Personalize Your Apple Watch With These Unique Bands
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With additions by John Russell Jones
The Apple Watch Series 5 has been redesigned and reengineered to make all the things you love about Apple Watch even better. It features the largest display yet, even though the case is about the same size, while new technology improves power efficiency and prolongs battery life. The new and improved heart sensor provides an electrocardiogram reading that is high enough quality to share with your doctor.
RELATED: Best New Apple Watch Features
The crown now has haptic feedback, delivering a click-like feel as you scroll, and you can use that heart rate reading app simply by touching the top of the crown with your finger. A new watch face, the infograph, accommodates up to eight complications, so you’ll always know what’s up at a glance. What may be coolest is that the watch can now be paired with cellular service, so you don’t even have to keep your phone with you at all times.
What real watch junkies crave, however, is change. That’s why there are watch collectors and automatic winders. Once we’ve gotten addicted to the Apple interface, though, the only way to update the device’s look — besides the many, many watch face options — is to switch out the Apple watch bands. The good news is that there are more and more companies getting into the Apple Watch band business, so you can easily pick a band that fits your personal style, and goes with your outfit.
Types of Apple Watch Bands
The types of Apple watch band styles include:
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Classic Watch Strap: Mainly represented as a leather band, normally crafted from high-quality materials, elegant or rugged stitching and a classic buckle.
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Custom Watch Strap: Bands featuring funky or personal designs that make your Apple Watch pop – a great decision depending on wrist size, especially small wrists.
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Milanese Loop Watch Strap: Woven stainless steel mesh that wraps around the wrist with an adjustable magnetic closure – perfect for almost any wrist size.
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Nylon Watch Strap: Made from rugged synthetic polymers for elite defense against scratches and scuffs.
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Sport Watch Strap: Sports bands are engineered for a comfortable fit during heavy fitness and outdoor activity and are often made from silicone or a silicone type material.
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Steel Watch Strap: Metal straps that add finesse to the watch with a stainless and sturdy finish.
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Wood Watch Strap: Handcrafted bands built for the environmentally conscious who appreciate craftsmanship and want to wear something truly one-of-a-kind.
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Link Bracelet Watch Band: The traditional link bracelet is a mainstay in the wrist wardrobe of any stylish man and can be adjusted easily to accommodate small wrists.
But what if you already have a favorite band for your old Apple Watch, as well as other Apple Watch accessories, and you want to purchase the Apple Watch Series 5? Will the old bands fit? Answer: Yes. Apple managed to keep intact the exact lug and groove connector from former models, making all bands fit any model you may have. Phew!
So be it for cocktail hour, EDC purposes, or hitting the gym, there’s something out there for every guy. Unlock your screen and take a gander at the best Series 5 Apple Watch bands you can get right now.
RELATED: Best Heart Rate Trackers and Watches
Apple Watch Sport Loop
If you’ve truly joined the Apple cult, stay true to the cause with Apple Watch accessories. This sport loop band (please don’t ever refer to it as the “iWatch band” because an iWatch band isn’t a thing…) is made of super soft and breathable woven nylon with tonal stitching that gives the lightweight strap depth and dimension. It is available in a number of different colors, but we think this Anchor Gray looks sporty with jeans and clean at the office – much more versatile than the typical silicone bands.
$49 at Amazon.com
Shinola Kodiak Leather Strap
Shinola fans are almost as loyal as Apple fans, so watch out when the two worlds collide. This genuine leather strap features the quality workmanship you expect to find from Shinola’s made in Detroit facility. On top of this gem, Shinola has a wide array of other Apple Watch compatible leather bands to choose from – in numerous colorways.
$150 at Shinola.com
Apple Watch Sports Band
Available in several different colorways, this Apple Watch band is an ideal pick for workouts or more strenuous activities, where you don’t want to worry about your strap getting caught on something, or getting scratched. It is sturdy, yet soft to the touch, composed of fluoroelastomer: a synthetic rubber that’s great for resisting sweat during your workouts. The pin and tuck closure ensures it maintains a clean fit, and the material feels great against the skin.
$49 at Amazon.com
Kartice Leather Vintage Band
The Kartice band offers a warmer, Western or Native American feel, in either black or brown, perfect for trending Southwest or Navajo looks trending this season. It’s a more casual look, perfect with jeans or khakis, but also warms up the high-tech edge of the Apple Watch. Using the Toy Story watch face series is optional.
$14.88 at Amazon.com
Fossil 42mm Leather Band for Apple Watch
Beloved watch brand Fossil has straps to go with your techy Apple Watch, too. This genuine leather strap has a classic feel that will pair well with the modern quality of the Apple Watch. This strap has a silicone backing to ensure it remains comfortable on the wrist throughout the day – even during a sweat sesh. And when you’re not using your Apple Watch you can take off the connectors and attach this strap to your Fossil watch face.
$40 at Amazon.com
Apple Watch Leather Loop
Handcrafted in Arzignano, Italy, this leather watch band from Apple perfectly combines sleek, modern style with the heritage feel of fine-quality leather. The magnets are concealed within its pebbled leather structure, so you can create a perfect fit without a lot of extra bulk. It is available in a few different colors including, but not limited to, Saddle Brown, Black, and Meyer Lemon.
$99 at Amazon.com
Carterjett Sport Silicone Smartwatch Band
You’ll practically smell the gasoline and testosterone blend from the moment you put on this tire track watchband. Carterjett employs incredibly durable materials that make the accessory damage and waterproof, along with evaporative channels on the back to allow for air circulation to keep you cool during that white flag lap or challenging dirt bike trail. The company also bundles its reliable screw-less adapters that use thick gauge spring bars for greater security while using a classic buckle that looks sharp as hell.
$19.99 at Amazon.com
Monowear Olive Nylon Strap
Styled specifically for the all-terrain urbanite who really appreciates the nylon bands, this retro military-inspired NATO strap gives Apple’s model a run for its money with a soft and durable design, plus adapters that come in a gold color finish and slid on/off effortlessly to swap out bands. Two-layered nylon makes for tighter, secure fit so that there are no ends for the woven material to erode. Sporting the olive green model with any utilitarian parka or military jacket is the move.
$35 at MonowearDesign.com
Apple Watch Milanese Loop Band – Space Black
A modern take on a design developed in Milan in the 19th century, the Milanese loop is sophisticated and timeless. Since it’s fully magnetic it is infinitely adjustable, so even if your wrists are on the smaller end, you can adjust it to get a perfect fit. While the stainless steel and gold are nice, we’re partial to the space black which has an additional diamond-like carbon (DLC) layer that gives it an extra sheen.
$99 at Amazon.com
CRLIN Double Tour Band
Casually chic and far more affordable than Apple’s Hermès Etoupe band, CRLIN’s elegant offering includes a wide selection of color and texture for the distinguished gent on a budget, including several braided (and floral!) styles. Ensure the Apple Watch Series 5 stays wrapped around your wrist thanks to a resolute stainless steel buckle that supports full adjustability.
$16.99 at Amazon.com
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