- Flexible, in multiple senses of the word
- Light for a metal-based link band
- Dresses up the Apple Watch Ultra
- Not cheap
- Getting the right fit takes a bit of trial and error
The Nomad Stratos is the “por qué no los dos” of Apple Watch Ultra bands. It’s schmick enough for formal occasions, mimicking a traditional metal watch band, but a rubber inside means it still works for the gym. I’d a solid pitch, and for the most part, the execution is solid.
Out of the box, you’ll most likely need to adjust the Stratos. The band is made up from individual links, which you’ll need to add or remove. This process isn’t complicated, but it can be a little finicky. All the necessary tools are included. Finding the right fit took a bit of trial and error for me, after I ended up using the included half-size links.
That being said, the fit isn’t quite perfect. It’s comfortable, but I find the Stratos band too loose for when I’m running. My Apple Watch Ultra flails around too much. I could tighten it up a little by removing a link, but that would come at the cost of symmetry, and could end up being too tight for day-to-day wear. At the same time, the fit was fine for any less intense exercise; weights, elliptical, and the stair master, for example. There’s also no easy way to adjust the Stratos on the go, unlike other, more fitness-focused bands, which isn’t surprising.
Despite being partially made from titanium, I haven’t found the Stratos band overly heavy in the way an all-metal band can be. The rubber quality easily matches Apple’s own bands, and it hasn’t caused any skin irritation. The titanium colour on the band matches that of the Apple Watch, which isn’t always a given with third-party bands. My only nitpick is the Nomad logo on the clasp could have been a bit subtler or hidden on the inside.
Nomad’s Stratos is a welcome new type of Apple Watch band, that mostly lives up to the promise of working “everywhere”. It’s also very welcome, given Apple itself has so few “formal” options for the Ultra. If the fit worked a little better with my wrists, I’d happily wear the Stratos as my main Apple Watch band, but even as is, I’ll definitely be busting it out whenever I want to fancy up my Ultra.
We've spent enough time with this product to piece together our thoughts, but not enough time to put it through our official testing process. We've got a good sense of what is good, what could be improved, and whether it is worth your money, but we're not assigning a score to this one.
Alex Choros
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