Okay for those who say the braided is THE most comfortable of all the bands...

[ssledoux]

When did that become apparent? Mine arrived yesterday, and though I absolutely like it and will keep it (counting on it to stretch just a tad), it doesn't feel as good to me as the solo loop when I first put it on. To me, the solo loop feels like nothing. The braided is slightly scratchy and a little rougher. Will that change a bit as it gets worn?

I know I won't love the solo loop when it's hot. The lack of breathability will certainly be an issue, and I can't stand bands that feel sweaty or stick to my skin when hot.

I'm just curious whether most people found the braided loop amazing the instant they put it on, or as it got broken in.

 

[Sital]

I initially felt the same about the braided loop - it was slightly scratchy and rougher. The solo loop was totally comfortable the first time I put it on. It took wearing the braided loop a week or so (sometimes I switched bands during that time) for that scratchy feeling to go away. I'm wearing the braided loop right now and don't even feel it, it's just as comfortable as the solo loop.

 

[chipsandsalsa]

My braided solo loop is not scratchy at all. GEN1 band though vs GEN2 perhaps?

 

[ssledoux]

My braided solo loop is not scratchy at all. GEN1 band though vs GEN2 perhaps?

Is one supposed to be more scratchy than the other? I’m sure mine is Gen2, as I just purchased it from Apple.

And I shouldn’t call it scratchy, but the solo loop just has such an amazing buttery feel I just wonder what about the braided people think feels better.

I can certainly see that there is likely to be a breathability factor with the braided that I wouldn’t have with the solo (and in fact I can already see that the solo would likely be misery for me in the summer, although I will be keeping at least one because I just love the feel of it).

 

[ssledoux]

I initially felt the same about the braided loop - it was slightly scratchy and rougher. The solo loop was totally comfortable the first time I put it on. It took wearing the braided loop a week or so (sometimes I switched bands during that time) for that scratchy feeling to go away. I'm wearing the braided loop right now and don't even feel it, it's just as comfortable as the solo loop.

Good to know. I wore my abyss blue all day today, and just changed to my dark cherry, which I picked up at Apple today when I returned a few of the solo loops. I definitely like them - just don’t find them MORE comfortable than the solo loops at the moment.

 

[Clix Pix]

Why don't you just buy a stainless steel watch and stainless steel band and call it a day? The SS band is not uncomfortable in any weather and doesn't stretch, doesn't change color, etc., etc.....

 

[Htsi]

Didn’t like solo loop because of no airflow And annoying stretch to put on. Braided is better with stretching & moisture removal.

 

[ssledoux]

Why don't you just buy a stainless steel watch and stainless steel band and call it a day? The SS band is not uncomfortable in any weather and doesn't stretch, doesn't change color, etc., etc.....

I probably will purchase a SS at some point - almost did this time. I had a S2 stainless. I didn't particularly like the extra weight at the time , but I think now I'd be okay with it. I love all the bands though, and enjoy changing them up. I think that's part of the fun of having an AW.

 

[JohnE121]

I probably will purchase a SS at some point - almost did this time. I had a S2 stainless. I didn't particularly like the extra weight at the time , but I think now I'd be okay with it. I love all the bands though, and enjoy changing them up. I think that's part of the fun of having an AW.

The charcoal SS Milanese Loop looks awesome on the starlight and is very light weight and comfortable. It also sparkles in the sunlight which is really cool. The only downside is the possibility of scratching things. You just need to be extra careful with it especially around your car.

 

[ssledoux]

The charcoal SS Milanese Loop looks awesome on the starlight and is very light weight and comfortable. It also sparkles in the sunlight which is really cool. The only downside is the possibility of scratching things. You just need to be extra careful with it especially around your car.

Yeah I have a silver Milanese loop I've had for years, probably since my first or second watch. I don't wear it often, but it is nice to have if I'm a bit more dressed up. I just don't think I'll like it at all on the starlight.

 

[Clix Pix]

I probably will purchase a SS at some point - almost did this time. I had a S2 stainless. I didn't particularly like the extra weight at the time , but I think now I'd be okay with it. I love all the bands though, and enjoy changing them up. I think that's part of the fun of having an AW.

This is where I think I'm different from a lot of people who have purchased an Apple Watch..... I bought my Series 0 SS Black with its matching link back in the beginning and loved it so much that I never bothered buying a bunch of bands and then swapping them around on the watch. When I bought the Series 3 SS Black, I simply put the same black link band on it and that was that.... I daresay I probably have saved myself a lot of money on bands! LOL!

 

[Night Spring]

This is where I think I'm different from a lot of people who have purchased an Apple Watch..... I bought my Series 0 SS Black with its matching link back in the beginning and loved it so much that I never bothered buying a bunch of bands and then swapping them around on the watch. When I bought the Series 3 SS Black, I simply put the same black link band on it and that was that.... I daresay I probably have saved myself a lot of money on bands! LOL!

I also basically just have the bands that came with each watch I've bought. I'm sure there are plenty of people who don't switch up bands all that often -- they are just quiet because there isn't much to talk about when you stick to just one band, lol.

 

[ssledoux]

This is where I think I'm different from a lot of people who have purchased an Apple Watch..... I bought my Series 0 SS Black with its matching link back in the beginning and loved it so much that I never bothered buying a bunch of bands and then swapping them around on the watch. When I bought the Series 3 SS Black, I simply put the same black link band on it and that was that.... I daresay I probably have saved myself a lot of money on bands! LOL!

Well, I’ve bought some and sold some over the years, but I’m not super crazy with it. I do love the solos because I like the streamlined look and feel. I’ve never been big on the sport bands because all the extra strap bulk tucked in bothers me, and the sport loops, while comfortable I’m sure (after being broken in), are just more bulky than I like, and there’s always a big loop that doesn’t stick down - I just don’t like that.

My favorite band is my classic Apple leather buckle, but with the stainless lugs, I don’t love it on my starlight band. I love that a lot of the new style bands don’t have lugs, so I can wear them with any color watch and don’t have to worry about the metals not matching. I realize that doesn’t matter to some, but I just don’t really like it. Obviously if I have a stainless watch at some point, stainless lugs won’t be an issue. ;-p

 

[ssledoux]

I also basically just have the bands that came with each watch I've bought. I'm sure there are plenty of people who don't switch up bands all that often -- they are just quiet because there isn't much to talk about when you stick to just one band, lol.

I typically just rotate between a few favorites. Because I don’t really like the sports bands, I haven’t had much of a collection of those. I did collect quite a few nylon buckles AFTER they discontinued them - tried a friend’s and really like it. I pared it down to my 3 favorites after I realized there were some I just wasn’t gonna wear. I love the classic buckle, as mentioned in the post above, but I only have black and brown. I love a lot of the colors, but not investing $150 in a colored band I can’t wear with much. I like the solo loops because I feel like I can have a fun color to switch things up sometimes without breaking the bank, and dang they’re comfortable! Obviously the braided aren’t as budget friendly, so for now I have two, even though I’ve contemplated returning the dark cherry and getting it in the solo loop since it’s half the price. My only issue is Louisiana summers. I KNOW those solo loops are gonna be misery (for me) in the summertime.

 

[Night Spring]

My only issue is Louisiana summers. I KNOW those solo loops are gonna be misery (for me) in the summertime.

I've never been to the South, so I can only imagine how hot and humid it must get in the summer. My solo loop happened to break just before it got hot last summer, lol. Plus, up here, it remains relatively dry, even at the height of summer. So I never worried much about how the solo loop would feel when it got hot. Though in the back of my mind, I knew I had the option of going back to my Nike sports band if the solo loop got uncomfortable. And I did end up wearing the Nike band during the summer, because my solo loop broke, lol. I am curious about the braided loop, but not enough to pay $100 for it, and I can't find a knock off on Amazon in my size -- they only seem to come in S/M/L instead of sizes 1-9 like the genuine Apple bands do.

 

[twanj]

I haven't noticed it to be scratchy, maybe it's too tight?

 

[ssledoux]

I haven't noticed it to be scratchy, maybe it's too tight?

It’s definitely feeling better after wearing it a good bit over the last week. Starting to stretch a little, and I’m glad because it was definitely leaving marks on my arm. I feel certain it will always leave light marks, due to the nature of the material, but the first couple days it seemed like a bit much. I’m not used to wearing bands very tight, so I knew it would be a little uncomfortable until it stretched a little.

That said, I prefer the feel of the solo loop on - just don’t think it’ll be a good summer band for me.

 

[PaladinGuy]

How are you feeling about your braided solo loops now?

 

[ssledoux]

How are you feeling about your braided solo loops now?

I’m guessing this was to me, but not sure. Anyway, I returned one because I wasn’t feeling great about the fit, and didn’t want to risk keeping two and not being happy with the fit.

I still find my braided too tight - it hasn’t really stretched much at all. I can wear it, but it’s not really comfortable. I’d like to try a size 5 like my solo loops and see how that fit works for me, but I just haven’t done it yet.

I actually ordered a couple knockoffs from Amazon because they had the good green and a charcoal. I‘m curious to see what they are like. If they’re decent, I’m not sure I’ll invest in another braided because for $100, I want to have a band I’m comfortable wearing.

 

[PaladinGuy]

I’m guessing this was to me, but not sure. Anyway, I returned one because I wasn’t feeling great about the fit, and didn’t want to risk keeping two and not being happy with the fit.

I still find my braided too tight - it hasn’t really stretched much at all. I can wear it, but it’s not really comfortable. I’d like to try a size 5 like my solo loops and see how that fit works for me, but I just haven’t done it yet.

I actually ordered a couple knockoffs from Amazon because they had the good green and a charcoal. I‘m curious to see what they are like. If they’re decent, I’m not sure I’ll invest in another braided because for $100, I want to have a band I’m comfortable wearing.

Crazy. It’s really hard to know with them I guess. A specialist told me one, “it might stretch, but it might not.” Super helpful!

How often have you worn it? Maybe that’s why it hasn’t stretched much. I wear mine pretty often, so I’m taking it on and off a good bit.

 

[Night Spring]

I actually ordered a couple knockoffs from Amazon because they had the good green and a charcoal. I‘m curious to see what they are like. If they’re decent, I’m not sure I’ll invest in another braided because for $100, I want to have a band I’m comfortable wearing.

Please post how the knock-off braided loops work out, I'm considering buying one too.

 

[ssledoux]

Please post how the knock-off braided loops work out, I'm considering buying one too.

Will do. I’m not expecting much, but you never know.

 

[macphoto861]

Please post how the knock-off braided loops work out, I'm considering buying one too.

I'm very happy with my knockoff braided loop. The "Urvoi" brand on Aliexpress is highly regarded, as it's almost identical to the original (has metal connectors, not plastic, and the braided portion flares out wider where it meets the watch). My only real complaint is that they don't have as many sizes available as Apple does, so that decreases the chances of being able to find the "perfect" fit. For example, mine (small size, for a 44mm watch) is just slightly tight on my 165mm wrist (however, it's still perfectly comfortable). The next size up (medium) would obviously be way too loose.

 

[Night Spring]

My only real complaint is that they don't have as many sizes available as Apple does, so that decreases the chances of being able to find the "perfect" fit. For example, mine (small size, for a 44mm watch) is just slightly tight on my 165mm wrist (however, it's still perfectly comfortable). The next size up (medium) would obviously be way too loose.

Yeah, that's a big problem for me, as I wear a size 1. Most knock-offs don't have that size. I recently found one on Amazon that does offer all sizes as Apple, which is why I'm considering buying one.

 

[Htsi]

Once you figure out sizing they are great. I went between 4 sizes to find my fit.