Which Apple Watch band is best?

Forbes Vetted

David Phelan

Senior Contributor

Forbes Vetted

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Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.

Feb 28, 2022,09:12am EST|

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Your Apple Watch came with a strap, but you may have noticed how easy it is to connect and remove. So, you really should think about checking out some of the best Apple Watch bands available. Something waterproof for swimming or sweatier sports. A quieter color for business meetings. A metal or leather strap for dressier occasions. The great thing about the Apple Watch is you can customize it—even down to the Watch face as you swap from those adorable characters from Toy Story to the serious, data-heavy Infograph face.

There’s an Apple Watch band designed for everyone and every need. Here are 15 options that’ll look ... [+] great with any outfit.

Most, but not all, of the best Apple Watch bands and straps are made by Apple. But there are more affordable options and alternative styles that Apple doesn’t provide, . Like Nomad’s brilliant titanium band, for example. Read on for the best bands and straps you can buy for every occasion and every Apple Watch. Don’t have one yet? Our Apple Watch Series 7 review dishes on the latest innovations.

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Best Stylish Apple Watch Bands

Something for the evening, perhaps? You might want something less sporty for the theater or a classy dinner. Here are the best and most sophisticated Apple Watch straps.

Dripping With Class

Apple

Apple Milanese Loop (Gold)

• Comes in two sizes, one for 38mm, 40mm and 41mm, one for 42mm, 44mm and 45mm

The magnetized Milanese Loop is one of the coolest Apple Watch Bands Apple has made, with a quiet elegance and a splendid mechanism. Apple loves magnets, so the way the strap fastens by snapping onto itself in exactly the position you need it to is very satisfying. Endlessly adjustable and pleasingly tactile, the Milanese Loop is a great choice. It comes in three colors, gold, graphite and silver, all made of stainless steel. It’s not suitable for swimming, though.

Designed For Occasion, Crafted With Precision

Amazon

Apple Stainless Steel Link Bracelet (Space Black)

• Comes in two sizes, one for 38mm, 40mm and 41mm; one for 42mm, 44mm and 45mm

This is the most evening-wear band of all, with a solid, beautifully crafted design. The Space Black finish is a great match for any dark-finish Watch, whether it’s aluminum, stainless steel or titanium.

Selected links have a quick-release mechanism so you can remove them easily without special tools and achieve the perfect fit. But the real joy of the band is the closure, a butterfly design which is completely flush so no part of the strap juts out.

Apple also makes it in a silver stainless steel finish, too, which will suit lighter-colored watches and is $100 cheaper, too.

Bold And Boutique Worthy

MOST POPULAR

Nomad

Nomad Titanium Apple Watch Band (Black)

• Comes in one size, for 44mm and 45mm only

This is a seriously attractive piece of hardware. Although Apple makes a titanium Apple Watch Series 7 in two colors, there’s no titanium strap to match, at least not from Apple. Nomad has made its own and it’s brilliant. As you put the band on your wrist, the two halves of the strap find each other and click into perfectly precise place, as if by magic.

The magnetic clasp means there’s no buckle that protrudes excessively either. It’s light, looks gorgeous and feels highly comfortable. It comes in two colors, silver and black, to match the color options of the titanium Apple Watch.

Getting the perfect fit takes a little work. It comes with a full-on tool kit with pins, holders and adjusters so you can add or remove pieces. It looks daunting, but the instructions are good and a helpful online video means it’s straightforward. Nomad’s products are excellent and these bands offer a high-quality, keenly priced alternative to Apple’s metal bands.

Hand-crafted Artisan Beauty

Apple

Apple Watch Hermès Bleu Lin Attelage Double Tour

• For 38mm, 40mm and 41mm only.

This is one of the most expensive Apple Watch bands, made in conjunction with Hermès. There is also a special Hermès edition watch, though this strap fits any edition of Apple Watch, not just Hermès (though only on 38mm , 40mm and 41mm sized models).

It’s a luxurious and beautifully constructed strap—hand made by artisans in France, Apple says, from what’s described as buttery smooth Barénia leather. It is magnificently comfortable.

Best Apple Watch Sport Bands

Apple’s skill in making bands is that it has come up with waterproof straps that look good enough to wear any time of the day. The Solo Loop and other bands don’t tarnish in the water, even the salty sea—though, be warned, sporting a lighter color strap when you’re wearing brand-new denim that’s still sharing its blue with other materials can lead to a staining that’s hard to remove.

Fiddle-Free

Apple

Apple Solo Loop (Marigold)

• Compatible with Apple Watch Series 4, 5, 6, 7 and SE only. Comes in two sizes, one for 40mm and 41mm; one for 44mm and 45mm.

This is the most comfortable watch band I’ve worn in my life. It’s made of a single piece of butter-soft liquid silicone rubber and it feels fantastic. The inside is gently concave which helps with the feel.

For the Apple Watch to work properly, it needs to fit snugly, so the heart rate sensor works, for instance. As such, the right size is crucial with this band as it’s not adjustable. You can try it on in Apple Stores, but for online, Apple has designed a clever printable tool with detailed instructions.

The Solo Loop comes in more than a dozen colors, including cantaloupe, chalk pink and pistachio which are highly eye-catching. There are also subtle shades like English Lavender. Or you can choose something quieter, like Deep Navy, Black and White. Marigold is a real head-turner. The Solo Loop is designed for Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 4 and newer only.

Don’t Sweat A Little Sweat

Apple

Apple Sport Band (English Lavender)

• Comes in two sizes, one for 38mm, 40mm and 41mm; one for 42mm, 44mm and 45mm

This is the classic strap, the one that originally came with the Apple Watch by default. The soft fluoroelastomer is similar to the Solo Loop and is soft and comfortable. If anything, it’s more durable than the Solo Loop, and because it has a buckle, is easily adjustable for the perfect fit.

A top tip is you should put the pin through the hole where it’s a relaxed fit, because you then tuck the end of the strap into the loop, which tightens the fit a touch. Color choices include a dark green called Clover, a gorgeous Capri Blue (40mm only) and a serious Abyss Blue.

A Sportier Look From Nike

Apple

Nike Sport Band (Magic Ember/Crimson Bliss)

• Comes in two sizes, one for 38mm, 40mm and 41mm; one for 42mm, 44mm and 45mm

Though this uses the same fluoroelastomer as the Sport Band, the Nike version looks and feels very different because it has extra perforations to aid breathability. They make the strap feel lighter and cooler. The perforations are color-contrasted to the main strap, which adds to the sporty look.

It has the same pin-and-tuck closure system of the regular Sport Band. Colors include a funky Magic Ember/Crimson Bliss, the deeply subtle Midnight Navy/Mystic Navy, and the stylish Pure Platinum/Black.

Stretches On Easily

Apple

Apple Braided Solo Loop (Maize)

• Compatible with Apple Watch Series 4, 5, 6, 7 and SE only. Comes in two sizes, one for 40mm and 41mm; one for 44mm and 45mm.

Imagine the gorgeous Solo Loop but in a finish that looks and feels matte. It’s another single piece of fabric that means there’s no closure or clasp to worry about. Here’s Apple’s spiel about it: “Created by weaving 16,000 recycled polyester yarn filaments around ultrathin silicone threads using advanced, precision-braiding machinery, then laser cutting the band to an exact length for a custom fit.”

The silicone gives it the stretch, the yarn adds to the feel which is pleasant, but rougher than the Solo Loop. There are cool colors like Maize and English Lavender. A new special edition is the Black Unity band. And there’s a great standout: the Pride Edition Braided Solo Loop is bright, clean and has all the colors of the rainbow flag immaculately woven in.

Dual Shades, A Single Strap

Apple

Apple Sport Loop (Maize/White)

• Comes in two sizes, one for 38mm, 40mm and 41mm, one for 42mm, 44mm and 45mm

The woven nylon Sport Loop is simple and effective, built to hold the Watch securely thanks to its hook-and-loop design. It’s ideal for going running or, since it’s water-resistant, swimming. The outer strap stays in place no matter how active you are and the design ensures moisture wicks away easily.

Each strap is a combo of colors—there are half a dozen to choose from. There’s a classy Pink Pomelo and Tan, a superbly bright Maize and White and the discreet, monochrome Tornado and Gray.

Proudly Colorful

Apple

Nike Sport Loop (Pride Edition)

• Comes in two sizes, one for 38mm, 40mm and 41mm; one for 42mm, 44mm and 45mm

Nike has its own take on the sport loop which tends to a quieter design until you spot the reflective thread that’s built in and which provides a pleasing shimmer in just the right light.

Choose from Summit White, Black and Cargo Khaki. Oh, and there’s one more which breaks the rules: The multi-colored Pride Edition with five color stripes on a neutral background. And there’s an extra Pride bonus: a series of Watch faces created to complement the strap.

Made For Adventures

Nomad

Nomad Rugged Band (Silver)

• Comes in two sizes, one for 38mm, 40mm and 41mm; one for 42mm, 44mm and 45mm

Nomad’s Rugged Band is solid and cheerful, with ridges and channels that make it thick without being heavy, all the while remaining breathable. For all that, the fluoroelastomer is comfortable. It’s built with the excellent quality you might expect from Nomad.

The stainless steel buckle comes in black or silver so you can match it to the color of the hardware and is a solid fit, with enough holes to ensure it stays snug to the wrist. It’s built to wipe clean easily, shrugging off dirt with just a wipe. It’s also resistant to oils.

Best Leather Apple Watch Straps

Leather straps offer an alternate classy look. Of course, they don’t fare well with water so please don’t wear them when swimming or for more active endeavors. The leather in each of these straps will change as it gets older, adding character and individuality.

Magnetized To Fit Perfectly

Apple

Apple Leather Link

• Comes in two sizes, one for 38mm, 40mm and 41mm; one for 42mm, 44mm and 45mm. Each has two length options for different size wrists

This is Apple’s newest leather strap and it’s a triumph. Magnets form the closure design and the strap is ridged so the two halves naturally fall together and hold tight. Nonetheless, it’s quick and easy to remove, but it’s not suitable for swimming or sweatier activities.

The inside of each is a pale brown, in contrast to the outward-facing colors, of which there are eight to choose from. These include a highly attractive Chalk which, perhaps surprisingly, is pretty good at staying a pristine whitish color, and an irresistible California Poppy, shown above.

Subtly Classy

Nomad

Nomad Modern Band

• Comes in one size for 42mm, 44mm and 45mm

Nomad’s Modern Strap is made of spectacularly tactile Horween leather. It’s hard to stop touching it as it’s so soft under the finger. Like all the leather straps here, the patina changes over time. Nomad’s Modern Strap comes with two options for a black or silver buckle so they work with any metal finish.

The colour is also matched on the connectors. Highly comfortable and effective, the Modern Strap is for 42mm, 44mm and 45mm Watches, but there are variants like the Modern Slim which is for the 38mm, 40mm and 41mm Watches, and comes with black, silver or gold connectors.

Petite And Chic

Apple

Apple Modern Buckle (Pink Citrus)

• Comes in one size for 38mm, 40mm and 41mm

This band is only for smaller Apple Watch models. And within that restriction, it’s available in three lengths for different-sized wrists. It has a neat and graceful design and a closure that looks like one piece but is actually two parts held together by, yes, magnets.

Apple has explained that there’s an extra layer to add strength and stretch resistance, made from Vectran weave, “the same material NASA used to make the landing airbags for the Mars rover spacecraft.” Well, that’s pretty cool. Six colors are available: Midnight, Wisteria, Chalk, Pink Citrus, Garnet and Scarlet.

Classic Italian Style

CASETiFY

Casetify Italian Leather Watch Band

• Comes in two sizes, one for 38mm, 40mm and 41mm; one for 42mm, 44mm and 45mm

How’s this for versatile? The band comes with one buckle but two separate leather bands for the other side. One is small, creating a regular band, but there’s also a much longer version which creates a double tour effect (something Hermes does for rather a lot more money). It’s comfortable and effective, working well in both configurations. Choose from brown, black and a very punchy red.

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