Related
Options

6S Band Comfort Solution - Try a 945 strap

Duffman19
over 5 years ago

Finally found a solution to making the smaller 6S wear more comfortably. I tried wearing a 5S+ when it first came out, but it never sat well on my small wrist. I ended up with a regular 5+. The larger size and thicker band wore better even though it was heavier. I then had a 945 which felt like nothing on the wrist in comparison, but I’m not a fan of large watch faces (again, small wrists).

I decided to give the Fenix S model another shot with the 6S since they addressed some of the design issues with the 5 (lug size and weight). While the 6S is more comfortable than the 5, it still couldn’t beat the 945 for all day wearability.

I suspected the strap could be part of the issue. The 945 band is wider (22 vs 20mm) and longer. This seems to counter balance the weight of the watch on the top of the wrist, helping it sit flatter without having to wrench it down too tight. My 945 band is also well worn in. So my ideal watch would be the 6S (I prefer the build quality and updates over the 945) with a 945/935 strap.

Turns out this combination can work! The 945 band is supple enough that it can be squeezed into the 20mm lugs of the 6S. It doesn’t look too bad, either. And, yes, it is squishy enough that the spring bars in the new 6 can still be removed after installing. Further, the 945 strap lacks the QuickFit mechanism which I find to be too stiff at the critical point where the strap meets the wrist.

TL;DR  A Forerunner 945 strap on a fenix 6S is super comfortable.

Hope this helps anyone looking for a better band. I tried MANY and this one’s the bee’s knees (for me).

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 5 years ago

    My 945 band squeaks on my 945. Do you have that issue with that band on either the 6s or 945?

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to Former Member

    No, I never had that problem. It’s obviously tighter in the 6S, so it doesn’t move as freely, but no squeak yet. I’ve found that the stock fenix bands with the QuickFit mechanism all seemed to be a shade too loose (slight gap between the band and lug). This always bugged me a bit as I could feel and hear the band rattle some when wearing them looser (not during an activity).

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 5 years ago

    I'm thinking off doing something similar. I don't have the 6S yet. I really like my 945, but lately it's been looking large to me (but is comfortable). Right now the 6S looks like my best bet, if I want to retain the 945 functionality. 

    1) Do you feel your 6S / 945 Band combo feels and looks smaller?

    2) Is the extra weight noticeable?

    3) Are you still happy with your new setup.

    Thanks

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to Former Member

    1) It definitely looks smaller on the wrist than the 945, but feels about the same.

    2) The extra weight was definitely noticeable with the original 6S band. It just didn’t seemed balanced. The watch didn’t want to stay centered on my wrist unless I had it uncomfortably tight. With the 945 band, it feels about the same as the 945 watch and band.

    3) Still happy. I was considering returning the 6S and staying with the 945, but now I’ll be selling the 945. I really like the subtle improvements and build of the 6. The only downside is the hit in battery life, but not a big deal for my lifestyle.

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to Duffman19

    I had a 6s and the band really made the clock very uncomfortable. I returned it.

    Today I receive another 6s Pro and the first thing I will do is change the band. I have at home several 22mm bands of a Pebble 2 and a band of a 945 on the way from Aliexpress.

    Thanks for the info.

  • 0 over 3 years ago

    Hi, i’ve recently posted a question addressing the same problem. Quickfit is rubbish, too hard at sections close to clasps. I couldn’t get any answer offering a reasonbly cheap solution there. I’ve also written to garmin and they said that i can swap a quickfit only with another quickfit. Maybe with a nylon one. Without a doubt it’ll be rubbush again as long as it uses the same totally unnecessary mechanism instrad of “comfy, nothing wrong with it” quickrelease.

    but you say that we can fit a 22 mm quickrelease band in place of 20 mm quickfit? So suprised. Maybe i should try it myself to see if it works.

    *i have a 245 music too, whose 20 mm band is not a good fit

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to 3776514

    Sorry, I only now just saw this. The 945 strap is neither a quick release or quick fit band. It’s a traditional band in which the bars must be slid into the strap ends. It accommodates the thicker bars that Garmin uses on the fenix line, though, which is why it works in the above scenario. 

  • 0 over 3 years ago

    Hello,

    Its great you found the perfect combo. Back in the days i had fenix 6s which i returned it for the same reasons.

    Had 745 with 22mm and Marq with 22mm, heavier watches but always comfy on the wrist.

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    Hi! Bit late to the party but have to say this is a really interesting suggestion. I'm a female wearer of the Fenix 6s and have been wearing it as an all day tracker. Recently however. I've been noticing wrist pain and weakness and been interested to read that smartwatches can cause these symptoms if wearing the watch too long, or incorrectly or too tight. I've found similar issues to others below regarding the fit of my watch and now wonder if that's what's caused my pain? Thank you for your suggestion as I'm now going to try looking for a 945 strap to relieve the issue and see if it will sit more comfortably on my wrist. Thank you!