Solo Loop Apple Watch Band Review

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I remember my grandfather had a gold link watch with a band that could stretch over his hand. I’m not sure how it worked, I think they’re actually spring or tension loaded on each link? Either way, it definitely wasn’t a long band of stretchy silicone. It was probably more comfortable as a result.

When I first got Apple’s Solo Loop, I found that the band was too loose, despite following Apple’s directions. I traded it in and decided to go with a band size tighter, which is what various reviewers recommended, and seems to be what Apple now recommends. My new size smaller watch band arrived some time ago. I’ve been using it off and on for a while, sometimes forcing myself to wear it, even when I wanted to go with something else, for the sake of a review.

So while it could be one of your watch bands, here’s why I think it shouldn’t be the only watch band for your Apple Watch.

Appearance 5/10

This isn’t a very detailed or extravagant watch band. It’s just incredibly plain. But it doesn’t feel “plain” like “minimalist.” It feels plain like “boring.” Minimalist design is simple but purposeful. The edges could be thicker, or there could be a design or pattern. The Braided Solo Loop, for example, is simple when it comes to color and materials, but its design makes it stand out.

This just attaches a watch to your wrist.

The black version I got isn’t very dark black. It’s more like a dark gray. It’s very close to black, but it’s not quite black enough to be stunning on its own. Vibrant colors can improve the appearance of this band, but when it comes to black, the lack of reflected light is what could make or break the design. This isn’t quite there.

I also found it can get marked up easily. I had gotten some soap on the band while washing my hands that I didn’t notice. This left a bright white bit of soap residue. Fortunately, it was easy to clean off, but none of my other watch bands showed residue this well. The same thing will happen if you wear your watch band to work out with the salt in your sweat. You’re going to want to check it throughout the day, especially the sides that don’t face you. You could also make sure you get it wet and cleaned off every time you wash your hands (which should be very often).

 

The design feels simple to the point of almost feeling juvenile. I noticed my manager was wearing a nice leather band on his Apple Watch during a meeting and I almost felt embarrassed for wearing the rubber-like watch band. I like dressing down, I love wearing some ripped black jeans to a formal affair, but this felt inappropriate in an uncool way, if that makes sense. Like wearing loose-fitting yoga pants to that same formal gathering. Now it’s not a punk rock version of breaking the rules, but just a sad and lazy version of breaking the rules.

The band doesn’t look bad. It’s just a thin silicone band. It doesn’t look like much of anything.

Comfort 6/10

It can be hard to find the right size, but once you do, you’ll find it’s still not very comfortable. The shape of the band has a bit of a channel on the inside. This is, presumably, to keep it off your skin entirely? Perhaps to allow some airflow or sweat? However, the edges of the band end up cutting into your wrist. I’d sometimes get deep red marks in my skin along the edges of the band. However, it’s undoubtedly the right size for my wrist. There were times I tried to wear this to bed after wearing it all day and found it just too painful to continue wearing.

Occasionally, I’d feel discomfort or even pain where the band wasn’t. It felt like it was pulling the sensors and body of the watch into my wrist for too long, bothering the nerves. For the same reason, I’ve had to take this band off during the day or at night. However, I didn’t notice this for very long, perhaps a week or so. Either I got used to it, or the band loosened up just enough to feel more comfortable again. I have been able to wear the band all day and night more often now, but I do still make sure to take breaks. If I used this only for sleep, it would likely be okay.

I got an exercise bike for Christmas. I noticed that physical activity was getting a little more difficult than it should be during quarantine. I no longer travel miles for exercise during my commute. Turns out, regular exercise is important, and, if you don’t use it, you lose it! Who knew? However, I found that this Solo Loop isn’t the best sport band. It traps sweat and gets completely gross. Once it gets sweaty, it becomes extra irritating. Sure, it’s waterproof, you can easily wash it. However, during your workout, you’re going to wish you had a different band on.

One benefit to the seamless design is that there’s no buckle or clasp. There’s nothing that you may end up resting on a MacBook wrist rest or a table. Nothing to poke or prod you or your devices. Most of the time, when it’s not digging into your wrist, it’s not uncomfortable. Sometimes you can even forget that it’s there. But when it is uncomfortable, it’s very uncomfortable.

Quality 7/10

If we consider quality in the idea of, “Does it do what it’s supposed to do well,” then, yes, it’s a quality band. This is likely the best stretchy silicone band you can get. But does that make it a high quality band? Maybe? But comparing this to something like the Jord band, and it’s really hard to put it on the same level.

It’s a stretchy band. That may not be luxury, but this is a well-built stretchy band. So, while an elastic or otherwise stretchy band may get a low score here, the Apple Sport Loop gets a huge boost because it is actually made very well… for what it is.

Durability 9/10

This is a stretchy band. I mean, it’s a  s t r e t c h y  band. Tug on it and it’ll stretch over twice its length and just snap back into place. Even if you sit there, trying to stretch it out for a few minutes and put it on, you’ll find that, while it starts a little loose, it’ll quickly go back to its size.

I have noticed it loosened up slightly in the month or so that I’ve been testing it, but that’s just helped it fit better. I’ve whipped it around, banged it against tables and objects, even flung it at my walls. It shows no signs of damage. Sure, it can get a bit messy, but it’s waterproof. Wash it up and it’s ready to go.

This is still just silicone. It’s tough, but it could be cut or scraped, and that would ruin its integrity completely. Still, for what it is, it’s tough. It’s likely the most durable band like this that you can buy.

Fitness and Sleep

I wouldn’t wear this for fitness. It becomes uncomfortable as soon as you break a sweat. However, for sleep, it’s not terrible. It’s lightweight and smooth. You can wear it to bed without feeling like it’s obnoxious or in the way. If you only put it on before bed, you won’t even notice it being uncomfortable, though you may want to remove it as soon as you wake up. Fitness? No. Sleep? Definitely. It may become my dedicated sleep watch band except when my wrist may already be sensitive from an abrasion or from testing some other uncomfortable band. In that scenario, I’d either wear no band or use my Nike Sport Band, which is more comfortable.

Overall 6/10

This isn’t my least favorite watch band. Don’t worry, we’ll get there, just as soon as I can bring myself to wear that band for long enough to review. No, it’s not the worst band I own. I’ll likely break it out when I want to go with a more plain black athletic look. Perhaps to sleep as well. It’s comfortable enough to wear to bed and seamless, after all. But it’s not one I’m excited to wear during the day.

Apple’s Sport Loop isn’t like one of your favorite shirts. Instead, it’s like one of your tops that you can wear, but when you have to wear it, that’s your signal that you have to do laundry after work, because it’s only going to go downhill from there. Pre-COVID quarantine, that was usually company t-shirts for me. However, now it’s a long tank top that has a hole near the hip, which you can’t see on Zoom.

That’s a better metaphor than I meant it to be. You see, I often wear that tank top to bed. It’s comfortable enough to sleep, but not really my style for going out. It’s like sweat pants or yoga pants. Sure, it’ll be what you wear during 2020, but come 2021, you’re going to want to wear your best outfits to show people you somehow managed to hold it together during 2020. The sweatpants of Apple Watch bands is not going to be the fashion choice for that.

I’ve decided to keep it as a sleep band and lazy day band. If you want a plain band, this is as plain and featureless as it gets. I know $50 is much, but other elastic bands just won’t have the same quality as this. They won’t be as durable. Don’t think of it as $50 for a piece of stretchy silicone, think of it as $50 that keeps your watch on your wrist instead of shooting onto the ground because your cheap band from Amazon snapped or came loose.

The Solo Loop Apple Watch Band is okay. It’s my okayest band. The Solo Loop works. It’s usually comfortable enough, and it works when you’re lazy. I’ll still use it for more than sleep, but not as often as my other bands.

It’s the sweat pants of Apple Watch bands. It shouldn’t be your only band, but it’s not a bad one to have in a collection.