I got my sharkskin band and military rubber diver strap and couldn’t be more pleased to-date. My Pebble Time Steel (silver) was ordered with an off-white leather strap. After about 10 days of usage, it really started to wrinkle and look hideous under normal wear. Reasonable people do not like to deal with crap.
PTS OEM leather strap. is an ugly mess after only 10 days of normal use, perhaps 20-30 cycles for on/off wear to account for showering/sleeping. The suede-like material also seems to attract and retain a lot of environmental dirt and body oil.
I got my sharkskin band with Breitling-style clasp and Panerai-style Military Rubber strap and found them to be significant improvements.
PTS (silver) with new Panerai-style Military Rubber Strap. This has become my favorite as it’s waterproof and perhaps more interesting to look at than the traditional black or brown.
PTS (silver) with new sharkskin leather band and Breitling-style clasp. This should wear gently as the clasp precludes cyclical bending and stress where prong holes would normally go.
Close up of the clasp. The gap appears large but the watch does not slide around much as there are other sufficient points of contact including parts of the clasp and several points along the band.
Close up of the clasp. The rubber strap feels very comfortable – more pliable than leather and stretches if under tension. The best part for an active person is that it’s waterproof!
The total cost of the sharkskin band including the Breitling-style clasp and spring pins was $90.90. I bought this online from http://strappedfortime.com
The total cost of the Panerai-style Military Rubber Strap including spring pins was $27.50 from Amazon.com – http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008EXNF7U?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=od_aui_detailpages00
Q&A
Why go with sharkskin? Classy looks and comfort of course! Sharkskin trade is fine as the sharks used are not endangered. This one is camel colored. Other colors include black, mocha, and cobalt.
Why go with the Breitling-style clasp? I believe the leather will wear better over time as there is no longer significant stress to the band when putting it on or taking it off.
Why go with the Panerai-style Military Rubber Strap? Active lifestyle, comfort and it’s waterproof! The only time it really need come off is when charging the PTS.
Is it hard to change the band or the strap? No. Get a spring pin tool. It’s a quick task that takes 2-3 minutes. If you’re clumsy, work from the back of the watch. That way if you slip you won’t leave visible tool marks.
Spring Pin Tool. I just use the left end to compress the pin for removal. I use my finger nail to compress the pin for installation.