Everyday Carry

The 10 Best Apple Watch Bands and Straps in 2022

Authored by:
Jonathan Tayag
Reviewed by:
Bernard Capulong
Founder and Editor-in-Chief
14+ Years Reviewing EDC Products
The 10 Best Apple Watch Bands and Straps in 2022

Related Gear:
  The 18 Best Tactical And Military Watches in 2024
  The 8 Best GPS Watches In 2024 Ranked & Reviewed
  The 19 Best Divers Watches in 2024

If you just picked up the Apple Watch Series 6, the new Apple Watch SE, or you’re just looking to change up your style with your older smartwatch, this is a good time as any to take stock of the best ways to carry around your Apple Watch with style on your wrists. Of course, the official Apple Watch bands are always a solid option, but there’s also a wide range of third-party options out there that let you customize further than the official bands allow you to. In this guide, we’ll go over the best Apple Watch bands that you can buy right now, from the best official options to our favorite third-party bands and accessories to add to your new everyday smartwatch.

Archer Watch Straps Nylon Apple Watch Band

Archer Watch Straps Nylon Apple Watch Band

Purchase
Specifications
Material
Nylon
Case Compatibility
38/40/42/44mm
EDC Rating


Price
$
If you’re a fan of the classic styling of the NATO or Zulu straps that you can put on traditional watches, you’ll be a fan of the Archer Watch strap, which lets you pick a sporty durable striped nylon replacement for your Apple Watch that won’t block the critical health and fitness sensors on the back side of the device.
Apple Watch Sport Band

Apple Watch Sport Band

Purchase
Specifications
Material
Fluoroelastomer
Case Compatibility
40/44mm
EDC Rating


Price
$
The official Apple Watch Sport Band is ultra-comfortable, made from a custom high-performance fluoroelastomer material that’s designed to be flexible against your skin without being irritating even if you keep it on your wrists all day.
Spigen Rugged Armor Pro Apple Watch Band

Spigen Rugged Armor Pro Apple Watch Band

Purchase
Specifications
Material
Thermoplastic polyurethane
Case Compatibility
40mm
EDC Rating


Price
$
The Spigen Rugged Armor Pro goes a step above just giving you a new custom strap for your new Apple Watch: its rugged case design helps secure your device against damage from the constant bumps and scrapes encountered with being your daily driver watch. The design is reminiscent of the shockproof design of sport watches, and you can pick between discreet black and a military green design to suit your style.
Apple Watch Milanese Loop Band

Apple Watch Milanese Loop Band

Purchase
Specifications
Material
Stainless steel
Case Compatibility
40/44mm
EDC Rating


Price
$$
If you’re looking to add a touch of class to your Apple Watch, the official Milanese Loop band offers an elegant woven stainless steel band to your device. The band is infinitely-adjustable, so you’ll always have a secure fit around your wrists, and because it’s magnetic you won’t have to fiddle with the buckles you might find on similar designs found on traditional watches.
Nomad Modern Horween Leather Apple Watch Strap

Nomad Modern Horween Leather Apple Watch Strap

Purchase
Specifications
Material
Horween leather
Case Compatibility
42/44mm
EDC Rating


Price
$$
Few things look better on your wrist than a nice Horween leather strap, except, of course, a well-used Horween leather strap that’s gathered an attractive patina over years of use. This Nomad design leverages beautiful American-made leather that you can take with you even if you upgrade your watch in the future.
Apple Watch Leather Loop

Apple Watch Leather Loop

Purchase
Specifications
Material
Venezia leather
Case Compatibility
42/44mm
EDC Rating


Price
$$
Apple’s official leather strap is handcrafted in Arzigano, Italy, and features a pebbled texture that complements the look of your Apple device well on your wrists. Its traditional material belies the modern design of the strap, with an integrated magnetic closure that makes putting on and taking off your Apple Watch with this strap equipped a breeze, and you get a precise fit every time too. You can pick between four available colorways, with classic black and brown available as well as a bright yellow and beautiful peacock green if you’re looking to change things up.
Urban Armor Gear Civilian Apple Watch Band

Urban Armor Gear Civilian Apple Watch Band

Purchase
Specifications
Material
Silicone
Case Compatibility
42/44mm
EDC Rating


Price
$
If you’re worried about delicate straps breaking during hard use, the thick silicone design of the UAG Civilian strap is built to last. The silicone material is soft on your wrists without being brittle, and the dual injection mold design of the watch allows for extra reinforcement around the traditional tuck closure. The big buckle provides you a sense of security that magnetic closures don’t have, giving you the confidence to take your Apple Watch wherever you go.
Apple Watch Link Bracelet

Apple Watch Link Bracelet

Purchase
Specifications
Material
316L stainless steel
Case Compatibility
38/40mm
EDC Rating


Price
$$$$
If you want a diver-style stainless steel link strap on your Apple Watch, their official implementation is the best bet. Their link bracelet is made out of the same 316L stainless steel alloy as found on the case of the device itself, and the appearance of the band is designed to complement the look of the watch. And unlike with traditional link bracelets, you can add and remove links to get the right fit without using special tools.
CINORS Spring Bar Connectors for Apple Watch

CINORS Spring Bar Connectors for Apple Watch

Purchase
Specifications
Material
316L stainless steel
Case Compatibility
38/40/42/44mm
EDC Rating


Just released
Price
$
While there are options to have a NATO or Zulu style strap on your watch, these spring bar connectors allow you to use a real thing on your Apple Watch, and it’s cheaper than buying separate straps in the first place. You’ll lose access to some of the features of your watch, but the functionality and security of your favorite strap can take priority when needed.

Related Gear:
  The 8 Best Digital Watches to Buy in 2024
  The 25 Best Pocket Knives In 2024 - Ranked and Reviewed
  The 15 Best Laptop Bags [Find the Right Bag For You]

Apple Watch Solo Loop

Apple Watch Solo Loop

Purchase
Specifications
Material
Liquid silicone rubber
Case Compatibility
40/44mm
EDC Rating


Just released
Price
$
We saved the best for last, as Apple introduced a new Solo Loop strap for their Series 6 watches this year. The soft, flexible band is designed for easy use, with nine different set sizes that mean you won’t have to deal with any buckles or magnets to get the band on and off your wrist. Just measure your wrist using Apple’s template and order the right size: you can then just slip it on and off with ease once you have it installed.

Jonathan Tayag

Senior Contributor


About the Author
Jonathan Tayag is secretly an information technology and corporate security expert who prefers to moonlight as a creative event and commercial photographer whenever possible. His varied experience and substantial travels have led him to seek, without even thinking about it at first, the best gear for the best use at the best price available. Before the concept of EDC (everyday carry) firmly took hold, Jonathan already spent untold amounts of time optimizing for the best-in-slot pieces of gear, from cameras and lenses to pocket knives, pens, and bags and packs. In November 2015, Jonathan joined EverydayCarry.com and has since written numerous articles and guides to help impart his knowledge to the community as a whole.

Jonathan's photographic works have appeared on numerous online websites, print, video, and television outlets for over a decade. Jonathan's previous clients include Blizzard Entertainment, Red Bull, ESL, Razer, and several other endemic and non-endemic esports sponsors and brands. His work also features heavily in online competitive gaming communities, especially those of the StarCraft and Fighting Game genres. You've likely seen his work if you've spent time in a stream or in-game chat over the years.

Bernard Capulong

Founder and Editor-in-Chief


About the Reviewer
Bernard Capulong is an everyday carry (EDC) gear expert, entrepreneur, all-around nerd, and the founder and editor-in-chief of EverydayCarry.com—the largest online community for EDC gear enthusiasts. Since founding Everyday Carry in 2009, he’s built over a decade of experience in the industry, reviewing and highlighting brands and products, including pocket knives, flashlights, wallets, watches, bags, pens, and much more.

Bernard is known for bringing everyday carry out of obscurity and into the mainstream, having been published or featured in various publications such as GQ, TIME Magazine, The New York Times, VICE, HYPEBEAST, Outside, and many others. He has also played a part in curating, designing, and developing digital and physical products, resulting in successful crowdfunding projects or limited edition collaboration products with established softgoods brands. He stays on the pulse of the EDC industry by attending trade shows, participating in online interest communities, and actively engaging with fellow gear enthusiasts on social media.

In addition to being the editor-in-chief and main social media personality for EverydayCarry.com, Bernard is an avid gearhead and collector in general. His personal collections span technical bags, fountain pens, digital cameras, retro gaming hardware, personal hi-fi audio gear, and mechanical wristwatches, to name a few. Bernard Capulong is a prominent figure and trusted authority in the everyday carry industry with a career dedicated to helping people discover this hobby and stay prepared with quality gear.

Discussion (0 total)

There are no messages here. Be the first to share a comment or feedback.