Picking the right band for your Apple Watch Ultra often comes down to how you use your watch in the first place. It’s tricky, but luckily, there are loops and bands that satisfy every activity, whether you run wild in the woods or love taking dives in the ocean.
Suitisbest Braided Stretchy Solo Loop
What to Consider with Apple Watch Ultra Bands
Due to their simplicity, finding the right Apple Watch Ultra band comes down to three main categories: durability, material, and intent. Outside of that, perhaps you’d consider colors and double-check if you’re picking a size that’s right for your Apple Watch.
First, ask yourself, “What kind of environment am I exposing my Apple Watch to?” A band specializing in style may not have features useful in, say, a gym setting. This will drastically influence the type of Ultra band you move forward with.
Let’s consider swimming, for example. An Ultra band made of some kind of rubber is going to be far more useful for the pool than a band made of fabric. The latter can retain water and, in turn, take longer to dry. Not to mention, it causes your skin to itch.
For regular use and perhaps some light exercise, an Ultra band made of fabric may be the best option since they tend to be softer and more comfortable. Whether they’re fabric or rubber-like, you should be able to wash the band, too.
And don’t forget sizes, too. If you have the smaller, 41mm Apple Watch Ultra, picking up a strap that’s meant for the 49mm model is going to feel way too big. It wouldn’t just be loose, but there would be too much material at the end, leaving you with a long tail.
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Easy to clean
Not enough styles
Soft, but strong nylon material
Good for rugged adventures
Has a unique tightening system
Regardless of where you fall on the extreme scale, in terms of your hiking and running habits, having a watch loop that’s always at the ready is a gift. Swapping to theSurundo Trail Loopgives you a neat party trick: pulling on the fabric tab lets you tighten your Apple Watch when you’re ready to take off.
Not too tight, though! You want it snug for your health sensors. Of course, even a snug fit can get uncomfortable, but the Surundo Trail Loop uses a super soft nylon weave. It’s tough, too, thanks to the tight stitching, but more importantly, it’s really easy to clean.
To keep your watch secure during hikes, runs, and rugged adventures, the Surundo Trail Loop uses incredibly strong velcro. It’s designed to be nice and secure, but still maintain that quick-and-easy tightening system with the little tab.
Surundo Trail Loop
With a name like Surundo Trail Loop, the loop brings to the table soft, durable nylon weave and a tightening system that secures the Apple Watch to your wrist with the pull of a tab.
Doesn’t retain water
Water gets trapped in the tubes
Elastic enough to comfortably fit over wetsuits
Made of durable elastomer material
Strong clasp system
If we were ranking designs, theApple Ocean Bandwould be the strangest Apple Watch band, but the tubular slots do serve a purpose when you’re swimming and diving. Since the Ultra is known for its aquatic apps and features, the band is arguably the perfect pairing due to its material.
The Apple Ocean Band is made of elastomer, a kind of rubber, which not only aids in the band’s durability but also doesn’t retain water. The water just beads on the top, so it’s easy to pat it dry with a towel. However, you may have to give the band a shake to help release the water inside the little tubes.
It’s a small trade-off because the tubular design actually grants the Apple Ocean Band a little more elasticity, making it much easier to fit your Apple Watch Ultra over a wetsuit. For extra security, the band uses a metal clasp system to keep your watch in place when the ocean currents get wild.
Apple Ocean Band
Considering it doesn’t absorb water and is more or less designed for swimming, the Apple Ocean Band is an obvious choice for aquatic adventures. Its overall durability even makes it a solid choice for regular use outside of swimming.
Soft and smooth silicone strap
Too much leftover length if you aren’t mindful of sizes
A lot of holes for heat to escape and reduce sweat build up
Very easy to clean
A bunch of colors to choose from
Weight training leads to a lot of sweat and heat, and it’s obviously important to keep an eye on your vitals. The Apple Watch is great for that, but the wrong band can get itchy and sweaty, especially when it needs to be tight enough for the sensors. With theSvisvipa Sports Band, weight training with a watch won’t be such an irritation.
For starters, the Svisvipa Sports Band is made of silicone, which is soft, smooth, and incredibly easy to clean. It’s also sprouting a bunch of holes, like the Nike Sports Band, giving the heat a place to escape from and let your wrist breathe.
Those holes also serve the purpose of clasping the Svisvipa Sports Band into place. With so many holes closely together, finding the right fit is much easier.
Svisvipa Sports Band
The Svisvipa Sports Band is the quintessential weight training band, and exercise in general. Its silicone material is soft on the skin and because of the holes, the band doesn’t retain so much heat.
G-hook system offers a snug fit, but not tight
Takes time getting used to the hook
Tough, textile strap
Really clean look
Although Apple has bands for smaller wrists, there’s still a chance you’ll have a lot of leftover material. That can be really annoying, nor does it look good aesthetically to have a long tail on your watch. TheApple Alpine Loophas a neat way of tightening without causing a bunch of leftover material to fold in on itself.
The Apple Alpine Loop fastens with a G-hook, which slips into medium-sized loops. What’s great about this system is that the loops have a slight amount of give to them, so when the G-hook is in place, it’ll loosen just a bit for a more comfortable fit. It helps you avoid going one loop too tight.
The strap itself is a tough, textile strap. No stitching here. Since it’s a single strip, it’s very resistant to wear and tear while still allowing heat to escape through the fabric. The Apple Alpine Loop won’t absorb as much sweat, but it dries fairly quickly even when you do have to clean it (and you should, anyway).
Apple Alpine Loop
The Apple Alpine Loop looks fantastic even on small wrists, and it’s thanks to its G-hook system. You’re able to tighten the watch to your preference without leaving behind an unsightly tail.
Skin-friendly polyamide material
Not waterproof
Material doesn’t retain heat
Snug but not tight
Comes in a pack of four
For thosewith sensitive skin, theSuitisbest Braided Solo Loopis practically made for you. It’s made of a more skin-friendly polyamide material, which is much more hypoallergenic thannylon or polyester.
Sweat is one of the causes of itchiness, but luckily, the Suitisbest Braided Solo Loop is quite breathable—in fact, the material doesn’t retain heat very well. That, coupled with its snug fit, it won’t feel like your watch is there.
The Suitisbest Braided Solo Loop is washable, though you should be gentle and stay away from harsh chemicals (I recommend this for any strap, really). You get four in a single pack, so when you wash one, you can switch to another while the other is drying.
Suitisbest Braided Solo Loop
The Suitisbest Braided Solo Loop is not only a great option for sensitive skin, it doubles as a value pack. You get four loops, of varying colors, and each one is made of soft, skin-friendly polyamide material.
FAQ
Is the Apple Watch Ultra 2 waterproof?
No, it’s water-resistant, not waterproof. It can withstand specific depths, but it does have a limit. In the case of the Apple Watch Ultra 2, it’s rated for 100 meters, but it’s not recommend to go any deeper than 40 meters.
Can the Apple Watch Ultra 2 go in salt water?
Yes, it’s designed for that. Just be sure to never exceed its depth limit and use your watch’sWater Lock functionto manually force water that may be trapped inside.
How do I clean my Apple Watch bands?
Although each band is slightly different, having a soft, non-abrasive, lint-free cloth to wipe the band free of any dirt and grim is all you really need. Excluding leather bands, which you just wipe dry, you can use the following:
If it’s a band made of fabric, it could take a day to dry. Rubber-like bands can be worn shortly after they’re dry.
What is the difference between the Apple Watch Ultra, Apple Watch, and Apple Watch SE?
The Ultra, SE (2nd Gen), and the main Apple Watch line share numerous features with one another, like being able to make calls, texts, use GPS, and track your health. And all models are water-resistant, though it varies; the Ultra, for example, can withstand 100 meters, while the Series 10 is limited to 50 meters.
The Series 10 and Ultra have an ECG sensor, whereas the SE (2nd Gen) does not, but all three keep an eye on your heart rate, cardio, and notify you of any irregular rhythms.
Thankfully, Apple has a way for you tocompare Apple Watcheson their site. When you compare the three, the SE (2nd Gen) is your basic Apple Watch, the Series 10 has all the new bells and whistles, and the Ultra is ideal for more adventurous folk, due to its usefulness in the ocean.
