If you’ve seen one wristband – you’ve seen them all? Not really. Wristbands come in different shapes, sizes, and even materials. This is why they’re excellent promotional materials – giving you the chance to completely customize the product depending on the message you’re trying to convey. Here are some of wristband types out in the market today.
Silicone Material
This is perhaps the most popular one in the market today as silicone allows for easy customization in practically all aspects of the product. You can change the color, the size, and the design depending on what you need.
They can be embossed, debossed, emboss-printed, imprinted, or deboss-filled so there’s a variation even on how the styles can be changed on the wristband. Silicone is also very stretchable so it’s easy to slip on and off without worrying about damage. With the right care, these silicone wristbands can last for a decade! Silicone wristbands are also quite popular as accessories – which is why you’d find some with really unique and beautiful patterns.
Fabric Wristbands
If comfort is your ultimate goal, you can’t go wrong with cloth-type wristbands. The material used here is the same with lanyards so you get that soft and smooth texture against the skin. They can be printed on and you’ll get a beautiful resolution on the surface for an extremely vibrant color. The downside here is that they’re not exactly waterproof. If you get these wristbands wet, expect to have an uncomfortable damp feeling around your wrists for most of the day. On the plus side, they can dry off and still retain that vibrant design.
Vinyl Wristbands
Yes, there are vinyl wristbands and like silicone, they can be particularly hardy. The stretch is acceptable but not as good as silicone. In fact, most vinyl wristbands are designed to have an adjustable fit – much like what you’d find in watches. You can still slip this on and off as needed. The material is actually quite popular, having been used in a variety of products like gloves, siding, flooring, and records. You can commonly find these types in events since they can be made with pull-tab portions that can be exchanged for items in the event. Note though – in terms of comfort, they’re no match for fabric materials.
Tyvek Wristbands
If you only need the wristband for a single-day event – the Tyvek option would be perfect. They’re the cheapest material that’s also water resistant so it’s perfect for outdoors activities. They have the lightness of paper so the wearers can hardly feel them on the wrist. Tyvek can also come in full printable colors so customization is remarkably easy. Note though – if the wristbands are going to be used for promotional needs – this is not a good way to impress your target market.
Plastic Wristbands
Plastic silicone wristbands look a lot like vinyl wristbands but not nearly as comfortable. It’s exactly what you’d expect from a plastic material – bright, light, and durable. It’s good for events that need bands slightly sturdier than paper. As with vinyl, they come with an adjustment feature so you can’t just slip them on and off; you have to pop the unit to take it off completely.
Coated Thermal Paper Wristbands
If you’re running out of time, these paper wristbands would be the perfect product to use. They’re very easy to do and can be made on-site so literal dozens can be churned out in a matter of hours. The band uses thermal paper as the main material and imprinted with a thermal printing machine. It’s a lot like how souvenir t-shirts are imprinted with designs. The paper itself is tear and water resistant but it’s not meant to last for a long time!
To wrap it up – wristbands can be incredibly useful for a variety of needs. You just have to know exactly what type or material should be chosen so that it meets your exact expectations during use. For single-day events, you’ve got Tyvek or thermal paper wristbands. If you’re looking for something sturdier – there’s always plastic or vinyl if you have the budget for it. Cloth and silicone are the materials you want to make an impression on your audience or if you intend to have the bands used as accessories.