With no official support from Apple, the third-party strap market for Apple Watch is still a bit of a wild-west, but there are some companies making it possible and offering inexpensive alternatives to Apple’s own bands.
Apple might have its own exclusive strap colors available for a select few, but you’ll likely need to go the third-party route if you want a similar level of customization for your Apple Watch.
Below we’ve put together a list of third-party bands already available to order, as well as adapters for traditional straps and replacement straps for Apple’s leather bands.
Custom bands from Casetify ($50)
Casetify is bringing its online tool for custom designing iPhone cases to the Apple Watch. Get $10 off by clicking here and using code “KQQ6I5”.
Apple’s Bands ($49 – $449), Magnetic Charging Cable ($29/$39)
Apple is selling its own bands for Apple Watch that range from $49 for the rubber Sport Band up to $449 for the stainless steel Link Bracelets.
Click adapter for standard watch straps ($10)
Can you use standard watch straps with Apple Watch? Not without an accessory like Click, which offers an adapter to attach any standard 22mm watch band to Apple’s proprietary slide-in mechanism for swapping bands. The company has already doubled its funding goal on Kickstarter and plans to start shipping in late May/early June. With Click, you’ll be able to use a huge selection of bands that fit the standard 22mm specs.
wiPowerBand strap ($89/$99)
wiPowerBand strap plans to double Apple Watch battery life with an integrated 250 mAh high density lithium polymer rechargeable battery for $89/$99, ships May/June.
Monowear straps ($59 – $99)
After a successful crowdfunding campaign, Monowear is taking orders for a large collection of nylon, leather, and metal straps ranging from $59-$99.
Baseus Leather Replacement Strap for Classic Buckle ($20)
Some companies have started making replacement straps for Apple’s Classic or Modern Buckle leather straps. It doesn’t include Apple’s mechanism for actually attaching to Apple Watch, so this is for customers of Apple’s Classic or Modern Buckle bands that want to do the required disassembly to attach a new band— tools are included. Or you could use it with an adapter like Click mentioned above. $20 in various colors. Other companies have similar options.
Reserve Strap with built-in battery ($249)
The first promise of a strap with built-in battery for charging comes from the $249 Reserve Strap. The company is taking preorders through its site, but it hasn’t announced a release date and says the first batch of Reserve Straps will be “extremely limited.”
MyCell replacement bands ($25 – $75)
MyCell is promising replacement, replica (knockoff) bands that look a lot like Apple’s, ranging from $25 for a Sport knock-off to $224 for stainless steel. You’ll of course be taking your chances with these, and I wouldn’t expect anything close to the quality of Apple’s.
Lunatik’s Epik Apple Watch Kit
Accessory maker Lunatik plans to launch this protective case and strap combo, the Epik Apple Watch Kit, on Kickstarter.
If you’re a company selling third-party Apple Watch bands, email me to be included.
Check out our other Apple Watch roundups:
- The best Apple Watch accessories: bands, cases, docks, screen protectors & more
- The best protective covers, cases, & bags for Apple Watch
- The best Apple Watch stands and docks
- The best Apple Watch apps you can download now
- Apple Watch gains pill reminders, doctor consultations & more from a dozen new healthcare apps
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No love for Monowear?
I love you guys. I do. And I always click these stories out of hope for new things, but damn if you don’t just keep giving us not only the same accessory makers but the same damn products every single time!
We need new things! Like a RED band that’s purchasable! Or a company doing something different. I dunno. I’m not much help in telling you what we want, but I can say it is not the same products regurgitated with new comments beneath them. :( sorry. I do love you though.
Well it’s just a roundup of straps that have been announced– something readers have asked me for. A few of the products were featured in previous roundups that included all accessories, or news stories, but many were not.
The Click Kickstarter campaign already ended and now has a website dedicated to preordering. Also, it raised more than double its goal (more than 7 times actually) so…not so up-to-date information in this article.
I don’t understand the reasoning for a “case” or “bumper” for your Apple Watch. It’s not like the thing is going to fall or anything. It’s strapped to your wrist. And if you bump it into anything, it’s likely the face is going to get the brunt of it, not the shell and back of the device. If anything, these companies should be focusing on screen protectors. And even thats a stretch, considering everything but the Sport is made from sapphire.
“Everything but the Sport…”
So if only 75% of the watches sold will need it, why bother?
Lol that’s on a million or so preordered.
I think “need” is a little bit of a stretch
There’s a sucker born every minute
Utterly…frickin…ridiculous. “Modern day plastic furniture covers” doesn’t even begin to explain it. P.T. Barnum said, there’s a sucker born every minute.
I am looking for an extra long band, probably about 2 inches longer than the silicon bands that you can get with the Apple Watch, does anyone know where I can find them?