Are there really different qualities of NATO straps or are we all just being played?
That's a question I asked myself for many months. I like to wear my dive and field watches on NATO style straps, especially in the summer when a heavy bracelet makes my wrist sweat. I like the different textures and colors, and the ease of changing them on the fly in the morning to match my outfit.
However, browsing around for new models, I was always confused by the wild range of prices found on the internet. You can find smooth "premium" seatbelt straps for as cheap as $3 or ribbed, stiff nylon straps for as high as $50. And, just glancing at pictures, the weave and the hardware often looked identical. So why such a big price difference?
In an attempt to answer this question and quench my curiosity, I decided to buy different straps from different places. A seatbelt nylon one at $3, $5, $10, and $27 respectively. And a ribbed one at $5, $12, and $32. I prefer to not name any brand or store to not turn this thread into some kind of witch hunt.
My conclusion is that they're all the same. Besides minor differences in the size of the hardware (but similar quality and brushing) and engraved branding, of course, I can't see or feel any difference in the nylon used. All 4 seatbelt NATOs are just as light, smooth and comfortable. All 3 ribbed straps are just as stiff and scratchy. The $5 nylon strap measures the same, weighs the same, folds the same, is sealed the same, and wears the same as the more expensive $32 strap in my test sample. 🤯
And that makes sense after all. None of these western brands or companies own factories to craft their own products. They all source their straps from China, possibly from the same manufacturer, or a few manufacturers using the same equipment and materials.
The more expensive straps may come from specific product lines with more rigorous QC standards. But at the end of the day, it seems to me that it's just good old capitalism and dropshipping like everywhere else in the world.
Did you guys have a similar experience with your NATO purchases? Is my sample, from $3 to $30 too small to see an actual difference in quality? Have you found real value in super-expensive NATO straps? Or are these brands preying on us, watch enthusiasts who have lost all sense of value after spending unreasonable amounts of money on obsolete timekeepers? 😂
Font nerd. Hobbyist modder. My favorite part about this hobby is hunting for hidden gems.
I never pay more than 7-8 $ for a NATO strap, it just never made sense to me to pay an outrageous premium for such a simple accessory.
Yes and no.
From the ones I've tried , quite a bit of difference between cheaper and the $30 range. Cheaper side are thinner, and the buckle holes fray quick. Not to mention fading or bleeding when exposed to moisture. Going over $30 is diminishing returns, or very niche end user IMO.
TBH for me, doing anything hi-tempo or kinetic, I'm using something with good QC, good weave, an more than likely sewn in buckles or elastic variant.
Regular day to day field/EDC/tactical work, I've worn everything from CNS to C & B to Zulu Alpha.
Also with some of the pricier variants you pay for sewn in or screw in buckles, or buckle mechanisms that allow endless adjustability. Or materials 100% made or even sourced from the host country. (Elliot Browns single pass adjustable, CWC, Zulu Alpha, Worn and Wound Adpt, Marathon, Watch Steward, Erika's OG)
Haveston and C & B Chevron/Noble lines I'm not sure if, but their patterns are unique and QC is light years beyond other similar types.
At least in my experience, the cheaper Natos tend to fray and wear out faster than the “premium” Natos. With that said, they all eventually wear out for me.
Yes and no.
From the ones I've tried , quite a bit of difference between cheaper and the $30 range. Cheaper side are thinner, and the buckle holes fray quick. Not to mention fading or bleeding when exposed to moisture. Going over $30 is diminishing returns, or very niche end user IMO.
TBH for me, doing anything hi-tempo or kinetic, I'm using something with good QC, good weave, an more than likely sewn in buckles or elastic variant.
Regular day to day field/EDC/tactical work, I've worn everything from CNS to C & B to Zulu Alpha.
Also with some of the pricier variants you pay for sewn in or screw in buckles, or buckle mechanisms that allow endless adjustability. Or materials 100% made or even sourced from the host country. (Elliot Browns single pass adjustable, CWC, Zulu Alpha, Worn and Wound Adpt, Marathon, Watch Steward, Erika's OG)
Haveston and C & B Chevron/Noble lines I'm not sure if, but their patterns are unique and QC is light years beyond other similar types.
I can't speak for the longevity or fading of the materials since most of these I only bought recently for the sake of comparison, but that's a good argument for sure. 👍
All the $3 to $10 straps I bought directly from China have the same weave and sewn-in hardware as the more expensive ones of the lot, so that seems standard at all price ranges.
The Zulu OctoPod is definitely a unique technology and I can understand a price increase for this special buckle. Although I suspect the nylon is the same since I tested a Zulu strap in this sample.
I think Erika's are absurdly overpriced. But it's more than I'm comfortable spending to compare it against cheaper MN straps. 😬
I can only speak from my experience, and that is that the difference between the $40 NATO my dad bought for his Vostok, and the strap on his $500 Hamilton is a world of difference. It’s thinner while being more robust, far more flexible, and far more comfortable.
So at least in that range, I’d say yes there’s a difference.
I only use a NATO if it's got a sewn in buckle, otherwise it's not really a true NATO as the springbar buckle can fail...
I use Zuludiver/Watchgecko/Geckota or CWC mil-spec elastic NATO's (very comfortable) in preference to my hideously overpriced overrated Omega Bond NATO .
Posted this as today's wrist shot. I pretty much wear NATO's exclusively (for over 10 years).... It's a Geckota "vintage
Bond"
Note the sewn in buckle 😁👍🏻
I can only speak from my experience, and that is that the difference between the $40 NATO my dad bought for his Vostok, and the strap on his $500 Hamilton is a world of difference. It’s thinner while being more robust, far more flexible, and far more comfortable.
So at least in that range, I’d say yes there’s a difference.
Any idea of the brand of the $40 strap? I'd be curious to try it and add it to the comparison. 👍
Because so far I've been unimpressed with $30 straps masquerading as premium when they're just the same Chinese product sold at 10 times the price to unsuspecting customers. 😢
Any idea of the brand of the $40 strap? I'd be curious to try it and add it to the comparison. 👍
Because so far I've been unimpressed with $30 straps masquerading as premium when they're just the same Chinese product sold at 10 times the price to unsuspecting customers. 😢
I’ll ask him!
The Nato materials used vary in strength. Soft ones fray but are more comfortable and they are all softer than leather which lasts the longest. They are consumables.
Yes.
I only buy the G10 IWSuisse inexpensive NATOs. I've tried the more expensive seat belt type & others and I always come back to the inexpensive nylon type.
There is a difference.
The best nylon material I’ve tried comes from Crown and Buckle (standard and premium natos), Singular Straps (nato premium), and Phenomenato.
They all feel more like a nylon-canvas blend. They are soft and comfortable, and they do not need a break-in period.
But, Canvas Corp. series from Haveston wears the best. Thick enough, great length, and has an excellent hardware.
There is a difference.
The best nylon material I’ve tried comes from Crown and Buckle (standard and premium natos), Singular Straps (nato premium), and Phenomenato.
They all feel more like a nylon-canvas blend. They are soft and comfortable, and they do not need a break-in period.
But, Canvas Corp. series from Haveston wears the best. Thick enough, great length, and has an excellent hardware.
I am glad to learn that there are some actually good nylon blends out there and I was just unlucky to buy into all of the same cheap materials, even at the more expensive end I tried. 👍
I will definitely give the C&B blends a try for my next purchase. They look much softer without breaking the bank.
The Haveston ones look excellent too, albeit expensive. Maybe in the future. Thanks for the great recommendations!
I can't speak for the longevity or fading of the materials since most of these I only bought recently for the sake of comparison, but that's a good argument for sure. 👍
All the $3 to $10 straps I bought directly from China have the same weave and sewn-in hardware as the more expensive ones of the lot, so that seems standard at all price ranges.
The Zulu OctoPod is definitely a unique technology and I can understand a price increase for this special buckle. Although I suspect the nylon is the same since I tested a Zulu strap in this sample.
I think Erika's are absurdly overpriced. But it's more than I'm comfortable spending to compare it against cheaper MN straps. 😬
The Octopod is definitely unique. I actually quite like it, but I seem to back to regular NATOs, modified to single pass, due to just being faster to change out.
This Crown and Buckle is sewn in also.
The most expensive single pass straps I own are from Zulu Alpha and some of his collaborations. Love the buckle and the style. You pay for being small batch, handmade, UK sourced materials.
But I like the owners outlook and his giving back to the veteran community.
I also want some of CWC's unique straps but I'll end up paying as much in shipping fees, maybe I need to visit the UK again lol.
Hawkrigger is another higher priced but unique take on straps.
If you want quality elastic at more affordable entry check out The Watch Steward. If you don't mind the wait Nick Mankey Designs too.
And for US based peeps Holbens carries Erika's and Haveston.
One last factor, at the $30-ish-$40-ish price point you also get nifty features like floating keepers, chamfered edges, and unique colors/textures.
Blushark, Uncle Seiko, Haveston and the like are good examples.
I am glad to learn that there are some actually good nylon blends out there and I was just unlucky to buy into all of the same cheap materials, even at the more expensive end I tried. 👍
I will definitely give the C&B blends a try for my next purchase. They look much softer without breaking the bank.
The Haveston ones look excellent too, albeit expensive. Maybe in the future. Thanks for the great recommendations!
I like C&B but don't think their standard or premium are any softer than others I have (but I have not tried their Supreme). Also, if you have bigger wrists, the fit may be a little tighter (as I have barely any strap to tuck back in on my 7.5" wrist with a premium C&B so too long to leave the flap hanging but a little too short to tuck back)
Almost everything in the watch hobby is quite overpriced. 😄 I do have 3 straps by Erika and I totally love them, though. After trying a few cheaper vendors I'm confident that no one has the same high-quality materials at a lower price point. Before I tried her straps I was perfectly content with "The Watch Steward", though.
I'm a big fan of C&B and Phenomenato (now Phenome Straps). C&B have broader selection, but Phenome makes the best seatbelt natos (they are almost Omega quality), and more importantly for me - they have the nicest dimensions. As their straps are longer they buckle normally sits exactly in the center on your wrist, which I love. (Omega does the same with their natos)
WatchBandit / WristPorn also have great nato straps - I'd say they probably have the best price / quality ratio (and the most fun hardware).
I don't like ribbed and tubular nylon - to me it feels and looks very cheap and I think there you're getting more or less the same quality at every price point, with the only difference being the hardware. I wear seatbelt natos almost all the time and occasionally nylon + cotton natos, which are softer to the touch than ribbed/tubular nylon.
All-in-all premium nylon straps are definitely very expensive, but the prices of watches and Apple (with Apple Watch straps) have conditioned me to pay more for them than I'd have ever paid 5 years ago. 😂