Zagg Gear4 Apple Watch Bands Review: Sport and Braided Alternatives

Zagg Gear4 Apple Watch Band Reviews

No shortage of Apple Watch bands exists in every color and in myriad designs. Zagg’s Gear4 team created lightweight, nylon watch bands. The Sport version offers an open, wraparound design that secures the band via hooks-and-loops, The Braided Watch Band acts more as a stretchy bracelet.

The Sports band comes in a variety of colors including navy, forest green, black, red, and yellow. The braided watch offers fewer variants, with navy, forest green, and wine, and a gray-white-black band they call storm.

The Braided Watch Band comes in small, medium, and large. So make sure to measure your writs before ordering. The Sport Watch Band ad adjusts to the wearer via its hooks-and-loops. Both offer a 2-year warranty.

The Sport Watch Band runs $39.99 and the Braided Watch Band sells for $49.99. Apple’s braided watch bands run $99. Their Sport Loop runs $49 making both Zagg bands significantly less expensive than comparable Apple watch bands.

What we like

Both Zagg Gear4 Apple Watch Band are, as advertised, light on the wrist. The material looks casual, but they hold up anywhere. I particularly think they look good with jeans.

As with most Apple Watch bands, the Zagg Gear4 Apple Watch Bands install and deinstall easily. I experienced no magnet issues.

Of the two designs, I prefer the Sport Watch Band as I think it is more flexible in application. If the Braided Watch Band loosens or tightens over the day, all you can do is run it higher or lower on your arm. The Sport Watch Band adjusts with little fuss to the current state of your arm.

I also like that the Sport Band is washable.

The all cardboard packing is great, especially given it is made of recycled material to start with. I also like that the manual is part of the box, and not a separate piece of paper to lose or squint at. Both bands also leverage some post-consumer recycled nylon. Those looking for solid environmental efforts will like the Zagg Gear4 Apple Watch Bands.

What could be improved

Apple Watch bands are mostly simple, and the Zagg Gear4 Apple Watch Band are among the most simple. They offer no buckles, no clasps, no links to remove, and no adornments to fall off or swap out. That means they have limited features to improve. The best way to improve a product like this is more colors and a lower price. I don’t know if Zagg plans for more colors, but I bet that if you try hard, you will eventually find both discounted. As noted above, however, they already offer good value when compared to similar Apple products.

As I continue my evaluation, I can report back, but it appears the Braided Watch Band may stretch over time. It feels looser on my wrist now than it did a few weeks ago. And trust me, it isn’t weight loss. I’m not sure how well these materials wear over time, but I know Zagg didn’t conduct two years of testing to see if the material will stand up to the warranty offer.

But beyond that, and it isn’t a Zagg issue, keep in mind that the Braided Watch Band is sized, so if you do plan to lose or gain weight, the Sport Watch Band is a better choice for wrist size ups and downs.

Zagg Gear4 Apple Watch Bands: The Bottom Line

Apple Watch owners seeking an alternative to Apple’s bands will find good value in Zagg’s alternatives.

Zagg provided the Zagg Gear4 Watchbands for review. Images courtesy of Zagg.

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