Any recommendations for where to buy NATO watch straps?
https://www.cheapestnatostraps.com - is the quality actually good from here?
AliExpress - I've heard can be hit and miss
Strapcode, Strapify etc - I'm happy to pay more if it's better quality, but don't want to pay more if it's drop-shipped from AliExpress
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization. What do you wear with your watch? ANZUS straps? chuckles
Went down the rabbit hole and it has absolutely nothing to do with North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Common misconception.
It's a shortened version of NATO Stocking Number (NSN) but still can't figure out why it's called that though.
On the contrary I think it does have to do with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, or at least the British component of it: https://www.gearpatrol.com/watches/a85507/nato-strap-history…
Link there says NATO straps were created in response to a British MoD request.
@moar bargains: British MoD isn't NATO. The G10 was created for the MoD, not NATO.
Every source says it's nothing to do with NATO. Just nicknamed after NATO Stocking Number for some reason no one seems to know.
Bit more history: https://watchbandit.com/all-you-need-to-know-about-nato-stra…
It’s easy to forgive one for thinking that the NATO strap got its name because it was a standard issue strap given to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation or NATO soldiers. That assumption is not entirely correct. The name NATO actually comes from NATO Stocking Number or NSN.
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It is at this point that things get a little tricky as not much is known about the evolution of the name from "G10" apart from the fact that it eventually became commonplace to call such straps a "NATO", stemming from NATO Stocking Number (NSN).Very little information on when this transition occurred…
https://barkerhill.co/blogs/articles/a-brief-history-of-nato…
Certainly seems like just a nickname that got adopted. Nothing to do with NATO itself.
@Hybroid: I know British MoD isn't NATO, but they are a part of NATO, and the straps were given a NATO Stock Identifier as (I assume) all military equipment was. From your link:
After World War II the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) introduced the so called NSN (NATO stock number) for its military equipment, including watches and straps.
Why the popular term became NATO straps as opposed to MoD straps, or G10 straps or something else, who knows? Probably down to marketing. Some marketing exec thought a "NATO strap" sounded cooler than a "G10 strap", so that's what they went with.
Won't find any in Ukraine.
The ones I've bought from Strapify are much better quality than the usual eBay/Aliexpress NATO straps. They are sent locally from Melbourne and not drop shipped.
Cheapestnato is pretty good. I use them for all of my watch straps
polish border has plenty ready to go
MN Straps, Blushark, Cincistrapworks
Highly recommend these guys. Bought quite a few NATO straps and quality is good for $11 each. Plus you can often find 20-40% vouchers through signup, adding reviews - making it even better value.
I bought my bond NATO from clockwork synergy in 2017.. it's still going strong :)
NATO as in "No Action Talk Only"? sorry, can't help it…
What is a NATO strap? There's plenty on Amazon with free Prime delivery and returns if you don't like the quality.