Multitool.org Forum
Non Tool Forum => Watch it! => Topic started by: Grant Lamontagne on April 11, 2016, 12:34:26 AM
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No, I'm not talking about adult parties in the local trailer park or no-tell motel, I'm asking about straps.
In my younger days I always felt that leather cracked too much and wasn't really waterproof enough, although I preferred the feel of it. Then I got a watch with a rubber strap and I thought that was the greatest thing ever.
Then I tried The Band, which is a long strip of nylon with velcro on it, and I really liked those too, especially since it meant that if I broke a pin (something that has happened often, and cost me more watches than I want to admit) I still got to keep my watch. The only drawback to these bands is that they don't breathe well, and if you are doing any activity or are just wearing it on a hot day it can become quite uncomfortable.
Then I found the NATO type bands and I've been hooked ever since. I have watches with all kinds of bands, but I have to say, the NATO type band is my favorite by far.
Lowest on my list is the bracelet- I have never found one that didn't rip hair out of my arm at some point or another, except this one that I had long ago which was like a micro chain maille. I haven't actually seen one like that since, but that was actually pretty nice and I would probably get another if I found one.
What does everyone else prefer, and why?
Def
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I'm the opposite. I prefer the steel bracelet for a few reasons.
1) In the winter, a leather, NATO or ZULU strap has too many protrusions that catch on the inside of the cuff of my winter jacket. A bracelet does not.
2) With an adjustable diver's clasp, you can loosen or tighten the bracelet quickly and easily without removing the watch.
3) Bracelets are the most flexible (at least the type I wear). I have 6.5" wrists so a bracelet will conform to my wrist way more than a rubber one will.
4) They are waterproof. They dry quickly and you can clean them with a toothbrush in the shower
5) If you get the right type, hair pinching is a minimum.
The one pictured is my Frankenbracelet. It's a Strapcode Super Engineer Type I bracelet with a HEXA watches adjustable clasp. It's attached to my Borealis Sea Dragon
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160411/3020a331e4af7e49fb98b1f3eda41079.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160411/478fac993d194981a85bebfacf57f784.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160411/1d0dcb659a862b42a2c95797b954b55b.jpg)
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Overall I prefer rubber as my hands sweat a lot and canvas and leather begin to smell really quickly and My arms are too hairy to comfortable wear a bracelet.
BUT rubber doesn't last very long in my experience so I have a NATO strap that is comfortable and most importantly, washable!
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Because i work a lot around cars and machines i have chosen for the rubber strap on my suunto core.
If it ever gets caught behind a rotating part etc... the rubber band will probably tear apart. Metal and nylon however are extremely though and will probably seriously injure my wrist.
Its also light, never feels cold and is comfy.
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I prefer metal bracelets, but only if the links are solid. The hollow link bracelets pull hair and feel cheap.
Straps: I prefer Zulu straps over NATO straps. Zulus are thicker and not as fussy (they don't have that extra strap thingy).
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I switch everything to the nylon/leather "Swiss Army" type watch bands.
I'm a pretty skinny guy and don't care for the heavier metal kind, or the thicker and stiffer all leather.
The nylon/leather type seem to offer light, strong, and durable.
Today's wear is my old Vietnam era watch that I added the strap to.
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As I wear my G shock mostly I use rubber straps and like them very much. I don't mind metal or leather either depending on the watch. I easy going when it comes to things like that. I do not my watch straps fitting tightly. I like a small bit of movement on my wrist.
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No, I'm not talking about adult parties in the local trailer park or no-tell motel, I'm asking about straps.
(...)
Def
Huh... That's the same thing, right?!...
:think: :think: :think: :think:
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A few years back, I did try the Flava Flav method, but ended up abandoning it. Just kept getting in the way when I was mowing, fishing, and shooting prone just got to be a PITA. On the plus side, nobody asked me if I knew the time. And in church, I could just kinda clear my throat and tap my chest when the sermon was going a little long.
And my kids didn't want to be seen with me for some odd reason.
(http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx38/jfreeborn58/image_zpsu80gr2qa.gif) (http://s739.photobucket.com/user/jfreeborn58/media/image_zpsu80gr2qa.gif.html)
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Did you wear digital or analog? Also I'd imagine it would be best to have 2, one display could read military time while the other standard. :rofl:
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The Zulu strap is my favourite.
Light and comfortable and quiet.
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Metal. I carry the Casio less and less now. I like the functions on it but prefer a metal bracelet watch, like the Seiko 5.
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Ah, when you say metal do you mean stainless steel or titanium ? I used to think I'd hate rubber ... but you know what I was wrong. Here's my Chris Ward C11 Titanium Extreme on rubber.
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Leather and cloth. Rubber seems to have the worst propensity to tear. Metal, as on my old Benrus dress watch, pinches. I plan to replace the leather strap on my Timex Expedition analog with a NATO band eventually.
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I like them all :whistle:
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They all have their advantages, but lately I have grown more and more fond of rubber. (OK, that sentence really shouldn't be taken out of context...) It's quick to dry off when it gets wet, quick and easy to clean, and comfortable.
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I am very fond of Swatch silicone straps -initially I thought I wouldn't like them.
The resin strap on my Casio is doing very well so far -first one I've worn in twenty years.
Leather is very comfy and elegant (but a bit easily degradable on my sweaty wrist).
Nylon straps and metal bracelets I've never worn. I might try nylon ones. Metal ones, I have nothing against them, it's just that they don't really suit me (and they're pinchy...).
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Thinking about it, I don't think I have any watch straps in real rubber, I was really talking about resin straps, which obviously aren't the same thing. (OK, rubber is technically a resin, but not all resins are rubber.)
If the watch is to be worn 24/7 metal bracelets are pretty nice, since they don't start smelling... :)
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Meh, my favorite is steel or leather, but then THIS happened; (http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160412/d5799dde23b87905791e7b26e83732cf.jpg)
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Showoff! :-P
Mind you I probably would be too if I had a sweet watch like that! :D
Def
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It depends on the watch and on the day for me, as well as what the watch is meant to do. I like Zulu bands for tool watches because they're comfortable and tough, rubber for working watches (like G-shocks) because they're easy to clean and don't soak anything up, leather for dressier watches (I couldn't imagine my Panerai homage on anything other than chestnut leather), and steel is nice for some watches like the Casio A168. While I like my Invicta 8926 on its current black Zulu strap and on its dressing-up-for-the-day nine stripe movie authentic James Bond MOD NATO strap, there's something about the looks of a Submariner type watch on a tapered steel oyster bracelet.
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That's better!(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160420/9bc7e7d311f343a5a2a973ef3e066c93.jpg)
Sent from my outdated communication device using an obsolete application
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The resin strap on my G-Shock is the only strap I've had that's actually lasted on me. Leather and rubber disintegrate quickly on me, and I don't like how most metal bands pull hair, or how heavy they are.
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"No, I'm not talking about adult parties in the local trailer park or no-tell motel..."
Lame.
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"No, I'm not talking about adult parties in the local trailer park or no-tell motel..."
Lame.
Story of my life..... :P
Def
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I prefer metal or nylon or canvas. I have big wrists. Leather bands tear, rubber, diver's bands are hard to come by in my size and they also tear. Metal bands last but I can only use one with extra links. I have a Rado watch around here somewhere and when I got it it had to go back to the swatch group to have the band resized. The watch I wear most often is a Citizen Eco-Drive and when I couldn't find a band that fit me I made one out of a dog collar and that is what has been on there since at least 2004. I'd like to replace it now but all I can find these days are dog collars with plastic, quick release buckles.
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Usually I like NATO bands but my Casio F91w won't fit a NATO strap so I went with a Velcro strap and it has been pretty bulletproof and pretty cheap.
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I prefer metal or nylon or canvas. I have big wrists. Leather bands tear, rubber, diver's bands are hard to come by in my size and they also tear. Metal bands last but I can only use one with extra links. I have a Rado watch around here somewhere and when I got it it had to go back to the swatch group to have the band resized. The watch I wear most often is a Citizen Eco-Drive and when I couldn't find a band that fit me I made one out of a dog collar and that is what has been on there since at least 2004. I'd like to replace it now but all I can find these days are dog collars with plastic, quick release buckles.
You need a dog collar to go around your wrist? Holy crap!
I have scrawny little girly wrists, and it has only been the last decade or so that I have fattened up enough to not wear every watch on the smallest hole. :ahhh
Def
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I prefer metal or nylon or canvas. I have big wrists. Leather bands tear, rubber, diver's bands are hard to come by in my size and they also tear. Metal bands last but I can only use one with extra links. I have a Rado watch around here somewhere and when I got it it had to go back to the swatch group to have the band resized. The watch I wear most often is a Citizen Eco-Drive and when I couldn't find a band that fit me I made one out of a dog collar and that is what has been on there since at least 2004. I'd like to replace it now but all I can find these days are dog collars with plastic, quick release buckles.
You need a dog collar to go around your wrist? Holy crap!
I have scrawny little girly wrists, and it has only been the last decade or so that I have fattened up enough to not wear every watch on the smallest hole. :ahhh
Def
I'm a big guy, 6'2" and 300 lbs. My wrist diameter is 8 inches. The dog collar was for a large dog so it was the right width and I cut the length down to 10 and 1/4 inches and burned holes where I needed them with a hot nail. My Swiss Army watch has the largest diver band I could find and it barely fits in the last hole and there's not enough left over to secure the end of the strap.
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Have you tried paracord watch bands? You could either find someone to do them for you in whatever size you like or you could tie them yourself?
Def
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My Tissot Titanium factory band feels nice , I do have a traser h3 with factory nylon band but gets grubby pretty quick in high humidity climates , but most of time I go bareback
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Have you tried paracord watch bands? You could either find someone to do them for you in whatever size you like or you could tie them yourself?
Def
It's an interesting idea.
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I prefer metal expansion bands, (stock photo for reference) (http://picture-cdn.wheretoget.it/3yl6ak-i.jpg)
However, mostly I use NATO type bands, they're rather practical.
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I can feel the hair ripping out of my arm just looking at that photo!
Def
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Hi,
I have had a couple of Seiko titanium watches with bands that were nice and didn't pinch.
For many years I have used NATO straps on most of my watches because I was collecting UK aircrew watches (have only four of them left now).
(http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b74/milorgman/Time/IMG_8810.jpg) (http://s17.photobucket.com/user/milorgman/media/Time/IMG_8810.jpg.html)
Lately, on my everyday watches I have been using the US mil-type nylon strap without NATOs metal keepers and extra (not needed) bit under the watch, they are more comfortable and less likely to catch on things.
(http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b74/milorgman/General/TraserP6500Victorinox08_zpsec63702b.jpg) (http://s17.photobucket.com/user/milorgman/media/General/TraserP6500Victorinox08_zpsec63702b.jpg.html)
cheers, John