What Is A NATO Strap?

If you have started collecting watches you have probably hear Nato straps being mentioned as they are very popular option for watch enthusiasts to use, but what actually are they?

On someone’s wrist it may just look like any other watch strap, but when you get a bit closer you will realise they are a little different.

They are pretty simple straps, but extremely functional and they offer a lot to your watch, and not just from how they look, but will go through what they are all about below.

How Are Nato Straps Designed?

Nato straps are designed slightly differently to the usual two piece style of watch strap. They are actually just one long piece of material that is able to pass through the spring bars in a way that loop the watch onto the strap.

While this may seem like the watch is able to slide around, it won’t. The straps are able to loop through the watch in a way that hold it very steady and this also makes the watch a lot safer too. If one of the spring bars where to fail, the watch would still be attached via the other spring bar.

In a more traditional two piece strap, the strap is attached to the spring bar itself, so if there is a failure here, the watch is no longer attached and will fall off the wrist and hit the floor.

The Extra Length Of Material

While Natos are a single length of material, they will often have a little extra length attached to one end.

This is to add extra security, but it is not always necessary and many people opt to cut this part off.

Nato Straps Can Be All Sorts Of Different Colours

As Nato straps are made from nylon, they can come in all sorts of different colours. They are commonly seen with a stripe pattern, but you can get other designs too, and of course there is always the single colour option if you prefer that.

The range of colour is vast and really if you can imagine it, it probably exists.

Nato Straps Can Have Different Buckles

You will also find that the buckles can vary between Nato straps, but in general, they function the same. There is the usual buckle and holes that you will find on a regular two piece strap, and then there are a few extra buckle loops that allow you tuck the extra length of strap into.

Really the only difference is the colour or shape, they are all pretty similar, you will not be suddenly surprised by a Nato strap with a completely different buckle system. 

You Can Get Different Size Nato Straps

Just like any other type of strap, Natos are available in different sizes.

This of course means the width, so that they can fit with different watches, when you go to buy any strap it will tell you how wide it is, so that you know it is the right size for your watch.

You can also get different lengths of Nato straps. Usually this is a little harder to determine and not every seller will say exactly how long they are. However the good ones usually say how long it is by just telling you the actual length. 

This isn’t always that helpful, but if you have some straps already you can measure them and see how they compare. I have ended up with a few straps that are quite short and a few that see a little long and there is a difference in how they wear, so now I like to try and find the measurements before I buy if possible.

Nato Straps Can be Made From Different Materials

I have already mentioned that Nato straps are made from nylon and this is by far the most common material.

You will find quite a range in the textures of this material. Some are quite thick and stiff, while others are very soft and pliable. I have generally found that cheaper Natos seems to be this more stiff plastic type of nylon.

While the majority are nylon, you can also get Natos made from other material. You will sometimes find perlon straps, which is technically a form a nylon, it is just made slightly differently and you get a different texture.

You can also find Nato straps being made out of leather which can be awesome once they are broken in and you can also find an elastic stretchy type material, which will give you the best fit out of all these materials, simply as it can stretch perfectly around your wrist.

(You can read more about – How Does A NATO Strap Differ From Other Types Of Watch Straps?)

What Is The Histroy Of Nato Straps?

The history of Nato straps is pretty cool. They where first used by the British military in the early 1970s. They were issued to the Special Forces and as the straps are robust and easily adjustable to go either under or over a uniform, they grew in popularity and where soon issued to the rest of the military and also to other NATO forces.

The original straps where a dark grey, but soon they made them in different colours, which actually represented different regiments. Every regiment has a coloured belt that is worn to quickly identify who belongs to what unit and the Nato straps just copied this. This is why they are usually found today with the strips on them.

As everything is issued to soldiers in the army, and it comes from a store house, and all the items are given a stock number so they can be easily be identified and records can be kept and what not. As the British military where a NATO member, they stock numbers where called “NATO stock numbers” and over time the straps that where being issued where just being called “Nato straps” among the soldiers and the name stuck, even when they started being sold in the civilian market.

People often think that “Nato” is a brand or something, but it’s not, it’s just a nickname for this single piece type of nylon strap that was often issued to soldiers.  

What Watches Can You Use Nato Straps With?

 Nato straps are pretty versatile and they will work with a large number of different styles of watches.

Really the best advice I can give you is to just put your watch on a Nato and see what you think. If you like it, that is all that matters. You will find some watches just feel right on a Nato, while others may not look as good.

Of course there are some people who just don’t like Natos, so of course they will think they look dreadful on all watches.

However, I have gone into this in much more detail in this article – Are NATO Straps Suitable For All Types Of Watches? Where I go through all the different styles of watches and how they might look with a Nato strap.

Are Zulu and Nato Straps The Same Thing?

You will often hear Nato straps being referred to as “zulu straps” and this can cause a little bit of confusion.

They are actually two different types of straps that look fairly similar, so the confusion is easily understood.

I have actually covered this in more detail in this article – What Is The Difference Between a NATO Strap and a Zulu Strap?

Conclusion

Hopefully that clears up what exactly a Nato strap is. They are pretty interesting and if you haven’t got one already, I would strongly advice you pick up a couple of different colours and see how they match with your watch.

You will find they can really transform how you watch feels and it can be like you have a new watch, they are cheap, comfortable and just look cool.

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