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Details
- Price $80 at nomadgoods.com
- Material Compression-molded FKM strap and loop and grade 5 titanium hardware
- Weight 1.44 oz / 40.8 g (measured)
Overview
My daily driver is an Apple Watch Series 1. Yep, that's ONE. The first model ever. And I got it as a gift.
It wasn't the color (gold frame and blue strap) I wanted but put on a watch case from the dollar store, Daiso in Korea, and a NOMAD band, and it looks perfectly fine.
I was incredibly tempted by the Ultra Watch 2 now that it came in black—sophisticated, mysterious like it could take you places you'd never been. But the orange marking on the dial? It was too much, like a bruise that refuses to heal.
I've recently been strict on my criteria for belongings to keep and it was great in helping me reduce many of my possessions. One by one, the clutter has thinned out. Gratifying, to say the least.
But here I am, with one more item. But it's a new band from NOMAD, so probably worth it. It's made for the Apple Watch Ultra, but I'm not getting an overpriced watch to test a strap. But NOMAD does say it fits every other Apple Watch version. So let's take it to the extreme by testing it with the Apple Watch Series 1.
Style
Designed for the Apple Watch Ultra, it looks understandably chunky. It is too thick for the smaller Apple Watch frame. Mine is 38 mm, a whole 11 mm smaller than the Apple Watch Ultra Series 2. I was expecting it to look comical but it was passable.
The narrower NOMAD Sport Band looks more classy and effortless, so I was sure I was going to swap back. The Rocky Point Band followed the Sport Band very closely in style but was much more muscular. It's the kind of strap that I imagine Jeep owners would wear. It screams ruggedness.
At the time of review, there were five colors, including a limited edition Magma, and two hardware colors to choose from. I, of course, went for the black strap with black hardware. The black strap is technically called “Storm”, probably because it isn't true black, close to a charcoal color. I imagine it's hard to overdye the material.
It looked high quality but just short of refined or premium. It was the way that the metal keeper is a nice black metal but looks a little off when contrasted against the strap.
There is a subtle NOMAD logo on the keeper and the inner end of the strap. I always loved how NOMAD brands their products. Always subtle, and the logo looks good and simple.
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While passable, I wouldn't recommend the Rocky Point Band for anything besides the Apple Watch Ultra. You could possibly use it if you own multiple versions but I wouldn't get it if I primarily use the non-ultra version.
Material
The strap uses FKM fluoroelastomer rubber and the hardware is grade 5 titanium.
FKM fluoroelastomer is a high-performance synthetic rubber known for its exceptional resistance to heat, chemicals, and wear, making it ideal for luxury watch straps. It offers durability, comfort, and flexibility, withstanding temperatures from -20°C to 250°C and resisting degradation from sweat, moisture, and UV exposure.
Grade 5 titanium, also known as Ti-6Al-4V, is a popular alloy of titanium, containing 90% titanium, 6% aluminum, and 4% vanadium. It's one of the most commonly used titanium alloys, prized for its high strength, low weight, and excellent corrosion resistance.
It's about 40% stronger than Grade 2 pure titanium and still remains relatively lightweight. This grade is widely used in aerospace, medical, and high-performance sports gear, as well as in luxury watches.
The matte black color was likely achieved through either anodizing or a PVD coating, with surface preparation like bead blasting or sandblasting to give it that matte texture.
Usage
Coming from the NOMAD Sports Band, one difference I could immediately feel was the weight. It felt heavier the moment I put it on, but it became less obvious after I got used to it. The weight is 40.8 g compared to the 23 g of the Nomad Sports Band.
Another thing you can feel is the girth. It feels substantially in the way when I am typing on my laptop. But if you have an Apple Watch Ultra, I guess you might already be used to this.
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I found a 100 year old company that would create these heirloom quality canisters for me. They are handmade and will keep your tea leaves, coffee beans or anything that you need dry for years to come.
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The metal keeper can't be moved, while there is another keeper in the same material as the strap that can move down the strap. This keeper stays in place well and doesn't move around on its own as you use it.
The strap feels very tough, especially so at this thickness. I've had straps break on me after repeatedly bending them when fastening them on my wrist. That doesn't feel like it will happen here.
It's nice that is completely waterproof but this is a common feature with active watch straps.
Conclusion
This band is a solid choice for anyone looking for durability with a bit of extra muscle. It's not the most refined option, but if you're after a rugged, adventure-ready look, it’s definitely worth considering.
I would recommend it only for Ultra watches and especially not for older Apple watches with smaller frames.
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Tagged accessory apple watch nomad review titanium watch strap