Leather Loop Owners - How Hard on the Band Are You?

[redman042]

Space Grey Sport / Black Sport Band owner here. Had it for one week. Considering returning it for a nicer Stainless Steel with Black Leather Loop. Will probably get a Sport Band to go with it as well. But I don't want to be swapping bands multiple times a day. A few times a week is fine for heavy activities, but not for a quick morning workout before work. Unless I'm over-estimating the inconvenience of a quick band-swap.

So my question to LL owners is: How much do you baby the leather strap? Do you use it for a light workout where you might sweat a little? Or do you take the time to swap straps first? Are you finding this is okay? How is your strap holding up?

The bottom line is I want the nicer watch but am realizing there is certain versatility with the sport strap. It's a tough call.

 

[Blakjack]

I've used my black LL FOR I think 5 hardcore workouts. Still looks fine.

I was wore it for three workouts before my green sport arrived. The other two days I wore it, I had forgotten to bring my green sport with me.

Should note that I am a heavy heavy heavy sweater yet my band is till fine.

My only issue with the LL which is a big issue is that the magnets are too weak. I like to wear my watch snug to my wrist. I don't like it to fall down my wrist.

After I initially put it on, my wrist naturally flexes forcing the bracelet to give a bit, essentially causing the watch to slide down and not be stable.

At this point, I've stopped wearing it. I'm wearing the sport green full time now. Will wear the loop occasionally. Plan on buying a black sport soon.

 

[gppittjk]

Space Grey Sport / Black Sport Band owner here. Had it for one week. Considering returning it for a nicer Stainless Steel with Black Leather Loop. Will probably get a Sport Band to go with it as well. But I don't want to be swapping bands multiple times a day. A few times a week is fine for heavy activities, but not for a quick morning workout before work. Unless I'm over-estimating the inconvenience of a quick band-swap.

So my question to LL owners is: How much do you baby the leather strap? Do you use it for a light workout where you might sweat a little? Or do you take the time to swap straps first? Are you finding this is okay? How is your strap holding up?

The bottom line is I want the nicer watch but am realizing there is certain versatility with the sport strap. It's a tough call.

You may be overestimating the inconvenience. I got a black sports band for my watch (started with green sports band) and I switch twice a day - I wear the black band to work, switch to green when I get home, then switch back to black when I put it on the charger at night so I can just grab it in the morning. It takes me less than 15 seconds to change the band. It's unbelievably simple, especially with the sport band. I also change the faces, so the whole setup takes all of 20 seconds to basically have an entirely different watch. It's blown me away how easy it is.

 

[Banich2]

I don't have the leather loop, but I have the classic buckle and I think the leather itself is almost the same. If that's the case, don't do ANYTHING to get the band wet or sweaty. It does not hold up well to moisture.

 

[papbot]

I had considered getting one of the sport bands to use when I would be heavily sweating, hoping to preserve the leather loop one. But so far I haven't and I'm using this during my workouts and sweating quite a bit. I believe any leather will darken over time when exposed to sweat/moisture and this probably will as well but it will be on the underside that's next to your skin. So it wouldn't be visible anyway. So i'm holding off on purchasing another band for now.

So far after almost 3 weeks it looks just as good to me as it did when I got. At least with my usage by the time it may possibly look unsightly I'd buy another one, or I'd have a newer version of the watch itself. I expect it to hold up for quite a while.

 

[SpEe1113]

I have a leather loop and sport band. I definitely would not exercise or do yard work, etc. with the leather loop. Keep all physical activity and such for the sport band, use the loop for nicer occasions (work, evenings, casual, etc.).

The leather loop is great quality though, I love it so much I got blue and brown... There's an addiction growing there... Just remember, it is leather and should be treated as premium leather would...scratches, water, cleaning chemicals, etc. can definitely damage it. Also remember it is dyed leather...so take that into consideration as well (maybe not the black leather, but definitely the blue!).

 

[redman042]

I don't have the leather loop, but I have the classic buckle and I think the leather itself is almost the same. If that's the case, don't do ANYTHING to get the band wet or sweaty. It does not hold up well to moisture.

Is this based on a bad experience you had or just from what you read and know about leather in general?

The leather on the LL strap seems more dense than normal leather. I still would be careful with it but a 15 min go on the elliptical in the morning might not be a problem.

 

[Banich2]

Is this based on a bad experience you had or just from what you read and know about leather in general?

The leather on the LL strap seems more dense than normal leather. I still would be careful with it but a 15 min go on the elliptical in the morning might not be a problem.

A bad experience I had. It seems that maybe I'm not in the majority. I really like the classic buckle and it looked great out of the box, and used it as my only watch band (for 28 days) got it wet while washing my hands and while rinsing off the crown (probably 3 occasions of getting wet) and it really looks worn. I'm not typically a watch wearer, but I guess I was expecting wear similar to nice leather shoes or a belt. It doesn't look terrible when buckled, but when I take it off it looks kind of dried out.

 

[ssimonvii]

My mechanical watches are made of leather straps and I always do cardio with them on. The straps have always remained fine for years and years.

I purchased my LL bc I figured that I could wear it to work, then tighten it up for my workouts in the evening. I've found that the HR monitoring is beyond terrible with the leather loop, and find myself switching to the sport band at all costs. I have relatively thin wrists, so maybe that's the cause?

Ive found the HR monitoring to be iffy at best in general with the watch, so me using the LL with it just makes the tracking unbearable. Other than that, it is a nice strap. You are not paying for fine leather, you are playing for the magnets within leather gimmick .

 

[redman042]

A bad experience I had. It seems that maybe I'm not in the majority. I really like the classic buckle and it looked great out of the box, and used it as my only watch band (for 28 days) got it wet while washing my hands and while rinsing off the crown (probably 3 occasions of getting wet) and it really looks worn. I'm not typically a watch wearer, but I guess I was expecting wear similar to nice leather shoes or a belt. It doesn't look terrible when buckled, but when I take it off it looks kind of dried out.

Wow, that does make me think twice. It's a different leather type and manufacturer, so I'm not certain.

 

[thefredelement]

I've been using my black LL for 8 days, it's fine for light sweat. I switch to a sport band before I exercise. I wash dishes and my hands with the LL and the side that sometimes gets slightly wet looks just like the other side so far.

Switching bands is easy, I use my thumbnail. I keep in my sport band in my arm pocket.

For me the sport band was either too tight or too lose and I would take the watch off b/c it annoyed me. The LL has been much more comfortable, however when I do take it off there is a small amount of moisture that gets trapped between my skin and the strap, the underside still looks and feels fine.

 

[HowlinAl]

I haven't worn a watch in more than 10 years, but back then the leather bands I used would eventually get gross and smelly if they got sweat all over them a lot.

 

[redman042]

I've been using my black LL for 8 days, it's fine for light sweat. I switch to a sport band before I exercise. I wash dishes and my hands with the LL and the side that sometimes gets slightly wet looks just like the other side so far.

Switching bands is easy, I use my thumbnail. I keep in my sport band in my arm pocket.

For me the sport band was either too tight or too lose and I would take the watch off b/c it annoyed me. The LL has been much more comfortable, however when I do take it off there is a small amount of moisture that gets trapped between my skin and the strap, the underside still looks and feels fine.

That's encouraging.

I must admit I'm really struggling with the decision to keep my SBS with BSB or upgrade to the SS with BLL. Seems like I wake up feeling one way and end the day feeling another. Many factors to consider... Cost, appearance, versatility, durability.

My sport band does feel plenty comfortable on me. Can get a little muggy underneath on a warmer day, but not a big issue. I'm not sure if the LL is a little more breathable with the ridges and all. In any case I do really like the look and feel of the LL. And I prefer the shinier SS case.

Most likely I'll go for the upgrade just to avoid having to dwell on it any longer.

 

[Fraxinus]

I have the black leather loop for my space grey sport watch. I got it because, although comfortable, my black sports band was shedding like sunburned skin.

I've worn my leather loop on rooftops with no shade for 10+ hour days, sweating in the sun, brazing with a torch, getting greasy and dirty and my band is fine. I usually need to rinse the digital crown under the sink at the end of the day because it starts sticking and I wipe the band off.

It is holding up great and I think it looks better than the sports band.

 

[redman042]

I have the black leather loop for my space grey sport watch. I got it because, although comfortable, my black sports band was shedding like sunburned skin.

I've worn my leather loop on rooftops with no shade for 10+ hour days, sweating in the sun, brazing with a torch, getting greasy and dirty and my band is fine. I usually need to rinse the digital crown under the sink at the end of the day because it starts sticking and I wipe the band off.

It is holding up great and I think it looks better than the sports band.

Ok you win the contest for putting the strap through the toughest stress test!

How do you clean the strap? Just a damp cloth?

 

[Fraxinus]

Somewhat damp- I don't really think about it. I just wipe it off with the hand towel I used to dry the watch after rinsing the crown.

I know I read someone reporting dye coming off of their band when it was wet, but I haven't experienced that.

 

[trauma62]

I bought the LL to use it interchangeably with my Stainless steel Space black link bracelet. I use it when dressing casual and my DLC space black link when formal. Awesome look comfortable and I can't complaint. Holds on really well on my wrist. For work out time I bought a black sport with space grey pin that works just fine.