I Tested Every Apple Watch Ultra Band Type!

I tested out each Apple Watch Ultra Band type to see how they perform, how they work, and which one is the best one for you! I put the Alpine Loop, Trail Loop, and Ocean Band to the test with everything from workouts to daily use to sleeping with it, to see how they handle.

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.

0:00 Quick Overview
1:36 The Alpine Loop
5:47 The Trail Loop
8:11 The Ocean Band
10:14 Backwards Compatibility
11:00 My Favorite

#AppleWatchUltra #AppleWatchUltraBands #WatchUltra

[billygiles]

I own the Alpine Loop. One thing you should consider, which you actually did in your video, is when you pull the band to expand it, the hook slaps against your watch body. It will create little marks in the body of the watch if you keep doing that. In fact, it might have marked it. I have seen multiple users with marks there from pulling the band wide open like that.

[clawdawg]

Been an Apple Watch owner since Series 0 and never been a fan of the fabric straps. I cycle and paddleboard in a hot climate and used the sport band for many years, but switched to the solo loop for the past couple years and love it. Doesn’t absorb moisture and easy to clean. For these reasons I ordered Ultra with the ocean band, but expect to continue using the solo loop.

[FlyboyGWN]

The Ocean Band in that orange colour would have been the category-killer ... just ordered the white one.

[sylvainalain]

I’m a runner, a light one ;) 5km 3 times a week. For many years I was using a Nike rubber strap with an Apple Watch 3. My initial thinking is to get the Ultra with the rubber band(ocean) because I sweat a lot. I may need a daily use strap(trail or Alpine) and a runner strap(ocean).

[tamarockstar]

The ocean band was also shown that you can use the the clip to tie the end of the other side of the loop. For an extra locking support

[Ghostzy]

Have the Trail loop in black/orange, coming from dailying the sport loop and it’s amazing.

Sold my previous bands!!

[SFSurvivor]

I ended up paying an extra $49 and I bought the same Apple/Nike watchband that I’ve had on my old Apple/Nike series 3 Apple Watch. I like that the best, I like how it looks on the Ultra, and I put the orange Alpine that came with the watch in my drawer. So I’m wearing the Ultra with a black Nike band.

[Gozar]

I have the orange Alpine loop and it is great. Just gets dirty really fast. Going to try the dive versions next

[OutdoorsIQ]

Love to watch tan on both wrists 😂 dedication to testing

[tnyz]

First video I've seen on your channel. I'm impressed with the review, well done, you mentioned little things that to me are important (e.g., web fabric bands soak into jeans).. coming from the stainless steel bands I have never experienced that before. Subscribed.

[motorolas]

One reason why I like using the speidel steel link bands. It’s snug enough for my wrist and I can move it to my forearm when using weights and kettlebell.

[yval]

Prefer the Ocean Band so that I can clean it from time to time, the fabric ones just seem like they would start getting a bit nasty after a few workouts.

[theswillz]

Still rocking my Nike bands with the Ultra. Looks great with it

[someusername]

The alpine loop is what I ordered: feels like something an astronaut would wear cause it's not going to accidentally let go, ever. It's also cool you get a sort of "micro" adjustment because you set the loop-position at the top of the watch and then the hook end stretches a little bit so you can move it +1 loop more if you want it completely snug. 16cm wrist, medium was perfect to have the hook be on the thumb-side of my wrist so it's not in the way using a keyboard.

[michaelyoung]

Thanks again. My reality is I ordered the Trail Loop with the watch but it is soaking wet after a trail run so I needed to order another band and chose the Ocean Band which I love and I'm finding that I'm wearing that 90% of the time.

[Hysbrian]

Funny that you mentioned loosing the trail loop while surfing. The other weekend I was out with my series 7 and the sport loop and it came off just as you mentioned. I was lucky enough to catch it in my hand.

[Ekzera]

Thanks for the surfing warning on the trail loop band, I wanted a comfortable band and one which I would be able to surf on, so I went for the ocean one

[FPS_Bang]

Thanks for the info I had no clue about the extension straps for the ocean band

[chaotictattoo]

Ocean loop is what I been using and I do a lot of trail running and mountain biking and wouldn’t want anything else. Very happy with it

[Joe_Souza]

Thanks for this info. I was so happy to see this detailed review on the bands. I had already ordered the trail loop and glad to hear you thought it was the most comfortable.