Tested: Nomad’s hybrid Active Band Pro – the perfect combination of real leather and rubber for Apple Watch users

I love leather Apple Watch bands, it’s very much my thing, but I had been on the hunt for something that can provide that sort of timeless, elegant look that I can also wear for hours on end, in any condition, and during just about activity. Traditional leather bands can get a little bit cumbersome and uncomfortable for some folks after extended wearing periods, myself included and especially if its get’s hot or during workouts. So I just had put the waterproof hybrid leather and rubber Nomad Active Band Pro to the test to see if it actually was the solution I have been after. 

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On-wrist with the Nomad Active Band Pro for Apple Watch

The Nomad Active Band Pro comes in brown or black leather/rubber with your choice of natural or black hardware and sizes that will accomodate all Apple Watch models. It carries an $80 MSRP.

Features at a glance:

• Classic Brown waterproof Heinen leather from Germany
• 100% waterproof
• FKM fluoroelastomer rubber lining
• Interior ventilation channels
• Custom stainless steel lugs and buckle
• Designed for Apple Watch Ultra & Ultra 2, Series 10, 9, 8, 7, SE, and all previous versions of Apple Watch

9to5Toys’ Take

It likely comes as no surprised to any avid 9to5Toys or 9to5Mac reader that Nomad is among our favorite Apple Watch band makers. We have sung the brand’s praises multiple times, but I wanted to touchdown this afternoon to talk more about its Active Band Pro. 

This is a somewhat unique take the mid-range to high-end Apple Watch band category as it combines both full grain genuine leather and the more rubberized material the brand uses on its sporty straps. However, this isn’t some sort of hybrid material that results in a plastic feeling leather treatment, but rather one that, in my opinion, pulls from the best both worlds to make a strap that is in many ways greater than the sum of its parts. 

Active Band Pro is built with waterproof leather bonded to an FKM interior for ultimate versatility. Ventilation channels in the FKM liner allow for breathability where sweat and water would otherwise build up. No matter what you put your Apple Watch through, simply rinse with water and Active Band Pro is ready for a night out.

I can find myself enjoying the rubbery, or even silicone bands from time to time, and most readers will likely know about my particular affinity for genuine leather goods. While I have traditionally opted for pure genuine straps, not unlike Nomad’s Horween Leather Modern Band (I still love this band for the record), I have been rocking the new Active Band Pro for the last few months on and off, and I think I might like it even more. 

I certainly love the feel of proper leather on my person, be it in my hand wrapped around my iPhone 16, a nice leather jacket, and especially over my shoulder in bag form, but there’s something about the use of the FKM rubber Nomad is using to line the inside of the Active Band Pro that might make it even more superior to the pure leather options. 

You get the elegance of a leather strap aesthetically speaking, alongside the way it can handle wear and tear over time, but with a more sporty feel against your wrist. This, at least for me, makes the band even more comfortable on the wrist over the course of a full day or more. It makes the band more comfortable at night if you’re the type to track sleep patterns with Apple Watch, and it significantly more breathable in hot conditions. 

Be it on a day that hits 80 degrees or more, on the exercise bike for extended periods, or on a long walk for hours on end, the Nomad Active Band Pro is a real game changer for me in these situations. Where I would normally just deal with it because of how much I like the look of a leather strap, the Nomad Active band makes it so don’t have to. 

Now some folks might say, well who wears a leather watch band while working out or going on long walks, hikes, or anything of that nature anyway? The answer is me, I do. But even if you don’t, you might be very well aware of how hot and bothersome a proper leather Apple Watch band can be even just going out casually for the day in warm weather or even just inside at an event for hours all night. With the Nomad Active Band Pro, you might never know that feeling again. 

As for the rest of the elements of this band, everything is top notch for me – just like every other Nomad Apple Watch band I have ever tested out. The brand is using custom metal injection molded (MIM) lugs and buckle here (a version of 316 stainless steel) and it looks, functions, and presents exactly as it looks in the imagery. The lugs or connectors match my Natural Titanium Apple Watch Ultra perfectly and the clasp and fit adjustment action is exactly what I’m looking for. Literally zero complaints for me on this front. 

If i had to find something to complain about with this band it might be the entire width and taper. The actual width of the band where it meets the watch is perfect for me, but I might prefer to see a slightly more aggressive taper as it wraps around the wrist and joins at the clasp. This would likely accomodate a slightly more dainty buckle design, and perhaps afford slightly thinner and less bulky loops to hold the excess strap down flat, but this is a very minor gripe, not something I would expect to bother most folks, and it perhaps adds a more rugged and robust look to the whole thing anyway. 

When the leather meets the rubber, this band is nearly perfect. I would recommend this to literally anyone that love the look of leather bands but don’t like the way they feel during extended wear sessions, anyone who might want a more elevated look at the gym or when working out, and perhaps really just anyone who wants a leather band at all. It’s fantastic. 

Buy the Nomad Apple Watch Active Band Pro

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