Four years ago in 2020, when Apple introduced the Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE, Apple also introduced two new watch bands that have no buckles and instead use stretchy materials. As a result, you can simply slip them on and off of your wrist. One of those bands is the $49 Solo Loop, and as I noted in my review, it is one of my all-time favorite Apple Watch bands. I own a few in different colors, and I have worn them frequently for many years. The other one introduced in 2020 is the $99 Braided Solo Loop. I purchased one recently to try it out and see how it compares to the fantastic Solo Loop. Overall, it is a good band, and this is your best option if you like the idea of being able to quickly slip the watch on and off but you don't like the rubbery feel of a Solo Loop. But if you do like the Solo Loop, I don't consider this band twice as good even though it is twice the price.
The Braided Solo Loop, like the Solo Loop, doesn't have a clasp, so you cannot adjust the size. That means that you need to measure yourself, or go to an Apple Store where they can measure you, to get the right size, from Size 1 to Size 9 for the 41 mm Apple Watch, and from Size 1 to Size 12 for the 45 mm Apple Watch. I have a larger wrist (around 21 cm), and I use a Size 12.
According to the Apple Watch website Bandbreite, the Braided Solo Loop has been available in 32 colors over the years, 7 of which are available this season. Perhaps we will get even more new colors on or after the Apple event on September 9, 2024. I had hoped to get a darker blue or green, but those colors are not currently available, so I went for black.
The Braided Solo Loop, like the Solo Loop, stretches to fit around your wrist. This makes it incredibly fast and easy to slip on and off. It also means that you don't feel any sort of buckle against your skin. Also, there is no risk of a buckle coming undone or catching on something and your watch falling off.
Unlike the Solo Loop, which Apple says is made of liquid silicone rubber, the Braided Solo Loop is created by weaving polyester yarn filaments around silicone threads. So instead of a rubbery feel, the Braided Solo Loop has the feel of a textured, soft canvas except that it is stretchy. I know that some people complain that they get too much sweat caught under the rubbery Solo Loop band, although that has never been a problem for me. For those folks, the Braided Solo Loop may be preferable because it breathes more thanks to the weave.
Another result of the weave is that the band feels soft against your arm. The feel is somewhat similar to Apple's Sport Loop, which is made of a nylon weave and is very comfortable, as I noted in my review from five years ago. But unlike the Sport Loop, you can easily stretch this band.
Although both the Braided Solo Loop and the Solo Loop are stretchy and thus hug your wrist, there seems to be less tension with the Braided Solo Loop. Don't get me wrong, it is not like it is loose enough to slide up and down my wrist, which would be something that I definitely would not like. The elasticity keeps it in place. But it is just a slightly looser feel. I've heard a few reports that after years of use, the Braided Solo Loop can loosen up considerably, so much so that some people recommend going one size smaller with the Braided Solo Loop than you would with a Solo Loop. After less than two weeks of regular use, however, I haven't noticed this Braided Solo Loop band getting any looser on my wrist, and I’m happy with selecting the same size that I use with the regular Solo Loop.
Conclusion
The Braided Solo Loop is a very comfortable watch band. It is easy to slip on and off, and the weave is comfortable against the wrist. Wearing this watch band is almost akin to slipping a comfortable sock on your foot. My only real complaint is the price. I find the Solo Loop band to be just as comfortable and easy to slip on and off at half the price. And because it is fun to have different color watch bands to match your clothes or your mood, I'd prefer having two Solo Loop bands in two colors than one Braided Solo Loop band.
