The Best Apple Watch Bands To Wear On Any Occasion

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David Phelan Senior Contributor Forbes Vetted Contributor Group Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Sep 19, 2023, 05:04pm EDT | Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin With so many options available, it’s worth browsing the best Apple Watch bands to suit your style (and lifestyle). If you really want, you can switch up your device’s look and feel regularly.

Perhaps you’re looking for something waterproof for swimming or sweatier sports, a subdued shade for business meetings or a leather strap for dressier occasions. Just like how the Apple Watch face is completely customizable, our selection of straps allow you to make your wearable tech all your own. From sophisticated to sweat-proof, the best Apple Watch bands are designed to complement your .

. . [+] lifestyle.

Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailers It’s not surprising that more than one of our selections (including our top pick the Apple Milanese Loop Watch Band ) are made by Apple itself. But there are more affordable options and alternative styles beyond those from Apple, like Nomad’s beautiful titanium band , for example. Read on for the best Apple Watch bands you can buy for every occasion and version of your watch.

Best Apple Watch Band Overall: Apple Milanese Loop Best Budget Apple Watch Band: Fullmosa Band Best Silicone Apple Watch Band: Otterbox All Day Comfort Band Best Metal Apple Watch Band: Nomad Titanium Best Leather Apple Watch Band: Bellroy Watch Strap Best Apple Watch Band For Working Out: Apple Sport Loop Best Luxury Apple Watch Band: Lagos Smart Caviar Best Rugged Apple Watch Band: Nomad Rugged Best Designer Apple Watch Band: Tory Burch Braided Leather Best Apple Watch Band Overall Sleek With A Satisfying Magnetic Closure Amazon Apple Milanese Loop Watch Band Sizes: 41 millimeters, 45 millimeters | Materials: Stainless steel | Colors: 3 total, including Gold and Graphite | Waterproof : No If you want guaranteed quality in an Apple Watch band, it’s best to buy straight from Apple itself. The magnetized Milanese Loop has a quiet elegance and sophisticated mechanism inspired by a design developed in 19th century Milan. The strap fastens with a satisfying magnetic closure, snapping onto itself, and is compatible with Apple Watch Series 3 through 8.

The 41-millimeter size works with 38 to 40-millimeter cases, while the 45-millimeter size works with 42 to 49-millimeter cases. Overall, it’s a top choice at a great, mid-range price point. Just keep in mind that it’s not waterproof, so you’ll want to take it off before showering or swimming.

Best Budget Apple Watch Band Wallet-Friendly Option That Comes In Several Hues Amazon Fullmosa Apple Watch Band Buy From Amazon Sizes: 38 to 41 millimeters, 42 to 45 millimeters, 49 millimeters | Materials: Stainless steel | Colors: 9 total, including Black and Rose Gold | Waterproof : Yes Maybe you’re not looking for an investment piece and you’d prefer a casual Apple Watch band to knock around with. In that case, you can’t do much better than this stainless steel band from Fullmosa; it’s sleek, flexible and wallet-friendly. Available in three different sizes, the button closure band is compatible with Apple Watch Series 1 through 8 plus the Apple Watch Series SE.

This pick is also waterproof, and is highly praised by customers, earning an average score of 4. 4 out of five stars on Amazon with over 52,000 ratings. Best Silicone Apple Watch Band Comfortable And Waterproof Otterbox Otterbox All Day Comfort Apple Watch Band Buy From Otterbox Sizes: 38 to 41 millimeters, 42 to 45 millimeters | Materials: Antimicrobial silicone, stainless steel | Colors: 11 total, including Pavement and Blueberry Tarte | Waterproof : Yes Otterbox’s comfortable Apple Watch band is made of antimicrobial silicone that’s fully waterproof (which is great if you regularly jog or swim).

It has a stainless steel buckle that allows you to achieve a snug fit while the textured underside guarantees the strap will stay in place, even during an intense workout. This band is compatible with Apple Watch Series 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and SE, and there are two sizes to pick from. Not only is the band incredibly flexible and functional, it also comes in a wide range of color combinations to suit any taste.

Fresh Dew, for instance, is a mint-light blue combo while Blueberry Tarte is a cool mix of cobalt and magenta. Best Metal Apple Watch Band Durable Yet Lightweight Titanium Pick Nomad Nomad Titanium Apple Watch Band Buy From Nomad Sizes: 40 to 41 millimeters, 45 to 49 millimeters | Materials: Titanium | Colors: Silver | Waterproof : Yes Although Apple makes a titanium Apple Watch Series 7, there’s no titanium strap to match, at least not from Apple. Nomad has made its own and it’s extremely well designed: The magnetic clasp means there’s no buckle that protrudes excessively and it clicks precisely into place.

In addition to being highly comfortable, the watch is scratch-resistant—it coated in a patented diamond-like carbon—and can also go underwater (just be sure to rinse it off with fresh water after taking a dip in the ocean or pool). Nomad’s 40 to 41 millimeter titanium band is compatible with Apple Watch Series 8, 7, 6, SE and all previous versions while the larger 45 to 49 millimeter band is suited for the Apple Watch Ultra. Getting the perfect fit takes a little work, but 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 clear plus there’s a helpful online video. ) Best Leather Apple Watch Band Smooth, Flexible Leather That Gets Better With Age Bellroy Bellroy Watch Strap Buy From Bellroy Sizes: Small (38 to 41 millimeters), Large (42 to 49 millimeters) | Materials: Eco-tanned leather, polymer | Colors: 6 total, including Terracotta and Black | Waterproof : No While there are plenty of leather Apple Watch straps on the market, Bellroy’s unique design caught our attention the most. Its eco-tanned leather body is combined with polymer, which boosts its flexibility and durability.

A textured underside ensures the band won’t slip while also reducing sweat buildup during the day. The small size is designed to work with cases ranging from 38 to 41 millimeters while the large size is intended for cases ranging from 42 to 49 milliliters. Not only is this strap sturdy enough to withstand daily wear, it actually gains a patina over time, so you’ll have a unique, worn-in piece after months of use.

If you’re worried about any defects in the material, however, Bellroy offers a 3-year warranty on its products. Best Apple Watch Band For Working Out Apple-Made Nylon Band That Wicks Away Sweat Amazon Apple Sport Loop Watch Band Sizes: 41 millimeters, 45 millimeters | Materials: Nylon | Colors: 5 total, including Storm Blue and Elderberry | Waterproof : No, water-resistant Apple knows what customers are looking for when it comes to functionality, which is why the company offers a wide variety of Apple Watch bands that stand up to a day at the gym or running trail. In particular, its Sport Loop design is lightweight and durable; it’s made of a double weave nylon that’s soft against the skin while still allowing moisture to evaporate.

Note that since it’s made of fabric, it’s not fully waterproof, but it’ll wick away sweat droplets as you work out. And thanks to the Velcro-like hook-and-loop fastener, adjusting its tightness on your wrist is quick and easy. Per the company’s website, this band is compatible with any Apple Watch Series 3 or newer case of the same size.

Best Luxury Apple Watch Band Exquisitely Crafted Band For Special Occasions Bloomingdale’s Lagos Smart Caviar Apple Watch Bracelet Buy From Bloomingdale’s Sizes: 38 millimeters | Materials: Stainless steel | Colors: Silver | Waterproof : Not listed If you’re in the market for an Apple Watch band that exudes sophistication, consider this watch-bracelet from Lagos. Crafted out of sleek stainless steel, the link band has a double button closure and jewelry-inspired design, which makes it an excellent choice for weddings, business events and other formal engagements. This band is compatible with Apple Watch Series 1 to 8, as long as the case falls in the 38- to 45-millimeter range.

Due to its intricate design, this isn’t the kind of band you’ll want to wear while working out or swimming—but it can elevate an everyday ensemble even if you’re just running errands or grabbing coffee with friends. Best Rugged Apple Watch Band Sturdy But Lightweight And Breathable MOST POPULAR Nomad Nomad Rugged Band Buy From Nomad Sizes: 40 to 41 millimeters, 45 to 49 millimeters | Materials: Fluoroelastomer, stainless steel | Colors: 2 total, including Black and Ultra Orange | Waterproof : Yes Nomad’s Rugged Band is solid and dependable. It’s designed with ridges and channels that make it thick without being heavy while remaining breathable and comfortable.

This band is compatible with the Apple Watch Ultra, Series 8, 7, 6, SE and all previous versions of Apple Watch. The stainless steel buckle comes in black or silver and it offers a solid fit with enough holes to ensure it stays snug to the wrist. You can easily clean off dirt with a swipe and it’s also resistant to oils.

Best Designer Apple Watch Band Stylish Leather Pick From Tory Burch Nordstrom Tory Burch Braided Leather Apple Watch Strap Buy From Nordstrom Sizes: 38 to 40 millimeters | Materials: Leather, stainless steel | Colors: Caramel | Waterproof : No Tory Burch is known for its sophisticated, wear-anywhere fashion and that extends to its line of Apple Watch straps. This braided leather style is preppy-chic, branded with two subtle medallions that display the designer’s logo. The topstitched strap secures to your wrist with a stainless steel buckle closure.

While this band is certainly the most fashion-forward pick on this list, keep in mind that it’s only compatible with Apple Watch Series 1 through 6; if you have a newer model, you’ll need a strap that can accommodate a bigger case size. MORE FROM FORBES VETTED The Best Hardside Luggage To Bring On Every Type Of Trip By Astrid Taran Forbes Staff The Best Cordless Vacuums For Pet Hair That Are Powerful And Effective By Camryn Rabideau Contributor Why Trust Forbes Vetted For this story, we combined our tech and electronics and fashion expertise to assemble the best Apple watch bands that offer style and function. Claire Epting , the primary author of this story, is Forbes Vetted’s fashion updates writer who has years of experience covering all things style and trends; co-author David Phelan is a senior contributor with over two decades of experience writing about technology.

In addition, this round-up undergoes routine updates to ensure its picks are of the highest quality. During its most recent September 2023 update, we re-evaluated our picks and added a leather Apple Watch band from Bellroy , a luxury watch band from jewelry brand Lagos and a wallet-friendly pick by Fullmosa that’s less than $20. The product edits in this story were overseen by senior fashion editor and style expert Kari Molvar.

How We Chose The Best Apple Watch Bands When selecting the best Apple Watch bands, we considered important specs including durability, resistance to moisture and overall style. We included options for a variety of lifestyles and budgets while ensuring that each pick is made of high-quality materials. In addition, we relied on our industry expertise to select products from established brands with excellent reputations, such as Apple and Nomad.

Customer reviews, too, were studied; we made sure that each of our picks earned an average of at least four out of five stars. (While the Bellroy Watch Strap doesn’t have customer reviews enabled on the company’s websites, we chose to include it based on its high-quality leather craftsmanship. ) More Stories To Shop: Best Smartwatches For Women Best Designer Apple Watch Bands Best Apple AirTag Holders Best Running Watches Best Smartwatches For Kids Coupons Baked by Melissa Link to Coupon Claire Epting David Phelan Editorial Standards Print Reprints & Permissions.