Best Apple Watch Bands iMore 2020

There's no better time for checking out the best Apple Watch bands than when you get a new Apple Watch! This is especially true if it's more than just a fantastic fitness and communication device to you, but also a fashion statement. It's also a fashion statement. If this sounds like you, you're in good company. I'll confess to owning several dozen Apple Watch bands and counting. I do change my band daily to match my outfit; most days I wear one band to work out and a different band for the rest of the day. Some days I sport a more casual look and might wear a more casual-looking band. Other days, I dress up a bit, and I want to wear a dressier band. Some can be both, like the Milanese Loop. From one true Apple Watch band aficionado to another, here are some of the best Apple Watch bands to enhance both its looks and its functionality.

When I first saw this band announced, I didn't get it, even with Jony Ive's silky smooth introduction. But its simple, elegant design won me over, and now it's one of my absolute favorites. Light hits the stainless steel mesh just right and gives it a subtle shine. The magnetic loop closure means the band will fit just about any wrist comfortably; you won't be stuck between sizes or between holes. Dress it up or dress it down; the Milanese Loop looks equally at home at the office, the cocktail party, or running around town. The Milanese Loop is available in Silver, Gold, and Space Black, but if you choose a third-party replica, there are even more color options. Pros: Stunning good looks

Almost infinitely adjustable

Looks right in any context Cons: Pricey

Best Sporty Bargain: YANCH Sport Band

Build your Apple Watch band collection quickly and cheaply with the YANCH Sport Band, which is modeled after the original Apple Watch Sport Band. Buy just one of the many colors offered, or save even more buying a four-pack or a 10-pack. This band is comfortable at the gym, the beach, or anywhere you go because it's made of soft silicone. The elegant pin-and-tuck closure is secure and doesn't get in your way. It comes in both the 38/40mm and 42/44mm watch sizes, and you can choose from a S/M or M/L length band. Pros: Comfortable

Nice color selection

Lightweight

Cheap Cons: Very casual look

Best Sporty Bargain YANCH Sport Band Inexpensive This band comes in a bunch of colors that can be purchased singly or all together for even more significant savings. From $8 at Amazon

Best Value: Heyday Apple Watch Band

I picked up this cheapie, not expecting too much, but it's been a pleasant surprise. The silicone band feels similar to the Apple Sport Band in quality, but instead of a pin-and-tuck closure, it's a regular buckle. Since it's comfortable, waterproof, and good-looking, I frequently wear it for working out or for knocking around town, and it's held up well. The colors and pattern change seasonally; at this price, you can even pick up several. Pros: Inexpensive

Comfortable

Waterproof Cons: Not ideal for dressy occasions

Best Value Heyday Apple Watch Band Bargain This is an excellent band for casual looks or wearing to the gym. It's sweatproof, waterproof, attractive, and inexpensive. $10 at Target

Best Leather Band: WFEAGL Apple Watch Band

Perhaps you'd like a genuine leather band, but you'd like to spend less money. Enter WFEAGL. This top-grain leather band comes in a dizzying array of leather colors and plenty of hardware color options too. It comes in both Apple Watch sizes, and it adjusts to fit wrists ranging from 5.3 to 7.7 inches. It even comes with a TPU screen protector to prevent damage to your watch. Pros: Top-grain leather

Lots of color options

Multiple hardware color options

Reasonably-priced Cons: Leather is not waterproof

Best Leather Band WFEAGL Apple Watch Band Leather for less This is the band to get if you want real leather in a variety of color options, but you don't want the premium price tag. $19 at Amazon

Best Metal Band: LDFAS Apple Watch Band

It's perfect if you want a formal-looking metal band to wear to the office or anyplace you want to feel a little more polished or dressed up. You don't have to spend a ton of money to look great. LDFAS has gravitas and elegance but not a big price tag. An adjustment tool is included so that you can remove links for a perfect fit. The band comes in both Apple Watch sizes and can be adjusted to fit wrists ranging from 5.9 to 8.5 inches around. Choose from several colors and both Apple Watch sizes. The LDFAS band has a lifetime warranty. Pros: Suitable for formal attire

Removeable links for adjustability

Reasonably priced Cons: Some users report durability issues

Best Jewelry Band: Marge Plus Apple Watch Band

The Marge Plus Apple Watch Band looks like a delicate bracelet, not just a band to hold your Apple Watch onto your wrist. The sweet "X" design and a few tasteful rhinestones elevate the style and make it appropriate to wear with a dress or any dressy attire. Choose from Black, Champagne Gold, or Silver; each comes with a matching bumper. There are four folding clasps which can be removed to adjust the bracelet size. No tools are necessary. The Marge Plus Apple Watch Band comes in both the 38/40mm and 42/44mm Apple Watch sizes and adjusts to fit wrists ranging from 5.5 to 7.7 inches. Pros: Suitable for dressy attire

Removeable clasps for adjustability

Reasonably priced Cons: Not the look for everyone

Best Jewelry Band Marge Plus Apple Watch Band Delicate beauty When you want your Apple Watch to look like jewelry, not just a health and fitness tracker, this pretty bracelet is sure to please. From $15 at Amazon

Best Two-tone Band: Wearlizer Apple Watch Band

This cool two-toned band is a blend of stainless steel and resin. You can choose from a variety of metal and resin color combinations, such as gold with tortoiseshell resin, rose gold with light pink resin, black with navy blue resin, and many more. A removal tool is included so you can remove or add links as needed for size. The band is available for every size and generation and fits wrists from 4.7 inches to 7.5 inches. Pros: Suitable for dressy attire

Link removal tool included

Cool two-toned look Cons: Not suitable for sports

Most Fashion-forward: OULUCCI Apple Watch Band

Snakeskin is hot this year, but if snakeskin's not your thing, never fear. There are tons of other fashionable genuine leather options, such as slim, tapered solid colors, florals, and tri-tone color blocks. In addition to the wide variety of leather colors and patterns, there are different hardware colors as well, so you can match your watch. Every Apple Watch generation and size are covered here. The band fits wrists from 5.5 inches to 8 inches around. Pros: Variety of fashion-forward styles

Casual to dressy

Genuine leather Cons: Not waterproof

Thinnest silicone: Swees Sport Band

Not everyone likes a big, wide band on their wrist. This tapered silicone number gives you a more delicate look with your swim, gym, athleisure, or anywhere attire. Since it's silicone, you can go ahead and swim in it. The narrow band is flexible and lightweight, which makes it comfortable to wear all day, or even overnight. The pin-and-tuck closure stays secure and out of the way. Choose from lots of gorgeous colors, suitable for all generations and available for both watch sizes. Pros: Tapered, narrow style

Waterproof for gym and swim

Lots of color options Cons: Very casual look

Thinnest silicone Merlion Apple Watch Band Tapered appeal If you like the look and functionality of a simple silicone band but not the width, this narrow band will suit you just fine. $13 at Amazon

Best Low-cost Milanese Style: jwacct Apple Watch Band

Apple's original Milanese Loop was a breakthrough design, but let's face it: the price puts it out of range for many of us. Luckily, there are plenty of other well-priced metal mesh options such as this beauty from jwacct. You're not limited to the colors that Apple offers, either. Choose from eight different shades, most of which match one of the Apple Watch colors. You can pick the one that matches your Apple Watch or select a different color for a contrasting look. Or, choose Rainbow, just for fun. The jwacct band is a loop, not a round clasp, as shown in the photo, so the band adjusts to fit without tools. It's okay to get this band in water; just be sure to dry it off after wet activities. Pros: Elegant unisex Milanese look

Dresses up any outfit

Great color options

Very adjustable Cons: Color may not match watch exactly

Best Low-cost Milanese Style jwacct Apple Watch Band Metal mesh Who doesn't love Apple's Milanese Loop? This band is modeled after the original but carries a much smaller price tag. From $10 at Amazon

Best Premium Leather Band: Nomad Modern Strap

When you think leather, and you think Apple accessories, you can't help but think Nomad. From chargers and cases to Apple Watch bands, Nomad means quality. Crafted from full-grain Horween leather, this band will develop a beautiful patina over time. Wear this band when you want to dress up your Apple Watch; I would not recommend wearing a leather band in the water or to the gym. Pros: High-quality leather

Simple elegance Cons: Leather is not waterproof

Best Leather Cuff: Pad & Quill Lowry Cuff

If you like the thick, rugged look of a cuff, look no further than Pad & Quill top-quality take on the style. Made with a strong full-grain leather outside layer and a soft pigskin inner layer, this cuff is both durable and comfortable. Don't worry; the Apple Watch Optical Pulse Sensor is not obstructed. The artisan who creates your band even signs it discreetly inside. Like all leather bands, this one's not for the gym or pool. Note that this band is only made for the larger 42/44mm Apple Watch. Pros: Quality craftsmanship

Full-grain leather

Fashion statement Cons: Maybe too bulky for some

Leather is not waterproof

Best Slim Leather Band: Burkley Slim Leather Band

I'm a woman with a narrow wrist, and even the smaller Apple Watch looks pretty huge on me. Add a wide band, and it looks almost comical. The Burkley Slim Leather Band is the band I'd been waiting for. Its delicate tapered shape gets slimmer as it goes around the wrist, so the buckle is rather small: perfectly proportioned for me. If you've wanted a top-quality full-grain leather band but usually find them too thick, you need this band. I wear this band frequently, and it's held up well over time. Choose from Nude Pink, Distressed Antique Coffee, and Burnished Tan. This one is just for the smaller 38/40mm Apple Watch. Pros: Tapered, slim form factor

Premium full-grain leather

Excellent quality Cons: Leather is not waterproof

Best Slim Leather Band Burkley Slim Leather Band Delicate perfection If you're not one for bulky bands, this sliver of premium leather gorgeousness is the perfect Apple Watch band for you. $69 at Burkley

Best Rugged Case Band: Catalyst Waterproof Case

While the newer Apple Watches are waterproof anyway, give your watch an extra measure of protection with this handy protective case and band in one. With a waterproof rating of IP68, you can dive as deep at 100 meters (330 feet.) Since the rugged polycarbonate and silicone Catalyst is a case as well as a band, you're less likely to damage your watch if it drops or bumps into something. Even with all the protection it offers, your Apple Watch will still be fully functional in it. The Catalyst is also available in the 38/40mm size. Pros: Waterproof

Shockproof

Case and band in one Cons: Not to everyone's taste, style-wise

Most Fun: CASETiFY Saffiano Leather Band

Who says your Apple Watch band can't be super fun? There are thousands of gorgeous patterns to choose from, and the hard part will be picking just one. The printed pattern CASETiFY Saffiano Leather Bands are faux/vegan leather, not leather at all. So, you can go ahead and wear this band in the pool: it's waterproof. This band is quite comfortable to wear, but be careful if you wear it in heavy rotation. The downside is that the band is not the most durable; after several years, mine has started to tear. But I love it so much that I wear it anyway. I'm just extra careful removing the band from my watch so as not to rip it further. Pros: Vegan/faux leather is waterproof

Dazzling array of gorgeous patterns

Comfortable Cons: Not the most durable

Best NATO Band: Clockwork Synergy NATO Band

Clockwork Synergy is a brand I recommend to everyone for its excellent combination of price and quality. The adaptors are particularly high-quality, sliding on and off like butter but staying perfectly locked in position when in use. There are several excellent band styles at fair prices to explore on the site, but the classic NATO style is a particular favorite of mine. It is so comfortable and colorful, and there are a ton of patterns from which to choose. Whether you like solids, stripes, flags, or rainbows, there's something for everyone here. You can even choose your adaptor color to match your Apple Watch. Pros: Modern take on classic NATO band

Many colorful choices

Quality adaptor matches watch Cons: May be too casual for some outfits

Best NATO Band Clockwork Synergy NATO Band Classic style Clockwork Synergy brings the classic NATO style to the modern era with this high-quality, reasonably-priced band. $25 at Clockwork Synergy

Best Sport Band: Apple Nike Sport Band

I own quite a few sport bands, most of which are of the cheaper variety, and there is just no substitute for the quality of Apple's fluoroelastomer bands. They have a density, softness, and durability like no other. Add the compression-molded perforations of the Nike band, and you have the perfect watch band for your wettest, sweatiest workouts, sports, and other adventures. Apple switches out the colors from season to season, so if you see a color you like, don't wait to pick it up. Pros: Comfortable

Breathable

Lightweight Cons: No good if you have trypophobia (aversion to clusters of holes)

Very casual look

Best Rugged Sport Band: Nomad Rugged Strap

If you're looking for a good quality sport band that will hold up to your toughest workouts and outdoor adventures, check out Nomad's Rugged Strap. It's made from FKM, a soft yet strong fluoroelastomer rubber material. The injection-molded stainless steel hardware is made to last. This black band comes in both Apple Watch sizes, fits any generation, and comes in two hardware colors, black or silver. Pros: Quality construction

Tough and durable

Lightweight Cons: Casual, masculine look isn't for everyone