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Who knew you could romanticize the nato strap so much! Well done my man!

Before trying them, I too had doubts about the NATO. However, after getting one on a watch deal I can confirm the comfort and security it gives the watch wear experience. I've since added a bunch to my watch tool tin. My personal recommendation: put your Amphibia on a colour matched NATO. Their steel bracelet is painful so you lose nothing in trying.

Another fabulous video! Thank you, ID Guy. I couldn't appreciate G10 straps until I saw the Bond Omega iteration. Now, I can't get enough of them. Please keep up the glorious content. It is appreciated.

The best way to strap any watch in adventure situations / expeditions and an alternative and stylish option for urban/city use. Great work @IDGuy

Used to dislike them (was a bracelet only wearer) but now love 'em.. Comfortable with a bit of style & endless variety. Currently wearing my sarb017 on a Connery Bond 😎 Cheers 👍🏻👍🏻

Pics of the Apollo crews with the 'Speedies' on nylon, got me into that look.

Excellent, clear, and helpful video! I’m about to purchase a Bond. Thx!👍

Excellent video as always! I am a huge fan of NATO staps! Comfortable, durable and stylish etc. - and I am wearing my Seiko 'King Samurai' Save The Ocean SRPE33K1 with a black/grey Bond OMEGA NATO strap.

With regard to omega natos it needs to be mentioned that they ask 155 bucks which is completely out of proportion for nylon, one of the cheapest materials in the industry. They call it Polyamid on their website to hide this but it is just nylon.

Absolutely love NATO straps. I wore a standard grey one on a Seiko Gen 1 RAF chrono throughout the 90’s. So comfortable and also one less worry. I never worried about damaging my watches bracelet. If something happened to the NATO, I just threw it away and slipped a new one on the watch. They are so cheap in comparison to a damaged bracelet. The newer colourways that are appearing on NATO straps these days are (as you have pointed out) a great way to personalise the look of your watch. Yet another great video here my friend. ✊

Great watch strap, my nato is a Ritchie, priced at 4 for $12. Perfect for a $5k watch.

I love nato strap so much. I went from a g-Shock to a seiko SRPD. I regretted at first because the bracelet was very uncomfortable, compared to the lighter g-shock rubber band i was used to. It was especially uncomfortable when typing on a desk. I changed to a nato and i absolutely love it, the watch feels 2 times lighter, and i don't even notice it on my hand. I especially love sleeping with it because i don't feel it anymore. Im never going back to bracelets.

love Nato straps, i find them so comfortable and have the greatest colour choices compared to other types, i have them on all my watches including Omegas and Brietlings.

Purchased a speedy pro around six months ago and have worn it on a number of NATO straps*, however a few weeks ago I decided to change things up and put it on the metal bracelet for the first time, it completely changes the look and fit of the watch and although I enjoyed wearing on the bracelet I find myself back to a NATO strap having watched this video earlier today. *I opted for the Omega NATO’s given the quality, finish and wearability of them, only downside is the price. Great video!

Great explanation and strap show.

What on earth are the downvotes for? Surely they are trying to say they don’t like the straps, because these are the best presented videos on YT.

I wear my Seamaster 300 on the Omega black grey Spectre style nato strap.... Extremely great quality and very comfortable. Makes the watch look so much better too!

Another great video, thanks mate. Big fan of natos, almost a requirement in the US Southwest desert summers. Cheers 👍⌚

another fabulous video! thanks mate. (using a Goldfinger Bond NATO on a Steiny OB1, right now)

Well said! Such practical, versatile straps that add so much enjoyment to the hobby of watch collecting.

Another brilliant vid. Love natos.

At first I was hesitant, but after getting my first vintage Rolex (delivered sans bracelet), I became a convert. NATO straps are both comfortable, secure, and stylish in their own right. The straps are also cheap and easy to swap out. Love them!

Here’s a pro tip... Wear your NATO strap backwards so the buckle is on the inside of your wrist. This way your wrist won’t rest on the buckle when sitting at a desk. The wrist naturally rests ever so slightly on the outside of your wrist. Theirs makes the NATO that more comfy.

Because of recommendation from a buddy from work I went to NATO straps. Thanks for clarifying that the watch band doesn't have anything to do with actual Nato but classic styling. I wear all nato straps on my time pieces.

Agreed! Nice video mate

Ça me donne des idées, merci!

Pretty Cool. IDGuy!!👍👍👍🇺🇸🎩🇺🇸

This is magical.

NATO Recommendations: x Olive Green (Seatbelt) x Khaki (Zulu) x Navy Blue (Seatbelt) x Original Bond RAF (Geckota) x Admiralty Grey (Phoenix) x MN Elastic Strap (Erica’s Originals) x Omega / Tudor Straps

Absolutely love NATO's. So many choices!

Dare I say one of your best ever ? Right up there with a young Armand in his pomp , immersed in detail . It does help that it features MY Pusser's G10 strap . 18mm to fit the dreaded CWC . Can't wait for the MN Tudor vid ;) ... Reason behind the "Destro " ( LHD) ones ? Depth gauge and compass were worn on the left ....allegedly ...lastly Carl at semi retired Gas Gas Bones is worth a shout if you are a fan of nylon.

I have my Hamilton khaki field automatic on a Bond NATO strap . I love it .

Tool watches naturally lend themselves to the NATO strap, and in some cases the straps actually enhance the look of the watch reinforcing the idea that these watches are built for rugged outdoor wearing!

Every watch I own that I truly care about is on a nato. I highly recommend them! Another plus is they help keep the watchback off your skin if you happen to have nickel allergies such as I do. Even stainless steel contains traces of nickel!

Agree Natos allow for great versatility and utility. Well done. Cheers.

As a hairy armed guy who could never find a right fitting titanium band that didn't pinch, NATO bands are a lifesaver for me, especially out in the wild when I'm hiking or backpacking and need my Protrek.

Love NATOs. I recently got a gray for my Seiko Turtle Ocean and a Bond for my 2005 Seamaster 300 Titanium. Should look nice. Good video, thanks.👍🏼

Having discovered this, I have a new appreciation for my diver dressed with a 5 buckle zulu. 😊

And Cheers to you ID Guy for showing the alternative over under technique for wearing the NATO a couple of years ago. It takes away the bulk of the usual method of wearing the NATO. Is the link in the description? It should be.

I love my red Vostok Komenderski on a red NATO strap I bought it on Aliexpress for $3.00. Perfect for a watch I wear only a couple of times a month.

I love wearing nato straps, it really changes the look of my watches. I personally find seatbelt natos the most comfortable. Natos from Cincy Strap Co are my favourite - they have outlasted all of my other nato straps. Thank you for another excellent video Guy :)

I agree, I love NATO straps

Tony Hill's post is the historically correct account of the origin of the strap. But these straps had a purpose for which they were designed and only alluded to in the commentary. They were designed specifically to prevent the watch being lost or damaged if a spring bar broke, which was a common thing for a working military watch subjected to knocks and getting caught or tangled in bushes etc. I have three watches on Nato's and I wear mine with the twin loops on the 6 o/clock side, instead of the more common 12 o/clock side.

Great video. I love NATO straps. I thought you were about to make a statement at the end of the video that you would be releasing a line of IDGuy NATO’s yourself 😁👍

I think in the last few years I became a G10 purist. I was searching the net for different types of high-quality seat belt Natos from different suppliers in different colors. In the end, I found Cabot Watch Company that still sells the Phoenix G10 as well as their own CWC G10 strap. After trying them both I must say the CWC is by far the best and most comfortable G10 strap I have ever owned. While I guess the Phoenix stays pretty true to the originals issued in the 70s, it is very soft but also the holes start to fray very quickly (which CWC was pretty open about it) the CWC is a more modern interpretation that holds up way better while still being very comfy. Both the Phoenix in Admiralty Grey as well as the CWC in Nato Grey go well with everything. I don't think that I will need any other G10 strap than those. And if it worked for the SBS, it sure works for me ;-)

Maratac and Phenomenato straps are wonderful!

I find NATO straps to be very practical and comfortable. With the buckle sitting on the side of your wrist is way more comfortable than having it on the bottom as with metal bracelets and the huge clasp digging into your wrist. If they get dirty, put them in the wash and they are good as new. Plus, they are lighter than a solid link bracelet and can be worn in any weather conditions from extreme heat to extreme cold. Why buy a strap from Omega and pay hundreds of dollars when you can get the same quality from Crown & Buckle for a fraction of the price. Check out their Supreme straps. Mulled buckle and keepers and seatbelt nylon.

I never used a NATO strap in the 80s when I was a soldier as the G1098 watches were old hat and we all had digital watches that beeped continually. The stripey NATO straps were originally copies of regimental stable belts which some of guys liked. But be careful folks, don't walk into a pub wearing a Guards Division watch strap, unless you are an ex Guardsman. I have a nice olive green NATO for the summer , if it gets sweaty, I put it in the washing machine.

I've always liked them, but they I have a few mil watches in my collection with fixed bars so goes without saying. Phoenix NATO have gone downhill in recent years but I'm told the CWC branded ones are equal to the Phoenix of old so I must get some. I mainly use Condor NATO straps which are great for the money. The Omega ones are very expensive but nothing competes with the quality.

Great video as always IDG 👍 What's car-key colour though😋

I have a khaki-colored nato I wore in the military. It’s beat to hell, but looks incredible on a rugged field watch or a utilitarian diver.

You should checkout the NATO single pass straps put out by Springmade. They are excellent and are micro adjustable for that just right fit.

I have a black Komandirskie with a black leather NATO strap and it looks so bad ass!!

I've seen NATOs for several years now, but never, ever considered wearing one. I had no idea that I would like them until I bought my first (a Bond NATO) a few months. They are much cooler than I thought. They really do change up the look and in a good way. It's weird because whenever I saw them on another dude's wrist, I thought they were ugly and asymmetrical.

Great video IDGuy. I prefer single pass NATO's.

You can quickly change the look of your watch from casual to formal with a quick strap change.

I suggest buying some of the very inexpensive 5 or 6 strap sets on Amazon. They're mediocre quality, but they cost about $3 US each when purchased this way, and they provide an opportunity to try various colors on your watches so you can decide what you like best. Once you've settled, then select higher quality straps in the same colors, and save the Amazon straps for your beater watches.

I like the material but not the extra thickness under the watch or the excess strap folded back at the top of the watch. After getting a 2-piece nylon strap with quick release spring bars I don't think I'll ever buy another NATO. It's khaki and looks great on my ageing dive watch, but because the fabric has a tight weave and a slight sheen, it also wears well with my white-dial dress watch, which surprised me to say the least! I'd never wear the same colour NATO on that watch, because it those give a watch a more rough-and-ready personality. The 2-piece is more versatile.

Could you help me please (anybody)? What is the series number of that nice Pulsar at 0:41? Or where can I find it? (I've searched at some places but no success.)

I don't know if you'll see this two years after the fact, but what colour nato would you recommend for the cream dial Citizen 'Brycen' chrono?

What color nato strap would you suggest on a 19 green sumo?

I have nato strap about 5 year ago. at the first 6 month it good it not wet but after that it turn to a bit fluff then it seem never dry.

RAF is actually a type of nylon strap more than a color. It is a nylon strap with a nylon keeper as opposed to metal hardware.

do you get into a discussion on quality of these things anywhere else? The conundrum I seem to be hearing is 'Phoenix quality in bad, but its the only way to get the real Admiralty grey vintage look'. My watches are Rolex, so that rules out Omega straps...help?

I've never tried a nato strap before, I've always just kept my watches on the supplied bracelets or leather straps they come with.... Maybe I should buy some nato straps next instead of another watch

Omega straps are nice but the new Tudor straps are amazing to me. By far my favorite style of fabric strap as I much prefer a single pass to a double pass as the thickness it adds to a watch and how high off the wrist it sits really bugs me.

I'm still on the fence on trying one..I just don't like the huge keepers on them and how it sticks out so much on the far side of the wrist when it's tucked in..it looks like you have a big bump on your wrist sticking out..

If it was good enough for 1960's Bond (as played by Sean Connery), it's certainly good enough for me. :)

I love NATOs , and I got an Omega NATO, based on it's unique color pattern, but once strapping it on, the sharp edges of the hard ware on the Omega makes it horribly uncomfortable, and it actually diggs into the wrist. Really unfortunate since it was such a nice pattern, and the price I paid :(

I use NATOs exclusively as I don’t like other types at all...nor do I want to lose my watch in a river, lake, ocean, or forest. Grey and khaki are by far my most used colours in the seatbelt material of 1.4mm thick. For a luxurious feel I use 1.2mm thick in the same material in various colours. Isn’t it odd, for “luxury” you always seem to get less for your money. ;)

I have become a big fan of NATO’s over the years, not just in nylon, but in all types of materials including leather & even kangaroo 🦘 leather. I prefer my NATO to be thinner so the 1.2mm over the standard 1.4mm but on Occassion the more robust version is a better alternative. I also love a custom made NATO or an OEM NATO like from Omega for example. Great 👍 VLOG as always @IDGuy on a very popular subject.

I’m not sure I’d refer to the “Vintage Bond” pattern worn by Sean Connery in “Goldfinger” as “RAF”. Bond was a Royal Navy Officer, possibly a former commando in the Special Boat Service, but not the Royal Air Force.

The SOLE thing i dislike about NATOs is that unmodified ones aren't to kind on large watches on top of these two layers of material. Otherwise it's a nice, unique and historical concept.

Haveston Straps are great!!!!!

I freeze up when purchasing due to uncertainty of how the strap will actually look. One of these strap companies needs to invest in technology to upload photos or search for your watch and then show it with the strap of your liking. It would increase buyer confidence which increases sales and would have a positive impact on returns.

I wear my Seamaster 300 8800 on leather and Omega original NATO strap and barely on bracelet as i do not like the design of it, unlike on PO 8500 which has nice bracelet but that one I mostly wear on rubberish strap from Omega for it.

Crown and Buckle has a Chevron strap line which mimics Tudor. They are fantastic. They have natos that are seatbelt style which were a disappointment. I prefer their premium natos.

Not a fan of the bulk they add or the keepers on the side. I enjoyed your thoughts on them though.

How about leather natos?

I do like the South African Accent

NATO straps are great way to use on almost every watch excluding dress watch. However, the Hamilton khaki pilot pioneer mechanical/W10 makes it seems dressy in admiral gray nato straps.

One thing that no one is talking about is the size of the watch you want to put on nato. It works only for watches smaller than your typical max size! In diameter and height. If your max is 42mm then for nato it would be 40mm. If you prefer up to 14mm thickness, than with nato you should stick with 12mm or thinner...

I will only put nato on cheap watches. I had nato on my Daytona and Sea-Dweller. After a few months I switched to the bracelets, and had to polish the backs of the watches with some 3K grit wet/dry paper because the nato had left marks.

Nit to be confused with G10, the handgun grip material.

I don't like nato because of the loop on the side. it's a distract from the watch design and make it look big. however i do like perlon on field watches. I find them match the watches very well. otherwise i will keep it on a bracelet specially on a diver. but it would be fun to change the colors everyday if you have a strap monster of watch which i don't currently

I actually like that it cheapens the look of a watch, I like a nice watch but don't want it to suggest that i'm wealthy, which i'm not

The strap Bond wears is NOT a NATO strap; it’s an RAF strap, which you incorrectly say is a sub-type of NATOs. RAFs are just a type of single-piece nylon strap. NATOs are a very specific kind of nylon strap, not a generic term for all nylon straps. Also, its underlying colour is not black, but dark navy.

My entire watch box is on NATO straps. Even my Gshocks. I have a drawer full of them. I've tried bracelets, leather, rubber, silicone, but I always go back to the mighty NATO.

Does anyone else not like wearing a NATO in the summer? I despise sweating thru a fabric and having to wear it.

Khaki sand > All

Personally I don’t see nato straps as all that sporty. I usually wear just an oyster bracelet, but o really wanted a more sporty watch I would just use rubber.

The Tricolour NATO's deserve a shout-out in their own right. France? Italy? Germany? Russia? Netherlands? Austria? We got you covered! 2€ on AliExpress.

I tried on a NATO, the most uncomfortable thing I've ever had the misfortune of wearing. That loop on the side gets snagged on everything and forget about putting on a jacket. Cheers

Oh yes,the below mentioned supplier is additionally the only one who supplies straps of the correct length..........................

Using g10

It’s a British Army invention.

When I use a keyboard, I rest my hands on the desk - *those NATO strap clips stick out too far and DIG* into the wrists. *IDGuy, please re-design those half-assed clips*

Most adventure watches like Rolex, omega, look better with a NATO or rubber strap. They are also safer in general for work environments.

This is the only reference I have ever seen that a NATO strap can be used for formal dress. The NATO strap is a casual item, and as such is not appropriate for formal dress. Leather is appropriate for formal dress, as mentioned in any proper fashion etiquette guide.