Why have straps like this?

Aliens indeed walk amongst us. We can’t all collectively be dreaming about the same things. In this case, I think the cut out is to allow airflow to help evaporate sweat.

That may be the purpose, but here we see human design on the left (flat surfaces that contact the wrist comfortably), and alien design on the right (round design concentrates the force into one small area), ouch!

Imitating a successful design, but with inferior materials.

Real diver watches have this feature along with the flexible material to fit over a wetsuit.

It designed to absorb shock if the watch is drop to the ground or thrown at a wall. It's pretty ingenious imo.

Drop your g-shock to the ground to see how it works.

If you don't like it buy a an adapter to use regular strap or nato strap. Or get the 2000 or 2200 series which use 24mm standard straps.

2000 model

Every Protrek I've been issued or traded for has had this feature. With as monstrously big as the Protrek is, I actually don't notice it that much on my 6.5-ish" wrist.

For the Casioak, G Shock, and Timex Command, I wouldn't know since the stock strap makes it about 2.5 milliseconds out of the box.

You couldn't be any more correct on that stupid design, @gbelleh. I have a Casio like that and I hate it. You can reduce the issue somewhat by heating it up and trying to flatten it out but it still sucks. Worst strap design ever.

Makes sense for a true diver. But really, with so few people actually diving with watches anymore, diver’s extensions and straps like these cause more problems than they solve (in my opinion).

Casio found out that many people were dropping their g shock in the morning while brushing their teeth. Why, no idea. But they tested straps and created this design to absorb the shock.

This might not be the purpose, but I remember watching a YouTube video that explained that the strap was designed like that to add extra shock protection for the watch case if it fell from a height while the watch was not being worn and landed on the clasp.

I get the shock absorption aspect, but those bars that press into the wrist can be brutal. The G-Shock square gets it right with those flattened out, while still absorbing shock.

The ridges compress and expand on a wet suit. Let's face it , if you hit that kind of pressure you better be compression rated . The watch wouldn't be your issue. That said. The old SKX standard rig is plastic...doesn't feel like rubber

This Seiko LX band has a modicum of stretch in it due to the wave design, so I believe the thesis about it being for wetsuits is correct.

It's also correct that since I like to wear my watches tight it digs mercilessly into my flesh.🙄

I agree,it’s a very stiff strap.

This is a super cool watch

Do you like our watches ?

Yes, but I like your cows more 👽🐮🛸

And chewing their psyopted faces off 😂

Aliens generally focus on the other end of the cow 🐄 👽

hahah.. I've often wondered what those things are for. Ugly, IMO.

In my view It locks the watch on wrist, so It could be waering firmly.

Your body compresses when you are under water. Every atmosphere you go the more compression occurs. To compensate for that you put your watch on a little tighter than normal. The strap design is "supposed" to allow for flex as you ascend or descend. I cant say how effective it actually is.

Unfortunately, it only works if you drop your watch very, very carefully so it lands on the strap with the watch up!🙄

It works and part of the g-shock design to absorb shock.

I never said it didn't, you just have to drop it so it falls with the watch up and lands on the strap so the forces on the strap can travel up the strap to the kink. 😉

I have dropped my g-shock watch on the ground many times when buckling onto my wrist. This is the primary shock scenario it designed to protect the watch.

It's designed for a reason.

I gather you have no scientific knowledge, so let me explain. The kink in the strap has nothing to do with the durability of the watch. Dsoeer has explained above what the kink is designed to do. The durability of the G-Shock is due to the basic, rugged design of the watch itself. The kink can only help if it is between the watch and the ground and the watch is on the opposite of the kink from the ground. IOW, the kink must be between the watch and the ground to effect the shock load on the watch. If the kink is beside or above the watch when it hits, it cannot suppress the shock. Does that make sense?

Its the part which will break 1st hate that design

My guess is to allow more airflow under there.

That’s why the oyster band has a micro adjust in the clasp