Budget?
Anyone recommend a top quality Nato?
I'm not sure what your definition of 'quality' is for a NATO but I've found Phoenix to be the best all-rounder.
Thanks guys.
Looks like you have the answer you need but I’ll add another “tick” in the Phoenix box.... ;-)
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Phoenix are the best and I have tried most.
Our good host sells extremely good Natos.
F.T.F.A.
Timefactors
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I have a few Phoenix but find Eddie's are more comfortable and don't fray. Even better they cost about half as much.
"A man of little significance"
Money no object: Omega
Best of the rest: Timefactors Deluxe
Best of the cheap ones: Phoenix
I really like the Omega and Timefacters Deluxe. The black and orange would suit perfectly but, neither are available in 18mm unfortunately.
+1 for Phoenix
But it does also matter for which watch you intend to use it for. Phoenix have a more matt finish which works great for vintage watches where many of the other NATO options just are too shiny. I believe you can see the difference in Sinnlovers last picture, my guess is that the three dark grey are Phoenix.
/L
Timefactors have blasted hardware and are a little thicker than the Phoenix ones. The clincher for me is that the holes on the Phoenix ones are too far apart and I can't get a comfortable fit. Timefactors' natos have more holes, closer together.
Also the Timefactors braided is excellent.
Plus the Timefactors come in RAF style so you don't need to cut the flappy bit off.
And the new Timefactors grey is much nicer than the Phoenix grey.
CWC's branded NATOs are very much like Phoenix ones and they do a nice maroon. I'd like a few more solid colours in the Timefactors ones - red and orange really.
I prefer Timefactors.
I agree about timefactors have several - have just had a couple from moosestraps in Canada after seeing them on YouTube. The premium slim straps are amazingly soft - feel like seat belt material and are very good quality. Pay via PayPal and had no issues with delivery etc.
pete
Haveston over on the PRS18Q thread looked interesting
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I've just tried out the ZULUDIVER Seatbelt Nato from WatchGecko
I quite like it - and nice & soft too
z
Last edited by zelig; 20th April 2018 at 14:17.
I just received a Fortress strap from Haveston, ordered 2pm Thurs, at my door 9.05am today. Extremely well packaged,the quality is superb. The buckle is slightly larger than Eddie's deluxe Natos in all dimensions. The sliding keeper on the buckle end moves the full length of that side of the strap, from seam to seam, and the friction between the two parts keeps it where it's put. No need for tucking the loose end in and no bulk on the outside of the wrist. Certainly worth the money. I'm not saying this is the best, just that it's another choice of colour and fit. Here's a few quick phone pics . . .
Last edited by magirus; 21st April 2018 at 10:21.
F.T.F.A.
I love the Havestons, but they can feel a little rugged which might not suit for when you want to do the daring thing of putting a nato on something dressier.
I got one of these earlier this week and it's quite nice, feels like a car seatbelt and "slick" to the touch so goes well with anything that you don't want the rugged vibe for: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222919850516 - they're worth the money, but nowhere near an Omega or Phenome.
I do indeed usually cut that piece off, but only on the 20mm straps I use on my two Damaskos (DA37, DC 56), CWC RN quartz and PRS5 Broadarrow. I find that the extra thickness on the side of the wrist unbalances these watches. The exception is a Coyote Brown nato from Eddie, which I bought a while ago and luckily decided to try and persevere with uncut. I say luckily because I discovered the alternative method of mounting a watch on a nato a while before the current discussion here . For my Voyager I find a standard thickness 22mm nato is fine uncut, but Eddies two piece deluxe models would be far too bulky for my taste if folded and tucked the usual way, but luckily he supplies these in the one piece RAF pattern, of which I have one. With the sliding keeper on the Haveston there's no need for a fold and tuck, you simply fasten the strap and slide the keeper to the end of the free part. You can do this right up to the last hole, but in the other direction sizewise for a very small wrist you'd need to fold it as normal. I just washed the Haveston earlier, but when it's dry later I'll post some pics to illustrate, and also measure roughly at what wrist size you'd have to start folding and tucking it.
F.T.F.A.
Illustrative pictures would be appreciated, thank you. I saw that neater nato video the other day, but I've not tried it yet. All the natos that I currently use are either RAF style from Eddie or have been cut down.
I have yet another alternative method that involves turning the extra bit back on itself and slotting the long end through the end keeper of the extra bit. But that produces about six widths under the wrist, so I only use that to work out if I'm going to keep a strap before I cut it as it allows me to centre the watch as it would be RAF style.
Please excuse the quality of these pictures, it's rather grey up here today. On my 7" wrist I use either the 6th or 7th hole along from the watch head depending on temperature etc and this gives me a perfect fit. This picture shows how the strap looks fastened at the 7th hole, the distortion of the phone camera makes it look thicker than it actually is . . .
This is the strap closed up to the fourth hole, which would fit a wrist of @ 6.5" I reckon. Any shorter and you'd either have to trim the strap length or tuck it in. I don't think a tuck at this length would work . . .
At the other end of the scale here's the strap at the last hole, which I reckon would be an 8.5" wrist. I'm basing these wrist sizes on measuring from my known size on the strap with a Mitutoyo digital caliper by the way . . .
This shot shows the strap opened up at the buckle end to show the range of movement the sliding keeper has, which is @ 46mm . . .
The material, whilst having a nice heavy heft to it, is quite soft and pliable, which helps with a comfy fit. Hope this is helpful.
F.T.F.A.
Zuludiver make superb NATOs, I always go to them first. Sometimes I fancy a mad colour and look elsewhere, but Zuludiver have a pretty wide range.
Eddies have always been good, plus Phoenix from experience. Love the look of that one from Haveston, Magirus!
I'm looking for a decent one with Spanish flag colours - Red, Yellow, Red.
Can't find any of the usual names that do this - although plenty on Amazon etc.
Anyone know of a decent retailer for this? It's super-specific, I know....!
Thanks
I've just ordered a Zuludiver Bond NATO strap for my Fortis Cosmonaut. I think it should look really nice and make a pleasant change to the leather strap that is on it at the moment.
I've also just ordered some tools from HS Walsh - a Bergeon spring bar tool and set of decent (I hope) screwdrivers. Let the fun begin. Can't wait :-)
Does anyone have any suggestions for a site that has NATOs with soft keepers on the buckle side? WatchGecko have a couple but I'm looking for a few different colours.
Eddies are tops. Zuludiver from Watchgecko are excellent too.
Eddie's Deluxe are excellent - quality but I've had an issue with them. I've been using an RAF one on my Voyager and the issue I've had is 'shaping', I've found its a bit awkward on the wrist and maybe lacks some rigidity in how it holds the watch. Not sure if that would be solved by a G10 model.
Otherwise Eddie's regular NATOs are fantastic, reminds me I need a couple more.
I was trying to order a couple from Eddie myself earlier but orders are suspended again temporarily.
For anyone ordering from WatchGecko you can use discount code WATCHUSEEK for 10% off (not sure if there is a TZ-UK code already?).
Haveston have redesigned their straps. The M1936 was going to be my next purchase from them when restocked, but now it's back it's become the M1936-A2. Gone is the short piece with the third keeper, down from 1.5mm to 1.3mm thick and the colour is darker with an almost grimy look. The "old style" Fortress is still in stock if anyone wants one, and I really hope they don't mess with the Carrier, but I'm not holding my breath. The Fortress I posted about earlier could have been made for the Voyager and I'm very disappointed with the new M1936 to say the least. :-(
F.T.F.A.
For fyi here, I have purchased one of the newer ones and included a few pics on my landmaster. The slimmer profile works for smaller watches, but I prefer the ruhhed fortress style too for my Voyager. I've queried what they intend to do going forward and will update people if they like.
I have to say that the above shots on the Landmaster make the strap look a lot better than it does on the Haveston website.
F.T.F.A.
Eddie's and Zuludiver NATOs are both excellent
I've never doubted it might be comfortable, it's just the aesthetics. Is it as shiny in life as it looks on the Haveston site? If it is I'm wondering if a few washes (which you know I do regularly) might improve it. Is it appreciably thinner than the Fortress in your hand?
F.T.F.A.
These have become available recently:
https://www.watchitallabout.com/shop/
Only available in 'Bond' at the moment but they look pretty good and if he gets some plain colours in I'll deffo be trying them.
Under the light it can be a bit shiny - but that hasn't bothered me. My biggest bugbear is I do wish it was a lighter shade, but I only fret about that when I dwell on it.
It is noticeably thinner but that maybe due to it feeling softer - a bit like the Deluxe NATO. Thats the closest I can give as an example in how it feels.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Most helpful, thanks!
F.T.F.A.