Best Apple Watch bands: The best classic and third-party Apple watch straps from £40
There's an Apple Watch strap for every wrist
Finding the best Apple Watch band for your wrist is more important than you think. If you play sports, find typical smartwatch straps too bulky or just prefer a more classic style, you might want to switch out your basic Apple Watch strap for something new.
The standard band that comes with the purchase of a new Apple Watch is perfectly fine. It does the job of keeping the thing on your wrist, but the design and material it isn’t for everyone. If your watch doesn’t feel quite right, it could be time to consider buying a new band.
The best Apple Watch bands aren’t always cheap but finding the right one will improve how your watch looks and feels immeasurably and if you’ve spent out on a shiny new smartwatch, then it makes sense to find your perfect strap.
Whether you’re still sporting a Series 1 Apple Watch or you’ve picked up the latest Apple Watch 4, we’ve rounded up the best Apple Watch bands available right now from £40.
READ NEXT: Apple Watch Series 4 review
The best Apple Watch straps you can buy
1. Apple Nike Sport Band: The best Apple Watch band for the gym and workouts
Price: £49 | Buy now from Nike
The official Apple Watch/Nike Sport strap is a step up from the standard Apple sport band mostly thanks to its breathable fluoroelastomer material. Described on Apple’s website as “compression-moulded perforations”, the strap is essentially filled with small holes that help your skin breathe. While this sounds fairly simplistic, it should make a huge difference to how breathable it is underneath the strap.
The Nike Sport Apple Watch strap is available in two case sizes, 40mm and 44mm, and the strap fits wrists from 130mm up to 200mm. Available in nine different designs, you can choose outrageously garish colour combinations or stick to the block-colour classics. The choice isn’t as extensive as the original Sport band, but it’s still pretty good.
2. UAG leather watch strap: The best leather Apple Watch band
Price: £58 | Buy now from UAG
Sleek Italian leather and custom stainless steel hardware make this Apple Watch strap by UAG a sturdy but surprisingly affordable option. It’s available in two classic colours: a soft, matte brown and classic satin black. The strap is designed for Series 1-4 of the Apple Watch and it comes in two lengths. The first is 152mm to 210mm, with a case sizing of 42/44mm and the second is 133mm to 191mm, with a case sizing of 38/40mm.
Its “collar locking snap security” keeps your watch safe but doesn’t intrude on the band’s minimalist design. Impressively, this leather Apple Watch strap is both durable and stylish – something that’s often hard to find in a watch band. Considering Apple charges almost this much for its basic silicone strap, this simplistic leather band is a steal.
3. Casetify Pink Eyes Apple Watch band: The best colourful Apple Watch band
Price: £40 | Buy now from Casetify
Fed up of boring, bulky Apple Watch straps? This colourful Apple band is trim, bright and anything but ordinary. Casetify is well known for going against the norm when it comes to tech accessories and this Apple Watch strap is no different. Made from water and scratch-resistant Saffiano leather, it’s a real bargain at just £40.
The pink eyes band works with Apple Watch Series 1-4, comes in three colours – “space grey”, black and rose gold – and is sold in two standard case sizes of 40mm and 44mm. One downside is that, while the vibrant colour looks pretty, it’s not super-breathable on the skin and, therefore, isn’t the best choice for active Apple Watch wearers.
4. Apple Watch Sport Loop band: Best soft Apple Watch band
Price: £49 | Buy now from Apple
If you find silicone and leather straps too rigid and uncomfortable on the wrist, you’ll probably find comfort in a soft material Apple Watch band. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Apple’s own nylon watch strap delivers on softness and quality. The woven material means this strap is breathable and lightweight – and a good choice for the summer months.
Unfortunately, the Apple branding comes with an Apple price, but the quality control is there, so you shouldn’t come across any problems while using this strap. It’s fully compatible with the Apple Watch Series 1-4 and, again, comes in the standard case sizes of 40mm and 44mm.
5. Casetify Apple Watch band: Best budget Apple Watch band
Price: £40 | Buy now from Casetify
Casetify takes the win again here. At £40, this is the cheapest quality strap we’ve found. The thinner, minimalist design means it’s palatable whatever your tastes. Moreover, it has an unrivalled range of colours and designs – including glitter smartwatch straps, if that takes your fancy.
