I’m always on the lookout for new bands for my Apple Watch. I already have a bunch in my desk drawer, but any chance I have some time to kill, I start browsing for something new, whether it be an official Apple-branded watch band on a discount or another nylon band in a different color than blue. It’s almost as unhealthy an obsession as watch collecting, except it’s way cheaper.
So when I hear about new Apple Watch bands through my inbox, my heart skips a beat and I immediately open the email they’re featured in. This time, the news came from a company called WITHit who you may have heard of if you’ve ever gone shopping for an Apple Watch band at Best Buy. They have pretty wide distribution at Best Buy stores across the country, as well as Best Buy’s website and their own. I’ve never pulled the trigger on one since they don’t usually have many options at my local Best Buy, but WITHit’s email intrigued me enough to ask for a sample.
Highlighting some of the various bands you could give a loved one for Valentine’s Day, one of the options was a very classy Lizard Grain Leather band in red. Admittedly, red leather isn’t my cup of tea, but my mom has worn red leather straps with her watches ever since I was little, so I figured I’d ask if I could have one sent to her. Sure enough, the kind folks at WITHit sent it over, and she’s been wearing it since (read: about a month).
The Lizard Grain Leather band comes with genuine lizard grain leather, a stainless steel buckle and lugs, and a decent array of size options. My mom’s wrists are pretty thin, however, so she’s going to wind up carving a new hole in the band so it fits more snug. But for most others, it should suffice.
There are a few colors to pick from besides red like black, orange, and white (there’s also a toupe finish but it was unvailable at the time of writing). Based off what I’ve seen from WITHit’s site, the red is the best looking with a vibrant hue that’s not too distracting and makes for a great accent to any wardrobe.
I’m not sure where they’re getting the leather for the bands from, but it’s indeed real leather that’ll lightly patina over time. It’s flexible, comfortable to wear all day, and well-crafted with precise stitching around the border. At the end of the day, that’s all you need from a leather band, which makes this one of the best bands you can pick up.
I’m of the opinion that Nomad makes the best leather bands for the Apple Watch, and I still think that’s true. The Horween leather and extra attention to detail make them worth the premium price, but if you’re shopping on a budget or prefer more vibrant color options than brown or tan, WITHit seems to have a solid alternative. Plus, this Lizard Grain Leather band costs just $40, whereas you can spend $60-$100 on one from Nomad. The aesthetics and craftsmanship also rival my mom’s Ann Klein watch bands that she’s been wearing for years.
I’m impressed with what WITHit sent over. Mom said she plans on wearing the band as her daiily driver and only swapping it out when the red doesn’t quite match her outfit. So if you’re in the market for a solid leather band and don’t want to spend that much, WITHit’s lineup is worth checking out.
Where to buy
WITHit is currently selling the red Lizard Grain Leather band on its website. At the time of writing, it’s available for both the 41mm and 45mm Apple Watches.
