Chums The Band 20mm Watch Band

I've been using these 24/7 for 20 years; rafting, industrial construction; name it. They're warm in winter, don't sweat in the summer, dry quickly, soft and comfy after a few weeks, and the band will not break or tear off . That may be a problem but I can't imagine the situation. If you snag your watch on something one of the pins will be torn out but you won't lose your watch.If it gets greasy from automotive work it goes into the washer; watch and all with the coveralls and comes out like new.Cons: the Velcro wears out and frays after 2-3 years of 24/7 wear. The Velcro traps fine sawdust which annoys the wife. Only available in black.

The band was very quickly delivered as advertised. The continuous loop design is quite simple. While this simplicity clearly contributes to the very modest price, it also creates two problems for the user IMHO. First, the design makes the band awkward to put on, especially when it is new and has not yet developed a "memory" of the arc of the wrist. Second, tightening the velcro end can put a direct strain on the watch pin. Fortunately, the band comes with two replacement pins.

The hook and loop wore out on my old cheap crappy water resistant chronometer, and then the battery began to fade. I bought a new battery and this band. The band runs under the watch, and then around and around your wrist, rather than attaching to the posts on the watch and then overlapping. It is fussy to put on and get properly tight. First try, it is often too loose or too tight. There's like a mile of hook and loop overlap, however, since it goes all the way around your wrist more than one full time, so once you get it on the way you want, it's not going anywhere. Looks like, since there is so much hook and loop, it will probably be durable. but the thin nylon fabric stitched to the back of the hook side frays, and I wonder if it will stay under the stitching. We will see. All in all, I was a bit disappointed to be honest.

This is an update of my original review. I'm upgrading it from four stars to five and providing more information now that I've tried two other bands in addition to this one.I was very reluctant to order this after reading the negative reviews. People seem to either love it or hate it. At such a low price (I paid $5.81), it was worth gambling on it. I'm glad I did. I haven't owned it long enough to attest to its durability, but I see no reason why it won't outlast my watch.Some people complain about roughness on their skin. Mine isn't. I wonder whether maybe they've put it on the watch upside down? The Chums is more comfortable on the skin than the original band was, and and his helped by the fact that I can adjust the Chums to exactly fit my wristMy Casio AQ150W-1EV Ana-Digi takes a 20mm band, but the Chums was moderately tricky to thread through the gap between the pin and the watch body. I used a very small, sharp needle nose pliers to pull the strap through the gap.I bought two other bands after the original band on my watch broke last month. I was using my watch for both athletic use (trail running, mountain biking) and in business meetings. My initial objection to the Chums was that just doesn't look great for business or more formal situations, so I ordered a G10 "NATO" watch directly from the OEM supplier in England, so I'd a good quality one, but although it worked as well as the Chums and was almost as comfortable, I simply prefer the Chums. It's simple, it's foolproof, and it's nearly impossible for it to fall off if I'm riding a rough trail. My G10 strap cost almost five times as much as the Chums (including the shipping cost from England), but after switching back and forth between them for several weeks, I strongly prefer the Chums.The other band I bought was a leather Speidel. It looks better than either the Chums or the G10 strap, but leather is not good for any situation where it might encounter sweat or rain, so I'm not using it.PROS:=====- It's comfortable and unlike standard bands, I don't have to worry about the watch falling off if a band or pin breaks while I'm mountain biking or trail running.- It's cheap and comfortable. It looks fine for sport and casual situations.CONS:=====- At first it's more of a hassle to put on than the standard band - especially if you're going to line up the Velcro bands. It takes some practice, but I found I got used to it quickly. It's no longer a hassle.- I don't think I'll wear it in business or more formal situations. At present I've begun wearing an old Casio for business and am considering buying a new one just for business use.- There's a "The Band" logo on the band. I never buy clothing with manufacturer logos, but this one is subdued and if you put it on the six o'clock end of the watch, other people may not even notice it. It may actually serve a purpose. It shows that you're using an actual watch band, not just a piece of Velcro you've found on your garage floor. It doesn't matter to me, but it may to some others.- There are two strips of Velcro under the watch. This raises the watch. If you have a particularly thick watch, it may be a problem for you. It's generally not a problem with my 12mm thick watch (a Casio Men's AQ150W-1EV). The only time it's been an issue is when I'm wearing a heavy sweatshirt under my leather motorcycle jacket.Bottom line: This watch band is a bargain. I love it. However I don't plan on wearing it in professional settings and business meetings. I'll use a separate watch for that. For everyday and especially for athletic use, this watch band is the best I've found. The G10 "NATO" band is excellent also. Some people will prefer it. It would definitely look better for business use, otherwise it's a matter of personal taste. I like the simplicity of the Chums.

I have had a Timex Expedition watch for some time but have not worn it because the band was a little too snug. It has sat in my car for a long time because that is where I took it off when I had enough of its snugness. But I thought recently, let's get a looser band and see if we can find a solution. It works great and it is so nice knowing the time again. My ability to discern time by looking at the sun was not always accurate, especially in the winter months.

I bought the Chums The band because I was able to get the pin width I wanted, which fits just as I hoped it would. I like the band because it is washable and fits my watch well. The only con is that the strap is waaay too long and difficult to put on my wrist at the snugness I prefer. I am adjusting to the length though, I just think it is an unnecessary use of material. it could do the same job as well with less material. I would give the band 4/5 stars, but the design 2/3 stars.

I bought two because I typiclly wear through the velcro diving bands in about a year or so. I expected this band to be similar to those but I was pleasently surprised at how much more robust this band is. I could've been fine with just one. Doubt I'll ever need the second band, but at the low cost it is cheap insurance. Maybe I'll now buy a second watch to go with it. There is no buckle to cinch the band. Instead it wraps around over itself to your desired comfort level. I highly recommend this band. It is sturdy and will fit your wrist from smallest to largest.

I am a fool and have purchased this product twice. Both times the band tore shortly after the return period. This is NOT the same "The Band" from the late 90s / early 2000s. Junk!!!

These are not the same style & quality that The Band used to be. Poor quality fabric, iffy stitching and a thick rubber label that you have to look at every time you check your watch. The original model and the Timex clone were far sturdier. Just reinforces my belief that there is nothing in this world that somebody won’t make cheap copies of and sell as the original. Keep looking...

If you have a wrist the size of an Elephant...this is for you. China needs to do a little research. Waste of money!

I thought it was just right but the husband thought it was too and ruined it by cutting to make thinner.

Exactly what I was looking for. my last one was wearing out after 7 years of daily use. So glad to find this band

Band works great. Velcro is strong. What more do you need.

Like this styleof watchband. Light weight fully adjustable.