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CNET
5 days ago
- Health
- CNET
A Ring and a Smart Bed Tracked My Sleep for 30 Nights. Here's What I Learned
Did you know CNET has a dedicated sleep team? Over the years, we've tested around 350 mattresses from dozens of brands. We've tried numerous bedding items, including pillows, sheets, blankets, comforters and more. We've researched and reviewed countless sleep-related products, from white noise machines and sleep masks to supplements and bedtime mocktails. If there's an obscure "sleep hack" trending on social media, you can bet we've given it a shot. CNET's sleep team tests and reviews much more than just mattresses. Cole Kan/CNET We aim to sort through the overwhelming amount of sleep-related information available online to find what works -- and help you avoid the things that don't. Everyone has varying health needs and sleep preferences, so there's no one-size-fits-all approach to enhancing sleep quality. Still, we do our best to back our conclusions with actual sleep data, which is why it's essential for us to use accurate sleep trackers. Our CNET sleep editors have tested various trackers over the years to find those that work best for each of us. Types of sleep trackers The most accurate sleep test is a polysomnography, which is conducted in a lab. It uses sensors to monitor physiological factors such as brain waves, eye movements, heart rate, etc. It's extremely precise -- but it's not practical for everyday use. Most people who receive a polysomnography only do so because they're being tested for a sleep disorder. While not as accurate as PSG and unable to diagnose sleep disorders, many other types of sleep trackers are available for everyday use. They come in all shapes and sizes, from wearable rings and watches to mattress covers or pads. Dr. Carlos Nunez, chief medical officer at Resmed, explains, "Many wearable devices allow you to track your sleep patterns, such as bedtime, wake time, how often you wake up at night and some even track your sleep stages, like REM. Tracking these metrics over time can offer insights into the quality of your sleep health and empower users to make lifestyle changes to improve sleep and overall health." As part of our 30-night mattress testing series, my partner and fellow CNET sleep expert Dillon and I have tested several trackers, including Whoop, Apple Watch, Garmin, Eight Sleep and Oura. We've found wearables generally more accurate than devices you lie on, such as sleep tracking bed frames or mattress covers. Given that information, I have to admit that I was surprised by the results of our experiment testing the Oura Ring against our Sleep Number smart bed. An example of the nightly sleep data provided by my Whoop band. Aly Lopez/CNET Comparing Oura and Sleep Number Dillon and I recently tested the Sleep Number ClimateCool smart bed. This high-tech setup uses integrated sensors and SleepIQ technology to monitor body movements, sleep data and biosignals such as heart rate, breath rate and heart rate variability. Read more: 90-Night Review of the Sleep Number ClimateCool Smart Bed The cover is pulled back to show the tracking sensors running across the top third of the Sleep Number smart bed. Aly Lopez/CNET It tracks sleep metrics such as total time in bed, restful sleep, restlessness, bed exits and the times you fall asleep and wake up. The Sleep Number app collects and displays all this information, providing actionable insights and tips to help you improve your sleep quality. Dillon and I began wearing the Oura Ring 4 while testing our Sleep Number bed. This allowed us to compare and contrast our sleep data and assess the accuracy of both. Oura is widely considered one of the most precise wearables for tracking sleep, thanks to its placement on your finger near the radial artery for heart rate sensing. It tracks more than sleep, monitoring your fitness and activity, menstrual cycle, stress levels and more. For this review, I'll focus on the sleep and biosignals offered by each. Dillon and I have been wearing Oura rings to bed each night to compare our data with Sleep Number. Aly Lopez/CNET Oura offers a bit more detailed sleep data than Sleep Number, including the time spent in light, REM and deep sleep. Knowing when and how much time you spend in each stage provides valuable insights into your overall sleep quality, especially if you struggle with insomnia or other sleep disorders. The symptoms of insufficient REM and deep sleep are similar. Oura's breakdown of these sleep phases can provide more helpful information if you struggle to get quality rest. However, it's important to remember that you shouldn't try to interpret this data on your own. "If you're interested in more advanced data like REM versus deep sleep, sleep apnea detection or unusual breathing patterns, consult your doctor. Sleep trackers are a helpful tool, but not diagnostic devices. Medical guidance is essential for interpreting deeper metrics or addressing potential sleep health concerns," explains Nunez. Sleep trackers compared Sleep Number vs. Oura Ring 4 Metrics Oura Ring Sleep Number Overall sleep score ✓ ✓ Total sleep time ✓ ✓ Time awake ✓ ✓ Time in bed ✓ ✓ Sleep latency ✓ ✓ Heart rate variability ✓ ✓ Heart rate ✓ ✓ Respiratory rate ✓ ✓ Movement ✓ ✓ Helpful insights ✓ ✓ Recovery index ✓ x Light sleep ✓ x REM sleep ✓ x Sleep efficiency ✓ x Body temperature ✓ x Blood oxygen ✓ x Readiness score ✓ x Bed exit x ✓ At the beginning of our test, I didn't have high expectations for Sleep Number's tracking capabilities. However, when comparing the numbers with Oura, the results were surprisingly similar (for the most part). As you can see in the nightly sample below, Oura reported 6 hours and 42 hours of total sleep, while Sleep Number reported 6 hours and 44 minutes. Oura said I spent 44 minutes awake, while Sleep Number reported 38 minutes of restlessness. While it's hard to pinpoint the exact moment on either app, both Sleep Number and Oura reported my sleep and wake times within minutes of each other. Comparison of my sleep data from the Oura Ring (left) and the Sleep Number ClimateCool bed (right). Aly Lopez/CNET/Oura/Sleep Number Oura indicated my total time in bed was 7 hours and 25 minutes, while Sleep Number noted 7 hours and 35 minutes. Sleep Number gave me a SleepIQ score of 80; Oura gave me a 78. As expected, there were nights when the data did not match this well. In those scenarios, Sleep Number almost always displayed the more generous sleep scores and total time slept. Part of this discrepancy is because the Sleep Number smart bed occasionally assumes I've fallen asleep while watching television or reading, while Oura recognizes I have not yet entered dreamland. The bed may sometimes mistake Dillon's body movements or our dog's as mine, whereas our Oura rings don't have that issue. Read more: I Tested Three Sleep Trackers for 30 Days. Here's the One I'd Actually Use Sleep data compared External factors occasionally affected our sleep quality, resulting in data that didn't accurately reflect Oura or Sleep Number's tracking capabilities. An example is when I'd fall asleep on the couch and then move to the bed in the middle of the night. There were a few nights when I put my ring on its charger and forgot to put it back on before falling asleep. Additionally, factors like illness or menstrual cramps sometimes make me uncomfortable enough to sleep somewhere other than our smart bed. I excluded these nights to ensure the accuracy of this comparison. As a result, the sleep data presented here is not perfectly consecutive. Instead, to paint a better picture of how they track, it includes 30 nights of solid sleep on our Sleep Number smart bed while wearing Oura. Using both trackers for 30 nights, Oura reported an average total sleep of 7:35 hours (7.58), and Sleep Number reported 7:36 hours (7.60) -- just one minute difference. Aly Lopez/CNET For 30 nights using both sleep trackers, the average total sleep reported was only one minute apart: 7 hours and 35 minutes according to Oura, and 7 hours and 36 minutes according to Sleep Number. Both reported an average of exactly 1 hour of restlessness or time awake per night. Sleep Number gave me an average sleep score of 86, and Oura gave me 82. The health metrics tracked were also similar: Sleep Number reported my average resting heart rate as 53, and Oura indicated it as 52. Both trackers registered an average breath rate of 17. Oura reported my average heart rate variability to be 64, while Sleep Number reported it as 124. This discrepancy isn't necessarily because one brand is more accurate than the other, but because they calculate HRV differently. Both measure the time intervals between heartbeats throughout the night, but Oura uses a method called Root Mean Square of Successive Differences, while Sleep Number uses Standard Deviation of NN Intervals. Regardless of how it's calculated, higher HRV numbers are considered better, indicating good recovery and physical adaptability. Lower HRV numbers can be indicative of high stress levels, dehydration, alcohol consumption, poor sleep and more. Here's an example of the biosignals reported in Sleep Number's monthly summary. Aly Lopez/CNET/Sleep Number Why does tracking your sleep matter? As Vanessa Hill, PhD, sleep research and specialist, explains, "Tracking your sleep can offer helpful insights into what happens after your head hits the pillow. For many of us, sleep can feel poor quality, maybe because of fragmented sleep or nighttime awakenings. Tracking can show whether you're actually getting the recommended 7 to 9 hours a night." Observing your biosignals over time helps explain how your habits and lifestyle impact your sleep quality and patterns. For instance, my sleep quality on nights after consuming alcohol, not exercising during the day or going to bed later than usual is always worse, and it's reflected in my lower HRV numbers on both trackers. "What's more valuable than a single night's data is looking at sleep trends over time. A month or more of sleep tracking gives a better picture of your overall sleep health," adds Hill. If you're just beginning your sleep tracking journey, making sense of all the numbers can be overwhelming. Nunez recommends starting with the following basics to help you build a consistent sleep routine and improve your sleep health overall: Sleep-wake times: Track what time you go to bed and wake up each day. Research shows that a consistent sleep schedule is key to improved focus, productivity and mood. Track what time you go to bed and wake up each day. Research shows that a consistent sleep schedule is key to improved focus, productivity and mood. Total sleep duration: Aim for the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Aim for the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Time awake during the night: Frequent disruptions may signal restlessness or a potential health condition worth exploring with a medical professional. Frequent disruptions may signal restlessness or a potential health condition worth exploring with a medical professional. Sleep interruptions: Noting events like snoring or movement can provide added context to your sleep quality. Noting events like snoring or movement can provide added context to your sleep quality. Trends over time: Focus on patterns, not a single night's data, to make more meaningful lifestyle changes. What sleep tracker should you use? The type of sleep tracker you should use largely depends on your personal preferences and the health information you're looking to uncover. If you're not a fan of wearing a device to bed, such as a wristband or ring, consider a sleep-tracking mattress cover or pad like the Withings Sleep Tracking Mat, which was chosen as the best non-wearable tracker by our CNET sleep editors. There are many types of sleep trackers on the market, as CNET sleep editor Caroline Igo shows here. Caroline Igo/CNET Nunez explains, 'When considering a sleep tracker, it's important to note there is no one-size-fits-all. When choosing one, you can consider: Comfort: You need to be able to easily sleep in it consistently. You need to be able to easily sleep in it consistently. Compatibility: Check that it works well with your smartphone or other devices to access the data without challenges. Check that it works well with your smartphone or other devices to access the data without challenges. Reliability: Some devices have been well-tested and approved by the FDA for sleep monitoring, while others are more general consumer products. Some devices have been well-tested and approved by the FDA for sleep monitoring, while others are more general consumer products. Privacy: Understand how your data is stored and shared. Ultimately, the best tracker is one you'll wear regularly, and that makes accessing and understanding your data simple.' The bottom line If you have a Sleep Number bed and are wondering how accurate the sensors are, I'm pleased to share that they appear pretty dang precise. I had not been expecting the results of this 30-night comparison between the Oura Ring 4 and Sleep Number ClimateCool smart bed to be so similar. Still, there's much more room for error with trackers like smart beds and mattress covers compared to a wearable worn tightly on your body. If you're looking for one of the more accurate sleep trackers, I recommend opting for a wearable like Oura or Whoop -- but as Hill put it, "Choosing a sleep tracker really comes down to comfort and budget. Choose what works best for you, including something you'll actually use."
CNET
22-07-2025
- Business
- CNET
Struggling to Cancel Your Subscriptions? Try These 3 Workarounds
The Click to Cancel rule would have made it as easy to cancel a subscription as it is to sign up so you can save on unwanted subscriptions. Cole Kan/CNET The Federal Trade Commission's "click to cancel" rule has been blocked. The rule would have made it easy to cancel unwanted subscriptions. However, the US Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the rule earlier this month because the FTC failed to conduct a preliminary regulatory analysis, which is required for rules that could impact the US economy by more than $1 million. "While we certainly do not endorse the use of unfair and deceptive practices in negative option marketing, the procedural deficiencies of the Commission's rulemaking process are fatal here," the court's ruling stated. As CNET's consumer insights editor and someone with quite a few subscriptions, I was looking forward to this rule being finalized. It's easy to rack up streaming subscriptions and other monthly services with just a few taps or clicks. Before you know it, you're paying more in subscriptions than you budgeted for. On average, we spend over $1,000 a year on subscriptions and waste around $200 a year on unwanted apps. And trying to lower that cost by canceling your subscriptions can be tricky when companies hide their cancellation buttons or require you to call or visit an office location just to cancel. If you're struggling to cancel your subscriptions, here's what CNET experts recommend. How to find and cancel unwanted subscriptions Before you can cancel your subscriptions, you'll want to do an audit to make sure you flag any services you no longer want to pay for. You can spot unwanted subscriptions by combing through your bank account and credit card statements from the past month and looking for recurring charges. If you spot any unwanted subscriptions, log in to your service account and cancel or pause the service. If you're struggling to find an option to cancel, call the service's customer service phone number to end your account. In some cases, like with certain gym memberships, you may be required to cancel in person. This app can cancel subscriptions for you If that sounds like too much work, CNET Money editor Kelly Ernst has an easier solution. "The budgeting app I use, Rocket Money, can help you find subscriptions you're not using and cancel them for you. It saved me $400 in 15 minutes." Rocket Money is CNET's pick for best budgeting app, and it comes with both a free and a paid tier. You can have the app look for recurring subscriptions for free. If you'd like it to cancel on your behalf, you'll need to sign up for the paid tier, which starts at just $6 a month. You can also find and cancel some subscriptions from your phone If you pay for subscriptions using Apple Pay or Google Pay, you may be able to cancel them from your phone. For Apple devices, navigate to your settings and click on your Apple account. From there, click "Subscriptions" and you'll see which ones you're paying for, the amount and when it will renew. From there, you can see other plans or cancel your subscription. If you have an Android device, you can cancel your subscriptions by opening the Google Play store and tapping your profile icon. From there, you'll navigate to "Payments and Subscriptions" to click on "Subscriptions." You can then see which subscriptions you're paying for, but which you'll need to cancel through the servicer's app or website -- like Netflix or Hulu, for example.
CNET
16-07-2025
- Health
- CNET
I Tried Swimming With Smart Goggles. Now I Can't Swim Without Them. Here's Why
CNET's expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise. Cole Kan/CNET Picture this: You're swimming laps while a virtual coach silently helps perfect your technique and provides real-time feedback. Small yellow digits glow softly in front of your eyes, displaying your heart rate, pace, stroke rate, distance and more. Thanks to Form, this has become a reality -- and that's just the baseline of what the brand's technology can do. Before I tried Form's Smart Swim 2 Goggles, I didn't even realize I needed them. Now I can't imagine going back to regular goggles. Here's why. What is Form? Form made colossal waves throughout the fitness industry when it launched its first pair of smart goggles in 2019. Up until that point, accurate trackers for swimmers were few and far between. Today, Form's technology is well-recognized in the swimming community, with its goggles even available at Apple stores. Created by swimmers for swimmers, the brand currently offers the Smart Swim 2 and Smart Swim 2 Pro, the latter of which launched in July 2025. These goggles feature a super cool, patented augmented reality display that shows: Guided workouts with lap-by-lap instructions Real-time metrics such as time, distance, pace, stroke rate and count Accurate heart rate readings and calories burned Automatic stroke and rest detection Instant technique feedback and analysis SwimStraight compass for open-water swimming The goggles monitor your speed, movements and form as you swim, gathering impressive data that helps you identify your strengths and which areas you need to work on to improve your swimming technique and efficiency. You can see the tech pack on the side and the tiny heart rate sensor on the temple near the strap. Aly Lopez/CNET Who is Form for? Brian Johns, head of coaching science at Form and three-time Olympic Games competitor for Team Canada, explained, "We have a broad range of users, including competitive swimmers, competitive triathletes and open-water swimmers, as well as swimmers who are more concerned about staying fit and accurately tracking their activity." I definitely fall into the last category. That said, my usage and assessment of this device will likely differ from someone actively training and competing on a much more intense level. According to Johns, "The goggles are more appropriate for users who want to learn how to swim better, and not so much for those learning how to swim from scratch." Why I wanted to try Form As I mentioned, I am not a competitive triathlete or professional swimmer, but I'm also no stranger to water. My dad started taking me to the pool when I was an infant, less than six months old, and my love for swimming holds strong today. I swam competitively through high school and have continued swimming for exercise. I was swimming regularly last year when I developed swimmer's shoulder. That's when I knew I was doing something wrong. It wasn't until I started using the Smart Swim 2 Goggles that I understood the issue. My form was off, and my approach to the workouts was, in hindsight, quite terrible -- I was just trying to complete a mile as fast as possible each time I swam. Swimmer's shoulder happens when you repeatedly stress and strain the joint, irritating the tissue over time. It commonly occurs for swimmers trying to enhance their speed, which is precisely what I was doing. I was fixating on my mile time rather than paying attention to my technique or how my body felt. Video: Form Smart Swim 2 Goggles Watch this: Form Smart Swim 2 Goggles 01:10 Watch me swim with the Form Smart Swim 2 goggles. The goggles come with a zip case with ventilation to help wick away moisture after swimming. Aly Lopez/CNET I have been swimming with these smart goggles for the past few months, and they've completely transformed how I swim and approach my workouts. Setting up the goggles The Form goggles come in a convenient carrying case to protect them as you travel to and from your swims. I was immediately impressed by the quality of the goggle's materials and their lightweight design, considering all they can sense and track. Connecting and setting up my goggles was straightforward. I downloaded the Form app on my phone, turned on the goggles with the front power button and peered inside at those magic glowing letters for the first time. Pairing the goggles was super easy as the app walks you through it. I created an account, entered personal details such as height and weight and linked it to my Apple Health app. The Form Swim app provides instructions for ensuring the goggles fit correctly on your face and head, including guidance on swapping out the nose bridge for a different size. I didn't need to do this since the medium size already on the goggles fit well. The app also emphasizes the importance of strap placement for accurate heart-rate measurements. The Form Smart Swim 2 Goggles have nose bridges in sizes XS to XL so that you can find your perfect fit. Aly Lopez/CNET "I feel the goggles have the same complexity as using a smartwatch; there may be some initial setup that you need, but once you get going, the technology will guide you to success," said Johns -- and I agree. With the app and goggles set up, I was ready for my first swim. I put the goggles on, ensuring a comfortable fit of the straps and heart rate monitor on my temple, and topped off the fit with my favorite Long Hair Swim Cap by Arena. My experience with Form The first swim For my first official test of the goggles, I chose to free swim to get accustomed to them. I had no trouble adjusting to the augmented reality display in the lenses. I was impressed by how easily I could focus on the numbers or look past them to see my surroundings. The display didn't feel distracting or bothersome. "The fit and form of the goggles can be a bit different than normal goggles, so giving yourself extra time to adjust your straps or change nose bridges during your workout will help you get comfortable more quickly as you become accustomed to the goggle screen," Johns said. This is an example of what you see on the augmented reality display. It's clear and easy to read -- I didn't find it annoying or distracting. Form I wore my Apple Watch for the first few swims to compare the data from both devices. I quickly realized that the Form goggles were much more accurate. Additionally, with my Apple Watch, I'd stop constantly to ensure I was on pace or double-check how far I'd gone. Now, with the numbers right in front of my eyes, I no longer have to stop and check. I also like that the goggles automatically track how long you rest when taking a break. It's a great way to focus on getting your heart rate back down quickly. I'd try to keep my breaks under 15 seconds or until my heart rate dropped below 150 beats before starting the next interval, which helped keep my form in check. After a few swims with Form, I stopped wearing my Apple Watch. Aly Lopez/CNET Read more: Zone 2 Cardio: Pros, Cons and Tips From Experts I ended my first swim with a Form Score of 40 out of 100, which I was honestly pretty embarrassed about. The app promptly shared videos and resources based on my results to help me understand my form and how to improve it. The second and third swim These are the five main skills or aspects of your swimming technique tracked by Form. Form I was slowly beginning to understand better the metrics the goggles tracked regarding my form, including head pitch, peak head roll, time to neutral, set and interval pacing. Here's a brief description of each term: Head pitch is the angle of your head while swimming in a neutral position (during non-breathing strokes). Peak head roll is the maximum angle your head rolls from side to side when you breathe. The less your head rolls, the better. Time to neutral is how long it takes for your head to return to neutral after taking a breath. The quicker, the better. Set pacing is your ability to keep the same pace for every interval in a set, even when you're tired. Interval pacing is your ability to keep the same pace within each individual interval. The less variance, the better. For my second swim, I chose one of the suggested workouts I had previously selected to load onto the goggles. I walked away with a Form Score of 48 -- an increase of eight points, which I was pleased to see. For my third swim, my score increased again to 51. I was making progress, and seeing the higher scores in my goggles while swimming and on the app afterward was incredibly motivating. The overall Form Score is an average of the five previous workouts. At this point, my Form Score average was 46, which the app classified as "Very Good." I wasn't convinced, though. I reached out to see if that assessment was accurate or if the smart goggles were just being generous, and Johns reassured me. Some of the feedback and encouragement the Form Swim app offers. Form/Aly Lopez/CNET "I generally try not to focus on the score relative to other people to judge whether it's good or not. Rather, I like to use it to judge how good your last length, interval or workout was compared to what you have been doing. That being said, a 46 is right around the middle of our users, which have a high proportion of committed swimmers and triathletes. Relative to our users, it might be in the middle, but compared to the broad world of swimming, yes, I would consider it 'Very Good.'" It was a relief knowing I wasn't completely putting my swim training to shame. His feedback encouraged me to focus on improving my own numbers rather than thinking of it as a failing test score. For the peak head roll skill, you try to keep the dot between the lines while turning your head to take a breath. It's a fun way to focus on your form. Form With each swim, I focus on specific aspects of my technique. My two weakest areas are the peak head roll and time to neutral, so those have been my primary targets. I enjoy using the HeadCoach Skills features, which provide a visual target in the AR display to help me hit those sweet spots. It feels like a game. I love it. I know it will take time to achieve my desired scores. Visually seeing my slow but steady improvement on the Form Swim app is encouraging. I have been following the app's HeadCoach suggestions and watching the provided video tutorials, in which Johns states, "Like improving your technique, you should expect that making sustainable improvement in your five-swim average may take weeks or months of committed swimming, which is completely normal." The goggles track all sorts of data from your swim. You can easily see which areas need improvement. Aly Lopez/CNET/Form The workouts leave me feeling tired but strong and satisfied. I noted in my journal, "The 100-yard intervals are a lot easier for me now than they were in the past. I'm getting a solid workout and don't have overly wobbly legs, toe cramps or lightheadedness like I used to. I just feel really good. I don't feel like I'll pull a muscle or anything." I recently earned a Form score of 61. It's exciting to see such a drastic improvement from when I started two months ago (with a score of 40), and I now look forward to my workouts. Fit and comfortability I have sensitive skin, so after a swim, I usually have marks around my eyes from the pressure of the goggles. They typically take hours to fully fade away. One of my biggest pet peeves is pushing off the wall and sensing the goggles dragging or leaking, so I'd typically suction them tighter to my face to prevent that annoying feeling. With Form, I noticed that the resulting rings around my eyes were not as intense as before. This improvement can be attributed to the design and materials of the proprietary eye seals on the goggles. I no longer feel the need to press them as tightly to my face. When I initially experienced a slight leak with one of the lenses, all I needed to do was adjust the straps, and since then, I haven't encountered other issues with it. Wearing swim goggles is never enjoyable, but I found Form to have an overall comfortable fit. Aly Lopez/CNET After a few swims, I noticed fogging and a cloudy display. The fix was simple. All I had to do was clean the lenses with gentle soap and fresh water, and then they were clear again. Battery life I'm lazy when it comes to charging my devices, but that's not a concern with the Form Smart Swim 2 Goggles. The battery life is extremely impressive, lasting up to 14 hours on a single charge. After 10 swims, I've had to charge them only once, and they were back up to 100% in less than two hours. My favorite Form features Heart-rate monitor Before I started using Form, I didn't pay much attention to my heart rate. Now, I can't imagine swimming without this feature. With my heart rate displayed in real time right before my eyes throughout my workout, I am more mindful of when I push myself too hard or need to pick up the pace. Between intervals, I can focus on getting my heart rate back into a lower zone before starting the next set. This approach has helped quicken my recovery, and I now have better control of my heart rate through intentional breathing and rest. The app shows how long you spent in each heart rate zone and syncs with Apple Health (middle photo). You can also create custom target heart rate zones. Aly Lopez/CNET/Form Accurately monitoring health metrics underwater is a massive hurdle, but Form has found a way. Studies have shown that Form's integrated heart rate sensor is more accurate and consistent than wrist-based monitors, with a 97% accuracy rate compared with an ECG chest strap. Workout options I typically prefer workout classes because I like having someone tell me what to do. I like it when Peloton instructors shout at me during a ride. It motivates me in a way I have a hard time doing by myself. Unsurprisingly, I've thoroughly enjoyed having a virtual coach encourage and push me while swimming. "Most people using the goggles do not have a coach and do not understand what an appropriate swim workout may be. Form can generate workouts for you based on your speed, workout preferences and areas to improve your technique and then guide you through the workout directly in the goggles, with no coaching or previous swim knowledge required," Johns explained. The app features over 1,500 workouts, and you can load five onto your goggles at a time. I mostly followed the app's suggestions for my workouts, occasionally switching to some with longer distances. These workouts have enhanced my swimming technique and helped me train effectively in ways I hadn't before. It guides me through intervals with instructions on how much effort to exert (easy, moderate or fast) and for how long. HeadCoach will tell you exactly what to do for each interval of the workout, which I love. Form When I swam competitively, my best events were the 50- and 100-meter freestyle. I've always been more of a sprinter. Learning how to pace myself during longer swims with Form has been game-changing. Using Form made me realize how poor and lazy my technique used to get when I was tired. It made me less efficient and increased my risk of injury (to the point that I did injure myself). I'm much more confident now. HeadCoach Like guided workouts, having a virtual swim coach has been more helpful than I could have imagined. The feedback and suggestions provided are spot on. The HeadCoach feature offers actionable tactics and goals for improving technique and efficiency, and it knows better than I do what I should work on with each progressive swim. Whenever I doubt my form, I refer to the HeadCoach resources in the app. When I asked Johns how Form compares to having a real-life swim coach, he explained, "Swimming can be very difficult for a coach to give good feedback to their athletes. Unlike a team sport where a coach can deliver instructions or feedback across a field, a swim coach has to wait until the swimmer is resting at the wall to give feedback and may only have five to 10 seconds to give that feedback before the swimmer pushes off to the next part of the workout. Therefore, swimmers typically rely on how they 'feel' in the water in the absence of any other feedback. Form goggles can give feedback WHILE the swimmer is doing their workout, allowing us to give effective feedback to the swimmer in a way that was not possible before." You can customize and tailor the HeadCoach feature based on your personal objectives and goals, whether you're training for a race or simply swimming for exercise. Why I'm never going back I'm a sucker for quantitative data, and Form certainly doesn't skimp in this area. After a workout session, the goggles automatically sync with the app on my phone to deliver an array of post-swim information. It guides me through the improvements made and which areas I need to focus on for next time. It's super easy to understand and track my progress. "Our dedicated data science team eats, sleeps and breathes swim data and algorithms. This makes Form more accurate across all swimming metrics, as well as having more unique swimming-specific metrics, such as Form Score, that help you become a better swimmer," explained Johns. My Form Score has improved consistently over the past few months. I'm sure it will continue to increase as my workouts progress. Aly Lopez/CNET/Form Another reason I'll never be able to wear regular goggles again is because Form gives me something to focus on. Let's be honest: lap swimming is boring. It's just you and your thoughts in the water. There's nothing to distract you, no content to consume to kill time. Of course, you can wear waterproof headphones, but I have yet to try a pair -- and now, I don't necessarily feel the need to with my smart goggles. I can concentrate on improving my technique through the real-time metrics displayed right in front of me, and I enjoy "playing" the HeadCoach Skills. I am quite competitive with myself. I love beating my old times and records and focusing on my Form Score is an excellent motivator for improving my technique and swim efficiency. Moreover, I'm not a fan of wearing watches or fitness trackers on my wrist. I used to stop constantly to check my Apple Watch to see how far I'd gone, and I'd often lose track of how many sets or intervals I had completed while swimming. Having all the metrics displayed throughout the swim (including my heart rate) has completely transformed my approach to swimming. I'm truly having fun with it. Johns expressed similar feelings. "Having the data so easily accessible in the goggles makes my swimming significantly more motivating. As a retired swimmer, I had a very hard time swimming regularly, watching the clock and writing my workouts. Using the goggles and planning my workouts became a lot easier, and following my workouts through the goggles made it a much more engaging experience as I built myself back up in the water," he said. Other Form features Because I'm not a professional swimmer or triathlete fully immersed in the fitness tech world, I can't speak to certain components of the goggles -- namely SwimStraight and Script. SwimStraight SwimStraight is one of the primary features of the Smart Swim 2 Goggles that I have not yet tested, mainly due to cold weather and a lack of nearby areas for open-water swimming. This feature is great for triathletes training and competing in open water. The goggles pair with a compatible GPS smartwatch (such as Garmin or Apple) to track your distance and pace. The goggles provide navigational assistance like a compass to ensure you're swimming on the straightest path. You can also use the SwimStraight feature as a compass without GPS or a smartwatch. Form Script You can also upload your own workouts through Script. Using a text description or photo, Script transforms it into an auto-generated workout that you can load onto your goggles. Additionally, if you choose the free swim option, you can save your swim as a workout afterward. As I mentioned, you can easily connect and integrate the data from your goggles with apps like Apple Health, Strava and TrainingPeaks. It's also worth noting that if you are a competitive swimmer, the Form Smart Swim Goggles are race-approved by the World Triathlon, USA Triathlon, British Triathlon, PTO and Supertri. The future of Form Form is successfully redefining technology for the swimming world. I believe it's only a matter of time before most swimmers use real-time feedback and virtual coaching assistance, whether through AI or other advanced algorithms. When asked where Form is headed in the next five to 10 years, Johns explained, "As we get more and more data and information about our swimmers in and out of the water, I believe that we can enhance the swimmer's journey to be more personalized and effective. AI will be a helpful tool, but being able to analyze a swimmer's data in the water with their biometric data will help us create a pathway for any swimmer to succeed in the water regardless of their ability level or their goals. I think that having this knowledge and access to data will not just be effective for swimmers, but for any endurance athlete." Pricing and subscription The Smart Swim 2 Goggles retail for $279. No subscription is required to access the goggles' core features, which include the augmented reality display and motion sensors to track your swims. The core features include all the real-time metrics of time, distance, pace, stroke rate and count, calories burned, heart rate and automatic stroke and rest detection. With the core features, you can still access your post-swim data and share your swims with Strava, TrainingPeaks, TriDot, Apple Health and Final Surge. Premium is required to access certain features of the goggles, such as: Guided workouts HeadCoach SwimStraight Training plans Script workout builder Form offers a free one-month trial of Premium. After that, it's $9.99 per month. Whether you upgrade to the Premium version or stick with the core largely depends on your swim goals. Having the guided workouts and HeadCoach instruction is enough for me to opt for the subscription, and I'd say it's worth it if you're a triathlete or competitive swimmer. Smart Swim 2 Pro Goggles Form recently released its upgraded Smart Swim 2 Pro, retailing for $329. These goggles are crafted with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 on the inside and outside of the lenses, which is scratch- and damage-resistant. You can touch the lenses without worrying about fogging using the included antifog spray before each swim. This antifog solution is 25% baby shampoo and 75% water, providing enough applications for up to 175 swim sessions. Whether you should spend $50 more for the Smart Swim 2 Pro depends on your personal preferences and how you'll be using the goggles. If you're a serious swimmer who doesn't have the time (or patience) to deal with clouding or fogginess, I suggest opting for the Smart Swim 2 Pro goggles. Additionally, if you're a triathlete swimming in open water, clear visibility is more than just a desire -- it's essential for your safety. Form will also release a few new software features with its Premium subscription this summer, including HeadCoach Plans, Smart Set interval displays and personalized HeadCoach Insights. Form offers free 30-day returns, a two-year warranty and free shipping, so there's no risk in trying them. The primary difference between Smart Swim 2 and Smart Swim 2 Pro is the glass used on the lenses. Aly Lopez/CNET Form Smart Swim Goggles: 2 vs. 2 Pro Form features Smart Swim 2 Smart Swim 2 Pro Heart-rate monitoring ✔️ ✔️ Real-time metrics ✔️ ✔️ UV rating; UPF 50+ ✔️ ✔️ Extended strap mount ✔️ ✔️ Ventilated case ✔️ ✔️ Waveguide display ✔️ ✔️ HeadCoach ✔️ ✔️ SwimStraight ✔️ ✔️ Workouts & training plans ✔️ ✔️ Proprietary eye seals ✔️ ✔️ Antifog spray X ✔️ Gorilla® Glass lenses X ✔️ Should you get the Form Smart Swim Goggles? You should consider these goggles if: You're a competitive swimmer or triathlete You want to accurately track your swims You need to monitor your heart rate while swimming You want to improve your swimming technique and efficiency You have the budget You train in open water You should skip these goggles if: You don't swim consistently You don't care about tracking your swim data You're brand new to swimming They're out of your budget
CNET
18-06-2025
- Business
- CNET
My Mom Stole My Identity When I Was a Kid. Now I Have a Credit Score and Career I'm Proud Of
I didn't grow up learning about money, but my mission was to change that after suffering identity theft. Jeffrey Hazelwood/Cole Kan/CNET/Like plenty of teenagers, I planned to move out the moment I turned 18. I was determined to pay my own rent and live by my own rules. But when I applied for my first apartment, I was hit with an unexpected hurdle: I needed to put down a larger deposit because of my low credit score. I hadn't even opened my first credit card yet, but somehow my score was in the 400s. While there isn't a set starting credit score, 400 is low for an 18 year old. Suddenly, I remembered the times my mom would use my name for different bills that she could no longer put in her own name. At the time, I didn't understand what that meant. But as an adult, I realized my mom stole my identity and ruined my credit. It's painful, but it's real. Just because the person who used your identity is family doesn't make the impact any less serious. Today, my credit score is above 800, and I'm an accredited financial counselor and a certified financial therapist. Take it from me: Even if your identity is stolen and your credit is tarnished, you can rebuild it. Whether you've experienced something similar to me or just want to be prepared, I hope my story serves as proof that recovery is possible and that you have more options than you think. Here's how I reestablished my identity and got my credit back on track. How I found out my credit was wrecked When I applied for my first apartment right after high school, I was shocked to find out I needed to put down a larger deposit than I planned for -- the equivalent of $600 in 2025. There was no way I could afford that, and my plans blew up on the spot. I was denied my chance of finally stepping into adulthood and getting the fresh start I desperately needed. Defeated, I went home and researched how to pull my credit report. It turns out I had past-due balances on cable, cellphone and utility accounts that I didn't even know existed. The hardest part was coming to terms with the fact that my mom was the one responsible for all of it. The signs had been there, but as a kid, I didn't know what to look for. I knew she had used my name to set up some bills. I wish I had known sooner how important it is to monitor your credit -- even as a minor. I wish I knew that a parent, even one with good intentions, could cause serious financial harm without realizing it. Growing up, we didn't talk much about credit or finances unless it was about what we didn't have. But, like so many people, I didn't truly learn about credit until it became a problem. How I took control of my credit After reality set in, I was faced with a painful choice: I could file a police report against my own mother, or find a way to move forward without involving the law. I didn't go to the police. I couldn't bring myself to report my mom. I know some people would, and I don't blame them, but that wasn't a step I was emotionally ready to take. At 18, I didn't have a lot of guidance, but I had determination. I started taking control of my credit by printing out my credit reports and calling the numbers listed for each account I didn't recognize. I explained to each creditor that the accounts were opened when I was still a minor and that they didn't belong to me. I documented everything by keeping notes of who I spoke to, what was said and what paperwork I sent, including copies of my ID and dispute letters. With some creditors, it was straightforward to remove an account. But others weren't as cooperative. Some companies didn't care how old I was when the accounts were opened. They simply wanted their money. When that happened, I turned to the credit bureaus and submitted disputes with all three: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. I also bit the bullet and paid off a few small balances myself, just to move on from them. As for the balances I couldn't resolve, I followed the advice of someone who believed in the, "it'll drop off in seven years" approach. Looking back, that was not the best way to handle the delinquent accounts because it prolonged my end goal of fixing my credit. Instead of waiting for accounts to fall off my credit report, I should've been proactive by disputing inaccuracies right away and negotiating settlements or payment plans. How I increased my credit score Here are the key steps I took to rebuild my credit and regain control of my financial life. I opened a secured credit card My first step was applying for a secured credit card. I put down $200 as a deposit, which became my credit limit. It felt small at the time, but it gave me a way to start rewriting my credit story. In the beginning, I would max out the card and pay only the minimum. However, as I continued to learn about how credit works, I realized that was hurting more than helping. You should pay off your credit card balance in full each month to avoid interest fees. So I changed my habits. I only used the card for things I could afford and paid it off in full each month. I kept the balance low and never maxed it out again, which helped show consistent, responsible credit usage. I set up payment reminders I started setting reminders and making sure every payment was made on time. I also created budgets. It became a personal mission to never let my past define my financial future, even when it meant saying no to things I wanted in the moment. I left accounts open and limited new credit Once my credit started improving, I resisted the temptation to open more cards or loans I didn't need. I also kept my credit usage low and my oldest accounts open to help my credit history look stronger. The more my credit aged in good standing, the more my score improved. I kept learning I didn't grow up learning about money, but I made it my mission to change that. I learned a lot by reading articles, watching videos and following financial experts. Then I took it even further. I went to Georgia State University, earned my accounting degree and became an accredited financial counselor and a certified financial therapist. Eventually I became the person my friends and community turned to for advice on credit, budgeting and rebuilding their financial lives. The more I learned, the more confident I felt and the fewer financial mistakes I made. Rebuilding my credit wasn't quick or easy. But with time, patience and consistency, I went from a credit score in the 400s to over 800. Consider signing up for identity theft protection if you've been the victim of a scam or identity theft. Aura is CNET's pick for the best identity theft protection service.
