One of the Apple Watch's best qualities is its compatibility with interchangeable bands. All Apple Watches come packaged with your pick of an Apple-branded strap, but there are plenty of other options to swap to.
The best Apple Watch bands include everything from designer and leather straps to metal and sports options. Whichever model you choose as the best Apple Watch for your needs, a new band can complement all facets of your style.
Whether you've got an Apple Watch SE, an Apple Watch Series 9, or an Apple Watch Ultra 2, below are the best Apple Watch bands available right now. We also recommend picking up one of the best Apple Watch screen protectors.
Sport bands
The Apple Watch is a premium fitness tracker, so outfitting it with one of the best Apple Watch bands for working out is a must. These include everything from durable rubber straps to lightweight and breathable nylon options.
Apple does offer a variety of sports band options when purchasing a watch but there are plenty of premium alternatives from brands like Lifeproof and Nomad.
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Staff Pick
Best overall
Apple's Sport Band is made of durable yet comfortable rubber that doesn't irritate your wrist while working out.
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For the nylon over rubber crowd
This nylon strap has a lightweight, breathable design that works well for runners, cyclists, or anyone who keeps active.
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Best Apple Sport Band alternative
Nomad's Sport Band is a stylish alternative to Apple's offering that's slightly more functional for the avid outdoors person.
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Best for saving the planet
LifeProof's Eco-Friendly Band is made of 99% ocean plastic yarn and is a comfortable and durable all-around sport band.
Leather bands
The Apple Watch is an inherently sporty wearable but that doesn't mean you can't style it up. And one of the best ways to do that is by swapping to one of the best leather Apple Watch bands.
Leather is a quality alternative to sport or metal bands, and they come in various color choices and styles (i.e. you won't only find standard brown leather straps). Although Apple doesn't sell leather watch bands anymore, there are still plenty of other brands that offer quality leather options.
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Best leather band overall
Apple's Leather Link features a distinctive yet classy pebbled design, and is available in a variety of different colorways.
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Staff Pick
For a premium leather look
The Modern Band from Nomad is made of Horween leather and achieves a rugged yet stylish look that fits the design of the Apple Watch well.
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Like Apple's Sport Band, but leather
Bellroy's Leather Watch Strap is like a leather version of Apple's Sport Band, right down to the durability, color options, and comfortable fit.
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Budget leather that still looks good
Tasikar's Leather Band is a budget watch band that features high build quality, a rugged, timeless design, and a classic watch clasp.
Metal bands
A metal watch band is timeless, and wearing one with your Apple Watch can truly upgrade its style. Having one in rotation is great for use at the office, while out to dinner, or whenever you want to fashion up your wearable.
There are a number of the best metal Apple Watch bands available, including options from Apple, Nomad, and Shinola.
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Stylish Italian design
Apple's Milanese Loop is a chic, stylish watch band that's made of stainless steel and modeled off a classic 19th Century Italian design.
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Staff Pick
The best way to class up the Apple Watch
The Apple Silver Link Bracelet features a traditional butterfly clasp system that evokes the style of a standard stainless steel wristwatch.
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Classic stainless steel for less
The Apple Watch Band from Spigen features a classic linked design and a traditional clasp — and won't break the bank at $40.
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Beautiful two-tone, rose gold finish
The Linked Band from Case-Mate has a stylish matte rose gold finish, a linked design, and an easy to use butterfly clasp.
Designer bands
A leather or metal band can upgrade the look of the Apple Watch but nothing is quite as luxurious or stylish as a designer band. Apple's partnership with Hermes is a great example of this as it offers a line of the designer's high-end straps via the Apple website.
But a Hermes strap isn't the only option you have. Below are the best designer Apple Watch bandsincluding brands like Coach, Kate Spade, and Tory Burch.
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Staff Pick
Designer threads for your Apple Watch
The Hermes Rouge Sellier is made of a durable woven material and features a unique (and stylish) multi-color design.
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Gold, sparkly, and stylish
The Kate Spade Stainless Steel Band features scallop links adorned with gold accents and sparkling bedazzles, and is available in 10 colors.
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Classy and chic designer style
This band from Coach has a metallic mesh design, a foldover clasp, and the understated yet iconic Coach logo right below the watch face.
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Understated designer look
The all-black Michele Apple Watch band is made of durable stainless steel, features an easy to use clasp, and is both sleek and stylish.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 bands
One of the Apple Watch Ultra 2's best features is its versatility. It's a more rugged, longer-lasting version of Apple's flagship that can be used by a variety of active folks like divers, surfers, hikers, climbers, and marathon runners.
There are several watch straps designed to keep up with everything and everyone, too. Below are a few of the best Apple Watch Ultra 2 bands. Since the sizing is the same on the latest release, these are also considered the best Apple Watch Ultra bands.
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Staff Pick
The go-to Ultra band
The Apple Trail Loop is an Ultra staple. It’s made of a durable nylon weave that’s lightweight, breathable, and best used by folks who enjoy spending time outdoors.
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Outfit your Ultra in durable, stylish titanium
Just because the Ultra is designed for the active user, doesn’t mean it can’t also be stylish. Nomad’s Titanium Band gives it a durable, classy look befit Apple’s rugged smartwatch.
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Durable woven nylon for less
If you’re keen on nylon but don’t want to splurge on Apple’s option, consider Spigen’s DuraPro Flex. Similar durable, lightweight, and breathable nylon but for less than $30.
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Premium leather to style up your Ultra
Bandwerk’s Stockholm band is made of premium leather, giving the Ultra a vintage yet stylish look. It’s available in four different color options for ultimate customization, too.
What to look for in the best Apple Watch bands
The most important thing to consider is what you'll use the band for. If you frequent the gym, look for a sports band. If you want something classy yet rugged, leather might be your best option. And for those extra stylish occasions, consider a metal band, or something from a designer like Hermes.
It's also important to remember how the band functions and if it's something you'll enjoy using. For instance, some may prefer using a magnetic clasp since it's easy to use and accessible to a broader range of people. Others may like elastic-style bands that easily slip on and off their wrist.
FAQs
What is the best Apple Watch band?
This ultimately comes down to how you need the band to function as not all bands are designed to work for every use case. For example, you won't want to wear a metal band while working out, nor would you want to use a leather band while swimming.
However, some bands are more versatile than others. For instance, sports bands can stand up to a heavy workout but also function well in an office setting. The term "best" truly comes down to how each person needs to use it.
What's the difference between Apple's band and third-party options?
The biggest difference between Apple's watch bands and those sold by a third party is the quality and specific styles of the bands. Apple's bands sport a unique look and feel that are quite distinguishable from non-Apple products, and they're often a lot more durable.
Of course, plenty of knock-offs aim to replicate the look and feel of an Apple band, but the quality tends to be much lower.
What's the best Apple Watch band for working out?
A fluoroelastomer, or rubber-style, Apple Watch band will be the best for working out for many reasons. Not only are they easier to clean than something like a woven band, but they manage to avoid looking dirty, too, even if you've worn it for a few workouts without cleaning it. They also tend to be more comfortable to wear, especially in warmer weather or during a particularly sweaty workout.
Why did Apple discontinue its leather watch bands?
Apple announced it would no longer sell leather watch bands to reduce carbon emissions. This includes its Apple-branded leather bands, as well as the straps offered via its collaboration with Hermes. Apple will instead offer a new, suede-like material called FineWoven to replace the discontinued leather options.
Fitness Tech Editor, Insider Reviews
Rick Stella is the fitness tech editor for the Insider Reviews team. He reviews and reports on all forms of wearables like activity trackers and smartwatches, as well as a variety of other fitness-related wearables. Rick has over ten years of experience covering the verticals of health & fitness, outdoors, and consumer technology.When he's not putting digital pen to digital paper, Rick enjoys seeing live music, playing soccer, catching up on Netflix shows, and riding his bike. An Oregonian for much of his life, Rick now resides in Brooklyn, NY.He can be reached at rstella@businessinsider.com or on Twitter @RickStella.Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here.Learn more about how we test health, fitness, and outdoor products.
