Andy Walker / Android Authority
I’ve only bought a handful of items under $10 that have genuinely changed my life — an incredible Basque cheesecake I snuffed down a few months ago comes to mind — but few are tech-related. I’ve written about the cheap Android Auto dongle that has made my car so much smarter, but it was pushing $25. However, I use another product daily that costs far less than that, and even less than a good brunch.
Consumers don’t spend nearly enough time pairing their smartwatches with suitable bands. I can claim this because I was one of them. For the most part, we purchase them as is, sticking with the stock bands until they snap. Disregarding the chipset, bodies, and sensors, the watch strap is probably the most crucial element on the wearable. After all, it’s the one thing responsible for holding the device to our skin.
What is your preferred smartwatch strap material? 8 votes TPU, silicone, rubber, or similar materials. 38 % Fabric, like nylon and similar textiles. 25 % Leather or vegan leather. 13 % Metal, including metal mesh. 13 % Another material (mention in the comments). 0 % I don't have a preference. 13 %
Often, the stock TPU, fluoroelastomer, rubber, or plastic strap is uncomfortable and can even be a health risk in some cases. But a replacement band needn’t be expensive. The best thing I bought for my trusty Galaxy Watch 4 was a simple fabric watch strap that has completely changed how I use my device.
Why a cheap Galaxy Watch strap is the best wearable purchase I’ve ever made
My fabric strap. The stock fluoroelastomer strap.
Sound contact between the device’s sensors and your arm is essential for fitness tracking accuracy. A good watch strap ensures this. Bands also reflect our style and are one of the few aesthetic items we can change on our devices beyond the watch face. That said, can a $10 strap really make such a difference to a device worth multiple times its value? Well, I’d argue yes.
Fabric bands are perfect for daily wear, activity, and parading your personal style. But, best of all, they're cheap.
I regularly removed my Galaxy Watch 4 to air out my skin when using the stock band. The material simply doesn’t allow my wrist to breathe, trapping sweat and leading to annoying skin irritation. On other devices I’ve used in the past, I’ve found metal bands bitterly cold in winter and unbearably warm in direct sunlight. Even woven metal, which solves the breathability problem, tends to pinch and grab at my skin and hair. These materials just weren’t a good daily solution for me.
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