Decent alternative ...
 

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Decent alternative brands for Apple Watch strap (NATO/stripes)

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Apple Watch series 3 owner, looking to jazz up the watch with a striped fabric strap. Search Returns on eBay/Amazon bring back thousands of options, from a few pounds upwards, not helpful.

I wondered if anyone had used a good, reliable and secure non-apple brand on their watch I can take a look at.

Ideally fabric, not silicone/stretch.


 
Posted : 13/08/2022 2:10 pm
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https://www.timpson.co.uk/watch-straps

Watch straps are watch straps, no? Apple haven't fruitified that even, have they?


 
Posted : 13/08/2022 2:19 pm
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I use their sports stretch band as I found the silicone to pull the hairs. It’s genuine Apple, hugely over priced but been on my wrist three years and still looks like new.

@Cougar Apple watches use a proprietary connector to their watches. As they did to their phones and iPods. There are adaptors for about £5 on Amazon for ordinary watch straps too. Not used one.


 
Posted : 13/08/2022 2:54 pm
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The Apple sports band is indeed the perfect watch strap. No idea if it comes in jazzy patterns though 😀


 
Posted : 13/08/2022 3:15 pm
 DrJ
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I like the stretchy silicone one 🙂 The strap that came on my watch, which fastened with velcro, always threatened to be snatched off by a wave when swimming in the sea (which I do about twice a year :-(. )


 
Posted : 13/08/2022 3:29 pm
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Apple watches use a proprietary connector to their watches.

... but of course they do. Silly me.

Why do people keep buying into this consumer-hostile madness?🤷‍♂️ Watch straps have been a standard since pocket watches first crawled out of the primordial slime.

Isn't the iWatch 7 current now? Reckon I'd be down at CeX on Monday.


 
Posted : 13/08/2022 3:45 pm
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I tried a lot of straps over a number of generations of Apple Watch as I thought the apple strap was ridiculously overpriced. I now realise it actually isn’t, although I have cheaper straps that look the same they really are not in terms of quality and longevity. I would never consider anything else now and it’s (stretchy velcro strap) lasting years with no signs of wear yet! 🙂


 
Posted : 13/08/2022 4:21 pm
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Why do people keep buying into this consumer-hostile madness?
it’s not like you can buy one without a strap though, so just choose one you like in the first place? Maybe the fitting is improved to a standard one, never really thought about it 🤷‍♂️ Certainly never occurred to me that I might want to buy a different one! (For fashion reasons?)

NATO strap wouldn’t work with an Apple Watch surely (or any smar****ch) as they go under the case & would obscure the sensors?


 
Posted : 13/08/2022 4:55 pm
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Just buy official but old straps cheap.

My cycling one is one of the rubber Nike/Apple ones and was £7.

Watch straps have been a standard since pocket watches first crawled out of the primordial slime.

Apple watches use the same kind of system as the one Marc Newson designed for Ikepod 30 years ago… strap is held inside not outside the watch body, and the connector works very well indeed. No pin, super easy to swap out straps, maintains consistent light sensor location and connection, tough, reliable, comfortable, good design, works well. One of the better attributes of the Apple watches… glad they’ve kept with it.


 
Posted : 13/08/2022 4:56 pm
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You can never go wrong with a Barton watch band. I've got loads for my proper watches. Not cheap, but good value for money as the quality is there.


 
Posted : 13/08/2022 5:11 pm
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Just buy official but old straps cheap.

Only thing to note, is older straps interfere with the compass in the newer watches. Found this out when I tried the strap from my 4 on my 7.


 
Posted : 13/08/2022 5:13 pm
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I’ve bought a few cheapies from Amazon, they’ve all been fine. As long as you avoid the ones that cost pennies you’ll be alright.
I’ve not seen one with nato stripes though.


 
Posted : 13/08/2022 7:38 pm

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