Released in September 2022, the Apple Watch Ultra is one of the most expensive wearables from Apple. Made for adventurers and athletes, the rugged Apple Watch Ultra is highly durable and corrosion-resistant.
Although you can use your existing 45mm bands with the Apple Watch Ultra, the iPhone maker sells bands designated for this larger 49mm model. You can choose from three band types: Alpine Loop, Trail Loop, and Ocean Band.
In this article, we go through each band’s material, color, and practicality. Let’s find out which is the best Apple Watch Ultra band for you.
1. Alpine Loop
The Alpine Loop is made from polyester fabric and has a series of loops for you to slide the titanium G-hooks into when you fit your watch to your wrist.
It’s recommended for those who love to venture into the great outdoors. The band comes in three colors: Green, Orange, and Starlight.
Green
This shade is a dark moss green, perfectly fitting its target customers—the outdoor adventurers.
If you’re often hiking or heading out to nature where there certainly will be dirt, the Green Alpine Loop is the most practical color because it can easily hide stains you’ll likely get on the band over time.
Orange
The Orange Alpine Loop offers an energetic pop of color. The warm tone injects enthusiasm and excitement into your next adventure. Due to the bright color, it might conceal dirt stains less effectively compared to the Green Alpine Loop.
Still, if the Green Alpine Loop feels a little too commonplace for you, make a statement by showing off the Orange Alpine Loop on your Apple Watch Ultra.
Starlight
This Alpine Loop shares the same name as the white iPhone 14. While the iPhone 14’s shade is more of a bright white, the Starlight Alpine Loop looks closer to cream white.
White is a beautiful, light, and timeless color. However, the biggest downside is that it’ll get dirty most easily. Although you can clean your Apple Watch band, keep in mind that the appearance of the Starlight Alpine Loop can’t remain completely new after heavy use.
2. Trail Loop
The Trail Loop is made from nylon. This soft, lightweight band is stretchy and is the thinnest Apple Watch band yet. It also has Velcro, so you can easily use the pull tab to adjust the strap and enable the band to fit your wrist perfectly.
The Trail Loop is recommended for endurance athletes. The band comes in three colors: Black/Gray, Blue/Gray, and Yellow/Beige.
Black/Gray
The Black/Gray Trail Loop has a dark gray body with a black and medium-gray hem on either side. Although you can’t see it in the above picture, it has an orange pull tab that contrasts the monochromatic color scheme and subtly matches the digital crown and customizable Action button on the Apple Watch Ultra.
The smart Black/Gray tone pairs well with any outfit and ensures that dirt will be practically invisible due to its solid dark color.
Blue/Gray
The Blue/Gray Trail Loop has a gray body and pull tab, with a light grey and blue hem on either side. It’s a simple design that deviates from conventional Black/Gray.
If the appearance of orange on the Black/Gray band isn’t your thing, Blue/Gray should suit you best. The Blue/Gray band also shares the same practical benefit of not looking dirty easily.
Yellow/Beige
The Yellow/Beige band has a cream beige body and pull tab, with a light grey and yellow hem. The stitching on the pull tab is also yellow.
The color is a softer, more gentle tone compared to the first two. Cleaning your Apple Watch will help it stay relatively new for as long as possible, as the beige will also help mask any mild stains.
3. Ocean Band
The Ocean Band is made from fluoroelastomer (a durable rubber material) and has a titanium buckle and loop. It’s one of the best Apple Watch Ultra bands, and Apple recommended it for those who actively participate in water sports. You can also buy an additional extension band if you need more band length for a thick wetsuit.
The tubular structure enables the band to stretch and offers another benefit: shake your wrist to allow water to be easily expelled from the hollow tubes after your activity. The Ocean Band comes in three colors: Midnight, White, and Yellow.
Midnight
Like the Midnight color option for the iPhone 14, the Midnight Ocean Band is black but carries a hint of navy blue under bright light. Simple yet classic, it’s also easy to keep your strap clean because of its dark color.
If you’ve always preferred black for your devices and accessories, Midnight is the best Apple Watch Ultra band color for you.
White
Unlike the Starlight Alpine Loop, the shade of the White Ocean Band is aerospace white. When paired with the Apple Watch Ultra, it gives a clean, futuristic vibe.
However, since it is white, there’s a high chance any stains or dirt will be more visible. But given that you’ll likely wear it while engaging in water sports, any dirt should be quickly washed off as water will essentially splash around your Apple Watch Ultra band.
Yellow
This Ocean Band is a banana yellow, similar to the one used for the iPhone XR. Vibrant and eye-catching, it’s a fun color that stands out on your wrist during water adventures under the sun.
If Midnight is too dark for your liking and you’re aware you’ll be bothered by imperfections on a White strap, go for the Yellow Ocean Band!
Choosing the Right Apple Watch Ultra Band
Although Apple recommends different band types for different activities, it’s not a hard and fast rule. However, do consider what type of sports you’ll engage in frequently. For example, you can use the Ocean Band for running, but the Alpine Loop isn’t exactly ideal for wet sports because it dries slower.
Also, it’s impossible for the color to be dirt-proof, even if the bands are made to withstand heavy use like the Apple Watch Ultra itself. Therefore, picking the right color is important, too. This way, you’ll have the best Apple Watch Ultra band to accompany you for years to come.
