The Apple Watch comes in three different flavors. There’s the Apple Watch Sport, which is made out of Aluminum, the Apple Watch, which is made from stainless steel, and the Apple Watch Edition, which is made from a premium material that varies each year. While the entry level Apple Watch Sport looks pretty good, matching the aluminum used on Apple’s other products, it’s clear that it isn’t designed to be a true classic wrist watch. It features materials such as aluminum and Ion-X glass, compared to materials such as stainless steel and sapphire. Rather than dismissing the Apple Watch Sport as a simple fitness tracker, JUUK has decided to embrace it, and create bands specially designed for the model.
If you’ve read my review on the JUUK Revo band, then you know I’m a big fan of the company’s work. The attention to detail and craftsmanship really shines through their bands. JUUK’s latest band, the JUUK Ligero, is no exception. However, rather than sticking to the traditional stainless steel material used on most watch bands, JUUK has created the Ligero bands almost entirely out of aluminum. While aluminum isn’t a commonly used material in the watch industry, it does offer some advantages. The first being the variety of colors available. The Ligero bands are available in several colors. I initially received the cobalt variant for this review.
The outside packaging is exactly the same, but there have been some tweaks on the inside. Included with each Ligero band is a resizing tool. At first, I was confused with how it would work, but after following the video linked with the card included in the box, I found it really easy and intuitive. It was much faster than the traditional method of using a screwdriver.
What really struck me about this band is how light it is. I found JUUK’s description pretty accurate, comparing the weight to that of plastic. While it weighs like plastic, it certainly does not feel anything like it, being built with aircraft-grade aluminum. After using it for a few weeks, I switched back to the Revo band for a little bit to compare, and the Revo felt so heavy after being used to the Ligero’s weight.
Something that has been improved with the Ligero is the connectors. With the Revo, I felt it was a bit tight and difficult to remove from the Apple Watch. With the Ligero, I had no such problems. It didn’t fit completely flush with the sides, but it didn’t wiggle or feel loose, and you have to look very closely to notice. (UPDATE! JUUK has revised the Ligero band and has resolved this issue. You can read about the revision here)
My favorite part about these bands has to be the color options. Apple has a variety of color options available for their sport bands, but it feels pretty expensive at $50 each for something that doesn’t even cost $3 for them to make. The Ligero bands allow you to have a variety of different colors just like the sport bands, but it feels much more luxurious and premium.
The pins and clasp are made out of stainless steel, so they remain silver. At first I thought I wouldn’t like the look, but once I received it and saw it in person, I didn’t mind it, at least with my cobalt color. If I had to nitpick, I’d have to say the only thing I didn’t really like about it was that there is a bit of a gap between the two links where the clasp is. (UPDATE! JUUK has revised the Ligero band and has resolved this issue. You can read about the revision here) I don’t really think there’s much that JUUK could do about this (turns out there was), but again, this is a minor issue, and it doesn’t affect the functionality whatsoever. You likely won’t notice it that often anyway because it’s at the bottom below your wrist.
The other very attractive thing about the Ligero is the price. It costs $119.00 for the 38mm model and $129.00 for the 42mm. That’s just a tad bit more than two of Apple’s sport bands. While I would be more than happy to recommend the Revo to people, it’s large price tag reserves it for a certain audience. The lower price tag of the Ligero has more appeal for the average consumer, and with the variety of different colors, you’re bound to be happy with your purchase.
Overall, with its lightweight and unique design, attractive price, and a selection of vibrant colors, the Ligero has become my new favorite Apple Watch band. You can buy one for yourself over at JUUK’s official website.
What do you think of the Ligero? What Apple Watch band is your favorite? Let us know in the comments down below!
