Getting a swanky Apple Watch band is the easiest way to customize and improve the look of your smartwatch.
The only problem with the Apple Watch’s unprecedented ubiquity is that it results in us all wearing the same watch. So, the primary way to customize the look and feel is to pair it with a smart new Apple Watch band.
Despite their excellent quality, the official Apple options are expensive. Instead, you can employ one of the thousands of third-party options.
If you’re looking for leather, stainless steel, Milanese loop bands, or something sweat-proof for the gym, there are plenty of high-quality, cost-effective options for men and women.
Apple Watch case and band sizes: Will it fit?
Since the original Apple Watch, the clasp and mechanism for adding and replacing straps have remained the same. Still, it’s natural to ask: which size bands fit my Apple Watch?
Well, Apple is now on its fourth set of sizes. The latest design is only found on the Series 10, which gives users a choice of 46mm or 42mm case sizes.
This differs from the Series 7, Series 8, and Series 9, which give users a choice of a 41mm or 45mm case. For the Series 4-6, case sizes were 40mm and 44mm, while the Series 0-3 were 38mm and 42mm.
It may sound confusing, but it’s not as bad as it appears; bands will fit universally across smaller or larger case sizes. This is best demonstrated through the handy graphic below, which we’ve borrowed from this Reddit post.
For example, if you have a watch band that fits the 44mm Apple Watch Series 6, it should also fit the 46mm Apple Watch Series 10.
However, that band won’t work with the 42mm Series 10 or 41mm Series 8. Still with us?
Of course, the Apple Watch Ultra and Ultra 2 each feature a 49mm case. However, straps that fit 44mm/45mm/46mm Apple Watch models will also work with the Ultra devices.
- Apple Watch Ultra 2: 49mm
- Apple Watch Ultra: 49mm
- Apple Watch Series 10: 42mm and 46mm
- Apple Watch Series 9: 41mm and 45mm
- Apple Watch Series 8: 41mm and 45mm
- Apple Watch Series 7: 41mm and 45mm
- Apple Watch SE 2: 40mm and 44mm
- Apple Watch Series 6: 40mm and 44mm
- Apple Watch Series 5: 40mm and 44mm
- Apple Watch Series 4: 40mm and 44mm
- Apple Watch Series 3: 38mm and 42mm
- Apple Watch Series 2: 38mm and 42mm
- Apple Watch: 38mm and 42mm
Apple Winter Blue Sport Loop
Price: $49/£49 | Apple
Size options: 42mm/46mm
The Sport Loop (not to be confused with the clasp-less Solo Loop) is a velcro nylon strap that has increasingly become the standard issue Apple Watch strap.
It’s comfortable and wicks sweat, so it’s okay to run with, although pool swimmers will want to stick with silicone. Adjusting it is easy to get a tight fit, and best of all, it’s carbon neutral. As with standard Apple straps, this is only available in current-gen sizes.
Apple Solo Loop
Price: $99/£99 | Apple
Size options: 42mm/46mm
If you want something without a clasp, the Solo Loop is the answer. Our version—the 2024 Pride Band, shown above—features high-quality woven material and stands out, pairing nicely with nearly any finish in the selection.
Ensure you do the Apple Solo Loop sizing properly; I sized mine wrong and the fit has never felt right.
Longvadon Caiman Series 2.0 Men’s Mahogany
Price: $109/£84.90 | longvadon.com
Size options: 38mm/40mm/41mm/42mm/45mm
With a proper leather strap made from cowhide leather on the outside and suede on the interior, the Longvadon is a high-quality bit of kit that’s comfortable to wear.
The clasp is a little fiddly but does manage the excess leather well.
WITHit Lizard Grain Leather Band
Price: $40 | withitgear.com
Size options: 42mm/44mm/45mm/46mm
WITHit’s leather options are more wallet-friendly than competitors’ and far better quality than what you’ll find in Amazon’s budget regions.
There are also a variety of grains to choose from. We enjoyed this lizard leather number, which has an eye-catching pattern that complements darker Apple Watch cases well. The stainless steel lugs and buckle also ensure durability and a secure fit.
Casetify Titanium 3-Link Band
Price: $249 | Casetify
You can pick up plenty of cheap stainless steel link bands, but it will add to the weight of your smartwatch. That’s where Casetify’s excellent titanium band comes in.
The three-link style is a timeless, high-quality option made from Grade 2 titanium for extra durability and a superb finish. A tool is included for link removal and adjustment, which you can do at home, and, refreshingly, we didn’t find that a total ordeal.
It’s pricey, yet $50 less than Apple’s link strap and far more likable.
Twelve South ActionSleeve
Price: $29.99/£29.99 | TwelveSouth US | TwelveSouth UK
Size options: 40mm/41mm/44mm/45mm
Twelve South has become one of the more inventive brands producing bands, with the Apple Watch being an example of how it can be worn on your body. The ActionSleeve holds the Apple smartwatch inside a terry cloth armband, making it a good fit for workout time.
It’s placed on the upper arm, where many people keep their smartphones, and allows the heart rate monitor to sit against the skin so you don’t lose biometric data.
Why would you want that? Well, it’s brilliant for gym workouts, where having the Watch on the wrist can be troublesome, both due to inaccurate heart rate readings during wrist flexing moves and being a magnet for scratches from weights and kettlebells.
Nomad Modern Leather
Price when reviewed: $69.95 | Nomad
Size options: 42mm/46mm/49mm
Nomad’s leather straps are unlike others. The Modern Strap has a bold, minimalistic style that’s reminiscent of a sports band in the right lighting – but it’s not, with slim-to-nil stitching and a refreshing slate grey color.
The straps are made out of Horween leather and are designed to patina over time, giving you a rugged long-term look to complement its modern design.
Nomad Sport Band
Price: $59.95 | Nomad
Size options: 41mm/42mm/46mm/49mm
The Apple Watch is a formidable sports tracker, and Nomad’s fluoroelastomer band is suitable for workouts on land and in the water.
The ventilated-style look promises a breathable fit and comes in five different colors, including marine blue and dune. It’s compatible with the latest sizes, allowing you to utilize the improved dust resistance design.
Southern Straps Brown Leather
Price: $40/£40| Southern Straps
Size options: Sizes for all ‘Small’ and ‘Large’ case sizes
Southern Straps Horween leather offers fantastic value under $50.
The leather is tanned and treated in California and fits wrists sized 14cm—25 cm in circumference. You can also choose black leather if that’s more to your taste.
Watch Strap Co. leather strap
Price when reviewed: $69/£55 | Watch Strap Co
Size options: 38mm/40mm/41mm/42mm/44mm/45mm/46mm
The Watch Strap Co.’s leather options again undercut official prices while still adding quality – but customization is our favorite part of the offering.
You can color-code all of the metal elements to the color of your Apple Watch’s body, meaning you can accent rose gold, stainless steel, or space gray with your choice of leather.
There are dark, light, and black leather options, and you can choose stitching options, too.
