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The bonds of marriage are strong. But the tens of millions of search results for “wedding ring break” paint a contrasting picture of the strength of the jewelry representing those bonds. A silicone ring is an affordable, hard-wearing, and—dare we say—attractive alternative to a metal ring. You can wear a silicone ring in place of a wedding band—or just for fun. Some people wear silicone rings as a permanent substitute for metal, and others put one on when they’re worried about damaging a pricey ring. The best we found is the Groove Life Original Solid Ring, an alternative to your standard band that’s comfortable, looks good, and has just the right amount of stretch for comfort. Seals O Ring
The thick Groove Life Original Solid Ring features a ridge lining inside the band—so air circulates around your finger while you work (or work out). And this ring is stretchy enough to provide maximum comfort.
The Groove Life Thin Solid Ring is closer in size to a traditional wedding band. It comes in a smaller size range than the Original Solid, but it has the same comfortable ridge lining and stretchy quality.
Like most other silicone wedding bands we tested, the Groove Life Original Solid Ring was made to withstand the harsh conditions of factories, kitchens, labs, construction sites, and gyms. And if you’re pregnant and looking for an adjustable wedding ring to wear when your fingers swell, this ring will do the job. The Groove Life Original comes with a lifetime warranty that covers you if you rip it, and it’s reasonably priced. This ring also comes in more than 100 different color options.
If you’re looking for a thinner silicone ring that’s closer to the size of a traditional wedding band—maybe you want a subtler ring—the Groove Life Thin Solid Ring is the better choice. It comes in smaller sizes for smaller hands, and it’s just 5½ millimeters thick (compared with the Original’s 8-millimeter size). Yet it has the same internal ridge lining for air circulation and can stretch. And it comes with the same lifetime warranty. The Thin Solid also comes in some different colors than the Original.
For a fraction of the price of lesser rings we tried, the Roq Dome Style Thin Silicone Ring pack features four pretty, comfy rings to wear for short stretches of time.
The Roq Dome Style Thin Silicone Ring comes in a pack of four silicone bands. Because they lack internal cushioning and grooves that mold to your finger, the Roq rings aren’t as comfortable to wear as some of our more expensive favorites—comparatively, they’re fine, versus “Wow, this feels nice.” But the 6-millimeter-thick rings are still solid enough to throw on for a few hours of work or exercise. Plus, if you lose a Roq, it won’t hurt your wallet in quite the same way. Like the Groove Life rings, the Roq rings come with a lifetime warranty.
The Enso Pyramid Stackable Ring is the thinnest and most fashion-forward of all the silicone bands we tested. It’s also comfortable to wear.
The Enso Pyramid Stackable Ring is the thinnest ring we tested, at 2½ millimeters wide; the other rings we recommend are double or triple that size. And so the Enso ring satiates a different aesthetic preference. You’re also meant to buy more than one and stack them, to create a unique look. The Enso is one of the most comfortable silicone rings to wear—it’s so thin it feels as if there’s nothing there. Like the other rings we recommend, the Enso Pyramid Stackable Ring comes with a lifetime warranty.
The thick Groove Life Original Solid Ring features a ridge lining inside the band—so air circulates around your finger while you work (or work out). And this ring is stretchy enough to provide maximum comfort.
The Groove Life Thin Solid Ring is closer in size to a traditional wedding band. It comes in a smaller size range than the Original Solid, but it has the same comfortable ridge lining and stretchy quality.
For a fraction of the price of lesser rings we tried, the Roq Dome Style Thin Silicone Ring pack features four pretty, comfy rings to wear for short stretches of time.
The Enso Pyramid Stackable Ring is the thinnest and most fashion-forward of all the silicone bands we tested. It’s also comfortable to wear.
I’m the style staff writer at Wirecutter, which means I compare, test, and write about everything you might wear on your person, from sunglasses to tote bags. Although silicone wedding bands are something of a niche product in a niche category, I’m in a great position to review them. I may not have any experience being married (shocking, I know), but I have ample experience in being skeptical of—and dissatisfied by—jewelry. Plus, I exercise regularly, so I am able to put the rings through sweat-inducing workouts to see how they hold up.
Silicone wedding bands are for anyone who wants to wear a ring but is worried about it getting damaged or lost, or causing an injury. These rings are especially useful for people who work at construction sites; in factories, kitchens, and labs; or anywhere else a piece of metal on a finger could get banged up or lost, or cause damage to the finger.
Silicone rings are also popular for gym-goers (since they won’t get scratched up or dented when you lift weights) as well as for outdoors activities (if you lose one, you’re out about $30, rather than $300 or more).
The thick Groove Life Original Solid Ring features a ridge lining inside the band—so air circulates around your finger while you work (or work out). And this ring is stretchy enough to provide maximum comfort.
The Groove Life Thin Solid Ring is closer in size to a traditional wedding band. It comes in a smaller size range than the Original Solid, but it has the same comfortable ridge lining and stretchy quality.
The Groove Life Original Solid Ring and the Groove Life Thin Solid Ring are the best silicone wedding bands we found. They feel great on, thanks to the comfortable amount of stretch and grooved lining, which allows for better airflow (so you sweat less and therefore reduce the risk of skin irritation from sweat buildup). The rings also have a lifetime warranty, are reasonably priced, and come in a wide variety of colors (if the black-on-black combo we tested doesn’t look like you).
Picking which of the two rings will work better for you is purely a matter of size. The 8-millimeter Original is available in sizes 7 to 15, whereas the Thin is 5½ millimeters (more similar to a traditional wedding band in size) and comes in sizes 4 to 10. Both are equally comfortable and have identical designs.
If the Groove Life rings were a little tight when we originally put them on, they expanded to match our finger size over time without ever feeling loose. If you’re in between sizes, we recommend sizing down.
The Groove Life rings stand out from the competition because of the intricate ridge lining etched onto their inner surface (this means only a bit of the silicone actually touches your skin). The ridges make the bands more comfortable to wear and allow for more breathability than with other rings we tested. When silicone remains in close contact with your skin for long periods of time, sweat can build up and cause irritation. The grooves channel sweat away. During a run, I found the Groove Life rings helped air to circulate and trapped less sweat than other rings I wore. The Manly Bands The Best Man ring we tried had the words Manly and Bands etched onto the inside of the ring for air circulation, but the majority of the inside of the band was smooth. The Enso Elements Classic Ring and the Enso Elements Classic Thin Ring have ridges, but they’re thinner and less effective than the Groove Life’s ridges.
The Groove Life rings also provide a welcome bit of stretch. We found in our testing that if they were a little tight when we originally put them on, they expanded to fit our finger size over time without ever feeling loose. If you’re in between sizes, we recommend sizing down. Check Groove Life’s sizing chart to figure out the best ring size for your finger. This was a Goldilocks level of stretch, enough to accommodate, but not so much that the ring slipped off.
The Groove Life rings are durable, but if you do manage to damage your ring, Groove Life will replace it under the lifetime warranty. If you lose the ring, a replacement will cost $5, but that’s small beans compared with how much it costs to buy another one outright. Most other companies offer only a one-year warranty that doesn’t cover damages like scratches or tears. Groove Life has a 30-day return policy, so you have about a month to decide if this ring is the right fit for you.
In our research, we found Groove Life lives up to the promise of its warranty. Although we’ve spotted a complaint or two, the response to Groove Life has been overwhelmingly positive, with folks raving about the company’s responsive customer service and its lifetime warranty. On Twitter, Groove Life regularly responds to tweets that praise and admonish it in equal measure, which is something we like to see.
For $30, both the Original Solid Ring and the Thin Solid Ring are about as expensive as (and, in some cases, less expensive than) other silicone bands that don’t offer the same comfort, stretch, durability, warranty, and customer service. (These rings are also, notably, far less expensive than a traditional wedding band.) Groove Life offers a variety of color combinations in both ring types, from black to copper to red, to appeal to a wide swath of its potential customer base. There’s also a variety of patterns, logos, and other variants, if you’re looking for something a bit different. Finally, Groove Life rings come with a handy tin for storage, unlike any other silicone ring we tested. Most other silicone wedding bands we tested came in a paper package or a plastic bag, neither of which will earn a spot on your shelf.
Groove Life sells a “thin blue line” version of its ring (silicone rings are popular with first responders across a variety of fields). The thin blue line flag, which people have used to show support of the police, has been criticized as a symbol used by white supremacists, has appeared at alt-right demonstrations, and has become associated with counter-protests to Black Lives Matter.
Although the design of the Groove Life rings is subtle—and for all intents and purposes they look like traditional metal wedding bands—they do have a small infinity symbol emblazoned on their side. The infinity symbol isn’t very noticeable because of its size, but it could be considered “corny,” as my roommate and fellow Wirecutter writer Dorie Chevlen sweetly noted in passing.
Original Solid Ring Size range: 7 to 15 Colors: numerous Width: 8 millimeters Warranty: lifetime warranty Return policy: 30 days
Thin Solid Ring Size range: 4 to 10 Colors: numerous Width: 5½ millimeters Warranty: lifetime warranty Return policy: 30 days
For a fraction of the price of lesser rings we tried, the Roq Dome Style Thin Silicone Ring pack features four pretty, comfy rings to wear for short stretches of time.
Unlike the more expensive rings we love, the Roq Dome Style Thin Silicone Ring comes in a reasonably priced pack of four—and each ring is a fraction of the Groove Life ring’s price. Though the Roq Dome Style ring feels good to wear, there’s an obvious dip in the comfort level between it and our other recommendations—for example, the Roq ring lacks the internal channels for air circulation that make the Groove Life rings so great. The Roq ring is good to throw on for a workout and take off after an hour, though. And if you’re interested in making a silicone ring part of your style, the Roq four-pack is a great choice; the rings come in a variety of colors, so you can easily match them to your outfit. Plus, a four-pack is great for those who constantly lose small things.
Like other silicone bands in this price range, the Roq Dome Style Thin Silicone Ring is flat and smooth inside. It doesn’t allow for airflow, and this can lead to a buildup of sweat, which is uncomfortable and (if the ring is worn around the clock) can cause some mild skin irritation and redness. All the rings with a flat lining generated and trapped sweat—the big difference between spending $4 versus $30 for our top picks. You’ll never forget that you have a Roq on your finger, while the Groove Life rings were virtually unnoticeable.
The Roq rings were stretchier than the Groove Life rings in a way that made us worry about their longevity, too. After repeatedly putting them on my finger and pulling them off over the course of eight weeks, the Roq rings stretched permanently. If I wear one of them now, it’s slightly too big. Not enough to fall off, but it’s noticeable. That said, all of the budget silicone wedding rings we tested suffered from this issue. For help with sizing, check out this ring sizing guide. The Roq ring is plain-looking and unembellished. It’s 6 millimeters wide.
We haven’t had any issue with the Roq rings breaking, just stretching. If one does break, Roq, like the other companies we recommend, offers a lifetime guarantee for damages—which is generous for such a low-cost item. It also has a 30-day return policy. Although we would recommend buying one Groove Life ring over two packs of Roq rings for the same price, the Roq rings offer a great way to see whether silicone bands are a match for your lifestyle. Roq offers a pretty diverse range of colors, so you have plenty of options to choose from, too. The Roq Dome Style rings come in a zippable plastic baggie that’s reusable, unlike the disposable packages of most other affordable silicone wedding rings.
Size range: 4 to 16 Colors: numerous Width: 6 millimeters Warranty: lifetime guarantee Return policy: 30 days
The Enso Pyramid Stackable Ring is the thinnest and most fashion-forward of all the silicone bands we tested. It’s also comfortable to wear.
The Enso Pyramid Stackable Ring is the thinnest ring (2½ millimeters wide) we tested, so it doesn’t immediately scream “wedding band.” It offers a different aesthetic than other rings we like. And, since it’s a stackable ring, you can buy several different colors and shapes and arrange them across your fingers. The ring itself is so thin that you barely notice it when it’s on. Also, reasonably priced Enso rings have a lifetime warranty and come in a wide selection of colors.
The Enso ring is, in a word, cute. The Pyramid design we tested has tiny pointed edges that pop from the sides of the ring and remind me of royalty. It’s pretty simple otherwise, and it feels gender neutral. If you’re not into this look, you can instead opt for (or combine with) other styles: Hammered, Braided, Treaded, Beaded, and Column. Unlike the Groove Life rings, the Enso Pyramid Stackable Ring is completely smooth—it doesn’t have an internal channel to prevent sweat buildup, but it’s perfectly comfortable. There’s less ring, so it’s less restricting than the other, fatter rings we love.
The Enso is much springier than the other rings that we recommend, and it wouldn’t surprise me if that elasticity eventually wore out. That said, this ring hasn’t stretched out of shape after three months of use—it still fits my finger like a glove. Check Enso’s ring-sizing chart for help in finding a good fit.
The Enso feels strong enough to survive the same amount of abuse as the Groove Life Thin Silicone Ring that we love. And if it doesn’t, Enso offers a lifetime warranty that covers rips, breaks, tears, and discoloration. It also offers a 30-day return policy. If you run into trouble, or you just want to chat with someone at Enso about your ring, trust that they’ll reply. People on Twitter are effusive about the company and its responsiveness.
The Enso rings are reasonably priced, and you can buy a single stackable ring. We bought two to test, though, and after testing them for three months, I can see the appeal of buying more. The rings come in 14 colors, from black to fuschia, and six different designs. Unfortunately, the Enso ring comes in a disposable plastic baggie that you’ll likely want to toss; it was disappointing compared with the Groove Life tins we loved.
Size range: 3 to 12 Colors: numerous Width: 2½ millimeters Warranty: lifetime warranty Return policy: 30 days
We searched online for “the best silicone wedding bands,” and then, honestly, we ignored most of what was out there because every article we read was rubbish.
Instead, we decided to focus on cheaper rings that came in multipacks, and pricier rings with grooved linings that would provide more comfort and last longer. In total, we considered about 42 silicone wedding bands from trusted retailers and Amazon, and eventually we tested 11 rings from brands like Egnaro, Enso Rings, Groove Life, Manly Bands, Qalo, Roq Silicone Rings, and ThunderFit.
Our criteria for consideration were:
Internal design: Silicone rings, unlike traditional metal rings, can irritate the skin on your finger over long periods if the ring doesn’t have airflow channels on the inside. Because of the texture and slight flex of silicone rings, they have a tendency to sit in one place against your skin, causing a buildup of sweat and gunk. Traditional rings, on the other hand, rotate easily and freely, allowing air to flow underneath their rigid shape. In order to avoid irritation during daily use, look for a silicone ring with a design inside that encourages immediate airflow around your finger (like an engraved logo or grooves to channel sweat away and give air room to circulate).
Stretchiness: A little stretch is useful. Because silicone bands very rarely come in half-sizes, it’s important that they be stretchy enough to expand a tad if you’re in between sizes. It’s a fine line: You want them to stretch and grow a little bit, but not so much that they become unusable. Loose and limp silicone wedding bands need not apply.
Thickness: A silicone wedding band’s thickness wasn’t something we used to qualify or disqualify a ring, but we did make sure to try a variety. We made picks from 2½ millimeters to 8 millimeters; whether a thick or thin ring will work for you depends totally on your taste.
Look: Tastes vary, of course, so we searched for simple rings that were available in a bunch of different colors. Most silicone bands we investigated came in a few different colors, but some companies stood out to us because they offered 14 or more colors.
Durability: Many of the rings we tested felt durable, and oftentimes their websites had helpful notes on how much force each band could survive: The Groove Life Original Solid Ring can withstand 32 pounds of pressure, for instance. The Roq Dome Style Thin Silicone Ring can withstand 20 pounds of force, so if it gets snagged on something, it won’t snap instantly (but it will before your finger gets hurt). These measurements give us a good idea of how long these rings will last.
Warranty: We looked for a lifetime warranty when possible, and in many cases, that was what was offered. (Some silicone wedding rings offered a year-long warranty, which I would’ve totally found acceptable, considering the low cost of silicone rings. That said, many we found cover the ring for a lifetime, so there’s no need to settle for anything less.)
Reasonable price: We considered a range of silicone wedding rings, priced between $2 and $40 per ring. (We didn’t test any over $40; nothing those rings offered was more compelling than what was offered by cheaper rings.) The difference between the two ends of the price spectrum was obvious right away: The more expensive rings had grooves on the inside, which allowed for increased airflow and a more comfortable wearing experience, and the pricier rings felt more durable, like they could last for a year or more.
I wore each ring for a couple days of testing, lifting adjustable dumbbells in my living room while rewatching episodes of Pen15 and running around the park next to my apartment. I also wore the rings while typing on my laptop for a day or two.
The Enso Elements Classic Ring and Enso Elements Classic Thin Ring were both good silicone wedding bands—they were comfortable to wear and stretchy (but not overly so). But they cost $10 more than the Groove Life rings we recommend, and the grooves inside their bands didn’t provide the same amount of relief from sweat buildup and irritation as those on the Groove Life rings. Still, if you’re especially turned off by the infinity symbol on the Groove Life rings (enough so that you’d be willing to spend $10 more), consider the Enso Elements rings.
The Manly Bands The Best Man, like the Enso Elements rings, was an unremarkably good silicone wedding ring. It was pleasant to wear and stretchy, while still maintaining its shape. Though the internal design had fewer channels (and thus the ring was not as good at channeling sweat and air), this band still allowed for some breeze. Regardless: Manly Bands? It feels passé to be this into being a man.
We really enjoyed wearing the Qalo ring in testing. But it wasn’t as comfortable as the Groove Life ring, and it wasn’t as inexpensive as the Roq four-pack that we like. The Qalo is a nice ring at a fair price, but it doesn’t carry the lifetime warranty that our picks have, either. Instead, the Qalo has a unique “one time, any time” warranty that guarantees you a replacement once, should you ever tear or break the ring.
The ThunderFit and Egnaro silicone ring packs were totally fine. Like the Roq Dome Style Thin Silicone Ring we recommend, the ThunderFit and Egnaro rings both come in a pack of multiple rings. The ThunderFit has seven rings, and the Egnaro has four, presumably to replace rings as they tear, which they most certainly will. None of these rings have internal grooves or breathable channels (and neither does the Roq), so they’re less comfortable than the Groove Life rings. And to access the ThunderFit and Egnaro rings when you get the package, you have to rip the plastic baggie open from the top. Once it’s open, you can push the lining to seal it closed again. But it’s a messy process that you avoid by buying the Roq rings, which come in a nice zippered bag.
The SafeRingz Original Silicone Wedding Band has the letters “YESJ,” for “yes, Jesus,” engraved inside the band, and we found that to be a little too polarizing to appeal to most people and opted not to test it.
Justin Krajeski is a former staff writer reporting on everyday carry at Wirecutter. He previously wrote about tech at Wirecutter. He carries things every day. He’s very well versed in carrying.
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