Nice video, I use several on my dive watches, using in the sea regularly they get very salty even with a rinse off.After losing a watch diving in the 80s I haven't lost one since and last 20 years had one spring bar fail. So they are the perfect strap on my tuna,I tend to go for the thicker 1.5mm as holds the watch better and has the thicker keepers and buckle, also cut the extra piece off for more comfort over a dry suit. Great to swop out with different colour clothes. 1+ to natos.In the last few years I see that some of the top brand watches come with them now.
Hot take: NATO straps give you false security and may be most likely to fail. 1) Most of the fancy ones use pin buckles mounted with a narrow, flimsy spring bar, acting as a single point of failure. 2) You're more likely to pop a spring bar on the case when wearing a NATO. 2a) Often times the path of the strap from the wrist, around the spring bar, and under the case back creates leverage on the spring bar with varying degrees of mechanical advantage. Force exerted on the strap from flexing the wrist is multiplied at the spring bars. 2b) The less lateral rigidity a strap has across the spring bars, the more likely more force is applied toward the center of the spring bar, allowing it to potentially bend enough to release from the lug holes. For this reason, I would argue a quality bracelet is the most secure option by a long shot. All of the failure points (spring bars, pins, etc) are supported along their entire lengths, such that their point of failure approaches the amount of force required to shear them. Less hot take: It's probably fine, and if you like the look and feel, definitely rock a NATO. I'm just one of a very real "club" of those who have popped spring bars on NATO-mounted watches but never experienced the problem with any other type of strap and eventually dug into the reasons why.
2a) Often times the path of the strap from the wrist, around the spring bar, and under the case back creates leverage on the spring bar with varying degrees of mechanical advantage. Force exerted on the strap from flexing the wrist is multiplied at the spring bars. Pelagos FXD owner: I miss the part where that's my problem
I wore a NATO on my watches while flying since about 2008, they were very handy when we wore dry suits flying over cold waters, because I could adapt the strap so easily to the dry suit’s thick wrist cuff seal. Also loved the fact that NATOs are light and comfortable. ❤ them. I recommend BandR Bands’ glacier blue XTREME strap, it’s a dead ringer for the classic Admiralty Grey color.
Also started off with the Seat Belt weaves and completely agree on the Ribbed which are also now my favourite go to. Recently got a new delivery from CNS Straps and got some colourful combos for my upcoming Spain holiday. 😌 Great informative and relaxing video. 😊✌🏼❤️
This was hilarious and thank you for the advice. Just bought a grey 2.0 nato from Bark and Jack for my Aqua Terra 2503.50.00. It is superb. I've never tried nato before and now I love the watch even more. I don't know if I'll ever wear a bracelet again 😅
Love NATO strap as well - usually I only bring one watch on holiday and multiple NATO straps to change the look. @bark&jack even have leather NATO now so not even a problem when i need dress up the watch!
Hi Tom, just found your channel today. I am a big fan of nato straps, especially when pair it with dive watches. In case of Chronograph like Speedmaster, not so much😅
As a guy who generally hates shiny metal bracelets, NATO’s are a key part of the arsenal. Think about what a big deal people make of on the fly micro-adjustments. All NATO straps do that for a fraction of the cost. Can your metal bracelet change color? You can buy dozens of colors of NATO straps - or many more - for the cost of one just ok bracelet. Is your bracelet lightweight? Not as lightweight as a NATO. Is it easily interchangeable with thousands of other options? NATO’s are. There are so many reasons to prefer a NATO, but even a fan won’t always prefer the look of them. Sometimes they absolutely sing on a watch, but other times they look off somehow. That said, it’s great having so many NATO options to choose from to change the look of any watch for a non-blingy personality type like me.
Big fan of Sofie from CNS. She’s been in business since 2012 and it’s great that she makes her leather straps in-house not like some of the other more recent established Watch strap sellers 😉
Avoiding the "bulgy end loop" by folding end of strap and feeding it "up" into the last metal loop instead of feeding it through looping and then trying to double it back back "down":) ...your welcome:) ps my Nato is on my Seiko "Brian May II" limited edition and has 6 lines on it representing the six strings of his guitar (Red Special) which the Watch is the themed after.... simply amazingly beautiful Watch and strap!
What a cumbersome way. Just get rid of the extra flap and wear the watch more toward the middle of the strap, thereby having the buckle on the underside of your wrist. The bulky side loop looks downright stupid. I don't care what the NATO apologists say.
I don't like NATOs because they make my watches too think. I also find most nylon and cloth straps to be uncomfortable. A good bracelet is often very secure and good quality pins make a difference, too; they're not all the same. I might try a thinner NATO that's softer, if I could find the right one. Although I don't own one, the Bertucci watches are made for NATOs because that's the only strap they take (with a fixed bar at the lug and no springs).
I only wear natos. Though I prefer ones with a floating keeper. I can fold the strap over and tuck it in the floating keeper for a cleaner look. I always did my natos like this then the Willard came out and did the same.
While spring bar failures are rare these days, a proper nato will reduce the chance of loss or damage, with one exception: nato straps that have a spring bar attaching the buckle will still have that as a single point of failure. This is why I prefer NATOs with a sewn in or screw in buckle.
Question - are any of the ribbed natos you're showing here the light grey colour way? Or are they all the dark grey? I am trying to figure out which one to get (ribbed), but variable on the shade of grey. I already have a light grey tubular nato from B&J, so I am leaning towards the dark grey, and (if that's the color on yours) looks especially good. Great video thanks
Outside of military use, it's a bit of a gear-fantasy/soldier-cosplay. More power to those who enjoy it, but it's not for me. I don't bring tactical equipment to office, I won't be adding roll bar to my family car, and I don't wear bullet-proof vest underneath my shirt for hiking on the weekends. When I need more rugged watch option - I take a g-shock.
Great review! Which strap size are your running on your Polar 216570 given it's 21mm sizing? I also rock a 216570 almost daily and given the Summer heat... a bracelet can get sweaty. Thanks.
i got both ... the dark ones had different tones of grey over the years depending on the batches .. dark could sometimes be almost charcoal black too .
I hear you, I absolutely love them. Only issue is that on some slightly chunkier watches (like Willard) they can look a bit thin. Other than that I have the elastic on all my watches
Problem is they hang up on cuffs and the watch sits way off your wrist. In my opinion less comforable than a braclet, rubber or leather. They do look cool though I'll give you that. The springbars on your Explorer ii ent going anywhere by the way. Have you seen how thick those badboys are?
@@BowlOfSalmon Yes and no 😅 I have one huge ARTBIN container that allows me to at least separate my 20, 21, 22 NATOs. I have one smaller ARTBIN that has my most used 20mm NATOs then I have another big tackle box that is full of leather, rubber, metal bands 🥵
The buckle on the nato must be one solid peace with pin, not a classic buckle with spring bar and pin. If it has spring bar it's just as reliable as two peaces regular strap. You get the look but don't get the safety.
@@BowlOfSalmon me neither, because the oem strap is too good. It is the ultimate strap IMO. However, the velcro sticking power is lacking recently, at least on my MN22. That and I don't have any premium 22mm NATOs, which I intend to fix this weekend, hence me watching your video 😁 I've do have some straps from The Watch Steward, and they are pretty nice too. But my original love for natos made me want the FXD
Nice video. I go through a love-hate relationship with NATO straps, where I'll stick one on a watch for a few days and like it then decide its not for me and swap back to the origianl bracelet. In saying that, two of my collection (Hamilton khaki field mechanical and Seiko Alpinist) live on NATOs as it just feels right ❤
@@BowlOfSalmon this is also very true, my natos are crown and buckle supremes and they size down 1mm perfectly. I wonder if B&J will ever do single pass 🧐
I love Nato straps. Very comfy and having peace of mind that the watch ia safe. My only gripe is when wash your hand or go for a swim, the strap dries quickly but the case back will have residue of water, even after hours. End up leaving a funky smell, but i wash my strap 2 days once. Not sure is that common?
Well done this pushed me over the edge and I ordered the ribbed one. Wasn’t sure which one to buy before this. I prefer the strap stiffer so it holds the watch on place like my omega nato.
One more “advantage” of the NATO strap: it elevates the watch ever so slightly off the wrist keeping a an overly rough and poorly placed crown (I’m looking at you VAER watch) from irritating the skin.
Don’t own a single NATO strap, I don’t doubt their practicality or the fact that they secure the watch better than anything else, their durability, etc. I just find them extremely ugly and they make me want to take the watch off my wrist 😢. Bracelet, rubber, leather, canvas, two piece NATO, I used them all just not a regular NATO strap.
Here are the original specifications of the NATO strap: grey woven nylon of 1.2 mm thickness (color "Admiral Grey"), made of a unique nylon ribbon, one piece buckle without lug (irremovable), heat-welded buckle and loops, end of strap and holes heat-sealed, 20 mm width (lug width of military watches of that time), 280 mm length (to be put on thick diving suits of Royal Navy). Take a look at the third item in that list. This often ignored specification is the major downfall of many, if not most NATO straps on the market today. They incorporate a spring bar into the buckle, which negates the security afforded by the "double springbar" design. Even the straps shown in this video are essentially no more secure than the typical two-piece strap for that reason. I wear my watches on NATO straps only for reasons of security, not fashion, not because people think they look cool. I will never buy a NATO strap without the one-piece, non removable buckle as specified in the original British specification, no matter how "premium" "supreme" or "Xtreme" they tout themselves to be.
It's a matter of personal taste, but when it comes to more expensive timepieces, I don't feel they need to be "dressed down." NATO straps can be fun, but they pair best with cheaper field watches, which is what they were originally designed for.
fair enough.. I decouple cheap strap from expensive timepiece, but it surely felt like putting lada wheels on a lambo at first .. and I didn't see the point in that when I started.. now it's just part of the tooly character of watches and I like the comfort/look
I despise NATO straps they cheapen an otherwise nice watch and never look “natural” on them. I’ll take a bracelet, leather, exotic, rubber and sailcloth any day of the week. I’ve been collecting for over 35 years.
@@BowlOfSalmon I voiced my opinion on a public forum. I actually liked the way you delivered your video even if I didn’t agree with you. There is no need to redeem yourself. This is how it goes when you share an opinion. Have a good one.
Love the look of NATO straps on tool watches but I'm not convinced by the claimed benefits when fitted to civilian watches. The NATO strap was designed for military watches with solid, fixed, bars - not hollow spring-bars. Whilst it is highly unlikely that the flimsy spring bars on your Omega, Rolex or Tudor will fail when encased in their original, solid, stainless-steel, end-links - the fabric NATO strap offers no such protection. One knock and they will bend and fail. The B&J strap compounds this vulnerability by replacing the solid one-piece NATO buckle with another hollow spring-bar - so a single spring-bar failure could still result in watch loss. These are strictly for posers. If you don't want to lose your valuable watch leave it on it's original, beautifully engineered, bracelet.
when out camping and when I shower before bedtime i would take it off yes .. but when the weather is nice and you go out for a swim they dry up fast enough
@@BowlOfSalmon Since I have so many NATO strap & it's easy to swap a dry strap over the wet one that's what I do when I'm on a NATO strap. But I feel bracelet would be my choice if I had only 1 choice as it's easy to remove & wear plus it's not afraid of water. Some NATO straps color makes it so obvious when it's wet as you wash your hands. With a bracelet I don't have to be careful when washing my hands. NATO is more fashionable though that's it's strong point.
And I'll respond with a riddle, well-meant: What is it that's green and round, Often in pairs, never to be found In a house or with a mouse, Disliked by you, like a bitter grouse?
@@BowlOfSalmon Well there is that octopus thing, but it didn’t look great. Hopefully watch manufacturers will do something rather than it only being an aftermarket option.
Nato straps sure look cool, but I hate the excess length. I aso can never find the right fit. Personally I find the MN straps more comfortable and also better looking. But, in the end, I just love a metal bracelet ;-)
nothing tops the finishing of those bracelets.. but it is just a nice change up. and I feel more like a watch enthusiast than a watch snob when I wear my rolex ...
I was in the British Army. As far as I can remember, only NCOs were allowed to sign these watches out the store. To be handed back after exercise. The old CWC watches were a decent watch and at the time I was envious. I had a seiko dive watch I paid about £65 for back in the early 90s so I used that. Although the CWC watch was better and the strap cooler. Until very recently, I never knew the NATO strap desire amongst watch enthusiasts.
lol......why would you need to pick one stap for all your watches? TH-cam is a strange place. Decent production quality here but as they say, you can't polish a turd. Useless content.
Big fan of a single-pass nato. All the advantages without the bulk.
Early on I also always wanted single pass I would cut the excess bits off. But honestly the height doesn’t bother me. I don’t wear this under a suit
They’re caled Zulu
Dont know why it bothers me so much but single pass always looks so asymmetrical to me with 2 keepers on the backside and no keeper on the front.
Nice video, I use several on my dive watches, using in the sea regularly they get very salty even with a rinse off.After losing a watch diving in the 80s I haven't lost one since and last 20 years had one spring bar fail.
So they are the perfect strap on my tuna,I tend to go for the thicker 1.5mm as holds the watch better and has the thicker keepers and buckle, also cut the extra piece off for more comfort over a dry suit.
Great to swop out with different colour clothes.
1+ to natos.In the last few years I see that some of the top brand watches come with them now.
For some watches. Single pass is too thin for certain watches
Hot take: NATO straps give you false security and may be most likely to fail. 1) Most of the fancy ones use pin buckles mounted with a narrow, flimsy spring bar, acting as a single point of failure. 2) You're more likely to pop a spring bar on the case when wearing a NATO. 2a) Often times the path of the strap from the wrist, around the spring bar, and under the case back creates leverage on the spring bar with varying degrees of mechanical advantage. Force exerted on the strap from flexing the wrist is multiplied at the spring bars. 2b) The less lateral rigidity a strap has across the spring bars, the more likely more force is applied toward the center of the spring bar, allowing it to potentially bend enough to release from the lug holes. For this reason, I would argue a quality bracelet is the most secure option by a long shot. All of the failure points (spring bars, pins, etc) are supported along their entire lengths, such that their point of failure approaches the amount of force required to shear them.
Less hot take: It's probably fine, and if you like the look and feel, definitely rock a NATO. I'm just one of a very real "club" of those who have popped spring bars on NATO-mounted watches but never experienced the problem with any other type of strap and eventually dug into the reasons why.
You need to write my scripts next time ;) thx for sharing your thoughts
Bend the pin bar so that it has a slight curve.
2a) Often times the path of the strap from the wrist, around the spring bar, and under the case back creates leverage on the spring bar with varying degrees of mechanical advantage. Force exerted on the strap from flexing the wrist is multiplied at the spring bars.
Pelagos FXD owner: I miss the part where that's my problem
@@desireless4092 Well played. The FXD does it right :)
@@desireless4092thats why my FXD is my favourite watch
The collab the World needs right now 👏🏻👏🏻
Next time we should do one ! Your pretty face would look good on a thumbnail too
@@BowlOfSalmonI’m in.
I wore a NATO on my watches while flying since about 2008, they were very handy when we wore dry suits flying over cold waters, because I could adapt the strap so easily to the dry suit’s thick wrist cuff seal. Also loved the fact that NATOs are light and comfortable. ❤ them. I recommend BandR Bands’ glacier blue XTREME strap, it’s a dead ringer for the classic Admiralty Grey color.
Sounds very top gun to me ! Thx for watching
Also started off with the Seat Belt weaves and completely agree on the Ribbed which are also now my favourite go to.
Recently got a new delivery from CNS Straps and got some colourful combos for my upcoming Spain holiday. 😌
Great informative and relaxing video. 😊✌🏼❤️
Thx for the kindnesses. Enjoy the holiday
Hey, what colour tone is the strap you're wearing @2:27 and do you actually have a special inlay for your NANUK 904 that fits watches?!
Sand. He only has one with that tone. The case is custom from Blackchest uk
Bark and Jack straps are my favorites, too. They are so well made and durable, and are a great value. Plus, Adrian is cool. 😊❤️
So I’m in with the cool kids now 😂
@@BowlOfSalmon that goes without saying 😉
This was hilarious and thank you for the advice. Just bought a grey 2.0 nato from Bark and Jack for my Aqua Terra 2503.50.00.
It is superb. I've never tried nato before and now I love the watch even more. I don't know if I'll ever wear a bracelet again 😅
Hehe. Thx bud
I haven't seen them yet on B&J -- but the premium straps from CNS straps are really good as well. Love the B&J channel and bowl of salmon
Thx buddy. The CNS Premium is a nice changeup for sure. Different weave
@@BowlOfSalmon It's got a nice degree of ruggedness, good colors, and it still looks high class. You have a great channel.
Love the bark and jack nato straps , put the yellow one on my Tudor ranger,wow looks absolutely amazing 👍
I still need to try that yellow one. I should ask Adrian 🫣
Love the nato straps and how in addition to comfort they allow you to tweak the look. But also hey! what watch is that @1:30 ? love the loom!
that would be my Vertex m100. best lume in the watchbox. th-cam.com/video/UxUO0raQzbQ/w-d-xo.html
Love NATO strap as well - usually I only bring one watch on holiday and multiple NATO straps to change the look. @bark&jack even have leather NATO now so not even a problem when i need dress up the watch!
never tried leather nato, maybe i should ! thanks for watching
Just ordered the dark grey ribbed NATO from Bark and Jack for my black dial explorer 2 on the strength of this video - thanks a lot!
you will enjoy that ! happy holidays
Great collab and love the video as all ways! Seriously making me consider changing up the a Nato on my Pelagos 39 now 😅
Go for it! But don’t dare insinuate im an influencer 😂
@@BowlOfSalmon seeing it on the nato has definitely influenced me! 😂
Late to the party but try your Speedy on one of Omega's leather NATO straps. Takes a while to soften but once worn in.......sublime
i've only pickup a leather nato just recently .. one from veblenist .. Really like it. good suggestions
Hi Tom, just found your channel today.
I am a big fan of nato straps, especially when pair it with dive watches. In case of Chronograph like Speedmaster, not so much😅
Welcome aboard! Why is that btw ? Balance ?
Great video and great collaboration with Adrian. And a fun outro😄 I thought it sounded familiar...👌🏻
Thanks ! 🙏🙏
Should say it in a more incomprehensible mumbling manner.
Great video as usual Tom plus great cameo but the totally unbiased AB
200% 😂🤭🫣
As a guy who generally hates shiny metal bracelets, NATO’s are a key part of the arsenal. Think about what a big deal people make of on the fly micro-adjustments. All NATO straps do that for a fraction of the cost. Can your metal bracelet change color? You can buy dozens of colors of NATO straps - or many more - for the cost of one just ok bracelet. Is your bracelet lightweight? Not as lightweight as a NATO. Is it easily interchangeable with thousands of other options? NATO’s are. There are so many reasons to prefer a NATO, but even a fan won’t always prefer the look of them. Sometimes they absolutely sing on a watch, but other times they look off somehow. That said, it’s great having so many NATO options to choose from to change the look of any watch for a non-blingy personality type like me.
Hard core nato fan 💪 thx for watching
Where did you get your watch box. Great channel
Thx. Links in description. This is Blackchest uk
nato is probably the prettiest kind of strap not trying look loud, but my main problem is it absorbs moisture and sweat.
agree with you especially if you are living in humid place
not sure how humid the conditions are around you .. its my summer go to . i find them to dry up fast enough after as swim
i can see that .. carry a couple ? :)
Big fan of Sofie from CNS. She’s been in business since 2012 and it’s great that she makes her leather straps in-house not like some of the other more recent established Watch strap sellers 😉
I also like Sofie.. the premium is a different kind of fabric and wears nice
Avoiding the "bulgy end loop" by folding end of strap and feeding it "up" into the last metal loop instead of feeding it through looping and then trying to double it back back "down":)
...your welcome:)
ps my Nato is on my Seiko "Brian May II" limited edition and has 6 lines on it representing the six strings of his guitar (Red Special) which the Watch is the themed after.... simply amazingly beautiful Watch and strap!
I’ll give it a try 🤜
What a cumbersome way. Just get rid of the extra flap and wear the watch more toward the middle of the strap, thereby having the buckle on the underside of your wrist.
The bulky side loop looks downright stupid. I don't care what the NATO apologists say.
Would that not be the same end result unless you had the tail to outside maybe
When's the B&J NATO in salmon dropping? 🔥🔥🔥
you mean some Orange tones for a good cause ?
@@BowlOfSalmon yeah, feed the starving salmons and their TH-cam funds
Nicely done Tom!! The NATO is 👑 and the ones from Adrian are the very best. Great video and take the polar on summer break 😉
Thanks but…. I’m afraid this won’t be the trip. If I would go back to Sweden , Norway. 200%. But this is a big unknown for me
No black 20mm straps in stock 😞
did I do that ? :)
@@BowlOfSalmon Not at all. Just frustrating that the company is promoting its products and does not have the products most in demand in stock.
Mine would be MN strap. With natos, I always dont get the right sizing for my wrist
Never tried an Erikas
Nato straps just add to the wrist experience. Big fan.
Same 🤛
I don't like NATOs because they make my watches too think. I also find most nylon and cloth straps to be uncomfortable. A good bracelet is often very secure and good quality pins make a difference, too; they're not all the same. I might try a thinner NATO that's softer, if I could find the right one. Although I don't own one, the Bertucci watches are made for NATOs because that's the only strap they take (with a fixed bar at the lug and no springs).
So maybe try perlon
I only wear natos. Though I prefer ones with a floating keeper. I can fold the strap over and tuck it in the floating keeper for a cleaner look. I always did my natos like this then the Willard came out and did the same.
Floating keeper 🧐
I love the look but have a horrible time finding one that is comfortable and fits well. The holes are usually too far apart for me to get a good fit.
Tried Perlon on less heavy watches ?
@@BowlOfSalmon I have. I don't particularly like the look or material. But do you have any recommendations I can look up?
While spring bar failures are rare these days, a proper nato will reduce the chance of loss or damage, with one exception: nato straps that have a spring bar attaching the buckle will still have that as a single point of failure.
This is why I prefer NATOs with a sewn in or screw in buckle.
Usually and if that happens o think the nato would be in place enough for me to spot the broken buckle. I hope 😂
See I like the nato strap on certain watches I believe the Rolex explorer II white polar belongs on a gray nato strap
It’s definitely the only strap for it I found to work as good
I like mine with a one-piece buckle. It just eliminates another point for springbar failure.
How is that safer over a two pass nato ?
@@BowlOfSalmonThe buckle doesn't have a springbar so it could never come apart.
Question - are any of the ribbed natos you're showing here the light grey colour way? Or are they all the dark grey? I am trying to figure out which one to get (ribbed), but variable on the shade of grey. I already have a light grey tubular nato from B&J, so I am leaning towards the dark grey, and (if that's the color on yours) looks especially good. Great video thanks
i actually run both on the video ... i only have the dark grey in 22mm so if thats on that would be on the p39 or explorer2 ... . just get both :)
Outside of military use, it's a bit of a gear-fantasy/soldier-cosplay. More power to those who enjoy it, but it's not for me. I don't bring tactical equipment to office, I won't be adding roll bar to my family car, and I don't wear bullet-proof vest underneath my shirt for hiking on the weekends. When I need more rugged watch option - I take a g-shock.
Arguments noted. Most of the stuff I don’t do either
Great review! Which strap size are your running on your Polar 216570 given it's 21mm sizing? I also rock a 216570 almost daily and given the Summer heat... a bracelet can get sweaty. Thanks.
my 226570 is 22mm .. but these 22mm b&j straps also fit on the 21mm pelagos if you wouldn't find your colour in 21
@@BowlOfSalmon good point on the 226570 vs my 216570. Thanks for the info.
Sorry, the ribbed nylon is grey or dark grey? Thanks.
i got both ... the dark ones had different tones of grey over the years depending on the batches .. dark could sometimes be almost charcoal black too .
@@BowlOfSalmon I think the one that is mounted on the explorer in the video is grey. Dark gray should be almost black.
@@BowlOfSalmon I should buy one for my gray hydroconquest and I don't know which one to get
I'm firmly in your camp, I wear NATO on all my watches, diver, field, dress, I even have one on my vintage Omega from the 60s 😊😊😊
Sounds great! Just fun to change it up right
I much prefer Mankey or Watch Steward straps. Wears thinner and more comfortably.
it would be weird to have Adrian talk about those ;)
I hear you, I absolutely love them. Only issue is that on some slightly chunkier watches (like Willard) they can look a bit thin. Other than that I have the elastic on all my watches
Gray is my favorite color.
50 shades and all that
Thanks for the video, very interesting. Which colour B&J nato did you get for your Pelagos 39? Grey or the dark grey? I can't tell :)
Got both. 😅 preference for the dark one
Problem is they hang up on cuffs and the watch sits way off your wrist. In my opinion less comforable than a braclet, rubber or leather. They do look cool though I'll give you that. The springbars on your Explorer ii ent going anywhere by the way. Have you seen how thick those badboys are?
A nato isn’t my office or dining outfit either. But otherwise definitely a preference
Now this was a collab worth “watching”… I was “strapped” to my seat watching it…
.
.
Sorry… I know… 🤦🏼♂️
.
Good one Tom and Adrian! 🙌🏻
Not a bad watchbox either tho
Crown and buckle matte supreme nato for me 😎👍
Yet to try those. Thx for checking in !
I hate messy bit of extra nato straps have. Especially when it’s just a little bit
Sometimes it bothers me too
I have boxes of them - love NATOs!
Never tried B&Js but have a plethora of CNS ribbed straps and LOVE them!
you also gave up on keeping them organized like me ? :)
@@BowlOfSalmon Yes and no 😅 I have one huge ARTBIN container that allows me to at least separate my 20, 21, 22 NATOs. I have one smaller ARTBIN that has my most used 20mm NATOs then I have another big tackle box that is full of leather, rubber, metal bands 🥵
Do these ribbed make the watch sit really high? Also which grey was on the spb? Thanks.
I never think a nato sits high tbh 😅
@@BowlOfSalmonIs the the ribbed nato on the spb the dark grey or regular? Thanks.
I've got a free single pass straps from Zulu alpha. They do a few different styles but I love the buckle design they do. Ex Navy owned.
Haven’t checked those. I need to
The buckle on the nato must be one solid peace with pin, not a classic buckle with spring bar and pin. If it has spring bar it's just as reliable as two peaces regular strap. You get the look but don't get the safety.
Never seen that tbh. If the buckle breaks the wrap around etc would kinda hold in a place a bit I hope
Natos are great. My preferred strap. It's why my FXD is my favourite watch.
Fun fact. I haven’t worn my fxd on a nato yet 🫣
@@BowlOfSalmon me neither, because the oem strap is too good. It is the ultimate strap IMO. However, the velcro sticking power is lacking recently, at least on my MN22.
That and I don't have any premium 22mm NATOs, which I intend to fix this weekend, hence me watching your video 😁
I've do have some straps from The Watch Steward, and they are pretty nice too.
But my original love for natos made me want the FXD
Nice video. I go through a love-hate relationship with NATO straps, where I'll stick one on a watch for a few days and like it then decide its not for me and swap back to the origianl bracelet. In saying that, two of my collection (Hamilton khaki field mechanical and Seiko Alpinist) live on NATOs as it just feels right ❤
I might have wrongfully titled this . it's also periods for me.. but when it's a nato .. its usually these .
Crown & Buckle Matte Supreme NATO, around $30. The best NATOs I’ve seen.
Similar good 👍
I would prefer a shorter strap from B&J please. The tailed on the ribbed one was too long for my liking
cut them and seal the edges with a lighter ?
Use a 20mm on the Pelagos - won’t have a gap and fits perfect
I find with a nato size down by 1mm for perfect fit
depends on the fabric and cut indeed
@@BowlOfSalmon this is also very true, my natos are crown and buckle supremes and they size down 1mm perfectly.
I wonder if B&J will ever do single pass 🧐
I love Nato straps. Very comfy and having peace of mind that the watch ia safe. My only gripe is when wash your hand or go for a swim, the strap dries quickly but the case back will have residue of water, even after hours. End up leaving a funky smell, but i wash my strap 2 days once. Not sure is that common?
I don’t like the wet dog effect either
Amazing video and collab! 😊
Glad you enjoyed it! 🙏
The B&J straps are great. Much more comfortable and better made than the 200€ omega natos.
Yeah. Can’t wrap my head around those prices either
Big fan of wearing natos year around. Ribbed is my new favorite. But I can get natos a lot cheaper by not buying brand names.
but you wouldn't be helping your fav creators ...
Perlon is bar none the best strap, comfortable, breathable, and infinitely adjustable.
I love a good perlon strap. they just don’t work for heavier lenses for me
I mean Watches Obv
Well done this pushed me over the edge and I ordered the ribbed one. Wasn’t sure which one to buy before this. I prefer the strap stiffer so it holds the watch on place like my omega nato.
👊 thx for watching
How big is ur wrist for reference?
16,5cm around ... top side is about 51mm
One more “advantage” of the NATO strap: it elevates the watch ever so slightly off the wrist keeping a an overly rough and poorly placed crown (I’m looking at you VAER watch) from irritating the skin.
i does create comfort and breathes more easy
Luv NATO Straps...
that makes two of us :)
Each to their own my man, but all your pieces look better on their OEM stock bracelets. Just my opinion 👍🏻
Fair enough. Just good to change it up mate. Marriage is monogamous enough. Let’s have some fun ;)
@@BowlOfSalmon Amen to that! 😀
nothing beats phoenix nato
the nba team ? :p
My issue with nato strap is that it's always too long for my small wrist 😢
Cut and burn with a lighter
I thought I had replied before … cut and melt the strap ends
Don’t own a single NATO strap, I don’t doubt their practicality or the fact that they secure the watch better than anything else, their durability, etc. I just find them extremely ugly and they make me want to take the watch off my wrist 😢. Bracelet, rubber, leather, canvas, two piece NATO, I used them all just not a regular NATO strap.
😅 it’s okay to have different taste in straps. How you find some watches /
Combos on the channel
Huge fan of nato straps actually I also prefer nato for all of my watches
👊👊
Just fyi, nato straps long predate 1973, they just weren’t called “nato” straps prior to then. They trace back as far as WWI, however.
And thanks to the patent troll we can’t call them that anymore either now.
Superb video as allways
Too kind 🙏
Nato's are the best! 🎉
Mrs salmon is the best
Great article.
Here are the original specifications of the NATO strap:
grey woven nylon of 1.2 mm thickness (color "Admiral Grey"),
made of a unique nylon ribbon,
one piece buckle without lug (irremovable),
heat-welded buckle and loops,
end of strap and holes heat-sealed,
20 mm width (lug width of military watches of that time),
280 mm length (to be put on thick diving suits of Royal Navy).
Take a look at the third item in that list. This often ignored specification is the major downfall of many, if not most NATO straps on the market today. They incorporate a spring bar into the buckle, which negates the security afforded by the "double springbar" design. Even the straps shown in this video are essentially no more secure than the typical two-piece strap for that reason.
I wear my watches on NATO straps only for reasons of security, not fashion, not because people think they look cool. I will never buy a NATO strap without the one-piece, non removable buckle as specified in the original British specification, no matter how "premium" "supreme" or "Xtreme" they tout themselves to be.
And now we can’t call em nato anymore … some *%^#%^ trademarked it
It's a matter of personal taste, but when it comes to more expensive timepieces, I don't feel they need to be "dressed down." NATO straps can be fun, but they pair best with cheaper field watches, which is what they were originally designed for.
fair enough.. I decouple cheap strap from expensive timepiece, but it surely felt like putting lada wheels on a lambo at first .. and I didn't see the point in that when I started.. now it's just part of the tooly character of watches and I like the comfort/look
Really not a strap fan, but the ribbed one doesn’t look bad. Maybe I’ll give a try :) Nice video btw, always good to see your work Tom
Thx buddy. I didn’t peg you for a strap on guy. Phun intended
I despise NATO straps they cheapen an otherwise nice watch and never look “natural” on them. I’ll take a bracelet, leather, exotic, rubber and sailcloth any day of the week. I’ve been collecting for over 35 years.
I feel bad. I hope there is another video on my channel to redeem myself
@@BowlOfSalmon I voiced my opinion on a public forum. I actually liked the way you delivered your video even if I didn’t agree with you. There is no need to redeem yourself. This is how it goes when you share an opinion. Have a good one.
I've bought about twenty natos from different brands. I NEVER get a good fit with them.
You can always make an extra hole. Or try adjustable NATO’s
Amen to that!! So true!
thx buddy
Bout to buy the ribbed ones from BJ
I don’t get a commission or I can’t get you a discount but mention me in the order comments 😂
I really hate NATO straps! 😅
No worries , There are self help groups ;) thx for watching tho
@@BowlOfSalmon Nice video though. As always 👌
I always buy ribbed, for her pleasure 😊
She feels you
Love the look of NATO straps on tool watches but I'm not convinced by the claimed benefits when fitted to civilian watches. The NATO strap was designed for military watches with solid, fixed, bars - not hollow spring-bars. Whilst it is highly unlikely that the flimsy spring bars on your Omega, Rolex or Tudor will fail when encased in their original, solid, stainless-steel, end-links - the fabric NATO strap offers no such protection. One knock and they will bend and fail. The B&J strap compounds this vulnerability by replacing the solid one-piece NATO buckle with another hollow spring-bar - so a single spring-bar failure could still result in watch loss. These are strictly for posers. If you don't want to lose your valuable watch leave it on it's original, beautifully engineered, bracelet.
Any two pass nato would be safer than an og bracelet tbh. But wear them like you want too 🤜
I don’t believe the marine nationale Tudor’s had fixed spring bars, considering that many collectors have later attached bracelets to them.
I used to like nato straps. Now I wear most of my watches on metal bracelets.
Everything about wearing experience comes in waves for me too
The Apollo Moon mission 1969 DID NOT use the NATO strap invented in 1973
Time travel
Too bad he doesn’t make 18mm NATOs otherwise I would have bought multiple by now.
18 is somewhat harder to find yeah
NATO straps is okey but absorbs water that's where bracelet comes in to mind.
when out camping and when I shower before bedtime i would take it off yes .. but when the weather is nice and you go out for a swim they dry up fast enough
@@BowlOfSalmon Since I have so many NATO strap & it's easy to swap a dry strap over the wet one that's what I do when I'm on a NATO strap. But I feel bracelet would be my choice if I had only 1 choice as it's easy to remove & wear plus it's not afraid of water. Some NATO straps color makes it so obvious when it's wet as you wash your hands. With a bracelet I don't have to be careful when washing my hands. NATO is more fashionable though that's it's strong point.
Adjustable single pass nato strap is the ultimate no 🐂💩 strap.
I just haven't found any I like these ribbed/tubular ones .. but yeah .. ideally no excess ..
@@BowlOfSalmonyes... black ribbed single pass is sooo good. wonder why no adjustable buckle available.
I've never tried Natos but I'm sure I do not like them. I would not like them in a house. I would not like them with a mouse.
And I'll respond with a riddle, well-meant:
What is it that's green and round,
Often in pairs, never to be found
In a house or with a mouse,
Disliked by you, like a bitter grouse?
@@BowlOfSalmon 😂😆
@@drbobsnightmare2521 all fun and games. thanks for watching ;) I'm sure I have some watches on a bracelet in some of my video's here ;)
Pin buckles are just a no for me.
They are for 10 year olds lol
Deployant on leather/rubber, or Velcro if I have to (FXD) 😈
I know for a fact that Deployant nato clasp is coming soon 😅
@@BowlOfSalmon Well there is that octopus thing, but it didn’t look great.
Hopefully watch manufacturers will do something rather than it only being an aftermarket option.
Gonna put a NATO on my Vostok😜
vostok is the true enthusiast watch !
Nato straps sure look cool, but I hate the excess length. I aso can never find the right fit. Personally I find the MN straps more comfortable and also better looking. But, in the end, I just love a metal bracelet ;-)
i wouldnt mind not seeing that wraparound bit at 12 either tbh. general nato thing tho ..
I like nato, but they all make watches look cheap
sure throwing your explorer on a nato isn't what rolex envisioned by luxury ... but I like the changeup
Rolex look better in the bracelet, everything else is fair game imo
nothing tops the finishing of those bracelets.. but it is just a nice change up. and I feel more like a watch enthusiast than a watch snob when I wear my rolex ...
Not a fan of Natos
Hurts my feelings just a little 😉
@@BowlOfSalmon each to their own lol
‘Strap Monster’ usually = It looks monstrous 😂
Most guys have extremely poor skills in ‘pimping’ things (cars, bikes, watches) IME 😉
Glad you got that off your chest :)
@@BowlOfSalmon Me too. It needed saying ;)
deeply disagree
That’s fine mate. To each their own
@@BowlOfSalmon 👍
I was in the British Army. As far as I can remember, only NCOs were allowed to sign these watches out the store. To be handed back after exercise.
The old CWC watches were a decent watch and at the time I was envious. I had a seiko dive watch I paid about £65 for back in the early 90s so I used that.
Although the CWC watch was better and the strap cooler.
Until very recently, I never knew the NATO strap desire amongst watch enthusiasts.
Well , when you spot someone wearing a nato they are either ex military or a watch enthusiast ;)
A folded back NATO is the lamest thing in the world. For the love of God fkin modify to fit!
I Don’t think god is a nato guy either
@@BowlOfSalmon Shark mesh I reckon
lol......why would you need to pick one stap for all your watches? TH-cam is a strange place. Decent production quality here but as they say, you can't polish a turd. Useless content.
yeah there is more value in doom scrolling shorts I guess