Abanen Hook and Loop Quick Dry Watch Band for Fenix 8 / epix Pro/Fenix 7/6/5 (47mm), 22mm Woven Nylon Ultralight Sport Wristband Strap for Garmin Instinct 2, Instinct 3 45mm
M**X
Big improvement over original silicone bands
Update - just had the first one wear out, after about 1.5 years. I call that very durable, considering I wore them day and night (took off only for showers and swimming) and did not hesitate to get them wet or dusty. Wearing out in this case means that first one, then two, then all of the little velcro stickers came off. So now I am on my second one, and still have another two-pack as a reserve. Still a solid 5/5 IMO.Did not have high expectations, but they were exceeded in every way anyway. These Nylon bands are much more comfortable than the silicone bands - basically you don't feel them as much.The are also never loose or too tight, which the silicone bands frequently were. These Nylon bands are slightly stretchy, so the watch is tighter to the skin (to measure heart rate etc) but at the same time does not strangle your wrist.Another point to mention is that when you sweat, the silicone bands are just terrible. When hiking in hot areas, it always started to get hot, slippery, and itchy. This Nylon material seems to just take up the moisture or ventilate very well, not sure. No issues when hiking.Not having any clasps or other things to keep lose ends in check, the band is very low key, and will snag less than other bands.Can't say much about looks - I just don't care that much, as long as it is functional. Wearing the dark green right now - doesn't really jive with the grey bezel of my Epic2, but like I said, could not care less.Following the images to install the band made it pretty simple. Once installed and the correct size dialed in, it is easy to take off and put on with exactly the same length as there is a bend where it wraps around the watch band retainer.I also like the fact that it can be washed, and I love the hook & loop fasteners which are both secure and easy to open.Really nothing to complain about, and the two-pack is refreshingly affordable too. I rarely give 5/5 but these deserve it (plus I ordered another pack just to have some spares).Not sure how long they will last - if they prematurely break or frazzle, I'll come back and update this review.
B**N
Quite comfortable, and wonderfully adjustable
Updates: Band is still going strong after several months of daily wear. Noticed they've now added another color which tempts me. There was a question of the length so I've uploaded an image of the distance between the velcro portions.---------------------------------------------------------------------After a long day of lift assisted DH riding my wrist was pretty beat up from my Fenix6 bouncing around a bit. With the default band I just couldn't quite get the fit right for such a rough activity (running was fine by contrast). After searching for a more adjustable strap like a NATO strap I came across this one. There weren't a ton of reviews and only the one color but I figured I'd try it. I have now worn the watch with this band nearly continuously for several weeks and am quite happy with it.Pros:You can have any color you want, as long as it's black.The ability to make minute adjustments is fantastic.I haven't had any reaction to sweat or funk like I've had with silicone bands.I can have it slightly tighter or looser as necessary.The plastic part you grab on the end tucks out of the way nicely.The profile helps the watch sit flat on my wrist.And perhaps most importantly, it helps prevent the watch from banging on my wrist bones like the OEM strap.Almost cons:The packaging is pretty weak, just a thin plastic bubble on some cardboard, but it gets discarded/recycled anyway, so, meh.Instructions for looping the band onto the original pins are honestly not great, but the video on the ad page is pretty clear and makes easy work of it.Little wood chips, splinters, and thistle sorts of things can get caught in the loose(ish) weave of the fabric while doing outdoor activities like trail runs, hiking, camping or things like woodworking, but I was able to remove all of them with a little effort.Concerns:Over time I wonder how well the hook/loop connection will hold up. Will things get furry and stop grabbing?How long will the elastic nature hold up before it's just a cloth strap? If all of the stretch goes out, will it really be a problem?In the end, for the 20ish dollars this was definitely worth the risk to me. It's my go-to for the fenix6 and I'm happy I don't need to use the original strap and beat my skinny little wrists up anymore. Hopefully it holds up and hopefully there will be some additional colors down the road.
R**D
Can be universal with your own watch lugs
I was not clear that it didn't come with lugs, but the description and pictures are clear. This made me re-evaluate how I wanted to use the band. It would not fit between the pin and body on my Oneplus Watch 3, but I simply put on some lugs from another band I had and it works great. The dual adjustment allows me to adjust where the end point lands for best comfort.
G**E
Nice band
I wear my Garmin 945 all the time. At my office job, running, biking, swimming, working in the yard, etc. this nylon Velcro band is comfy. I was timid to swim in open water for fear of the band coming open and loosing my watch at the bottom of a lake. I can say that the band’s Velcro closure is sufficiently secure enough for swimming. The band does take a few hours to dry. I have 2 of these bands, so I swap to a dry band after swimming. It doesn’t stink even after lots of sweating. I wash it in the shower with some shampoo every now and then. Overall, good band.
A**A
Look No Further If You Want A Comfortable Band!
I bought this mainly for the sake of sleeping with my Garmin Fenix 7 Pro comfortably and I am seriously impressed with the quality of this band, especially for the price! I woke up and didn't have any crazy imprints on my face like I normally would with your standard belt loop watch band. Upon wearing it for the first time, I noticed how comfortable it was immediately. I ran outside and worked at the gym with it. For the times that I sweat, it wicked away the moisture VERY fast. I am impressed and I love that you can adjust it to as fine detail as possible. I HIGHLY recommend this band!
Trustpilot
2 months ago
1 month ago