mild soap and water.
- You can wash it in the shower or off-body.
- Air-dry completely before re-attaching the strap/sensor.
- Avoid heat and harsh chemicals.
The PowerPack is not water-safe—detach before showers or swims.
What WHOOP does especially well
- Readiness and recovery coaching. WHOOP’s Recovery uses HRV, resting heart rate, and sleep to nudge you toward smarter training or rest days.
- Sleep coaching you’ll actually use. Bedtime recommendations and habit tracking come from its core “measure → guidance” loop.
- Strain that scales to you. The 0–21 score reacts to your current fitness and recovery state.
Who should consider WHOOP?
- Endurance athletes, team-sport athletes, lifters who want objective readiness.
- Anyone focused on sleep, stress, and long-term healthspan.
- People who don’t need a smartwatch face or app store; they want data and coaching.
WHOOP vs the competition (choose by your goal)
Short version: if you want a smartwatch, get a smartwatch. If you want readiness and recovery coaching, WHOOP belongs on your shortlist.
WHOOP vs Apple Watch
Apple Watch wins on apps, notifications, LTE, SOS, ECG, and all the smartwatch features. WHOOP wins on screen-less comfort and deeper recovery/strain focus.
WHOOP vs Garmin Fenix / Forerunner
Garmin Fenix and Forerunner are elite multi-sport GPS tools with maps, workouts, and training load. WHOOP goes harder on sleep and recovery coaching and keeps the device feather-light with no screen.
WHOOP vs Oura Ring
Oura is the stealth king for sleep and readiness with a week-long battery in a ring. WHOOP offers richer training and strain context and a more athlete-focused app.
Pros and cons (quick scan)
Pros
- Deep recovery insights using HRV, resting heart rate, and sleep.
- No screen, 24/7 wear; friction-free for sleep tracking.
- Coaching that turns data into clear actions.
Cons
- Membership required; check current prices before buying.
- Not a smartwatch—no apps, calls, or maps.
FAQ
Who founded WHOOP?
Will Ahmed, in 2012.
How do I wash a WHOOP strap?
Mild soap and water every 3–4 wears; air-dry fully.
Is WHOOP waterproof?
WHOOP 5.0 is IP68 (water-resistant to 10 meters). Always remove the PowerPack before water.
What does the Recovery score use?
Sleep sufficiency and consistency, HRV, resting heart rate, respiratory rate.
Which competitors should I research next?
Apple Watch, Garmin Fenix/Forerunner, Oura Ring, Fitbit, Samsung, Pixel Watch.
