Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

original vs knockoff sport loop comfort

T

TorontoSS

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Nov 9, 2009
1,087
395
Hello - I wanted to ask anyone if they note a difference in comfort when using knock off sport loops. I think there are certain things they get wrong, such as the tone of a particular colour, gap in lugs. But in terms of actual comfort is it different?

I ask because I find the sport loop to be the comfiest. I have one currently (spicy orange which I don't want to get dirty). the woven nylon bands are also super comfy and I have one of those too. Knock offs of those however were itchy. is it the same with sport loops?

I found no real difference in comfort with knock off sport bands either.

Let me know your thoughts - thanks!
 
I find the 3rd party sport loops a bit less soft and a little more scratchy. But overall I don't really notice once I start wearing it for a day.
 
  • Like
Reactions: twanj
Thanks for all of your replies. Very helpful.

I got a knockoff one today and I found it just as comfy as the others. It wasn’t scratchy like the knockoff woven nylons.
It was skinnier than the originals but it was also about £5 so I don’t mind as long as it’s comfy.
 
TorontoSS said:
Thanks for all of your replies. Very helpful.

I got a knockoff one today and I found it just as comfy as the others. It wasn’t scratchy like the knockoff woven nylons.
It was skinnier than the originals but it was also about £5 so I don’t mind as long as it’s comfy.
Click to expand...
Cost savings are awesome with the 3rd party bands. They are perfectly sufficient. Although I will say that the OEM Nike band I got today was of such a higher quality than the knockoffs.
 
Jason Honer said:
Cost savings are awesome with the 3rd party bands. They are perfectly sufficient. Although I will say that the OEM Nike band I got today was of such a higher quality than the knockoffs.
Click to expand...
Oh 100% oem is better. I won’t pretend it’s the same. But if you’re looking to mix a number of colours, knockoffs aren’t bad.

My concern was just comfort. The colour isn’t the same and quality isn’t the same. I’ve bought knock off nylon bands that were a fraction of the price and itchy - so I never wore them so what’s the point of that? At least these feel fine.
 
TorontoSS said:
Oh 100% oem is better. I won’t pretend it’s the same. But if you’re looking to mix a number of colours, knockoffs aren’t bad.

My concern was just comfort. The colour isn’t the same and quality isn’t the same. I’ve bought knock off nylon bands that were a fraction of the price and itchy - so I never wore them so what’s the point of that? At least these feel fine.
Click to expand...

Where did you buy the knock off from? So many options so would prefer to buy from somewhere when someone has some reasonable feedback about them! Given you quoted the price in £, I figured I'd ask as I'm UK based as well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CarlJ and Ntombi
will0407 said:
Where did you buy the knock off from? So many options so would prefer to buy from somewhere when someone has some reasonable feedback about them! Given you quoted the price in £, I figured I'd ask as I'm UK based as well.
Click to expand...

Hi there,
I got this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chok-Idea-...d=1538901258&sr=8-3&keywords=Apple+sport+loop

It was 5 because I got an amazon warehouse deal one!

I read that in the uk, Corki brand ones are good but they suddenly disappeared! At least many of the colours did but wasn’t bad. It feels the same and even the colour is fine but it is skinnier in width.
 
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
My knock off sport bands are very comfy. I just bought another one for my son who didn’t like the nike style bands...he much prefers the loop. I also own two oem loops.
 
I've found the knockoffs scratchier and not as soft. However, that is relative. If there wasn't an OEM version I think a lot of people would be OK with knockoffs. But there is still a difference. Depends on if that difference is big enough for you or not.

Full disclosure, I'm not a fan of the sport loops, no matter how fast they dry, they are still wet for awhile. With the sports or even leather you just wipe them off with a towel and you are on your way. Nylon and sport loops....not so much.
 
I recently purchased a knockoff and it just don't not feel as comfy as the OEM one, but man I can't justify spending $50 for a velco strap
 
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
A couple of thoughts...
The OEMs seem like they *might* be slightly more stretchy and *perhaps* a little softer, but there's not a lot of difference in my knockoff and the OEM. Knockoffs are a great value. Just make sure you're buying a good quality one, so check the reviews.
The biggest issue for me (I have a 42mm S3) is that the width of many of the knockoffs is the same for both 38mm and 42mm. A 38mm width band on a 42mm watch doesn't look good. If you have a 42 (or 44 S4) make sure you're getting a knockoff that makes a 42mm band.
 
Sez I said:
A couple of thoughts...
The OEMs seem like they *might* be slightly more stretchy and *perhaps* a little softer, but there's not a lot of difference in my knockoff and the OEM. Knockoffs are a great value. Just make sure you're buying a good quality one, so check the reviews.
The biggest issue for me (I have a 42mm S3) is that the width of many of the knockoffs is the same for both 38mm and 42mm. A 38mm width band on a 42mm watch doesn't look good. If you have a 42 (or 44 S4) make sure you're getting a knockoff that makes a 42mm band.
Click to expand...
If you’re able to use amazon, a user here posted these. They seem to have fixed the width problem that plagued the original ones.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CL3YC3P/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_hdKWBbH6ESH6G
 
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
  • Like
Reactions: Ntombi
For anyone curious (like me), the Chok Idea band mentioned above is available on Amazon's US site too. Looks interesting.

Two caveats for anyone looking through the slew of knockoff bands for the Apple Watch on Amazon: one, make sure you're looking at actual photos of the bands, rather than idealized computer renders, and (related), two, if they're copies of the Apple bands, make sure they're showing you pics of their actual bands and not images of Apple's bands (I've seen cases where they "borrow" Apple's images, sometimes simply blurring out the Apple logo/text on the back of the watch) - you can be assured they aren't sending you Apple's bands, so you have to wonder why they aren't willing to photograph their own product. Sometimes the customer-supplied photos in reviews can be extremely helpful.
 
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
I have these, and I find them super comfortable, not scratchy at all. Very good value.

They’re also a tiny bit longer than the OEM loops, for what it’s worth. I can tell that the doubled-up part is maybe a couple of centimeters longer, so if you’re already doubled up all the way, skip these.
 
Last edited:
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
  • Like
Reactions: staggerlee41
Anyone know of a brand from amazon Canada or eBay with free shipping to Canada that doesn’t have a width problem and properly fits in the loop hole for 42/44 Watch.
 
Just bumping this thread as I now have a real Apple one, and knock-offs. A co-worker bought the S4 with the reflective sport loop and hates the sport loop so gave it to me. I have to say, the reflectiveness is awesome but otherwise, the knock-off is actually better. The velcro sticks better and it's slightly softer to wear.

However, knock-off quality varies. I had one arrive with a velcro pad not glued properly. But once glued, it was better than the Apple one. So mileage may vary, but not by much.
 
Akrapovic said:
Just bumping this thread as I now have a real Apple one, and knock-offs. A co-worker bought the S4 with the reflective sport loop and hates the sport loop so gave it to me. I have to say, the reflectiveness is awesome but otherwise, the knock-off is actually better. The velcro sticks better and it's slightly softer to wear.

However, knock-off quality varies. I had one arrive with a velcro pad not glued properly. But once glued, it was better than the Apple one. So mileage may vary, but not by much.
Click to expand...

Did you post a link to the 3rd party loops you got?
 
Akrapovic said:
Just bumping this thread as I now have a real Apple one, and knock-offs. A co-worker bought the S4 with the reflective sport loop and hates the sport loop so gave it to me. I have to say, the reflectiveness is awesome but otherwise, the knock-off is actually better. The velcro sticks better and it's slightly softer to wear.

However, knock-off quality varies. I had one arrive with a velcro pad not glued properly. But once glued, it was better than the Apple one. So mileage may vary, but not by much.
Click to expand...

I agree with you - it varies. I bought one from amazon uk and it was comfy but skinny. I got two from aliexpress from the same seller in one order. the midnight fog was scratchy but worked well (the lugs work well). the cargo khaki one I got was comfy but the lugs get stuck too easily!
 
TorontoSS said:
Hi there,
I got this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chok-Idea-...d=1538901258&sr=8-3&keywords=Apple+sport+loop

It was 5 because I got an amazon warehouse deal one!

I read that in the uk, Corki brand ones are good but they suddenly disappeared! At least many of the colours did but wasn’t bad. It feels the same and even the colour is fine but it is skinnier in width.
Click to expand...

I was looking at this band from Chok as well, is the 42mm band as wide as the lug? Also does the lug fit properly with the Series 4?
 
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
uk_shahj said:
I was looking at this band from Chok as well, is the 42mm band as wide as the lug? Also does the lug fit properly with the Series 4?
Click to expand...

The one I got was from chok and it was for the 38mm. Definitely thinner than the original for the 38.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back