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The Great "Third Party Band/Strap" Thread
- Thread starter appleboyy
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Yeah, that band is fantastic. It's obviously not the exact material that Apple uses and you can feel it, but overall this band is a major go. I would definitely recommend it.
(notice the scratchy complaint posted earlier) - if you have sensitive skin
*ducks*Me, I like the ClockworkSynergy bands:
https://www.clockworksynergy.com/sh.../straps-for-apple-watch/2-piece-classic-nato/
LOTS of choices for colours and patterns.
Already asked/answered:
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...d-strap-thread.1866289/page-130#post-23673221
New to Apple watch, just got a series 2. Ordered a few straps already and found these http://www.monoweardesign.com/metal-band/
Look ok? anyone have any from them?
Look ok? anyone have any from them?
Thought I'd share my experience with the bands I've tried so far on my 42mm Sport.
Let's get to it!
Apple's Canvas Band:
Verdict:
Comfortable to wear.
I find this particular colour quite boring, but I really like the build.
Don't like the plastic end pieces, even though they fit perfectly in the slots on the watch.
Clockwork Synergy's Light Brow Worn Leather Band:
Verdict:
This one is my favourite so far.
I find that the thickness of the band compliments the fat watch rather nicely.
Quite like the "rough" style of this. No fancy stitching, just a (well, two) rugged piece of leather.
The end pieces fit nicely in the watch, no wiggling.
Let's get to it!
Apple's Canvas Band:
Verdict:
Comfortable to wear.
I find this particular colour quite boring, but I really like the build.
Don't like the plastic end pieces, even though they fit perfectly in the slots on the watch.
Clockwork Synergy's Light Brow Worn Leather Band:
Verdict:
This one is my favourite so far.
I find that the thickness of the band compliments the fat watch rather nicely.
Quite like the "rough" style of this. No fancy stitching, just a (well, two) rugged piece of leather.
The end pieces fit nicely in the watch, no wiggling.
Moko's Black Milanese Loop:
Verdict:
My second favourite.
I really like the black with the silver aluminium watch, a nice contrast I find.
Normally I don't like thin bands on the Apple Watch, I think they make the watch look rather large on the wrist. -on my dainty, girly wrists, anyway.
But I quite like this.
The Milanese Loop looks almost a little futuristic, fits a smart watch rather nicely I think.
There is a fly, or two, in the ointment however:
The end pieces don't fit perfectly in the watch.
They seem a little to thin, so they wiggle a little while you slide them in.
But once they clamp into place they feel quite secure.
This band has an annoying tendency to make a slight "click" while worn, almost like a tap from the watch itself. I think it comes from the wiggle room in the en piece the band passes through.
I keep confusing the click for a notification and end up checking the watch more frequently than I'd prefer.
I've tried to picture it below:
Clockwork Synergy's Rainbow Nato Band:
Verdict:
I really wanted this to be my favourite as I love the colours on it.
But I find the nylon a little too thin and light for my tastes.
-makes the watch seem too big, in my opinion.
The end pieces fit perfectly.
Verdict:
My second favourite.
I really like the black with the silver aluminium watch, a nice contrast I find.
Normally I don't like thin bands on the Apple Watch, I think they make the watch look rather large on the wrist. -on my dainty, girly wrists, anyway.
But I quite like this.
The Milanese Loop looks almost a little futuristic, fits a smart watch rather nicely I think.
There is a fly, or two, in the ointment however:
The end pieces don't fit perfectly in the watch.
They seem a little to thin, so they wiggle a little while you slide them in.
But once they clamp into place they feel quite secure.
This band has an annoying tendency to make a slight "click" while worn, almost like a tap from the watch itself. I think it comes from the wiggle room in the en piece the band passes through.
I keep confusing the click for a notification and end up checking the watch more frequently than I'd prefer.
I've tried to picture it below:
Clockwork Synergy's Rainbow Nato Band:
Verdict:
I really wanted this to be my favourite as I love the colours on it.
But I find the nylon a little too thin and light for my tastes.
-makes the watch seem too big, in my opinion.
The end pieces fit perfectly.
I just received the same exact band this morning. Not experienced the "click" noise yet but Im surprised how comfortable it is. Being new to AW I always thought this would not be that nice to wear but it surprisingly is
Fitment looks very good too in to the watch.
Fitment looks very good too in to the watch.
Attachments
I've had this band for about 3-4 weeks. I really like it and it became my go to watch band. It's not now though. While it was thin and very comfortable, I kept finding myself adjusting the end so it was tighter on my wrist.
I'm now wearing the Apple Midnight Blue band. I like that it is locked in essentially and the color goes well with most of my blue clothes. I do wear other colors (clothes). I'm staying with what I have for a while though. I love the Milanese Loop look, but too much effort on adjusting the band for me.
I just received the same exact band this morning. Not experienced the "click" noise yet but Im surprised how comfortable it is. Being new to AW I always thought this would not be that nice to wear but it surprisingly is
Fitment looks very good too in to the watch.
I only really notice it for about a day after switching bands.
-And only when the band is properly tight.
I haven't really noticed it loosening that much.
But that may very well be because I can't stop fiddling with it, playing with the magnet (HOW THEY WORK!?).
And when I'm not fiddling with it, my daughter is
Point is, I'm alway adjusting it so I haven't really had the opportunity to notice how strong the magnet is.
I've been wearing mine for about a week now, bought it on a whim from AliExpress as a no name brand, so posted it in the Non-OEM (FAKE/CLONE) Apple Watch Bands thread.
These "fakes" certainly seem much better made than a year ago, and I find they fit no worse than Apple's.
Can't say mine "clicks" - ever. There is a little gap, but I wear my bands a little loose, and certainly hasn't made it click.
I think my magnet is rather strong, and so far (a week!) it's been holding its position well. If anything, I tend to loosen it during the day, and I've been able to gently nudge the magnet a tad then move that teeny bit of slack up towards that adapter end where the Loop slides through.
I wear mine so this non-fixed loop end is at 12 o'clock, maybe that makes a difference? I'll try the other way around.
My Series 1 is New Again
Leatherman Tread with ChronoLinks
Had a hard time deciding which links to ditch because you have to make room for the Apple Watch and size it for your wrist. Ended up ditching two hex links, two slotted links, and one pick link.
So you sold me on this the second I saw your post. Then, I found all the reviews stating that the tools bend or break rather easily and that it is hard to get that perfect size for your risk unless you are just one of the really lucky ones with the wrist they designed it around. If I understand correctly though, some of the links are different sizes so the sizing issue may be a nonissue. More importantly though is that a lot of the reviews say that the steel used is very soft and even the phillips screwdriver link gets worn down smooth after just a few uses. Also saw a couple posts where flathead links and even the sim card poker were simply snapping off during the day sometimes without even being noticed by the wearer. Also saw a few reviews about the screws falling out and the watch crashing to the ground (or bracelet if people are wearing it as a "survival tool".
So, in your experience have you encountered any of these issues or has leatherman heard the complaints and possibly increased the quality of the steel being used?
Man I really want one of these for my black SS S2. I always find myself having to discover where my son or wife left my screwdrivers and this would just be amazing. The band and the links are a bit steep in price though. I have read that the flat heads like to twist and chip while the sim poker/cutter link likes to break off. How is yours holding up? Worth getting?My Series 1 is New Again
Leatherman Tread with ChronoLinks
Had a hard time deciding which links to ditch because you have to make room for the Apple Watch and size it for your wrist. Ended up ditching two hex links, two slotted links, and one pick link.
(notice the scratchy complaint posted earlier) - if you have sensitive skin
Me, I like the ClockworkSynergy bands:
https://www.clockworksynergy.com/sh.../straps-for-apple-watch/2-piece-classic-nato/
LOTS of choices for colours and patterns.
I bought some of these and with the discount code an free shipping seems like a good deal.
Got this one yesterday.
Though its not a perfect fit in the watch its not too bad.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MFC4SL8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Though its not a perfect fit in the watch its not too bad.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MFC4SL8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Attachments
no doubt.
what I don't understand is they have the exact dimensions of an apple band.
I wonder if they do not copy those exact specs to avoid being sued.
It could be lower quality control standards.
Anything that comes out of a production line has inconsistencies. Before being boxed for shipping, though, the goods need to be checked.
The pass-or-fail standard needs to be stringent enough to catch the obviously bad parts, yes. But if they tried to only ship 100% perfect pieces, they'll have to reject an ever-growing percentage. Every rejected part is lost money, and the QC department is going to weigh how close to 100% perfect they're going to ship versus how many they're going to throw into the trash.
So, besides maybe being simply worse at making straps, these other manufacturers probably have more slack QC standards.
Slack or even nonexistent. I ordered a 3rd party leather strap once where one adapter wouldn't even fit into my watch
