Posted: 8/16/2018 1:52:45 PM EDT
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Figured we could get one consolidated thread where we can share feedback on straps, etc...
Not sure who the mod is for this neck of the woods but maybe we can tack it up. I'll pull some of the more recent threads I started into here and would appreciate if you all could do the same @sgtlmj @unsub073 @timbo @mattyvac @flyskate ------- -------- ---------- Moost Strap Co. Premium Slim Always looking for the next new Nato or Zulu strap to try out, usually in grey. Moose Strap Co. here.... puts out the most comfortable strap I've worn yet. I'm a big zulu strap fan as I hate all the rings and extra strap to deal with so I quickly mod natos into a RAF style strap and cut the keeper off. The bonus is that their premium line is only 1.2mm thick and fits between tight spaces as found on the Rolex and Omega divers. When my sub gets back from the spa it will have this grey strap and I just ordered a black one for non bracelet wear. For $20 they are worth trying out, insanely comfortable. Attached File Attached File ------------ Toxic Natos - Scurfa Rubber Vintage Strap Terry and Scurfa came up with a classic rubber dive strap. It’s thin and insanely comfortable. Will be getting all colors. I’ve never been a big fan of the stiff straps and don’t like the silicon ones. So this is the best of both worlds. Strap here Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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Maratac Zulu
here These have been historically my go to when it comes to single pass style straps. I've still got some from 2008 that are trucking despite being dirty and worn - the strap is still going strong. Note these are thicker at 1.5mm +/- so that should be considered for heads with tight spring bar clearance issues. For the Seiko and Marathon crowd these have been great and support additional heft with bulkier watch heads. Attached File Also helps they have a great grey color option. |
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Quoted:
is that the official strap being sold at the NATO PX? if so, ill take one Oddly I only see these straps appear when there is a big, messy function about to happen. I.E. mud run, combat dining event etc. It's rare to see a NATO strap being worn anymore, at least by us Yanks anyway. ALL the high speed guys wear Gs with stock straps. |
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Haveston Canvas.
The canvas is super comfortable, and I really like the sliding keeper. I've only had them for a couple of weeks, so I can't speak to the long term durability test yet, but I will be buying more of them when they release different colors. The length is good for my wrist @ 6 3/4, and there is plenty of room to grow for you gorilla wrist people out there. 
If anyone needs a different angle picture, let me know. |
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This one's a bit off the beaten path. Having a love affair with the fixed-bar CWC watches is sometime a challenge when it comes to straps. I had my first one when we lived in Hawaii, and I was in the ocean every day. Anyone who regularly wears nylon will know that it's not very comfortable wearing a soggy strap all day. My solution was to find a good rubber NATO. I tried the Bonetto 298, but it was too thick to make it through the bars. I tried the cheap silicone straps from Blushark, but they were way too limp, and the silicone picked up all the lint and dust. Bonetto also makes a slimmer rubber NATO, the 328. I got a black one from Holben's and a grey from Watchgecko. The only problem I found with them is that I don't like having two pieces of strap elevating the watch head off my wrist. Pretty easy fix with these: They come from Bonetto with the extra flappy bit like most NATO's, but these are a simple matter of removing it (uses springbars) and relocating the floating keeper. Original on the bottom, modified on the top: 
I then had to shorten them a bit since the keepers are too thin to accept a folded end. Used a clamp, two nickels, exacto knife and sandpaper: 
End result: Nice vanilla-scented NBR rubber strap with enough thickness to stabilize the watch head while allowing easy drying. 
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I also have one of Erika's straps that I previously posted about: https://www.ar15.com/forums/general/Another-Strap-Review-Erikas-Originals/178-2133144/ I started out with a proper NDC strap, which led me to wanting something a bit better. While I waited for Erika to build my strap, I did some mods that made the original MN NDC strap more comfortable.
This is how most NDC straps come. They are parachute webbing, and were originally intended to strap the watch head to a diving navigation/clip board: 
They are traditionally worn like a NATO, with one piece through the bars and the other floating under the watch head. Both ends are then threaded through the little sider that the hook attaches to. I hate having more material than necessary under the watch head, so *snip!* 
The elastic is easily cauterized with a lighter like a nylon strap. I then located a 3/4" flat tri-glide slider from Strapworks.com. 
End result is a very comfortable, easily adjustable strap that looks great! It even smells like a moldy military warehouse, so I've got that going for me. Which is nice. 
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...and here's my original review of Erika's:
Got my https://erikasoriginals.com strap today. I already have an actual NDC strap that is crazy comfortable, but I wanted to have one long enough to double wrap (no material under the watch head) around both fixed bars of my CWC, so I custom ordered one from Erika. Took about a week to arrive. Pretty happy with how it turned out. Erika takes the French NDC strap to the next level, and adds a ton of options. The strap is basically a heavy-duty elastic band with some rudimentary hardware. It's a different vibe than the ubiquitous NATO, and is super secure. Took a while to get it fitted, which is the only big downside to the way I have the strap wrapped around the watch. Standard NDC strap mounting has you running it under the watch head like a NATO, so it can be swapped out quicker. I'll report back once I've given it a good workout and had it wet/sweaty/dirty for a while. NDC Strap: 
Erika's: 
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Here's a new startup. Only has 22mm so far, but I like the hardware and the price.
http://www.thewatchsteward.com/22mm-straps.html |
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Quoted:
Here's a new startup. Only has 22mm so far, but I like the hardware and the price. http://www.thewatchsteward.com/22mm-straps.html As a single pass fan I FENT on this, we shall see the quality sometime this week. |
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RAF
These are still my go-to straps for just junking around. They are very similar to Marathon's, and I think they are probably the same manufacturer that CountyComm uses. I default to the tan (Desert Sand). Their OD green is more forest, and the gray is almost silver. They can be found on eBay at this store: https://www.ebay.com/str/outletgoods for $12.50/ea shipped.  The best OD Green RAF-style strap I've found is Toxic NATO's Royal's XL. The color is perfect. I'd rather have a fixed keeper on an RAF though. Was thinking about just doing a blob of hot glue to make it stay put. Pity they don't do PVD buckles on these as an option. https://www.toxicnatos.com/collections/watch-straps/products/toxicroyals-xl |
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Quoted:
RAF These are still my go-to straps for just junking around. They are very similar to Marathon's, and I think they are probably the same manufacturer that CountyComm uses. I default to the tan (Desert Sand). Their OD green is more forest, and the gray is almost silver. They can be found on eBay at this store: https://www.ebay.com/str/outletgoods for $12.50/ea shipped. http://www.timeconnector.com/images/ebay/NMS0R01-8201.jpg The best OD Green RAF-style strap I've found is Toxic NATO's Royal's XL. The color is perfect. I'd rather have a fixed keeper on an RAF though. Was thinking about just doing a blob of hot glue to make it stay put. Pity they don't do PVD buckles on these as an option. https://www.toxicnatos.com/collections/watch-straps/products/toxicroyals-xl |
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Quoted:
So easy to make it yourself. Most buyers do not like RAF straps. So most of them will only be available as a double layer because of that.
RAF's rule! I like the fact that there isn't extra hardware (metal keepers) on it, and the buckles don't use springbars. Especially since my CWC doesn't have springbars. K.I.S.S. |
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Quoted: Is that you John Wayne?
RAF's rule! I like the fact that there isn't extra hardware (metal keepers) on it, and the buckles don't use springbars. Especially since my CWC doesn't have springbars. K.I.S.S. I can tell you if a spring bar fails on a buckle it isn't coming off. The spring bar is wedged into the loop of the strap and it won't fall out. At least I haven't been able to make it fall out. I totally believe is the KISS principles. That is why I trim all of my natos into a one piece. |
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If only Terry was on here.... we could badger him to make a custom ARFCOM run - I know it would sell out if he could do a 25-50pc order.
Hell he's taken plenty of my phone calls this summer about wild ideas. 
Terry does have the best shade of Admiralty grey available - in fact if he could make the second keeper height the same as the first (it seems larger to accept the double back of the strap) we would be in business as we can cut off the extra strap like most of us do anyways. Attached File Toxic is GTG @toxicavenger70 |
...or maybe a seatbelt Zulu.  I once posted a strap for sale on eBay and used 'Zulu' in the title and got a email from countycomm advising me of the trademark violation. I had already sold it, otherwise my auction would've been canceled. Seems like Nick is the Dick Swan of the watch strap world. 
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Quoted:
...or maybe a seatbelt Zulu. I once posted a strap for sale on eBay and used 'Zulu' in the title and got a email from countycomm advising me of the trademark violation. I had already sold it, otherwise my auction would've been canceled. Seems like Nick is the Dick Swan of the watch strap world. Seatlbelt zulu is a no go. The buckles in my opinion are large for that material. The zulu material is also tougher. I make a custom strap called the Rogue that uses Nato hardware with a Zulu nylon. Super tough shit. |
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Quoted:in fact if he could make the second keeper height the same as the first (it seems larger to accept the double back of the strap) we would be in business as we can cut off the extra strap like most of us do anyways. The Admiralty Rogue you posted is one of my favorite straps for sure. It breaks in perfectly and the color is dope! |
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Fixed it for you.
Originally Posted By toxicavenger70™:
Yeah Zulu™ is trademarked by Maratac™. They actual did design the strap. So I get them protecting their trademark. Now the NATO™ troll guy didn't design anything. He just sues everyone he can to get paid. Seatlbelt zulu™ is a no go. The buckles in my opinion are large for that material. The zulu™ material is also tougher. I make a custom strap called the Rogue™ that uses Nato™ hardware with a Zulu™ nylon. Super tough shit. |
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BluShark Nato - 100%
Attached File 22mm of the same on a Tudor Black Bay. Forgive the idiot style pic, it was the only one I could find 
Attached File |
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Quoted:
BluShark Nato - 100% https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/406392/11335152_474872096009608_2036283594_n-649519.JPG 22mm of the same on a Tudor Black Bay. Forgive the idiot style pic, it was the only one I could find
https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/406392/37941972_286682645416630_1349787094465118208_n-649520.JPG Not to derail, but to stay on theme take a pic of Black Bay on the ARB and a full distance shot so I can see the rig. ARB's give me the same warm fuzzies that grey straps and timepieces do.... can't get one for the F150 or I'd have one now. Great on the old XJ and Taco though. Since Terry has made his presence known - I'm going to have to order some more straps! ETA: done - snagged a ShizNit in grey and a Rouge in Olive should be killer on the Sub (which is getting sent to Rik for a hand mod tomorrow). |
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Yup. Gotta jack up those Toxic Rewards points! Still haven't gotten myself to try the candy though.  Quoted:
Quoted:
Since Terry has made his presence known - I'm going to have to order some more straps! I'm going to post up a pay it forward strap post here this evening, I've got 2 or 3 "new" (tried em but too thick for some of the heads) straps I'll send out to those who need/want to try em out. All I ask is that you be a team member of the site and don't bitch about first class mailing .
Terry you should do a 0% discount ARFCOM code so you can see the traffic we send your way 
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Quoted: Nice. Not to derail, but to stay on theme take a pic of Black Bay on the ARB and a full distance shot so I can see the rig. ARB's give me the same warm fuzzies that grey straps and timepieces do.... can't get one for the F150 or I'd have one now. Great on the old XJ and Taco though. Since Terry has made his presence known - I'm going to have to order some more straps! ETA: done - snagged a ShizNit in grey and a Rouge in Olive should be killer on the Sub (which is getting sent to Rik for a hand mod tomorrow). 
Wish I would, but the Black Bay is up for grabs, so I've cleaned it and threw it in the box. Will no longer get the chance to accumulate wear. I do have quite a few pics of the ARB and overall Taco though, but I won't derail the thread
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Quoted: Same state as you too! I'm going to post up a pay it forward strap post here this evening, I've got 2 or 3 "new" (tried em but too thick for some of the heads) straps I'll send out to those who need/want to try em out. All I ask is that you be a team member of the site and don't bitch about first class mailing .
Terry you should do a 0% discount ARFCOM code so you can see the traffic we send your way Oh and I just did a discount for you guys. Use the code ARFCOM. Just a heads up I am a one man shop. But if you ever have any questions about what will work with your watch, or about our watches servcies then please ask. I will definitely try my damnedest to help out. |
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A little derail
https://i.imgur.com/p3kcHre.jpg How do I post a pic from imgur? 
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 Quoted:
What straps are too thick? Oh and I just did a discount for you guys. Use the code ARFCOM. Just a heads up I am a one man shop. But if you ever have any questions about what will work with your watch, or about our watches servcies then please ask. I will definitely try my damnedest to help out. |
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One of the RDX straps, a Moose Co. Premium, and I think there is one more. They work fine on my CWC, MKII, and Seiko but too tight for the Sub. I know there are the curved bars, but I love my shoulderless ones I use on the Sub and stubbornly won't use anything else. Good news is that all my spring bars came from you (I've got 7 or 8 pairs now). |
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Everest Rubber Strap on Rolex 16570 Explorer II Amazing combo. Extremely light and comfortable. I legitimately can't feel the watch sometimes and forget I have it on. http://mvdbrand.com/hotlink-logo/IMG_3534.JPG when are you going to hack off that cyclops?
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two straps going to a good home.
must be a team member, must post pic of watch strap will go on, must post pics of it on said watch in this thread
first dibs gets one or the other. Moose Strap Co. Premium British khaki/drab 20mm Attached File Attached File |
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Quoted:
two straps going to a good home. must be a team member, must post pic of watch strap will go on, must post pics of it on said watch in this thread
first dibs gets one or the other. Moose Strap Co. Premium British khaki/drab 20mm RDX titanium grey 20mm https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/164007/IMG_3662-650246.JPG https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/164007/IMG_3663-650247.JPG 
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Quoted:
I need a good source for long NATO straps. I have a couple of 12" straps and they are too short for a security wrap. On most NATOs I have about two holes left over as is without the extra security. |
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