The 5 Best Bands for Your New Apple Watch Ultra

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

As with any Apple release, there was a lot of hype for the new phones and watches this past September. Overall, I wasn't wowed. This wasn't something big and groundbreaking like the Vision Pro. This was one of those releases for the real Apple nerds, the spec-obsessed types. That ain't me.

Though, one thing I did clock was the new Apple Watch Ultra 2—which immediately looked like Apple's first real challenger in the rugged smartwatch. The original Ultra was fine, but this is the one that has the diving and climbing ability to rival Garmin. On top of that, it's a great running watch. It's a do-it-all fitness gadget.

Naturally, our next thought here at Esquire was "What watch bands are going to improve on this great little piece of tech." So, to answer this question for you, dear readers, (and myself) I got to testing. I tried a lot of watch bands, but these 5 are the best Apple Watch Ultra Bands I found.

Genuine Leather Band

As far as leather Apple Watch bands go, the field is pretty limited. This option from Casetify is far and away the best looking leather option on the market.

The pebble leather and side stitching lend a more classic feel to the hyper-contemporary new Apple Watch Ultra 2. The band has a slight taper, but it's not too extreme, which makes it a great unisex option.

Leather Apple Watch Ultra Band

If you're not feeling the pebble leather from Casetify, the options get even slimmer. (Mostly because Apple itself has removed leather from all its accessories.) In all my searching, all my touching watch bands, this was the second best leather option I could find.

The leather is nice and supple, it's just the look where this band could be better. Without any stitching, the look is significantly more tech-y. Not necessarily a bad thing, but with a leather bad, it could be an issue.

Sport Band

For a sport band, I really like this option from Nomad. Weirdly, the true sport band is what the Watch Ultra 2 is missing, mostly because Nike doesn't have a band to fit the big-boy 49mm face yet. The Apple options are a bit specified to fill the general "sport" category.

But, this Nomad band is really good. The fluorocarbon rubber watch band doesn't get dirty or nasty. The aluminum closure pin is sturdy and lightweight. Plus, there are size options to fit every back model of Apple Watch, and tons of color options (I like it in an easy-to-find safety orange).

Trail Loop

For the last two options, I'm keeping it in house. The watch bands that Apple comes out with almost always look the best. But since the Watch Ultra 2 is more of a specialized adventure watch, the bands follow suit.

The trail band is great for general outdoorsing—on the slopes, on the trail, or at the campsite. The nylon weave is lightweight, durable, and pretty easy to keep clean. For pretty much anything that's not under water or having you drenched in sweat, this is the band.

Ocean Band

For everything water-focused or sweat-drenched, I'd go with the Ocean Band. It is specifically made for ocean activities—sailing, snorkeling, and the like—so it's obviously the best option for anyone on the water. But, I also think it's the frontrunner for the Watch Ultra 2's generalist band.

Since it's made of rubber like a typical sport band, you don't have to worry about keeping it clean or keeping it safe. The only fault I found is that it's not incredibly perforated, so it'll feel a bit more restrictive than your typical sport bands.

What Size is My Apple Watch Ultra 2?

Thankfully, this is an easy answer. There is only one size! Every Apple Watch Ultra is 49mm. Whenever you're looking for an Apple Watch Ultra band, all you have to is make sure the band is compatible with 49mm watches.

You Might Also Like

• Kid Cudi Is All Right

• 16 Best Shoe Organizers For Storing and Displaying Your Kicks