The 11 Best Apple Watch Ultra Bands in 2026

Nomad Goods has an awesome array of Apple Watch Ultra bands to choose from. From its leather and metal band models to its rugged and sport band models, the brand makes sure not to go overboard on price while still delivering a unique design that’s comfortable and bound to last.

Our favorite band from Nomad Goods right now is the Sport Band, as its design is made to wear for the toughest workouts or as an everyday watch. The band is 100% waterproof, made from a flexible rubber that doesn’t dig into your wrist. Ventilation holes are cut into the band for breathability, and a custom aluminum closure pin is added for a locked-in feel. The Sport Band is offered in many different colors, with Limited Edition color drops happening on the regular too.

Read More: Best Apple Watch Ultra 2 Bands

One of the four choices you get with an Apple Watch Ultra purchase, the Alpine Loop is an outdoor-ready band made with two textile layers and a cool titanium G-hook to secure the band in place. The best argument for choosing this band is it has zero stitching—so you won’t have any weird itching or rubbing that other stitched band designs can give.

Read More: Best Apple Watch Bands

Made from a high-grade stretchy synthetic rubber and designed with perforations, the Nike Sport Band is the perfect band for general workouts and cardio activity. The material doesn’t absorb sweat, so you never have to worry about it smelling, and the perforations actually add a level of breathability so you don’t feel like you’re trapping heat on your wrist anytime you decide to do a HIIT workout or go for a long run.

Although this band comes in a 46mm width, it still looks great on the Apple Watch Ultra. When testing, we noticed the 46mm bands are still big enough to fit the Ultra’s case size, so even though it’s not the Ultra’s standard 49mm size, the width of the band still looks good with the watch. What makes the Nike watch band even better is it comes with Nike’s own special wallpapers that can be downloaded to your watch.

Read More: Apple Watch Ultra 3 Review

The most trail-ready Apple Watch Ultra band is, of course, the Trail Loop. It’s made from woven nylon that’s breathable and tough as nails, making it perfect for everything from hiking to mountain biking. It’s easy to strap on, and the velcro stays secure even when the band gets sweaty or wet. We also noticed the band dries out quickly too when wet, which is a plus. Lastly, the trail loop is breathable and soft, so you won’t get any discomfort while wearing mid-activity.

Read More: Apple Watch Ultra 2 Vs Series 10

The Ocean Band has long been the star of the show in terms of Ultra Watch band selections. This unique and stylish option is made with a high-performance elastomer and cut with tubular holes that let it stretch over the wrist for the perfect fit. As the name suggests, the Ocean Band is totally suited for aquatic activity, and it highlights the Apple Watch Ultra’s phenomenal 200-meter water resistance that makes it suitable for even diving. If you’re into water sports, or you like to spend time fishing or on a boat, then the Ocean Band is one to keep with your Ultra whenever you want to throw it on.

Read More: Best Smartwatches

There are a few good metal watch bands out there for the Ultra, but the best one we’ve found in terms of looking sleek but still accentuating the watch’s rugged design notes is the Titanium Watch Band from Sandmarc. It’s made with grade 2 titanium that’s strong and lightweight, making it a solid choice for formal wear and for outdoor adventuring. There are also grade 4 and grade 5 options, but they’re pricier.

The band itself only weighs two ounces, so you won’t have to worry about your wrist getting tired, and a nice touch we noticed Sandmarc added is a film to the titanium to help prevent scratching.

The Leather Link from Apple is an office-ready strap that’s comfortable yet refined. It works by snapping on over itself and attaching via magnets. The design ensures a locked-in fit without any burden of scratchy stitching or skin-prodding clasps. Some might prefer the brown leather version of this band, but really we found there were other brown leather Ultra bands on the market (see below).

The best investment is to go with the midnight band (all-black), that way you can wear it more with your business casual attire.

From the cool aesthetic to the tremendous fit, the Modern Band does it all, and stylishly we might add. The vegetable-tanned leather evolves over time, creating a nice and personalized patina. Made in the USA, the band is treated to some nice steel accents that add a little pop, plus durability.

We’ve loved wearing it over the years and often forgot that we were even towing around a smart watch (that’s a compliment). Of a modern design, the band is the perfect thickness and weight was never an issue in our testing. Best, after even a couple of weeks, the band’s look changed thanks to the weathering of the material.

Overall, this band outclassed the rest and did so at a price that’s pretty agreeable. This particular band also is not meant to get wet but did ok when there was some moisture.

A rugged Apple Watch Ultra case and screen protector combo for under $30? Count us in. This strong TPU plastic band is scratch-resistant and tough as heck, battling drops and dings like the best of them; and the screen protector is made with a 9H-rated plastic that can resist some of the gnarliest scratches from rocks and other hard objects.

When testing, we found it was great at keeping water out from in-between the screen and watch face. The plastic cutouts for the Ultra’s buttons to go into were also smooth and easy to use. Another fun thing about this band: You can scan a QR code inside the box to get a special watch face to pair with the band.

The DuraPro is an all-fabric band that’s simple and easy for active wear. The velcro attachment combined with the metal clasp ensures the watch stays locked in place, and the fabric material of the band itself doesn’t rub or cause any discomfort.

While Spigen doesn’t note exactly what the fabric is made from, it’s likely made mostly of nylon. We found the watch band performed well at staying in place when it got wet during a workout, and afterward, we noticed it dried quicker than expected. If you’re looking for a simple band you can beat up and wear down, this under $25 option is an ideal choice. Set your expensive bands aside and use this when you anticipate heavy wear and tear.

UAG makes a strong nylon-woven watch strap for the Apple Watch Ultra. It features a hook and loop fastener, with strong velcro and metal hardware to ensure your Ultra stays in place. The strap design has a more rugged style than the barebones fabric straps you can buy for cheaper, and the added stitching reinforcements of the UAG provide better durability.

Simply put, this is an elevated nylon band you can wear for outdoor sport or for everyday wear and not have to worry the slightest bit about it breaking a part or not staying snug on your wrist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Apple Watch Ultra use a different band?

The Apple Watch Ultra comes with a 49mm width band to match its 49mm case size. No other Apple Watch will take the 49mm band; however, if you have an old Apple Watch band you can attach it to your Apple Watch Ultra as long as it’s a 42mm, 44mm, or 45mm width. Apple Watch bands less than 42mm will not attach to any Apple Watch Ultra model.

Are Apple bands better than third-party bands?

The Apple Watch Ultra bands made by Apple are pretty amazing (think Trail Loop, Alpine Loop, Ocean Band, etc.), however, there are several third-party bands made by brands that are worth buying. We recommend staying away from any cheap Ultra bands from third-party brands though, because you’re likely to find something of not very good quality or comfort. Plus, you just made such a nice purchase to acquire an Apple Watch Ultra. Why slap on a cheap band that will water down its iconic rugged look?

If you are unsure of what third-party bands to go with, stick to any of the ones we mention above—Nomad Goods, Sandmarc, Urban Armor Gear, Spigen, and Nike.