Apple Watches are rated to be worn in water, and many people keep theirs on around the clock. The band decides whether that is a good idea.
What to wear in water
Silicone sport bands are the right answer for almost everyone. They do not absorb water, shed chlorine and salt, and dry in minutes.
Solo loops in silicone are equally good and have no clasp to corrode, which is one less thing for salt water to attack.
Ocean-style bands are thicker and more structured, made for water sports and for the Ultra in particular.
What to take off first
Leather absorbs water, stiffens as it dries and cracks at the fold points. A single soaking will not ruin a good band; daily showers will, within months.
Metal mesh and link bracelets survive water but suffer. Chlorine and salt attack the clasp mechanism and any plating, and water sits between links against your skin.
Woven nylon sport loops can go in the water but hold it in the weave. Fine occasionally, poor as a dedicated swimming band, and over months of pool use they hold a smell that is hard to shift.
The habit that matters most
Rinse the band with fresh water after swimming, and after any session where you sweat heavily.
Chlorine and salt keep working long after you have dried off. Ten seconds under a tap removes both, and it does more for a band's lifespan than anything else you can do.
Dry the back of the watch too, particularly around the sensor. Residue there affects heart-rate readings more than most people realise.
Fit during exercise
Apple's own guidance is to wear the watch slightly snugger and a little higher up the arm for workouts, then loosen it afterwards.
The reason is mechanical. During hard effort the wrist moves constantly, and a band that is fine at rest lets the watch slide. The optical sensor then reads motion rather than pulse, which shows as a heart rate lagging behind your effort or spiking during intervals.
Too tight is the opposite error: it restricts blood flow and gives readings lower than reality.
If your heart rate data looks wrong during training, check band fit before blaming the watch.
Which bands adjust best
Sport bands with closely spaced holes let you find the right tension. Sport loops with hook-and-loop adjust continuously, which is better still, since you can tighten for a session and loosen after without losing your place.
Solo loops cannot be adjusted at all, so they need to be sized correctly from the start.
Water resistance is about the watch, not the band
Worth being clear: no band makes a watch more or less waterproof. The rating belongs to the case and seals.
Also worth knowing that water resistance ratings describe a new device. Seals age, so treat an older watch more conservatively than its original rating suggests.
Cleaning silicone properly
Rinse with fresh water and wipe dry. For a deeper clean, a little soap-free cleanser and a soft cloth, then rinse thoroughly and dry fully before wearing.
Rinse more than feels necessary. Soap residue left in a band is a common cause of the skin irritation people blame on the material.
Two bands is the practical answer
Silicone for water and training, something metal or leather for the rest. Swapping takes about five seconds on an Apple Watch, the easiest of any smartwatch, and it roughly doubles the life of the dress band.
Shop Apple Watch bands, or read our guide to sport band types.
