What's the consensus on NATO straps?

[ManOpener]

I've got a couple of watches, both Tag Heuers- an F1 I've had for about 5 years (in lurid ceramic black and orange) and a 2013-15 model Aquaracer Calibre 5 (in blue) that my wife bought me as a 30th birthday present. With the recent hot weather I decided to throw my F1 on a cheap eBay NATO strap and it's been fantastically comfortable over the last week compared to the steel bracelet.

I tend to wear the Aquaracer as an everyday watch and am really struggling to decide whether or not to also pick up a NATO strap for that. I ordered a couple of cheaper ones in colours I thought would compliment, so far none of them have looked right even sat next to it. I'm probably looking to buy one of the better quality NATOs, I think part of the problem has been that I've been struggling to find many pictures of any of the navy-blue-faced watches (Omega Seamaster or Aquaracer for example) on a NATO.



Has anyone done similar and happen to have any pictures? Appreciate even a decent quality NATO is only £20-30 so not much money, but I don't really want the hassle of repeatedly buying things and sending them back when they're not right.

[anonymous-user]

I like than as an alternative.

I put a black or olive one on my speedy ever so often but then I also change the bracelet to a strap.

I don’t keep it on for a long time though so I doubt I’d want a watch that only came with a nato, it’s just another option to change the look of the watch now and then,

I’ve got some watches that look good on a nato and others that don’t, it’s about variety really

[ChrisPackit]

I'd be interested to hear the outcome of this, as one of my watches is also the Tag Heuer Aquaracer with the blue bezel & face, and was just wondering the same about the NATO strap. It's a watch I fall in and out of love with, primarily because I have other more expensive ones I prefer to use, so would be nice to see if a change in strap makes me fall back in love with it again. I bought a black rubber strap for it a while ago which I thought suited it well, and I liked the watch until the novelty wore off, and now it's back in the box again :-(

[Hoofy]

It never looks that great but I do like Natos for the practical reasons especially in summer.

It also depends on the lug design because if they and the watch are too chunky, a thin nato just looks unbalanced even if it's tough.

[ZesPak]

I love them. I have about 20 of them in various colours.

[Hoofy]

ZesPak said:

I love them. I have about 20 of them in various colours.

I probably have about the same.

[ManOpener]

So I bit the bullet and ordered a ZuluDiver Marine Nationale in black and grey, as it was the most neutral combination I could find on next day delivery. I'll swap it on when it arrives and see how it looks.

As an aside, I've been a bit unhappy with how scratch prone the Aquaracer seems to be. The clasp seems to have taken the worst of it but there are two fine hairline scratches, one down either side. It's not like I'm rough with them or anything...

This is the F1:

Edited by ManOpener on Thursday 5th July 14:56

[Joey Ramone]

I love 'em, but only on certain watches of mine. I also like to keep the 'fold' under the wrist, as opposed to the side where most people have it.

[MarkJS]

In answer to the original question, I think NATO straps look terrible regardless of what they’re attached to.

I’m sure they’re super comfy - but I’m sure a pair of flannel trousers with an elasticated waistband are too. I wouldn’t want either anywhere near me.

[ManOpener]

Fitted the ZuluDiver:



It doesn't match at all, but I don't hate it. Happy how it looks until such a time as I can find something that's better colours.

[wildoliver]

I run all sorts of straps, I do like NATO's on the right watch, I tend to use them on holiday watches and action watches, last thing I want is a leather strap or bracelet breaking/coming undone if I'm over water or skiing.

[Hoofy]

MarkJS said:

In answer to the original question, I think NATO straps look terrible regardless of what they’re attached to.

I’m sure they’re super comfy - but I’m sure a pair of flannel trousers with an elasticated waistband are too. I wouldn’t want either anywhere near me.

But but they're very practical, comfortable and make a change from leather trousers.

[Paul Drawmer]

I've never liked NATO straps. To me they always look unbalanced with the weight/height of the watch, and I just don't like the look of the extra bits of strap tucked into extra rings. It's wrist bondage.

Whilst the availability of lots of different colours bay be attractive to some, usually I find them just a slightly tacky distraction.

[DT398]

Great way to ruin the look of pretty much any watch imho.

[andy_s]

Most secure way to wear one though.

[DT398]

If you say so. Never used a NATO strap in my life and never lost a watch or had one fall off.

Maybe if you are a paratrooper or a ninja or something like that and your survival depends on knowing what time it is, then fair enough but they look rubbish for day to day wear imho.

Edited by DT398 on Saturday 7th July 22:39

[catso]

DT398 said:

Great way to ruin the look of pretty much any watch imho.

Agreed, they look crap IMO.

[lostkiwi]

Very much dependant on the watch.
On a pilots watch or military watch they look appropriate and done well can add to the appeal of the watch. On the wrong watch or done badly (colours for example) they can look dreadful.

[tyrrell]

Not for me either.

[anonymous-user]

lostkiwi said:

Very much dependant on the watch.
On a pilots watch or military watch they look appropriate and done well can add to the appeal of the watch. On the wrong watch or done badly (colours for example) they can look dreadful.

This is exactly my view and also it depends what you're wearing also.