Okay Geek Farm
HEX Vision Metal Watch Band for iPod Nano review
Jason Tsay
When it comes to watchband accessories for the iPod nano, you’ve got a pretty good selection these days. There are cheaper bands constructed of silicone and then there are straps made of more premium materials. Today, we’ll be taking a look at the latter - the HEX Vision Metal. With a clever clip on design and durable metal chain, will it steal the crown from the LunaTik as our favorite watchband?
Features
- All Stainless Steel construction
- Dock access compatible with Nike + and other accessories
- “Clip-In, Clip-Out” functionality
- Coated clip plate improves scratch resistance
- Additional sizing links
Our Impressions
The HEX Vision Metal comes in a fairly nice looking box that slides out to reveal the watchband, instruction manual, and extra chain links. The first impression is good but the manual almost requires a magnifying glass to read.
Installation of the iPod Nano onto the HEX Vision Metal is actually pretty simple. Unlike the LunaTik which required screws, the HEX takes advantage of the clip on the back of the Nano. Simply pinch open the clip and slot it into the surface of the band, with four arms holding it in place. It’s pretty darn secure so you won’t have to worry about your iPod falling out although the fitting definitely isn’t super precise - when we wiggled the iPod a bit, we could hear the sides clinking against the band. The other thing we don’t like as much about this attachment style is that the entire front and sides are exposed. While buttons and ports may be easier to access this way, there is much less protection from all directions.
The watchband isn’t anything too different from most metal watchbands. It’s fairly comfortable although not exactly a breeze to adjust. The links are standard size so unique tools aren’t required to add or remove them but the trusty manual does recommend taking the watchband to your local jeweler. The clasp is pretty secure and it can easily be released by squeezing the sides of the chain. It never unlatched itself during our testing, so we wouldn’t be too concerned about the watch sliding off of your wrist. Overall build quality is very good and the metal finish on the band is attractive. The only potential issue that could arise is when you set the HEX Vision Metal on a table. If you lay it flat, the edge of the clasp scraped against the rear of the iPod, which would be very likely to cause scratches.
Overall
The HEX Vision Metal is a fantastic “premium” watchband accessory for the iPod nano. It’s well built and the metal watchband makes the iPod nano watch feel much more luxurious. We had some minor issues with precision and a lack of protection but those are easily overlooked if you’re in the market for a product of this type. Although our top pick for iPod nano watchbands remains to be the LunaTik, the Vision Metal is awesome if you’re looking for something different.
Pro’s
- durable
- well designed
- easy to access ports/buttons
Con’s
- lack of face protection
- small precision issues
Where to buy
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This review was done by Jason Tsay, who was provided the Vision Metal watchband by HEX.
