Eight Apple Watch Bands Over the Years: What I Still Wear on My Ultra

This is the English edition of a video from my Japanese YouTube channel, iestaLife. I review gadgets from my home studio in Japan, so product links go to Amazon Japan.

Quick take

I did not collect these Apple Watch bands for reviews; I simply bought them over the years, and now I have eight. On my first-generation Apple Watch Ultra, the two that stuck are a third-party metal link band for everyday wear and a wide hook-and-loop nylon band paired with an orange case, which is my favourite look.

Eight Apple Watch bands and Ultra cases laid out on a table

What I tested

Apple Watch Ultra (1st generation) as my main watch, plus an older Series 6 I wear for sleep tracking
Apple bands: Braided Solo Loop, Nike Sport Band, the band that came with the Ultra and others
Third-party bands: a metal link band, a wide nylon band (Tefeca Fortitude), a leather band and a braided solo loop
Three different cases for the Ultra

What I found

The third-party metal band looks like an ordinary watch bracelet, which I prefer to Apple’s design. Its slightly worn finish now matches the matte titanium.
Apple’s own bands slide into the watch smoothly every time. On cheaper bands the lug wears down with repeated swaps and gets harder to fit.
The wide nylon band is fully washable and opens wide enough to wear over a thick sleeve. On my thin wrist it is slightly too wide.

The Braided Solo Loop is the easiest to put on, but it stretches over time. Once it is loose the watch can lock itself, which is annoying if you use a passcode for payments.
The perforated Nike Sport Band never ends up loose when I run, and it felt the coolest of the sport-style bands.
A full-cover rubber case looks great but is very stiff to fit and hides the band release button. A simple snap-on resin case is much easier.

Wide black nylon band on an Apple Watch Ultra

Who it’s for

If you change bands often, Apple’s own bands are the least frustrating to swap. If you want variety for less money, third-party bands are fun, but check how the lugs feel. If you have thin wrists like me, be careful with very wide bands and long straps, and when choosing a case, think first about how easy it is to put on and take off.

The video is in Japanese. Useful points: around 3:00 the difference between Apple and third-party lugs, around 13:00 the cases, and around 21:00 my favourite combination.

Limitations

These are bands I bought for myself over several years, so the selection is uneven. Some of the third-party bands I used may no longer be sold in the same form, and fit depends a lot on wrist size.

Products

Tefeca Fortitude wide nylon band (Apple Watch): on Amazon Japan

The Amazon Japan link above is an affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Check the listing for the exact model, current price and shipping availability in your region.

More reviews in English