Since first trying on the new Apple Watch Ultra, I’ve been inundated with questions about which band to choose. While it may seem like there are many models of the Apple Watch Ultra, in reality, there’s only one hardware model, with three types of bands. Each band has a different target market, though they overlap quite a bit. And honestly, any of the three bands can be worn for any activity equally well.
Note that while there are three core band variants, they do come in a handful of colors each. I don’t have all the colors, but that doesn’t impact the wearability. So in my case, I wore each band through a variety of workouts and daily usage, enough to get a good feel for things. In some cases – such as the Alpine Loop, I also wore it during a 70KM/14hour hike. You know, just to put it through its alpine paces. Meanwhile, for the Ocean band, I wore that for both day usage, as well as an openwater swim. And for the Trail Loop, for both workouts and daily usage. I also slept at least one night with all three types. Which, sounds wrong when you write it out that way.
Note one super important detail – aside from also coming in different colors, they also come in different sizes. I promise you, this will *ABSOLUTELY* make a difference between you liking the band and hating it. Size matters. Oh, and to preempt sizing questions. My wrist size is 17cm (or about 6.5 inches), and I’m 6’2”/188cm tall. My wife seen in some shots here has a wrist size of 14cm (or 5.5 inches) and is 5’2”/158cm tall.
Got all that? Good, let’s get rolling.
(Finally, semi-related, note that these new Ultra bands do work with existing Apple Watch 44mm & 45mm watches. And inversely, other bands from Apple Watch 42mm, 44mm, and 45mm watches all work with the Apple Watch Ultra units.)
The Alpine Loop:
Based on all the feedback I’ve seen thus far, this is by far the fan favorite – at least visually. And if my opinion counts for anything, it’s absolutely my favorite design-wise as well. It just looks so sharp, both in person and in photos. It’s no wonder that Apple almost always defaults to this version in most of their Apple Watch Ultra marketing bits. It pops, is clearly recognizable, and says ‘Yo, I’m orange traffic cone meets $800 watch!”
The way the Alpine Loop band works is that it doubles back on itself, and you latch the metal clasp into one of the little sewn loops. This actually has two somewhat interesting effects. Each adjustment (different hook level) that you pick impacts how loose the watch is. Which in turn, impacts optical HR (heart rate) sensor accuracy. So you might wear it on one specific hook for workout usage (where snug/tighter is better to prevent bounce, as bounce introduces accuracy issues), and then a different hook for daily usage.
However, what you quickly realize is that you can simply count-off how many hooks you are from the top of the band. In my case, I’ll generally wear it on the 2nd to last hook for workouts, and 3rd to last hook for daily usage (using the large size model).
There is no Velcro at all here. This is purely all about hooks and loops. The only adjustability is which loop you put the hook in, as that in turn ‘normalizes’ the rest of the strap, including how it fits when it wraps through the other side of the watch.
Those of you that watched my initial Apple Watch Ultra hands-on video shot at the Apple Keynote remember me saying that I loved the Apple Watch Alpine Loop visually, but found it a solid pain in the ass to get on/off. Given I was putting it on/off repeatedly in a short timeframe, my assessment at the time was valid. However, I think two things might have impacted it in terms of longer usage.
The first is that I don’t actually know which size bands I was using at the time. I just don’t have photos of it. Whereas the strap I’ve been using is specifically a Large strap. The Large works well, though I suspect a Medium would give me a touch bit more leeway.
The second piece that impacted my thinking is that I was frequently taking the strap on/off. Which, is somewhat annoying. As I type this, I just finished going through an airport security checkpoint, and in the heat of the last-second rush through the machines, I realized I didn’t have my watch off, so I struggled to quickly remove it, since the little curled hook portion kept catching. Of course, it’s designed to do that, so it doesn’t fall off.
However, in the real world of the Apple Watch Ultra, you’re only charging every other day (based on my testing), so removing it to charge is only happening every other day, and likely in less frenzied conditions than either an airport security checkpoint or the media-frenzy of the hands-on testing tables following the annual Apple keynote session.
And here’s my wife with it. Obviously, this ‘Large’ strap is far too big for her. She’d need a small, but I figured I’d include it nonetheless:
There are three color options for this band, all available in small (130mm-160mm wrists), medium (145-190mm wrists), or large (165mm-210mm wrists). They are: Orange, White (Starlight), and Green.
The Trail Loop:
This strap is probably my favorite to wear, though not my favorite in terms of looks (that’s the orange Alpine Loop). The Trail Loop is very similar to other trail-style watch bands we’ve seen from Garmin (on their Enduro watches), COROS (on their Pace 2 watches), and other companies. By no means did any of these endurance sport watches pioneer this concept – it’s been around a while.
The appeal of the Trail Loop style band is that it’s infinitely adjustable, and quickly adjustable. Given there are no pre-set holes/hooks/loops, you can get it exactly as tight (or loose) as you want it, ideal for optimum heart rate sensor accuracy. It’s also ideal when you want to tighten up the strap for a workout, but then quickly loosen it post-workout for a more casual feel. In my case, I’m wearing a medium/large strap.
The strap snaps in both ends of the watch, and then loops onto itself. It has four Velcro pads, so it’s pretty darn secure. Companies often only have one or two Velcro sections, but this has four separate sections that act as a fault tolerance failover cluster.
One tiny little nice touch on the Apple Trail Loop band, is if you look above at the 2nd to the last Velcro chunk, it actually has a small rectangular stopper sewn into it. Meaning, it can’t go all the way out of the metal clasp system (whereas both Garmin & COROS fabric straps lack that). Now, that doesn’t mean it can’t fall off your wrist – because at that point it’s crazy loose. But, it does keep the strap from unraveling entirely.
Like the Alpine Loop, it retains water after a shower. So, keep that in mind.
As noted earlier, this is probably my favorite strap in terms of wearability/usage and ease of adjustment, though I don’t find it as pleasing visually/style-wise as the Alpine Loop one. Also note that while I wouldn’t be that concerned about wearing this strap swimming, I would be super concerned with wearing it surfing – or any other potentially high-impact situation. With normal swimming, you’d feel it getting looser and flopping around if somehow the Velcro came loose. But with surfing, a wave could basically pull it off in an instant and you’d never have a chance.
Here it is on my wife’s wrist. Initially, this is the medium/large, which technically fits, but is a touch too big and the tab kinda sticks up all weird.
So she switched to the Small band, and that fit perfectly. Well, band-wise anyways.
Color options: Note, there are three color options for this band, all available in small (fitting 130-180mm wrists) or medium/large (145mm-200mm wrists), they are: Yellow/Beige, Black/Grey (with orange accent bit), and Blue/Grey.
The Ocean Band:
First up, and most importantly – this band is not a loop. I mean, sure, it has a gazillion little noodle-like loops and even a magical metal loop inside of it, but this is technically a normal watch band that doesn’t do a loop-de-loop. However, despite its lack-of-loop (LOL) status, it makes up for it with its slightly unique metal clasp system. This strap is also specifically designed to be a bit larger and more viable for fitting over wetsuits – and even has a secondary extension strap you can buy for $50. Of course, keep in mind if you put it over a wetsuit, you’ll lose any heart rate sensor-related data.
If you check out the parts, you’ve got basically three pieces: The top strap, the lower strap, and then a small metal thingy. The small metal thingy is actually an adjustable strap keeper, that ensures your strap doesn’t flop around.
You’ll insert the top and lower portions like normal, and then you get to play trial & error with the carbineer-like metal thingy to find the right holes to stick it in:
Essentially you’ve gotta find a hole that allows a snug fit when you want it for workouts, perhaps a slightly loose fit (one or two notches) for daily use, all while not having the extra strap piece flopping around like a kite in the wind.
Anyways, once all that’s done, off ya go – wearing the strap. Obviously, with its silicon-like feeling, it feels the most rigid of the straps (technically it’s fluoroelastomer, which is a more expensive silicon variant). And because of that find-the-right-hole balance, it might feel too snug or too loose unless you get it just right. The benefit though, is that it doesn’t retain water. Take for example my openwater swim yesterday:
Water rolls right off after I get out of the water, and then again the same for the shower a short time later. Though, some water does stay inside the little noodle-like channels. So you end up getting random droplets later on. Giving it a shake or too helps get most of it out – still, at one point during a conference call 30 minutes later I was like “Wait, where’d these water drops on my desk come from?”.
But don’t overthink it. Either of the other two straps retain water as well – and in that case, it lasts a fair bit longer. I like this strap, but it’s probably my least favorite out of the three. Obviously, if I have to rank them, someone has to come last. It doesn’t mean it’s bad, it just means it’s not first or second.
Here it is on my wife. It’s her favorite, merely because it doesn’t retain water. As she saw me switching out my older Apple Watch straps onto the Ultra for the video, she was like “Oh, I’d rather just have those straps”.
Color options: Note, there are three color options for this band, all available in a single length (fitting 130mm-200mm wrists), they are: White, Yellow, or Blue. However, there’s *ALSO* a 50mm extension strap that can be bought, for thicker wetsuits/dry suits or just gigantic lumberjack wrists. That extension is $49.
Wrap-Up:
I never thought I could write so much about some silly straps, but…here I am. Welcome to Apple Watch Ultra mania.
Nonetheless, I’d be happy with any of these options. I suspect long term I’ll probably settle on the Alpine Loop (orange), simply because it’s most aesthetically pleasing to me. For most sports, any of the three options would work. However, I would be slightly hesitant with using the Trail Loop in either surfing or a mass-start triathlon (specifically due to contact with others during the swim, not because of the swimming aspect itself). Mass-start triathlons have a long history of drowning people’s watches due to the often abrasive wrestle-mania nature of the first few hundred meters.
Of course, there’s an entire world of straps beyond just Apple’s own offerings. These range from cheap knock-offs to expensive luxury variants. Undoubtedly that’ll continue with new straps aimed at the Apple Watch Ultra crowd. And remember, you can still use existing 44/45mm straps with the Apple Watch Ultra as well.
With that – thanks for reading!
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Looking at the photo in wrap-up I just think that top two straps are not the best choices to spend the time on the beach (“constructing sand castles” activity ;). All these holes probably will be filled by sand, which you find later for example in your laptop keyboard – hopefully I’m wrong…
A little rinse in the sea and the sink afterwards with fresh water is a must, the watch is water resistant but, sea salt destroys any metal after a while, it doesn’t costs much work or money but, it saves you a lot in the long run, besides is what should always do with any watch, all bands and bracelets catch sand in odd places.
I wonder how long the holes on the alpine loop will last before getting too stretched out. It seems the metal hook getting will eventually wear them out especially if you adjust the strap or remove the watch often
I have a Mammut backpack with the same system.
Can’t guarantee that it’s the same level of built quality, but it holds up nicely after 4 years of daily usage (at higher weights).
On your comment: One tiny little nice touch on the Apple Trail Loop band, is if you look above at the 2nd to the last Velcro chunk, it actually has a small rectangular stopper sewn into it. Meaning, it can’t go all the way out of the metal clasp system (whereas both Garmin & COROS fabric straps lack that).
You are correct about the Garmin fabric strap – which can inadvertently get pulled out when taking off the wrist – but Im currently wearing the COROS fabric strap and it has a hard plastic, end of strap stopper to prevent it from doing just that. You can completely undo the velcro and it stays looped. :) They are also only $35.
Yup, towards the end of the video (around the 10:30ish marker) there’s some video where i swap it to a regular Apple Watch SE. I don’t have any photos handy at the moment (and not at the office), but you can see it there.
I have one question related to something that you said: the third strap is bigger to fit over the wetsuit for surfing etc. does that mean this AW does not auto pause when stopped detecting your skin? That’s something that bothers me with AW for CrossFit-like workouts (the fear of a kettlebell smashing the AW). And it could also affect outdoor sports such cycling (strap paired this you can wear the watch over the sleeves, for example).
Right now I use the OH1 stand-alone and update the workout via polar but this approach lacks some of the insights of the new Workout app.
Yeah, it’s on my to-do list to see how that works with the Dive app, possibly this weekend. But in theory, yeah, it’s not supposed to fail like before.
That’s a good callout about the trail loop being less secure in high surf (I’m guessing the same goes for the alpine one). If the surf is strong enough to rip fins off, the ocean band seems the only viable option, would you agree?
I actually think either Alpine Loop or Ocean is probably fine surfing to be honest. The mechanics of removing the metal clasp (which has a little hook at the end of it) is actually pretty specific, and I think would be tougher than the mechanics of the sea unhooking the end of the Ocean Band secondary clasp.
That’s interesting. I might have to go to a store and try both the alpine and ocean. I was recently in 10ft surf bodyboarding and had my fenix 6s on. Massive waves/undercurrent ripped one of my fins off, but my watch stayed secure with the standard garmin band.
If the end of the Ocean band unhooks, does the rest easily come loose or is it still pretty secure?
Aesthetically I think I prefer the alpine but I don’t want to have to worry about losing it in rough conditions and I also don’t want to spend another 1/7th the cost of the watch on a separate strap.
The Ocean band is incredibly secure. If fastened per Apple’s instructions, I can’t imagine any way that the tail could come loose. But if it did, the buckle is also very secure. I think Apple made a serious attempt at a legitimate dive band.
Your description of how to secure the Alpine Loop doesn’t match the way the guy in the London Apple store showed me.
Firstly he pulled the strap through the upper lug where the irregularity of the smooth/loop material enables it to be secured. Only then did he place the hook through one of the loops to keep the strap from flapping around.
If it’s secured the way you describe, with the hook taking all the strain, you can imagine what might happen down the line.
I’m not sure I understand – I think we’re saying the same thing? You have to pull it tight against your skin first, and then you put the hook through. I don’t see any other possible way to use the strap?
I purchased the ocean strap since I spend about 1 to 2 hours in the pool, about 5 times a week. I find it has become comfortable to wear. I found some knockoff Alpine loops already available on our favorite knockoff site, Amazon.
Ray, your unbiased reviews did it for me, became a supporter. This is the go to site for what I feel is the most realistic information I can find about sports products.
What is the “wet” weight of the Alpine and Trail given they retain water? Yes they are lighter at 10gm compared to 30gm for the Ocean, but if they retain 10gr or more of water, then Ocean might be better weight wise during a sweaty run? Then again all these “holes” on Ocean might also trap water?
How are the new trail loop bands different from the sport loop bands that have been around for awhile? They look quite similar in materials and functionality. And, interesting that the Ultra with trail loop bands seem to be the least available. They didnt even have any to try out at the Apple store when I picked up my Ultra (with Alpine band).
Smaller size with smaller display: I thought a smaller battery should have the same battery consumption values as the regular ultra. But maybe my guess is wrong.
Prior to the Series 3 (I think), Apple quoted actual battery life specs in modest detail, and the 42mm version had about 20-25% more battery life than then 38mm version. Since the Series 3, they’ve been more vague and claimed the same-ish battery life for both versions.
Clearly, the size of the watch can affect the size of the battery, and larger batteries last longer. A smaller display will mitigate the energy usage somewhat, but even a smaller watch would have the same energy requirements for GPS, LTE, BTLE, Optical heart rate, etc.
I have no inside information, but my original guesstimate was that Apple would introduce a smaller option after 2-3 years. (That would beat Garmin, for example, who took 5 years to introduce the smaller version of the Fenix.) I’ve been surprised at how favorable the reaction to the Ultra has been, though. So I’ve revised my guesstimate and now think a smaller version after 1-2 years. Note that we still don’t know if Apple plans an annual release for the Ultra, so that could mean a smaller version is part of the next hardware update.
I would expect an annual release for the Ultra, and I would also expect that next year the SoC will be build on the 3nm process. That should reduce the power requirements and make the full size version way over 36 hours.
Ray, is the Trail Loop the same width as the existing nylon/velcro Sport Loops sold by Apple? Does the material feel any more premium? I ask because I was surprised to see the Ocean Band isn’t any wider than my Solo Loops and Sport Bands (the Alpine Band IS wider) so if the Trail Loop isn’t wider either than what are we all waiting for (they are all on backorder) other than $50 extra and a titanium vs. plastic lug? Thanks!
Ray can probably say more definitively since he has an actual Trail Loop, but from the product photos, it sure looks like the Alpine Loop uses the exact same lug adapters as the Trail Loop. Consequently, I would assume that both of those bands are the same width.
My Alpine Loop is just a shade under 26mm in width, and my Nike Sport Loop (45mm) is ever so slightly less than 24mm in width.
As for material, the Alphine Loop does look to be a finer weave than the regular Sport Loop, so it should feel softer on the wrist. It also has significantly more hook-and-loop surface area, so it should be more secure. And, of course, it has the extra “pull tab” loop that supposedly makes it easier to adjust.
I was originally expecting to prefer the Trail Loop, but got impatient and pre-ordered one with the Ocean Band. I also picked up an Alpine Loop in the store on launch. Turns out that I much prefer the Ocean Band to the Alpine Loop and, for similar reasons, expect to feel the same compared to the Trail Loop. I have slender wrists (15cm), and the integrated connectors of the Ocean Band are a much better fit than the lug adapters required for the Alpine and Trail Loops. Also the FKM rubber of the Ocean Band is super soft and feels much nicer than the nylon of the Alpine Loop. About the only thing I don’t like about the Ocean Band is that the cavities can collect water. Just as Ray notes, that can result in some unpleasant drips after a swim. Of course, the hollow nylon in either of the Loops would also collect water.
I don’t actually have a Sport Loop around, I’ve always just used the stock bands.
That said, looking at the imagery, beyond what Stephen noted, the most standout difference would be that the Trail Loop doesn’t have a rubber/plastic stopper at the end, instead, it’s the same width and uses the little internal blocker thingy to keep it from unreaveling.
yeah I returned my 2nd Alpine Loop to the Apple Store in favor of an Ocean Band which I like a lot more. I’m keeping the green Alpine Loop that came with my Ultra as a nice change of pace band. I did find it interesting that the Ocean Band is narrower than the Alpine and the same width as a standard Solo Loop or Sports Band from the 42/44/45 Apple Watches, I had assumed all the “ultra” bands had the same extra 2mm the Alpine band does to help visually work slightly better with the 49mm case of the Ultra. That said I think the Ocean Band looks great, only concerns with it are: 1) price, I find $99 near insanity for a silicone band even if it has a titanium loop and 2) the numerous hollow tubes I assume can collect dirt, salt, you name it and will be very difficult to clean I’d imagine.
I still have a Trail Band on order but I’m wondering if I should cancel it because I never was a huge fan of the Sports Loop and I suspect this is nothing but a glorified Sports Loop with a titanium lug instead of plastic, perhaps I should use the money on another Ocean Band at some point or some Solo Loops that I think look great with the Ultra.
> “perhaps I should use the money on another Ocean Band at some point or some Solo Loops that I think look great with the Ultra.”
If you’re willing to consider third parties, there are a few decent options. I’d recommend staying away from the cheaper bands, e.g. Barton Bandsand such on Amazon. Those bands are made either from silicone or TPU rubber, neither of which are great. Silicone is soft, but tears easily and is often a lint magnet. TPU is strong, but not at all soft on the skin. Instead, look for natural (caoutchouc) or FKM rubber (like Apple’s bands). That’s the right combination of softness and strength. It’s also unfortunately more expensive.
I don’t have first-hand experience with most of these, but Google suggests the following;
thanks so much, I might pickup another Ocean Band later but with the savings from canceling my Trail Band order (I realized no matter how much I try I don’t like fabric bands as much, nor bands that have lugs on the Apple Watch) I picked up two Nomad Sports Bands in new Ultra Orange and Marine Blue that look great and work like Apple Sports Bands. thanks again for the suggestions! link to nomadgoods.com
You mentioned water retention after a shower. Are the Alpine Loop and Trail Loop not going to be great for handling sweat? I sweat when I run or workout and as that is daily if those straps retain water it won’t be long before they stink. I might have expected a few more straps that would be more sweat resistant for a sports focused watch aside from the ocean band aimed at swimming and diving and still retains water anyway. Fully appreciate I can buy any number of existing sports based straps but for an ultra sports based watch I would like a sweat proof strap option in the box, especially at that cost.
All fabric bands absorb water/sweat. I don’t like them, as I jump from running to swimming and they never seem to dry. The Ocean Loop or any of your old bands you use with the 45mm that you like would be preferred. I really like the Ocean Loop. It’s not as big as the pictures make it out to be, and the way it’s shaped lets air circulate. It also grips well so the watch doesn’t move around when I run.
Thank you – that’s a shame… I like the look of the sport bands and how I can get a precise fit (not be in between holes/notches on the other straps) however the absorption is a deal breaker. plus, not convinced how resilient the velcro is over time
How hard is it to get on and adjust? Once tightened on your wrist, can you leave it fastened and pull it on and off? I mean, can it stretch to get it off?
Sweat isn’t as bad as an issue as washing hands or bathing, unless you sweat uncontrollably a lot, evaporation should take care of most of the sweat, under regular circumstances.
Fwiw, I haven’t swam with the alpine band but i did soak it in the shower. Dried more quickly than I expected
.
Interesting that the alpine loop and scuba bands are available for same day purchase. Trail loop has a multi-week wait. Are they much harder to manufacture?
So as a surfer, I’d be wearing my watch under my wetsuit cuff, and I fancy the trail strap for infinite adjustability, is the fact that a wave could knock it loose the only down side ? If so, I think the wet suit cuff would negate that
I think as long as it’s legit under your wetsuit, you’re totally fine. But just make sure it’s not on the edge of the cuff (meaning, it slides out from under the wetsuit as your time in the water passes).
FYI, (you may have mentioned this in another video), the Alpine Loop sizes are on the band ends in very small letters.
I recommend that you try them on before buying.
I measured my wrist at ~160mm, ordered, and then tried on a medium Alpine Loop, and it was too big. The small is a much better size, with more “tightness” options.
Would the Alpine Loop fit on a Garmin Enduro 2? I’m wondering if it is worth purchasing the strap to use with the Garmin for the adjustability aspect and aesthetic. Thanks!
Not unless you have access to an industrial grade sewing machine. You’d have to cut the strap to remove the Apple Watch adapters and then sew in the Garmin equivalents. Also, the Alpine Loop is 26mm wide. I don’t know if any Garmin watch can accommodate that width.
I originally bought the alpine loop but hated it immediately because it was annoying to take on and off. It also was stiff and the Watch didn’t sit flat against my wrist. No doubt it would loosen up but being annoying to take on and off is a deal breaker for me. Swapped it (and the watch because apparently you can’t just change the band) for the scuba band which I had doubts about – those holes looked like they would hold water (did the designers actually scuba dive?) Yep! they hold water as you say and no doubt will collect dirt or sand at the beach too. Didn’t even bother with the other band as it looked like it would stay wet after a dive or shower or washing my hands too. I took the simple plastic band off my old Apple Watch 4 and am using that now. As far as I’m concerned all three ultra bands are duds especially when you consider how they are marketed at people who are active and outdoorsy!
What do you think is the best band for open water swimming? I am currently using a sport loop but I bought the Ultra yesterday and I will try with the Alpine Loop as well.
By the way, water temperature is only shown in dive app? I hope Apple allows third party apps to make use of the water temperature sensor. I use Myswimpro app and hopefully they will find a way to implement water temperature in that app.
Do you know if third party apps such as Myswimpro can take advantage of the dual band GPS in the Ultra? Or do we have to use the native workout app for open water swimming to get the most out of the new GPS system?
Please, what is the width of the nylon in the place marked in the picture. I really like the strap and wonder if it could be modified for the Garmin Fenix 6X by cutting off the ends. The Garmin 6X has a band width of 26mm. Thanks a lot!
The Alpine Loop is 26mm wide. Since the adapters are titanium, you’ll need something that can cut titanium but with fine enough control not to harm the fabric.
Just to point out that the loop “thingy” should be locked on inside of the Ocean band to avoid getting stuck on a thread, line or fiber of any kind, minimizing to be opened by mistake with disastrous results, during water sports.
Bands or bracelet are subject to preferences or other consideration, my most liked is first, the Ocean band, second the Alpine loop which like you said it get a little used to hook and unhook. In any case you have many more to choose from.
Good info. I like my ocean loop but it has developed a tear near the clasp after about 6 weeks. I’m in the water a lot. Apple is replacing it, but I am wondering if anyone else has had this issue.
Do you think the alpine band can be used when diving? My husband got me the Apple Watch ultra to use while diving but got me the alpine band instead of the ocean band. Should I get a different band for diving? Thanks!
There shouldn’t be a problem other than getting wet, also should be wear it tight, but, you could get an extension for the ocean one in case is needed, any band looks resistant enough, but I wouldn’t push it too hard, especially on sharp places, remember, resistant to abrasion does not mean 100% cut proof.
Agree, there’s no technical issus with using it. And obviously, the Alpine band can wet no problem. As Humberto noted, really the only very minor concern would be if you were spending a lot of time in sharp places (e.g. caves), but even then, the Alpine band is pretty durable, so it would take a heck of an impact to cut it.
To me, that’d kinda in the bucket of “if you’re Alpine Band gets cut off while diving, then honestly, the watch is probably the least of your issues”. I’d be checking whether your limbs are still there…
Hi, I have exactly same thing here: my sister got me Ultra with Apline Strap as a gift, but I am concerned about using while surfing. How has been your scuba sessions so far with the Apline Strap? How is it keeping up?
I have the alpine loop in white. While I feel it’s very secure and I love the look, it gets so dirty that it looks beige after just a few wears. I’ve read that it can be washed, and I will try that, but I’m not thrilled about the idea. Also, after four months I feel like I am using a different loop to make it tighter since it is stretching. While it looks great (when not dirty,) I’ll be looking for a new band soon.
Didn’t realise it before but I must have a really big wrist. I have about 1” left on my Garmin strap but when I measure my wrist it’s 220mm which is the extreme end of the trail band and bigger than the other two. Shame there’s no XL as I’d prefer the alpine band – having said that I’ve not actually tried one on yet but was hoping to avoid going into town.
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Looking at the photo in wrap-up I just think that top two straps are not the best choices to spend the time on the beach (“constructing sand castles” activity ;). All these holes probably will be filled by sand, which you find later for example in your laptop keyboard – hopefully I’m wrong…
A little rinse in the sea and the sink afterwards with fresh water is a must, the watch is water resistant but, sea salt destroys any metal after a while, it doesn’t costs much work or money but, it saves you a lot in the long run, besides is what should always do with any watch, all bands and bracelets catch sand in odd places.
I wonder how long the holes on the alpine loop will last before getting too stretched out. It seems the metal hook getting will eventually wear them out especially if you adjust the strap or remove the watch often
I have a Mammut backpack with the same system.
Can’t guarantee that it’s the same level of built quality, but it holds up nicely after 4 years of daily usage (at higher weights).
“There is no Velcro at all here. This is purely all about hooks and loops.” I’m solely here for the jokes. Made my day, thanks Ray!
On your comment: One tiny little nice touch on the Apple Trail Loop band, is if you look above at the 2nd to the last Velcro chunk, it actually has a small rectangular stopper sewn into it. Meaning, it can’t go all the way out of the metal clasp system (whereas both Garmin & COROS fabric straps lack that).
You are correct about the Garmin fabric strap – which can inadvertently get pulled out when taking off the wrist – but Im currently wearing the COROS fabric strap and it has a hard plastic, end of strap stopper to prevent it from doing just that. You can completely undo the velcro and it stays looped. :) They are also only $35.
Yeah, but the stopper – at least on the model I have, can actually slide out sideways. Though, yours looks newer (two-tone?). Interesting.
Do you have a picture of these bands on a regular Apple Watch?
Yup, towards the end of the video (around the 10:30ish marker) there’s some video where i swap it to a regular Apple Watch SE. I don’t have any photos handy at the moment (and not at the office), but you can see it there.
I really like the look of the Ocean band, but the Trail Loop on the aforementioned Coros Pace 2 is a great band to actually wear.
Thanks for being a supporter Mark!
Thanks for your review! Amazing as always.
I have one question related to something that you said: the third strap is bigger to fit over the wetsuit for surfing etc. does that mean this AW does not auto pause when stopped detecting your skin? That’s something that bothers me with AW for CrossFit-like workouts (the fear of a kettlebell smashing the AW). And it could also affect outdoor sports such cycling (strap paired this you can wear the watch over the sleeves, for example).
Right now I use the OH1 stand-alone and update the workout via polar but this approach lacks some of the insights of the new Workout app.
Yeah, it’s on my to-do list to see how that works with the Dive app, possibly this weekend. But in theory, yeah, it’s not supposed to fail like before.
That’s a good callout about the trail loop being less secure in high surf (I’m guessing the same goes for the alpine one). If the surf is strong enough to rip fins off, the ocean band seems the only viable option, would you agree?
I actually think either Alpine Loop or Ocean is probably fine surfing to be honest. The mechanics of removing the metal clasp (which has a little hook at the end of it) is actually pretty specific, and I think would be tougher than the mechanics of the sea unhooking the end of the Ocean Band secondary clasp.
That’s interesting. I might have to go to a store and try both the alpine and ocean. I was recently in 10ft surf bodyboarding and had my fenix 6s on. Massive waves/undercurrent ripped one of my fins off, but my watch stayed secure with the standard garmin band.
If the end of the Ocean band unhooks, does the rest easily come loose or is it still pretty secure?
Aesthetically I think I prefer the alpine but I don’t want to have to worry about losing it in rough conditions and I also don’t want to spend another 1/7th the cost of the watch on a separate strap.
The Ocean band is incredibly secure. If fastened per Apple’s instructions, I can’t imagine any way that the tail could come loose. But if it did, the buckle is also very secure. I think Apple made a serious attempt at a legitimate dive band.
The alpine loop also stretches so if it’s adjusted tight, that also helps it keep safely on the wrist, the only downside being stay wet longer.
Your description of how to secure the Alpine Loop doesn’t match the way the guy in the London Apple store showed me.
Firstly he pulled the strap through the upper lug where the irregularity of the smooth/loop material enables it to be secured. Only then did he place the hook through one of the loops to keep the strap from flapping around.
If it’s secured the way you describe, with the hook taking all the strain, you can imagine what might happen down the line.
I’m not sure I understand – I think we’re saying the same thing? You have to pull it tight against your skin first, and then you put the hook through. I don’t see any other possible way to use the strap?
I purchased the ocean strap since I spend about 1 to 2 hours in the pool, about 5 times a week. I find it has become comfortable to wear. I found some knockoff Alpine loops already available on our favorite knockoff site, Amazon.
Ray, your unbiased reviews did it for me, became a supporter. This is the go to site for what I feel is the most realistic information I can find about sports products.
Will you be reviewing the Engo 2 sunglasses with the Activewear display? link to us.engoeyewear.com
What is the “wet” weight of the Alpine and Trail given they retain water? Yes they are lighter at 10gm compared to 30gm for the Ocean, but if they retain 10gr or more of water, then Ocean might be better weight wise during a sweaty run? Then again all these “holes” on Ocean might also trap water?
How are the new trail loop bands different from the sport loop bands that have been around for awhile? They look quite similar in materials and functionality. And, interesting that the Ultra with trail loop bands seem to be the least available. They didnt even have any to try out at the Apple store when I picked up my Ultra (with Alpine band).
The alpine loop has a hook to secure it, the trail loop is Velcro like.
That watch looks entirely too large on your wife.
All the rugged sport watches are big, that’s the trade off for a bigger battery and tons of info on the display
I am really wondering, why apple has not released a smaller ultra, which also (much better) fits for smaller women wrists?
The larger case size is almost all due to battery. It really can’t be an Ultra without that large battery.
Smaller size with smaller display: I thought a smaller battery should have the same battery consumption values as the regular ultra. But maybe my guess is wrong.
Prior to the Series 3 (I think), Apple quoted actual battery life specs in modest detail, and the 42mm version had about 20-25% more battery life than then 38mm version. Since the Series 3, they’ve been more vague and claimed the same-ish battery life for both versions.
Clearly, the size of the watch can affect the size of the battery, and larger batteries last longer. A smaller display will mitigate the energy usage somewhat, but even a smaller watch would have the same energy requirements for GPS, LTE, BTLE, Optical heart rate, etc.
I have no inside information, but my original guesstimate was that Apple would introduce a smaller option after 2-3 years. (That would beat Garmin, for example, who took 5 years to introduce the smaller version of the Fenix.) I’ve been surprised at how favorable the reaction to the Ultra has been, though. So I’ve revised my guesstimate and now think a smaller version after 1-2 years. Note that we still don’t know if Apple plans an annual release for the Ultra, so that could mean a smaller version is part of the next hardware update.
I would expect an annual release for the Ultra, and I would also expect that next year the SoC will be build on the 3nm process. That should reduce the power requirements and make the full size version way over 36 hours.
teardown confirms that the Apple Watch Ultra is equipped with a 542 mAh battery, which is 76% larger than the Apple Watch Series 8’s 308 mAh battery
I own the Ultra and the actual display size is like only 2% larger than the 8. The bezel is bigger to accomidate the large battery.
I have the Ultra and my wrist is small. It took a few days to get adjusted to the size but I love it.
It’s an extreme sports watch, that’s why you have to get easy readable info in a big screen, most of them are big, for regular use get an AW8
Wrist size in cm?
Ray, is the Trail Loop the same width as the existing nylon/velcro Sport Loops sold by Apple? Does the material feel any more premium? I ask because I was surprised to see the Ocean Band isn’t any wider than my Solo Loops and Sport Bands (the Alpine Band IS wider) so if the Trail Loop isn’t wider either than what are we all waiting for (they are all on backorder) other than $50 extra and a titanium vs. plastic lug? Thanks!
Ray can probably say more definitively since he has an actual Trail Loop, but from the product photos, it sure looks like the Alpine Loop uses the exact same lug adapters as the Trail Loop. Consequently, I would assume that both of those bands are the same width.
My Alpine Loop is just a shade under 26mm in width, and my Nike Sport Loop (45mm) is ever so slightly less than 24mm in width.
As for material, the Alphine Loop does look to be a finer weave than the regular Sport Loop, so it should feel softer on the wrist. It also has significantly more hook-and-loop surface area, so it should be more secure. And, of course, it has the extra “pull tab” loop that supposedly makes it easier to adjust.
I was originally expecting to prefer the Trail Loop, but got impatient and pre-ordered one with the Ocean Band. I also picked up an Alpine Loop in the store on launch. Turns out that I much prefer the Ocean Band to the Alpine Loop and, for similar reasons, expect to feel the same compared to the Trail Loop. I have slender wrists (15cm), and the integrated connectors of the Ocean Band are a much better fit than the lug adapters required for the Alpine and Trail Loops. Also the FKM rubber of the Ocean Band is super soft and feels much nicer than the nylon of the Alpine Loop. About the only thing I don’t like about the Ocean Band is that the cavities can collect water. Just as Ray notes, that can result in some unpleasant drips after a swim. Of course, the hollow nylon in either of the Loops would also collect water.
I don’t actually have a Sport Loop around, I’ve always just used the stock bands.
That said, looking at the imagery, beyond what Stephen noted, the most standout difference would be that the Trail Loop doesn’t have a rubber/plastic stopper at the end, instead, it’s the same width and uses the little internal blocker thingy to keep it from unreaveling.
yeah I returned my 2nd Alpine Loop to the Apple Store in favor of an Ocean Band which I like a lot more. I’m keeping the green Alpine Loop that came with my Ultra as a nice change of pace band. I did find it interesting that the Ocean Band is narrower than the Alpine and the same width as a standard Solo Loop or Sports Band from the 42/44/45 Apple Watches, I had assumed all the “ultra” bands had the same extra 2mm the Alpine band does to help visually work slightly better with the 49mm case of the Ultra. That said I think the Ocean Band looks great, only concerns with it are: 1) price, I find $99 near insanity for a silicone band even if it has a titanium loop and 2) the numerous hollow tubes I assume can collect dirt, salt, you name it and will be very difficult to clean I’d imagine.
I still have a Trail Band on order but I’m wondering if I should cancel it because I never was a huge fan of the Sports Loop and I suspect this is nothing but a glorified Sports Loop with a titanium lug instead of plastic, perhaps I should use the money on another Ocean Band at some point or some Solo Loops that I think look great with the Ultra.
> “I find $99 near insanity for a silicone band even if it has a titanium loop”
Says someone who hasn’t shopped for rubber straps for “dive” watches such as Rolex Submariners or Omega Seamasters.
Everest: $230
Horus: $235
Isofrane: $190
RubberB: $250
Zealande: $175
And if you want to buy an OEM strap for either, you’ll be lucky to get one for less than $500.
> “perhaps I should use the money on another Ocean Band at some point or some Solo Loops that I think look great with the Ultra.”
If you’re willing to consider third parties, there are a few decent options. I’d recommend staying away from the cheaper bands, e.g. Barton Bandsand such on Amazon. Those bands are made either from silicone or TPU rubber, neither of which are great. Silicone is soft, but tears easily and is often a lint magnet. TPU is strong, but not at all soft on the skin. Instead, look for natural (caoutchouc) or FKM rubber (like Apple’s bands). That’s the right combination of softness and strength. It’s also unfortunately more expensive.
I don’t have first-hand experience with most of these, but Google suggests the following;
Nomad Goods: link to nomadgoods.com
Meridio: link to meridioband.com
Hirsch with Apple Adapters: link to dressmywatch.com
Momentum: link to momentumwatch.com
Other vendors sell general purpose FKM straps which you can use with Apple Watch adapters.
thanks so much, I might pickup another Ocean Band later but with the savings from canceling my Trail Band order (I realized no matter how much I try I don’t like fabric bands as much, nor bands that have lugs on the Apple Watch) I picked up two Nomad Sports Bands in new Ultra Orange and Marine Blue that look great and work like Apple Sports Bands. thanks again for the suggestions! link to nomadgoods.com
You mentioned water retention after a shower. Are the Alpine Loop and Trail Loop not going to be great for handling sweat? I sweat when I run or workout and as that is daily if those straps retain water it won’t be long before they stink. I might have expected a few more straps that would be more sweat resistant for a sports focused watch aside from the ocean band aimed at swimming and diving and still retains water anyway. Fully appreciate I can buy any number of existing sports based straps but for an ultra sports based watch I would like a sweat proof strap option in the box, especially at that cost.
I would like to know this as well – what’s the deal with sweat / water retention on the Alpine loop? (or the previously launched Apple sports loops)
All fabric bands absorb water/sweat. I don’t like them, as I jump from running to swimming and they never seem to dry. The Ocean Loop or any of your old bands you use with the 45mm that you like would be preferred. I really like the Ocean Loop. It’s not as big as the pictures make it out to be, and the way it’s shaped lets air circulate. It also grips well so the watch doesn’t move around when I run.
Thank you – that’s a shame… I like the look of the sport bands and how I can get a precise fit (not be in between holes/notches on the other straps) however the absorption is a deal breaker. plus, not convinced how resilient the velcro is over time
How hard is it to get on and adjust? Once tightened on your wrist, can you leave it fastened and pull it on and off? I mean, can it stretch to get it off?
Sweat isn’t as bad as an issue as washing hands or bathing, unless you sweat uncontrollably a lot, evaporation should take care of most of the sweat, under regular circumstances.
Fwiw, I haven’t swam with the alpine band but i did soak it in the shower. Dried more quickly than I expected
.
Interesting that the alpine loop and scuba bands are available for same day purchase. Trail loop has a multi-week wait. Are they much harder to manufacture?
So as a surfer, I’d be wearing my watch under my wetsuit cuff, and I fancy the trail strap for infinite adjustability, is the fact that a wave could knock it loose the only down side ? If so, I think the wet suit cuff would negate that
I think as long as it’s legit under your wetsuit, you’re totally fine. But just make sure it’s not on the edge of the cuff (meaning, it slides out from under the wetsuit as your time in the water passes).
FYI, (you may have mentioned this in another video), the Alpine Loop sizes are on the band ends in very small letters.
I recommend that you try them on before buying.
I measured my wrist at ~160mm, ordered, and then tried on a medium Alpine Loop, and it was too big. The small is a much better size, with more “tightness” options.
Hi!! I want to try it all!!
Thanks for the info!
Would the Alpine Loop fit on a Garmin Enduro 2? I’m wondering if it is worth purchasing the strap to use with the Garmin for the adjustability aspect and aesthetic. Thanks!
Not unless you have access to an industrial grade sewing machine. You’d have to cut the strap to remove the Apple Watch adapters and then sew in the Garmin equivalents. Also, the Alpine Loop is 26mm wide. I don’t know if any Garmin watch can accommodate that width.
how would you clean the orange one? I find mine is dirty after a few weeks of wear
I originally bought the alpine loop but hated it immediately because it was annoying to take on and off. It also was stiff and the Watch didn’t sit flat against my wrist. No doubt it would loosen up but being annoying to take on and off is a deal breaker for me. Swapped it (and the watch because apparently you can’t just change the band) for the scuba band which I had doubts about – those holes looked like they would hold water (did the designers actually scuba dive?) Yep! they hold water as you say and no doubt will collect dirt or sand at the beach too. Didn’t even bother with the other band as it looked like it would stay wet after a dive or shower or washing my hands too. I took the simple plastic band off my old Apple Watch 4 and am using that now. As far as I’m concerned all three ultra bands are duds especially when you consider how they are marketed at people who are active and outdoorsy!
Thanks for this article.
Pet peeve:
It’s “silicone” not “silicon”.
Silicon is an element on the periodic table; integrated circuits are made of it.
As you clearly know, silicone is the stretchy elastomer like material many watch bands (and a host of other things) are made of.
/pet peeve
What do you think is the best band for open water swimming? I am currently using a sport loop but I bought the Ultra yesterday and I will try with the Alpine Loop as well.
By the way, water temperature is only shown in dive app? I hope Apple allows third party apps to make use of the water temperature sensor. I use Myswimpro app and hopefully they will find a way to implement water temperature in that app.
Do you know if third party apps such as Myswimpro can take advantage of the dual band GPS in the Ultra? Or do we have to use the native workout app for open water swimming to get the most out of the new GPS system?
Please, what is the width of the nylon in the place marked in the picture. I really like the strap and wonder if it could be modified for the Garmin Fenix 6X by cutting off the ends. The Garmin 6X has a band width of 26mm. Thanks a lot!
The Alpine Loop is 26mm wide. Since the adapters are titanium, you’ll need something that can cut titanium but with fine enough control not to harm the fabric.
Thanks
Just to point out that the loop “thingy” should be locked on inside of the Ocean band to avoid getting stuck on a thread, line or fiber of any kind, minimizing to be opened by mistake with disastrous results, during water sports.
Bands or bracelet are subject to preferences or other consideration, my most liked is first, the Ocean band, second the Alpine loop which like you said it get a little used to hook and unhook. In any case you have many more to choose from.
Good info. I like my ocean loop but it has developed a tear near the clasp after about 6 weeks. I’m in the water a lot. Apple is replacing it, but I am wondering if anyone else has had this issue.
Do you think the alpine band can be used when diving? My husband got me the Apple Watch ultra to use while diving but got me the alpine band instead of the ocean band. Should I get a different band for diving? Thanks!
There shouldn’t be a problem other than getting wet, also should be wear it tight, but, you could get an extension for the ocean one in case is needed, any band looks resistant enough, but I wouldn’t push it too hard, especially on sharp places, remember, resistant to abrasion does not mean 100% cut proof.
Agree, there’s no technical issus with using it. And obviously, the Alpine band can wet no problem. As Humberto noted, really the only very minor concern would be if you were spending a lot of time in sharp places (e.g. caves), but even then, the Alpine band is pretty durable, so it would take a heck of an impact to cut it.
To me, that’d kinda in the bucket of “if you’re Alpine Band gets cut off while diving, then honestly, the watch is probably the least of your issues”. I’d be checking whether your limbs are still there…
Hi, I have exactly same thing here: my sister got me Ultra with Apline Strap as a gift, but I am concerned about using while surfing. How has been your scuba sessions so far with the Apline Strap? How is it keeping up?
I have the alpine loop in white. While I feel it’s very secure and I love the look, it gets so dirty that it looks beige after just a few wears. I’ve read that it can be washed, and I will try that, but I’m not thrilled about the idea. Also, after four months I feel like I am using a different loop to make it tighter since it is stretching. While it looks great (when not dirty,) I’ll be looking for a new band soon.
Didn’t realise it before but I must have a really big wrist. I have about 1” left on my Garmin strap but when I measure my wrist it’s 220mm which is the extreme end of the trail band and bigger than the other two. Shame there’s no XL as I’d prefer the alpine band – having said that I’ve not actually tried one on yet but was hoping to avoid going into town.
Excellent write up. Thank you.
Very helpful as always – how much does each strap weigh?