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Electronics
By Ellen McAlpine, CNN Underscored
6:07 PM EST, Thu January 25, 2024
Twelve South ActionSleeve
The Apple Watch can be the perfect tool for hitting your fitness goals and tracking daily activities. However, finding a comfortable, reliable band to pair with your workouts may be more of a challenge than attending that yoga class, going for a run, crushing those weights or pedaling through a spin class. And though you may be thinking of a wristband as a simple-to-use vessel for your watch, there are also a plethora of armbands that will still fully record your exercise details.
Though Apple offers its own fitness-forward bands, there are literally hundreds to choose from, boasting assets like water resistance and breathable fabric. Here are our favorite bands for working out with the Apple Watch.
The Apple Sport Loop is designed with tough workouts in mind. The nylon fabric is lightweight and breathable for ultimate comfort while you sweat. The skin side of the band is a soft material with built-in cushioning that helps wick sweat, and it’s easy to get on or off with the included Velcro strap.
Though not specifically fitness-related, Apple’s Solo Loop is comfy and easy to slip on and off. The silicone material is waterproof and fits snugly while you run, lift or swim. We also like that it comes in six different colors.
This classic Sport Band is made from fluoroelastomer with compression molded holes that allow your skin to breathe throughout your workout. It’s also available in bright, colorful hues, like magic ember or pure platinum.
Noma’s Sport Band is 100% waterproof and offers interior ventilation channels. We’ve been testing this band for about a month now and have been impressed with the comfort and durability throughout high-intensity workout classes and at-home Pilates alike. Plus, it reduces sweat buildup on our wrist.
Perfect for all sorts of adventures, the Rugged Band secures like a traditional watch strap, has a breathable ribbed design and is entirely waterproof. It’s a great pick if you enjoy exercising outdoors, while the secure clasp means your watch stays put and looks as good as it feels.
The tough TPU construction of this watch bumper from Pelican means it’ll keep your watch protected from any mishaps or damage, whether you’re concerned about dust and dirt while out on the trails or worried about bumps from equipment in a weight room. It comes in three colors: mauve purple, camo green and black.
Your Apple Watch does so much to help you out during workouts, protecting it with a bumper is the least you can do. You won’t have to worry about dings and scratches to your device, and it’s available in eight different colors to match your style.
The ActionBand from Twelve South gets rid of traditional watch bands for the comfort and functionality of a sweat band. Crafted from stretchy and comfortable terry cloth lycra fabric, the ActionBand comes as a set for both wrists, with one sweatband securely holding your watch, while the other just looks cool. Bonus: It’s machine-washable to make it easy to clean between workouts — just remember to remove the watch.
Don’t feel like wearing your Apple Watch on your wrist? This affordable armband fits your upper arm with a hook-and-loop fastener for easy adjustment. It’s made of a soft, breathable material, and you can even opt to secure your watch around your ankle. It works with all models of the Apple Watch and will fit a circumference of up to 15 inches.
An armband takes your wearable to a new level, and if you find it more comfortable to keep your Apple Watch on your arm rather than your wrist while you break a sweat, this pick from Twelve South fits the bill. Simply remove your current watch bands from your wearable and slip the watch into the back of the ActionSleeve. Your screen, crown and button are still fully accessible, and the skin sensors will still be able to accurately track your activity.
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Note: The prices above reflect the retailers' listed price at the time of publication.
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