We tried multiple bands from Solace, including the Imperium Adapt, Sport Adapt, Paladin Adapt, Stella Band, Templar Band, and Perma Band. Unfortunately, we found too many complaints regarding the company’s poor customer service to recommend any of them.
Leather bands
The Harber London Modern Leather Apple Watch Strap is way too big, and the stitching is very sloppy.
The color and stitching on the Archer Watch Straps Leather Apple Watch Band is nice, but halfway through the day, one of the adapters started freely sliding in and out of the Apple Watch.
The leather on the Bridge Watches’s The Touring Strap is less supple than the Arrow & Board Porter band we recommend.
The Barton Watch Bands Leather Stitching Watch Band is very basic but inexpensive. Nothing about it wowed us, and the leather felt a little too smooth.
The Marge Plus Genuine Leather Band is a perfectly serviceable budget strap with a slight taper toward the clasp, so it may look a bit better on smaller wrists. Because the band’s ends slide around on its lugs a little, it can look off-center. And the stitching runs only along the length of the band; we prefer stitching underneath the lugs as well for added durability.
The Nomad Modern Band is designed to develop a patina over time, and we saw that to be true as scuffs and marks appeared more quickly on its surface than on any other band. A line is clearly visible where the pieces are glued together, rather than fused, which makes us wary about the band’s long-term durability.
Faux leather bands
Society6 offers a nearly limitless amount of patterns in faux leather, but the material on our test unit felt thin and started creasing after a couple of days of wear. We felt similarly about the faux leather offerings from The Urban Flair.
Metal bands
The bulky look of the Nomad Stratos Band is certainly not for everyone, and it’s a difficult band to put on. If you don’t snap the magnetic closure on perfectly, it will pinch your skin into oblivion.
Previously, we recommended the Astra Aere Slim Stainless Steel Band, but we removed it as a pick in this guide due to reports of poor customer service and durability issues.
Insignia’s Stainless Steel Mesh Band for Apple Watch had a weak magnetic clasp that loosened after a few minutes of wear, which caused the watch to slide up and down the arm. We also found that it wasn’t tight enough for any wrist smaller than about 5.5 inches in circumference.
The WorryFree Gadgets Metal Mesh Band was a pain to adjust — it even comes with a little screwdriver to aid in moving the clasp up and down the fixed notches. It also pinched the arm hair of our testers.
Silicone and rubber bands
The rubber on Nomad’s Tempo and Sport bands feel stiff, and the pin-and-tuck closures aren’t as secure as we anticipated. They’re also a hassle to take on and off.
Multiple testers were in between hole sizes on the Nomad Rocky Point Band, and it was either uncomfortably tight or too loose for athletic activity.
The Barton Elite Silicone Watch Band is the only silicone band we tested that isn’t styled like the Apple Sport Band. Our panel testers were unanimous in preferring Apple’s flat, understated band to the Barton model’s diamond-textured pattern.
Groove Life’s Apple Watch Band is one of the most comfortable bands we tested. It’s soft, handsome, and lightweight, but it’s a bit more expensive than the other sport bands we recommend.
Fabric bands
We loved the look of Barton’s Retro Two Piece NATO Style Watch Band, and it felt sturdy. But its fabric was stiff and a little scratchy, so it wasn’t as comfortable to wear as the company’s Cordura and Silicone Hybrid band.
The Braxley Band comes in a ton of funky colors and patterns, but the one we tested felt like it cut off our circulation, and the stitching and tailoring looked cheap.
Across three different people, no one could figure out how to adjust the Dot Outfitters Yoga Band, and the more we tried, the worse it looked.
The Heyday Apple Watch Knit Band simply refused to stay tight.
We were excited about the Twelve South ActionSleeve and its niche armband design, but it failed to stay in place when our testers went running.
Jewelry bands
The Kate Spade Pavé Scallop Link Band was a previous pick in this guide, and it’s still a beautiful band that held up well over the years. But it’s only compatible with smaller Apple Watches.
The Kades Marina Chain Watch Band looked too casual and cheap in person, and resizing it into the perfect fit was difficult.
The Coach Apple Watch Strap (CEU53) doesn’t justify its high price. It looks clunky, it feels a bit stiff when worn, and the finish of the silver stainless steel is too bronze-toned.
The Anne Klein Fashion Chain Bracelet looks cheap and clunky, and it was a pain to put on and take off.
The silicone on the Tory Burch Kira Band has an unflattering yellow tint, and the overall aesthetic is too sporty to pass as jewelry. This band is also far too expensive for what it is.
This article was edited by Caitlin McGarry and Signe Brewster.
