What is the best quality third party sports band?

[GrindedDown]

I have bought two in the past. The most recent one I bought offered slight improvements.

I am wondering though if anyone has bought one more recently that has an increased quality that truly rivals the apple band? Or have they more or less remained the same (a bit thinner and lighter feeling, not as good a surface finish, etc...)?

 

[maflynn]

that truly rivals the apple band?

I've not found any that rivals Apple's. I found MoKo sports band to be decent, but I don't expect a 15 dollar band to rival that of a 50 dollars. (don't get me wrong 50 dollars is over priced but apple's band do feel superior).

 

[Qqueenie]

I found a few sellers on Ali Express who claim to sell fluoruelastomer sport bands and I ordered one, but it hasn't arrived yet. Once I get it I'll let you know if it's the same material as Apple's bands.

To me, all other third-party silicone bands are interchangeable. Moko seems to be popular, but they are exactly the same material as $5 bands from eBay. The biggest difference between Moko and eBay sellers is that Moko's pictures more accurately depict the actual color of the band, IME.

 

[mlovergaard]

I got a few from lnkooo888 and have been very happy with those, also got a few from another seller on eBay, Sellforless12 and I was very happy with the quality there too. I must admit I am not too happy with Moko, the quality of the band especially at the very top just isn't quite there, especially on the dark purple one.

 

[igrover]

Moko bands are made of silicone, which is a much more stretchable material than the OEM fluoroelastomer material. And the Moko bands are much much thinner than OEM bands. I need to wear my Moko band one hole smaller than my Apple band due to the stretching.

Strapped & Co bands are also a silicone material. They are thicker than the Moko bands although not as thick as the OEM Apple band. I can wear the Strapped band in the same hole as the OEM Apple band.

In my opinion, the fluoroelastomer material is much better than the silicone. I would always choose the OEM bands over 3rd party bands at this point in time. Just sucks because of the higher OEM cost.

 

[dictoresno]

Moko bands are made of silicone, which is a much more stretchable material than the OEM fluoroelastomer material. And the Moko bands are much much thinner than OEM bands. I need to wear my Moko band one hole smaller than my Apple band due to the stretching.

Strapped & Co bands are also a silicone material. They are thicker than the Moko bands although not as thick as the OEM Apple band. I can wear the Strapped band in the same hole as the OEM Apple band.

In my opinion, the fluoroelastomer material is much better than the silicone. I would always choose the OEM bands over 3rd party bands at this point in time. Just sucks because of the higher OEM cost.

i have a Moko band as well. However, I find that the band is not really noticeable thinner than the OEM band at all by feel/sight. I would need a caliper to check it, but to me, it seems to be the same thickness. Also, the band fits just fine for me on the same hole my apple watch band is used on. So maybe yours is stretched or something, but mine is new out of the box an fits just the same as the apple band.

 

[igrover]

i have a Moko band as well. However, I find that the band is not really noticeable thinner than the OEM band at all by feel/sight. I would need a caliper to check it, but to me, it seems to be the same thickness. Also, the band fits just fine for me on the same hole my apple watch band is used on. So maybe yours is stretched or something, but mine is new out of the box an fits just the same as the apple band.

I'm glad your band is very similar to the OEM band. I really wanted my Moko band to be a winner as it is the purple color and no one else makes a good purple sport band to date.

I've tried out a blind test with a few friends where I ask them to spot the original and they always find the OEM band and say that the others are thinner and more stretchy.

 

[dictoresno]

I'm glad your band is very similar to the OEM band. I've tried out a blind test with a few friends where I ask them to spot the original and they always find the OEM band and say that the others are thinner and more stretchy.

You can't really think someone wont spot the real one. Of course they will every time. They are an entirely different material and feel totally different. Also, the Moko bands have excessive flashing from the molding process (Apple bands don't) and there are no size indicators on the Moko bands like there are on the apple ones. I never said they were gonna pass a "blind test", they won't. I just believe the thinness thing everyone claims is just because they are silicone and feel that way. I'm sure if they are measured, they are the same thickness as the apple ones.

 

[maflynn]

I feel the difference with the MoKo vs. Apple's. It also has a difference in feel, the silcone is much more noticeable. If Apple has the colors I wanted in a sports band, I may opt for that then a third party.

I'm not down on my MoKo, I did only spend something like 15 bucks

 

[igrover]

You can't really think someone wont spot the real one. Of course they will every time. They are an entirely different material and feel totally different. Also, the Moko bands have excessive flashing from the molding process (Apple bands don't) and there are no size indicators on the Moko bands like there are on the apple ones. I never said they were gonna pass a "blind test", they won't. I just believe the thinness thing everyone claims is just because they are silicone and feel that way. I'm sure if they are measured, they are the same thickness as the apple ones.

The more I think about your comment, which is correct, I believe my statement about the Moko band being "thinner" has more to do with weight than thickness. The Moko silicone band reminds me of my Suunto Core silicone band which is also silicone and very stretchy. And the Suunto Core silicone band did not last very long either. The Apple OEM band just feels like a more solid band.

 

[dictoresno]

Yea I highly doubt they would make a 1:1 band that was thinner. I'm sure it's the material that makes it thinner. I mean just look at it, it doesn't look any thinner than the OEM band.

 

[igrover]

Density - that is the word I could not remember. The OEM bands are much denser material wise as opposed to the other bands. Size wise they are all probably the same. The lack of material density in the Moko and to a lesser extent the Strapped & Co bands is the reason they stretch more than the OEM bands.

 

[cariacou]

I read all the answer in this thread, and it seems that the general consensus is that the original bands are significantly better than any <$30 clones?
that's unfortunate for my pocket

 

[ssledoux]

I know this is an older thread, but after reading this I went to eBay and searched for Apple bands and was able to get original Apple bands for around $20 each in very good used condition. I haven't received them yet, but the company was 99.7% positive feedback with thousands of transactions, so I'm hoping "very little wear," is truly very little wear. We shall see.

 

[jtrue28]

So what's the deal with half the colors being "out of stock" on Apple.com? Trying to get the royal blue 42mm band....nope.

 

[anthonymoody]

LNKOO brand from Amazon are great for only $10. Very similar to apples.

 

[44267547]

So what's the deal with half the colors being "out of stock" on Apple.com? Trying to get the royal blue 42mm band....nope.

They are clearing stock for newer products most likely arriving in September. I have the Royal Blue and love it.

 

[ssledoux]

I wanted to update because I have been able to purchase 7 Apple sport bands from eBay (black, midnight, red, antique white, lavender, vintage rose, and stone), and it has cost me right at $115 for all of them. So far all have come in original packaging, and look pretty much like new. I'm pretty happy that I've gotten 7. (basically new) Apple bands for a little more than the price of 2 new ones.

I also have the one my watch came with which is either the original pink or orange (not sure which because it looks orange, but not like a dark orange - I bought it used so I'm not positive, but I don't like the color at all and I usually really like orange). Okay the Apple Watch box says Apricot on the color, just to clarify.

Now if I could just find the turquoise my life would be complete. ;-p

 

[jtrue28]

Wal-Mart.com has the turquoise in 42mm. They also have the royal blue. I ordered the blue. I'm still halfway betting they email me and say they're sold out.


EDIT: Received the royal blue band today. Not really sure what Apple is doing. Wal-Mart clearly ordered the band directly from Apple to fulfill my order, and shipped the box to the store and handed it to me. The box has the AI return address and everything. Whatever.

 

[Fuchal]

MoKo bands also attract lint and pet hair, which Apple's do not. Deal killer for me.

 

[yanki01]

I know this is an older thread, but after reading this I went to eBay and searched for Apple bands and was able to get original Apple bands for around $20 each in very good used condition. I haven't received them yet, but the company was 99.7% positive feedback with thousands of transactions, so I'm hoping "very little wear," is truly very little wear. We shall see.

this thread is already bumped but i went on ebay last night and scored a still new, genuine apple 42mm black sports band for $15!

 

[Qqueenie]

Food for thought: CEX offers official apple sport bands, second hand, in many colors for less than $20. At that price, it's worth it to get genuine apple bands! Check there first before you buy a silicone third-party band.

 

[AZhappyjack]

MoKo bands also attract lint and pet hair, which Apple's do not. Deal killer for me.

Flouroelastiner vs silicone.

Almost all knock-off sport bands are silicone. They were naked to attract lint … just like Apple's silicone phone cases.