I’ve reviewed lots of different bands for the Apple Watch, from ones made from aluminum to pocket watches, but sometimes I simply want to go with a basic band. The sport bands are good for that, but I wanted something that would give the watch more of a premium and classy look. I had reviewed the Nomad Leather Battery Wallet before, and I loved the premium design, so when I saw that Nomad made an Apple Watch band that was made from the same Horween leather, I wanted to get it on my wrist.
Nomad offers their leather bands in both a traditional and modern style. I preferred the simplistic look of the modern band, so that’s the one that’s featured in this review. While the sleek leather stands out immediately, upon closer inspection you’ll see that the buckle and lugs are made out of stainless steel, with a choice between silver or black. It’s a custom design that gives the Apple Watch a unique look, and I absolutely love it. This, along with the Horween leather, really makes the Nomad Leather Strap feel like a premium product. The leather is designed to age, so over time it gets darker, and it results in a band that is uniquely yours. One thing that I was pleased with was the keepers. On many leather watch bands that I’ve used, the one keeper always slides off of the strap. With the Nomad Leather band, it fits quite snug in place.
I received many compliments when wearing the strap, and since it’s leather, it fits well with a variety of different outfits. The leather gives the watch a nice classic look, and it fits well in rugged environments, such as the great outdoors. The leather feels nice on the wrist and I found it to make the watch quite light. I also had no issues when using it with charging docks, such as the HiRise Duet.
The only issue I had with the Nomad Leather Strap was the connectors. On my Series 2 the connectors fit pretty tight inside the watch, which at times made it quite difficult to remove when I wanted to swap the band. Sometimes I didn’t use the band at certain times as I knew it would difficult to remove later, however, this issue seems to have gotten better over time.
Perhaps one of the best things about the Nomad Leather Strap though, is the price. With such premium materials, I would have expected the band to be close to the $100 mark. But instead, the Traditional Leather Strap is $79.95, and the Modern Leather Strap, which we reviewed here, is just $59.95. At a price point like that, it’s very easy to recommend, especially when you compare it with the likes of Apple’s leather bands. The Modern Strap is just $10 more than Apple’s Sport bands, and less than half of the price of their leather bands.
You can buy the Nomad Leather Strap starting at $59.95 from Nomad’s official website.
What do you think of the Nomad Leather Strap? Do you own any other leather products from Nomad? What’s your favorite leather Apple Watch band? Let us know in the comments down below!
