Official Apple straps - Not too keen :(

[Spendlove]

I have had the Watch now for a few weeks and I have been keen on 3rd party bands to save money on the expensive Apple brand. So far I have not found any I have wanted as I don't trust the seller to produce anything of quality or the cheap Chinese knock offs seem to be of VERY poor quality.

So.. I took a trip to the Apple store to look at the straps. They only had pink, blue or green sports bands for sale - the green wasn't that nice when I saw it in the flesh - so not worth £40 then.

I had a look at the leather magnet bands but they cost £120 (!) and really look plastic rather than leather. The magnet strength was excellent but absolutely no way worth £120.

So now I am now in a quandary. Apple bands to be honest are not that nice and hideously overpriced, 3rd party sellers seem to be producing poor quality product (if they even deliver it at all) and the links do not match a space grey sport.

What to do?

I have ordered a Click but I am not sure if that is ever going to see light of day!

Any suggestions?

 

[ZebraDude]

Apple is/soon rolling out a Third Party Band/Strap certification program. This should be up the quality and sadly the pricing but hopefully not as insanely high as Apple's own.

 

[FamiliaPhoto]

I'm not a fan of all the colors of the sports bands, I have the black band think it looks great with my SS watch though. I also have the classic leather band which is very nice. The leather is soft and ver comfortable to wear. I've gotten a couple third party band and while they are fine and a good value their quality is no where near the Apple bands, I don't regrets the purchases, but if they cost any more than they do there is no way they would be worth it.

 

[srshaw]

I have a black sports band for my ss which I like, and the classic buckle, which looks great but I just can't get it the right size. One hole is just that little too tight, the next one too loose. I like brown straps so I might try a leather loop, but would probably wait until 3rd part alternatives come to market.

 

[Anya B]

Hopefully Apple will release more colours of the sport bands at WWDC this week. I like the look of the navy and the red that show on http://mixyourwatch.com

 

[Spendlove]

Hopefully Apple will release more colours of the sport bands at WWDC this week. I like the look of the navy and the red that show on http://mixyourwatch.com

Agreed. They will look great with the space grey sport.

 

[Anya B]

I'd love a red leather loop.

 

[jimkraz]

These are two I bought from amazon.co.uk

 

[scott99]

Unfortunately Apple's own bands, especially the sport band, are way overrated and overpriced, especially the sports band. In less than a week, the piece I tuck into the inside of the sport's band, is already fading/chipping. Terrible quality, especially for $50.

 

[Glene]

I started out thinking like this and I do agree that they are overpriced. But after using and adjusting the leather loop, I've become a convert. I own 3 out of 4 of the LL colors.

 

[Anya B]

I started out thinking like this and I do agree that they are overpriced. But after using and adjusting the leather loop, I've become a convert. I own 3 out of 4 of the LL colors.

So do I! I have black, medium brown and bright blue. You?

 

[Glene]

So do I! I have black, medium brown and bright blue. You?

All 4 now....but might sell the black, the rest are keepers for me.....The one I wasn't sure about but now I really like is the light tan, got kind of a Desert Storm look to it…

 

[Anya B]

All 4 now....but might sell the black, the rest are keepers for me.....The one I wasn't sure about but now I really like is the light tan, got kind of a Desert Storm look to it…

The stone/light tan one is the only one I don't have. I really think I don't have a favourite but I'll be keeping my black one for sure.

I haven't seen the light one in the flesh yet so a trip to the Apple store might be in order.

 

[Glene]

The stone/light tan one is the only one I don't have. I really think I don't have a favourite but I'll be keeping my black one for sure.

I haven't seen the light one in the flesh yet so a trip to the Apple store might be in order.

I think the most striking of all 4 is the blue matched with the 42 stainless, I have been working a new event every day and probably see 150 people each day up close, shaking their hand. This combo gets the most comments....my dark brown is new but does not look as striking and the polisherd/blue combo. With a silver thin spigen case, it's even more of a "pop"

Just my opin...

 

[Anya B]

I think the most striking of all 4 is the blue matched with the 42 stainless, I have been working a new event every day and probably see 150 people each day up close, shaking their hand. This combo gets the most comments....my dark brown is new but does not look as striking and the polisherd/blue combo. With a silver thin spigen case, it's even more of a "pop"

Just my opin...

I agree the medium brown is the most understated. I like the fact the blue isn't a true dull navy. I would so buy a red leather loop if Apple ever did one. That's the dream.

 

[Glene]

I agree the medium is the most understated. I like the fact the blue isn't a true dull navy. I would so buy a red leather loop if Apple ever did one. That's the dream.

Red....#drool.....me too, in the interim, I have a red monowear nylon en route......

 

[Anya B]

Red....#drool.....me too, in the interim, I have a red monowear nylon en route......

You must report on how you find it. I'd be interested to know.

 

[clint-bell]

Apple Watch straps are brilliant in terms of quality but very overpriced. But then third party ones are cheap but also feel cheap too

 

[Spendlove]

Apple Watch straps are brilliant in terms of quality but very overpriced. But then third party ones are cheap but also feel cheap too

That is my worry. I can't afford Apple (price). I can't afford 3rd party (in case it breaks)

 

[leebroath]

Apple would be crazy not to ship red bands at the time of their AIDS Awareness campaign

As per the link https://www.apple.com/product-red/

 

[Shanghaichica]

The leather loops kinda look nice but they aren't compatible with my 38 mm watch. So far I've bought the Milanese loop and pink sports bands. I'm going to try to procure a classic buckle today if possible. Can't be bothered with ordering online and if the modern buckle ever becomes available to buy separately I'll get a pink one and maybe the brown one.

Yeah I'm kind of getting addicted to buying bands.

If high quality third party bands become available I'll probably pick up some of those too.

 

[TrueBlou]

There's no doubt the Apple straps are expensive. Although compared to good quality normal watch straps, not so much.

Out of curiosity I ordered a third party leather classic buckle, it was only £20 and I figured if nothing else I'd end up with a set of adapters.

When it arrived it must have got all of an hours worth of use, just horrid compared to the Apple straps. So after a trip to the Apple Store on Tuesday I decided to order an official Apple Milanese after trying one on and I don't regret the extra cost a bit.

I'm now also thinking I'll add a leather loop or two to my collection as well after seeing them in the flesh.

 

[OllyW]

Apple Watch straps are brilliant in terms of quality but very overpriced. But then third party ones are cheap but also feel cheap too

So you are saying the third party straps are cheap but offer poor quality and the Apple straps are high quality and priced accordingly. Seems like a classic case of you get what you pay for.

 

[Spendlove]

So you are saying the third party straps are cheap but offer poor quality and the Apple straps are high quality and priced accordingly. Seems like a classic case of you get what you pay for.

Unfortunately so. Although the Apple leather loop is outrageously priced

I am waiting for a decent third party band to arrive. It will come I am sure. As long as it matches the space grey sport...

Still waiting on Click. I guess Click will change everything.