Bands for warm weather?

[JTToft]

Hi,

With summer coming around, I'm looking for bands that are comfortable in the warmer weather. I mostly use my Classic Buckle and Woven Nylon, but both are quite bad in the hot and sunny weather. The Sport Band isn't great, either.

I'm thinking either Nike Sport Band or Sport Loop. What are your experiences?

Any thoughts as to whether colour makes a difference the same way it does with clothing due to the different light absorption properties of darker and lighter colours?

Thanks.

 

[bbednarz]

Likely the Nike sport band in a lighter color would be your best bet for optimal airflow and heat resistance. The sport loop would also likely work well, but it will absorb sweat and water. The color of the band could matter if you are in the sun a lot. When I wear a black band at the beach or when in the pool I will notice the band gets warmer. If youre not in the sun a ton I imagine the color wouldn't matter.

 

[Nell]

I find the woven nylon or the sport loop most comfortable on hot weather. I have a Nike sport strap but that tends to get put to one side when summer comes.

Your experience may be different though (I know a lot of people do like the Nike strap in the heat) so perhaps get one and try it?

 

[BigMcGuire]

The Nike band was a night and day difference for me. I sweat like crazy - genetic? not sure. Just a tiny bit of heat and I'm sweating. I'm not a tiny guy either (5'11 220 pounds). Back to the watch bands.... the band that came with the Apple Watch would result in my wrist sweating under the watch band - but the watch was loose enough as long as I made a note to move it around, it would dry up.

I went and got several 3rd party bands (regretted every single purchase for varying reasons) --- even a knockoff nike band that didn't last at all and resulted in a chemical rash/burn that lasted for days.

So, plopped $49 on an official Nike band from our local Apple Store. 3+ months later this is the only band that works for me. Wrist stays cool, exercise is a lot more pleasant, and 3-4 months with HEAVY usage, this band is showing no signs at all of wearing. I am estimating years of usage.

I highly recommend the Nike band.

 

[JTToft]

Likely the Nike sport band in a lighter color would be your best bet for optimal airflow and heat resistance. The sport loop would also likely work well, but it will absorb sweat and water. The color of the band could matter if you are in the sun a lot. When I wear a black band at the beach or when in the pool I will notice the band gets warmer. If youre not in the sun a ton I imagine the color wouldn't matter.

- Thanks. I typically don't spend a lot of time in the sun, at least not "on purpose". But I walk a lot to and from various places around town, so in that way I will.

Do you have any personal experiences or preferences to share?

I have a Nike sport strap but that tends to get put to one side when summer comes.

- Thanks. Why, though?

I highly recommend the Nike band.

- Thanks. I have also avoided 3rd party bands so far, and I don't intend to change that. Cost doesn't bother me, and I like to know I'm buying something of high quality that matches the Apple Watch design.

Which band did your watch come with that you disliked? Have you tried the Sport Loop?

 

[BigMcGuire]

Which band did your watch come with that you disliked? Have you tried the Sport Loop?

I wouldn't say I dislike it - I got the Fog 42mm Apple Watch. My wrist just breathes so much better with the Nike band. Apple's bands have been great compared to the 3rd party, so I'd be happy with the Fog band if Nike didn't exist.

 

[bbednarz]

- Thanks. I typically don't spend a lot of time in the sun, at least not "on purpose". But I walk a lot to and from various places around town, so in that way I will.

Do you have any personal experiences or preferences to share?

I didn't get a sport loop until December so I don't have a ton of experience in hot weather with it, but I have a feeling it wont be as sweaty as the sport band is. I'm not a very heavy sweater, but the sport band does get a bit uncomfortable when it is hot and humid. The Nike sport band does breathe a lot better in hot weather and when I go for runs it has been my go to band up until this point. That may change this summer with the sport loop. I might just designate one of my sport loops as a running band as I imagine it could get smelly and need to be washed up more often than I'd like.

 

[techspin]

The Nike sport band is very comfortable and is my go to. I might give the sport loop another try sometime.

 

[JTToft]

I wouldn't say I dislike it - I got the Fog 42mm Apple Watch. My wrist just breathes so much better with the Nike band. Apple's bands have been great compared to the 3rd party, so I'd be happy with the Fog band if Nike didn't exist.

- Thanks. So a Sport Band, then. I just wanted to get an idea if we were talking Sport Band, Milanese Loop, or perhaps a leather band.

It seems the Nike Sport Band is well-liked for hot weather. I like the look of a couple of them, so that might be what I end up going for.
I'm not too keen on the look of the Sport Loops, but I haven't seen them in person, much less tried them. And a lot of people seem to swear by them, too, so there must be something to it.

 

[danny842003]

Hi,

With summer coming around, I'm looking for bands that are comfortable in the warmer weather. I mostly use my Classic Buckle and Woven Nylon, but both are quite bad in the hot and sunny weather. The Sport Band isn't great, either.

I'm thinking either Nike Sport Band or Sport Loop. What are your experiences?

Any thoughts as to whether colour makes a difference the same way it does with clothing due to the different light absorption properties of darker and lighter colours?

Thanks.

Not sure where you live but I have just worn a sport band in one the hottest Australian summers on record with no problems.
My band was black and I work in a place with zero AC with the temperature well over 40 for most of the shift.

 

[JTToft]

Not sure where you live but I have just worn a sport band in one the hottest Australian summers on record with no problems.
My band was black and I work in a place with zero AC with the temperature well over 40 for most of the shift.

- Look next to my post.

Yes, the Sport Band is decent. But I find it can get a bit sweaty underneath due to the unbreathable material it's made from. Something such as the Nike Sport Band should let through more air due to the holes it has.

 

[danny842003]

- Look next to my post.

Yes, the Sport Band is decent. But I find it can get a bit sweaty underneath due to the unbreathable material it's made from. Something such as the Nike Sport Band should let through more air due to the holes it has.

It doesn’t show on iPhone. But yeah Denmark, you should be fine with a Nike sport band.

 

[Dino F]

The Nike band was a night and day difference for me. I sweat like crazy - genetic? not sure. Just a tiny bit of heat and I'm sweating. I'm not a tiny guy either (5'11 220 pounds). Back to the watch bands.... the band that came with the Apple Watch would result in my wrist sweating under the watch band - but the watch was loose enough as long as I made a note to move it around, it would dry up.

I went and got several 3rd party bands (regretted every single purchase for varying reasons) --- even a knockoff nike band that didn't last at all and resulted in a chemical rash/burn that lasted for days.

So, plopped $49 on an official Nike band from our local Apple Store. 3+ months later this is the only band that works for me. Wrist stays cool, exercise is a lot more pleasant, and 3-4 months with HEAVY usage, this band is showing no signs at all of wearing. I am estimating years of usage.

I highly recommend the Nike band.

Its weird that you say the Nike Sport band is fine for you in hot weather....!

I see myself as quite small build (just under 6ft and weigh around 142 lbs)but I also absolutely sweat loads when standing in hot weather!!!

For me, the Nike band makes my wrist sweat - I know this band has the air pockets (the holes!) but I find that sweat just builds up within the holes instead....!!

The only band I can wear in direct hot sunlight without sweating at all is any of the Nylon bands as they actually allow your skin to breath, through the Nylon. Additionally, these bands are so light and airy, for me, the bright colours are ideal for hot sunny days!

I guess its different bands for different people though!!!

 

[BigMcGuire]

Its weird that you say the Nike Sport band is fine for you in hot weather....!

I see myself as quite small build (just under 6ft and weigh around 142 lbs)but I also absolutely sweat loads when standing in hot weather!!!

For me, the Nike band makes my wrist sweat - I know this band has the air pockets (the holes!) but I find that sweat just builds up within the holes instead....!!

The only band I can wear in direct hot sunlight without sweating at all is any of the Nylon bands as they actually allow your skin to breath, through the Nylon. Additionally, these bands are so light and airy, for me, the bright colours are ideal for hot sunny days!

I guess its different bands for different people though!!!

Agreed. This post was before I went to a sports loop. Talk about night and day. Nike band helped a little. Sports loop is all I’ll wear now.

 

[Dino F]

Agreed. This post was before I went to a sports loop. Talk about night and day. Nike band helped a little. Sports loop is all I’ll wear now.

...so I guess the Sport loop allows your skin to breath, more than the Nike Sport band? I'm looking to get a Sport Loop next, just to wear in the summer!

 

[KarimLeVallois]

...so I guess the Sport loop allows your skin to breath, more than the Nike Sport band? I'm looking to get a Sport Loop next, just to wear in the summer!

Not sure it lets your skin breath that much, probably just soaking up the sweat, rather than it pooling under the band.

 

[BigMcGuire]

...so I guess the Sport loop allows your skin to breath, more than the Nike Sport band? I'm looking to get a Sport Loop next, just to wear in the summer!

Not sure it lets your skin breath that much, probably just soaking up the sweat, rather than it pooling under the band.

Yeah, you still sweat but because the band has loops for the velcro action, it doesn't sit directly on the skin thus compounding the sweating issue. For me, it allows skin to breathe easily 2x as much but yes, it does soak up water and take some time to dry. But normal daily usage is night and day for breathe-ability.

 

[KarimLeVallois]

Yeah, you still sweat but because the band has loops for the velcro action, it doesn't sit directly on the skin thus compounding the sweating issue. For me, it allows skin to breathe easily 2x as much but yes, it does soak up water and take some time to dry. But normal daily usage is night and day for breathe-ability.

I've stopped using my sports band as I sweat a lot.

 

[BigMcGuire]

I've stopped using my sports band as I sweat a lot.

Yeah, if I travel for work, I'll bring my Nike Sports band to run in, then swap out for my Sports Loop to wear every day due to comfort, doesn't mark up my laptop, and keeps my wrist from sweating during normal daily usage. Sports loop just takes too long to dry otherwise but I really like it.

 

[tgara]

...so I guess the Sport loop allows your skin to breath, more than the Nike Sport band? I'm looking to get a Sport Loop next, just to wear in the summer!

Yeah, if I travel for work, I'll bring my Nike Sports band to run in, then swap out for my Sports Loop to wear every day due to comfort, doesn't mark up my laptop, and keeps my wrist from sweating during normal daily usage. Sports loop just takes too long to dry otherwise but I really like it.

I’d agree the sport loop is comfortable but it’s not at all dressy. It just depends on the look you are after. I have a sport loop on my S0 that I use when I work out, but I would never wear it with a suit, blazer, or sport coat at the office.

 

[Mac'nCheese]

Just got my first watch and I hate the sports band for the reasons the OP said. It gets sweaty so I'll second the question: anyone got any more ideas for a soft, comfortable, breathable, light band. I was thinking of this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FD5B7MP/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=A1X2QXSH9OXYTF&psc=1

but I have the 38 mm watch and I had to use the longer band to fit my wrist. This band is shorter when you get the 38mm. So, I need all those things in a longer band for the smaller watch.

 

[JTToft]

Just to provide a bit of a conclusion to this, I ended up with a Nike Sport Band, and I've been very happy with it - both aesthetically and functionally. It gets less sweaty than a regular Sport Band due to the holes, and it looks a lot better I think.
I like the fact that it doesn't absorb any sweat like a Sport Loop or Woven Nylon would. As a result, it doesn't become sticky or smelly. You can just give it a quick wipe if needed, and it's as good as new.
Also, the holes make the band more flexible and softer than a regular Sport Band, so it's more comfortable and lighter to wear as well.

This is the Cargo Khaki/Black colour.

I was thinking of this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FD5B7MP/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=A1X2QXSH9OXYTF&psc=1

- That's just a copy of Apple's Sport Loop. Same sizes, too. So you need longer than 190 mm? The Sport Bands fit up to 200 mm in the 38 mm sizes, so that might be an option.