Apple Bands (Fluoroelastomer) vs 3rd Party (Silicone)

[rkurcon]

I have 1 band from Apple that came with the watch and then multiple silicone bands from Amazon. I have to say, while my Apple one got dirty (it was white so there's not much surprise), the Amazon ones give me serious rashes. I'm not sure if its an allergic reaction to the silicone or if there is some friction causing the rash, but it gets to the point where I can no longer wear my watch or have to temporarily switch wrists.

Does any one else experience this? Is it because of the crappy quality of the Amazon silicone bands? I'm trying to figure out if it's worth investing in some Apple bands.

 

[staggerlee41]

Mostly I stick with Apple Sport bands vs 3rd Party because I prefer the more interesting and changing color choices as well as the quality. I have 2 3rd party bands, one of which is OK, the other is of very good quality and close to Apple's quality--iGK on Amazon.

I have not experienced rashes with either 3rd party band but I were, I'd just stop wearing that one and either try a different source until you find one that doesn't cause the rash or stick with Apple since you aren't experiencing the problem with it.

 

[Texh49]

I personally hate the knock off bands. I've been finding apple authentic bands on facebook marketplace and everything is negotiable!

 

[broadbean]

I'm trying to figure out if it's worth investing in some Apple bands.

Definitely, when it comes to the Sport Bands. Can't comment on the Sport Loops as I haven't bought any knock-offs.

Leather ones are fine, as are metal bands. Except maybe the Milanese Loop clones -- just watch out for the magnet sticking to other things, not just the band itself.

 

[Pseudo-Fed]

Have both Apple and knock offs. While it's true the off brand items often fit and seem securely made, most of the silicon bands are dust magnets. I returned some darker silicon bands due to what I assume is static cling attracting lint. Apples flouroelastomer simply does not have this problem.

 

[menace3]

I have both types and I lve them all. Especially all the colors. Have not had an issue with any of he bands I have purchased. I've grabbed from Apple, Amazon and ebay.

 

[techno-Zen]

The 3rd party Bands are hot garbage... Just save up for the authentic. absolutely worth it

 

[nieks]

I've said it in other topics, but the ones from Urvoi are pretty good. Yes they are knockoffs, but to be honest: my white Apple original sportband is no longer white. It is blue on the exposed parts, probably because of other clothing such as jeans. So I'm not convinced the Apple bands are 100% worth the 59 euro's we have to pay here. The urvoi bands are about 2 or 3 dollars each, and perfect quality. They are just a tad bit lighter compared to the apple bands, but I have never seen a better knockoff than the urvoi bands.

 

[staggerlee41]

The 3rd party Bands are hot garbage... Just save up for the authentic. absolutely worth it

I really think it depends on the 3rd party band to be honest but at the end of the day, it all comes down to the perceived value in the purchaser's eyes. I paid $7 for a 3rd party band from Amazon (iGK) and the quality is very close to that of the original article.

That said, there are some bands I'm sure are not nearly as good. I agree with your statement though that authentic ones are worth buying. Not just because of the quality control but also because of the varying color choices available seasonally but that's part of what's important to me as a consumer. And there are plenty of deals that can be found on authentic bands if you look around.

 

[Rlb222]

I pretty much agree with every thing said on this blog except for the third-party bands made by Epic Watch Bands @epicwatchbands.com. I have purchased several silicone, nylon, wood, ceramic, and wood & stainless steel (fusion) bands over the past three years. Their bands are of the highest quality made outside of Apple bands. I have gotten to know via chat one of the co-founders and owners quite well and I have found him to want only the highest quality bands and accessories possible. Before any band hits the market, they test and re-test for quality. If it doesn’t meet their quality standards, it is not sold. Their return policy is very clear and they are very clear up front whether the product can or cannot be returned. If the band or other item can be returned, your refund will be processed immediately upon receipt of the bad product, if they want it returned.

It’s very nice to know a Company that vends third-party Apple Watch bands is both reliable and trustworthy.

 

[MacGizmo]

I'm still wearing 2 of the 3 knockoff bands I got on Amazon for less than $20 each back in June of 2017. I love the Apple bands, but I just can't justify the cost when I can get 2-3 years of use out of a much cheaper band.

 

[sjinsjca]

I'm a bit late to this thread, but I've yet to see a knockoff Sport band that has its adjustment peg at the end of the short strap and the "excess" slot inwards from that end by a couple cm, as Apple configures it. This clever design by Apple has some real-world advantages:

• All the knockoffs I've seen before today have the excess-slot at the end [but, see UPDATE below]. This puts the adjustment peg towards the outside bony part of your wrist, poking inward, while Apple's design places it closer to the fleshy center of your wrist, with the broad base of the peg next to your skin, which is more comfortable.
• On almost all knockoff bands, the excess lives on the outside of the band rather than tucked inside. This makes it more vulnerable to accidental opening and potentially dropping the Watch.

Details matter. You get what you pay for.

Apple vs. typical knockoff:

UPDATE: I just noticed @Rlb222's post a little further up the page. Epicwatchband.com's silicone bands have their excess-slot configured more like Apple's. Good for them.

 

[iFone88]

I'm a bit late to this thread, but I've yet to see a knockoff Sport band that has its adjustment peg at the end of the short strap and the "excess" slot inwards from that end by a couple cm, as Apple configures it. This clever design by Apple has some real-world advantages:

• All the knockoffs I've seen before today have the excess-slot at the end [but, see UPDATE below]. This puts the adjustment peg towards the outside bony part of your wrist, poking inward, while Apple's design places it closer to the fleshy center of your wrist, with the broad base of the peg next to your skin, which is more comfortable.
• On almost all knockoff bands, the excess lives on the outside of the band rather than tucked inside. This makes it more vulnerable to accidental opening and potentially dropping the Watch.

Details matter. You get what you pay for.

Apple vs. typical knockoff:

View attachment 896508 View attachment 896509

UPDATE: I just noticed @Rlb222's post a little further up the page. Epicwatchband.com's silicone bands have their excess-slot configured more like Apple's. Good for them.

Do you know this part in bold, for sure? Or are you basing this on an illustration?

I have bought knock offs that are picture like that band on the right but they come through with exactly the same fitment as Apple's.

 

[CarlJ]

I'm a bit late to this thread, but I've yet to see a knockoff Sport band that has its adjustment peg at the end of the short strap and the "excess" slot inwards from that end by a couple cm, as Apple configures it.

That's weird, I rarely see any knockoff sport bands configured the way you suggest - the vast majority are exactly the same shape as Apple's Sport Bands (just thinner, silicone instead of fluoroelastomer, and with poorer tolerances on the connectors).

Looking at Amazon just now, there are a lot of the style you point out - perhaps Apple has gone after the sellers of the Apple-configuration knockoffs? But a quick look at aliexpress shows the $2 knockoffs shaped exactly like Apple's bands are quite plentiful (though, weirdly, there's also a variant that's the same style but with two pins in tandem rather than just one).
[automerge]1582907376[/automerge]

I have bought knock offs that are picture like that band on the right but they come through with exactly the same fitment as Apple's.

Are you saying you've ordered bands that display the pin on the outside going in, in the pics, and then you actually receive ones configured like Apple's originals, with the pin on the inside going out?

If so, that would sound like the sellers trying to evade attention from Apple.

 

[sjinsjca]

Do you know this part in bold, for sure? Or are you basing this on an illustration?

I have bought knock offs that are picture like that band on the right but they come through with exactly the same fitment as Apple's.

Buyer beware, then. I've seen some in real life like the many dozens of photos I've seen similar to the one I posted, and I wouldn't want to trust my Watch's safety to one of that design. The EpicWatchBands.com are so far the only ones for which I've seen promotional photos of an Apple-like configuration. But, sure, others may exist.
[automerge]1582907751[/automerge]

that would sound like the sellers trying to evade attention from Apple.

Very possibly. You mentioned Aliexpress vs. Amazon... very different venues in terms of intellectual-property attentiveness.

So yeah, could be the Apple-style bands fly under the radar in certain litigious countries.

Are there knockoff fluoroelastomer bands? I've not seen those. I find silicone to have an unpleasant texture, and it's flimsier and attracts dust.

UPDATE: I just remembered something:

...That's a watch designed by Marc Newson before he joined Apple's Watch team. Here's the article it came from: https://www.ablogtowatch.com/10-interesting-facts-marc-newson-watch-design-work-ikepod/ So, this strap design is not exclusive to Apple. It could be patented and licensed to Apple, though. Whatever, it's a brilliant approach.

 

[CarlJ]

Are there knockoff fluoroelastomer bands? I've not seen those. I find silicone to have an unpleasant texture, and it's flimsier and attracts dust.

I've never seen a knockoff fluoroelastomer band, they're always silicone.

 

[jonnyb098]

If you are ok with the band looking like garbage in a couple months then get the cheap ones. The Apple ones look better for longer and are still higher quality. Plus some of the cheap ones smell terrible for a few days at least. I've got Apple bands that are still prestine after one year.

My girlfriend got a few of the cheap ones off amazon and they start looking nasty within a few weeks. Like shiny nasty rubber look.

 

[Royksöpp]

Be careful with 3rd party bands. I purchased one from Ebay a few years ago and it smelled like gasoline. I sent it back immediately.

 

[MultiFinder17]

I got a basic 38MM sport watch when they first came out in 2015, and it came with a white band. I decided that I wanted a black one, so I got myself one from the local Apple Store. Now, five years later, I’m still using that same black sport band. It’s held up amazingly well; it’s easy to clean, has never snagged on hair or anything unpleasant, and other than the outside finish being dulled by five years of wear, it still looks fantastic. Not bad for a year of being beat up at a computer shop and then four years of being beaten up in my classroom