I’ve tried them all. Silicone, metal, and everything in between. Official and unofficial. And yet, I keep coming back to one specific kind of band with every smartwatch I’ve owned.
I’m talking, of course, about nylon hook and loop bands (commonly known by the “Velcro” brand name). They’re made of soft nylon, and they strap onto your wrist snugly. They’re great, and I have many reasons why I honestly think you should also get one.
Very Easy to Slide On and Fasten
First off, putting on your smartwatch when you have one of these is an absolute breeze. Most regular leather/silicone bands have an open-ended design, meaning that you need to manually loop both ends of the watch around your wrist to then secure it. With a nylon hook and loop band, it’s a closed-loop design, so you’d just do what you’d do with a metal timepiece—just slide it on!
Using the hook and loop mechanism, it’s also a breeze to fasten it around your wrist to get the perfect fit. Rather than having to use a pin buckle, you just strap it on as tight as you want it to be, and that’s pretty much it. They are also quick-release—if you want to take it off, just strap it off and slide it off. It doesn’t get easier than this. They are also available in many different sizes.
Surprisingly Durable
Another cool thing about these straps is that they are surprisingly durable, and they can withstand basically any kind of active life. Nylon is a synthetic plastic fiber known for its strength and resistance to wear and tear. It can withstand a lot of friction, stretching, and bending without breaking. Nylon watch bands are generally water-resistant, meaning they can handle sweat, rain, and even swimming without getting damaged. Nylon bands also dry quickly, and they are resistant to UV rays, heat, and cold, so they won’t easily fade or crack under harsh conditions like some other kinds of bands will. If they do get dirty, they are also easy to clean: just rinse them with water and mild soap.
They are strong and low-maintenance, and if you have an active lifestyle, this is probably a boon for you.
They’re Very Comfortable (And They Don’t Irritate My Skin)
One of the top reasons why I like these so much is the fact that they are really, really comfortable. I mean it. When I’m wearing my smartwatch with a nylon band on, I basically forget it’s there, even if I sweat or even when I sleep.
One issue I have with other kinds of smartwatch bands is the fact that they can get unbearable to wear after a few hours. I have a Pixel Watch 3, and I previously had a Samsung Galaxy Watch 4. Both watches came with a silicone band out of the box. They’re really high quality and very stylish, but after a few hours, if I sweat with them, they will begin to irritate the skin around my wrist. It will start to itch, and it has even caused a small rash a couple of times.
Metal bands? I don’t have that particular problem with those, but options such as Milanese loop bands or even more standard three-link bands will pull at my arm hair. Very stylish, but not pleasant to wear.
Nylon? No comfort problems at all. I’m sure many of you won’t have as extreme of an experience. Still, the point I’m raising here is that unless you have a specific allergy to nylon, it’s a safe material that is guaranteed to be comfortable to wear throughout the whole day.
They Can Be As Stylish As You Want Them to Be
Up until reading this, you’ve probably thought, “Okay, they’re great to wear, but they’re ugly.” That would be where you’re wrong.
Nylon watch bands are available in a wide variety of colors and even combinations of colors and other cool designs. Many people will just get a simple black/white band or other simple colors, but depending on the watch, they are also available with all kinds of more intricate designs if you want to give your smartwatch a bit of flair.
This one on Amazon, for one example out of many, actually happens to be available not only in a bunch of colors but also with a lot of cool designs. There are bicolor bands, there are camo bands… Your imagination is the limit.
Adjustable Nylon Watch Band, Quick Release Sport Loop Strap
They’re (Extremely) Cheap
If you clicked the above link, you probably realized another cool thing about these bands. They are cheap. A third-party nylon watch band compatible with most watches and smartwatches will cost you anywhere between $5 to $10, and if you’re willing to dive into AliExpress, you can find these for around $2 to $3. If you need a more specific mounting mechanism, like a watch band for a Pixel Watch or an Apple Watch, which uses proprietary mounting mechanisms for their watch bands, guess what? There are also nylon bands for those, and they’re roughly as cheap as the generic ones.
Some smartwatch manufacturers might even make their own nylon bands. Those can be a bit more expensive, but they also probably have way better quality.
In short, they are the superior smartwatch bands. And even if you prefer other kinds of smartwatch bands, I still think everyone should have at least one in their rotation of bands. They’re cheap, and you never know when you’ll need the convenience of nylon in your life.
