What is an NFC Wristband?
NFC wristbands are wearable Near Field Communication (NFC) tags available in silicone, fabric, or disposable materials. They contain an embedded NFC chip and antenna, which may be a copper coil with a chip embedded in the material or encapsulated in a PCB or FPC tag. Disposable wristbands use aluminum inlays laminated within Tyvek, polypropylene (PP), or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). NFC wristbands are durable, portable, and designed for hands-free use, worn on the wrist. Similar to NFC key fobs or NFC badges, they are used as proxies for people but differ in how they are carried or worn.
NFC wristbands are used for access control, ticketing, cashless payments, and membership identification at events, gyms, resorts, and amusement parks. They are designed as proxies for people, providing a convenient alternative to carrying a badge or key fob.
How to Choose an NFC Wristband
- Material and Style:
- Silicone: Durable and waterproof. Available as closed loop wristbands in preset sizes (small, medium, large) or adjustable with buckles or snap buttons.
- Fabric: Elastic or adjustable styles. The NFC chip and antenna are inside a PVC tag or a woven pouch on the band. Bands can be heat transfer printed in CMYK or woven in 1–3 colors.
- Disposable: Single-use wristbands made from Tyvek, PP, or PVC. Secured with adhesive or button closures and cut off after use.
- Closure Type:
- Silicone: Closed loop wristbands are produced in specific sizes to fit the user’s wrist circumference, while adjustable versions use buckles or snap buttons.
- Fabric: Plastic locking clasps secure the wristband permanently; bead clasps allow removal and reuse.
- Disposable: Adhesive strip seals or plastic button closures secure the wristband until it is cut off.
- Environmental Performance:
- Silicone wristbands: Waterproof and sweat-resistant, suitable for outdoor and long-term use. Operating range -25°C to +80°C.
- Fabric wristbands: Water-resistant but not fully waterproof, appropriate for short-term or event use. Operating range -20°C to +60°C.
- Disposable wristbands: Waterproof Tyvek and PP, or water-resistant PVC, intended for single-use. Operating range -10°C to +50°C.
- Availability: Made-to-order, 500 unit minimum order quantity (MOQ), 3–4 week lead time. Pricing is quantity-based with setup fees for new molds.
- NFC Chip Type: NTAG213 provides adequate memory for storing URLs or unique identifiers for most applications. ICODE SLIX (ISO 15693) chips enable slightly longer read distances for applications where users may not tap precisely.
Customizing NFC Wristbands
- Printing & Engraving:
- Silicone: Silkscreen printing in 1–2 colors, engraving with or without color fill. Embossing or debossing requires a new mold. The face area is the default print or engrave location; additional costs apply for strap printing.
- Fabric: Bands can be produced in a solid color or a CMYK heat transfer design on one or both sides. Woven designs in 1–3 colors are available. PVC tags can be CMYK printed with matte or glossy finish.
- Disposable: CMYK printing for Tyvek or PP; 1–2 color printing for PVC.
- Color Options:
- Silicone: Available in black, white, red, green, or blue. Pantone matching is available with MOQ.
- Fabric: No set base color. Made either as a solid color band or as a custom CMYK printed design. Clasps are white or black by default, with Pantone options available at higher MOQ.
- Encoding: GoToTags can encode or customers can self-encode with the GoToTags Desktop App.
Recommendations
- Most customers choose NTAG213 as applications typically store data in the cloud and only write an identifier or URL to the chip..
- Silicone wristbands are best for reusable or outdoor use.
- Fabric wristbands suit branded event applications.
- Disposable wristbands are for single-use, tamper-evident needs.
- Avoid wristbands where frequent removal is required unless using bead clasps or adjustable silicone styles.
