Why do people like NATO straps?.
I had a speedbird watch once that came with a nato strap ..hated it . It was material and it covered up the caseback why would i like that . Yet i see people buy nato straps ..may i ask why ? lol...i can see a nato strap with 2 parts thats ok ..i guess..
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Edwin O
I collect watches, baseball caps NOT made in china , Books, Sir Hubert Wilkins ephemera
Bergen county Nj
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Last active: 19 hrs ago
They are comfy, easy to swap, and pretty cheap so you can have a lot of them in different colors.
Cheap, pretend to be James Bond (bet that’s a big reason for lots of folk), different materials and colours, can change in an instant and carry spare in pocket if you suddenly need to look more upmarket, two or three different ways of wearing them for comfort, one strap — many watches, that covering of the case back can prevent discomfort (especially in colder weather), you can use different spring bars for customisability, added security — and if it’s a Zulu rather than a NATO, the fourth way of wearing it puts less pressure on the spring bars, making it even more secure and safe for both you and the watch.
Did I miss anything?
oh… can be fairly environmentally friendly if you find the right material I guess. Probably Vegan safe and antimagnetic too.
I don't like them either, but I can see why other people do. You know, to each his own, and all that.
Nuts in baked goods, though... Like, I love banana bread. But, if it's banana nut bread, kill it with fire! Zucchini bread? Love it. Zucchini nut bread? F*ck you!
Were single pass straps like RAF straps or those ones I like with the adjustable perlon-esque buckle more readily available, I'd like to believe fewer people would put up with that back piece and the silly hardware and excess length of a NATO. They are a fad that won't go away.
I don't like them either, but I can see why other people do. You know, to each his own, and all that.
Nuts in baked goods, though... Like, I love banana bread. But, if it's banana nut bread, kill it with fire! Zucchini bread? Love it. Zucchini nut bread? F*ck you!
Great movie reference, and you're wrong about nuts in baked goods. A banana bread with chocolate chips and walnuts is divine!
Were single pass straps like RAF straps or those ones I like with the adjustable perlon-esque buckle more readily available, I'd like to believe fewer people would put up with that back piece and the silly hardware and excess length of a NATO. They are a fad that won't go away.
Most of mine are too short to tuck behind properly, so I must have big wrists or bad suppliers xD (one is just perfect)
You can just cut it to be an ‘RAF’ strap, but, that back piece actually makes your watch significantly more secure if you wear it right. Basically… it’s not ‘silly’ so much as it‘s intended for a purpose we don‘t always use it for.
I don't hate NATO straps, but I prefer single pass straps like the Crown & Buckle Chevron, or MN straps like Erika's Original. All the security of a NATO, but none of the bulk.
I don't hate NATO straps, but I prefer single pass straps like the Crown & Buckle Chevron, or MN straps like Erika's Original. All the security of a NATO, but none of the bulk.
Yep... I have a few of the Chevrons and they are my favorite non-metal option
I don't hate NATO straps, but I prefer single pass straps like the Crown & Buckle Chevron, or MN straps like Erika's Original. All the security of a NATO, but none of the bulk.
Every Nato and Zulu is a single pass, if you own scissors!
I'm not much of a fan. Have my Seiko one during the summer, and I don't wear it the traditional way, but that's it.
That reminds me, gotta change that out. Been awhile since I wore it.
I’ve had good and bad NATO straps. The good ones are my favorite, and the bad ones I don’t wear.
They work better on some watches than on others. I tend to keep them on pieces that were designed specifically for a NATO strap, like fixed lug military pieces.
I strictly only just two part ones. Some are very comfy.
I don't hate NATO straps, but I prefer single pass straps like the Crown & Buckle Chevron, or MN straps like Erika's Original. All the security of a NATO, but none of the bulk.
I have a couple MN straps, and I just can't get into them. They seem to be all hardware, I assume I'm doing something wrong?
I don't like them either, but I can see why other people do. You know, to each his own, and all that.
Nuts in baked goods, though... Like, I love banana bread. But, if it's banana nut bread, kill it with fire! Zucchini bread? Love it. Zucchini nut bread? F*ck you!
Zucchini bread? 😳🤔😶🫢🤢🤮 Wow that's never getting near my plate.
Ease of swapping and cheap aren't good reasons. Comfy might be. I find my quality rubber straps to be more comfortable. If your strap is comfy and suits the watch you won't be swapping it often.
Reasons to use a nato strap:
But keep in mind I hate nato straps. I hate the extra loop that sticks out even when folded back. I hate that you add millimeters to the thickness of your watch. I hate the extra bits of metal keepers and guides needed to make it a watch strap. I hate that if you want to minimize the impact of the strap on your watch thickness that you're restricted to thinner nylon. I have 2 watches with a nato strap. One is a Bertucci, who does a single pass strap for one of the reasons you'd want a nato for; not losing your fucking watch. It's thick and sturdy and I hated it until I filled it with enough paint, dust, sweat, and dead skin that it took the shape of my wrist and became one with me. For a work watch, a real beater watch, a nato makes sense. I'll buy another Bertucci if this one ever breaks and it probably won't ever break. THIS is where a nato/single pass/otherwise makes sense. (all you guys who have "beater watches", they should look like this....)
And the other is a CWC.
But the CWC was designed around the nato strap with fixed bars. And it works. (for what it's worth, the Bertucci also has fixed bars so you have to use a nato) I cut off and flame sealed the double pass part of the CWC strap. It's a small enough watch head on a thin enough strap that it doesn't feel like there's much added thickness. And I've also cut off the fold back part of the strap so it fits nicely under the second keeper without needing to be folded back.
So, all that to say, 2 of my favourite watches have natos on them, and I still hate them.
Bulky, clumsy, thick, unnecessarily folding back (unless, yeah, you're alternating between it being on your wrist or on your hunting jacket, and you probably own a diver's watch for diving too, but for the other 99% of us.....) When I look down at my wrist with a watch on it that has a traditional folded back, double pass nato on it, I fixate on the goiter of a loop of watch strap sticking up from the top of my wrist and choke back vomit. For the record, my wrists are 7 3/4" so nearly everything should look small on my wrists.
Nope. Don't like nato straps. (but I like Brussel's sprouts) (which is my way of saying, "that's just, like, your opinion, man." or if you like nato straps, wear them. I don't care.)
"Ease of swapping and cheap aren't good reasons. "
Both of these are reasons why I like them, and I am sure many people feel the same way....
I don't like them either, but I can see why other people do. You know, to each his own, and all that.
Nuts in baked goods, though... Like, I love banana bread. But, if it's banana nut bread, kill it with fire! Zucchini bread? Love it. Zucchini nut bread? F*ck you!
Love NATOs, hate banana bread. My wife will make it and I will never eat any, thinks I’m crazy.…
It’s comfortable and changes the look of the watch a lot.
But I don't always want to wear it and is not every watch matches a nato strap.
most of what I’d say has been said…. But I love the opportunity to mix and match colors, to take a hint of something in the dial and turn it into a whole new look for a watch.
New look with change of strap without buying a new watch. Also most nato straps are cheap and can be swapped for look of the week or month.
It’s a version of dressing up your barbie doll instead it’s watches. 😉
Depends on the watch. Many of my watches seem at home on them. I often go for single-pass due to the thickness of the double-under. They are also cheap and so easily changed without messing with your spring bars. Nylon straps make watches more fun to me.
I didn't used to be a NATO fan, my Citizen field watch had a fabric riveted strap that was looking a bit shabby, I'd seen all the hype around NATO straps and bought a cheap one from Watch Gecko. I'm now a fan, the comfort is great and it has made the watch look really nice again. I have an Omega which ate its OEM rubber straps on a regular basis, at over £260 a pop I decided I'd put an Omega NATO on it, a little thick under the cashback but was cheaper and will be far more durable than the rubber strap. I have other watches with bracelets, vintage leather and Sailcloth and FKM rubber straps so if I get bored with the NATO i just put on a different watch. For me, it was the comfort that hooked me in.
I don’t! I hate them.
I like the rugged texture and feel they give me. The watch just seems to disappear on my wrist, and the textures pair well with fall and winter outfits.
I’ve never understood NATOs. 🤔
love them, far and away the most common kind of band I use - for all the reasons above, easy, secure, fun, playful, the variety etc etc but more than anything - the comfort,
the cheapest, nastiest, thickest, roughest, stiffest NATO is more comfortable than the best bracelet made by anyone at any price.
This is just like the strawberry versus chocolate ice cream duel. To each his own, bud. Some time pieces look dashing in a NATO, while others look like you're wearing athletic shorts with a suit jacket and tie.
Full disclosure, I'm a big fan of NATO straps. The reason I think they are so popular is many. First of all for many, bracelets are heavy and uncomfortable. They can be impractical too, especially for tool watches as they get scuffed up all the time. I'm a firefighter/Paramedic and I'd NEVER wear a watch with a bracelet at work. What's left...Leather? Also pretty impractical on a tool watch. They don't tolerate getting wet. Either from being in water or just the wearer sweating.
These issues are what the NATO strap was invented to address. The term NATO is actually a military standard developed by the British military for watch straps issued to their troops starting in about 1973. NATO straps had very obvious advantages in field and combat conditions including the security of the watch in case of spring bar failure. Add in the ability of particular units in the military branches designating their own unit patterns and colors and you get a very popular strap.
Obviously now they are just popular for all the color/style options and how quickly they can be swapped out. One watch can have 5 or 6 different straps to boost or change the look of the watch.
Cheap, variations, ease of use, comfy, again cheap, colorful, again cheap.... you get the point right? People who like to change their watch strap time to time often like NATO straps.