So yes, no QF but it's a two minute job (at worst) so...
Unless you drop the torx screw into a deep shag pile rug, then it's a 30 minute job at worst or a 2 day wait to get a new strap just so you can get a new set of bars with the screws.
True story!
The quick-fit bands have been probably the number two benefit (behind the all-day heart rate tracking) for me of upgrading from my old Fenix 3.
I'll pick up my third-party bands today (the courier wouldn't leave them at my house because it wasn't secure to leave a "high value" package in the letter box haha) but from what people have posted I think they'll be fine to wear for the gym etc and then I can save my Garmin straps for things like Trail Runs/Ocean swimming/OCR courses etc.
If they weren't going to be using the torxscrew design for the lug they should have gone for the "flat" design of the F3 buckles to avoid the issue of "digging into the wrist" that some of us have been having.
I have also ordered few, but i started to wonder about quality of the silicone. And Im not talking about if it is softer or not but could this be possibly toxic? bad for your skin/health? It is not to discourage anyone (as I said i have ordered few) but maybe somebody here has better knowledge about the material they use? ...just a thought.
To be honest I worry more for the quick fit mechanism than the buckle because even if the pin fails it will probably still hold up by the strap loops.
I have also ordered few, but i started to wonder about quality of the silicone. And Im not talking about if it is softer or not but could this be possibly toxic? bad for your skin/health? It is not to discourage anyone (as I said i have ordered few) but maybe somebody here has better knowledge about the material they use? ...just a thought.
Mine smelled like petrol when it arrived but I wore it for 3 days and didn't get any skin irritation.
So I bought two bands from Aliexpress. One White and a Black. They look ok, also quality of the siliconeband seems fine. Time will tell how it stands daily usage, sweat, water and sunlight...
However be aware that the material at the quickfit parts is somehow not as rigid as the genuine Garmin. The same for the part with the clasp that also has no screws and the rod through the band is much thinner here then on the genuine strap!
I can accept theese band as a option for matching clothing, but never would use it for activities where I need solid performance. As someone already wrote: Would never wear it for a swim! :eek:
Well, just received my yellow/green band today and I'm quite happy with it!
The silicon/rubber is more flexible then the stock band, which is (quite) a bit more rugged. No biggie for me, but the stock on is tougher in that aspect. Also no torx-screwdrivers with the chinese quickband (while the cheap normal bands do have them and also the garmin official quickband is delivered with 2 torx screwdrivers).
They fit perfectly fine though and at first sight you'd have a hard time seeing it's a knockoff. No torxscrews in the clip and the thinner rubber are signs, but no issue here. I have no issue whatsoever using this for daily wear and running, though I can imagine you'd think again when deep-sea-diving and doing extreme stuff (not based on impression, more based on 'you never know'). This is more related to the clip then the quickfit mechanism which looks very decent! It also clicks on more then the original band I think, so it's already pretty solid without the quickfit mechanism being 'closed'.
The strapholder quality a bit is less then the original garmin bands, these chinese bands are more flimsy. They strap stays in fine btw, but it's much easier to get out compared to the garmin strap. But it does have the small extension on the 2nd holder which seems to keep it in place fine.
After taking a second look at the clip (the one attached with pushpins instead of torx screws), I can imagine this failing under large pressure. It seems to have a bit more play and is just less rugged/fixed (not sure of the proper english word). Perfectly fine for day to day use imo, and prolly also for general sporting (where you have to wear the watch tighter for proper OHR) but it IS less strong then the Garmin one. Also have to see how it holds over time...
(But now I read the 935 also used pushpin? Will compare it with those then, perhaps no issue at all then)
All in all, the garmin ones are way too expensive imo. For 25-30 bucks/euros I'd be fine with them, but 50 (and up for other materials) is just a tad too much. These chinese ones deliver all and more then you pay for imo... Now waiting for the blue one to arrive
