Which band to get on the Ultra, if I really like my Sport Band?

[Syrgul]

It's time to finally upgrade from my Series 3. Surprisingly, my battery's still going strong, despite many other's experiences, but now the 3 is holding me back from being able to update to the new HomeKit architecture, I haven't been able to access the latest Watch OS for a couple of years now, and most importantly, my finances now have some more freedom and I can actually justify the cost of a new watch.

While I'm not alpine hiking, deep sea diving or any of the extreme targets of the Ultra, I do a fair amount of basic camping and the extra battery life would be very welcomed, I could probably carry one less external battery to get me through a weekend trip. I like that it's more rugged, I like the better GPS for when I'm camping, or kayaking, or kayak camping.

The one thing holding me back though, is the band. With my 3, I've just used its Sport Band all this time. I have no problem hopping in the pool with it on, doing the dishes, washing my hands, taking it on the kayak, etc... Get it wet? No problem. My wife uses the Sport Loop on her watch, and I know her band gets wet, so she's always removing it to do all those things. The Alpine Loop and Trail Loop both appear to be fabric like her Sport Loop. The obvious choice is supposed to be the Ocean Band for getting it wet, but it seems a lot more finicky to buckle (understandably so for its intended usage) than my Sport Band. And I've seen at least one review that said even the Ocean Band still retained a little water in those hollow tubes and the reviewer had to learn to shake their watch out after being in water.

So, since you need to pick a band when ordering the Ultra, which one should I get? And if I end up dumping it to go back to my Sport Band, does anybody have any experience with what that's like?

 

[Howard2k]

I love the sport bands. If I purchased an Ultra I'd use the sport band on it.

I'd buy an Ultra with the green alpine loop as I like that look too, but the sport band is a "go anywhere do anything" band IMO.

 

[jz0309]

It's time to finally upgrade from my Series 3. Surprisingly, my battery's still going strong, despite many other's experiences, but now the 3 is holding me back from being able to update to the new HomeKit architecture, I haven't been able to access the latest Watch OS for a couple of years now, and most importantly, my finances now have some more freedom and I can actually justify the cost of a new watch.

While I'm not alpine hiking, deep sea diving or any of the extreme targets of the Ultra, I do a fair amount of basic camping and the extra battery life would be very welcomed, I could probably carry one less external battery to get me through a weekend trip. I like that it's more rugged, I like the better GPS for when I'm camping, or kayaking, or kayak camping.

The one thing holding me back though, is the band. With my 3, I've just used its Sport Band all this time. I have no problem hopping in the pool with it on, doing the dishes, washing my hands, taking it on the kayak, etc... Get it wet? No problem. My wife uses the Sport Loop on her watch, and I know her band gets wet, so she's always removing it to do all those things. The Alpine Loop and Trail Loop both appear to be fabric like her Sport Loop. The obvious choice is supposed to be the Ocean Band for getting it wet, but it seems a lot more finicky to buckle (understandably so for its intended usage) than my Sport Band. And I've seen at least one review that said even the Ocean Band still retained a little water in those hollow tubes and the reviewer had to learn to shake their watch out after being in water.

So, since you need to pick a band when ordering the Ultra, which one should I get? And if I end up dumping it to go back to my Sport Band, does anybody have any experience with what that's like?

the ocean bad is the same/similar material as the sports band. I have it and the thing with it is that it easily dries off, not so much with the other bands. While it is indeed a little harder to put it on compared to the sports band, you get used to it quickly, and, it stays on tight. I'd say no chance it could come off without breaking the band ...
And, if your existing watch is the 42, that band will fit the Ultra

 

[Analog Kid]

It's time to finally upgrade from my Series 3. Surprisingly, my battery's still going strong, despite many other's experiences, but now the 3 is holding me back from being able to update to the new HomeKit architecture, I haven't been able to access the latest Watch OS for a couple of years now, and most importantly, my finances now have some more freedom and I can actually justify the cost of a new watch.

While I'm not alpine hiking, deep sea diving or any of the extreme targets of the Ultra, I do a fair amount of basic camping and the extra battery life would be very welcomed, I could probably carry one less external battery to get me through a weekend trip. I like that it's more rugged, I like the better GPS for when I'm camping, or kayaking, or kayak camping.

The one thing holding me back though, is the band. With my 3, I've just used its Sport Band all this time. I have no problem hopping in the pool with it on, doing the dishes, washing my hands, taking it on the kayak, etc... Get it wet? No problem. My wife uses the Sport Loop on her watch, and I know her band gets wet, so she's always removing it to do all those things. The Alpine Loop and Trail Loop both appear to be fabric like her Sport Loop. The obvious choice is supposed to be the Ocean Band for getting it wet, but it seems a lot more finicky to buckle (understandably so for its intended usage) than my Sport Band. And I've seen at least one review that said even the Ocean Band still retained a little water in those hollow tubes and the reviewer had to learn to shake their watch out after being in water.

So, since you need to pick a band when ordering the Ultra, which one should I get? And if I end up dumping it to go back to my Sport Band, does anybody have any experience with what that's like?

The Nike bands are pretty good…. I haven’t bought anything with a swoosh for a long time, but I do like that band.

 

[BenGoren]

I have the Alpine. It’s served its purpose quite well … but … as soon as I have a bit of money, I’m getting an Ocean.

The Alpine is just fine, to be sure. Yes, it’s fabric that gets wet — but it’s not noticeable when it’s wet, and it dries fast.

I have the Starlight band. It shows dirt rather readily, but it cleans up easily. I typically use a toothbrush and a bit of Dawn.

It’s starting to fray a bit at the most obvious wear points. Not much, not especially noticeably … but it’s clear that its days are numbered — and I would have replaced it by now had I a surplus of cash.

I chose the Alpine because I wanted something that had zero chance of coming off accidentally but wasn’t as bulky as the Ocean — plus, I was in the initial wave of pre-orders, and the Ocean bands had already been snatched up.

I don’t regret my choice at all … but I’ve since tried on the Ocean in a store … and … when my wallet is feeling heavy …

(As a side note: the Alpine is also finicky to buckle. Even to this day, I have trouble doing so in the dark. I wouldn’t be surprised to find that the Ocean is less finicky.)

b&

 

[marmiteturkey]

I have the Alpine. It’s served its purpose quite well … but … as soon as I have a bit of money, I’m getting an Ocean.

The Alpine is just fine, to be sure. Yes, it’s fabric that gets wet — but it’s not noticeable when it’s wet, and it dries fast.

I have the Starlight band. It shows dirt rather readily, but it cleans up easily. I typically use a toothbrush and a bit of Dawn.

It’s starting to fray a bit at the most obvious wear points. Not much, not especially noticeably … but it’s clear that its days are numbered — and I would have replaced it by now had I a surplus of cash.

I chose the Alpine because I wanted something that had zero chance of coming off accidentally but wasn’t as bulky as the Ocean — plus, I was in the initial wave of pre-orders, and the Ocean bands had already been snatched up.

I don’t regret my choice at all … but I’ve since tried on the Ocean in a store … and … when my wallet is feeling heavy …

(As a side note: the Alpine is also finicky to buckle. Even to this day, I have trouble doing so in the dark. I wouldn’t be surprised to find that the Ocean is less finicky.)

b&

It takes me ages to do up my alpine in the dark; I can buckle the ocean with my eyes closed. Much easier. I like the look of both bands for different reasons but the Ocean is far more practical for me, as a running/swimming/general purpose band. Neither one is more or less comfortable than the other. I would love the orange ocean band, but by god the ultra bands are expensive for what they are…