You might be surprised to learn that something as seemingly innocuous and simple as a watch strap could actually have a long and somewhat complicated history. But that’s exactly the case with NATO watch straps. The common belief is that these straps were first issued to NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) troops so that they could wear wristwatches on the battlefield. The truth, however, is that NATO – in regards to watch straps – is short for NSN, or NATO Stocking Number, which is really just a reference to the system used to document goods by the NATO alliance. This type of strap happened to be a common enough item amongst the NATO alliance to acquire the association, but singular enough that it stands out as unique.
Today, what makes a NATO strap a NATO strap is its format. Yes, format, not materials. Most commonly and historically, NATO straps were/are made from nylon, but this is not a requirement to fit into the category. In fact, what makes it a NATO is this: it must be a single piece (rather than two, as with common leather buckled straps or metal bands) and it must have thin metal hardware (namely a buckle and loops/keepers through which the strap is slipped). The thinness is actually important in this case, because thicker hardware would actually designate the strap as a Zulu rather than a NATO, but that’s a tale for another time. In any case, the following are our picks for the 10 best NATO watch straps out there today.
