The best Apple Watch bands

Great Apple Watch bands can completely change how you feel about your Apple Watch. They can transform the look and feel of your smartwatch dramatically, so it's important to choose the right one. 

As the images below show, different Apple Watch bands can give your wrist a whole new look, from traditional to modern, day-wear to evening-wear. There are also Apple Watch bands for specific purposes, such as sports, working out, and adventurous activities - occasions where you want something more rugged and waterproof. And although we haven't had our hands on all of the Apple Watch bands below, we have done our research and pulled in all the best reviewed bands for this guide. 

However, with dozens of official Apple Watch bands and hundreds of third-party options to choose from, it's hard to know where to start. So we've gathered together the very best Apple Watch bands, in a range of styles and for a variety of uses, in one place. 

Haven't got your hands on an Apple Watch yet? Check out the best Apple Watch SE deals right now - we're particularly fond of the Apple Watch SE for creatives. You can also head over to our guide to the best Apple deals for current deals on the Apple Watch plus Apple AirPods, iPhones, and much more.

The best Apple Watch bands available now

The Apple Leather Loop band may be expensive, but like everything from Apple, you get the kind of stylish and thought-through product that justifies the price. 

Handcrafted in Arzignano, Italy, the quilted Venezia leather design is striking and original, while still hitting that level of finish and elegance you expect from Apple. And there's even some clever tech in there: the magnetic closure makes taking this band on and off a smooth and pleasurable experience. This heady combination of aesthetic appeal and useability makes this our number one pick for Apple Watch bands overall. 

When two big superbrands like Nike and Apple come together, you know you're going to get something special. And that's exactly what you find in the Apple Nike Sport Band, our favourite Apple Watch band for sports and workouts. 

Its minimalist design looks very cool. The tuck-and-pin fastener is easy to adjust when you're on the move. And the compression-molded perforations ('holes' to you and me) makes it very breathable and lightweight. Yet at the same time, its use of fluoroelastomer (a fluorocarbon-based synthetic rubber) makes this watch strap very hard-wearing and durable, however much sporty movement you put it through. 

It comes in a range of fun colours, and there's even a Pride edition. So whether you're running, cycling, or working out at the gym, this is our top pick.

Want the leather look, but object to real leather on ethical grounds? The Casetify Printed Apple Watch Band offers that along with a great selection of fantastic prints in a wide range of fun and youthful colours and styles. These Apple Watch bands are crafted from cruelty-free, high-quality saffiano 'vegan leather' that's both water- and scratch-resistant, so they're a good choice for everyday casual wear. And they're also very reasonably priced overall.

The Apple Sport Band is a classic Apple Watch strap design. If you don't want your strap to be riddled with more holes than Blackburn, Lancashire, and like a dash of colour, then it's a great choice. 

You may be able to find something that looks similar for less online, but with Apple you pay for guaranteed quality, and that's what you get here. The materials are top notch, and you won't be having any unwanted skin reactions, either. Coming in 16 colours, it'll match whatever outfit you go for. The Apple Sport Band comes in small/medium and medium/large straps, so it'll fit any wrist. 

If you ever needed proof that Apple is as much a fashion brand as a tech one, then consider the fact that a luxury brand like Hermès is among those making Apple Watch bands. And what a beauty the Hermès Fauve Barenia Leather Single Tour Band is.

Handmade by artisans in France from either buttery-smooth Barénia leather, textured Epsom leather, or supple Swift leather, this elongated design wraps elegantly twice around the wrist. So if you’re planning to mingle with the fashion mafia, this will definitely help you to attract admiring looks … as long as you’re willing to pay the eye-wateringly high price, that is.

The Milanese style of watch strap was, as you might expect, developed in Milan at the end of the 19th century. It's based on smooth stainless steel mesh woven on specialised Italian machines, and it will give your Apple Watch a very distinctive look indeed. Apple's own Milanese loop is pretty impressive too, and the same price at time of writing, but in our eyes, the Mintapple Milanese just pips it to the post.

The mesh looks beautifully polished and feels smooth and comfortable to wear. The weaving appears slightly less likely to pick up hairs and dust in practice than its official Apple rival. Plus, the strap itself is a little lighter. Also, because it’s fully magnetic, the Milanese Loop is wonderfully adjustable, ensuring a perfect fit. Overall then, this tasteful and sophisticated design is our top recommendation when it comes to stainless steel Apple Watch bands.

Short on cash, and have an Apple Watch 1-4? Then we recommend the Marge Plus. Because, although we're not sure about the name itself (more likely to summon images of Marge Simpson or something you spread on your toast), this is a very classy Apple Watch band at a super-low price.

This distinguished-looking strap is made from genuine leather, and it certainly looks like should cost a lot more than it does. Giving your smartwatch a professional and traditional look, it's a shame it won't fit the Apple Watch 5, but for any other model, it represents an absolute bargain.

Want a traditional stainless steel watch strap for your Apple Watch? Then our favourite has to be this Euply stainless steel Apple Watch band. Cut and crafted from Premium 304 stainless steel, this design hits the perfect sweet spot between classic and hi-tech, creating a perfect synergy between watch and strap. And you also get a kit that allows you to remove links, so you can customise the length to fit your wrist.

Overall, this looks and feels like something that should cost a lot more. We'd probably have recommended it even had it cost twice as much, so the very affordable price is a nice surprise indeed.

Read more:

• The best Apple headphones for May 2021
• Check out this Apple Watch lookalike
• The best iPhone 11 deals in May 2021