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Combating Solo Loop Stretching

iRun26.2

iRun26.2

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Aug 15, 2010
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I ordered the largest size face (44mm) with the smallest braided solo loop (size 4). After about a week I'm finding the stretching might make soon make it loose. My very large hands and thin wrists are a bad combination for producing stretching on the braided solo loop.

Does anyone know of any material that I could insert between the solo loop and my skin that could make it tighter?

Has anyone else found a successful way to make their stretched out solo loop fit tightly again?
 
Has anyone ever tried getting the solo braided loop wet and then throwing it in the drier to 'shrink it'?
 
I accidentally ran a sport loop thru the wash and it stretched about 1/4”. I put it in a mesh wash bag and tossed it in the dryer to see if that would help. It actually shrunk back to original size. Not sure if the same will work on the braided loop. I might be a bit concerned with it pilling though.
 
What material is the sport loop made from? (I thought that it was plastic...)
 
I found a way to put on the Solo Loops, braided or regular, without pulling them over your hand/knuckles. Just attach the top part, gently clamp the watch between your arm and e.g. your thigh, slide in bottom part. To get the band off, flip the watch over so the sensor side is on top, click the connector button and gently slide the band out. All very easy and will prevent any stretching out of the Solo Loop that may (or may not) occur over time.
 
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the future said:
I found a way to put on the Solo Loops, braided or regular, without pulling them over your hand/knuckles. Just attach the top part, gently clamp the watch between your arm and e.g. your thigh, slide in bottom part. To get the band off, flip the watch over so the sensor side is on top, click the connector button and gently slide the band out. All very easy and will prevent any stretching out of the Solo Loop that may (or may not) occur over time.
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I thought about doing that but there a few concerns I had. One, it still does stretch the band (a little less, I agree) to flip it over. Also, I wonder how many times the bands are designed to be disconnected and reconnected. Would that mechanism eventually give out if I did that a couples times a day every day for three years? I haven't done that enough to know how durable that mechanism is.
 
iRun26.2 said:
I thought about doing that but there a few concerns I had. One, it still does stretch the band (a little less, I agree) to flip it over. Also, I wonder how many times the bands are designed to be disconnected and reconnected. Would that mechanism eventually give out if I did that a couples times a day every day for three years? I haven't done that enough to know how durable that mechanism is.
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It stretches the band far less. Also, the mechanism is super durable. I personally have many bands and change them all the time with no problem whatsoever. I have also never heard of the mechanism failing from over-use and there must be tens of millions of bands out there right now. But this is why I buy original Apple bands only; I wouldn‘t necessarily trust cheap knock-offs to be as durable.
 
the future said:
It stretches the band far less. Also, the mechanism is super durable. I personally have many bands and change them all the time with no problem whatsoever. I have also never heard of the mechanism failing from over-use and there must be tens of millions of bands out there right now. But this is why I buy original Apple bands only; I wouldn‘t necessarily trust cheap knock-offs to be as durable.
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I had forgotten that I bought Apple Care with this, my (first) Apple Watch. Thus, even if the mechanism for attaching and detaching the band didn't last three years I could get it replaced. I must admit, that excuse from me was a flimsy one. I would assume that anything mechanical related to the watch would have been tested thoroughly at Apple before it was released.
 
I was kind of hoping that someone would suggest some type of an insert that would go between the band and my skin (essentially expanding the radius of my wrist). I wonder if there is such a thing for 'traditional' watches when they may have a band that expands.

I'm looking into getting some kind of wrist exercising device, hoping that I could increase the size of my wrist (naturally). I just wish that they offered it in a size 3 for the larger watch that I have.
 
iRun26.2 said:
I was kind of hoping that someone would suggest some type of an insert that would go between the band and my skin (essentially expanding the radius of my wrist). I wonder if there is such a thing for 'traditional' watches when they may have a band that expands.

I'm looking into getting some kind of wrist exercising device, hoping that I could increase the size of my wrist (naturally). I just wish that they offered it in a size 3 for the larger watch that I have.
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Wouldn’t making your wrist ‘bigger’ just cause the band to stretch out even more though?
 
Richard Peters said:
Wouldn’t making your wrist ‘bigger’ just cause the band to stretch out even more though?
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'Choosing' to have a bigger wrist would be the exact thing as being able to choose a smaller size like I want (which I can't because the size that I need is '3' only available for the smaller watch).
 
iRun26.2 said:
'Choosing' to have a bigger wrist would be the exact thing as being able to choose a smaller size like I want (which I can't because the size that I need is '3' only available for the smaller watch).
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Ah yes of course, didn’t take in to account you are a size 4. I can see how that and larger hands would be an issue with smaller wrists.
 
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Richard Peters said:
Ah yes of course, didn’t take in to account you are a size 4. I can see how that and larger hands would be an issue with smaller wrists.
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OK, now I understand. I couldn't understand your logic at first. I wish I had bigger wrists. People have made fun of them my whole life. Choosing to buy the larger watch probably doesn't help things as it only emphasizes my thin wrists.

Yesterday I ordered the northern blue sport band which is specified for wrists down to 140mm (while the size 4 braided solo band is made for 150mm wrists). So far, for everyday use, the size 4 fits acceptably a little loose. For running I think that I will require the northern blue sports band. When the braided solo band expands I may not be able to use it any more.
 
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iRun26.2 said:
OK, now I understand. I couldn't understand your logic at first. I wish I had bigger wrists. People have made fun of them my whole life. Choosing to buy the larger watch probably doesn't help things as it only emphasizes my thin wrists.

Yesterday I ordered the northern blue sport band which is specified for wrists down to 140mm (while the size 4 braided solo band is made for 150mm wrists). So far, for everyday use, the size 4 fits acceptably a little loose. For running I think that I will require the northern blue sports band. When the braided solo band expands I may not be able to use it any more.
Click to expand...
It’s all good, my bad for not reading properly the first time!

Yep I have small wrists too with a 44mm and a 4 is just about good for me. If it’s just for running, maybe consider the 3 even though it won’t look so good on the larger watch. Nobody would notice...although I appreciate it might bug you (it probably would me).
 
Richard Peters said:
It’s all good, my bad for not reading properly the first time!

Yep I have small wrists too with a 44mm and a 4 is just about good for me. If it’s just for running, maybe consider the 3 even though it won’t look so good on the larger watch. Nobody would notice...although I appreciate it might bug you (it probably would me).
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The '3' is not available for the larger watch.
 
I'm sorry but I don't understand. Are you saying I should get the smaller watch so that I can use the '3' solo braided loop?
 
iRun26.2 said:
I'm sorry but I don't understand. Are you saying I should get the smaller watch so that I can use the '3' solo braided loop?
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I’m saying you can get the smaller 40mm strap for the larger 44mm watch. It won’t look as good but it will still fit, so it will provide the comfort level you require for running.
 
I got the size 12 but could have got away with size 11 in fairness but still feels comfy enough in the times I tried it
 
Yes I ordered the (standard) sports loop. It will be here on Wednesday. I can live with the rather flimsy feeling solo braided loop for a few more days. I still wish it came in one more smaller size. When I exercise my wrists expand some and the solo braided loop is then a perfect fit. I'm not sure if it is the sweat that makes the watch fit my wrist more tightly or if my wrist actually expands during exercise.
 
Thanks for writing this post. I am exactly the same, thin wrists, larger (or normal, I guess) hands, so every time I take off the size 4 braided loop and put it back on, it feels loose. For now, it seems to shrink back after a while, to wearable but still semi-loose. I can imagine it easily becomes permanently stretched. It's too bad Apple decided people like us are so few it was not worth it to make a size 3 for 44mm watches.

I will be returning mine, band was ordered separately. It's still within the return timeframe, and I have not worn it much.
 
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