Garmin Vivoactive 5 & 6 Band Size and Compatibility

Garmin Vivoactive 5 and Vivoactive 6 both use 20mm standard quick-release watch bands. A suitable band can be moved between them, so upgrading from the 5 to the 6 does not automatically mean replacing your straps.

The purchase check has three parts: 20mm width, a standard quick-release attachment, and a length that fits your wrist. A strap marked “20mm” can still be the wrong choice if it uses a different connector or has too little adjustment.

This guide covers the bands you can reuse, the difference between QuickFit and quick release, and two Bandletic options with links to their 20mm versions.

Garmin Vivoactive 5 and 6 band size at a glance

The Garmin Vivoactive 5 watch band size is 20mm. The Garmin Vivoactive 6 band size is also 20mm. Garmin specifies the same standard quick-release system for both in its Vivoactive 5 band-changing instructions and Vivoactive 6 instructions.

The 20mm measurement is the width where the band meets the watch. It is not the watch case diameter or the circumference of your wrist. A band may also taper or widen farther along its length; measure the attachment end when checking width.

The included-band wrist range applies to Garmin's supplied strap. It does not describe every third-party replacement.

Can you use Vivoactive 5 bands on Vivoactive 6?

Yes, provided the band has the correct 20mm standard quick-release attachment and is in good condition. You can normally move that band in either direction between Vivoactive 5 and 6. Inspect the spring bars, strap ends and fastening before reusing it.

Earlier Vivoactive models are less consistent. The family name alone is not enough to choose a replacement.

Garmin's band-width and wrist-size reference lists these model differences. A case-and-band assembly needs an additional check: sharing the strap attachment does not establish that a protective shell fits both watches.

20mm quick release is different from 20mm QuickFit

A standard quick-release band has a spring bar with a small sliding lever. Compressing that bar lets its tips move into or out of the watch's lug holes. This is the system Garmin specifies for Vivoactive 5 and 6.

QuickFit uses a different clip arrangement around a watch bar. The same width on a QuickFit listing does not make it the standard replacement for these Vivoactive watches. Choose “Quick Release 20mm”, rather than a similarly named QuickFit option.

If a product offers both 20mm and 22mm versions, check the selected option before adding it to your cart. The photographs and product name can look almost identical. Our Garmin QuickFit vs quick-release guide explains the two systems in more detail.

Choose band length for your wrist

Measure around the place where you wear your watch with a flexible tape, or use a strip of paper and a ruler. Keep it close to the skin without pulling tight. Compare that measurement with the replacement band's stated wrist range—not with the loose strap's total length.

For example, a 155mm wrist and a 185mm wrist both need a 20mm attachment on these watches, but they need different adjustment ranges.

At 155mm, the Cube's listed range includes your wrist; the Pack sizes above do not. At 185mm, Pack L and Cube are both within their listed ranges. At a range boundary, consider where the closure and spare length sit when your wrist bends.

If your wrist is below 150mm, neither of these current Bandletic options is within its listed range. Keep a correctly fitting original band or look for a shorter standard 20mm quick-release strap. Buying the right width does not fix excess length.

Nylon or silicone: what matters beyond compatibility?

Nylon gives you a woven surface and, with a hook-and-loop design, adjustment without choosing between fixed holes. Allow it to dry after washing or a sweaty session, and keep lint out of the fastening area.

Silicone has a smooth surface that is straightforward to wipe clean. Check the closure as well as the material: magnetic, pin-and-tuck and conventional buckle designs do not fasten in the same way.

For running or gym use, adjust the strap so the watch stays in place without digging in as your wrist moves. For swimming, select a strap its maker explicitly approves for that activity; the watch's water rating does not rate every replacement band or fastening.

See our nylon vs silicone watch band comparison if material choice is your next question.

Two Bandletic bands to consider

These recommendations use Bandletic's standard 20mm quick-release options. Both product pages also sell 22mm versions. The links below select 20mm; check that selection and the wrist range again if you change color or size.

Pack Outdoor Band Quick Release

A woven nylon option with a hook-and-loop fastening and adjustable overlap. Choose it if you prefer fabric against the wrist and your measurement fits the listed M or L range.

Select Quick Release 20mm: M is 165–180mm, and L is 180–200mm. Keep the fastening area clean and allow the fabric to dry after washing.

View Pack · 20mm / M

View the 20mm / L option

Cube Magnetic Sport Band Quick Release

A silicone option with a square-textured surface and an aluminum pin-and-tuck closure supported by magnets. The current 20mm version lists 150–200mm, giving it a lower starting wrist size than Pack M.

Bandletic's care guidance does not recommend this band for swimming or prolonged submersion. Choose it for the material, fastening and fit that suit your use, rather than treating every sport band as a swim strap.

View Cube · 20mm

You can also browse the Bandletic Vivoactive watch band collection. It covers different Vivoactive generations, so retain the 20mm standard quick-release requirement when comparing options.

How to change and check a Vivoactive 5 or 6 band

Work over a soft surface with the watch removed from your wrist. Garmin's instructions use the same spring-bar method for both models.

1. Turn the watch over and find the small release lever near one band end.
2. Move the lever inward to shorten the spring bar, then lift that band end away from the case.
3. Position one tip of the replacement bar in its lug hole.
4. Hold the lever inward while aligning the other tip; let it extend into the opposite hole.
5. Repeat for the other band half. Gently pull each end and inspect the attachment before putting the watch on.

Do not force a wide strap into the gap or wear one with a bent bar. If a tip will not seat, remove the band and check its width, connector and alignment. After fastening, bend your wrist and make sure the closure is engaged and the strap is not pressing painfully against the case edge.

Frequently asked questions

1. Does Vivoactive 6 use a 20mm or 22mm band?

Vivoactive 6 uses a 20mm standard quick-release band. The 22mm option is not its specified replacement, even if the listing also mentions other Garmin watches.

2. Are Vivoactive 5 and 6 bands interchangeable?

Yes, when the band uses their shared standard 20mm quick-release attachment. Check the condition of a reused strap and its spring bars, then verify the fit after installation.

3. Will a Vivoactive 4 or 4S band fit?

Not directly. Vivoactive 4 uses 22mm and 4S uses 18mm, while Vivoactive 5 and 6 need 20mm.

4. Can I use a 20mm QuickFit band instead?

Do not choose it as the standard replacement. QuickFit and standard quick release describe different attachment systems; matching the number alone is insufficient.

5. Can I attach an Apple Watch band?

Not directly. An Apple Watch band uses a different watch-side connector. For this guide, choose the standard spring-bar attachment specified for Vivoactive 5 and 6.

6. Which Bandletic option should I choose for a small wrist?

Of the two options above, Cube starts at 150mm, while Pack M starts at 165mm. Below 150mm, choose a shorter compatible strap rather than relying on these ranges. Confirm the current product option before ordering.

For either Vivoactive model, the purchase rule is the same: 20mm standard quick release, followed by the right wrist length. Keep those two decisions separate and you can compare materials and fastenings without ordering the wrong connection.