New Apple Watch Solo Loop & Braided Loop Bands Review: Watch Before Buying! 

Update: A few people have commented about how I wrapped the measurement tool around the wrist bone, making the measurement larger. I agree that a very tight measurement around the thinner part of the wrist would probably be suitable for most people. Apple's website just says, "Wrap it tightly around your wrist where you typically wear your watch." I typically wear my watch at or slightly below the wrist bone, but the measurement there is still about one size too big 🤷‍♂️

great review! i bought the braided strap and just wanted to add for anyone watching that when it gets wet it's not heavy or distracting. it doesn't feel wet like i barely notice it and it dries really quickly without any residue

I measured 10 and ordered one too. It fit perfectly as I wanted, snug an comfortable. Braided Solo that is.

Great review with good insights from both bands, Paul. Thank you very much!

Yeah, I measured on the low end of a size 7/upper 6. The size 5 although tight at first, stretches out more comfortably over a short time.

Thanks! Ended up buying the braided brand after watching this :)

This was a really good in depth video! A lot of important information was given that I wouldn't have thought to consider myself.

I’m LOVING the SE!

Thanks Paul , after watching your review I got the solo band and love it !! That wasn’t on my radar till I saw your video !

Great review and info on sizing!

Well, I measured in the middle of size 9, so based on multiple reviews, I ordered size 8. I’m happy! The size 8 is just right, as I almost don’t even know I’m wearing the watch with my braided loop strap. The other reason I went with a size smaller, is reading that the strap may stretch a little over time.

So glad I watched this video. I came out to in between a 6 & 7. I dozed all the way down to a 5 and it’s perfect.

Great video, loved the weighing of the bands

Super thorough review, very helpful! Thanks!

I am still thinking to buy but really appreciate your review/feedback. Great work. Any idea on the cheaper versions available in the market?

Great review Paul. Very helpful indeed. Could you please tell your wrist size so that it will more clear which size will fit me the best.

Hmm thank you for the band review! I will go with braided band 😊

Sizing tool worked perfectly for me

Hi Paul, since I do not have a printer, would you mind measuring your wrist with a regular measuring tape and tell us here? I think I have your same size, but just want to confirm. Thanks so much!!! Great video!

Thanks for this. I have 9 inch wrists and it says I’m too big for the braided bands but if they are slightly larger should work for my wrist

Thanks really

Just bought one braided loop band today at Apple Store. Love it. But my advice is to get the size 2 or even 3 units lower than the one you get from the measurement in order to have the Apple Watch snug fit.

Unfortunately I don’t have an Apple store in my city to go try out the bands so I’ll just have to buy the solo loop or the braided loop on apple’s website based on my wrist measurements and try it on to see if it would fit on my series 5.

Brilliant video, thank you for making it 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

Hi Paul, can you please tell your wrist size in Inches or centimeters? It would help a lot.

just a thought, but maybe the reason why some people had sizing issues was because their print out wasn’t at 100% scale. it might have been somewhere around 105% or 110%. I know printers can be annoying at times and not print pages out EXACTLY at 100% scale. they probably thought “close enough” when they placed their credit card/ID in the size box and then went on to measure their wrist. the size box thing for the card literally needs to be a perfect fit. I noticed this when I printed out my size chart page. I haven’t ordered one just yet, I’m wanting to go in-store to still try on a 6 and see if that’s my size or if I actually do need to go smaller.

Great review. I was searching a review on water resistance and drying time on the braided band. I thought that sweat would be an issue when exercising. your points are very helpful and made my decision to go with the braided band. If you get a Series 6 watch the braided loop only cost $50 more then the series 6 with solo loop when you choose that band when ordering.

Thank you!

Can we use this band on The SE?

Thank you for the vid! And thank you for marking the X's on your calendar so neatly💯😂

Thanks, man!

How does the measurement tool relate to a regular tape measure? Is a 7 the same as 7 inches around?

Where did you get that outlined pineapple light near your laptop in front of your calendar? Name of brand/store? How do you clean the braided loop, can you put it in the washing machine with your laundry? Awesome video.

Yep, my solo is a few sizes too big.

Very depth video so far, and it helps for me. Thanks.

Great Video!!

*Watch* before buying Nice one

very very in-depth video, awesome!

When you measured your wrist at size 7 around 3:18, it wasn’t the same part of your wrist where you wear the watch and there’s visible slack in the paper below your wrist, so it’s nowhere near snug enough at that spot anyway.

Is it still as easy to plug on charger as original bracelet?

The problem with returning the band is that when I did it they insisted that I first return the band before they would send out the new one. I did that last Thursday. The replacement band is scheduled to be delivered to me on OCTOBER 21ST!! I might as well have sent the entire thing back as the watch is useless to me now. Strangely enough, I called about that issue and found out that Apple changed the policy the day I set up my return and now allows you to first receive the new band before sending back the old one. Even though I hadent sent mine back at the time I called they told me that they could not change my return sans so I was stuck with the 21st as the date I’m supposed to receive my new band. 😤😤😤

Is your case Silver Aluminium?

Great advice about visiting an actual store to test fit

Can i know what size your apple watch is? 40mm or 44mm? Need to buy one but not sure which to buy

Hi! Thanks for sharing your very useful advices, I measured my wrist too, I am a 7, but went for the 5, it’s a perfect fit maybe even borderline tight, but I know it will get slightly looser with time, I would say, measure your wrist and go two sizes down to have the perfect fit:-)

At the apple store my wrist measurement was 7 but the actual fit (fabric solo loop) was 5

oh I cannot find a size which is 2 size less than 1 ☹️ should I give up the solo loop

Am I the only one «Watch before buying»🤣😍

i think the issue is when you print the tool of the website you must set your printer to 100 percent before printing it off!!! also they have a credit card box attached to the print off so you can easily check that the scale is correct !!! worked fine for me (please note when i went to print mine off my printer set the scale to 93 percent )

Could you say anything regarding cleaning the braided loop when it got dirty by stuff like ice cream, mud... does the manual „allow“ washing it?

The one and only problem with the sizing always being wrong is because of the over lap on the sport band. When you adjust your sport band to your correct size and put the pin in the hole, then you have to slide the end inside the band, thus cause an overlap in thickness. For example my sport i use the 3rd hole from top. Or where the band connects to the watch. And the reason i use the 3rd hole is because of the overlap. I have to use the 3rd hole because of the overlap once i tuck the end of the band inside the other band. Now, if i put the pin in the 3rd hole and dont tuck the end inside the band. It will be loose. This is the reason for sizing problem right here. Is apple messed up and left the overlap thickness from the sport band and used the sizing based on the overlap sizing from the sport band. Now an example of to show why going a size down is why the watch fits perfect. Like my size i use the 3rd hole. But i can fit my wrist with the 2nd hole if i dont tuck the end of the band inside the other band. The reason the 2nd hole fits is because i didnt tuck the end of the band inside to cause the over lap and thus making band thicker and taking up more space or another words making wrist bigger. So the solo loop is basically a band with no overlap. So you cant use the sizing apple is using from the sport band that takes in consideration the band overlap. So this is why whatever size apple tells you to use. Wither you use there paper measuring thing or using your own measuring tape. Whatever size apple recommends you have to go one size smaller. So apple says i need a size 8 for a “snug athletic fit”. But really i to get a size 7. ✌️

what about the sport loop???? have you tried that ??

Mine said I was an 11 and the 11 braided was fine but the solo loop was too tight and I had to go up a size

For me a snug fit was a no go. For me it just felt uncomfortable so I rather have it slightly lose.

Where can I get that pineapple lamp?

So I hate the silicone band. But I got the solo loop and I love it. I could change my mind when summer comes around again. I’m thinking about the braided solo loop for that reason but I’m not to excited about the available colors and if I’m going to drop 100 bucks I’d like it to be something I like.

I jus my bought one yesterday and the tool was way off! Says I was an 8 but in actuality I was a 5! I had to go into the Apple store for correct sizing

15.3 cm what should i go for, 4 or 5 ?

Another aspect not mentioned in your video or in the comments so far is the difference in fit between the two. I don't remember if my wrists are in-between sizes, but I tried the two types on in the store before purchase and found that the braided loop fit more comfortably in a size 7, whereas the silicone solo loop was more comfortable in a size 8. The silicone version wasn't comfortable "snug" but the braided loop is.

I needed this video, thank you, new subscriber ☝🏼

Have you worn the braided one enough to know if it gets stinky from sweat and being wet?

You should get the Milanese loop

1- what's is the link to the size chart? 2- when you pick your watch on their site, where does it show the size? 3- So pick 2 sizes down

No one discusses hand size. I measured 6.5 using a cloth tape. The Apple tool measured at 6.75, and it recommended 8. I ordered the 5. A few days earlier, my wife’s measurement was 5. We went to the store and the 3 fit. Back to me. My hand takes size large, in gloves. So while the band feels a little snug on my wrist, it’s a struggle to get it off over my hands.

The measurement tool is useless. I sized a 12 and it nearly feel off. I did this in Dec 2020 so unless it’s changed since then it’s still wrong. Why not just base sizing on an actual measurement in mm?

Excellent review, thankyou! I have one question now that it's been a few months. Do you think the Solo loop will stretch out over time? I do like several bands to choose from depending on what I'm wearing ro doing that day but this one will probably be worn most often for working out.

Need to go one size smaller than what the measuring tool recommends. It told me a size 7 so I wore it a day, then I tried a size 6 for a another full day. Size 6 fit better. I also exercised with both sizes.

How long did it take for you to receive your watch, from when you ordered it? They said the blue was on back-order.

Please tell us how big your wrist is in mm, mine is 167,5mm

I wish I had a local apple store

The sizes are s, m and l. How does that translate?

Did anyone try measuring their wrist and put that into the website. It gives you a number telling you the recommended size?

So my wristband of our a 15

I finally just got mine and I had to exchange the band twice. I’m a 4 and I got the braided band. Hopefully it lasts

Great review. Nice job. Thanks for the information. The braided bands are $119 in Canada.

Yeah i walked in and they couldnt find tge measurer so they asked what size do you think you need? I said a 6 They told me to make a fist and rotate it. They brought out the 6 and it was a perfect fit

Extremely helpful video - I'm purchasing the size 1 so if that is too lose I'm out of luck.

mine was 3 and it's perfect :)

Every one with an Apple Watch also has that for scale hahahah including me;)

What's it like to charge the apple watch with the solo loop?

Why is the braided solo loop £99 in the UK? Shouldn’t it be cheaper?

So what size should I get if the measure tool says a size 11

Are u using the 40mm or 44mm? Thank you

Most, of not all Apple Stores are closed.

I’m thinking to buy the watch in blue 44mm cellular. I definitely wanna try it for the 1st time as I have heard highly about it (except maybe the battery life). I’ll pair it with my old iPhone 7 & the use the watch as a standalone device with my main number in it (will switch off the phone probably after pairing the watch once). Question for you: Will the watch last me at-least 1 day in cellular mode at all times (connected to my AirPods)? I may talk on calls for an hour or 2 & workout for another 1.5 hrs, logging in my workouts via a 3rd party app and listen to music all directly via the watch. Will the battery keep up for atleast a day? Please reply as I’m planning to replace my iPhone with the Apple Watch (I want to simplify my life & I already have a iPad so rest of the things like emails, RU-vid will be done via that.

Save ink and paper I’d rather go directly to apple size up there! Much worth it

I wonder if the size of the watch matters on what size band you get? A band that is too big for a 44mm watch may be okay for a 40mm?

Do you think the braided/nylon solo loop or just the normal $50 solo loop would be better for daily exercise/sweat?

Hi Paul, do u know if the Apple Watch has to be laid on its side, during charging? Since with the solo loop, the it can’t be laid out flat.

Really $99 for a band, but looks amazing 😍

Hey man i still have the Apple Watch series 3 but i was thinking of updating my Apple Watch too the new Apple Watch series 6 in the new Blue Color

I would rather get the leather band for the same price!

Just bought a braided loop from AliExpress will see if it’s good or not

Has the braided loop stretched at all?

These captions are crazy 😂😂😂

Hey Paul since this will be my first Apple Watch purchase, I was hoping to get the same Color as yours, the silver. But does it scratch easily on the sides? Or should I get the space grey? Thank you. 🙏

Why was this recommended to me AFTER i ordered the watch and the strap this morning

Yeah mines to small ?

They stopped doing black silicone sololoop in england, i’m fuming bc the workers made it out as though they never did a black colour

There’s another option where you put your wrist size in cm and gives you the size