Whoop has had a busy summer expanding its executive ranks and plans to double its office footprint in Boston and on Thursday the fitness tracker maker introduced Meridian, a set of metallic jewelry-inspired bands for its wearables.
The bands are stylish alternative to the company’s standard fabric straps and are made of waterproof stainless steel in a mesh style that will draw comparisons to the Apple Watch Milanese Loop bracelet.
Ideally, the company looks at the new accessory has something be worn often like jewelry but also be effective as an “always on” tracker that’s both understated and subtly chic. Meanwhile, Meridian arrives in four shades with black, gold, rose gold and titanium finishes seamless working as a companion alongside other jewelry like bracelets, rings and chains.
In its product description, Whoop describes the new bands like accessories that transform the tracker in more than a device that’s constantly clocking metrics in real time.
“The best pieces find their place in that rhythm, too. The longer you wear them, the more meaningful they become. You reach for them without thinking,” the description reads. “They become a natural part of how you live. Meridian is designed to be one of those pieces. A sophisticated silhouette crafted from timeless Milanese mesh. Stack it or wear it alone, it sits naturally alongside the pieces you already love.”
The new accessories will not come cheap and at $149, a Meridan band swap costs more than many fitness trackers like the new $99 Fitbit Air.
And users who can’t decide on which metallic band to stick with can purchase a “Mixed Metals Pack” for $254 sale price, an early sale price which is down from $298 and there are separate versions of the Meridan bands that are compatible with either the 5.0 or MG variant of the current trackers that the company offers.
However, longtime Whoop users who are used to attaching the puck charger on their devices when needed should note that the new metal bands are not compatible with the current charging method. And to ensure that there’s no break in on wrist tracking, a fabric or silicone band must be swapped from the Meridan band and then the device can be charged.
It’s a minor compromise that many users are likely to tolerate considering the tracker last up to 14 days on a single charge and only need to be connected to the puck for around two hours to be fully topped off — and reunited with one of the metallic bands.
