Are NATO Straps Too Casual?

Have you ever thought about adding a NATO watch strap to your look?

In many cases, the designs of NATO straps can be excellent in a wide array of applications, making them an especially popular type of watch strap for an increasing number of people. This is largely thanks to their association with a rugged, utilitarian aesthetic, harking back to their military origins.

However, a common question stands for many people: are NATO straps too casual? Well, this is something we’ll be exploring in today’s article.

By the time you finish reading, we hope we will have helped you to decide whether these durable strap options could lend themselves to your own day-to-day wear.

A Brief History of NATO Straps

Before we go any further, we should first start by considering briefly the history of NATO straps and how this ties in with their modern, casual look. Simply put, NATO watch straps have a rich history rooted in military design, originally developed by the British Ministry of Defence in 1973.

Originally known as the "G10 strap," NATO watch straps were built with a strong emphasis on security, durability, and practicality, all being core requirements for its use in a high-intensity environment.

Their unique one-piece double-pass design ensures that the watch and strap remains securely attached to the wrist, even in the most challenging conditions, which naturally proved integral for military use.

However, alongside working exceptionally well for military applications, it also proved valuable for civilian wear, eventually leading to the humble NATO strap entering the world of fashion as well.

These days, although there are many people who aren’t acutely aware of the design origins and its features, NATO straps, one of the best military style watch straps, have become a lasting staple in everyday fashion, with many modern watch designs using this style of strap.

And, as collectors, adventurers, and casual watch enthusiasts alike began to recognise the value of NATO straps, their popularity grew massively; in turn, this eventually led to high-end brands such as Omega and Tudor embracing the style in their own collections.

However, one key question arises at this point: while the practicality of NATO straps is undeniable, it’s important to consider whether their military origin makes them genuinely practical for everyday wear. Indeed, does its military background inherently make a NATO strap casual... or does it add character and heritage?

That’s perhaps a question that only you can answer for yourself but lets dig a little deeper.

What Makes a Strap “Casual”?

With the history of NATO watch straps in mind, it’s safe to say that they weren’t originally designed for a more formal application. Nonetheless, a military-inspired design shouldn’t immediately mean that they’re solely utilised as a casual design piece. But, whilst we're on the subject, what exactly makes a strap be classed as “casual,” anyway?

Well, there are several factors that can potentially make a strap casual, and investigating these factors should help you decide whether you consider a NATO strap casual or semi-formal.

Generally speaking, casual straps are often made from more comfortable and relaxed materials, and they may also feature vibrant patterns or colours as opposed to classic, stylish choices, e.g. brown or black leather.

Moreover, casual straps are generally thicker than their more formal counterparts in order to enhance comfort and durability.

With the aforementioned points in mind, we can now consider whether a NATO watch strap fits comfortably into the “casual” category. We’ll break this down into three main factors:

• Materials. Since NATO straps generally use comfortable, soft nylon or fabric, rather than leather or metal, it's fair to say they generally fit the casual style in terms of the materials used.
• Design and fit. Generally, NATO straps have a more casual design than formal watch straps due to their thicker one-piece double-pass construction. This effectively raises the watch slightly off the wrist, adding comfort but compromising the strap’s overall refinement, instead giving NATO straps a "sportier" daily wear look that’s generally considered to be more casual overall.
• Colour and design. Modern NATO watch straps are historically plain in colour, although they are now also available in more vibrant designs. Given its versatility from a colour perspective, NATO watch straps have the potential therefore to be either casual or formal in colour, depending on which design you choose.

Given the factors we’ve just looked at, it’s safe to say that NATO straps would definitely be considered traditionally a casual type of watch strap.

However, that’s not necessarily a bad thing, and the level of “casualness” will very much depend on the exact design you choose.

Are NATO Straps Always Too Casual?

Given that we’ve now clarified that NATO watch straps are, indeed, a casual watch strap design, a new question comes to mind: are they too casual?

Well, while this will always come down to personal preference, there are several things you can keep in mind to help you decide if NATO straps will be right for your needs.

Now, it’s first important to consider how NATO straps work with different watch designs and whether they complement your existing outfits.

Fortunately, NATO straps generally complement casual watch designs (sports or dive watches, for example) perfectly, and they look perfect with a more rugged or casual outfit. This makes them excellent for many different watch types, including Seiko divers, Hamilton Khakis, and IWC Pilots watches.

However, while NATO straps can work incredibly well with casual designs, you may still be wondering whether they’re a good fit for more formal options, such as dress watches.

Well, given their bulkier design, you’d ordinarily say no - however, recent trends may be challenging that norm. Notably, NATO watch straps can potentially be paired successfully with formal dress watches if they’re designed in neutral colours, including navy, black, and grey, and have a slim profile.

Meanwhile, leather or seatbelt-weave NATO straps may further contribute to a more refined aesthetic that could work well with dress watches.

Can NATO Straps Be Formal - How to Style Them Up

As we’ve mentioned, NATO watch straps are generally used in more casual settings; however, modern fashion is slowly starting to incorporate this unique watch strap design for more formal applications as well.

Given this thought, it’s worth keeping the following tips in mind if you want to wear your NATO watch straps in a more formal setting:

• Always stick with neutral, solid colours, and try to avoid stripes or bright colours; these will often reduce the formality and refinement of your look.
• Leather or Seatbelt-style weave NATO straps are generally best to this end.
• Selecting the right type of watch is also crucial, as not all formal watches will work with NATO straps; dress watches (such as vintage Rolex Explorer watches or the Omega Aqua Terra) can be prime examples of this.

And, of course, don’t forget to consider how your choice of strap will work with your outfits.

NATO watch straps can work well with smart-casual suits and blazers, so this is worth keeping in mind.

When NATO Straps Shine

Thus far, we’ve focused on whether you can use NATO watch straps in a formal environment - but what about for day-to-day wear? Indeed, just because NATO watch straps are casual doesn’t have to mean they can’t work for your look, and as such, they’re ideal for many casual daily applications. Plus, they’re easy to switch to match different outfits and settings.

As such, NATO watch straps shine in casual environments and for daily wear, making them one of the best options for many daily uses.

When NOT to Wear a NATO Strap

While we’ve clarified that NATO watch straps are exceptionally versatile, it’s important to note that there are certain scenarios in which they just won’t work well. The main example of this is black-tie events where a smart-casual look won’t be enough; in these cases, choosing a metal or leather strap could be a more appropriate option.

In addition to this, whether a NATO strap will work well often also depends on the type of watch you’re wearing. For example, they typically won’t pair well with slim watches with low lug clearance, as the additional bulk and width added by NATO straps can potentially raise the watch too far off the wrist, making them look awkward and feel a little strange.

And don’t forget: spring bar access is paramount for NATO straps, and some more unique watches won't have standard spring bars between the lugs. As such, these watches also won’t work well for NATO installation.

Final Thoughts From The Thrifty Gentleman On The Formality Of NATO Straps

By their very nature, NATO straps are generally casual at heart, but that doesn’t make them unsuitable for smarter settings too. Indeed, their versatility means that these strap designs are often useful for both casual and formal environments, and as such, you may want to consider using NATO straps in your own outfits.

Indeed, provided you’ve chosen the right strap and watch pairing, NATO straps can be surprisingly adaptable, allowing them to lend themselves well to both casual and refined looks alike.

And, while they’re unlikely to work well in black-tie events, their range and versatility ensure you’ll be able to find a look that works for many scenarios.

But, of course, not every NATO strap will necessarily be designed with refinement in mind.

Fortunately, our collection of premium straps here at The Thrifty Gentleman has been carefully curated to ensure our designs work well in a wide range of environments. As such, no matter what you’re looking for from your new watch strap, our team can help!

From classic, stylish NATO designs to more vibrant choices, our watch straps are built to last while still providing a design that can work in many settings. Discover our collection today!