Bands (385 products)

When it comes to smartwatch fitness bands versus traditional straps, the benefit is that fitness bands are specially designed to be used in high-intensity workouts and exercise routines.

The materials used in fitness bands are built for greater breathability, overall durability, and sweat resistance. With traditional watch straps, sweat, water, and grit can set in, damaging the strap.

Fitness bands are easy to clean after intensive workouts, often requiring little more than a good rinse with water or a quick clean in a diluted mixture of soap and warm water. 

The removal and replacement of a smartwatch band can differ between brands. In general, however, watch bands have lug holes, which is where the pins that attach watch bands to the watch case are placed.

These pins go inside the lug holes of the bands and then are affixed to the small connection points (lugs) on the watch case, which are located at the top (12 o’clock) and bottom (6 o’clock). 

Some watch bands, depending on their design, allow their watch band pins to be easily manipulated without the need for tools. Instead, they’re removable with an in-built spring-loaded clasp on the watch bands themselves. 

For watch bands that are attached and detached with the use of a pin removal tool, such as the Garmin Forerunner 935 Band, the basic steps are as follows:

1. Remove the current watch band by disconnecting the pins from the watch case’s lugs

2. Remove pins from the watch band you’re no longer using

3. Place pins into the lug holes of the new watch band you want to connect

4. Connect the upper watch band by securing the pin into both holes of the upper watch case lug

5. Repeat the same process for the lower watch band and secure the pin into both holes of the lower watch case lug

Remember, with the above steps, you will want to have a pin removal tool on hand.

Garmin watch bands are designed for Garmin devices, first and foremost. While their watch bands won’t work with other non-Garmin smartwatches, many of their own smartwatches offer cross-compatibility for watch bands.

To see if a Garmin smartwatch band is compatible with your specific Garmin smartwatch, you can click on the ‘Compatible Brands’ tab on any watch band product page to see the watches it’s compatible with.

The quickest and easiest way to find the correct size for your smartwatch band is to look at the back of the current band your smartwatch has. Most watch bands include a small printout of the size.

The most common sizes you’re likely to come across include 18mm, 20mm, 22mm, 24mm, and 26mm. If the size is not listed on the watch band itself, try examining the back of the watch or refer to the watch’s product manual.