Nomad Sport Band review: a better workout strap than Apple's, but pricey for rubber

Nomad's Sport Band is a good workout strap for the Apple Watch, and it earns an 8/10. It's made of FKM, a tough synthetic rubber of the same type Apple uses for its Sport Band, with ventilation channels on the inside and an aluminum pin closure. We like it much better than Apple's regular Sport Band, but nothing about it surprised us, and the price is hard to ignore. Nomad lists the black version at $69 on its US store, $20 more than Apple's.

Nomad sent us the band for review through its PR agency. We tested the black version for a week on a 45 mm Apple Watch Series 8 at the gym, during other workouts and around the house.

Comfortable and secure during workouts

Training is where it stood out most. It never left our wrist sweaty or bothered us mid-session, and the closure stayed put, so it never came loose as we moved. Nomad credits that comfort to the ventilation channels inside and the adjustment holes that run the full length of the band, which let air through between the rubber and your skin.

It's also easy to clean after a workout. Nomad suggests scrubbing it with a sponge and dish soap, and gently buffing stubborn stains with a Clorox wipe or a Magic Eraser. The company says the band and pin are fully waterproof, so you can shower or swim with it without any special care.

The material accounts for part of the quality. FKM is denser and tougher than the silicone used in cheap straps, and Nomad says it resists everyday wear while holding its shape and color. That's why the difference between Nomad's band and Apple's comes down to design rather than material.

A pin closure and one size

It closes with a pin and tuck, just like Apple's band. The aluminum pin, stamped with the Nomad logo, goes through one of the holes and the loose end tucks under the band.

Nomad sells it in a single size for wrists from 160 to 193 mm, about 6.3 to 7.6 inches. Apple offers its band in two sizes, S/M for 140 to 190 mm wrists and M/L for 160 to 210 mm. If your wrist measures under 6.3 inches around, Nomad's band will be too big.

For watches with 44, 45 or 46 mm cases, like our Series 8, pick the size Nomad calls Ultra/46mm, which also fits the 49 mm Ultra. Nomad lists it as compatible with Apple Watch Series 1 through 12, SE 1 through 3 and Ultra 1 through 4.

How the price compares with Apple's band

Nomad's list price for the black band is $69. Apple's black Sport Band for 46 mm cases costs $49 at the Apple Store, so Nomad's costs $20 more, about 40% extra, for a band made of the same material with the same kind of closure. The ventilation channels are the main addition, and they don't justify that gap.

When we checked on November 8, Nomad's store labeled this band "Legacy" and had the black version marked down to $48, a dollar less than Apple's. Nomad has also launched a redesigned Sport Band at $69 in new colors, including Carbon Black. We haven't tested the new version.

Our score: 8/10

We give it an 8/10. It's a well-made band that's comfortable for training, stays closed and cleans up in a minute, and we prefer it to Apple's Sport Band. It stops short of a higher score because it lacks the one detail that would make it special, and at full price it asks too much for a rubber strap.

If you want a gym band and find it on sale, it's an easy buy. If you already have Apple's and it works for you, there's no reason to switch. From the same Nomad shipment we also tested the Modern Leather Case for iPhone 18 Pro Max, which impressed us a lot more. And if you want your phone in view while you train, the UAG Monarch Mag2 ring stand sticks to metal gym equipment.