I appreciated this hands on comparison of the three Ultra bands and it also compares Trail to Sport Loop.
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Apple Watch Ultra Trail Loop Bands
- Thread starter varun14
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This.
Just wear them in the shower. I use sport loops of varying colours from light to dark, for bouldering (climbing) and they get very sweaty and covered in chalk dust. Wear them in the shower after and they all still look as good as new.
We will see soon as people watch these $100 bands the next 6 months. I always thought a “wicking effect” was supposed to absorb and evaporate sweat on humans. Anything in direct contact with human skin will get nasty if not cleaned.
Time will tell and it won’t take long.
Yes, correct the material pulls the sweat off the person to a middle layer in the fabric. Some of that moisture evaporates, but the fabric doesn’t stay 100% dry during a hard workout, just drier compared to a non-wicking material. For example, my running shirts are damp after a run, but same run in a non-wicking material would be soaked, heavy with moisture, and stuck to my skin. Either way the clothes need a wash.
But we don’t have to wait 6 months to find out what happens to the trail loop after 6 months. It’s not a new type of material. It’s the same nylon already used in other bands and products. Again, it’s wholly dependent on the care it receives from its owner, much like anything else. Nylon is a durable and time tested material for exercise gear which is why it is so common in clothes for the active lifestyle. No doubt that’s why Apple selected it for sport loops and now the trail loop.
Also how the $100 price tag is relevant. Even a $300 shirt has to go to the cleaners.
I didn't realise there was a shortage, I was very lucky and got mine as a walk-in at the Leeds Apple store with my watch.
I’ve just managed to grab one of these on eBay for a pretty good deal. It looks great in this photo! Way better than the hero shots.
Thank you, I am kicking myself, I am certain (not 100% though) that I could have got a beige/yellow one at the same time. I wouldn't have wanted it to make a profit, just a nice to have while they are in a shortage. I did order a grey/black but that won't arrive till beginning of Nov.
For once in my life, I was just lucky and got it with the watch.
Keep an eye on eBay. I picked it up for 40% off retail. The next few weeks there’s a good chance watch supplied bands will pop up, until they become readily available in store.
Yesterday I tried one in an Apple Store and I was greatly surprised at how good it feels. I always wear the sport loop band and the trail loop feels definitely an improved version of this. It’s lighter, more flexible an especially softer at the touch. I can’t wait to have the black one.
Same here. I went to swap out the small Alpine Loop for a Medium last Friday at the Apple Store. They wouldn’t do it with out exchanging the whole Watch package. As it happened I prefer the Trail Loop and they had it in stock with the blue/grey one so I just swapped the whole watch for that one. I do have the black/grey Trail Loop which I prefer on preorder for delivery sometime early to mid next month. That said the blue/grey loop is growing on me.
Ultra with black/grey trail loop is now available in some stores in Australia.
Hopefully the bands themselves will be available to pick up in store soon.
Hopefully the bands themselves will be available to pick up in store soon.
Where are you seeing this? I just checked last night and this morning and there’s nothing until mid-November
I checked just now and they're available at Chatswood Chase and Miranda in NSW Australia.
Ah fair. Misread it as just the bands. The bands are still pretty fkd. And cant really do trades since I got mine from JB
I really don't understand why the trail loops are so delayed. They look identical to the sport loop that Apple has been making for years, with an extra pull tab.
Could be many things such as:
1. Late decision to add to it to band options
2. Initial lot (or material) was spoiled or didn’t pass QC
3. Reduced factory staff due to Covid ( I don’t know if these are made in the same factory as other sport loops).
It has nothing to do with it being a “new” kind of band b/c Alpine and Ocean are new styles too.
Not quite. The material isn't new, but the titanium lugs are. It could be that there was an issue getting the lugs, and Apple chose to prioritize the alpine band.
The raw material isn’t new but the pattern and design are. So, for example the fabric could have been damaged in transit or the weaving machines not calibrated correctly. Apple may not have had any sport loop planned and at the last minute added one. Any number of things can happen. It may have been the lugs but the Ti lugs are also on the Alpine loop so seems odd Apple wouldn‘t allocate those between styles or at least enough so they could send review samples to the Alpha reviewers.
At any rate it’s all speculation- even what your are suggesting. No one can say “no quite” except Apple staff involved with the band‘s production.
I think the material is similar but different. Comparing the Trail Loop to the regular and Nike Sport loops as I have all three the Trail Loop feels different. It’s softer and not as rough as the Sport Loops. That may not be the reason why they’re delayed but there is definitely a difference.
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United States
Ordered a medium/large, beige/yellow trail loop with an estimated delivery of end of October.
Updated about two weeks ago to estimate a delivery of October 16 to October 21
Preparing to ship just now, credit card charged. Estimated delivery October 7 to October 10.
Ordered a medium/large, beige/yellow trail loop with an estimated delivery of end of October.
Updated about two weeks ago to estimate a delivery of October 16 to October 21
Preparing to ship just now, credit card charged. Estimated delivery October 7 to October 10.
I don't understand. I ordered mine on September 21st with the trail loop band and delivery date was October 24th-31st and it hasn't changed. I got a notification last week that made it sound like my watch was making progress but when I opened my Apple store app it still said processing up until today. Now the green line is over preparing to ship but it still shows original delivery date.
I don't understand announcing a band and having it not available for launch. Doesn't seem Apple like. I check daily for local pickup for 2 colors and one is Nov. 2 and one is Dec. 8
I just leave in the bag in the Apple Store app and hope it's available for pickup sooner than later
I just leave in the bag in the Apple Store app and hope it's available for pickup sooner than later