I refuse to wear a NATO with the additional loop under the watch head; I think the resulting look is silly. I prefer to place the additional loop under my wrist, so that the buckle is centred below the wrist and the extra length is concealed there. This places only one thickness of nylon under the watch head; it is still secure if a spring-pin breaks. I think the NATO's additional loop is intended to stop the watch sliding up and down along the strap, but I have never found this a problem in practice. If course, I could just use perlon, which gets closer to infinite adjustability. As for a 5-ring Zulu strap, I really cannot see any use for it at all!
These look fantastic. But I think a “single pass NATO” as you called it is actually a 3-ring Zulu. Although the webbing on a Zulu tends to be thicker than a NATO to give some added strength. I hate NATOs too for all the reasons you mentioned. My only recommendation would be that when you pass these through your watch, you might want to adjust it so the buckle lays flat against the center or even slightly to the left of your wrist and then the keepers and buckle will all be on the underside. I find it looks a little neater that way. Thanks for bringing these to our attention Jody. Just put one in my cart.
I think you are right, the NATO has a double pass in order to keep the watch attached to your wrist if something happens to one pass, I think the troops complained about the normal bracelet, when exercising they used to broke and consequently they lost the watch , so the NATO designed this kind of strap to keep the watch always attached
Nestor Cabrol the double pass doesn’t add retention of the watch if a spring bar breaks. This is a feature of all NATO and Zulu provided by the first main pass-through material. The second strap portion in NATOs only limits the watch from sliding around, but I never had problems with the sliding anyway.
Jody jody! What about the elephant in the room , that awful stickyout pointed buckle that looks as though it would catch on just about everything. Not for me mate. Alsheff
alan smith agreed. I was thinking the same thing. These also look awfully short and at $25 I think there are much more compelling options for NATOs albeit without the adjustable buckle.
I'm the opposite about NATOs, the first time I tried one I thought "Wow this is a lot more comfortable". I also have an 8" wrist so they really don't look all that big on me. I'm a full on convert now, I put them on everything. I personally can't stand bracelets, too rattly and ouch my arm hairs...
Yeaaaaaaa, it's "One More Watch" time!!! I totally agree with you on the Nato straps. I too mostly wear dive watches and adding a nato strap to them would make it looks much to bulky & funky. Cheers!
Hi Jody! You should really test out Erikas original-marine nationals!! There is most likely the best strap ever! Thin, elastic, bulletproof hardware and infinite adjustability!! And also only one pass under the watch head.
I’ve got a couple of NATO’s but for me the MN strap from Erikas originals is the best for on the fly adjusting and overall comfort no need to put up with the tuck back as well, yes they do cost more than most NATO’s but epic partnership with my sinn 104
Since there is no additional loop on this band, why not slide the watch-head down further so that the buckle and extra length are concealed under your wrist?
Depends. If I'm working at the desk all day, having all the hardware on the underside of my wrist is incredibly annoying (so are metal bracelets at the desk). But Anything else? Yes, move the hardware around to underneath.
@@jdkimple Have to agree. The loop back under the wrist is terribly uncomfortable if you're desk diving. Aside from that the side look is part of the aesthetic I like about NATO/ZULUs on a tool watch.
Hey, love your channel! Surprised to see that you've never looked at anything by Tiger Concept. He (his name is William) makes custom auto's using Rolex/ Tudor homage parts! Got one a couple weeks ago, would say they're definitely worth a look (and right up your alley)! Cheers!
I've taken to cutting off extra part and converting to a single pass band for the reasons you've outlined. But the too loose, or too tight issue - this could be a reasonable solution. Thanks.
One thing that you didn't mention about the Spring Made strap is a feature of their keepers. The first keeper, the one next to the buckle, is intentionally not stitched down. It is kept loose so you can move it and slide over the end of the strap if the strap is short. Very cool. My only gripe with these is their limited choice of colors. Outside of that, they are nearly perfect.
I wear my regular natos "over & under" = single pass, and I really question why people even wear them double pass. Wearing over&under way makes your watch look better by getting rid of the back loop and gives comfortable support under your wrist. For that reason this is useless but I do like the holeless adjustment.
Because the extra loop secures your case to the strap when it's not on your wrist. If you're not going to use the extra loop, why buy a NATO in the first place? Just get a single pass nylon strap.
The Perlon style of strap is my nylon strap of choice - infinity variable in length as no tang holes and none of that annoying spare strap and hardware hanging off the side of your wrist.
I recently discovered the world of Aliexpress staps and nato's .. At the price point roughly 1.85 USD you can mix and match and if the buckles etc. look shite.. You can buy upgraded buckles for Pennys.. The Italian calf leather straps are the most impressive at 5 dollars a go... The Millinese mesh are good quality for 10 bucks.. Done with Amazon and branded straps... These are just as good if not better than the watch snob offerings... They even offer upgraded buckles for perlon straps that always come with the through away waffer thin gash...
I do like the NATO RAF style single pass strap. Even better with that buckle hardware. However, I am concerned about strap length, being cursed with near 8" left wrist. Guessing I'd not need to fold it back on itself at all!
I like NATO straps. I wore a Seamaster throughout my 22 year military career and have many times caught my watch on something and pulled off a spring bar leaving my watch dangling on the remaining spring bar on the NATO. Don't go parachuting without it.
Ehhh, I don’t think I could do that style. To me natos are a military tool, I use them when I am worried about damaging my factory leather or bracelet, and so I want the most rugged option possible. Thus a full double pass from Maratac from me. I have tried the luxury and fancy ones and they don’t do it for me at all. Glad there are options for people though!
Is there a way to get this into Australia like how you did? I am really interested in these but I can't buy them from the regular Amazon website and its not in stock in the Australian Amazon store....
You should be able to have amazon.com ship to you in Australia. If it doesn't work for some reason feel free to send me a note and we will see what we can do. (support[at]Springmadeshop.com)
@Spring Made Amazon says "We are unable to ship non-digital items from amazon.com to Australian shipping addresses." so I will be sending an email to you guys in time! Thanks for the reply too
What a great idea! Now if they could do a black pvd coated buckle, I would never buy another brand of NATO again. Great video and review. Edit: I think these are classified as "Zulu"... Not "NATO" straps.
Have just bought my first cheap nato for my Tevise. I honestly don't get the appeal of them. The buckle doesn't sit central on the wrist and the whole tucking of the leftover strap I'd just plain annoying. First and last Nato for me.
I'm in general not a fan of the Oris' dial at all, but I actually think the Bond Nato looked exceptionally well on it, so pretty surprised to hear about you disliking it. The Bond really works with the Case and the Bezel due to the same colors, which makes the dial pop even more, but that's just my opinion
True I either have large wrist or a small NATO as my strap there is no need for the fold over. I seen a video showing the different ways to put a NATO strap on that may make it more comfortable or pleasing
I’m considering buying a Vostok 24hr watch off of Amazon, any objections? Are there other Vostoks/24hr watches I should consider? My budget is about 110 dollars fyi
The nylon tends to absorb sweat easily in hot weather and will eventually starting smelling. Can't stand Natos tbh. They don't wear particularly comfortably and cheapen the watch. Nothing suits a dive watch better than a decent rubber strap.
Can't wash your strap? Even rubber makes your wrist sweat. Plus rubber straps won't last as long as a nato. Everyone has their own strap preference anyway so wear what makes you feel comfy. Personally I prefer nato and rubber straps than metal so all of my watches are on rubber and natos. One thing that's also good with natos is that you can easily swap the strap on multiple watches with the same strap width and you don't need tools to remove the strap. A good quality nato will last as long as your watch so it's also a safe investment if you choose to buy many designs unlike rubber that deteriorates.
It might have been said below already, so sorry if it’s a repeat.. but if you like single pass nato’s around this price range check out Haveston. IMO good quality, comfortable and awesome colour schemes.
Hmmm that pointy buckle looks like is kind of sticks out and would catch on things...Might be a bit annoying...Perhaps better if you reposition it to the flatter, underside part o the wrist?
Tugging on those scottish roots chap got some loverly quality NATO’s from a Scottish company handglunds £15 or three for £30 stamped on buckle and two of the threads loverly take a gander when you get time thanks.ps brilliant you tug on those bargain purse strings everybody loves a bargain keep it up
Agreed with both your points why is why I'm not a fan too. I bought a few moose straps but never used them. Maybe I'm talking out of my butt, but I thought a single pass NATO was a Zulu? Not that I care that much about correct terminology, although sure someone will put me straight? Still not a massive fan don't like the tucked end and noticed the buckle was right on the side of your wrist too. The Casio Jura might get put on one when the rubber breaks but until then they are just a back up strap.
These straps are nice but the pointed end of the buckle was sticking outwards on all of the straps you modeled. It would certainly be getting caught on things with regular wear. I think they need to correct that problem and then they'll really have something good with this design.
Surely NATOs and Zulus only work with a T shirt. How can anyone wear them with shirts with the tucking down end adding so much side bulk. Are there any of these that just go through the keeper once, without doubling back?
1. I’ve generally found that the triple thickness of the NATO at its folded end is the same as the thickness of average metal link on a dive watch bracelet, while the straight end is much thinner, making it easier to fit the watch underneath a shirt sleeve. 2. I also find the NATO and leather straps are easier to adjust than metal bracelets, mainly because the distance between notch holes on either is less than the width of the individual links on the bracelet.
Some people have found that our straps are a good length for them and only go through the keepers once, but it's going to depend on your wrist size and which watch you weer it on.
I trim my straps with bandage scissors and use a gas stove burner to melt/seal the exposed ends. Instant perfect fit! It's your strap, modify as you like! I also cut off the second short pass of a two pass strap - instant single pass strap...
The very first dive watch I know I'm going to get for my birthday to officially start my first watch collection is the Seiko SNZF15!!! I'm gonna get a Barton Saddle Brown leather watch strap with the Saddle Brown stitching and a dark grey Perlon strap from Wrist Candy Watch Club! I want to send you photos! How can I contact you to do that?
You can imagine that as a convert to the watch interest of only six weeks or so, and that enabled by TGV, I was very excited to get my hands on some cool NATOs and try them out. *blech* I really disliked how high they made my watch sit up. It wasn't in reality, but it FELT, super floppy and top heavy. I thought, "This can't be right, there's got to be a better way." And here's Jody this morning to not only let me know I'm not crazy, but that there is!
Seller on Amazon says it should fit up to 7" wrists? I know I'm a small portion of the market, but with wrists slightly larger than 9", this is the problem with most of the straps made it seems. Why can't a manufacturer make them longer? Small wrist people could trim them down if wanted, but when tucking them it might not be necessary. Us bigger guys can't make them longer.
Fair enough, it's been tough trying to find a good happy medium length, and I definitely went too short on the fist go. If you would like, I can probably make one that would fit you. Let me know if you are interested.
3 ring zulus for me £7.95 on eBay in uk lots of colours etc no tucking or folding nonsense great for hot weather, unlike leather, washable, swimmable and strong.
Peter E Thanks for the tip. Not knowing how these work, does a Zulu avoid that hideously ugly extra folded bit on the side then and look more like a conventional strap but still with the advantage of running through both springbars?
A 3-ring Zulu has a noticeably thicker nylon weave than a NATO (about 2mm thick and (unlike a 5-ring Zulu, which works like a Nato) it does not have the extra piece that most people place under the watch-head - it is simply a one-piece strap where one "ring" is the buckle and the other two are keepers. So, on a 3-ring Zulu you can position the watch-head so far down that the buckle will fasten under your wrist. This explained well in these videos: ruclips.net/video/AhipEv2z0G8/видео.html ruclips.net/video/ZVSWOkxrXjo0/видео.html All these styles of straps are nowadays available in nylon, rubber, silicone, canvas, leather, etc. at various thicknesses, but originally they were nylon, and so some people refer to any nylon strap as a NATO.
Visually I finally understood how nato straps work after watching your vid - thanks! Is there such a thing as a SHORT nato strap that doesn’t need to be folded back? I can see how having a nato if you are on a field trip or especially diving or in water is very reassuring and a much safer bet than a conventional strap but to me that bulky fold over completely WRECKS the entire look - it just looks s*#t imo. Without that eyesore they would be great! Edit: just read another comment where Perlon and Zulu straps were mentioned - perhaps they look better than natos? Will have to research this stuff.
When you have to fast-forward through the process of attaching the strap, it's not a winner. And that pointy end sticking out to catch on things is a no go. I prefer the Barton strap I found on Amzn that has nylon webbing instead of extra rings to hold the loose end. Much less obtrusive than any other nato I've seen.
Nato straps are a scam and completely unnecessary,Any one piece strap will do exactly the same job without the bulk . I wear plain perlon straps on all my divers,Super comfortable and infinitely adjustable never lost a watch when pin has gone and they never move around on the wrist ,
Got similar straps but I call them Zulu straps, those are much preferred over the standard NATO, in fact I quite hate NATO straps.. never liked them. But using a Zulu strap on one of my Tissot watches and one on my modded SKX once in a while.
Seems like a clean design but if it's perfect for any 7-inch wrist I don't want to risk buying it for my seven and a 3/4 inch wrist. I can understand the practicality of a nylon strap but the look and feel just has never appealed to me
Maybe I am wrong, but don't you have to remove the spring bar to put Erika's Original MN on the watch? The whole point for me in wearing a NATO is that I can leave my spring bars in place. Not all my watches have drilled lugs and in fact, my Fortis has screwed in lugs and are a pain to remove. Thus my love of Natos.
I picked up an erika original and I didnt like it too much. They are overrated imo. 1. you have to remove the spring bars everytime you want to change it. 2. I had the clip come open twice while wearing it. 3. Clipping it is such a pain in the ass sometimes I wanted to throw my watch across the room.
Single Pass are known as Zulu's Haveston canvas take a look I have a 7.5 inch wrist and have the whole hoe thing nailed - probably change when it gets wet and shrinks but c'est la vie. Great straps but have far too many Nato's cannae even give em away including a new one go figure. Basically they are compression straps great idea.
If you are heavy into sports you need the real nato strap. When I paddleboard in the ocean I know that if one of my springbars fails, the secondary pass will keep my watch from falling in the ocean. It seems people don’t even know that is the point of a Nato.
Not if it’s the spring bar in the buckle! ;) that’s the only weak spot with NATOs but one is better than three. If you get the proper British NATO they have a buckle sans springbar.
The single pass straps also keep the watch attached it a spring bar lets go. It's just the styles that do not have any length going under the watch that suffer from this problem.
Great showcase! I too dislike the way the second layer adds unnecessary height to the watch. I remedy this by wearing my natos "Down Under" Have you tried this at all?
One thing I’ve always done with a nylon strap that’s too long is simply to cut it to the exact length I want with a pair of scissors, trim any stray fibers, then run a flame (from a match or butane fire lighter) very lightly along the cut edge. The nylon melts and hardens into a finished edge. The end (so to speak).
I don't like how that buckle point sticks out, potential to catch on things. Perhaps if they just used a regular symmetrical buckle without getting fancy with the shape it would look and wear better. Another enjoyable and informative video, thanks mate.
The point of the buckle actually serves a function, it helps to push the back side of the buckle up so that you can feed the strap through. I usually wear it under my wrist and I havent ever caught it on any thing.
@@guitstikkustoms4448 that's OK. Thanks for the comment and suggestion. It's always good to get critical feed back so that we can evaluate and improve.
Agreed... The reason I say the point would get hung up is that, even the tag end of my regular bands get hung up on things on a daily basis. A watch band could be made of dreams and marshmallows and I would still get it caught on something LOL.
I wear NATO straps exclusively. I like everything about them. They’ve ruined me though as now when I put the bracelet back on I think the watch looks too low and so I remove it again. ;) I just got two Ultra NATO’s with a very tight weave from Strapify here in AU, Jody, and they feel more luxurious than the premium versions from either Strapify or The Sydney Strap co; and both of those are great premium level straps. I’m going to try PhenomeNATO next.
I have several of your standard double-thick Nato straps...I’ve always been a complete agreement with you Jody...When you add one to it already chunky watch I believe that he comes unmanageable...I have a single pass on my old school 5600 G-Shock...I’ve always loved it...because of this, For the last year and a half, I have kept an eye out for single past Nato straps...I have a few now… And those are the only no straps I use...I just placed the order for one of these and if I like it as much as I think I well I’m going to buy the rest of their offerings...Thanks for the wonderful review… As always!
The Spring Made information on Amazon says their straps fits up to a 7 inch wrist. For $25 Really? What would it have cost them to make it a couple of inches longer??? I find it hard to believe that someone at Spring Made didn't say, "Ya know, boss. I think the straps are a wee bit short..." So, if you can't find a hole for the sweet spot on your NATO strap, you heat up a thin nail with a match....
I use a RedRoosterUK Nato strap (link below) with my 2018 Rolex Explorer and it's a perfect match thanks to its tool aesthetic: it has gun-metal hardware and is olive green in colour. The straps are only £6 so I actually bought two: one to use in winter when my wrists are smaller and one for summer when my wrists are larger (using the same strap for both would mean messing up the neat fold of the excess strap and at £6 per strap, the cost is negligible). Oh, and I've cut off the appendage on both straps for a better fit as well. redroosteruk.com/nylon-military-divers-strap-16mm-to-22mm/
I hate that dagger sticking out at the bottom of the wrist. Also not sure you can still call it a NATO if it doesn't conform to the standards of a NATO strap.
I don't care for the visible salt residue that saltwater (and sweat)leaves on the NATO strap, nor do I care for the increasingly fetid aroma that results from wearing one in hot and humid conditions. But all bets are off for the Tudor version , I've got that one in my sights. And the clasp on the zulu's looks pretty fabulous.
I really like single pass nato/Zulu straps...Not the easiest things to find actually and not nearly as many choices from what I’ve been able to find. Thanks for the info actually having trouble finding these though. Not seeing them on Amazon at the moment. Have a couple of single parts leather and a couple of single pass nylons but I was looking for more. Thanks for the review Jody
I've got an 8" wrist and have no problems with the Supreme Nato I wear ... the tongue of the strap terminates perfectly inside the the SS buckles with no doubling up ... it's single pass.
I love standard Nato. Not a fan of zulu nor single pass natos reason being I don't want the spring bars to be exposed to my skin especially me living in a tropical country. The buckle looks awesome though especially without a pin and holes.
I refuse to wear a NATO with the additional loop under the watch head; I think the resulting look is silly. I prefer to place the additional loop under my wrist, so that the buckle is centred below the wrist and the extra length is concealed there. This places only one thickness of nylon under the watch head; it is still secure if a spring-pin breaks. I think the NATO's additional loop is intended to stop the watch sliding up and down along the strap, but I have never found this a problem in practice. If course, I could just use perlon, which gets closer to infinite adjustability. As for a 5-ring Zulu strap, I really cannot see any use for it at all!
These look fantastic. But I think a “single pass NATO” as you called it is actually a 3-ring Zulu. Although the webbing on a Zulu tends to be thicker than a NATO to give some added strength. I hate NATOs too for all the reasons you mentioned. My only recommendation would be that when you pass these through your watch, you might want to adjust it so the buckle lays flat against the center or even slightly to the left of your wrist and then the keepers and buckle will all be on the underside. I find it looks a little neater that way. Thanks for bringing these to our attention Jody. Just put one in my cart.
I think you are right, the NATO has a double pass in order to keep the watch attached to your wrist if something happens to one pass, I think the troops complained about the normal bracelet, when exercising they used to broke and consequently they lost the watch , so the NATO designed this kind of strap to keep the watch always attached
Nestor Cabrol the double pass doesn’t add retention of the watch if a spring bar breaks. This is a feature of all NATO and Zulu provided by the first main pass-through material. The second strap portion in NATOs only limits the watch from sliding around, but I never had problems with the sliding anyway.
Jody jody! What about the elephant in the room , that awful stickyout pointed buckle that looks as though it would catch on just about everything. Not for me mate. Alsheff
alan smith agreed. I was thinking the same thing. These also look awfully short and at $25 I think there are much more compelling options for NATOs albeit without the adjustable buckle.
I usually wear it so the buckle is on the bottom of the wrist, and like that, it hasn't ever really caught on anything.
@@springmade5847 ok i suppose that is fair comment. Alsheff
@@MatthewMorse I have two of these straps and the buckle has never caught on anything and I wear them more than any other strap!
I simply wear mine slightly offset,the buckle sits nicely at the bottom no issues
I'm the opposite about NATOs, the first time I tried one I thought "Wow this is a lot more comfortable". I also have an 8" wrist so they really don't look all that big on me. I'm a full on convert now, I put them on everything. I personally can't stand bracelets, too rattly and ouch my arm hairs...
Yeaaaaaaa, it's "One More Watch" time!!! I totally agree with you on the Nato straps. I too mostly wear dive watches and adding a nato strap to them would make it looks much to bulky & funky. Cheers!
I'm a NATO guy, through and through. 6 watches, 15 NATO's
Check out seal strap from cheapest NATO straps. They are cheaper, have more colors and by the looks of it have softer fabric
Hi Jody! You should really test out Erikas original-marine nationals!! There is most likely the best strap ever! Thin, elastic, bulletproof hardware and infinite adjustability!! And also only one pass under the watch head.
I’ve got a couple of NATO’s but for me the MN strap from Erikas originals is the best for on the fly adjusting and overall comfort no need to put up with the tuck back as well, yes they do cost more than most NATO’s but epic partnership with my sinn 104
damn! i went to check those out, I usually wear Citizen eco drives and those bands are more than some of my watches.
Since there is no additional loop on this band, why not slide the watch-head down further so that the buckle and extra length are concealed under your wrist?
Logical, the force of habit I guess...
Depends. If I'm working at the desk all day, having all the hardware on the underside of my wrist is incredibly annoying (so are metal bracelets at the desk). But Anything else? Yes, move the hardware around to underneath.
@@jdkimple Have to agree. The loop back under the wrist is terribly uncomfortable if you're desk diving. Aside from that the side look is part of the aesthetic I like about NATO/ZULUs on a tool watch.
@@jdkimple this is literally the entire reason to me putting my watches on NATOs
Hey, love your channel! Surprised to see that you've never looked at anything by Tiger Concept. He (his name is William) makes custom auto's using Rolex/ Tudor homage parts! Got one a couple weeks ago, would say they're definitely worth a look (and right up your alley)! Cheers!
I think by 'Single pass Nato' you mean a 'Zulu' strap.
Negative. NATO's can be single pass. Zulus can be double pass.
I heard the weave thickness being thicker and the hardware being more rounded and wider is what a Zulu is. Not sure though!
@@mattscoggin514 Yup
I have a couple of Zulu brand Zulu straps and they’re double pass…
I've taken to cutting off extra part and converting to a single pass band for the reasons you've outlined. But the too loose, or too tight issue - this could be a reasonable solution. Thanks.
One thing that you didn't mention about the Spring Made strap is a feature of their keepers. The first keeper, the one next to the buckle, is intentionally not stitched down. It is kept loose so you can move it and slide over the end of the strap if the strap is short. Very cool. My only gripe with these is their limited choice of colors. Outside of that, they are nearly perfect.
I wear my regular natos "over & under" = single pass, and I really question why people even wear them double pass. Wearing over&under way makes your watch look better by getting rid of the back loop and gives comfortable support under your wrist. For that reason this is useless but I do like the holeless adjustment.
Because the extra loop secures your case to the strap when it's not on your wrist.
If you're not going to use the extra loop, why buy a NATO in the first place? Just get a single pass nylon strap.
I thought natos also put a lot of extra pressure on the spring bars. Have you any suggestions for where to get extra strong spring bars? Thanks Jodie
These straps are great . Already made my second order .
Thanks for the review, it was great as always!
I have an 8.5 inch wrist so without NATO straps I would struggle to wear a watch at all.
The Perlon style of strap is my nylon strap of choice - infinity variable in length as no tang holes and none of that annoying spare strap and hardware hanging off the side of your wrist.
And they dry very quickly, and don't get hot in the summertime! I love mine.
Yes, summer or jungle demands a Eulit perlon.
I recently discovered the world of Aliexpress staps and nato's .. At the price point roughly 1.85 USD you can mix and match and if the buckles etc. look shite.. You can buy upgraded buckles for Pennys.. The Italian calf leather straps are the most impressive at 5 dollars a go... The Millinese mesh are good quality for 10 bucks.. Done with Amazon and branded straps... These are just as good if not better than the watch snob offerings... They even offer upgraded buckles for perlon straps that always come with the through away waffer thin gash...
Hmmm who doesn't like it tight but not too tight? pwhahaha (Sid James)
Thank you Mr Hunt! I watched the vid again before publishing and had feeling someone would pick up on that. Should have known that it would be you. 😜
what do you think about the GJ16032, it says Miyota but no reference ?
Though, hmm, especially ont those last tow the pointy end of that buckle looks fairly obtrusive. True?
Hmmm, I think it will flatten out with more use. Cheers!
It sticks out a little bit, but I've never had it catch on anything, and the way it sticks out actually helps when you're putting it on.
I do like the NATO RAF style single pass strap. Even better with that buckle hardware. However, I am concerned about strap length, being cursed with near 8" left wrist. Guessing I'd not need to fold it back on itself at all!
I like NATO straps. I wore a Seamaster throughout my 22 year military career and have many times caught my watch on something and pulled off a spring bar leaving my watch dangling on the remaining spring bar on the NATO. Don't go parachuting without it.
Ehhh, I don’t think I could do that style. To me natos are a military tool, I use them when I am worried about damaging my factory leather or bracelet, and so I want the most rugged option possible. Thus a full double pass from Maratac from me. I have tried the luxury and fancy ones and they don’t do it for me at all. Glad there are options for people though!
Is there a way to get this into Australia like how you did? I am really interested in these but I can't buy them from the regular Amazon website and its not in stock in the Australian Amazon store....
You should be able to have amazon.com ship to you in Australia. If it doesn't work for some reason feel free to send me a note and we will see what we can do. (support[at]Springmadeshop.com)
@Spring Made
Amazon says "We are unable to ship non-digital items from amazon.com to Australian shipping addresses." so I will be sending an email to you guys in time! Thanks for the reply too
I think your exaggerating. Regular Natos are fine, I guess only people with super skinny wrists can agree with you.
Ah that's a good point. I'm a thin wrist so will consider these straps.
Another thing people keep doing is putting Nato straps on dress watches. It doesn’t work.
Blame Daniel Wellington for that
Alex M took me a long time but I finally came to the realization that you’re right.
What a great idea! Now if they could do a black pvd coated buckle, I would never buy another brand of NATO again.
Great video and review.
Edit: I think these are classified as "Zulu"... Not "NATO" straps.
Have just bought my first cheap nato for my Tevise. I honestly don't get the appeal of them. The buckle doesn't sit central on the wrist and the whole tucking of the leftover strap I'd just plain annoying. First and last Nato for me.
I'm in general not a fan of the Oris' dial at all, but I actually think the Bond Nato looked exceptionally well on it, so pretty surprised to hear about you disliking it. The Bond really works with the Case and the Bezel due to the same colors, which makes the dial pop even more, but that's just my opinion
Yeah, I had hoped the black would go with the bezel, but when I had it on wrist I wasn't convinced. I think I'll stick to the grey. Cheers!
The way a nato is folded at the top of the watch is the reason why I don't like nato's.
True I either have large wrist or a small NATO as my strap there is no need for the fold over.
I seen a video showing the different ways to put a NATO strap on that may make it more comfortable or pleasing
Greame Spens True - they can make a 10k watch look like dogcrap- it’s an awful, awful look imo
i also have a zulu like that but i always found them to slip larger over time, perhaps these do better
Nice design but be patient. There will be a $2.00 Chinese copy within 6 months.
...there is a look-a-like on cheapestnatostraps now for around $10 now ;)
I’m considering buying a Vostok 24hr watch off of Amazon, any objections? Are there other Vostoks/24hr watches I should consider? My budget is about 110 dollars fyi
I'm switching to 2 piece nylon straps. What's the point of wearing a watch if you don't feel the steel on your wrist? 😆
These are called Zulu straps, at least online.
The nylon tends to absorb sweat easily in hot weather and will eventually starting smelling. Can't stand Natos tbh. They don't wear particularly comfortably and cheapen the watch. Nothing suits a dive watch better than a decent rubber strap.
Yeah, because that's SO comfortable in the summer
NATO is dirty?wash it,it's dry in 10 mins max.
And rubber makes your wrist sweat like crazy
Can't wash your strap? Even rubber makes your wrist sweat. Plus rubber straps won't last as long as a nato. Everyone has their own strap preference anyway so wear what makes you feel comfy. Personally I prefer nato and rubber straps than metal so all of my watches are on rubber and natos. One thing that's also good with natos is that you can easily swap the strap on multiple watches with the same strap width and you don't need tools to remove the strap. A good quality nato will last as long as your watch so it's also a safe investment if you choose to buy many designs unlike rubber that deteriorates.
It might have been said below already, so sorry if it’s a repeat.. but if you like single pass nato’s around this price range check out Haveston. IMO good quality, comfortable and awesome colour schemes.
I see you got some books about China on the Shelf. Glaringly absent is The China Study by T Colin Campbell
Not my kinda China mate! Cheers though.
Surely you mean, "not my kinda China, china". See what I did there? ;)
Hmmm that pointy buckle looks like is kind of sticks out and would catch on things...Might be a bit annoying...Perhaps better if you reposition it to the flatter, underside part o the wrist?
Exactly right, I wear it under the wrist and I havent ever had it catch on anything
I think those thin natos look terrible. Big diver with a thin strip of material doesn't work for me.
Only limited colors and only sold on Amazon. For me I’ll wait and wear my Barton’s and BluShark straps.
Tugging on those scottish roots chap got some loverly quality NATO’s from a Scottish company handglunds £15 or three for £30 stamped on buckle and two of the threads loverly take a gander when you get time thanks.ps brilliant you tug on those bargain purse strings everybody loves a bargain keep it up
Any links? Can't find them. Cheers.
Agreed with both your points why is why I'm not a fan too. I bought a few moose straps but never used them. Maybe I'm talking out of my butt, but I thought a single pass NATO was a Zulu? Not that I care that much about correct terminology, although sure someone will put me straight?
Still not a massive fan don't like the tucked end and noticed the buckle was right on the side of your wrist too. The Casio Jura might get put on one when the rubber breaks but until then they are just a back up strap.
These straps are nice but the pointed end of the buckle was sticking outwards on all of the straps you modeled. It would certainly be getting caught on things with regular wear. I think they need to correct that problem and then they'll really have something good with this design.
With the buckle under the wrist I have never had it catch on anything yet.
Not sure about the Nato, but another winner of a T shirt!
Sounds like they are a bit short for people with 8" or bigger wrists.
Really nice looking! I do like the original double strap nato more though...
Single one piece strap 3 rings and as long as it's not too long no fold back.
Nice but too pricy I’d be happier with a 15.00 price tag
just not a fan of any strap other than metal bracelets myself. Cheers tho 👍
Surely NATOs and Zulus only work with a T shirt. How can anyone wear them with shirts with the tucking down end adding so much side bulk. Are there any of these that just go through the keeper once, without doubling back?
Also they are an utter penance if you have to work on a keyboard every day. Your wrist is resting on the buckle
1. I’ve generally found that the triple thickness of the NATO at its folded end is the same as the thickness of average metal link on a dive watch bracelet, while the straight end is much thinner, making it easier to fit the watch underneath a shirt sleeve.
2. I also find the NATO and leather straps are easier to adjust than metal bracelets, mainly because the distance between notch holes on either is less than the width of the individual links on the bracelet.
Some people have found that our straps are a good length for them and only go through the keepers once, but it's going to depend on your wrist size and which watch you weer it on.
I trim my straps with bandage scissors and use a gas stove burner to melt/seal the exposed ends. Instant perfect fit! It's your strap, modify as you like! I also cut off the second short pass of a two pass strap - instant single pass strap...
The very first dive watch I know I'm going to get for my birthday to officially start my first watch collection is the Seiko SNZF15!!! I'm gonna get a Barton Saddle Brown leather watch strap with the Saddle Brown stitching and a dark grey Perlon strap from Wrist Candy Watch Club! I want to send you photos! How can I contact you to do that?
You can imagine that as a convert to the watch interest of only six weeks or so, and that enabled by TGV, I was very excited to get my hands on some cool NATOs and try them out.
*blech*
I really disliked how high they made my watch sit up. It wasn't in reality, but it FELT, super floppy and top heavy. I thought, "This can't be right, there's got to be a better way." And here's Jody this morning to not only let me know I'm not crazy, but that there is!
Ooh, these are nice - infinite adjustment, and Zulu like pass through. Love it, thanks for pointing these out!
Seller on Amazon says it should fit up to 7" wrists? I know I'm a small portion of the market, but with wrists slightly larger than 9", this is the problem with most of the straps made it seems. Why can't a manufacturer make them longer? Small wrist people could trim them down if wanted, but when tucking them it might not be necessary. Us bigger guys can't make them longer.
Fair enough, it's been tough trying to find a good happy medium length, and I definitely went too short on the fist go. If you would like, I can probably make one that would fit you. Let me know if you are interested.
3 ring zulus for me £7.95 on eBay in uk lots of colours etc no tucking or folding nonsense great for hot weather, unlike leather, washable, swimmable and strong.
Peter E Thanks for the tip. Not knowing how these work, does a Zulu avoid that hideously ugly extra folded bit on the side then and look more like a conventional strap but still with the advantage of running through both springbars?
A 3-ring Zulu has a noticeably thicker nylon weave than a NATO (about 2mm thick and (unlike a 5-ring Zulu, which works like a Nato) it does not have the extra piece that most people place under the watch-head - it is simply a one-piece strap where one "ring" is the buckle and the other two are keepers. So, on a 3-ring Zulu you can position the watch-head so far down that the buckle will fasten under your wrist. This explained well in these videos:
ruclips.net/video/AhipEv2z0G8/видео.html
ruclips.net/video/ZVSWOkxrXjo0/видео.html
All these styles of straps are nowadays available in nylon, rubber, silicone, canvas, leather, etc. at various thicknesses, but originally they were nylon, and so some people refer to any nylon strap as a NATO.
lol at emperors new clothes. Excellent point
Visually I finally understood how nato straps work after watching your vid - thanks! Is there such a thing as a SHORT nato strap that doesn’t need to be folded back? I can see how having a nato if you are on a field trip or especially diving or in water is very reassuring and a much safer bet than a conventional strap but to me that bulky fold over completely WRECKS the entire look - it just looks s*#t imo. Without that eyesore they would be great!
Edit: just read another comment where Perlon and Zulu straps were mentioned - perhaps they look better than natos? Will have to research this stuff.
jacc88888 cut it and melt the cut end with a cigarette lighter
27 cm (10.75 inches) length is too short 😐
Too expensive. This costs more than a tevise...
What about a new segment, just one more strap?
Nice!
Edit: I always wear the buckle on the interior of my hand, it feels way better in my opinion.
The first thing I noticed was the buckle does not center on the bottom of the wrist. Deal breaker.
I think the inventor was a drummer. Works like a drum case.
Good opinion Jody. Thank you. Thanx for the vid.
When you have to fast-forward through the process of attaching the strap, it's not a winner. And that pointy end sticking out to catch on things is a no go. I prefer the Barton strap I found on Amzn that has nylon webbing instead of extra rings to hold the loose end. Much less obtrusive than any other nato I've seen.
The buckle does take a little bit to get used to, but it's pretty easy once you get a feel for it.
Nato straps are a scam and completely unnecessary,Any one piece strap will do exactly the same job without the bulk .
I wear plain perlon straps on all my divers,Super comfortable and infinitely adjustable never lost a watch when pin has gone and they never move around on the wrist ,
Totally agree. The nato is pointless and nerdy
Bah, I love the NATO, but I see your point. Check out a nice Perlon, though! Or a Zulu!
Working at a desk all day long, that bulky pointy buckle is a huge deal breaker.
With the buckle under the wrist, it doesn't cause too much trouble and I haven't had it catch on anything yet.
Got similar straps but I call them Zulu straps, those are much preferred over the standard NATO, in fact I quite hate NATO straps.. never liked them. But using a Zulu strap on one of my Tissot watches and one on my modded SKX once in a while.
I have heard nothing here to dissuade me from buying regular NATO straps.
Your strap buckle should sit in the middle of your wrist, not to the side.
Seems like a clean design but if it's perfect for any 7-inch wrist I don't want to risk buying it for my seven and a 3/4 inch wrist. I can understand the practicality of a nylon strap but the look and feel just has never appealed to me
Erika's Original MN strap: The best & most comfortable, worth every penny
Maybe I am wrong, but don't you have to remove the spring bar to put Erika's Original MN on the watch? The whole point for me in wearing a NATO is that I can leave my spring bars in place. Not all my watches have drilled lugs and in fact, my Fortis has screwed in lugs and are a pain to remove. Thus my love of Natos.
I picked up an erika original and I didnt like it too much. They are overrated imo. 1. you have to remove the spring bars everytime you want to change it. 2. I had the clip come open twice while wearing it. 3. Clipping it is such a pain in the ass sometimes I wanted to throw my watch across the room.
Single Pass are known as Zulu's Haveston canvas take a look I have a 7.5 inch wrist and have the whole hoe thing nailed - probably change when it gets wet and shrinks but c'est la vie. Great straps but have far too many Nato's cannae even give em away including a new one go figure. Basically they are compression straps great idea.
Oh no you made me realize that I’m so skinny my nato straps smallest size adjustment might not even be small enough lmao
If you are heavy into sports you need the real nato strap. When I paddleboard in the ocean I know that if one of my springbars fails, the secondary pass will keep my watch from falling in the ocean. It seems people don’t even know that is the point of a Nato.
Not if it’s the spring bar in the buckle! ;) that’s the only weak spot with NATOs but one is better than three. If you get the proper British NATO they have a buckle sans springbar.
The single pass straps also keep the watch attached it a spring bar lets go. It's just the styles that do not have any length going under the watch that suffer from this problem.
Great showcase! I too dislike the way the second layer adds unnecessary height to the watch. I remedy this by wearing my natos "Down Under" Have you tried this at all?
Not yet, but I have heard of such sorcery!!
@@JustOneMoreWatch yes down under works fine. As does simply cutting that extra strap off. The $25 price seems high.
Seriously mate you are one proper problem solver! Thank you for the content!
As far as I know this is a zulu, not a NATO
Ahh, so is the future of the NATO strap the Zulu strap??! Hahahaha! Cheers mate!
nice nato straps cheers
Seems cheap but cost like expensive. .. no bargain here in my eyes
I wear my Nato's down under style, eliminates the second pass and the bulkiness at the side of your wrist.
I haven't tried that yet, maybe I'll try with these and eliminate 3 problems in 1.
Worth a try and costs nowt. Happy days!
I hated natos too until I found the down under way. So much better.
One thing I’ve always done with a nylon strap that’s too long is simply to cut it to the exact length I want with a pair of scissors, trim any stray fibers, then run a flame (from a match or butane fire lighter) very lightly along the cut edge. The nylon melts and hardens into a finished edge. The end (so to speak).
I don't like how that buckle point sticks out, potential to catch on things. Perhaps if they just used a regular symmetrical buckle without getting fancy with the shape it would look and wear better. Another enjoyable and informative video, thanks mate.
The point of the buckle actually serves a function, it helps to push the back side of the buckle up so that you can feed the strap through. I usually wear it under my wrist and I havent ever caught it on any thing.
Fair enough, but I'm still not sold on it.
@@guitstikkustoms4448 that's OK. Thanks for the comment and suggestion. It's always good to get critical feed back so that we can evaluate and improve.
Agreed... The reason I say the point would get hung up is that, even the tag end of my regular bands get hung up on things on a daily basis. A watch band could be made of dreams and marshmallows and I would still get it caught on something LOL.
I wear NATO straps exclusively. I like everything about them. They’ve ruined me though as now when I put the bracelet back on I think the watch looks too low and so I remove it again. ;)
I just got two Ultra NATO’s with a very tight weave from Strapify here in AU, Jody, and they feel more luxurious than the premium versions from either Strapify or The Sydney Strap co; and both of those are great premium level straps.
I’m going to try PhenomeNATO next.
I have several of your standard double-thick Nato straps...I’ve always been a complete agreement with you Jody...When you add one to it already chunky watch I believe that he comes unmanageable...I have a single pass on my old school 5600 G-Shock...I’ve always loved it...because of this, For the last year and a half, I have kept an eye out for single past Nato straps...I have a few now… And those are the only no straps I use...I just placed the order for one of these and if I like it as much as I think I well I’m going to buy the rest of their offerings...Thanks for the wonderful review… As always!
The Spring Made information on Amazon says their straps fits up to a 7 inch wrist. For $25 Really? What would it have cost them to make it a couple of inches longer??? I find it hard to believe that someone at Spring Made didn't say, "Ya know, boss. I think the straps are a wee bit short..." So, if you can't find a hole for the sweet spot on your NATO strap, you heat up a thin nail with a match....
I use a RedRoosterUK Nato strap (link below) with my 2018 Rolex Explorer and it's a perfect match thanks to its tool aesthetic: it has gun-metal hardware and is olive green in colour. The straps are only £6 so I actually bought two: one to use in winter when my wrists are smaller and one for summer when my wrists are larger (using the same strap for both would mean messing up the neat fold of the excess strap and at £6 per strap, the cost is negligible). Oh, and I've cut off the appendage on both straps for a better fit as well. redroosteruk.com/nylon-military-divers-strap-16mm-to-22mm/
do you still like them?
@@LajosKormos. Oh yes, I'll never wear my Explorer with anything else!
I hate that dagger sticking out at the bottom of the wrist.
Also not sure you can still call it a NATO if it doesn't conform to the standards of a NATO strap.
I don't care for the visible salt residue that saltwater (and sweat)leaves on the NATO strap, nor do I care for the increasingly fetid aroma that results from wearing one in hot and humid conditions. But all bets are off for the Tudor version , I've got that one in my sights. And the clasp on the zulu's looks pretty fabulous.
LoL...I take it you've never heard of zulu straps then.
Ha!
To be fair, they are called NATO straps right on the website. And do Zulu straps have buckles?
I really like single pass nato/Zulu straps...Not the easiest things to find actually and not nearly as many choices from what I’ve been able to find. Thanks for the info actually having trouble finding these though. Not seeing them on Amazon at the moment. Have a couple of single parts leather and a couple of single pass nylons but I was looking for more. Thanks for the review Jody
I've got an 8" wrist and have no problems with the Supreme Nato I wear ... the tongue of the strap terminates perfectly inside the the SS buckles with no doubling up ... it's single pass.
I love standard Nato. Not a fan of zulu nor single pass natos reason being I don't want the spring bars to be exposed to my skin especially me living in a tropical country. The buckle looks awesome though especially without a pin and holes.
Hi JOMW, I wonder where would be the best place in Sydney or Australia for that matter to buy a Nato strap right now? thank you very much.
Hej Jody. You should try Blushark Alpha PerFit. Fulfils all your conditions.