Apple Watch stainless steel band review

Every Apple Watch comes with a band, but it is just a basic plastic band. There are so many different kinds of bands you can buy, including those that are a bit more stylish. So why settle for the underwhelming one in the box?

The Apple Watch supports tons of accessories, and finding a band that fits your style is an easy way to turn it into a personal accessory, rather than just a generic piece of tech. Whether you're looking for something sleek and modern or want something rugged, durable and water-resistant that can handle the elements, there's a band out there for you. 

You can go for the office-acceptable nylon strap or leather loop with a modern buckle. You can try out a ballroom-worthy link bracelet, a sport loop band made from soft silicone or a rugged woven nylon band. Heck, there are even Italian leather and rose gold options out there if you're feeling fancy. Different watch bands come with different closures as well, so if you're on the lookout for a stainless steel buckle or a magnetic clasp, chances are they exist. 

If you've got the latest Apple Watch Series 8 or an Apple Watch SE, we've rounded up some of our favorite Apple Watch bands on the market right now below. 

We update this list of best Apple Watch bands periodically.

Read more: Great Cheap Accessories for Your New Apple Watch

Supcase protective case and band

Best protective Apple Watch band

A protective case and band combo is a smart option for anyone who wears their Apple Watch while doing any sort of manual labor, high-intensity exercise with weights, outdoor activities like rock climbing or any other activities that could damage your watch.

This protective Apple Watch band comes from Supcase, which has long made quality protective cases for the iPhone. The Supcase Unicorn Beetle Pro doubles as a case, which snaps onto your Apple Watch to provide shock absorption, and the raised bezel design acts as screen protectors to help you avoid screen damage and scratches.

$19 at Walmart

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Carterjett tire tread band

Best durable Apple Watch band

There are a lot of silicone Apple Watch bands out there, but there aren't many with this thick, textured design. The tire-tread silicone on this Carterjett band makes it perfect for people who need durability in a band, and the rugged aesthetic is a bonus for outdoorsy or adventurous types. This watch strap comes in a variety of color option choices with sizes from small to extra-large.

$33 at Amazon

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Nomad Modern Strap

Best leather Apple Watch band

Apple manufactures its own suite of leather Apple Watch bands, but the least expensive leather band models start at $99, and the rest (especially those Hermès bands) are priced high enough to sticker shock most people. Though I'm the last to say $80 is inexpensive for a watch band, the Nomad Modern Strap, made from Horween leather, still helps you save compared with Apple Watch leather bands. And, this leather option is still high quality, highly rated and provides a comfortable fit. Linked here is the genuine Apple Watch leather band in rustic brown with matte black hardware, but this leather band comes in other colors too.

$80 at Nomad

Harber London Modern Leather

Another Apple Watch leather band

If you want an Apple Watch band to go with your formal looks, the Harber London Modern Leather band won't disappoint. It's made of full grain leather that is touted to age beautifully, gaining a unique patina over time. The leather band is compatible with all Apple Watches and comes in three colors: tan, black and deep brown.

$78 at Harber London

Vaporwave Elastic Apple Watch band

Best elastic Apple Watch band

These handmade elastic Apple Watch bands are spunky and stretchy. They come in fun, bright colors and easily slip on and off your wrist with no need for buckling and unbuckling. If you do a lot of computer work and find that metal clasps bother your wrist, an elastic band might eradicate that issue, as they're soft and smooth throughout.

$18 at Etsy

Salty USA nylon watch band

Best nylon Apple Watch band

For those who want to stick with the classic, simple smartwatch look, nylon is the way to go. This woven style can be extremely durable and long-lasting if you choose the right brand. Salty USA, a Utah-based company that makes Apple accessories, offers budget-friendly woven nylon Apple Watch bands in two sizes (38/40mm and 42/44mm), and they come in more than 20 colors. 

$15 at Salty USA

Secbolt thin leather band

Best skinny Apple Watch band

Many people, particularly those with smaller wrists, feel that most watch bands fit too wide or thick. If you're looking to wear a thin wristband, try this Secbolt leather watch band that's earned an Amazon's Choice label. This leather strap comes in more than 20 colors and patterns, and the brand offers a one-year full warranty so you can buy with confidence. The genuine leather wrist strap with fine stitching conforms easily to small wrists, and the leather strap can be adjusted to wrist size, thanks to the stainless steel buckle.

$10 at Amazon

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Epic Bands stainless steel link watch band

Best extra-long Apple Watch band

If you have large wrists or long or muscular arms, you might find that many watch bands look oddly minuscule on you -- or they don't fit at all. Epic Bands solves this problem with its adjustable stainless steel link bands, which you can customize to fit any size wrist. The band itself is already rather hefty (Epic Bands even clarifies that customers with smaller wrists may not like this band), and it fits wrists up to 8.7 inches (220 mm) as is. If you need the band to fit a larger wrist, you can purchase additional links to make the watch band as long as you need. 

$50 at Epic Bands

Kades stainless steel band

Best stainless steel Apple Watch band (Update: Currently unavailable)

Looking for a sleek steel upgrade from the basic silicone band your Apple Watch came with? Try a stainless steel watchband -- combined with an analog clock face, your smartwatch could look as classic as a high-end designer timepiece on your wrist. This Kades stainless band comes in a brushed-metal finish that looks just as great with a casual outfit as it does with a formal one.

$23 at Amazon

Apple Milanese loop band

Best Apple Watch band for the office

Again, Apple's official Apple Watch model accessory bands are hardly cheap, but some are worth the price tag. The popular Milanese Loop band is a great choice when you want something more professional than silicone, but aren't into a leather strap. The Milanese Loop features a woven design. This Apple Watch strap comes in stainless steel, in rose gold, silver or black, which results in a flexible fit and comfortable yet sturdy band that you can wear with professional clothes.

$99 at Amazon

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Nike Sport Band

Best Apple Watch band for working out

You can surely find rubber watch bands on Amazon for less than $49 (the official Apple Watch bands aren't the most affordable), but I'd urge buyers to be cautious if they have plans to wear a watch band during high-intensity, sweaty workouts. If you like to throw down in the weight room, consider the sports band made in partnership with one of the largest sportswear manufacturers worldwide.

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