StrapsCo Watch Band Review – An Affordable Replacement for Garmin Bands

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Disclaimer: The review unit was provided by StrapsCo. We would like to thank them for making this review possible. However, this does not influence our review in any way. Everything written here is my honest opinion.  
I’ve happily owned a Garmin Vivoactive 3 for about a year and a half, and overall I’ve been very satisfied with the watch. It’s got all the features I’m looking for and the battery life is good. It looks nice in a variety of settings, from working out to going to work. It’s my only watch and I wear it daily for activities. My only complaint has been with the strap.
The strap loop broke after about 10 months. Nothing specific happened to cause it to break, it simply broke apart due to regular wear and tear. Thus, the excess strap would stick out from my wrist awkwardly. Not only did it look less than ideal to have the strap sticking out, but the exposed strap would catch on things like my shirt cuff, kitchen drawers, or the pockets of my pants, causing my entire watch to fall off my wrist numerous times. 
The StrapsCo silicone replacement band arrived in a clear plastic package. It’s nothing fancy but the minimal packaging was more than adequate. The strap felt nice and solid from the first time I picked it up. It’s more substantial than the original Garmin strap, which provides a nice sense of security on the wrist. It’s got a subtle diagonal pattern on it which adds a little character to the strap without distracting from the watch face. 
Specs

I got the medium-long length silicone band in black. It fits the Garmin Vivoactive 3, Vivomove, Vivomove 3, Forerunner 245, and Forerunner 645. It’s 200 mm (130mm and 70mm) and it fits well on my average-sized wrist. It’s longer than the original Garmin strap, and also slightly thicker.

The strap features quick-release pins. The quick-release lever allows the pin to be easily slid down while the band is inserted. It takes a matter of seconds to change the strap. Once the strap is attached, the pins hold it securely with no wiggle room or excess movement. 
Look/Feel

The strap looks very nice. The black strap is subtle and sleek. From a distance, it looks like the original strap. Up close, however, it’s got a different pattern from the original, with diagonal lines running across the strap. It has more of a matte finish as opposed to the Garmin strap, which took on a slightly glossy after a few months of wear. Another difference is the buckle. The original Garmin buckle was silver, while the StrapsCo buckle is black. The black buckle gives the strap a slightly more understated, sophisticated look, which I prefer. 

It also feels thicker and sturdier than the original Garmin strap. While it’s thicker, it doesn’t feel too thick or chunky. It’s still lightweight and flexible. It’s comfortable on the wrist, and I can wear it all day without feeling any discomfort or even noticing that it’s there. 
Build quality 
The quality seems high, and the strap feels very solid. The different length options are helpful, as they allow for a more tailored fit on the wrist without any unnecessary excess material. The strap is thicker than the original Garmin strap, and it looks and feels like a more durable product. Perhaps the biggest benefit to me is that it has two strap loops instead of one. This helps to ensure that the excess band stays tight to the rest of the strap, and it also provides a little extra protection in case one of the strap loops breaks. 
Final Verdict

Overall, the StrapsCo silicone replacement band is a great option. It comes in a variety of colors, from black to white and six different colors in between. It is available in two different lengths. It feels sturdier than the original Garmin band, and the quick-release pins make it a breeze to swap out. It’s a personal preference, but I prefer the black buckle of the StrapsCo strap to the silver buckle of the original. The black buckle makes the strap stand out less and lets the watch face take center stage.
In addition, at the time of publishing, the StrapsCo band was $12 less than the Garmin silicone replacement band, so it feels like a win-win to get a superior strap at a lower price. 
You can shop all Strapsco bands here, they sell straps for many smartwatches, fitness trackers, and many well-known watch brands. You can also shop Strapsco on Amazon.
If you are comparison shopping we should mention that Garmin does now sell some premium quick-release replacement bands in a wide variety of materials (including suede, leather and metallic Milanese).

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