Been pleasantly surprised with the Sport Band

[Luba]

I had the Milanese Loop with AW0 and it was very comfortable to wear even in the summer, probably because it could breathe. Putting it on was fast and easy too. But over time, after a year or so, the Loop wasn't as tight and I had to re-tighten it about 2-3x a day. A bit of a hassle. I now have AW2 with the Sport Band. When I wear it snug the band can flex/stretch for comfort just like the Milanese when I move my arm. If I want to wear it loose closer down to my hand I can since the Sport Band is also ridgit. I couldn't really do that with the Milanese because it's floppy when not worn snug. The Sport Band is not quite as easy to put on as the Milanese, but easier than a classic buckle. I read the Sport Band can be clammy during humid summer days, so I'll probably get the Milanese come summertime. I might try out the Moko Milanese which I can't believe is only $10 or so. Also, the Sport Band has a soft pliable feel too.

What do you all think of the Sport Band?

 

[Srbell67]

I wear my SB SS AW2 w/black sport band all-day, every day to work and to work-out.

I love the sport band as it looks fine (i.e. not too sporty like the Nike bands) during the day/night and even better when sweating at the gym.

 

[jbachandouris]

I also have a Milanese loop. I bought a sport band as keeping it clean when using it at the gym was a chore. I don't really change my bands to often. I've been wearing the sport band since and haven't been using the Milanese Loop at all.

 

[Seamaster]

When I had my S0, I tried 'em all: ML, LL and SB

When I bought my S2 I went for the SB without hesitation. When it's the best strap for the Apple Watch by a country mile.

 

[IngerMan]

I bought my SS 2 with the Milanese band. Really like it but I also bought a Midnight Blue Sport band. I figure I will use the Milanese for a little more dress up mode but plan on just using the Sport band mostly. I am going to order the Concrete band to go with summer colors and the dark blue for winter colors.

 

[exxxviii]

What do go all think of the Sport Band?

The sport bands are amazingly comfortable. I totally love it. I have a bunch of bands, both OE and excellent clone. The leather loops are also very good, but I don't think they match the sports. The link looks great, but is heavy and bulky. The ML are pretty special also, but they allow the watch to move around on my wrist a little more than I prefer.

 

[Mr.Blacky]

You should give the nylon band a try! I think its very comfortable.

 

[Luba]

Anybody felt the Sport Band was uncomfortable during the summer? Clammy feeling?

I would wash my whole AW, (and still do) and that kept the Milanese looking new and sparklingly everyday. I saw one woman's Milanese and she had black stuff build up on the edges of her Milanese. It'll take a toothbrush now for her to get the gunk out.

I tried the woven nylon. Looks good, but realize I need the band to have some some flex or stretch for it to feel comfortable. I think leather like the woven nylon won't have flex either?!?

 

[BarracksSi]

When I got my AW0SSBSB* last year, I planned to eventually get a couple leather bands (both brown and black Classic Buckle straps) and a steel bracelet (either the Milanese loop or Link bracelet). I already have different watches for different styles, and I wanted to do the same with the AW. However, my wife wasn't so keen on spending the money, especially as I was nearing military retirement, so she said to wait until I got my next job.

A year later, I'm having a heck of a time justifying any other band for the watch. Functionally, the Sport band is a winner. It's easy to put on (much easier than it looks), easy to clean (can simply wipe it dry; the new nylon strap needs to air dry for a bit), and easy to adjust with one hand.

It hasn't shown a lick of damage** in a year's worth of wear. To be fair, I don't slide it out of the watch body often, but there is zero tearing at the pin holes, which is great. The material doesn't gather dirt and dust, which is a complaint I've read often about cheaper silicone bands. It also looks new and modern like the Watch itself, which helps it to be stylistically relevant with almost any attire.

It's a danged good watch strap.

Don't forget, too, that it was really Marc Newson's idea first, and he used it for his Ikepod watches before bringing it to Apple. The easy-change connector was new for the AW (and, IMO, the best little invention in the hardware).

* Apple Watch "0", first gen, Stainless Steel, Black Sport Band... phew...
** Purely cosmetic "burnishing", like where the free tip tucks underneath, doesn't count; show me an unmarked wristwatch of any kind and I'll show you what they call a "safe queen."
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Anybody felt the Sport Band was uncomfortable during the summer? Clammy feeling?

Not too much, because it's easy to loosen it by one notch and let my skin breathe more.

I switch between three neighboring holes depending on the situation, too. The most snug of the three is for working out, the middle is for cool days and feeling the taps more reliably (especially for driving directions), and the loosest is for hot days and wearing overnight.

 

[BlueMoon63]

I will admit that I have a problem buying too many bands. I have my main rotation of leather bands from Apple and the SS link plus about four more off brand leather bands that just don't come close to Apples gathering dust. However, the sports bands from Apple impressed me so much that I just bought my fifth one - the new ocean blue or whatever it was called. It was delivered today but I am still in Cape Cod.

I decided to purchase the AW Series 2 SS Space Black so I will give my series 0 to my son along with a few bands.

 

[sgchick]

I too love the sport band. So comfortable and quite a few colors to choose from. So far I only have the Apple sport bands, but did order a couple knockoffs from Amazon....We shall see. It's a pink day today!..

 

[Ledgem]

I also have positive things to say. I'm coming from a FitBit Charge (first generation), which I thought had a pretty remarkable soft-feeling band, but the sports band really impressed me. My first brush against it made me think it had a velvety-soft feel and was a level up over the FitBit. I had purchased the Milanese loop as well, figuring that I'd use the sports band purely for dirtier scenarios rather than regular use, but now I feel similarly to @IngerMan in that I plan to swap out the bands and use the Milanese loop only really when things are a bit more formal. The sports band is comfortable and has a discreet appearance (at least, mine does in black) that doesn't look plasticky.

Well done, Apple!

 

[Cnasty]

Not a fan unless I am truly doing something sporty.

Really cheapens the look of the watch imo but that is more specific to my case use and work attire if you will. I will say, it is super comfy when wearing it and great quality just never really wear it unless working out.

IMO

 

[Ingster]

I've gotta admit I love my sport bands - I've got a leather loop, classic buckle three nylons a knock off milanese and six sport bands and I find that the sport bands I tend to use on a daily basis with the leather options for 'smarting up' the watch, the knock off milanese rejected to the additional s/m strap drawer and my nylons used as and when - what i find with the nylons is they do tend to accrue dirt, my red/gold really needs a good clean and my new tahoe blue is starting to show some muck around the edges. sport band is my go to strap!

 

[BarracksSi]

- what i find with the nylons is they do tend to accrue dirt, my red/gold really needs a good clean and my new tahoe blue is starting to show some muck around the edges.

Have you tried washing them yet?

 

[Ingster]

Have you tried washing them yet?

Yes with mild detergent and letting them dry they come out ok but i've only used the tahoe a couple of times and they do tend to attract dirt as they're fabric based - for me sport band every time!

 

[BarracksSi]

Yes with mild detergent and letting them dry they come out ok but i've only used the tahoe a couple of times and they do tend to attract dirt as they're fabric based - for me sport band every time!

Yeah, same here. I was washing out my nylon watch straps (a thin NATO on a Citizen, and a thicker one with Velcro on my Garmin) in the shower, and although they stay pretty clean, they took a while to dry out. I like how the Sport band is just wipe-and-go, even easier than the steel bracelets on my other watches.

 

[CaptMarvel]

The Sport band OEM or Clone is probably the most versatile and comfortable in my opinion. My Apple Watch came with the black sport band and of course that was my daily driver upon initial purchase. Amazon has been my friend for other bands whether third party or Apple. Even with numerous bands I've accumulated whether leather, link, milanese loop the sport band still comes out on top with regards to ease of use, cleaning and is probably borderline on par with the milanese as far as breathability. Initially when the watch came out, a lot of third party sport bands were not well made, but today lots of them are truly almost identical to Apple Product.

If ever in the market for more, brands such as ClockChoice and Moko have always received my $$$.