I review Apple Watches for a living — and this is my all-time favorite strap

Tom's Guide

2 hours ago

By my count, there are around ten zillion different straps you could attach to your Apple Watch, from cheapo no-name Amazon finds to pricier Apple-approved options. I test smartwatches for a living, and as a result, I try out a lot of watch straps. So, I often get asked about my go-to.
Whenever reviewing a smartwatch, I first spend quality time with the standard-issue band that comes in the box. I'm pleased to report that in 2025, most of the best smartwatch models ship with a high-quality, comfortable option.
Once the in-box strap has been thoroughly assessed, I tend to swap it out for my go-to. If it's an Apple Watch, that means attaching a Nike Sports Loop strap (in red and blue, to be exact).
This ultra-comfy strap isn't at the mercy of an old-fashioned pin-and-buckle adjustment system; velcro lets you modify the tightness to your exact specifications. It's also lightweight, super-stretchy, and sweat-wicking; plus, the pop of color and attractive woven pattern add just the right amount of pizazz to an otherwise boring bit of wrist candy.
The Nike Sport Loop for Apple Watch is my all-time favorite smartwatch strap thanks to its ultra-comfortable and highly adjustable design, eye-catching woven design, and sweat-wicking/fast-drying capabilities.
But what if you don't want to shell out $50 for a smartwatch strap or don't own an Apple Watch? For the price-conscious watchOS fan, it's worth noting that the Nike Sports Loop goes on sale fairly often. Just be sure to double-check that you're selecting the correct width to match your device.
However, for a lot less cash, I also swear by this $10 Amazon dupe. I've been rocking the very one I've linked here on my Apple Watch SE (2022) for the past few years, and it's still going strong.
For my non-Apple Watch people, I have not forgotten about you: The same sports loop dupe can be altered to work on just about any smartwatch (or standard wrist watch for that matter), with a little bit of creativity/elbow grease.
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For example, I converted a sport loop dupe to fit on my Garmin Forerunner 165, and I much prefer it to the standard-issue strap.
This stretchy, sweat-wicking Apple Watch strap is almost as amazing as the actual Apple Sports Loop but costs one-fifth the price. It also comes in a wider range of fun styles, and can be modified to work on non-Apple smartwatches.
Almost like clockwork, anytime an article showing the Forerunner 165 + sport loop dupe appears on the site — like in this comparison with the Forerunner 165 vs. the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 — I get a reader email inquiring about it.
Here's what I tell everyone: If you want to use my go-to sport loop dupe on a non-Apple device, you'll need to modify it slightly by removing the two plastic end pieces meant to slide into either end of the Apple Watch case. The process is very easy.
One slides right off with a little maneuvering. For the other, you can simply (and carefully) clip it with a pair of wire cutters or cut it with an exacto knife. Just be mindful not to cut the woven strap itself (or your fingers).
Once removed, you can slide a standard watch springbar in place of the plastic end pieces and go about attaching your new favorite smartwatch strap to your device.
Quality-wise, my go-to sports loop dupe is about 90% as lovely as the legit Nike Sports Loop but a fifth of the price; that's some darn good bang for the buck.
And there you have it, the easiest way to give your favorite smartwatch a major makeover for just ten bucks, from somebody who has tried roughly 500 of the ten zillion smartwatch straps out there.
What's your go-to smartwatch strap? And are you a fan of Apple's Sport Loop? Let me know in the comments below.
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