The Great "Third Party Band/Strap" Thread

[broadbean]

Has anyone bought the HOCO Milanese Loop band yet? I'm seriously tempted for my SG Sport

The pics look good, but I'd like to see a "real" one. I'm also not a fan of the "hoco." branding on the strap. If I'm to wear the loop the same way as the Apple one, the name will be upside-down.

 

[thelead]

there is a saying: "everyone needs an orange band". Use this to replace the sport band from Apple. I prefer the "little gap" between the face and the strap since it creates a little more edgy look for the watch.

here is mine:

cheapo bands from local watch store, took me quite a while to get the shade of orange that i like. Also thin enough for my tiny wrist. Most of the silicon rubber bands on the market are quite thick for my taste 🙁

cheapo black buckle from ebay to match the space gray. SS buckle just look terrible on this watch 🙁

Adapters from Ebay as well. its a hit and miss. This one is a perfect fit, flush with the body comparing to most of the adapters you can see on this thread which kind off pop out of the face a bit.

View attachment 571822 View attachment 571819 View attachment 571820
View attachment 571821

Links to the adapter, band and buckle please 🙂

 

[luckyblue]

I got the olive nylon from them for $25. Fast free shipping, and the band is nice. It was a little scratchy at first but has softened up nicely. I really like it. The blue and bond stripe are on my wish list as is a red and gray if they become available. The adapters are not quite as smooth sliding in as the ones on my Apple classic buckle, but the final fit is the same.

View attachment 571808

I ended up sticking velcro (the soft side) underneath the parts of my nylon band where it scratched the most. It really helped.

 

[pooleman]

I got the olive nylon from them for $25. Fast free shipping, and the band is nice. It was a little scratchy at first but has softened up nicely. I really like it. The blue and bond stripe are on my wish list as is a red and gray if they become available. The adapters are not quite as smooth sliding in as the ones on my Apple classic buckle, but the final fit is the same.

View attachment 571808

I just ordered mine. How quickly did yours arrive?

 

[Javabird]

I got the olive nylon from them for $25. Fast free shipping, and the band is nice. It was a little scratchy at first but has softened up nicely. I really like it. The blue and bond stripe are on my wish list as is a red and gray if they become available. The adapters are not quite as smooth sliding in as the ones on my Apple classic buckle, but the final fit is the same.

View attachment 571808

Is that a 42mm or 38mm?

 

[luckyblue]

I just got this 3 bead last night. I've been wanting to get one for a while and I'm really glad I did! Looks great, feels solid but not too heavy. The connection of the adapters is solid and this band feels like it will last forever!

http://www.amazon.com/Leevin-Stainl...TF8&qid=1438203780&sr=8-1&keywords=B00ZX6M0WW

 

[mathezorro]

Hello I am new here, and want to share my Bands with you to.
Today I got a replica of the Sports Band in Green. Comparing it with my Original black one lets me see almost no difference in Size, weight and Quality. Only the small printing with the Size on the back is not there! Unfortunately the Color of the Band looks different in the Pictures 🙁 In real the Color looks 1:1 like the Original Band (Compared it with a friends band) Coming to the Size: It is 1:1 like the Large Apple Band (No smaller piece included)
Bought on Aliexpress for about 24$ (I think if you search a bit you will get the same Quality for a better Price 😀)

PLEASE EXCUSE MY ENGLISH (I AM FROM GERMANY)

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2015...-Watch-Band-Adapter-Seamless/32388494812.html

And now a few pictures! 🙂
As you see depending on light and underground the color looks different!

 

[ktejada21]

Anyone know a really good adapter to match the finish of the Apple Watch Sport (aluminum)? Most out there seem to be silver finish. I don't like the design of the Click adapter and the only one I've found that looks like what I want is from Watchshoppe http://watchshoppe.co/products/apple-watch-band-adapter-aluminum

But I don't know how close the aluminum matches the Apple Watch sport and I also don't want to spend $35.99 on just one adapter since I'd like to have about 10 of them.

Any help?

 

[lg251]

Anyone know a really good adapter to match the finish of the Apple Watch Sport (aluminum)? Most out there seem to be silver finish. I don't like the design of the Click adapter and the only one I've found that looks like what I want is from Watchshoppe http://watchshoppe.co/products/apple-watch-band-adapter-aluminum

But I don't know how close the aluminum matches the Apple Watch sport and I also don't want to spend $35.99 on just one adapter since I'd like to have about 10 of them.

Any help?

I don't know about the aluminum ones, but I got the silver for mine and the match is perfect. I wouldn't hesitate with Watchshoppe.

 

[Mw0103]

I just ordered mine. How quickly did yours arrive?

Less than 5 days, including a weekend, if I recall correctly (from Maryland to Chicago).

Is that a 42mm or 38mm?

42

 

[Thepixelsedge]

I don't know about the aluminum ones, but I got the silver for mine and the match is perfect. I wouldn't hesitate with Watchshoppe.

I'm thinking of buying their stainless steel adapters. How well does it fit into the watch? does it stick out at all or wiggle around a bit? If you're feeling generous and wanna include a pic too I'd be forever grateful!

 

[broadbean]

I just got this 3 bead last night. I've been wanting to get one for a while and I'm really glad I did! Looks great, feels solid but not too heavy. The connection of the adapters is solid and this band feels like it will last forever!

I like the band, but not sure if I would prefer springbar style adapters with metal bands.

 

[broadbean]

Anyone know a really good adapter to match the finish of the Apple Watch Sport (aluminum)? Most out there seem to be silver finish. I don't like the design of the Click adapter and the only one I've found that looks like what I want is from Watchshoppe http://watchshoppe.co/products/apple-watch-band-adapter-aluminum

But I don't know how close the aluminum matches the Apple Watch sport and I also don't want to spend $35.99 on just one adapter since I'd like to have about 10 of them.

Any help?

Would you want the bar part also in the non-polished aluminum look? I personally would prefer the bar to be polished, regardless of the adapter itself, but I would say between either all polished or all matte with my Watch Sport, I would choose all polished with this style of adapter.

 

[lg251]

I'm thinking of buying their stainless steel adapters. How well does it fit into the watch? does it stick out at all or wiggle around a bit? If you're feeling generous and wanna include a pic too I'd be forever grateful!

Check my previous posts via my profile so I don't double post. I had included a few pics recently!

 

[ktejada21]

Would you want the bar part also in the non-polished aluminum look? I personally would prefer the bar to be polished, regardless of the adapter itself, but I would say between either all polished or all matte with my Watch Sport, I would choose all polished with this style of adapter.

I would want the entire thing to have the aluminum look. Exact style as the Watchshoppe, but was looking for something more in the $20 range (I have no interest in the $5 adapters as I don't think those will hold up very well with multiple swaps). Also want to know if the Watchshoppe aluminum version matches the Apple Watch sport aluminum closely like the silver one does.

 

[fireman13]

These are my current bands. I'm pretty happy with all of these and feel like I have a good solution to what ever occasion may arise. Pardon the basket, I'll eventually get something nicer to put my watches and bands in but this has worked fine for now.

 

[luckyblue]

I like the band, but not sure if I would prefer springbar style adapters with metal bands.

Are you rockin a 38mm or 42mm?

I have a 5 bead with the springbar style and it looks great, but the band is 20mm vs 22mm. They both look great, but in my ideal world I could get the springbar style with a 22mm band. It looks better when it's a little wider IMHO.

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...nd-strap-thread.1866289/page-76#post-21626720

 

[Javabird]

These are my current bands. I'm pretty happy with all of these and feel like I have a good solution to what ever occasion may arise. Pardon the basket, I'll eventually get something nicer to put my watches and bands in but this has worked fine for now.

I actually like the basket 🙂

 

[hoogen]

My 42mm SS with Hoco 3 and modified adapter.

And my other bands. I wear all of them quite regularly, the green band with the case is my go-to for doing labor intensive work.

 

[lahabra43]

I know. I'm bad. Two more coming. One leather and canvas.. Will show you when I get those.
Right side is all Apple. Left side is 3rd party.

 

[soya]

These are my current bands. I'm pretty happy with all of these and feel like I have a good solution to what ever occasion may arise. Pardon the basket, I'll eventually get something nicer to put my watches and bands in but this has worked fine for now.

Where did you get the brown leather band?

 

[fireman13]

Where did you get the brown leather band?

It's actually a moto 360 band. It's a great band except for the gap in the middle. I got it for free and honestly just wanted to try out the color. I can see myself replacing it with a better band soon but the color, I love.

 

[Jvjlite]

If they had it in M/Lg I would have ordered the gray. I can wear the S/M but on the last hole and it doesn't give me much in the way of band tucked under which I think is best for securing it. I'll definitely keep checking back on that color to see if he gets the longer strap in. Too bad you don't get 3 straps like Apple or I would have ordered today. Can you post a photo of it on your watch when you get it in? Thanks.

After you'd had it a while I would be curious to know how you think the silicon does on the wrist compared to the florowhatever that Apple uses which I like a lot. Thanks for the heads up.

Just received it. It looks like a faded shade of black. I'm somewhat disappointed. Fitting @ adapters too wide, also. Gray clone vs black  watch band.

 

[Jvjlite]

Side by side comparison - silicone is very similar - black  sport band on left, gray clone on right.

 

[Mac2me]

Just received it. It looks like a faded shade of black. I'm somewhat disappointed. Fitting @ adapters too wide, also. Gray clone vs black  watch band.

Not happy it turned out to be disappointing but do appreciate the review. I don't think I would advertise that as gray seeing the two next to each other. Dang I want Apple to release new sport bands in other colors.