SCUBA: NATO / Oyster Bracelet / Rubber

[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by Fugu_88

Which strap is better choice, nato or zulu...?

Personal choice.
dP

[Fugu_88]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

Personal choice.
dP

Will the watch slide about on these straps, saw some photos posted by users.
Look like zulu can secure the watch better..
Any user can advice on this..?

Thank you

[beaglehusky]

Originally Posted by Fugu_88

Will the watch slide about on these straps, saw some photos posted by users.
Look like zulu can secure the watch better..
Any user can advice on this..?

Thank you

Nah, don't worry. The heavy duty NATO and ZULUs don't allow the watch to slide, the actually barely fit through the gap. And if you loop it as Brad shows, there is no way the strap will slide.

Some of the smoother straps will slide a bit if worn loosely, but even that is rare IMO.

[Fugu_88]

Originally Posted by beaglehusky

Nah, don't worry. The heavy duty NATO and ZULUs don't allow the watch to slide, the actually barely fit through the gap. And if you loop it as Brad shows, there is no way the strap will slide.

Some of the smoother straps will slide a bit if worn loosely, but even that is rare IMO.

Hi Adrian, thank you for your advice. And sharing your experience..
Like your photos with orange zulu... 👍😊

[Hoppyjr]

This thread needs more photos.....

[natosub]

Originally Posted by Hoppyjr

This thread needs more photos.....

Sorry for bringing this one back from the dead Hoppy, but what brand straps are those?

[Pharaoh_83]

Do you also wear a dive computer or just the rolex?

[nobbylon]

Spring bar watches were never meant to be used with nato straps. There's a lot more chance of bar flex or breakage from pulling. This is why mil subs have fixed bars. The CWC I had was also fixed and I dived with that on nato.
The metal bracelet spreads the load on the bar and the later solid end link bracelets are even better than the original in this regard. My old Sub' fits over my 2.5 no problem with the extension but for anything thicker I'd say the glidelock plus extension is the solution.
I'm with an earlier poster and as I always wear a full suit I just wear the watch under the cuff. It's not great for admiring watch fans or harpies but it protects against damage to both watch and arm if you snag on a ladder in rough seas.

[VIG]

No issues for me on the bracelet.

It's a little snug at the surface but once you're under the water everything compresses.

[ajas]

Originally Posted by nobbylon

Spring bar watches were never meant to be used with nato straps. There's a lot more chance of bar flex or breakage from pulling. This is why mil subs have fixed bars. The CWC I had was also fixed and I dived with that on nato.
The metal bracelet spreads the load on the bar and the later solid end link bracelets are even better than the original in this regard. My old Sub' fits over my 2.5 no problem with the extension but for anything thicker I'd say the glidelock plus extension is the solution.
I'm with an earlier poster and as I always wear a full suit I just wear the watch under the cuff. It's not great for admiring watch fans or harpies but it protects against damage to both watch and arm if you snag on a ladder in rough seas.

Good point.
Living in Singapore it is quite hard to dive or snorkel in around waters in full suit as water is too hot, but I fully understand where are you coming from.
I used to use a Nato in past but looked at it from engineering point and agree that there is a lot of load on the spring bar while using NATO and this may cause a bar failure. Of course , one would say, you still have a second spring bar to hold the watch on wrist but honestly how often you have heard about watch being lost from wrist during diving.

Right now I am wearing sub on bracelet, including diving, and got a good premium travel insurance just in case.

Most recently just for fun I started to take my Pam 000 for dives and I am using Nato only because there no spring bars.

Got a friend who have done more than 300 dives, including below 40 m, wearing nothing but 36 mm TT datejust and never had a problem with it or even thought about removing bracelet and replacing with any sort of strap.

Finally wearing NATO my biggest concern is still the quality of buckle which is definitely not reliable as Rolex Glidelock.



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[Hoppyjr]

Originally Posted by natosub

Sorry for bringing this one back from the dead Hoppy, but what brand straps are those?

Maratac brand, available from County Comm.


Also, in reference to the above comment regarding spring bars and nato straps:

I installed shoulderless spring bars, which provided the same effect as fixed lugs. To remove them I snipped them in half with wire cutters. No issues yet and I've been doing it for years.

For the Rolex you'll want 20mm bars with 1.2mm tips. I bought mine from Twenty(0) aka: Hank, on eBay. I also used 2.0mm diameter. Alternately, you could use the stock Rolex bars from the 14060 Submariner, but they are more expensive.

[natosub]

Thanks Hoppy!

[ajas]

Originally Posted by Hoppyjr

Maratac brand, available from County Comm.


Also, in reference to the above comment regarding spring bars and nato straps:

I installed shoulderless spring bars, which provided the same effect as fixed lugs. To remove them I snipped them in half with wire cutters. No issues yet and I've been doing it for years.

For the Rolex you'll want 20mm bars with 1.2mm tips. I bought mine from Twenty(0) aka: Hank, on eBay. I also used 2.0mm diameter. Alternately, you could use the stock Rolex bars from the 14060 Submariner, but they are more expensive.

Thanks for advice.
Can you let us know where we can buy these bars?
Cheers

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[Hoppyjr]

Originally Posted by ajas

Thanks for advice.
Can you let us know where we can buy these bars?
Cheers

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I did. See the last part of my reply.

[ajas]

Originally Posted by Hoppyjr

I did. See the last part of my reply.

Thanks!

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