Every now and then you might have come across watches with NATO straps. Most users think that it’s simply another type of strap like leather, silicone, or stainless steel. However, it’s more than that and its origin lies with the UK’s military of defense as they were the first ones who started to use a NATO strap.
There were many reasons for using NATO straps, one of them being metal straps were not comfortable enough for prolonged usage. On the other hand, the NATO straps were comfortable and also hypoallergenic.
So if any soldier wanted these straps he just had to fill out a G10 form. Fast-forward to today they are a very popular type of strap for the very same reason they were developed in the first place.
However, finding NATO watches isn’t easy and that’s why we have listed the best watches with NATO straps available on Amazon. And, if you already have a watch and are simply looking for an interchangeable NATO strap then we listed those too.
Quick navigation:
- NATO Strap Watches Comparison Table
- Best Watches With NATO Strap
- Can We Put A NATO Strap On Any Watch?
- Final Verdict
- FAQs
NATO Strap Watches Comparison Table
IMAGE | PRODUCT | SPECIFICATIONS | VIEW ON AMAZON |
Seiko Watch With NATO Strap  | Seiko 5 Sports Automatic SRPE63K1 |
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Best Affordable Watch With NATO Strap  | Timex Weekender |
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Best Luxury Mens Watch With NATO Strap  | Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical Watch |
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Replaceable NATO Watch Strap  | Ritche Military Ballistic Nylon Strap |
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Best Watches With NATO Strap
1. Timex Weekender
If you want reliable watches at a reasonable price then there are only a handful of brands that can compete with Timex. And, this is one of the best cheap watches with a NATO strap available at the sub $60 price range.
Apart from being affordable, it’s also a beautiful-looking watch with a cream-colored dial accompanied by a 4omm brass case with a smooth finish. Along with that, you get a 20mm blue nylon NATO band which makes it a comfortable watch to wear. If you don’t like the blue color of the band then you can also get the same watch with green camo NATO strap.
Furthermore, it’s also a 24-hour watch so you can read the time in normal as well as military mode. And, the dial of the watch is protected by mineral glass that can take occasional hits and bumps without breaking. It also offers water resistance up to 30m which protects the watch from water damage.
What sets Timex Weekender apart from other analog watches is the Indiglo backlight. Using the button on the crown you can light up the dial of the watch and read time at night. In short, if you are looking for a medium-size watch that you can wear to parties, weekends, or dates then Timex Weekender is an ideal watch for the job.
2. Seiko 5 Sports Automatic SRPE63K1
If you don’t like the tik sounds of quartz watches then maybe you will be better off with automatic mechanical watches. All automatic watches come with an elegant sweeping second hand and this right here is also an automatic watch from Seiko. Unlike quartz watches that run on lithium-ion batteries, automatic watches are powered by you.
Meaning this Seiko watch has a built-in pendulum-like mechanism that oscillates due to the wearer’s wrist movements. And when it oscillates it winds the gears inside the watch just like old school watches or children toys that are winded using keys. Once winded then the watch uses that energy to power the watch and slowly unwinding itself in the process and the cycle continues.
Also, an automatic watch means no more trips to jewelry stores for battery replacement. However, that was a very simple explanation so do consider reading our mechanical vs automatic watches difference to know the working of the watch.
It gets better as this Seiko watch also comes with a nylon strap. And, if you are wondering, are NATO-style nylon straps are made of good quality material? Let us assure you it is durable and for one thing Seiko watches aren’t known for is using cheap materials.
Talking about dimensions, it features a 40mm stainless case with a blue-colored dial. Along with that, you also get watch hands and markers that are luminous. Therefore, you can read time in low light or night as both watch hands and marking glow in the dark. Overall, this is one of the best watches with a NATO strap as it features automatic movement and hardlex glass for protecting the dial at a reasonable price.
3. Victorinox Swiss Quartz Watch
If you are a fan of Swiss watch brands then we have a Swiss quartz watch for you from Victorinox. Yes, this is the very same brand that is world-famous for its Swiss army knives. Don’t worry, you won’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on it as it is priced at around $100.
For the price, you get a quartz movement which ensures that this watch always carries accurate time throughout your day. Along with time, you can keep track of the date as it features a dedicated window at a 4 o’clock position. The dial also features, 24-hour marking for those who like reading in military time.
Talking about the dimensions, it comes with a 40mm plastic case that makes the watch very lightweight. And, this swiss quartz watch comes with a 20mm green nato strap so you can wear the watch comfortably. Except for diving, you can do any other recreational activity like swimming and snorkeling as it is water-resistant up to 100m.
On the final note, this is a great looking watch for anyone who is looking for a watch with NATO band from a well-known brand at a reasonable price. It is also a perfect watch for gifting on anniversaries, birthdays, or any other similar occasion.
4. Tissot Quickster
If you want a good quality Swiss watch and money isn’t a constraint then take a look at Tissot Quickster. Unlike the previous Swiss watch, this isn’t made of plastic material and instead comes with a stainless steel body.
In addition to that, this NATO strap watch comes with quartz movement so it will do a more than decent job of timekeeping. You can also keep track of the date along with time as it features a date window at 6 o’clock position. Moreover, the dial of the watch is protected by sapphire glass which is highly durable as well as equally scratch resistant.
Talking about the dimensions, it features an 18mm blue nylon strap with white stripes which gives the watch its vibrant looks. Also, the case of the watch is 40mm in diameter which makes it neither too small nor too big.
Apart from that, Tissot Quickster is also water-resistant up to 100m so you can wear the watch without any worries in water. However, diving or any other similar activity can damage the watch. Overall, this is a gorgeous-looking unisex NATO watch from Tissot and we assure you that you would get your money’s worth from the watch.
5. Timex Fairfield Leather
Ladies if you are looking for a watch for yourself then Timex Fairfield will be the perfect candidate for the job. For the price of around $70, you get a 37mm brass case with a golden coating that enhances the looks of the watch. Additionally, golden hands and marking perfectly harmonizes with the cream color of the dial. It gets better as unlike other watches with NATO strap on our list, this watch comes with a leather NATO strap.
Good looks aren’t the only forte of the watch as it comes with mineral glass that protects the dial from scratches. Along with it, the watch is also water-resistant up to 30m so you won’t have to take off the watch in rain. However, submerging it into water is not recommended as it can damage the watch.
Moreover, it also comes with an Indiglo light function which lights up the dial at the press of a button. You can use it to read time at dusk or night. Overall, it’s a gorgeous NATO strap watch for ladies that will compliment all your dresses and looks good in all social settings.
6. Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical Watch
If you are a fan of mechanical watches then you would love Hamilton Khaki field watch. Unlike automatic watches that wind themselves up, you would have to manually wind this one. Many watch lovers appreciate the manual winding of the watches so much so that they have at least one in their watch collection.
Besides that, this is also a field watch from khaki which means it takes inspiration from watches used by military personnel during World War. That’s why this watch comes with a brown 20mm NATO strap which is breathable and yet durable enough for heavy usage. Also, the dial of the watch is protected by sapphire which is one of the strongest materials after diamond.
Moreover, the watch can also withstand the pressure of up to 5 atm underwater. Along with that, both the watch hands and markings on the dial are luminous which allows you to read time in low light. So if you are looking for the best luxury men’s watch with a NATO strap then Hamilton Khaki would be the perfect watch for around $400.
7. Timex Weekender XL
If you are looking for watches for a big wrist then Timex Weekender XL is one of the best watches with NATO strap for the job. It features a 43mm watch face which looks good on the big wrist and makes the time easier to read. Along with big size, you can also read time in military time mode as it also features 24 hours marking on the dial for that.
Besides the big dial, you get a 20mm NATO strap that is compatible with users having a wrist size of up to 8 inches. Moreover, Timex Weekender XL comes with an Indiglo backlight function. So a simple press of a button would light up the dial allowing you to read time at night.
The only shortcoming we found of the watch is that it is only water-resistant up to 30m so you cannot go swimming wearing the watch. We definitely recommend this watch as like all Timex watches this one is also reasonably priced, good at timekeeping. and has a good build quality.
Can We Put A NATO Strap On Any Watch?
If you already have a watch that uses standard 18mm, 20mm, or 22mm lugs then you won’t need to buy a new watch. You can simply buy a replacement NATO strap from Amazon without spending hundreds of dollars on a new watch. So if you are looking for a replacement NATO watch strap then we listed the best NATO straps that you can buy right now.
Best Replaceable NATO Band For Watches
8. Ritche Military Ballistic Nylon Strap
Nylon straps are breathable and comfortable to wear but they usually have one fatal flaw which is that they have a limited life. And, the reason for that is with time, water & moisture damages the nylon’s tensile strength. To avoid this you can go with this set of ballistic nylon straps from Ritche as they are more durable and that’s why they tend to last longer.
Moreover, these straps are waterproof and washable so you can clean them to your heart’s content. Another reason why I am recommending this Nato strap is that it is available in 16mm,18mm, 20mm, 22mm, and 24mm variants. So no matter what size watch you use you would be able to buy a strap for yourself.
Not only that you can also use these NATO straps with any watch and even smartwatch. However, do keep in mind that the NATO strap will block your heart rate sensor while in use. And, what makes this best replacement NATO strap for watches is the affordable price of around $15.
9. Barton Watch Band
If you want a premium quality NATO strap then BARTON would be the perfect candidate for the job. It is a ballistic strap made using laser cut technology which prevents NATO straps from fraying.
Moreover, the Barton watch band is available in two sizes which are 10″ and 11″ inches. 10 inches variant is recommended for 5″ to 7 1/2″ wrist circumference. And, the 11-inch variant is perfect for users who have a wrist size between 6 to 8 1/2 inches.
Besides that, if you don’t like the design of the strap then we are happy to inform you that band is available in 26 different designs and color combinations.
Final Verdict
All the watches on the list are reliable, have the decent build quality, and are also reasonably priced so go with the watch that you fancy the most. Timex and Victorinox make some of the best reasonably priced NATO strap watches. And, in the high-end segment Hamilton, Seiko and Tissot make some good quality watches with NATO straps. If you already have a watch that you like and cherish then you can get a NATO band for yourself instead of getting a new watch.
FAQs
What Is The Advantage Of Nato Watch Strap?
There are several advantages of using NATO straps such as they are hypoallergenic and don't contain harmful material like nickel. Along with that, they don't get easily damaged like leather when exposed to moisture. Above all, they are breathable and comfortable to wear.
Do Nato Straps Last?
Yes, NATO tends to last longer than a year at least. However, it all comes down to the quality of the watch you have selected and the level of aftercare you are providing to your NATO straps.
Who Makes The Original NATO Strap?
Originally British Ministry Of Defence made the NATO straps. Any soldier who wanted a NATO strap would have to simply fill a form named G10 to get a NATO strap.
Are NATO Straps Safe?
Yes, NATO straps are hypoallergenic and completely safe. And, that was one of many factors that led to the creation of NATO straps for soldiers.
