The most comfortable watch band I’ve owned or tested has been my Archer canvas watch strap. The canvas just goes on your skin just right. It doesn’t trap sweat, it isn’t rough or itchy, there are no sharp edges, it’s just comfortable. I can wear it all day without ever even thinking about it. I was thinking of that when I started looking for other fabric watch straps. That lead me to flannel watch straps. Flannel makes up half my fall/winter wardrobe! Soon, I found the perfect buffalo check pattern… on a leather watch strap. I hesitated. After all, I don’t like using animal products. If I do, I make sure it lasts me, like the leather jacket I’ve worn far more often than I probably should for many years. Was I willing to take a gamble on my own morals, my very soul, over a cute watch band?
Turns out, I didn’t have to! This isn’t leather, it’s vegan leather with a Saffiano printing. It’s surprisingly realistic faux leather. Basically? It’s plastic. Which, also isn’t great for the environment, but at least animals aren’t being killed for it.
Well, at least not within the past couple of million years or so.
Still, a faux leather watch strap that doesn’t hold up introduces microplastics to the environment. Therefore, it has to be something that will hold up and be a part of my wardrobe for a long time, not flake and fall apart like some faux leather jacket I’d rather not talk about.
It was a cute jacket though. RIP.
In This Article:
Appearance 10/10
This is a band that’s definitely going to catch people’s eyes. That is, unless you’re wearing a matching buffalo check pattern on a flannel shirt, in which case it may blend in a little bit.
It often blends in for me.
Still, for the most part, the vibrant red and contrasting black will stand out in your wardrobe. Fortunately, it does this quite well. The colors are vibrant, the pattern is realistic, and the band itself has a nice taper that’s slightly feminine at the 38/40mm lug size. It’s like finding that perfect flannel shirt that is actually cut for a woman and fits you everywhere.
There’s an attention to detail here. The strap retainers have the brand name, Casetify, imprinted, as does the buckle itself. The band is also imprinted on the bottom. None of it looks gaudy, instead, it shows that Casetify sweats the small stuff.
I suppose the appearance of this particular band could be polarizing. If you don’t like flannel, you’re not going to like the design. I, however, love it. So, speaking subjectively, the appearance is out of the park.
Let’s say you don’t like the design. What then? Just get a different design. Casetify makes plenty! Just be careful, not all of the leather is vegan leather.
The design is printed on nicely, and has only worn a little by the buckle in the weeks I’ve been wearing this non-stop. It mostly wears at the point where my watch will rub against hard surfaces it may rest on, like my MacBook. This is an area that’s usually out of the way. For anyone picking out their own favorite design from Casetify’s site, know that, for the most part, it looks good, vibrant, and doesn’t wear off quickly.
Comfort 9/10
Next to my Archer band, this is one of my most comfortable watch bands. I can wear it all day without worrying about adjusting it or removing it to allow my wrist to “breathe.” Honestly? It’s easy to forget the Apple Watch is there. The smooth faux leather design may not work for the summer months though. I could see it trapping heat and humidity. I have gotten water under it and needed to take it off to dry it. It’s non-porous, and dries quickly. Casetify says it’s water and sweat resistant. It’s comfortable when your wrist is dry. If I find it’s dramatically worse this summer, I’ll update this section. Otherwise, if you’re reading this in fall of 2021 or later, assume the leather is comfortable enough in hotter weather too.
Quality 7/10
Part of me expected to find “Genuine Leather” printed here, but it’s not.
One of my first notes about this was that it was “smelly.” Not necessarily bad smelly, just that funky leather smell. Sometimes a brand new leather item, especially if it’s cheaper leather, takes time to, well, stop smelling funny. But here’s the thing, the listing says this is not leather. It was enough to make me think that perhaps it actually was printed leather. But upon close inspection, it doesn’t seem to be. It did stop smelling, and it was never that pungent or noticeable, but it had me worried I may have accidentally gotten a leather band. It’s likely that any smell came from the printing process.
Other than that, the print holds up well enough. There aren’t loose or frayed bands. The lugs that came with this watch are just slightly smaller than the Apple Watch, but they slide in smoothly and stay secure. I will note that I am testing another watch band from Casetify, and that one came with lugs that wobble a lot. They were made far too small for the Apple Watch. I don’t know if this is a problem with their silver lugs or that particular band, but the black Apple Watch lugs that came with this work perfectly. You can also now choose red or blue, to match your Apple Watch better, if you’d like. But I think the black still matches well, as the buffalo check pattern is red and black, after all.
Durability 7 / 10
This is where I’m going to knock this band down a few pegs. In my experience, vegan leather doesn’t last as long as real leather. Also, I can already see some small spots where the printing is wearing off, after a few weeks of regular use. It’s not bad, nothing that would make me declare the entire design is flimsy, but the wear points will show, well, wear.
Overall, you can likely expect at least a year out of this watch band, if you’re not too brutal with it. That’s not too bad for a non-metal band. It’s not as though it’ll break, just wear down to the point that you may not want to wear it as much anymore. From what I’ve seen, the color will stay in parts that don’t get rubbed often for a long time.
Fitness and Sleep
Casetify claims the band is sweat and water resistant. I spent some time on my exercise bike while wearing the band. It is a flat design, which holds close to your skin. It’s not overly comfortable as you sweat. It’s like the Apple Solo Loop in that respect. However, it’s easy to dry off and shows no additional wear from water or my sweat. It doesn’t feel quite as abrasive as the Apple Solo Loop. It’s slightly more breathable as well. But that band is waterproof, this one is only water resistant. You shouldn’t take this in the pool. Still, if you wanted to, you could wear it for exercise. I prefer the breathable texture of a cloth band like my Archer strap or the Nike Sport Band though. Those just don’t feel like they’re trapping as much sweat.
But what about sleep? I don’t like wearing bands to bed that have potentially rough edges. These could get caught on my bedding and put a hole in them, forcing me to buy new sheets. I’m far too busy buying way too much tech for any of that nonsense! The clasp isn’t too sharp, but if the band is pressed in your sleep, it could potentially point a sharp edge out. I doubt it’s likely, but the risk, while minimal, is there.
It’s certainly comfortable enough for sleep, and I’ve worn it in bed for a nap. Could you wear this to bed? Sure. It likely wouldn’t present a problem for you. Still, I usually just take it off or swap the band for bed. That Apple Watch Solo Loop band is comfortable and has no chance of damaging my sheets.
Value 7/10
Casetify’s faux leather band isn’t some “great steal.” Is it cheaper than Apple’s leather offerings? Absolutely. It’s about a third of the price and few would be able to tell it’s not leather. Is it decent for $52? Yes, and, also yes, that is a weird price. But it’s going to wear down, and you’re not going to be able to clean it easily. It’s a quality band, but, due to the materials used and the choice of printed faux leather, it won’t last you as long as it perhaps should. Still, $52 isn’t too bad for what you get. If you like the design, it’ll be worth the cost, and Casetify has plenty of designs, so you’ll surely find one you like.
Overall 8.5/10
I love this band. It’s among my rotation of favorite bands. I like wearing it with flannel but also with solid articles of clothing as an accent. It’s one of my most comfortable watch bands as well, just under the Archer canvas watch strap. It’s got a nice texture, even on the printed portion, and it matches my watch well. I wish I knew it would last longer, but I know it won’t. It also isn’t super comfortable for exercise, though I’ve worn worse. Still, thanks to the lugs being just a little loose, it’s easy to take this band off and swap for my Nike Sport Band when I hop on the compact exercise bike I got to help me survive the pandemic and isolation without losing my ability to walk or run more than a mile.
The Casetify printed leather Apple Watch band found its way into a regular rotation with my other bands. Some cost more, others less. But it’s one of my most comfortable and flashy watch bands, and you so rarely get that. Usually if a band looks nice, it either isn’t comfortable or it’s fragile. But this band looks great, is moderately durable, and it’s surprisingly comfortable. You can find them on Casetify’s site. I’m sure one of their many designs will suit you.