I put a case on my smart ring, and it’s not as silly as it sounds. Ora, maker of the Ora Ring smart ring, has teamed up with luxury gym and fitness club Equinox to create a package called the Rest & Recovery Kit, and it features a soft rubber cover for the ring.
But what is it like, and does it make any sense? Surprisingly, it’s pretty good, and it managed to address one of my concerns.
equinox and aura
Ora announced a partnership with Equinox – which runs a network of luxurious and upscale gyms – in January 2023, when it became part of the Equinox Circle, where brands provide exclusive offers to Equinox members. The Rest and Recovery Kit was part of this and it has finally arrived.
It includes the third-generation Ora Ring in Stealth or Silver finish, a one-year subscription to the Ora Ring app, a pouch to keep your smart ring safe, and three ring covers. The entire package costs $445. That means you’ll only pay a small amount extra for accessories, $30 more than the Horizon Aura Ring’s starting price of $349, and $66 for the first year of app subscription.
The Ring Cover really caught my attention, because we are all used to putting cases on our smartphones, and some people even put them on smartwatches, but why would you put a cover on a smart ring? There is a strong argument for doing so, but a lot depends on whether the Oura Ring remains comfortable to wear. Is this something you should explore?
wearing our ring cover
The Equinox It is easy to fit. This helps to first align the locating marker with the central sensor bump and then stretch the cover over the ring. It takes no time at all and is equally easy to remove. The idea is to keep the covers in the pouch when you’re not using them.
The fit is perfect. I was worried that it would misalign, come loose, or slip off, but once the ring cover is on, it sits in the perfect position and doesn’t move. I’m wearing it with the Heritage Design Oura Ring, which has a flat section on the top, and it still fits without any issues. However, it seems that it is the fully rounded Horizon model that comes in the Rest & Recovery Kit.
This adds a millimeter or two to the size of the smart ring, but I haven’t noticed any impact on wearability. However, you will sometimes feel the imprinted Equinox logo between your fingers, it is not uncomfortable, but it is not as pleasant as the smoothness of the ring.
Of course, you’re also covering a beautiful titanium ring with a piece of rubber, so style is a consideration too. So why would you want to put a cover on your smart ring?
metal on metal
Under normal circumstances, the Oura Ring may grind or rub against something you’re holding, and when that surface is metal, it may result in visible scratches. I have worn the Ora ring for over 18 months and I can confirm this. At the gym, you’re going to be holding metal dumbbells and other equipment, and that’s where ring covers come in handy. That’s why the Equinox partnership works.
There is no doubt that this will work. It completely covers the surface, and when you hold the metal strip with it, you don’t get a sudden grinding sensation when it comes in contact with it. This doesn’t always happen anyway, but it’s good to know that with a ring cover, the ring is protected when it does. It’s not just in the gym when a ring cover will come in handy. I usually take the Ora ring off when I wash my car, because I don’t want to risk it getting stuck in the paintwork, and the ring cover keeps me from having to worry about this.
Unlike your phone’s case, it can’t actually be left on the smart ring all the time. That’s why the bag is included. Made of faux leather material, it features Ora and Equinox branding on the front and opens using a spring-loaded fastener. This will keep the ring cover protected until you want to use it. Having now used the Ring Cover on my Ora Ring, I’m surprised at how much I appreciate the peace of mind it brings in situations where before, I would simply take the smart ring off.
Want to buy one?
I’ll admit it – I scoffed when I first read about the ring cover. But after seeing and using it it makes even more sense. I’m really happy that it neither looks nor feels cheap, and I’m impressed with the excellent fitment. It serves a purpose, and I can really see myself using it in situations where I want to prevent damage to the Aura Ring or anything that comes in contact with it.
Unfortunately, currently the only way to get the Ring Cover is to purchase the Equinox Rest & Recovery Kit. This is great if you don’t already have an Aura Ring, but not so good if you’re already wearing one. It’s possible that Oura could offer its own Ring cover without the Equinox branding in the future, and that’s something we’d like to see.
For now, the Ring Cover is part of the Equinox Rest & Recovery Kit, available through Equinox’s own online store in the US.