There's no better way to style your smartwatch than with top Apple Watch straps and bands. And while the official Apple straps are expensive, there are thousands of third party options to suit any budget and wrist size.
Whether you have a 38mm, 40mm, 42mm or 44mm Apple Watch, or looking for leather, stainless steel or milanese loop bands – there are plenty of high quality, cost effective options out there.
And if you're hoping to pick up an Apple Watch in the Black Friday sales that doesn't mean you can't get ready by stocking up on some accessories ahead of time.
The most stylish Apple Watch bands
Thanks to quick release straps, it's super easy to add your own touch of personality to the Apple Watch. That means you can have a favorite band for the office, then swap it out for something more suitable for a sweaty workout. Just have a read of our Apple Watch band changing guide to see how.
How do I know which Apple Watch strap to buy?
First thing's 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 so you could pick one most suitable for your wrist size. You'll need to pick the band compatible with your watch size as the width of the quick connection point will be different.
From the Apple Watch Series 4 up to the latest Apple Watch Series 5, Apple now offers 40mm and 44mm sizes. So again, make sure you pick the right size.
It's worth mentioning that some third-party straps might cause interference with the Series 5's new compass, so if compass accuracy is important you should be wary of certain straps with magnets inside.
1. Southern Straps Brown Leather
Buy now: southernstraps.com | $85
Handcrafted in San Francisco, Southern Straps' Brown Leather strap uses a vegetable tanned full-grain Italian leather. And boy, does it feel good to wear. If you're looking for something to complement a suit, this band is for you.
We tested it during a wedding and found it drew a considerable amount of attention, with people asking whether it was a new band from Apple. It comes with either gold, black or silver lugs.
2. MCORS Milanese Loop
Buy now: Amazon | $12.99
The Milanese Loop is possibly the most popular style out there - and you can bag one in pretty much any colour. We love our gold bands, and this is a low-cost way to get a seriously stylish loop. This Amazon bestseller comes in all four Apple Watch sizes, and costs a fraction of the official price.
3. Biaoge Metal Band
Buy Now: Amazon | $26.99
Not every third party Apple Watch band is a copy of official Apple Watch styles - and this one certainly ticks the box of being unique and high quality. Clearly a feminine design, it mixes dainty chains with a link bracelet – and comes in all Apple Watch sizes.
4. MIFA leather band
Buy now: Amazon | $25
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 focussed, and comes with steel adaptors and a buckle fastener.
5. INTENY Sport Loop
Buy now: Amazon | $8.99
A shameless copy of Apple's own nylon offering, it's a pretty good imitation at a fraction of the cost. The strap attaches via velcro, and has a two year warranty if you're not happy with the quality. A highly impressive Amazon review score indicates that few people have cashed in on their warranty. This is available in a variety of colors.
6. iGK Sport Band
Buy now: Amazon | $8
Silicon bands are perfect for those who like to get sweaty or swim with their Apple Watch – so it's handy being able to pick these up for less than $10 a pop. There are a bunch of colours available, and buying a few means you can leave one in your gym bag so you'll never have to suffer wearing a Milanese loop on the treadmill. Just make sure you clean and dry this one regularly to avoid any wrist rashes.
7. Marge Plus leather band
Buy now: Amazon | $12.99
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.
8. Cinnamon leather band
Buy now: etsy.com | $29.40
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 and Series 4. It uses a buckle fastening, comes with Apple Watch fastening and hand-stitched detailing.
9. Carterjett sport tire strap
Buy now: Amazon | $19.99
If you're into cars - or even if you're not - this tire-inspired silicone number has a certain unique charm. It's available for both 38mm and 42mm Apple Watch devices and will fit wrists 5.5-inches to 7.5-inches.
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.
Read this: Apple Watch tips and tricks
More Apple Watch straps...
If you're looking for an injection of couture into your smartwatch life, check out our selection below of premium Apple Watch straps made from only the finest materials.
Rose Gold & Chocolate bracelet
Buy now: etsy.com | $44.99
The Apple Watch has a rep for being fairly chunky on the wrist, but buying a leather bracelet strap like this rose gold and chocolate number is a good way to reduce the bulk. It’s a double wrap style measuring just 7mm, making it substantially thinner than your average band even when wrapped twice. It’s made with leather, features an adjustable buckle, and loops nicely over the Watch fastening to add detail you can’t find elsewhere – but be warned, it only comes in 40mm and 44mm Series 4 sizes.
Natural Vegetable Tanned band
Buy now: etsy.com | $45
Simple is often so much more effective, just like this gorgeous cream leather strap. It’s hand dyed and stitched and comes available for all sizes of Apple Watch old and new – from 38mm up to the big new 44mm Series 4.
Speidel Twist-O-Flex
Buy now: Amazon |$50
Talk about a blast from the past! Remember those stretch metal watch bands you could wear? Speidel has now modernized its classic band for Apple Watch in both 38mm and 42mm. And best of all, it's a nice and affordable $50. You'll buy it for the nostalgia and charm, but you'll keep it for the comfort and long-lasting craftsmanship.
Casetify Classic Lady
Buy now: Amazon | $50
It's hard to ignore this muted and classy Casetify strap, which puts a more feminine spin on the classic red, white and blue. Made from a refined plastic, it's durable and offers a genuine dose of class welcome among the legions of metal chainmail and leather that dominate the third party strap market. There's also a red, white and blue Classic 1970s men's version, too.
Alto
Buy now: viaalto.com | $99
Coming in a choice of six leather variations, Alto's bands are another consideration for those who aren't sold on Apple's own styles. Since it's leather, Alto indicates that the band will eventually develop into a different shade, and there are options for those with either a 38mm and 42mm. And the great bonus of leather bands is that they're generally unisex-looking, meaning the only thing you have to worry about is the colour.
Pad & Quill Field Strap
Buy now: padandquill.com | $99.95
This is the sort of watch strap Bear Grylls would wear, but don't let that put you off. Pairing water-resistant Cordura fabric with full grain leather accents, its hard-wearing canvas build will stand up to whatever you can throw at it, day after day after day. Pairing substance with style, it looks effortlessly cool too, and is comfortable to wear all day. It's available exclusively for the 42mm Apple Watch.
Meridio
Buy now: meridioband.com | From $89.99
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.
Monowear Nylon Active
Buy now: monoweardesign.com | $31.99
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.
Infinity Bangle
Buy now: etsy.com | $50.20
There aren't too many band brands tailoring options directly at women, but you can find plenty through Etsy – including this bangle. It's a bit flashier than what you may be used to through standard straps, but it does help fancy up the bezel and turn the Watch into a bit more of a fashion piece. The band is made from stainless steel and zirconia stones, coming in both 38mm and 42mm variants.
Nomad Modern Leather
Buy now: nomad.com | $29.95 (50% off)
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.
Strapple Crocodilus
Buy now: strapple.com | $140
Not only does the Strapple Crocodilus sound like the main character in a kid's cartoon show, but it also represents a nice alternative to Apple's leather straps. It's not actually crocodile leather, with Strapple instead using a fine Italian calfskin leather and embossed alligator pattern. Pair with a nice space black Apple Watch and you have something that screams luxury.
Coach Prints Strap
Buy now: coach.com | $150
Coach has consistently released new Apple Watch strap collections every season, debuting brand new colors and graphics. One of its more popular collections is the Strap with Prints, which features pink roses on glovetanned leather. This one is only available for 38mm and 40mm models, however.
Nike+ Sport Band
Buy now: nike.com | $49.99
Finally! You can purchase the Nike+ sports strap without buying a special Nike+ Apple Watch. You too can now enjoy that light, airy strap built especially for exercise. While the regular Sports band is perfectly fine for exercising, the perforated holes on the Nike+ variant make it much more comfortable on your sweaty wrist. If you're a runner, this band is a winner. Plus, Nike's bands are colour coordinated to match its shoes so you'll always be in sync.
