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The Best Apple Watch Bands You Can Buy Right Now

The universe of Apple Watch bands is vast, and that’s a good thing.

collage of apple watch bands Gear Patrol

By Zen Love

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Though the Apple Watch comes in several different materials, finishes, and sizes, they largely look the same: like squarish river stones. And since nobody wants to be wearing the exact same thing as everybody else, the solution is personalization through screen options and straps to reflect the wearer’s own taste and identity. And the bands are where things get fun and interesting.

Even from a watch enthusiast’s perspective, the quality and innovation of Apple Watch bands is impressive. Apple learned from the traditional watch industry in a number of ways but created its own interesting and user-friendly fastening systems and other solutions. The brand’s own proprietary attachment system makes strap-changing easy, but it means that Apple Watch bands are a closed ecosystem and not compatible with traditional watches or straps.

Products in the Guide

  • SUNFWR Nylon Band

    Best Affordable Apple Watch Band

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  • Clockwork Synergy Two-Piece NATO-Style Band

    Best Nato Strap Apple Watch Band

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  • Barton Elite Silicone Flatwater Blue

    Best Silicone Apple Watch Band

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  • Apple Sport Loop

    Best Apple Watch Band for Athleisure 'Fits

    Read more
  • Apple Watch Solo Loop

    Best Solo Loop Apple Watch Band

    Read more
  • Apple Watch Sport Band

    Best Apple Watch Band for Working Out

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The brand has also offered enough options that one’s own watch truly can feel personalized, but with plentiful third-party options as well, the world of Apple Watch bands is almost as vast as that of traditional watch straps. From sporty silicone to Hermès leather to metal bracelets of various kinds and much more, there’s a lot to choose from. With the new Apple Watch Ultra and other models also came rugged new strap styles.

What to Look for in an Apple Watch Band

Like buying traditional watch straps, you’ll want to consider the material and finish of your Apple Watch when choosing a band. It’s particularly relevant for the hardware: if your band has a traditional clasp, for example, you’ll want its finish to be appropriate to your watch regardless of the strap material. Many of the considerations for buying an Apple Watch band, from the style and color to the activity you plan to do with it are similar to choosing a traditional watch strap.

Of course, you want to ensure you’re getting the right size, too. Luckily, that part’s pretty simple: there are bigger and smaller sizes of each Apple Watch generation and strap sizes to accommodate them. And the straps are compatible across generations. You also want to consider the length of the strap you order, as you can sometimes get longer ones for larger wrists and shorter ones for slimmer wrists.

Changing an Apple Watch Band

What makes the Apple Watch bands fundamentally different from traditional watch straps is their attachment system. Apple has smartly engineered an easy way to swap straps without strap-changing tools: a button on the watch’s back releases the strap and you slide it out sideways. Attaching a new strap requires only sliding it in until you hear the secure click.

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Want something affordable and rugged with a rugged, military look to boot? This Amazon brand offers just that, with velcro, multiple buckles and nylon construction. Perfect for the Ultra, it’s available in multiple color options, as well.

The Apple Watch doesn’t have traditional lugs through which to thread a one-piece NATO strap. But you can get the look with a two-piece nylon band in a classic style from Clockwork Synergy.

We can attest that Barton’s Elite Silone straps are comfortable and that they’ve got a fresh look on the wrist, particularly in Flatwater Blue.

apple watch sport loop bandApple

Best Apple Watch Band for Athleisure 'Fits

Apple Sport Loop

Switch to this for workouts, or just for plain old comfort and sporty looks.

Released in 2020, the Solo Loop is made from stretchy “liquid silicone rubber” and slips on and off the wrist without the typical bulk and clutter of traditional clasps.

Good for an “active lifestyle” look or, you know, actually doing sports and sweating.

The classic Speidel Twist-O-Flex from the 1950s — but for Apple Watch! It expands to slide off and on without a buckle and sure holds some nostalgia for some.

A traditional style in leather from one of our favorite makers of traditional watch straps.

Meant to accompany the Apple Watch Ultra, this rugged nylon strap adds even more security that your typical Loop band with a titanium hook. (Only compatible with larger Apple Watch sizes.)

apple watch ocean bandApple

Best Apple Watch Band for Diving

Apple Ocean Band

Also made for the Ultra, the Ocean band has a “tubular geometry” allowing for a certain amount of stretch while remaining secure. It’s even meant to fit over a wetsuit while diving. (Only compatible with larger Apple Watch sizes.)

This is the band to take on your gnarlier hikes. (Only compatible with larger Apple Watch sizes.)

The Milanese loop, with its satisfying magnetic closing system, is an Apple Watch classic. It’s available in a couple finishes including silver, gold-toned and graphite.

A padded French leather band offers comfort and style, and it fastens magnetically for an ideal fit. The Leather Loop offers the same style with a different fastening system.

The stretchy, single-piece Solo Loop also comes in a braided textile version make from 100% recycled materials.

apple pride edition braided solo loopApple

Best Colorful Apple Watch Strap

Apple Pride Edition Braided Solo Loop

Celebrate pride with this colorful special edition of the standard braided Solo Loop.

Something a bit unique for your Apple Watch is this specially designed steel bracelet by Hong Kong-based Juuk. Other finishes and designs are worth checking out as well.

You might be surprised how classic an Apple Watch can feel when on the a high-quality leather like this one from Shinola.

hermès orange swift leather single tourApple

Best Luxury Apple Watch Band

Hermès Orange Swift Leather Single Tour

By not buying a functionally inferior and far more expensive mechanical watch, the money you saved could go to a strap made from some of the best leather in the world.

Pricey, but this is probably the best way to wear an Apple Watch if you like the feel of a sturdy steel bracelet. Comes in silver or black.

Californienne Mr Porter apple watch bandMr. Porter

Best Fashionable Apple Watch Band

La Californienne Leather Watch Strap

You can certainly go high-end with Apple Watch straps, as well. The brand La Californienne offers high-quality leather with refined, but colorful hand-painted designs and nicely tapering silhouettes.

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