Uncle NATO watch straps - are they any good?

They look identical, literally identical, to $5 Juelong NATOs on Aliexpress. Except 3 times more expensive.

I would bet they are the same product that Uncle Straps buys in bulk from Alibaba for $1/u and sells with a 1000% profit, like most of these websites and YouTubers do.

Indeed they do. Thanks for the recommendation

I started with Uncle Straps and have continued for the quality and customer service. One order in the wrong size was corrected within hours. At many other sites either the style or size I needed seemed forever out of stock, so willing to pay a few bucks more to get an actual product.

I’ve ordered the Signature Series to get sizes I needed and find the quality has been very good. I never did comparisons for the ribbed series straps.

Might be identical, I have found tho that sometimes the non-Ali company pays for extra quality of life improvements.

Can't specifically say anything about Uncle Seiko, but there is a pretty large gap between the CNS and AliExpress Tudor adjustable single pass and the Crown and Buckle Chevron.

Like a VERY noticable and hardier weave, better QC, and the buckle has a curve vs straight, so it hugs your wrist better.

I've also found the colors are sometimes very washed out and will bleed like crazy in the cheaper stuff.

Edit:

Also I'd buy from Uncle Seiko, just because he's a huge enthusiast supporter.

The best deal from him is his GL831's, his Tropic's, and his Velcro straps. Especially the Velcro single pass 👌🏻.

Yup. Barton, Watch Gecko, Haveston, Crown and Buckle, Maratac, and I think CWC still make the RAF style. Which is my personal fav.

Coincidentally enough, it was the actual Bond strap, in navy not black. And in the books he started with an Explorer I believe....🤯

I’ve tried rubber, tropic and metal straps from Uncle. I’ve been happy with all of them!

I'd say no. Not tried them, & won't either as they're not true NATO's because the buckle isn't sewn in. One of my pet peeves is springbar retained buckles on a NATO, negates the whole purpose of the design 🤯

Best I've found are Watchgecko/Geckota , Phoenix (the original) or CWC, with my top recommendation being CWC elastic. Very comfortable.

I'm 75% of the time a NATO wearer for over 20 years.

Many thanks

Many thanks