Solved! AWU: Is there a good alternative to Apple sports band?

[mtbdudex]

AWU: Is there a good alternative to Apple sports band?
(Yes I searched, no specific thread)

I’ve owned my AWU2 just over 1 year now, got with cloth sports band.
Decided wanted a variety of colored ones, got from Amazon 6.

As shown in pictures this design is very difficult to get snugly tight. As your pulling down the clasp loosens … the Apple design is zero effort to tighten snugly. I tried this for many days, went back to Apple strap.

$50 for a simple cloth strap seems steep?
Suggestions for non Apple brand cloth straps that work and say even $10-15 each is fine.

Returned these 6

$50 seems steep

Returning

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

Have you considered the solo loops?

They give a snug fit, as long as you get the right size.

I think the BSL may not be suitable, as the AWU is quite heavy.

 

[Night Spring]

Have you considered the solo loops?

They give a snug fit, as long as you get the right size.

I think the BSL may not be suitable, as the AWU is quite heavy.

I believe the OP wants something less expensive than the Apple bands.

Unfortunately, in my experience, less expensive 3rd party bands never perform quite as well as the Apple ones. Good quality 3rd party bands cost as much as Apple's.

Recently, I got lucky being able to buy an Apple band on sale. But other than that, I fear if you want the quality, you have to pay the price.

 

[mtbdudex]

Have you considered the solo loops?

They give a snug fit, as long as you get the right size.

I think the BSL may not be suitable, as the AWU is quite heavy.

I Mtb ride and found for that I need to really snug the strap to keep the watch behind my wrist bone. If I don’t there were times HR would glitch.
For non Mtb biking though that’s not comfortable, the Apple strap easy to do that on the fly.
I’ve stayed away from solo loops due to that.

Just looking for a few different color / pattern straps without spending $50 each.

I can’t believe Apple has a patent on their strap method. Or do they?

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

I believe the OP wants something less expensive than the Apple bands.

Unfortunately, in my experience, less expensive 3rd party bands never perform quite as well as the Apple ones. Good quality 3rd party bands cost as much as Apple's.

Recently, I got lucky being able to buy an Apple band on sale. But other than that, I fear if you want the quality, you have to pay the price.

Definitely.

You get what you pay for.

 

[BeatCrazy]

Sounds like you need an Alpine Loop. Very secure and can't stretch. Unfortunately they are $99.

 

[mtbdudex]

Saw these 3, basic same as Apple but lower $’s.
Will try and report back.

 

[stanza.richi]

Ocean band.

 

[TheIntruder]

There are knockoff versions of the Trail Loop that accurately mimic the threading of the OE style bands like it, and the Sport Loops.

The key is to look for examples that don't have any intermediate fittings, only the two lug fittings, one of which will be fixed, and the other a pass through for the band to loop back. They are a single piece, like the original.

Do not rely on the badly Photoshopped sales pictures, but the product buyers actually receive and show in the reviews. Sellers can and do switch sources, and ship a different product that what is displayed in the sales pitch.

There have been knockoffs where there is a third fitting that shifts the pass through to the middle of the band, and those can be ok. But the ones in this thread seem to reflect yet another style with a fourth fitting, and no loop back of any kind, relying solely on the velcro, and lacking any sort of additional mechanical advantage a back loop provides.

The quality of the Trail Loop knockoffs can be pretty good. The OE band is not intrinsically 50x better than one purchased from Aliexpress for $2, or 10x better for the same band at $10 Amazon pricing.

However, the quality of Sport Loop knockoffs do betray their low price to a much greater magnitude, from the quality of the plastic lug fittings, to the density of the weave.

 

[headlessmike]

I Mtb ride and found for that I need to really snug the strap to keep the watch behind my wrist bone. If I don’t there were times HR would glitch.
For non Mtb biking though that’s not comfortable, the Apple strap easy to do that on the fly.
I’ve stayed away from solo loops due to that.

Just looking for a few different color / pattern straps without spending $50 each.

I can’t believe Apple has a patent on their strap method. Or do they?

Have you considered a HR chest strap? I use one from Garmin when I run or on longer bike rides (with a bike computer on my road bike, when I commute by bike I just use the Apple Watch without the HR strap). It works very well with the Apple Watch and is gives more reliable readings, especially when your arm is moving around a lot. You can get one for less than a new band for you watch and won't need to worry about your watch sliding around.

 

[mtbdudex]

Have you considered a HR chest strap? I use one from Garmin when I run or on longer bike rides (with a bike computer on my road bike, when I commute by bike I just use the Apple Watch without the HR strap). It works very well with the Apple Watch and is gives more reliable readings, especially when your arm is moving around a lot. You can get one for less than a new band for you watch and won't need to worry about your watch sliding around.

I wore a polar HR strap in the late 1990’s for training and racing, did NORBA at national level .. now in my 60’s I’m into Mtb for fitness and fun, with my HR zones guiding me. Having my AWU2 snug suffices.

Ahh, 26” geometry , full XTR 3 x 8 drivetrain, v-brakes, lite speed Ti frame, Mavic wheelset, that’s a $4k bike back then … not married no kids then

 

[headlessmike]

I wore a polar HR strap in the late 1990’s for training and racing, did NORBA at national level .. now in my 60’s I’m into Mtb for fitness and fun, with my HR zones guiding me. Having my AWU2 snug suffices.

Ahh, 26” geometry , full XTR 3 x 8 drivetrain, v-brakes, lite speed Ti frame, Mavic wheelset, that’s a $4k bike back then … not married no kids then

You never know what prior knowledge people have on forums like this. Looks like a bit has changed over the last 25 years in terms of cycling technology and fashion though! I haven't been on a MTB since 26" was the norm as I gravitated towards road cycling. Have considered getting a modern XC bike but am short on space to store one unfortunately.

 

[mtbdudex]

You never know what prior knowledge people have on forums like this. Looks like a bit has changed over the last 25 years in terms of cycling technology and fashion though! I haven't been on a MTB since 26" was the norm as I gravitated towards road cycling. Have considered getting a modern XC bike but am short on space to store one unfortunately.

Lotta my friends ride Mtb , road, gravel, time trials. Yea they have 4-5 bikes.
I have just 3 Mtb bikes, 2 29’er’s ( hard tail and full suspension) and 1 fat bike.
My boys each a 29’er , and wife a 26’er. Totally get lack of space, we have 3 ceiling hoists, garage has 11 foot ceiling fortunately.

Got 2 new straps, they are clones of the Apple strap clasp / function wise, keeping them. I’ve already returned the Amazon ones.

Hopefully this thread can help others avoid same mistake I made.