Beware of Apple Watch Solo Loop Sizing

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When the Apple Watch Series 6 first came out, I ordered a Solo Loop watch band for it. Finally, I got it yesterday, only to find it fit loose enough that I was worried I’d cause the watch to believe it wasn’t on my wrist anymore. I could comfortably put my index finger through it while it was still on my wrist. This was way too loose.

How could this be? I printed out Apple’s tool, made sure it was sized right, and took measurements! Well, it turns out, Apple expects users to measure their wrists differently than you normally would.

A Little Too Tight

I recently measured my wrist to buy a Jord wooden Apple Watch band. Review’s in the works for that special watch band. It showed up to my apartment fitting perfectly right out of the box.

I’ve done the same for other items of clothing I’ve ordered online. Measure myself, then order. Simple! But then there’s Apple’s Solo Loop.

I made one huge mistake: I measured my wrist without trying to choke it. If you measure your wrist firmly, just tight enough to emulate how tight you want to wear your Apple Watch, your Solo Loop will be too loose. I found mine was loose enough that I could comfortably take nearly a centimeter off the band by pinching the material together.

Now, Apple has new guidelines, and it may shrink your band size by as much as two sizes. First, print out Apple’s tool if you can. It’s the best. If not, use a flexible tape measure and their conversion chart, or use a piece of fabric or paper to mark the circumference of your wrist and then lay it flat and measure that.

When you measure your wrist, hold it tight. The paper should feel strained, if you’re using Apple’s print out. Don’t pull it so tight that you’re stopping blood flow to your hand, but definitely hold it more tightly than you’d ever wear a watch. This will likely point to a size below what you would have normally ordered. If it’s on a line, drop down to the smaller size under that. This will likely be one or two sizes smaller than you’d expect.

Full Review Coming… Maybe?

When I measured my wrist, it was obvious, I should order a 7. Doing this, however, places me in a 6 or even a 5. I’ve ordered a size 6, and we’ll see if that measures up… in a month.

Yes. A month.

Because Apple’s sizing for this band is so bad that they’re constantly back ordered. People have to order 3 bands just to get the sizing of one right! That’s causing massive delays in Apple’s shipping. Instead of ordering two bands in the two colors I wanted, I just grabbed one. Maybe after it arrives I’ll order another one in another color, if I like it. I’ll expect that one by spring.