How To Break In A Nato Strap

If you have bought a couple of Nato straps you will quickly notice that they are all slightly different.

While you probably bought different ones for the colours, you will also find that they are often made out of different materials, with different thicknesses and weaving.

This means that some Nato straps are softer than others and you might find that some can be really stiff.

These straps can be uncomfortable, but luckily it is fairly easy to break them in and make them more enjoyable.

The Price Of A Nato Strap Doesn’t Always Equal Quality

When it comes to Nato straps don’t think that because you paid more, it means you will have a better quality strap. While it can often be true, it isn’t always the case.

The same goes for softness. Just because you’re Nato is very stiff, it does not mean its low quality. You can get plenty of very soft, poor quality Natos and an equal amount of very stiff, great quality ones. 

You can also get elasticated Natos, which you don’t need to do anything with as they are naturally quite soft. However, you can get ones like this that wear out very fast and end up being very loose fitting, so even these are not always of the same level of quality. 

(You can read more about – How Often Should You Change A Watch Strap?)

How To Soften A Nato Strap

Most likely you will not need to do anything. Even if is a little stiff it will probably still be a lot more comfortable than a new leather strap. (You can read – How To Break In A Leather Strap)

Wearing The Stap Will Soften It

The best and easiest thing to do is just wear it. Even if it is a little stiff you will find that it will soon loosen up.

As you wear it the sweat and oils from your skin, as well as the temperature of your arm will naturally break it in and very quickly it will conform to your arm and soften up.

You will find this is usually a lot quicker to break in than leather strap and should only take a few days, or a couple of weeks at most if it is a very stiff strap.

Washing It Will Soften It

Another very easy technique is to wash it. If you are just wearing your watch, it may get wet from washing your hands, which will speed things up. However, you can put the strap in the washing machine and really speed up the process. 

You just need to put the strap into a pocket of some trousers, or fasten the strap to one of the belt loops, then wash them in the washing machine.

You can also do this by hand if you are a little worried about using the washing machine.  

Just use a sink of warm water and wash it by hand using some washing powder.

Whichever option you go for, just let the strap dry naturally and it should be a lot softer once its dries. You can also use some fabric softener in the water, which can really help too.

This whole process is exactly like how denim will soften over time after you have washed it a few times.

Rubbing It Will Soften It

You can speed up the breaking in process by rubbing the Nato strap on something, like a smooth edge. Rub it back and forth over the edge and you should find it will start to loosen up and become softer. This doesn’t really help the edges, so if you are finding them to be too harsh this will not help.

You can also scrunch up the Nato and twist it and stretch it and move it all sorts of directions. This will cause the same effect and should loosen it up.

Basically with this technique you are replicating wearing it and just speeding the process up.

If you are finding your strap very stiff and uncomfortable I would maybe do this technique for a few minutes for the first few days. After that, just wear it and it should break in with no problem

Baking Soda

Another washing type technique is to soak your Nato in warm water with baking soda for around 30 minutes. After you need to rinse it off and let it dry.

I’ve not tried this myself, but apparently it will help soften your strap.

Boiling A Nato Strap Can Soften It

I have heard that some people boil there Nato strap, which is basically an extreme version of washing it.

I probably wouldn’t do this myself. Some Natos are made with a slightly plasticy material. You can sometimes smell the chemicals when you take them out of the packet. I would imagine these are the lower quality Natos.

I think boiling them may melt any glue, or plastic inside the fabric or it could even make the colour run. I don’t know. I just don’t feel this is the right thing to do, but if you are desperate, go for it.

However, it’s not my fault if your Nato melts.  I would stick to using warm water, not boiling. 

(You can read more about – Frequently Asked Questions About – Nato Straps)

Conclusion

Most of the time you will find you Nato more than comfortable enough when you get it. Occasionally they may be a little stiff, but I have found that just wearing them for a few days solves the problem.

I am also usually too excited about the new look it has given my watch to even notice that it’s a little stiff. If you really are not happy, trying washing it with your clothes and that should really improve things.

(You can read more about – How To Pick A Strap For Your Watch)