Nomad Sport Slim Band review: A better sport Apple Watchband


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The Nomad Sport Slim Band is a lightweight yet durable Apple Watch strap that is comfortable and stylish.

Nomad offers a wide variety of Apple Watch bands that are more traditionally designed compared to Apple’s first-party offerings. The Sport Slim Band it’s noticable with a bold, molded design and large holes.

Apple sells a sports band made from similar materials, but the design of those bands hasn’t changed since their inception. Nomad offers a sleek alternative with accents that grab attention.

Nomad Sport Slim Band Design

The Nomad Sport Slim Band is made of FKM fluoroelastomer rubber, a high-performance rubber similar to Apple’s. However, there is a noticeable difference in flexibility, texture and detail.

Small design details like tapered edges and precision shaping make this tire stand out

Small design details like tapered edges and precision shaping make this tire stand out

For example, Apple’s sports band feels softer and has almost no accents outside of the locking pin. It is the pinnacle of minimalist tire design.

However, Nomad’s tire has a more rubbery feel and subtle design touches. It feels more robust than Apple’s band, while still remaining comfortable.

The outward-facing portion of the strap has a slightly concave design with adjustment holes that run the entire strap length. The underside of the band has channels that increase breathability and flexibility.

The Sport Slim Band is narrower than other comparable bands, including those from Nomad and Apple. This keeps the tire light and out of the way.

The Bone and Black options work great with any Apple Watch color

The Bone and Black options work great with any Apple Watch color

Five colors are available: Sage, Glacier Blue, Bone, Black and White. We tested Bone and Black, where Bone is similar to Apple’s Starlight color option.

Like any Apple Watch band, Nomad’s come in two sizes to fit the larger or smaller Apple Watch of each generation. For example, the Apple Watch Series 7 has 45mm or 41mm options.

Using the Nomad Sport Slim Band

I keep my Apple Watch Series 7 on almost 24 hours a day, only off to shower and recharge. That means I need bands for multiple use cases and outfits.

The Nomad Sport Slim Band improves on Apple's sports band design

The Nomad Sport Slim Band improves on Apple’s sports band design

Nomad’s Sport Slim Band has been great for workouts, swimming, and other uses where sweat and dirt are a factor. I love that the band is easy to clean with soap and water.

Leather straps are not always waterproof and fabric straps dry slowly and are more likely to cause skin irritation. That’s why having a rubber Apple Watch band is essential, and Nomad’s are among my favorites.

I like that the band is not bulky with multiple tabs, buckles and protrusions. Some bands irritate when worn during exercise, but the channels in the Sport Slim Band keep air flowing and don’t irritate the skin underneath.

Even after multiple swims in the salty ocean water, followed by prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and pool chlorine, neither Bone nor Black bands showed any wear. The color remained uniform and the elasticity did not decrease over time.

Should you buy the Nomad Sport Slim Band?

If you’re looking for a new Apple Watch band that’s useful for workouts and casual wear, the Nomad Sport Slim Band is a good choice. It’s comfortable and durable, while having noticeable design choices that stand out.

The Nomad Sport Slim Band holds up well in tough conditions

The Nomad Sport Slim Band holds up well in tough conditions

Nomad offers a standard sport tire that is bulkier, heavier and more robust with similar design choices. However, the slim option will probably be more suitable for many.

Nomad Sport Slim Band Pros

  • Durable yet comfortable
  • Traditional design with accents that set it apart from Apple’s sport bands
  • Breathable channels that allow airflow

Nomad Sport Slim Band Cons

  • Color options are limited to muted tones

Rating: 4 out of 5

Where to buy

The Nomad Sport Slim Band can be purchased directly from: Nomad for $59.95 in 45mm or 41mm sizes.