Longer 5S bands

Hi,

I currently have a Fenix 3HR and wear it 24/7-365 and briefly tried a 735XT. I love the functions of the Fenix 3HR but when I tried the 735XT for a week, the size and weight of the 735XT just made med think about selling my Fenix 3HR and buy a 735XT. But the lack of functions, waterproofing and the barometric sensor, put me off. Now the 5S has been announced, I only see two things I am concerned about. Battery life in GPS mode, but then there is Ultra Trac, so maybe not that big of an issue. The other being the short strap on the 5S. It's not even as long as on the 735XT and from time to time I wear it over my clothes. I know there is alternatives, but I do like the silicone straps from Garmin and also non Garmin straps do not have QuickFit, so there goes the clever in QuickFit...

Garmin: A copy of the 735XT band would just be perfect. Same length (or even a bit longer) and with the square holes.

0 Volker over 8 years ago

Garmin should gives us a fabric wrist strap with quick fit to wear the 5/s/x over a jacket. For many winter activities it is more comfortable to wear the watch over the jacket. So garmin, please a fabric wrist strap wit quick fit!

0 MrUnderhill over 7 years ago

Have you tried a NATO or a ZULU strap?

Sorry for the delay, but it took me ages to refind this post....

Just a thought, but when my Fenix 1 strap sheared and the watch fell to the ground I did some research and found that there's an army style strap that is as simple as a strip of nylon webbing that's fairly indestructible.

It should work perfectly for you because

When you remove the QuickConnect straps you can use the bars that they'd been snapped onto for the nato strap, (it simply threads through between the pin and the watch.)
A Nato strap is extra long precisely to allow it to be worn over a jacket sleeve for cold and wet conditions
If worn on the skin in cold weather, the NATO strap stops the cold metal watch from freezing to the skin.
If one of the pins on the watch breaks, the watch will flap loose on it's other pin and not fall off and get lost
Fitting/Removing one will take less time that putting on a QuickConnect strap and requires no tools!
NATO straps are cheap, available in a huge array of colours and patterns and widths.

The only down side of a nato strap it that the nylon strip covers the HR sensor... but then you'd not be using the HR sensor anyway if it was sleeve worn.

Here's info on the fitting https://www.natozulu.com/content/9-nato-strap-instructions
Here's an example of a 26mm one on amazon... https://www.amazon.co.uk/DaLuca-Ballistic-Nylon-Watch-Strap/dp/B00NG5VTV0/ref=sr_1_4?s=watch&ie=UTF8&qid=1498348327&sr=1-4&keywords=nato+watch+strap+26mm

Just watch out for the 'two part NATO straps' which are on sale and are not NATO straps... NATO straps have to be one piece.

A two part strap will seem tempting because it lets you use the HR sensor, but don't get one! These 2 part straps...

Require you to unscrew the pin to fit the strap...
Even worse... if a pin breaks on a '2 part strap', then your watch will fall off.... (If you have watch on sleeve... you won't feel it go!)

Here's an amazon example of one of these 'pretend' straps that should be avoided. https://www.amazon.co.uk/DaLuca-Piece-Ballistic-Nylon-Watch/dp/B00NG5KCD6/ref=sr_1_1?s=watch&ie=UTF8&qid=1498348327&sr=1-1&keywords=nato+watch+strap+26mm

I hope that helps.