Ultra Human Ring vs Oura Ring Which is Better

ULTRAHUMAN RING AIR REVIEW AND HONEST FIRST IMPRESSIONS | DR. CRAIG SHOW

In this episode of The Dr. Craig Show, we take a deep, unscripted dive into the Ultrahuman Ring Air and share our completely honest experience using it for daily health tracking, sleep optimization, stress analysis, and exercise insights. This is a real-world review based on months of use, not a sponsored or scripted breakdown.

We had just finished a 20-mile ride on our new e-bikes when we recorded this, so it seemed like the perfect moment to sit down and talk through everything the Ultrahuman Ring gets right, everything it could improve on, and how it compares to the Oura Ring and Garmin watches from the perspective of functional health, lifestyle habits, and long-term wellness.

This conversation covers not only the technological features of the ring but also the personal experience of wearing it throughout daily routines, training sessions, sleep cycles, and even during breathwork and yoga practices. If you are deciding between different health-tracking wearables or wondering whether a smart ring is worth it, this long-form review will help you make an informed decision.

What We Discuss in This Video

• Why we chose the Ultrahuman Ring Air over the Oura Ring, including subscription differences, cost comparisons, and data access.
• First impressions of the ring’s size, design, appearance, and how it feels to actually wear it.
• Pros and cons of wearing it during normal daily activities, showering, applying lotion, and exercising.
• How the ring tracks female cycle phases, temperature changes, and recovery patterns without requiring a membership.
• A detailed walkthrough of sleep metrics including HRV, resting heart rate, temperature deviation, restorative sleep, circadian rhythm alignment, and how alcohol or late meals impact recovery scores.
• How breathwork, yoga, and stress management practices influenced nightly heart rate drops, and how the device highlighted real physiological changes.
• The surprising difference in heart rate readings between the Ultrahuman Ring and the Garmin watch during workouts such as stair climbing.
• Why Garmin tends to overestimate heart rate during high output exercise and why this may significantly affect accuracy.
• How activity tracking impacts battery life, charge times, and wearability during long training sessions.
• The usefulness of reminders inside the app, including circadian cues, movement prompts, caffeine windows, and blue-light warnings.
• How consistent reminders can slowly shift daily habits and long-term health behavior, especially for people who struggle with lifestyle consistency.
• The importance of understanding which health metrics matter, how often to look at them, and how to avoid becoming obsessed or stressed by the data.
• Who is a good candidate for using a smart ring and who may be better off without one.
• The difference between using a ring for sleep and recovery versus using a watch for workout detail and calorie burn.
• Thoughts on EMF exposure, Bluetooth settings, airplane mode, and why we still prefer Garmin for training sessions while keeping the ring for recovery data.
• How these tools can influence daily decision-making, exercise readiness, sleep hygiene, and even the quality of your evening routine.
• A quick look at the “Golden Hour” feature and how natural light exposure affects cortisol, REM sleep, and circadian alignment.

The Bottom Line

The Ultrahuman Ring Air offers some of the most detailed recovery and sleep analytics available without requiring a monthly subscription. For users who want accurate HRV trends, temperature tracking, and habit-building reminders, it provides valuable insights that can genuinely improve health. For those who rely on detailed workout analytics and calorie burn, Garmin remains the stronger companion.

Ultimately, the best device depends on your goals, your personality type, and your willingness to make changes based on the data you receive. If you want a deeper understanding of how your body responds to stress, exercise, food timing, breathwork, or alcohol, this ring provides eye-opening feedback. If you prefer simplicity and do not want constant reminders or health metrics, a simpler device may be a better fit.