Table of contents
🤖
AI-generated summary
My biggest complaint about the Apple Watch comes down to one sentence: you can’t record a workout without the watch on your wrist.
No “sensor-only” mode where you pair a heart rate strap, put the watch in your pocket, and go play. As a result, for certain sports—rugby, soccer, gymnastics, CrossFit—keeping the watch on your arm is complicated, if not impossible. And without a watch on your arm, no closed activity rings.
The Cirqa, which Garmin just released , could fill this gap.
What Is the Cirqa?
A €200 screenless band aimed at Whoop, but without a mandatory subscription. Inside: optical heart rate sensor, SpO2, skin temperature, Body Battery, sleep tracking, 5 ATM water resistance, and an advertised 10-day battery life. No screen, no GPS, no ECG. Everything is controlled from Garmin Connect.
Garmin tripped up a bit at launch by reserving live heart rate data for the Connect+ subscription, before backtracking in the face of public outcry. I remain wary since the arrival of Connect+ , but on paper, the Cirqa works fully without paying every month.
And yes, I did write that you shouldn’t buy a smart ring . Conceptually, a screenless band is close… except this one broadcasts its heart rate via ANT+ and Bluetooth, and that changes everything for my use case.
My Plan: Cirqa on the Arm, Watch in the Bag
In 2019, I was already doing this with the Polar OH1 : an armband optical sensor, two button presses, and the workout recorded without a watch. Its big flaw: 5 hours of battery life, and a battery that was often dead right when I wanted to start.
The idea with the Cirqa: wear it on my forearm or biceps, stash the Apple Watch in my bag, and track the workout using only the band. Once the activity syncs to Garmin Connect, it gets pushed to Apple Health. I put the watch back on when leaving the locker room, and I find my rings closed with the workout included.
I saw that you can assign starting an activity recording to the single button on the sensor. I think I’ll use the cross-training activity by default. Alternatively, if you want to start the activity from Garmin Connect on your phone, you have access to over 80 sports. It works the same way as with their latest heart rate strap, the HRM 600.
Cycling with the Edge 1050
Today, when I go cycling with my Edge 1050, I start two activities in parallel: one on the Edge for the ride, one on the Apple Watch for the rings. Two recordings for the same ride, it’s ridiculous.
The Cirqa broadcasts heart rate over ANT+ and Bluetooth. I pair it with the Edge, start a single activity, and the heart rate syncs automatically. The ride synced in Garmin Connect then lands in Apple Health. A single activity, no more duplicates.
And for Trail Running?
That’s the other test I’m looking forward to. On a long trail run, my Apple Watch dies after about ten hours. The Cirqa claims 10 days of battery life: I’m curious to see what’s left of it during continuous recording beyond 10 hours of effort.
Only downside: no GPS in the band, so no GPS track without your phone in your pocket.
See You After the Tests
All of this is still theoretical: I just ordered the band, I’m going to test it during real workouts, and I’ll write a full review if everything goes as planned (or especially if it goes badly 😅).
Feel free to reach out if you already have the Cirqa on your arm or want to share your thoughts on this article.
