The Great "Third Party Band/Strap" Thread

[addamas]

I found something new on Ali - fake braided loop with a part to resize to match properly.
I absolutely love these vivid colors - sockets mounting loop to a watch are proper size, resizing part had purple / cooper color but I used permanent marker… but it fades out so I have to find some metal painting

I hate to buy fake ones but paying 40x more for similar item is not worth it (400 vs 10 PLN)

Link: https://pl.aliexpress.com/item/1005...o2pol&spm=a2g0o.order_list.0.0.21ef1c24VY3IPi

 

[SusieS]

Poor quality Urvoi sport loop:

The connectors on my Sunflower band are painted yellow on top of white plastic. I’ve only worn this band about three times and big chunks of paint have come off. None of my other, older Urvoi bands have this problem, and they seem to be made of plastic that has the color through and through. Maybe the pandemic is making them cut even more corners. Anyway, I’m done with knockoffs for now. Nike.com has the pride sport loop on sale for $36 so I got another one of those.

 

[trash eighty]

I found something new on Ali - fake braided loop with a part to resize to match properly.
I absolutely love these vivid colors - sockets mounting loop to a watch are proper size, resizing part had purple / cooper color but I used permanent marker… but it fades out so I have to find some metal painting

I hate to buy fake ones but paying 40x more for similar item is not worth it (400 vs 10 PLN)

Link: https://pl.aliexpress.com/item/1005...o2pol&spm=a2g0o.order_list.0.0.21ef1c24VY3IPi

I just got this too (i assume its the same one or similar anyway), i love it

 

[Dguitarnut]

Yeah….after a couple of china shopping sprees with close to 60 knockoffs the gems amongst them are few for me imho.
The quality is quite unpredictable…………..I have gone back to OEM after figuring I really only like to wear half dozen different bands….

 

[wildaman]

Yeah….after a couple of china shopping sprees with close to 60 knockoffs the gems amongst them are few for me imho.
The quality is quite unpredictable…………..I have gone back to OEM after figuring I really only like to wear half dozen different bands….

Poor quality Urvoi sport loop:

The connectors on my Sunflower band are painted yellow on top of white plastic. I’ve only worn this band about three times and big chunks of paint have come off. None of my other, older Urvoi bands have this problem, and they seem to be made of plastic that has the color through and through. Maybe the pandemic is making them cut even more corners. Anyway, I’m done with knockoffs for now. Nike.com has the pride sport loop on sale for $36 so I got another one of those.

My most annoying problem with knockoff braided solo loops is that the stores making them will stop selling the same band I bought 3 weeks ago when I go back to buy a second. If OEM braided solo loops weren't so crazy stupid expensive I'd give them a try but I have spent less than $100 total on so many other bands. The quality has varied for sure but there have been some real gems in there

 

[trash eighty]

Yes availability is a problem, the great solo band i bought last year is no longer available. The one i got last week now has just 1 left in stock on Amazon (well none now as i just bought it as a spare!)

 

[wildaman]

Yes availability is a problem, the great solo band i bought last year is no longer available. The one i got last week now has just 1 left in stock on Amazon (well none now as i just bought it as a spare!)

over the past year I've bought maybe 10 braided solo loops from various different stores on aliexpress, one as recently as a few weeks ago. I can't reorder a single one - all of their product pages return a "Page Not Found" error when trying to navigate to them from my previously ordered page

 

[Sayewhat]

Komo bands are not too bad. A bit pricy since it seems all the bands are made by the same company for about $1.

komobands.com

 

[jaymc]

Anyone able to find a knock-off braided solo loop band that is flared at the connector like the real Apple bands? I just don't like the limited choices from Apple.

 

[SusieS]

my knockoff Flash Light sport loop, which I’m really loving. I usually avoid wearing anything neon-colored but this is a fun little summertime treat for less than 4 dollars.

 

[madrigal77]

Anyone have experience with Juuk bands? I’m looking for a nice metal one, and the Vitero aluminum looks good to me. Worth the money? I got a cheap titanium band on Amazon and it was garbage, so I returned it right away. I realized if I want something nice I’m probably going to have to pay $150-200 and I don’t mind doing that if it will last several years.

https://juukdesign.com/products/42-44mm-vitero?variant=29212012707958

 

[wildaman]

Anyone able to find a knock-off braided solo loop band that is flared at the connector like the real Apple bands? I just don't like the limited choices from Apple.

I bought 2 from the POBANDS store back in April that were flared like the real apple bands but, surprise surprise, they're no longer available even though the store page is still up...

I recently placed an order for one from here based on pictures, but the band probably won't arrive for another couple weeks (and this is assuming I've understood what you mean by "flared at the connector like the real Apple bands" haha)

 

[jaymc]

I bought 2 from the POBANDS store back in April that were flared like the real apple bands but, surprise surprise, they're no longer available even though the store page is still up...

I recently placed an order for one from here based on pictures, but the band probably won't arrive for another couple weeks (and this is assuming I've understood what you mean by "flared at the connector like the real Apple bands" haha)

Thanks, this is what I am looking for. Hope they are truly braided and not just printed silicon bands.

 

[wildaman]

Thanks, this is what I am looking for. Hope they are truly braided and not just printed silicon bands.

I placed my order on July 18 and it's now in the country supposedly, but hasn't passed through customs yet. always interesting for me to watch these things make their way across the globe

 

[jaymc]

I placed my order on July 18 and it's now in the country supposedly, but hasn't passed through customs yet. always interesting for me to watch these things make their way across the globe

Got mine today ... exactly what I was looking for ... and truly braided/woven; not just printed. Thanks!

 

[wildaman]

Got mine today ... exactly what I was looking for ... and truly braided/woven; not just printed. Thanks!

Mine also came in recently (black unity) and it's among the best braided solo loops I've found on AliExpress thus far. I'm glad to hear it was what you were looking for!

 

[wildaman]

Got mine today ... exactly what I was looking for ... and truly braided/woven; not just printed. Thanks!

Forgot to include a pic of mine. can also take a pic of all the third party bands I've gotten from aliexpress over the past year if anybody's interested (majority braided solo loops, some others, maybe 20 in total)

 

[Spencerdl]

Nomad Graphite Stainless Steel Bracelet for my Graphite Stainless Steel AW7

 

[Dguitarnut]

I love my Nomad stainless steel link. More comfortable than my Apple Stainless steel link which I sold.

 

[wildaman]

Got mine today ... exactly what I was looking for ... and truly braided/woven; not just printed. Thanks!

unfortunately/annoyingly, the product listing for the braided solo loop from this store is already gone. good thing I ordered a replacement a couple weeks back.

 

[addamas]

There is another shop in Ali selling close to original braided bands. For Poland it’s 4-5 times cheaper than from Apple Store.
Tight and solid.

Link:

AliExpress

 

[PeytonT123]

Is there a consensus on the best shop to get cheap knockoffs of the OEM Apple bands? I got a handful like 4 years ago from one on AliExpress but can't remember what it was....I'm planning on getting the Series 8 so definitely wanting some new bands.

I run/workout a lot, so it was great getting a bunch of knockoff sport loops that I could just throw in the wash after using (since they'd be drenched in sweat usually)

 

[wildaman]

There is another shop in Ali selling close to original braided bands. For Poland it’s 4-5 times cheaper than from Apple Store.
Tight and solid.
View attachment 2052770
Link:

http://[URL]https://a.aliexpress.com/_EyrmTVz

[/URL]

totally forgot that I have an urvoi loop! And I assumed they were no longer selling them as the link to the product page from my Orders displays a "Page not found" error. Interesting... may have to pick up another at some point, even though I already have plenty

 

[wildaman]

Is there a consensus on the best shop to get cheap knockoffs of the OEM Apple bands? I got a handful like 4 years ago from one on AliExpress but can't remember what it was....I'm planning on getting the Series 8 so definitely wanting some new bands.

I run/workout a lot, so it was great getting a bunch of knockoff sport loops that I could just throw in the wash after using (since they'd be drenched in sweat usually)

not sure about a consensus, but Urvoi does have some sport loops. I bet they're of decent quality, but can't vouch for them personally

0.49US $ 91% OFF|Urvoi Sport Loop For Apple Watch Series 7 6 Se 5 4 3 2 1 Strap For Iwatch Sport Loop 41 45mm Breathabe Hook Fastener Woven Nylon - Watchbands - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

 

[addamas]

totally forgot that I have an urvoi loop! And I assumed they were no longer selling them as the link to the product page from my Orders displays a "Page not found" error. Interesting... may have to pick up another at some point, even though I already have plenty

How is quality over the time? Looks solid for me and “AdamRickEverything” bend / stretching / pulling from connectors tests were passed 😅