Is the braided solo loop stretching acceptable?

[MacBainNO]

I first bought a size 6 and it was snug enough, but soon became unusably loose.
Then tried a size 5 that was so tight it made deep marks in my skin and also resulted in a rash on the skin under the watch itself because of how tight it was. Now this to has become unusably loose.

Are these bands only supposed to last a couple of months ? Shoud I by a size 1 or will this also be to loose in 6 months?

 

[PaladinGuy]

Are these the newer colors or the original colors? The first few braided solo loops were worse for stretching. The newer ones seem better.

How often are you removing the band from your wrist? Are you pulling it out more than necessary to remove the Watch? Just curious. My experience has been that they do stretch some over time, as does basically anything with elasticity. I’ve been okay so far with one size smaller than Apple’s tool says. I don’t think I could go any lower than that. Like you said, it starts out being nearly too tight, but it relaxes just a bit after a few days to be perfect.

One of the downsides to solo loops is that your wrist will change size some throughout the day and based on climate and other things. Since you cannot adjust a solo loop, it will likely feel a bit tight or a bit loose occasionally.

I do not believe it should get so loose that you can’t use it. Apple just replaced my first braided solo loop (Atlantic Blue) for this reason. My newer ones are one size smaller and feel better made.

 

[russell_314]

I bought my Braided Loop about six months ago and it’s looser now but not unusable. If anything I felt like it was too tight when I bought it but now it’s maybe a bit too loose but acceptable. I would try taking it off the watch and washing it with dish soap and hot water. I did that to mine to clean it and it seems a bit tighter.

Perhaps avoid stretching it so much when you take it off. I know you have to stretch it somewhat but just don’t roughly grab it with your finger and pull it off.

 

[MacBainNO]

I only take if off once a day to charge it, I don’t overstretch it when I do. Have tried washing it, it helped for a day, maybe. I call it useless now because it often has gotten to the point where I have to enter the code again. I can flip it around my wrist with a flick.

 

[Farrellcollie]

I am usually a fan of apple's own watchbands and up until now only bought apple bands-but I went with aftermarket on the braided loops. I just can't justify paying $100 for a band that can easily become unusable in a couple of months. Plus apple's response basically amounts to you are using it wrong. One should not have to resort to extreme contortions to prevent the band from becoming unusable

 

[PaladinGuy]

I only take if off once a day to charge it, I don’t overstretch it when I do. Have tried washing it, it helped for a day, maybe. I call it useless now because it often has gotten to the point where I have to enter the code again. I can flip it around my wrist with a flick.

I’d be persistent with Apple. That happened with my first braided solo loop, and I convinced them to replace it because it’s unacceptable for a $100 band to last one year. I’d assert that it’s a defect because it renders the sensors unusable. That was my argument. As always though, it depends on who you get helping you.

 

[xraydoc]

I have a couple of the very first ones to come out. They stretched almost a full size. The newest ones, however, like my dark cherry, seem significantly less prone to stretching.

 

[bluesteel]

I have owned five size 6 braided solo loops for about 1.2 years now. I switch to a different color once a week, and I only take off/put on my watch once/twice a day max. I’m also careful not to stretch the band too much when removing or putting on. I take care of my bands. Since day one, they have stretched very little, so little its barely noticeable. I like these braided solo loop bands, and in my experience their quality has been very good, but the price feels like an insult. I still can’t believe I bought five at that price, and I’m even considering another one, but I haven’t pulled the trigger again yet because $100 is so ridiculous.

 

[firedept]

I have also owned several braided loops. Originally I went with a size 6 with my first one but it was to tight and caused a rash on my arm. Since then I have gone with a size 7. I have had no stretch as they are just slightly lose to start with. Not enough to spin or cause a rash to my arm. I get absolutely no stretch. I also wash mine on a regular basis. I also agree that $100 is way overpriced but as long as we continue to buy them Apple will be more than happy to sell them at that price.

 

[xDKP]

Wow seems very different to my experience with the band. It is maybe my favourite band and I bought one smaller than Apple said. I would say it's a bit less tight now, but not much. But I do swap bands quite a lot, so since I got my S7 with the band in November, it hasn't been used exclusively.