Should I wear my engagement ring in the gym?
Wearing an engagement or wedding ring in the gym increases the risk of ring injury and damaging the ring, especially during weightlifting or any activity that involved gripping equipment. So no - it's not a good idea to wear your ring in the gym, even though it can be tempting, especially when you're newly engaged and don't want to take it off.
Here's why most people choose to take their rings off before training - and importantly, what to do with it instead.
Why wearing an engagement ring in the gym can be risky
1. You'll damage your ring
Gym equipment - especially barbells, dumbbells and machines - is made from extremely tough, durable materials. These can easily scratch the soft metals of an engagement or wedding ring.
Plus, accidental impact or pressure can cause:
- Prongs to bend or break
- Stones to come loose (i.e. runaway diamonds!)
- Bands to scratch or deform
If this happens, you're looking at potentially costly repairs or - even worse - loss of the diamond or precious stone.
2. Risk of injury to your fingers
This isn't a very nice one to talk about, but it's a genuine risk.
Wearing your ring in the gym can lead you to catch it on the equipment, such as cables or strapping.
This can cause what's known as ring avulsion, a potentially serious injury to the finger which can range from swelling and bruising, to soft tissue laceration and - in the very extreme cases - amputation. This is rare, of course, but hardly seems worth the risk!
3. Swelling and discomfort
A more common occurrence is general swelling and discomfort when exercising with a ring, as your hands can swell from the heat and sweat of a workout.
This can mean rings are difficult to remove, or become uncomfortable mid-session if they're already quite tight to begin with.
When is it less risky to wear a ring?
Generally, low-impact activities are low-risk, such as:
- Walking
- Stretching
- Light yoga
However, for anything that involves more strenuous activity, such as:
- Lifting weights
- Kettle bells
- CrossFit
- Active yoga with weights or plates
- Hanging or active stretching
removing your rings is the safest option.
What do most people do with their engagement rings at the gym?
This is exactly the question that lead us to creating Ring Buddy.
Most people choose one of these options:
Keep it safe in a Ring Buddy
The best option for keeping your ring safe - use a Ring Buddy wristband to keep it on you safely, without risking scratching or damaging it.
The ring-protecting wristbands mean you never lose sight of it, but don't have to worry about it getting damaged. Being 'on your person' makes it insurance-friendly,
Leave it at home
Safe for the ring, especially if you have a locked safe at home, but often not practical if you go to the gym direct from work.
Plus, most people prefer to wear their rings all the time and have them off for as little as possible - ideally putting them back on straight after a workout.
Wear a silicone band or ring necklace
Silicone bands can offer some protection, but can be uncomfortable and often don't fit to rings with larger or more complex stone structures.
Ring necklaces solve the problem of getting the ring off your hand, but tend to flap around, can be quite annoying, and can easily get in the way if you're doing any kind of active movement. They also can be easily damaged if you have a bar across your upper back - such as when squatting - where the bar can cause the necklace chain to snap.
Take it off and pop it somewhere else
Many people leave their rings on the gym floor, balanced on their phone, or in their pocket. This is better than keeping them on, but they are easily lost or stolen. We've also heard horror stories of people having a weight drop or roll onto their ring...!
The bottom line - what to do with your rings when you workout
If you care about protecting your engagement ring and your fingers, you should take your rings off in the gym - especially for weight training and high-intensity workouts.
Take it off, and make sure you store it securely so you can training without worrying about damage or injury.
If you want to keep your ring safely with you when you train, shop our range of wristbands now - you'll never train without one again!
Not sure what size to get? Check out our sizing info here or browse our FAQs.
