Best Nato Watch Straps

Up Your Style Game With These Eye-Catching Watch Straps

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The active man and the stylish man are both served well with the implementation of Nato and Zulu straps, whose origin comes from military horological applications. Meant to provide quick-drying, resilient and easy-to-maintain qualities to watch straps, their use has spanned decades to become an integral aspect of the watch world today, used for inexpensive tool watches and for timepieces that cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Nato and Zulu watch straps have become more popular than ever before, not just as aftermarket replacement straps but as part of manufacturer offerings in their top-of-tine lines watches. And make no mistake, they’re here to stay. Nato and Zulu watch straps now come in nearly endless colors and styles.

If you don’t know the difference, much of it can be deciphered based on material thickness and hardware, but the distinctions are beginning to blur. Natos are typically thinner material with squared off, thin hardware rings, while Zulu straps are thicker and have more robust, rounded rings. Regardless of what you choose, the more options you have, the more versatile your watch collection becomes. Here are fifteen straps that run the gamut of prices, but each one brings something fresh to your beauties.

David Lane Designs Horween Shell Cordovan Nato

If you’re searching for a Nato strap that’s ideal for a Rolex Submariner, you can’t just choose a $10 jobbie to stand in for the densely made oyster bracelet that comes with the regal Subie. This Nato, handmade by David Lane, uses Horween leather from Chicago and is edge-dyed and triple-sealed for longevity and uniformity of color. Coupled with stainless steel rings, it’s meant to last and age with beauty.

$120.00 at BespokePost.com

DaLuca Brown Chromexcel Nato

One of the best Nato straps (technically, the thickness and rounded hardware make it more of a Zulu-style) we’ve come across recently is this thick DaLuca that’s handmade and comes in a variety of widths, from a narrow 18mm to an ultra-wide 26mm. It uses richly dyed Chromexcel brown leather and promises years of use for your higher-end timepieces.

$135.00 at Amazon.com

StrapsCo Vintage Brown Leather Nato

This robust strap with blackened hardware looks about right for a larger diameter PVD coated pilot’s watch. The weathered look of the brown leather is properly faded, and the Nato style means an extra layer of leather protection between your wrist and the caseback of your timepiece.

$25.00 at Amazon.com

Infantry MOD

For less money than a few days of Starbucks’ coffee, this Zulu-style strap with a suede-like finish can add a rugged look to your watch. Cheap but not cheaply made, it comes with five stainless steel rings, excellent adjustability and a deceptively pricey aesthetic.

$12.00 at Amazon.com

Clockwork Synergy Premium Blue/Orange/White Striped PVD Nato

The racing-stripe style blue, white and orange Nato might just be the ideal Omega Nato strap for a Speedmaster since the watch has roots in auto racing. PVD hardware would match the Speedmaster’s iconic black face, and you’d be lucky enough to evoke Steve McQueen himself with such a setup.

$15.00 at Amazon.com

Zuludiver Premium Dark Brown Leather Nato Strap

Rich brown leather and contrast stitching make this high-grade leather Nato a must-have accessory for your watches. The Pre-V buckle gives the strap more presence than standard Zulu-style versions and is curved for comfort.

$43.00 at Amazon.com

Clockwork Synergy Premium Black/Grey Stripe Rose Gold Nato Strap

In one of the best combinations of sport and opulence, this black and grey striped Nato comes adorned with five delicious rose gold rings that will make any watch pop. So unique is its look that it might actually get more attention than the watch itself, so choose your pairing wisely.

$18.00 at Amazon.com

DaLuca Natural Chromexcel PVD Nato

Long-lasting and stunning natural chromexcel leather and matte black PVD come together in a low-key but timeless Natostrap that will likely last longer than you. This single strap Nato is ideal for the colder months of the year with its earthy hue and contrasting dark hardware.

$145.00 at Amazon.com

Hodinkee Black Kangaroo Nato

Found Ben Clymer has made an horological site par excellence with Hodinkee, and they even have their own line of premium straps. This Kangaroo Nato is one of their best. The leather is strong and thin, making it great for folding over the end of the strap into the keeper. It’s also just about perfect on a Rolex Submariner Nato.

$90.00 at Hodinkee.com

Friday & River Earth & Sky Nato

Our friends at Friday & River have made one of the most artful Natos on earth with their Earth & Sky Nato strap that’s vegetable-tannedâ and hand-dyed in brown, tan and light blue to mimic nature’s best hues. The brushed stainless steel hardware lends an airiness to the embossed strap, and all of it wouldn’t look remotely out of place with even a dressier timepiece.

$85.00 at FridayAndRiver.com

N.A.T.O. Fluco Black Shell Cordovan

The best aspect of this Horween leather Nato is the contrast white stitching that runs the full perimeter of the strap, giving it more style than the “average” shell cordovan watch band. Mated with a military-style watch, the black and white colorway tuxedos things up nicely.

$149.00 at Amazon.com

StrapsCo Ballistic Nylon 5-Ring Rose Gold Nato

Though this Nylon Nato comes in a vast array of colors, it’s the red hue with the rose gold rings that gets our attention the most. Not your everyday Nato, it’s one to break out for summer barbeques or bolder daytime outfits that call for zero subtlety. The five rose gold rings and the density of the nylon weave mean it’s equal parts flair and fortitude.

$18.00 at Amazon.com

Crown & Buckle HD Blue & Red Nato

This premium-grade Nato strap comes in bold blue and red extra-thick ballistic nylon with your choice of stainless or PVD hardware. It’s so well built and robust that it could easily qualify as a Zulu strap and add serious sportiness to more business-like timepieces.

$15.00 at CrownAndBuckle.com

Related Readings

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The Best Watches Under $500

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