Don’t think nato straps are for me

Yeah. So many watch folks rave about NATO straps but they're just a PITA in normal life.

💯I am an advocate for the two piece strap for multiple reasons: natos are bulky, they dont taper, and rarely look better than a similar two piece strap

I hear ya - I love the look/idea but am not quite sold on the nato. I did look up a few videos on YouTube and found several different ways to wear them. Some are by far more comfortable than others.

I believe nato straps are either a hit or miss depending on the watch and wrist size

I felt the same the first time I used a NATO the “regular” way. Then I saw this video from ID Guy, gave it a try, and never looked back. I wear natos all the time now.

Maybe give it a try, and if you don’t like, then by all means discard the NATO. Not everything has to work for everybody, and that’s just fine.

https://youtu.be/LbKiWPF2ccs?si=0H963ccWOYuCMJYB

It's rare that a NATO strap looks proportionate with the watch head due to the bulkiness and added thickness of the double passes under the case. It takes a very specific kind of curved lugs design to hide some of that bulk.

Although I find the seatbelt nylon straps somewhat comfortable to wear in the summer because they are soft and breathable, 99% of the time I find myself going back to the bracelet or rubber the next day because it just looks more elevated.

I’ll have a look at this. Cheers

The colour doesn’t complement the watch, so of course it looks bad. You would want black, or black/grey stripe for that watch.

I’m the same way

I have a few watches on natos, but they are mostly really cheap plastic watches. Anything a bit heavier usually feels unbalanced, and watches that need to be close to the wrist end up floating because of the extra thickness underneath.

Of course, there's always @Max's Zero Pass straps as a better alternative.

I agree. The metal strap keepers (or whatever you call them) are always cheap & make the watch look cheap. There's too much fabric bulking up the side of your wrist. Most of the time the NATO fabric digs in my wrist. IMO it's a shitty look with few exceptions. I go out of my way to compliment a watch with a appealing look when on a NATO

Erika's MN straps are a good, though very expensive alternative.

But yes on some watches they look amazing and sometimes they don't work.

I got into a phase with natos too. All my watches had natos on them and I personally loved the look. Bought a ton of them in all different colors. But in the end, the I found them a bit uncomfortable and a little bulky. I still like wear them occasionally, but most of my watches are back on bracelets or 2 piece straps.

Yuuuup. In this case IMHO that watch isn't meant to be on a NATO or at least the NATO that was put on it. I love my CW on a NATO.

I thought about trying natos too. Bought one, hated how it wore and its texture. Never again. Ever😂

Took me a while to find the right nato. I hate the extra bulk. I get a 3 ring Zulu, trim the excess strap and seal with a lighter. Then go one step further, I cut out the 3rd ring. That way the buckle is dead center on my wrist. Minimal metal parts clanking around and no bulky excess strap.

Try to wear it using the one pass method. So that extra strap is on the bottom and not visible on the side. Makes the strap less bulky and cleaner imho

See my photo below:

Felt the same way at first, until I cut off the excess part to make it a single pass NATO, now I can't think about any other way... It doesn't add too much thickness beneath the watch, and there is no more bulkiness on the side of the watch. It's really easy to do, you have plenty of videos, so I hope you'll try it before saying no to NATO straps forever 🙃

https://youtu.be/u-Zh_kME6Lg?si=vRtrEVYCjsE4aZDy

I really like the contrast of the colours. I understand what you mean though.

Nato straps where never my jam. Once I had one put an Omega on my SMP I was sold. Consider me a nato convert.

The only time I wear a Nato strap is when it's -30 or below out there and I don't want to get frostbite from the caseback

My wife loves NATO straps (with the excess material cut off). When I was younger (and weighed about 2/3 of what I do now), I preferred hook and loop straps (as did all my surfer schoolmates at the time). Now I want my watches to be as thin and close to the wrist as possible, so if I want a textile look and the flexibility of no holes, I use two-piece Eulit perlon straps.

Totally agree. Love the Rotary by the way! I have a Rotary and it's one of the watches I've had not grown tired of over many years. I have maybe two of these straps and just never like the way they wear on my wrist so i never use them.

Try Zulu (single pass) or Erika's originals. I hear you though, I love the idea of NATOs and have gone through a love hate relationship, but sometimes you find the right one and it works. Maybe the cheapest and best I've had recently are the basic ones from CWC, they are thin but robust. Although not a NATO, my all time favourite is Erika's originals, very secure, stretchy material, endless adjustment 👍

Don’t like the look of original NATO’s. Found it odd people like to loop the excess material. Never bought one of those, came with my Seiko 5, and soon confirmed how terrible they look and feel on the wrist.

I do have a NATO from ZuluDiver which has a deployant clasp and none of the unsightly excess, only NATO I’ll wear. Kind of chore to put on, so mostly wearing my watches with quick change straps, FKM, Sailcloth, leather (horween, seude and epsom).

I get the concept of a NATO strap, it's sound. But the look and feel are just off putting. In the field I get it, but way too much for me.

A bad NATO will turn you off them especially if they are too small. The best NATO I love is a Bark and Jack they fit larger wrists.

The floating first keeper is the best designed NATO I have used. Helps with fit and you can tuck the strap away as intended

Yeah not for me either, class looking watch though! The green strap looks great

Strap was a £15 thing of Amazon. Got three straps from Archer Straps. They’re very good for the price.

With single pass natos, or the alternate wearing method the lump is either gone or moved to the bottom of your wrist. For example: