Traditional metal rings can be a liability for anyone who works or plays rough, which helps to explain why silicone rings have become so popular in the past few years. They’re durable, affordable, easy to clean, nonconductive, and comfortable.
They’re an excellent option for the gym when you don’t want to beat up your traditional wedding ring, a necessity when working with heavy machinery, and an excellent option for climbing, traveling, and daily life. Anyone who’s ever gotten a ring caught working or playing knows the importance of a silicone ring for folks with active lifestyles or jobs. And with the variety of colors and styles available, it’s easy to see why so many folks are turning to them.
We tested rings for more than 3 years while lifting weights at the gym, climbing, swimming, paddling, cooking, woodworking, and living daily life. In total, our fingers have hosted nearly 20 different silicone bands, and been on a variety of different hands across the country in wet, dry, and downright dirty conditions. To rank these rings, we compared them based on their design, fit, style, and price, and have settled on two hands’ worth of the best available today.
Check out our comprehensive buyer’s guide and frequently asked questions for helpful tips, and have a look at our comparison chart to steer your decision-making. Or, scroll through to see all of our recommended buys.
Editor’s Note: We updated our Silicone Ring guide on March 18, 2024, to add the Ridge Silicone Ring Set — a twofer with a ring for the gym, and a black band for dressier events.
The Best Silicone Rings of 2024
- Best Overall Men’s Silicone Ring: Groove Life Nomad
- Best Overall Women’s Silicone Ring: QALO Women’s Stackable Braid
- Best Budget Silicone Ring: ROQ Rings
- Most Durable Silicone Ring: Groove Life Zeus Step
- Most Breathable Silicone Ring: Egnaro Inner Arc Ring
- Best Stackable Silicone Ring: ThunderFit Women’s Stackable & Thin
Groove Life Nomad
Pros
- Some of the best nature-inspired prints we've seen
- Texture doesn't pick up debris
- Breathability grooves
Cons
- Not the widest size range
QALO Women’s Stackable Braid
Pros
- Highly durable
- Lots of colors and styles are available
Cons
- Certain styles feel overly thick
ROQ Rings
Specs
- Materials 100% medical-grade silicone
- Warranty Yes, lifetime
- Sizes 7-16
- Tensile strength 19.6 lbs.
Pros
- Affordable
- Durable
Cons
- ROQ offers fewer colors and designs than other brands
Groove Life Zeus Step Ring
Specs
- Materials 100% medical grade silicone
- Warranty Yes, lifetime
- Sizes 8-14
- Tensile strength 32 lbs.
Pros
- Comfortable
- Unique colorful designs
- Excellent warranty
Cons
- Slightly more expensive than other options
Egnaro Inner Arc Ring
Specs
- Materials Premium silicone
- Warranty 30-day money back guarantee
- Sizes 7-14
- Tensile strength 20 lbs.
Pros
- Comfortable
- Quietly stylish
Cons
- No lifetime warranty
ThunderFit Stackable & Thin Women’s Ring
Specs
- Materials 100% medical-grade silicone
- Warranty Yes, for damage or defects
- Sizes 3.5-12
- Tensile strength 40 lbs.
Pros
- Many different textures, styles, and colors
- Thin profile stacks well
Cons
- Thinner diameter might cause premature wear
Ridge Silicone Ring Set
Specs
- Materials 850A silicone
- Warranty 'Never Lost and Forever Fit Protection' with 2x free replacements
- Sizes 6-14
- Tensile strength N/A
Pros
- Comes in a set of 2 rings
- Travel case is a secure place to stash the rings
- Two free replacements should equate to a lifetime of use
Cons
- On the pricier side
Knot Theory Engraved Mountain Silicone Ring
Pros
- Stylish
- Lightweight
- Highly customizable
Cons
- Warranty is not as robust as other manufacturers
Enso Rings
Pros
- Realistic precious metal designs
- Lots of unique novelty designs to choose from
Cons
- Not the most durable
ThunderFit Breathable Men’s Ring
Specs
- Materials "Top grade hypoallergenic" silicone
- Warranty Yes, for damage or defects
- Sizes 5.5-14, available in half sizes
- Tensile strength 43 lbs.
Pros
- Good value
- Rings come in a wide range of colors and sizes
Cons
- Not the most durable
SafeRingz
Pros
- Custom engraving available
- The metallic pigment is mixed directly with the silicone and will not fade
Cons
- Not the most durable, minor stretch over time
Silicone Rings Comparison Chart
Silicone Ring | Materials | Warranty | Sizes | Tensile Strength | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Groove Life Nomad | Silicone | 94-year ‘No BS’ warranty | 7-14 | 32 lbs. | $35 |
QALO Women’s Stackable Braid | Silicone | Lifetime warranty | 5-9 | 15 lbs. | $14 |
ROQ Rings | 100% medical-grade silicone | Yes, lifetime | 7-16 | 19.6 lbs. | $7-17 |
Groove Life Zeus Step Ring | 100% medical grade silicone | 94-year ‘No BS’ warranty | 8-14 | 32 lbs. | $55 |
Egnaro Inner Arc Ring | Silicone | 30-day money-back guarantee | 7-14 | 20 lbs. | $26 |
ThunderFit Stackable & Thin Women’s Ring | 100% medical-grade silicone | Yes, for damage or defects | 3.5-12 | 40 lbs. | $12 |
Ridge Silicone Ring Set | 850A silicone | 2x free replacements | 6-14 | N/A | $65 |
Knot Theory Engraved Mountain Silicone Ring | Silicone | Perfect fit guarantee | 4-16 | 101 lbs. | $32 |
Enso Rings | Silicone | Yes, lifetime | 5-14 | 17 lbs. | $40 |
ThunderFit Breathable Men’s Ring | “Top grade hypoallergenic” silicone | Yes, for damage or defects | 5.5-14 | 43 lbs. | $10 |
SafeRingz | Silicone | Yes, for damage or defects | 4-15 | 20-30 lbs. | $25-33 |
How We Tested Silicone Rings
Traditional metal rings are simply not practical for people who work and play outside. The GearJunkie team is composed of hunters, anglers, climbers, and other folks who can’t stand the hassle of constantly removing and reinstating a metal wedding band. From a safety perspective, we feel a lot better knowing our ring could tear away without taking a finger with it.
Based in Bishop, Calif., lead tester Paul Mandell is a certified strength coach who holds a Master’s in Kinesiology, and assists climbers, skiers, and cyclists in refining their movement to become better, and safer, athletes.
Mandell is no stranger to the weight room and has seen enough near-misses to understand the importance of protecting your fingers when it counts. Throughout his testing, Mandell has put these rings ‘through the ringer,’ in a variety of situations — from the weight room to the crag, mountain biking, fishing, and doing some heavy-duty mechanical work on his truck. He worked through the full rotation and carefully assessed fit and function in a variety of situations where folks might opt to pocket a ring instead of keeping it on, and surprisingly, didn’t lose any (though one did break).
Many of us have been wearing silicone rings long before we began intentionally testing them for this roundup. We’ve owned certain rings through multiple years of heavy active use, from washing dishes to tying flies. While testing a variety of rings, we carefully assessed their comfort, durability, aesthetics, and overall value. And once we’ve got a good feel for them, we even pull-test the rings to ensure that they break when they say they will.
After careful consideration, we’re confident that this list is composed of the best silicone rings on the market today. And what’s more: we’re constantly continuing our search for the one true ring to rule them all, and will keep testing as new bands hit the market to keep our list finely tuned.
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose a Silicone Ring
Before we dig into silicone rings, a brief tale of the why behind these stretchy jewelry solutions:
Degloving is a gnarly word, and even a close call can be a scary experience, which typically happens a little something like this: You head out to the local bouldering crag for some casual after-class laps. You’re in a rush to get some decompression time, and forget to remove your ring before you hop on the route. And before you know it, your finger is stuck in a crack, 10 feet off the deck.
Super stressed and trying desperately to get unstuck before falling with your finger still in the crack, you start yarding. Stuck. Eventually, you pull so hard that when you do pop free, you take a wobbler backward off the problem with enough force to completely miss the pads. Whew.
Silicone rings aim to prevent this type of accident, snapping before any true damage can occur to your finger. And while safety is the number one goal, there are also a number of considerations beyond that when you’re looking for a silicone ring. Below you’ll find a few helpful points to help guide your decision and find the best option for you.
Comfort & Fit
Rubber wedding bands set the standard for comfort. Our testers all preferred them over traditional metal rings. We like how flexible and lightweight they are.
That said, you’ll need to make sure you get the right ring size for a perfect fit. Each manufacturer has a size guide to help ensure a snug, yet comfortable-fitting ring. Unlike a traditional ring, you can easily return it should you get the wrong size, and the pliable material is more forgiving. Silicone rings are much easier to remove when your fingers are swollen after a long hike than a metal ring.
Hypoallergenic Nature
Silicone ring manufacturers will use a number of different terms for their silicone, including medical grade, premium, and hypoallergenic. Silicone rubber itself is generally regarded as biocompatible, meaning that the majority of people will not have a reaction when in contact with it. Many people have difficulties with certain metals used in rings, such as copper turning their skin green, and silicone is a great alternative.
There are still a small number of people who will have an allergic reaction to silicone, which is experienced as a rash or irritation beneath the ring. You may also encounter a rash from trapped debris underneath a ring, and if this occurs to you often, choose a breathable ring like the Egnaro Inner Arc or ThunderFit Breathable Men’s Ring.
Stretchiness
A little bit of stretchiness makes the silicone band more comfortable. But too much, and you’ll have trouble with slippage and fit. That’s why proper sizing is still an important factor when selecting a ring. Quality rings from brands like QALO and Groove Life allow for a comfortable amount of stretch without losing their shape or coming off when you don’t want them to.
One tester found that a ring from Groove Life fit securely on his ring finger, but he could also slide it comfortably on his thumb. While we’re a bit hesitant about the thumb ring stylistically, this does illustrate the stretch of a properly fitted silicone ring.
All the rings listed above have a bit of stretch. However, we did find the Enso ring eventually stretched too much after several months of hard wear.
Sizing
Finding your ring size doesn’t need to involve a trip to the jeweler. There are a variety of paper templates available for download with a simple Google search. Once you’ve found a template, set make sure to set your printer to the correct format (usually there are instructions on the correct setting included on the template) and print it out. Cut out the sizing chart, slip it around your finger, and pull it snug — you’ve got your size!
It is important to note that there are different sizing standards for each country. In the U.S. and U.K., sizing runs from 5 to 12, and you’ll need to convert accordingly. As an example, Paul’s measurement is approximately 65 mm, corresponding to a size 11 band. Some sizing charts will do the conversion for you and read your ring size instead of millimeters or centimeters. Additionally, most of the manufacturer’s websites include guidance on sizing or a template to ensure a good fit.,
Thickness
A thick or thin ring is really a matter of preference. The rings listed here range from 2.5 to 8 mm, and each of our testers liked them for different reasons. Several brands offer thin, stackable rings that you can mix and match, or purchase together in a set.
The thicker rings tend to last longer and fit larger hands more comfortably. They also provide a little more real estate to display cool patterns and beveled edges. Our smaller testers mostly preferred rings under 5.5 mm.
Engraving
Just like metal rings and bands, silicone rings can also be engraved with an important date or name. These personalized offerings are typically only available from the manufacturer, and to date, the following currently offer the service: Knot Theory, QALO, Groove Life, Enso Rings, and Saferingz.
Rings can often be engraved on both the inside, and the outside of the ring, and can also host different fonts and characters. Get creative and make your ring your own.
Variety
We love a good artisan-made silver ring, but when it comes to variety at a great price, it’s hard to beat a silicone band. Whether you’re looking for a customizable wedding band, a cute stackable ring, or something in a wildly different color, you can find just what you need.
Whether you’re looking for an understated men’s ring to replace a traditional wedding band or just a fun piece of everyday jewelry, the variety of silicone rings available will suit almost anyone.
Durability
Obviously, you want your ring to last. Silicone rings are more prone to stretching or tearing than a traditional metal band, and in some cases, this could be why you choose silicone over a metal band. In our 2 years of testing, we found the QALO silicone ring has held up great and has hit all the marks for comfort and durability.
Choosing a silicone wedding band can also prolong the shine and luster of your actual metal wedding band should you choose to wear the silicone ring as your daily driver and save your expensive ring or family heirloom for special occasions only.
Warranty
When buying something that is technically supposed to break (should something go wrong), it can be nice to know that many silicone ring manufacturers offer warranties on their rings for replacement. The coverages vary — for example, brands such as Enso Rings offer a lifetime warranty with no questions asked. Others, like Knot Theory, only offer replacement in instances of manufacturing defects. If you’re going to be wearing your ring through the worst of it, choose one with a lifetime replacement warranty.
FAQ
There are numerous reasons you should consider a silicone ring. First, we like how affordable they are. With a range of $6 to $50, you don’t have to panic if you lose it.
Second, they’re great for active lifestyles. Whether you regularly go climbing, lift weights at the gym, or operate machinery, a silicone ring is a safer option.
Third, they’re comfortable and stylish. They come in a range of colors and designs. And our testers have found the lightweight, flexible design is superior to traditional metal bands.
Definitely. We’ve worn ours nonstop while swimming, running, climbing, hiking, sleeping, working, and traveling.
You may choose to remove yours at night or during specific activities out of personal preference. But after 2 years of testing, we’ve found you can certainly wear a silicone ring every day.
Ring avulsion, also known as degloving, is pretty darn terrifying. Basically, it means your ring gets stuck on something. The results can range from a little bruise to full amputation. It’s of particular concern to climbers, woodworkers, and anyone who uses machinery.
And while the best option is to completely remove all jewelry during these pursuits, we understand that’s not always ideal. And a silicone wedding ring is a great, safe alternative. As QALO explains, silicone rings are built to break free under extreme stress, thereby preventing degloving and saving your digits.
This can vary depending on the ring and your personal lifestyle. That said, we’ve been wearing our top-choice ring for a solid 2 years, and it looks and feels as good as new.
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