The Best Apple Watch Accessories

Many companies, including Apple, have been working on PFAS-free fluoroelastomer bands. That includes Nomad, which makes some of our favorite Apple accessories. Nomad has confirmed that the newest Tempo bands are made from PFAS-free fluoroelastomer, so if you really must have a fluoroelastomer band—against all considerations of safety, comfort, and, I must say, style—this is a good band to get.

I have two caveats: The Tempo band is just so slightly too big for my 150-mm wrist, and Nomad hedges its bets with sizing by making each band backward-compatible with two sizes—for example, the smallest size is compatible with both 41 and 42 mm watch sizes. This doesn't quite work if you have the older, smaller-size watch, as I find the bands to be just a little too big. Happily, the Tempo band fits my 46-mm Series 10 well.

This band from Konsu NYC is the most beautiful band I've ever worn. The top and bottom layers of the strap are 100 percent soft, beautiful calfskin leather, and the middle layer is made from a proprietary thin, strong fiber. It feels like leather to the touch but is incredibly soft and supple. The hardware is double-polished stainless steel. The colors are also incredible. My band is Moher Green, inspired by Ireland’s Cliffs of Moher, and it's a much deeper, vibrant green than comes across even in these photos.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 came in a black finish, which was matched by this special black titanium Milanese loop. The standout feature (I know, I know) is the parachute-style buckle, which Apple claims was historically used for diving and other underwater activities. (I seem to remember that most water activities use ratchet tie downs and threaded cam buckles for straps, but I will let this slide.) The buckle is very smooth and satisfying to clip in and out when you're on a phone call or in a meeting. The titanium doesn't irritate my skin, and the band is smooth and easy to adjust. It's carbon-neutral, and it looks very, very good. It turns your sporty watch into a much dressier watch.

The Watch Ultra 3 has several band varieties for different rugged sports: the Alpine Loop ($99) for climbing, the Ocean Band ($99) for diving and surfing, the aforementioned Milanese Loop for looking badass, and the Trail Loop for trail running. Since trail running is my sport, the Trail Loop is also my favorite band. (It is just like the Nike Sport Loop, except bigger.) I like that the green version has hints of neon that go with the new neon Exactograph face.

As my colleague Simon Hill says in his Best USB-C Cables guide, this Nomad cable is way too expensive. However, it is undeniably handy—pack a single cable for your iPhone and your Apple Watch. It's Kevlar-reinforced, and the braided finish is nice. You can also charge your AirPods on the charging puck as well as your Apple Watch.

Not only are the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) the best workout headphones if you have an Apple Watch, they are the best workout headphones, period. They even have a heart rate monitor that's built off the one used in the Apple Watch! If you already own an Apple Watch, this feature is superfluous, as iOS will prioritize the Apple Watch's more sophisticated readings over the earbuds. But if you run with third-party fitness apps like Nike Run Club or Peloton, you will find the extra data useful.

On top of that, the buds are crazy comfortable, sound great, have excellent noise canceling, and have most of the aforementioned Apple-exclusive features, like hands-free Siri (no Adaptive Audio, however, sad). The case also sports wireless charging and, unlike many of Apple's other products, it comes in bright, fun colors. Our test unit is Electric Orange, but I find the Hyper Purple to be just as good.

I am guessing you wanted an Apple Watch in part because you needed a fitness tracker. I run, swim, and rock climb, and I think that the Apple Watch is currently one of the best running watches available. Most great fitness apps work on the Apple Watch, like Strava, Peloton, or Nike Run Club. However, if you're firmly ensconced in the Apple walled garden, the best fitness app is probably Apple's Fitness+, which seamlessly interacts between the Watch, the iPhone, and the Apple TV+.

I like it mainly because it's included with my family's Apple One subscription, but it's also incredibly convenient. There is now coaching for outdoor walks and runs (although there is another Apple app I use for this, which is Podcasts). The workouts are unintimidating, and a lot of them are very short. Those five minutes when I was not responding to your Slack? I was probably doing a five-minute core workout! Sorry, it's just hard for me to sit still! For more fitness apps and services, check out our roundup.

Hear me out: I was prepared to hate this entire Western-themed collection, which is a collaboration between Wrangler and the accessory company WithIt. It includes seven bands of all different materials, from a turquoise-and-silver bracelet band to a denim band. But I was unexpectedly charmed by the Rodeo Ready, which is made from calf hair (which I'm guessing has been bleached and dyed, since no cows have speckles this small). It can be sized to fit all Apple Watch models, from the older 38-mm versions to the Watch Ultra 1 through 3. It is comfortable and tacky, in a good way, especially if you're wearing a bunch of silver bangles and beads and patting a horse.

A travel power bank is handy when you're out and about with your watch for any length of time and don't have access to a wall outlet. I have the Journey Glyde 4-in-1 power bank ($170), which also has a 10,000-mAh capacity and adheres to the Qi2 wireless charging standard. However, my colleague Simon's pick is just as compact, much cheaper, and doubles as a kickstand, even if you can't plug devices into it with a cable.

My Instagram feed is bombarded with ads for easy-to-put-on adjustable silicone straps, so I bought this cheap one off Amazon. The colors are vibrant, and it is, indeed, very comfortable and easy to put on and adjust. However, the flip side of that is that it falls off very easily, and I can't vouch for its durability. Also, the little loop that holds the strap down isn't attached to the band at any point, so I lose it constantly. Whatever! It's $20!

Even the most restrained and minimalist among us probably have at least two bands: a nylon sport loop for everyday wear, and a titanium or steel band for when you have to dress up. (You will still probably look hopelessly dorky, but one can hope.)

You could always keep your spare bands in a shoebox on your dresser, but I really like this hanger from Twelve South. The wall mount is incredibly easy to install—just make sure you're not hanging it upside down and stick it on your wall. The bands slot neatly in a compressive groove at the top. Each holder fits up to six bands, but you can easily add more if your collection is bigger than mine.

Unlike a phone, a watch is worn on your wrist, so every millimeter of real estate counts. If all you want is a thin, affordable, and attractive bumper that will protect your watch from bumps and bangs throughout the day, this is my favorite. It's made from a matte thermoplastic urethane (TPU) that is extremely thin and fits a 41-mm watch well. The dark green color I tried is well represented by the images on the website. However, reviews say the lighter colors show dirt very easily, so I would stick with darker shades.

★ Alternative: The Spigen Thin Fit ($15) is also a very nice, minimal case. But it's a bit pricier, and the plastic is not as soft to the touch.

As with straps, the best protector is not always the brand-name option or the most expensive one. I tried screen protectors from Spigen and Zagg, but when I pushed or pulled a case on over them, the thin films peeled off or bubbled almost instantly. This screen protector—also made from TPU—was easy to apply and looks invisible once it's on.

I particularly like the small rubber installation pad, which held the watch much more securely than other installation plates. Even if it's reasonably easy to use, I recommend watching the short instructional video before putting the screen protector on. Don't worry—if you mess up, it includes several replacements.

You can overlay your fitness stats over your video while filming with the Insta360 X series. Simply connect the camera to your Insta360 X5 and authorize the Insta360 app to connect to Apple Health. The Insta360 X5 also connects to Garmin and GPS devices. Great for any vlogger showing the world their fitness journey.