When it comes to watch straps, choosing the right design is imperative - and this is something that’s not necessarily easy. After all, with many styles on offer, finding the perfect look for your needs isn’t always easy. As part of this, when trying to choose the best, you may well have stumbled across several different watch strap styles, and NATO watch straps are perhaps the most common and well known of the available military-inspired options for their durability, versatility, and overall rugged aesthetic.
Still, there are also plenty of other excellent military-inspired watch straps you could consider, such as Zulu and Marine Nationale, which offer distinct features. So, how do these different military straps compare, and which one is best for your needs? Well, we’ll be diving into these exact questions today to help you find your perfect watch straps.
What are NATO and Military Style Watch Straps?
Before we go any further we should briefly first define what NATO and military style watch straps actually are. Simply put, NATO and military style watch straps are unique types of straps that were initially used in military-grade gear. Despite these origins, military style watch straps have more recently become widely used in the fashion field, with people choosing such designs not only for their military-grade practicality and durability but also for their unique aesthetic.
When we talk about the best military style watch straps, NATO watch straps are generally the first that come to mind. The NATO strap was first designed in 1973 for the British Army and features a long-lasting, hard-wearing nylon design with a double-layer strap, giving the strap almost unparalleled durability and ensuring that, even if a spring bar comes loose or breaks, the strap would still remain in place.
However, NATO straps aren’t the only type of military grade watch strap on the market, and there are many other options you might want to consider. These include Zulu and Marine Nationale straps, among others.
What are Zulu Straps?
First of all, let’s quickly have a look at Zulu straps. Zulu Straps are another common military style type of watch strap that’s made from a one-piece design, similar to NATO straps. However, while the NATO strap’s USP is its double-layered design, Zulu straps tend to be a lot simpler and do not always have this two-layer style. Given this, they are less secure than NATO staps, which is worth keeping in mind. However, they are also thicker than NATO straps, which can be useful in some situations.
What are Marine Nationale Straps?
As an alternative to both NATO straps and Zulu straps, Marine Nationale straps are another popular option for military style straps, having been invented by the French Navy as a durable option. Marine Nationale straps - we’ll call them MN straps for short - are highly unique in that their original design was actually based on surplus parachute fabric. However, modern designs use higher-quality materials and are renowned for their comfort. Notably, the elastic webbing throughout the strap’s construction further helps add to its appeal, while the durable stainless steel clasp helps keep your watch securely on your wrist.
Why Are Marine Nationale Watch Straps so Popular?
Marine Nationale straps are definitely one of the most popular military style watch straps, and there are several reasons for this. Of course, the main benefits of Marine Nationale watch straps are the design’s exceptional comfort, durability, and security. These help ensure that the strap will stay on your wrist without the risk of falling off or getting lost, even in potentially tricky environments. Furthermore, there’s the style front to consider; indeed, the aesthetic appeal of Marine Nationale watch straps undoubtedly contributes to making them an often chosen design.
Check out our article here to find out why so many people love a Marine Nationale Strap?
Other Types of Military Style Watch Straps
In addition to NATO, Zulu, and Marine Nationale watch straps, there are also several other common types of military style watch straps you could potentially choose between, including:
- G10/RAF Straps: A modified, slim-profile version of the NATO strap without the additional under-loop.
- Perlon Straps: A braided nylon strap that’s lightweight, flexible, and durable, using a ladder-style adjustment buckle to ensure strength.
- Leather Bund Straps: An older aviation design of watch strap boasting padded backing for a comfortable, durable design - ideal for vintage or professional wear.
- Rubber or Silicone Straps: While not as widely used in military style applications, rubber and silicone watch straps can also be common options for use in diving and special operations thanks to their robust, durable, and highly resistant nature.
What Sets NATO Straps Apart From the Rest?
As we’ve briefly already mentioned, NATO straps are generally considered the classic choice when it comes to military style watch straps, and there are several good reasons for this. Of course, the NATO design does benefit from being one of the first widely implemented military watch straps, which may have helped its fame somewhat; this may have been further accentuated by the strap’s name, which ironically does not actually have anything to do with the political and military alliance of the same name.
However, there are several practical features that help make the NATO watch strap a preferable option to classic designs. Most notably, the single-piece construction with an extra-long strap helps add security and stability to the watch strap. This is further supported by the design’s use of metal keepers and added loops, which help increase the overall durability of the watch strap. Moreover, the double-layered design helps increase the stability of the strap while still allowing for a slimmer, more flexible design.
And, of course, NATO straps typically also use strong materials such as nylon in their construction rather than generic options like leather which can often be far less durable; given this, it’s unsurprising that NATO straps have garnered so much interest.
Comparing NATO Straps and Zulu Straps
By now, we’ve briefly mentioned Zulu straps and their unique properties. However, you may still be wondering: how do NATO and Zulu straps differ from one another? Well, these differences are often pretty subtle, and this can make it feel tricky for people to tell the two apart at first glance. Nonetheless, the changes are certainly there, if you know what to look for.
First of all, there’s the construction of the watch strap and the type of materials used to keep in mind. NATO watch straps are made with a unique pocketed design with multiple layers of material; this helps make the watch sturdier, but keep in mind that it comes with the drawback of also making it bulkier to wear. In contrast, Zulu straps have a simpler design that’s less bulky and lighter in weight; however, they do compromise on stability and security somewhat as a result, particularly for use in challenging scenarios where the watch is likely to undergo a great deal of wear and tear.
There’s also the aesthetics to keep in mind here. Indeed, NATO watch straps use sophisticated rectangular rings in their construction; this helps give them a highly professional aesthetic. In contrast, Zulu watch straps typically have a simpler design. Although these straps are still incredibly durable, their oval-shaped rings can give them a more rustic or casual look overall.
Check out our article here to learn more about the differences between NATO and Zulu watch straps.
This begs the question: which is best for different activities and applications? Well, NATO straps are generally ideal in cases where you need a soft, supple, and flexible strap that won’t compromise on strength or durability, especially if the application also demands a professional look. Field and dive watches as well as watches for professional or corporate wear are core examples of ways that NATO watches can lend themselves.
But what about Zulu watches? Well, with their more casual design and bulkier nature, they’re not as practical for applications needing a lot of flexibility; however, they help contribute an excellent rugged look and are strong and durable enough to withstand most applications, making them great for more casual use and wear.
Key Advantages and Limitations of Other Military-Style Straps
Thus far, we’ve looked into the range of different military-style watch straps available and have outlined a few of the key features. However, you may still be wondering about the main advantages and limitations of each watch strap variety. Well, these are as follows:
- NATO watch straps: Excellent for comfortable, flexible wear but potentially more expensive and may feel a little more bulky than regular watch straps.
- Zulu watch straps: Affordable, casual aesthetic and durable design, but these are typically thick and less flexible than other straps.
- Marine Nationale watch straps: Elasticated design ensures a comfortable, soft fit, however, the straps are less durable than other options and more prone to wear.
- Perlon watch straps: Woven slim nylon materials allow for exceptional strength while maintaining airflow, preventing sweaty wrists; however, they can be a little stiff and may be more prone to fraying than other types of watch straps.
- Leather Bund watch straps: Comfortable designs thanks to the use of leather backing pads. However, they tend to be incredibly bulky and may cause sweating in warm weather.
Choosing the Right Military Strap for Your Needs
By now, we’ve looked at all of the main pros and cons of the different military style watch straps - however, how can you choose the right one for your needs? Well, this will naturally come down to factors such as your own hobbies, personal style, preferences, and the like.
Of course, aesthetics are a big part of this, in many cases. NATO straps are often best for a professional, clean cut look to this end, while Zulu straps have a more rustic style. Meanwhile, for aviation enthusiasts, the unique style of leather bund straps makes them an excellent option to consider.
In addition, it’s worth considering the type of activity you’re looking to do. NATO straps, for example, will often be best for outdoor exploration or diving, as well as some professional settings. Zulu straps are ideal for casual settings and for heavy-duty adventure and more extreme sports, meanwhile, Marine Nationale straps are ideal for settings where a stretchy strap is needed while exploring. Thereafter, Perlon watch straps offer an excellent option for summer time and for hot climates thanks to their lightweight and breathable nature. Finally, Leather Bund straps better suit cold weather applications or make an ideal addition to an aviation-inspired outfit.
Altogether, each of these different types of military nylon watch straps can offer plenty of pros and cons for different scenarios. As a result, it’s important to weigh up the benefits of each to help choose a watch strap that will suit your needs.
Final Thoughts
Overall, picking out the right type of military-grade watch straps can feel a little difficult, but luckily, there are several different military styles available that might work for your needs. So, no matter what type of watch strap you’re looking for - be it the best NATO watch strap, a Marine Nationale band, a Zulu strap, or any other variety of military style strap - there should be a design to meet your needs.
However, it’s important to remember here that even straps of the same style can vary greatly depending on the quality of materials used and the overall attention to detail with construction. Given this, if you’re ready to purchase replacement military-style or NATO straps choosing a reputed supplier is crucial.
Fortunately, this is where we here at the Thrifty Gentleman come in! Our dedication and passion for providing the highest-quality military nylon watch straps is just part of why customers choose us time and time again for their own style. Why chance it; invest in the best military-grade watch straps today!