Where To Wear A Whoop Band During Basketball Game And Accessories To Keep It Secure And Dry

When playing basketball, it’s recommended that you wear your Whoop band on your non-dominant wrist. This is because your non-dominant wrist is less likely to be involved in the high-impact movements associated with basketball, such as shooting, dribbling, and passing.

Now, that being said, my issue is that I don’t want to get the wristband portion that is made partially of knit cloth all sweaty, smelly, and dirty. I know the Superknit bands I have are washable (hand wash with gentle soap in cold water. Air dry only), but I don’t want to have to wash them every time I play either (although I used my $60.00 bonus credit to buy a second strap). I wasn’t going to wear it at all during basketball. But, now that I have my 30 days of calibration completed the Whoop can record how much time I’m playing basketball is spent in Zone 1 through Zone 5 training. I am really curious about what that will look like.

Here are the 3 major items you will learn in this article:

1. The biggest consideration when choosing where to wear your Whoop band during basketball.
2. Most cost-effective solution (if you don’t mind washing your Whoop band regularly) using what you already have.
3. Review of Whoop accessories that can solve the issue and their new Any-Wear line of sportswear.

Biggest Consideration (To Wrist Or Not To Wrist)

I have had my Whoop band for a little over two months now. Whoop’s recommendation is to wear the band on your non-dominant wrist. Although they have identified four additional sites besides the wrist that are near strong pulse points where heart rate can be accurately measured, the wrist is still the preferred measurement point.

These points were identified to give their new line of Any-Wear sportswear some additional places on the body to make measurements so the Whoop band could be placed in their line of shorts, tights, and even underwear. When making my decision I am giving any solution that keeps the band on my wrist a higher priority. A secondary consideration is whether you have a Whoop 3.0 or 4.0 (I have a 4.0). If you buy an accessory make sure it is built for the version you own.

Use Promo Code “WILL” for $60 Credit When you purchase a Whoop Band

Simplest and Most Cost Effective Solution

My first idea was to just use one of the two Superknit wrist straps I have and cover it with a normal basketball wrist sweatband. Partially, because I don’t want to injure another player. In this Sports Illustrated article about Chris Paul using the device, his Clippers teammate, DeAndre Jordan, said he did that to hide his use of the device during games. The band may not do that much damage since it is flat but it is pretty solid and many of the straps have a metal clasp.

Unfortunately, that still doesn’t take care of the sweaty and smelly issue. I didn’t think that a homemade solution would do the trick so I did a deep dive into the solutions that Whoop has available. Their “Whoop for Athletes” article was helpful but didn’t specifically address basketball players.

Now, if you want to pledge your spare Superknit strap specifically to basketball and just accept that it will be gross until you wash it then the strap and sweatband combo may be a simple solution for you. Then you can just hand wash it at the same time you wash your ankle braces and knee braces. Or you can just wear the Whoop strap on its own and take your chances with smacking it against an opponent’s head.

Whoop Accessories And Any-Wear Sportswear for Basketball

I don’t want any gear that has dominant Whoop branding but would sacrifice that criterion for just the right problem-solving accessory. My list will be ordered by accessories that keep the Whoop band on your wrist and then those that have limited branding and ease of use. Many of these items are from their new Any-Wear line of sportswear and I will note that in the header of each section.

Whoop Hydrosleeve

The Whoop Hydrosleeve is a protective encasement that can be used to protect your Whoop band from sweat damage during basketball games. It’s a 100% silicone, water-resistant, and elastane band that slips over your device and secures it to your wrist and can withstand exposure to water, sweat, and other liquids. This can be useful if you are playing basketball outside or if you tend to sweat heavily during games. As a bonus, it can be used with a 3.0 or 4.0 and if I dare to start swimming for exercise I could use it there as well.

My fear is that this will feel a little tight. But, I think if I wear it and put a sweatband over it it would solve both my smelly\dirty issue and soften the blow if I hit someone in the mouth with it. Then I will just have to clean the sweatband.

If you find that wearing the Whoop band on your wrist is uncomfortable or interferes with your performance, the rest of the solutions will move it somewhere else on your body.

Any-Wear Arm Sleeve for Whoop Band

The Whoop Arm Sleeve is a compression sleeve that can hold your Whoop band securely in place on your arm. It is made of a lightweight, breathable fabric that wicks away sweat and moisture, which can be useful during intense basketball games. This looks like a good solution if you like wearing an arm sleeve, but I don’t like the big “Whoop” printed on it and wonder if you could still damage the device (and someone’s face) if you hit them with your forearm.

Whoop Upper Arm Sleeve 3.0

The Whoop Upper Arm Sleeve 3.0 is another accessory that can be used when playing basketball with a Whoop band. Key point: This says 3.0 and not 4.0. Be aware if you have bought the most recently released Whoop 4.0 band. It is similar to the regular Whoop Arm Sleeve but is designed to be worn on the upper arm instead of the forearm.

It is worth noting that the Upper Arm Sleeve may not be as accurate in capturing certain metrics as the wristband, so you should take this into consideration when deciding to use it during basketball games.

Any-Wear Arm Sleeve To Wear Anywhere

The Whoop Any-Wear Arm Sleeve is another accessory that can be used when playing basketball with a Whoop band. It is a compression sleeve that is designed to hold your Whoop band securely in place on your arm, similar to the regular Whoop Arm Sleeve.

However, the Any-Wear Arm Sleeve is unique in that it features a pocket that can hold the Whoop band, allowing you to wear it on any part of your arm or even on your leg. This can be useful if you prefer to wear the Whoop band on a specific part of your arm, or if you want to switch up the placement of the device for different activities.

Like the regular Arm Sleeve, the Any-Wear Arm Sleeve is made of a lightweight, breathable fabric that wicks away sweat and moisture.

https://shop.whoop.com/en-us/products/any-wear-arm-sleeve/?sku=930-01-00-2-0

Whoop Bicep Band: The Whoop Bicep Band is an accessory that allows you to wear your Whoop band on your upper arm instead of your wrist. This can be more comfortable during basketball games, as it may not interfere with wrist movements and dribbling. However, it’s important to note that the bicep band may not be as accurate in capturing certain metrics as the wristband.

Wearing your Whoop band on your non-dominant wrist will minimize the risk of damaging or losing the device during play.

Any-Wear Shorts, Underwear, and Leggings

If you are not worried about keeping the Whoop band on your wrist there are now a ton of options with their line of Any-Wear sportswear. In particular, I could see that shorts, underwear, and leggings may be great options for basketball.

Conclusion: Choosing the Right Solution For Your Whoop Band During Basketball Games

I will give the SUPERKNIT BICEP BAND (available for 3.0 or 4.0) an honorable mention. It may keep it out of the way but it doesn’t solve the stinky and sweaty problem and moves it off the wrist.

My plan of action is to first dedicate one of my Superknit straps to getting smelly while wearing it with a sweatband protector. That will tell me whether or not I like wearing it on my wrist while playing basketball. If that passes the test then I will likely buy the Hydrosleeve and combine it with a sweatband. It is a small dollar commitment and many of the Any-Wear item sizes are out of stock. I will report back on how both solutions work.

Troy Wallace

Troy Wallace is Certified Basketball Speed Specialist and shares his experiences in trying to stay as healthy as possible to stay on the court. He is active in coaching youth basketball in YMCA, Team Work Sports Nebraska, and, currently, in the Jr. Warriors program in Omaha, NE. Visit Troy's Full Author Bio Page or email him directly.

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