There's no better way to customise your new Apple Watch than with a new strap or band.
If you're looking for leather, stainless steel, Milanese loop bands or something sweat-proof for the gym, there are plenty of high quality, cost effective options out there for men and women.
While the official Apple options are expensive, there are thousands of third-party options to suit any budget and wrist size.
Since the original Apple Watch the clasp and mechanism for adding and replacing straps has remained the same.
The only thing to bear in mind is that Apple changed the size of the Apple Watch Series 7 to be 41mm and 45mm. However, it has confirmed that older band sizes (40mm and 44mm) will fit the watch perfectly.
- Apple Watch Series 7: 41mm and 45mm
- Apple Watch SE: 40mm and 44mm
- Apple Watch Series 6: 40mm and 44mm
- Apple Watch Series 5: 40mm and 44mm
- Apple Watch Series 4: 40mm and 44mm
- Apple Watch Series 3: 38mm and 42mm
- Apple Watch Series 2: 38mm and 42mm
- Apple Watch: 38mm and 42mm
We've picked our top choices for men and women below.
- Wareable verdict: Apple Watch Series 7 review | Apple Watch SE review
- Compare the latest: Apple Watch Series 7 v Watch Series 6
- Get the most from your Apple Watch: Apple Watch tips and tricks
How do I know which Apple Watch strap to buy?
First, you'll need to know what size Apple Watch you have.
Up until the Apple Watch Series 3, you had a choice of 38mm or 42mm models. As the width of the quick connection point will be different, you'll need to pick the band compatible with your watch size.
From the Apple Watch Series 4 up to the latest Apple Watch Series 6 and the SE, Apple offers 40mm and 44mm sizes. So again, make sure you pick the right size.
With the Apple Watch Series 7, Apple has introduced new cases sizes again with 41mm and 45mm sizes. However, the older 40/44mm bands will still fit the watch perfectly.
Hold the strip just below where your wrist bone sits and around where you would normally wear the band, wrap it around your wrist and line that up with the sizes of your Watch model.
Generally speaking, a small wrist is 5 - 6.5 inches and a large wrist is between 7 - 8.5 inches, but the good thing about many Apple Watch bands is that you can adjust with velcro or within the perforations of sports straps to find a very specific fit.
Best Apple Watch bands for men: Leather
MIFA leather band
Price when reviewed: £21
Size options: 38mm/40mm/41mm/42mm/44mm/45mm
If you're looking to add a touch of class to your Apple smartwatch yet don't want to pay big bucks, this leather strap should do the business.
It comes in 42mm and 44mm flavours, making it Series 4, Series 5 and Series 6 focused, and comes with steel adaptors and a buckle fastener.
Marge Plus leather band
Price when reviewed: £14.99
Size options: 38mm/42mm/40mm/44mm
Likewise, there are plenty of leather strap options available on a shoestring, too.
This genuine leather number has a metal buckle and improved strength making it well worth a pop.
Edimens leather band
Price when reviewed: £14.99
Size options: 38mm/40mm/41mm/42mm/44mm/45mm
Designed for the newest and larger Apple Watch case sizes, the Edimen grain leather band comes in twelve different looks and matches up that leather with a traditional stainless steel buckle. If you've got a black or silver case Watch, this is a good band to partner up with it.
Cinnamon leather band
Price when reviewed: £19.56
Size options: 38mm/42mm/40mm/44mm
A lovely deep brown leather watch band, this cinnamon coloured leather strap comes in 38mm, 40mm, 42mm and 44mm flavours to suit Apple Watch Series 3, Series 4, Series 5 and Series 6.
It uses a buckle fastening, comes with Apple Watch fastening and hand-stitched detailing.
Watch Strap Co leather strap
Price when reviewed: £55
Size options: 38mm/40mm/41mm/42mm/44mm/45mm
The Watch Strap Co’s leather options again undercut official prices, while still adding quality – but customisation is our favorite part of the offering.
You’re free to color-code all of the metal elements to the color of your Apple Watch’s body, so you can accent rose gold, stainless steel or space gray with your choice of leather. In terms of leather options, there are dark, light and black leather, and you can choose stitching options too.
Meridio
Price when reviewed: £74
Size options: 38mm/40mm/41mm/42mm/44mm/45mm
Meridio comes about as close any any third-party watch strap brand to replicating Apple's own premium feel. We've tested out the company's standard leather options from its Nappa collection, as well as its more vintage bands. They're durable, have the same thin-leather style as Apple's collections and you even have the option to engrave your initials on.
If that's not enough for you, and you're okay with paying a little more, the Italian band-maker also fashions straps from pythons, crocodiles and even ostriches. Enough? Oh wait, there's also a few made from cat-sharks. Wild stuff.
Nomad Modern Leather
Price when reviewed: $69.95
Size options: 40mm/41mm
Nomad's leather straps are unlike others. The Modern Strap has got a bold, minimalistic style that's reminiscent of a sports band in the right lighting - but it's not, with slim-to-nil stitching and a refreshing slate grey colour.
The straps are made out of Horween leather and are designed to patina over time, giving you a rugged long-term look to complement its modern design.
Best Apple Watch bands for men: Link and metal
Fullmosa stainless steel watch band
Price: £18.99
Size options: 38mm/40mm/41mm/42mm/44mm/45mm
If you want to throw a bit more metal onto your wrist, this stainless steel band comes in six different colors including red and blue looks to better match new Series 7 colors.
There's a folding clasp to keep things secure and it also comes with a TPU case, though that's not compatible with Series 7 watches. If you need to remove links to get a better fit, it comes with the tool to save you a visit to your nearest watch repair shop.
Fitlink Stainless Steel Metal Strap
Price when reviewed: £13.99
Size options: 38mm/40mm/41mm/42mm/44mm/45mm
Available in all Apple Watch sizes the Fitlink stainless steel metal strap is a classic option for anyone looking for a metal link band. It fits all Apple Watch editions and costs a fraction of the price of an official metal link band.
There's no hiding from the fact that adjusting link bracelets is a pain, but the Fitlink comes with the tools to do it at home.
Wearlizer Resin and stainless steel
Bestig metal bracelet strap
Price when reviewed: $20.99
Size options: 38mm/42mm/40mm/44mm
If you prefer the metal Watch band look, this stainless steel option drops a matte black and polished silver style onto your wrist and comes in size options for Apple Watch models.
There’s also polished gold/matte gold and rose gold options too if you prefer a lighter metal color. All come bundled with an adaptor, to make sure you get a good fit when you’re strapping it on to match a smarter dress look.
CCnutri Stainless Steel Metal Strap
Price when reviewed: $13.99
Size options: 38mm/42mm/40mm/44mm
This metal Apple Watch band comes in four different shades including this rose gold look and there's no tools required to get it to fit comfortably on your wrist.
You can also remove a maximum of four links. It works with all versions of the Apple Watch including the original and uses a folding clasp to make sure it's going to stay put.
Best Apple Watch bands: Sport
OHCBOOGIE Sport Loop Band (3 pack)
Price when reviewed: £9.99
Size options: 38mm/40mm/41mm/42mm/44mm/45mm
A shameless copy of Apple's own nylon offering, it's a pretty good imitation at a fraction of the cost.
In fact, you get three in the pack, and there's a host of color bundles to choose from so you can really live the personalization lifestyle – including a Pride option.
Twelve South ActionBand
Price: £29.99
Size options: 40mm/44mm (Series 7 support incoming)
Twelve South has become one of the more inventive brands when it comes to putting that Watch on your body and its new ActionBand holds the Apple smartwatch inside of a terry cotton sweat band making it a good fit for workout time.
It's suitable to be worn on the wrist and forearm and currently works with the Apple Watch Series 4, 5, 6 and SE. There will be some love for Series 7 owners too soon as well if you're looking for something you can sweat big in and not worry about ruining your smarter-looking bands.
Nukelolo sport band
Price: £18.19
Size options: 42mm/44mm/45mm
If you've opted for Apple's (Product) Red Watch and you want to pick up a matching band on the cheap, this silicone number is one to consider strapping on.
It's fit for sweating and getting a little wet and uses a square button clasp to make sure it doesn't budge. If red doesn't take your fancy, there's over 20 other colors to pick from that all sit below that $9.99 price mark.
Designer sport watch band
Price: £20.06
Size options: 38mm/40mm/41mm/42mm/44mm/45mm
We're always on the hunt for some bands that you won't find in Apple's own vast collection and this simple silicone one with the a single stripe is one of the nicer unofficial bands we've come across.
There's 20 color options for Apple Watch Series (and SE) sizes and they use nickel-free stainless steel in the clasp to make sure it's one that should be good on more sensitive skin. The army green on red is one of our fave combos, but there's plenty of other looks to go for if you want something a little brighter.
Vcegari silicone bands
Price when reviewed: $11.99
Size options: 38mm/42mm/40mm/44mm
This trio of silicone bands offer a skinny band esign that’s built for workouts and offer a light and sweat resistant design.
They hook up to the Watch with pretty standard lugs and comes in a range of different eye-catching shades. The bright teal, plum and coral options definitely feel like the ones that will stand out for the right reasons.
Supcase
Price when reviewed: $21.99
Size options: 44mm
One's that going to have appeal for lovers of the outdoors and extreme sports lovers, the Supcase puts a bumper-style, scratch resistant case around your Watch to provide added protection for that Retina display. The strap has been bolstered too to add to its rugged frame and crucially you can still get access to that Digital Crown and screen when you snap it on to the Watch case.
StrapsCo Camo Silicone strap with buckle
Price when reviewed: $24.99
Size options: 38mm/42mm/40mm/44mm
If you're looking for a silicone strap replacement with a bit of attitude, then one of these from StrapsCo fits the bill.
The silicone camo range comes in the complete range of sizes, from 38mm to 44mm, and come in far cheaper than Apple's official straps.
There are seven Camo flavors to choose from, with blue, green, two shades of red, white, pink, and winter all available.
And they come with a more rational buckle fastening, which for many is more natural and comfortable than the tuck-under which is standard on Apple Watch silicone straps.
Adepoy sport band
Price when reviewed: $7.99
Size options: 38mm/40mm/41mm/42mm/44mm/45mm
The latest Apple Series 6 now comes in blue, so you can match it up with a similar color band for not a whole lot of money.
It's a silicone kind making it suitable for working out with and there's a metal buckle to make sure it doesn't budge. If you don't want to go blue, there's a bunch of other colors you can pick it up instead.
Hotflow silicone sport band (NEEDS NEW AFFILIATE LINK)
Price when reviewed: $7.99
Size options: 38mm/42mm/40mm/44mm
A take on Apple's own sporty bands, this significantly cheaper silicone option comes in eight different color options and works with older Apple Watches and the newest models.
You'll get that ventilated design to make it a better fit for working up a sweat and still being comfortable to wear when you're not burning calories.
AmazonMonowear Nylon Active
Price when reviewed: $31.99
Size options: 38mm/40mm/41mm/42mm/44mm/45mm
You want a nice nylon strap, but you'd prefer it of the loop variety, like Apple's own Sport Loop strap. However, you also don't want to shell out for it.
That's when you'll turn to Monowear's Nylon Active, a nylon loop strap. There's a genuine leather panel on the back and stainless steel lugs, making this a good match for either the aluminium or stainless steel Apple Watch variations.
Urban Armor sport band
Price when reviewed: $39.95
Size options: 38mm/42mm/40mm/44mm
Urban Armor brings some of its expertise from building tough phone cases to an Apple Watch band that's built to last. It's made from soft touch silicone and is waterproof to make it suitable for swimming.
It's available in black and slate colors and a uses stainless steel buckle to complete its durable, sporty look.
Best Apple Watch designer fashion bands
Bifeiyo nylon bands
Price: £18.38
Size options: 38mm/40mm/41mm/42mm/44mm/45mm
Apple's official a nylon bands are great pick if you're after something that looks smart and is comfortable to wear, and you could also get away with wearing it in the gym too. These unofficial nylon options comes in packs of three for less than a single official Apple nylon band with colors aplenty to choose from.
They use velcro as well to keep them in place and this one works with all Apple Watch sizes so you can share them around if not everyone is rocking a new Series 7.
Komo Bands Chevron Atlantic Pine
Price when reviewed: £19.99
Size options: 38mm/40mm/41mm/42mm/44mm/45mm
Komo Bands does some really great-looking Apple Watch bands that are clearly inspired by Apple's own, but offers some unique looks that you won't be able to pick up from the Apple Store.
One of our faves is this woven, braided number that uses a mix of polyester and silicone thread that is fit for jumping in the shower with and getting it sweaty. The stretchable design means you'll get a secure fit too. It's available in all Watch sizes too, which is always good to see.
Veesimi braided strap
Price when reviewed: $16.99
Size options: 38mm/42mm/40mm/44mm
You can pick up this woven nylon and silicone thread band in six colors and uses a simple buckle to make it easy to adjust when you need a tighter fit or you need to whip it off quickly. It's fit for keeping on when you're working out and we'd say the green (above) and the red options offer the strongest look depending on what color case you're rocking.
Ochboogie solo loop strap
Price when reviewed: $9.99
Size options: 38mm/42mm/40mm/44mm
This nylon number will stick a colourful rainbow look on your wrist whatever Apple Watch model you have. It uses a steel slider instead of a traditional watch buckle to keep it in place with the natural stretchy feel of the nylon making sure it's one that's not going to slide around if you're planning to put that Watch to work for a run or a HIIT session.
Carterjett sport tire strap
Price when reviewed: $19.99
Size options: 38mm/40mm/41mm/42mm/44mm/45mm
If you're into cars - or even if you're not - this tire-inspired silicone number has a certain unique charm. The durable soft silicone can also withstand sweat and moisture.
As there aren't any screws or spring bars, you don't have to worry about it falling apart during an intense workout either.
Watch Strap Co steel mesh band
Price when reviewed: £65
Size options: 38mm/40mm/41mm/42mm/44mm/45mm
The Watch Strap Co’s Milanese band is by no means the cheapest out there, but blends British quality while still managing to convincingly undercut the official Apple versions.
The mesh loop comes in size options for all Apple Watch generations, and in silver, gold, rose gold, space gray and black options.
Best Apple Watch bands for women: Leather
OxaLeather slim leather band
Fullmosa calf leather band
Size option: 38mm/40mm/41mm/42mm/44mm/45mm
JSGJMY leather band
InkyGoat galaxy leather strap
Rose Gold & Chocolate bracelet
Size options: 38mm/42mm/40mm/44mm
Alto
Size options: 38mm/42mm/40mm/44mm
Marge Plus genuine leather band
Size options: 38mm/42mm/40mm/44mm
Best Apple Watch bands for women: Link and metal
Secbolt stainless steel band
Size options: 38mm/40mm/41mm/42mm/44mm/45mm
Oulucci metal band
Size options: 38mm/42mm/40mm/44mm
ZXCASD slim Watch band
Size options: 38mm/42mm/40mm/44mm
Here's another dressy option that offers to put a more elegant rose gold look on your wrist. The stainless steel mesh band uses a magnetic clasp to keep it securely in place and does additionally come available in silver and rose pink mesh looks. So you have some options if you want to pick up an extra band or two.
Best Apple Watch bands for women: Sport
Bracelet silicone sport band
Price: $8.99
Size options: 38mm/40mm/41mm/42mm/44mm/45mm
Most silicone Apple Watch bands adopt similar looks, so if you're on the hunt for something with a slimmer strap design, this is might be up your kind of thing.
It comes in 15 different colors all with the same thin, double heart shaped style look that is compatible with all Apple Watch models. The band locks directly into the case and it uses a traditional stainless steel buckle to make sure that skinny strap doesn't budge either.
Acrbiutu sport band
Size options: 38mm/40mm/41mm/42mm/44mm/45mm
Best Designer Apple Watch bands for women
Biaoge Metal Band
Size options: 38mm/42mm/40mm/44mm
Adepoy fabric cloth band
Size options: 38mm/40mm/41mm/42mm/44mm/45mm
Lilly Pulitzer leather band
OriBear Sexy Leopard band
Size options: 38mm/42mm/40mm/44mm
Muranne fabric band
Size options: 38mm/42mm/40mm/44mm
Secbollt floral leather band
Size options: 38mm/42mm/40mm/44mm
