I'm worried about NATO expansion
If there is one type of strap that I abhor it's the NATO. They are popular because being cheap that can be produced in large enough quantities to invade a small country, but IMO this is their only advantage.
Unfortunately, as they are bundled with watches that I buy, they keep popping up in my home. It's like a check without cover that keeps bouncing back no matter what. I try to do my best to stem this invasion, although I fear that my efforts are not enough thought.
Take these watches for example. I got them from Redux & Co. after I helped funding their Kickstarter campaign. They both came with the typical jingly jangly NATO straps since I wasn't offered the option to select an alternative (or get them without a strap).
Redux did their best but there is no way that the pervasive cheapness of a NATO strap can be made better. Lucky for me, there's Erika.
Gone are the uncomfortable material, bulky ends and jangly hardware. The strap still goes under the case but this is the only thing an MN strap has in common with a NATO.
The cleaner look of the MN also means that I don't have to look like a gypsy fortune teller since there are no extra buckles and keepers jangling around.
And the material that is used for the strap is so much better than the nylon. I know that a MN strap can cost X10 more than a cheap NATO but it's worth every single penny. YMMV of course but at least this is true for me.
The funniest thing about NATO is their presumed military purpose. Cumulatively I spent close to 6 years of my life in the army, 3 of them in an airborne unit and I never saw anyone around me wearing a watch on a NATO strap. So there it is folks, #justsaynotonato .
I'm a big fan of watches that are interesting because they are either unique, have interesting features, well designed or simply offer a great value for their price.
Agree totally…..can’t abide natos anymore ,mine all hide in a box that I really should just get rid . Big fan of marine nationale style straps but haven’t went the route of Erika’s originals yet …..are they that good?
Agree totally…..can’t abide natos anymore ,mine all hide in a box that I really should just get rid . Big fan of marine nationale style straps but haven’t went the route of Erika’s originals yet …..are they that good?
They are good for me. I also have an NDC strap and I found that I liked the Erika's Original more if it helps.
In the end it's all about personal preferences.
I personally love natos, but it's always refreshing to hear new takes on any subjects
Appreciate your view, but I love NATO straps😁
I dislike the bulky and messy look of NATOs as well.
But Erika's, in my opinion, also embodies all that is wrong in the watch industry: predatory markups trying to take advantage of naive enthusiasts desensitized to the real cost of things after browsing watches in the dozens of thousands daily.
The MN strap conception is not worth 10 times that of a NATO strap. Even if it was, that would amount to $20-$30 straps. Not $80-$130 like Erika's asking. They are assembled in Spain from nylon and hardware imported from China. You're paying a hefty premium for greed and to fund a patent, for similar straps that can be had for $3-$5 in China. Surely there is a healthy middle ground and a fair price between these two opposites. 🤷
I dislike the bulky and messy look of NATOs as well.
But Erika's, in my opinion, also embodies all that is wrong in the watch industry: predatory markups trying to take advantage of naive enthusiasts desensitized to the real cost of things after browsing watches in the dozens of thousands daily.
The MN strap conception is not worth 10 times that of a NATO strap. Even if it was, that would amount to $20-$30 straps. Not $80-$130 like Erika's asking. They are assembled in Spain from nylon and hardware imported from China. You're paying a hefty premium for greed and to fund a patent, for similar straps that can be had for $3-$5 in China. Surely there is a healthy middle ground and a fair price between these two opposites. 🤷
Maybe there is but Erika's will do just fine for me until I find it.
Appreciate your view, but I love NATO straps😁
I'm not trying to convince you to dump them.
I realise that 👍😁 but you just say the word and they are dust😂
Have a great great day
Tried MN , found the hook/buckle bit quite uncomfortable. But I'm a NATO fan, used them for years.
Most comfortable I've found is the CWC elastic NATO's. Best of both worlds, cheap and the real deal.
Could not agree more.😉
Erika's is just hype in my honest opinion
Wrong. Nato's are fabulous. Their intended use is correct, if there happens to be a spring bar failure then your watch will stay attached. Its a redundancy mechanism.
Probably the reason you dont see many in the military is because of the prevalence of G-Shocks (which I collect and love). But, in the 20th century before the invention of the Casio and excellent rubber options, a lot of army people would have chosen them over other options.
In a hot climate, a nato dries quickly when wet, is highly adjustable, you will never lose your watch if a spring bar fails etc. Its a decent option.
Of course if you dont like them thats cool, but for me, they are a must have for some field watches. I love my bracelets, leather and rubber straps. But, what else can you put on field watch and make it feel authentic?
Wrong. Nato's are fabulous. Their intended use is correct, if there happens to be a spring bar failure then your watch will stay attached. Its a redundancy mechanism.
Probably the reason you dont see many in the military is because of the prevalence of G-Shocks (which I collect and love). But, in the 20th century before the invention of the Casio and excellent rubber options, a lot of army people would have chosen them over other options.
In a hot climate, a nato dries quickly when wet, is highly adjustable, you will never lose your watch if a spring bar fails etc. Its a decent option.
Of course if you dont like them thats cool, but for me, they are a must have for some field watches. I love my bracelets, leather and rubber straps. But, what else can you put on field watch and make it feel authentic?
What else? Pretty much everything IMO.
I feel ya dude, I have like more than 10 NATOs in my small fancy box, mixed in with my two piece straps. There are 3 more 20mm NATOs coming in. I can't stop this invasion, I fear my small box will be overrun 😭
There is no such thing as a "NATO" Strap. You're really referring to "Strap, Wrist Watch" (yes, it's actual name). Originally issued by the British Army In 1973, it was requisitioned by completing form G1098. The Strap, Wrist Watch, or G10, named after the form, complied with Defence Standard (DefStan) 66-15 i.e., a 20mm wide, double-pass Nylon strap with chrome plated brass buckle and keepers in one colour only - Admiralty Grey. It started being called a "NATO" strap as forces outside of Britain saw it and liked it.
Personally, as someone with moderately hairy arms that don't work well with stainless steel bracelets, I love the G10.
You'll have to hunt for a good one. G10 straps made by #cwc are probably the best I have found, and first- party #seiko G10 straps are reasonably priced (approx AUD$20) and of above average quality.
If you don't like flimsy Nylon, Chinese manufactured rubbish, you could go with a #zulu instead. The Zulu should be thicker and only be a single pass strap with fewer (usually only 1) keeper. Whilst Chinese, the best Zulu I have found comes from #boderry with titanium buckle, tang, and keeper. Actually they are really thick, triple stitched, but really comfortable. And moderately priced on AliExpress.
Nato's are cheap, comfortable and quick to change. They stain easy but clean up good. Being cheap they are just consumables we replace often. Your seeing them more because that's what the broader market wants. These companies do their research and find out what their market demographics want to have. Jingly jangly usually only refers to metal bracelets....especially Seiko.
I got caught up in the NATO strap hype and bought some. HATE them. 😜 While I like the idea of retention in the event of a popped or broken spring bar (though through 60 years of wearing watches and being VERY active, I've never experienced this) I dislike the bulk. Intensly.
Here on WC I recently ran across the Octopod strap and think it will do what the NATO does...but better.
https://www.zuludiver.com/collections/octopod
Amen to that. Just say no to NATOs. 🍻
Will give a plug to Nick Mankey’s Hook straps, my preferred zero-pass solution:
I like natos, but I also like MN elastic straps like Erica’s. But yeah, you won’t see natos in a modern military setting for the most part. That’s a historical thing from 50+ years ago. Almost all of what everyone around me was wearing were gshocks.
I dislike the bulky and messy look of NATOs as well.
But Erika's, in my opinion, also embodies all that is wrong in the watch industry: predatory markups trying to take advantage of naive enthusiasts desensitized to the real cost of things after browsing watches in the dozens of thousands daily.
The MN strap conception is not worth 10 times that of a NATO strap. Even if it was, that would amount to $20-$30 straps. Not $80-$130 like Erika's asking. They are assembled in Spain from nylon and hardware imported from China. You're paying a hefty premium for greed and to fund a patent, for similar straps that can be had for $3-$5 in China. Surely there is a healthy middle ground and a fair price between these two opposites. 🤷
Where did you hear that?
The company seems to think differently, and posted a video of their factory in Spain.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coPzBARZNSY
At about 1:55 the factory tour starts, and disproves your statements about origin of the strap material and hardware. It then goes on to show the workers hand stitching the straps together. That's not a $10 a strap type of operation...
It's cool to not like something, but spreading false information to make your preferences seem better is not cool.
Erika's is just hype in my honest opinion
I thought that until I bought one, and then another, and another, and another, etc...
They are not like cheap Ali Express/Amazon "paratrooper" straps. They are elastic enough to be comfortable, but still stiff enough to hold a watch in place firmly.
I hear everyone on the questioning the value of an Erika’s strap but it’s indisputable that the result is much more tidy. I bought my first MN style strap last year and am personally no longer buyingnatos.
As for Erika’s, for me they hold value *to me* because:
1: they’re cut to length based on your wrist size so no excess material that my smaller 6.5” wrists usually have to deal with
2: they offer affordable engraving on the buckle so I was able to put my photography business’ logo on there (a camera in the shape of Washington State). That makes this strap special to me and I can’t really get that anywhere else.
When this post started with a blanket (and false) statements about how "All nato straps are bad" I guessed already that this would be about selling a particular type then - Next time try to do it without dissing other peoples love for traditional nato straps - some (most) people buy nato for exactly those purposes that you counted as negatives in your opinion
These type of straps there are alot of options for pretty cheap also….
Blink twice if this is Putin’s account
Where did you hear that?
The company seems to think differently, and posted a video of their factory in Spain.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coPzBARZNSY
At about 1:55 the factory tour starts, and disproves your statements about origin of the strap material and hardware. It then goes on to show the workers hand stitching the straps together. That's not a $10 a strap type of operation...
It's cool to not like something, but spreading false information to make your preferences seem better is not cool.
Nylon is nylon. Because they decide to loom it themselves doesn't make it better or worse than higher-scale factories. The cost of labor in Europe is certainly higher but location doesn't automatically equate to better quality. I disagree that $130 is a fair price for a strap, but we can agree to disagree.
Nylon is nylon. Because they decide to loom it themselves doesn't make it better or worse than higher-scale factories. The cost of labor in Europe is certainly higher but location doesn't automatically equate to better quality. I disagree that $130 is a fair price for a strap, but we can agree to disagree.
You're free to not like them, and think they cost too much. I just wanted to clarify false statements you made, so that others who may be on the fence actually know the truth.
Nylon has varying grades, as does any other material.
Weaving the straps themselves means the straps are made exactly to the size they want, rather than buying wide straps and cutting them down to the size they need. It also allows them to adjust the stiffness and elasticity to suit their needs, rather than just buy cheap bulk strap material from a factory making straps for all kids of purposes.
Again, you don't need to see the value in it, but that doesn't mean it has no purpose or value.
When this post started with a blanket (and false) statements about how "All nato straps are bad" I guessed already that this would be about selling a particular type then - Next time try to do it without dissing other peoples love for traditional nato straps - some (most) people buy nato for exactly those purposes that you counted as negatives in your opinion
Oh, I finally managed to annoy someone. My work is done here.
Wish they had more color options
Hey, you leave NATO straps alone! I give away one of every two NATO's I buy. And that's mostly because you never know what you're gonna get when you try a new brand. But dammit if it ain't the perfect thing for tinkerers and people with ADD.
I do agree they're pretty wasteful. Most of them are too cheap to not be treated as disposable. If they exclusively made expensive ones maybe people would buy them less. To be fair, that may also apply to MN, Zulu and even Genuine Leather straps these days. Maybe we should propose the One-Strap-Challenge. Similar to one watch, but only one strap you have to use no matter what watch you put on!