Nomad Stratos Band review: Titanium & FKM is a winning combination for Apple Watch

Nomad has launched its latest Apple Watch accessory, the Stratos Band. It combines lightweight and durable titanium with FKM rubber for a breathable, comfortable and durable watch band unlike anything else I’ve tested.

When it comes to Apple Watch bands, it’s hard for accessory makers to come up with something new. Most of them jumped on the Apple Sport Band or occasionally shamelessly ripped off Apple’s other unique designs.

The popular Nomad has a great collection of Apple Watch bands to date, but none of them are that unique. The leather ones look great, the Sport Bands look a little more “tough” than Apple, and the Rugged Bands have stylish metal hardware.

The newly released Stratos Band is the first to break the mold and offer something I haven’t seen before. It might exist on the market somewhere, but I hadn’t come across it before the Nomad launch.

It is a blend of sports band and metal band that gives users the best of both worlds. I’ve been wearing it for the past few days and have been very impressed.

Nomad Stratos Band Review: A refreshingly unique design

The belt is a two-part construction. Their connection includes metal links made of titanium and Nomad’s signature fluoroelastomer (FKM) rubber.

From the outside, the clutches are what primarily make up the ID, with only maybe 2mm of FKM showing through between them. The Titanium comes in Natural Titanium or Black and the FKM comes in Volt, Ultra Orange or Black.

Each of the titanium surfaces is matte and perfectly matches the Apple Watch Ultra. However, they still fit any of the “large” Apple Watch models, such as the 46mm Apple Watch Series 11 or the new 44mm Apple Watch SE 3.

The FKM links have concave channels on the underside, making them pleasantly breathable on the wrist. Not to mention they allow the band some flexibility.

The band finally has a unique fastening mechanism. It is magnetically supported for proper alignment and can be easily closed or opened with one hand.

Nomad Stratos Band Review: Amazing, lightweight comfort

Nomad’s new Stratos reminds me a bit of the iconic Speidel Twist-O-Flex band. It doesn’t stretch nearly as much and is a two-piece, but gives off slightly similar vibes.

It is of course a link band, but much more comfortable than any other. There is none of the rigid stiffness that normal tie-down belts have.

I’ve used both Nomad’s and Apple’s metal link bands for ages and am a big fan of both. They went through everything with me but occasionally caused my wrist to hurt during physical work or exercise.

The flexible FKM is perfect because you still get the sleek look of a metal band but the comfort of a rubber sports band. Compared to steel, titanium is also very light, so it won’t weigh you down.

As your wrist moves, the band contours with it. It can stretch, bend, curve and twist as you need without unnecessary strain.

The buckle also needs its praise. Most of the third-party metal bands I’ve tested have the typical folding clasp that tends to dig into my wrist.

Nomad was one of the few who developed their own clasp when they formed their original metal bands. It’s as thick as the watch band itself and doesn’t press on the underside of my wrist at all.

The strap is adjustable for added comfort. Links can be removed using the included tool.

Again, compared to other Nomad metal bands, these references are much easier to remove. The pins are not tapered, but sprung.

Use a metal tool to push the pin through the side of each link. Then you simply pop the link and separate them.

You can remove as many links as you need to fit your wrist size. Nomad also includes extra pins in the box if you need replacement parts.

The Nomad slipped on two more half-sized cells. This allows for a much finer size than usual with metal link tapes.

Nomad Stratos Band Review: Premium and worth it

I’ve always appreciated Nomad’s quirks with its product line. The added weight of wireless chargers, metal buttons on leather cases, or high data transfer speeds on USB-C dongles are fantastic.

The same is true with this new band. The bright pop of color is fun and the comfort is second to none.

Unlike Speidal or other metal bands, this one hasn’t pinched any arm hairs or caused any wrist strain yet. It’s adjustable, easy to use and looks fantastic.

My only complaint is the ending. Personally, my favorite Apple Watch finish right now is Polished Titanium.

I think it looks more elegant than the matte finish on the Apple Watch Ultra and is more like a traditional watch. I wish Nomad would make a polished version of the Stratos group to complement it.

The matte titanium doesn’t look bad by any means, but I might get one to match. To be fair, the brushed aluminum base model and the Apple Watch Ultra are probably more popular, but that doesn’t change what I like.

If you, too, want a premium, well-designed strap that looks stylish while being very comfortable, the Nomad Stratos strap is easily at the top of the list.

Nomad Stratos Band Review: Pros

• Premium titanium construction
• Recessed mounting, magnetic clasp
• Easily removable resizing links
• Flexible for more comfort
• FKM comes in bright, contrasting colors
• Perfectly compatible with Apple Watch Ultra

Nomad Stratos Band Review: Cons

Nomad Stratos band rating: 5 out of 5

Where to buy the Nomad Stratos Band

You can pick up the Stratos Band in Natural or Black Titanium with Black, Volt or Ultra Orange FKM for $179 directly on the Nomad website.