I recently reviewed the leather Nomad Modern Strap. It’s a lovely way to dress up your Apple Watch. If, however, I am going to wear a nice watch, I’m likely to choose to wear the Movado Raina gave me on the day of our wedding. For my Apple Watch, I’m using the Nomad Sport Strap; it looks and feels great.
The Nomad Sport Strap retails for $49.95. It is made from Vulcanized LSR silicone, is both hypoallergenic and biocompatible, and is compatible with both the 42mm aluminum and steel Apple Watch. Of course, like all Apple Watch bands, it works with all three generations of the Cupertino wearable.
From Nomad:
The Nomad Sport Strap is molded entirely from durable LSR silicone, a naturally biocompatible, antimicrobial and hypoallergenic material, making for a smooth, safe and comfortable fit around your wrist. The strap’s face spans the width of the watch itself, projecting a rugged yet sharp presence with its smooth chamfers and intricate crosshatch surface.
Nomad uses a high-grade silicone to ensure maximum strength and durability. The material is water-resistant, so it is ready for your next trip rafting down the river. That’s of little importance to me right now since I’m still rocking my original, vulnerable-to-water, Apple Watch. (I get it. I really do. Apple needed an upgrade path so from the first to the second generation they added waterproofing. And from the second to the third generation they added cellular. But the “forced” upgrading each year is why I have a love/hate relationship with the company.)
In addition to being water-resistant, silicone is resistant ultraviolet resistance so it will maintain its finished look even after serious exposure to nature’s elements. It is also worth noting that silicone has a huge advantage over products made from petroleum-based rubber. As Nomad explains:
Unlike petroleum-based rubbers which are laden with chemicals, silicone is safe. Silicone’s natural low toxicity and hypoallergenic trait make it an ideal material for a product that makes contact with your skin.
Finally, it is worth noting that Nomad made sure to use a method for securing your pricey Apple Watch to your wrist that will hold up no matter what you are doing.
As they put it, “Running, swimming, biking, and mountain biking have nothing on this high-performance buckle.”
I really love this watch strap and, since getting it for review, have once again been wearing my first generation Apple Watch regularly. It looks refined enough to wear every day while being more comfortable than any other strap I’ve tried. I really think Nomad hit the sweet spot between “sports strap” and “finished and refined enough to wear all the time” with the Nomad Sport Band. As they put it,
While the silicone strap itself is built to hold up to sweat, sun, and even the seas through its polymeric resilience, it also exhibits a carefully crafted neuraled pattern that pairs with any outfit creating a sleek, sporty look.
I’m a fan. On most days I can be seen wearing my Apple Watch with this strap holding it in place. The Nomad Sport Band comes in Black and Slate or Black and Volt and has an MSRP of $49.95. You can learn more and order yours here.
Source: Company Supplied Review Sample Nomad Sport Band for Apple Watch
What I Like: Looks great; Comfortable; Hypoallergenic; Affordable
What Needs Improvement: Nada
