Dive watches and tight fitting NATO/ZULU bands

[Deacon211]

Unless you break the bars (i.e. bend the thin part that goes into the lug too much) I would think that the bars would normally be fine. However, I know there are companies that sell curved spring bars for just this purpose if you don't feel comfortable with that.

One thing you have going for you.....since you are putting it on a NATO or Zulu, if you break the bar you will still retain the watch!


Deacon

[pontz]

I have this "issue" with my Fortis B-42!
when putting a heavy duty 5-ring Zulu it is very hard to slip it through the screw bars...


"Problem" solved by getting me less thick zulus...




Never had an issue from any type of Nato strap...

[marchone]

Has anyone here had a springbar pop off because of too tight a strap fitting?

It seems to me if you can fit a strap through it will be safe as the pressure is evenly distributed across the bar; actually strengthening it where it is tightest at the lugs. I should think if it was going to fail it would pop out as you force it through. NATO G10s (as opposed to NATO RAFs) add a measure of safety with a keeper anyway. I don't care to use Zulu straps unless the watch head has screw bars.

I also try to use thicker Seiko springbars when I can. I've never had a problem with one.

+1 to the Westcoastime NATO G10s. I have one that is at least five years old with plenty of daily use and exposure to water. I used it for a couple of years on my Speedie and now have it on my MKII Milsub. When the holes fray I burn them off clean and tidy.

The next NATO G10s I will try will be Corvus Phoenix.

[PullTheTrigger]

All,

This is all great information! and hopefully useful for any one else that has this problem later down the road. I will be looking into west coast time's version of the straps when I get the "itch," get another one.

On a side note, I looked at my "Nato" strap on my ProAqua and I noticed that it says Zulu by Maratac! So do I have a 5 ring Zulu or a Nato(Queue Confusion Music!) ? Can someone outline the differences for these type of straps? I thought Zulu only had 3 rings...

[koiom]

All,


On a side note, I looked at my "Nato" strap on my ProAqua and I noticed that it says Zulu by Maratac! So do I have a 5 ring Zulu or a Nato(Queue Confusion Music!) ? Can someone outline the differences for these type of straps? I thought Zulu only had 3 rings...

Zulus can be either 3 ring or 5 ring configuration but are generally thicker fabric than NATOs
NATOs also have 3 squared off "rings" while Zulus have rounded off rings

[marchone]

My concern is the strap popping off one of the spring bars. Please advise.

Another thought. There are two types of NATO straps. G10 and RAF.

A NATO G10 has an extra length of fabric called a keeper that doubles up under the watch head. It keeps the watch head from sliding around the band on your wrist.

Gnomon Watches – Watches + Accessories + Emotions

Zulu straps are similar to a NATO RAF type in that they are each long single layer straps that thread under both springbars. Zulu straps are made of thicker material than the thinner nylon RAF type. Their long length are designed to fit over wet suit sleeves.

G10 NATO vs. RAF NATO Straps - which you you prefer?

ZULU - MARATAC Tactical - PVD - Bands -Straps

Bond Watchbands Including Movie-Style

My preference is for the G10 type as they are thinner and less bulky when folded over to lock up. However, any nylon or composite strap can be trimmed to length and sealed with a flame.

[PullTheTrigger]

Ok, So let me confirm my understanding... I apologize if I misunderstand this. Please bare with me.

So (I think) on my ProAqua I have a Zulu 5 ring. It is thick and the material is some what coarse, running at 24mm. My NATO's on my SSC and SKX OM are both Nato, as they are supple. I know my 007 in the picture above is a zulu.

[marchone]

Here's a primer on NATO and Zulu straps and others.

Authentic so-called NATO straps (both G10 NATO with "keeper" and the single layer RAF NATO styles without a keeper) are made of thin woven nylon as originally specified by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD). There are many copies on the market. Most of them do not conform to the original MOD DefStan specifications for a nylon watch strap in 1973. The G10 type has three rings and a buckle and can be worn on the wrist with a foldover going through the third ring or over a wet suit sleeve without a foldover. The RAF type is shorter than a G10 and has two rings and a buckle. It is meant to be worn directly on the wrist and is not meant to be worn over a jacket sleeve. There should be no foldover. As both types are made of the same nylon they were designed to be trimmed to size by the wearer to their wrist circumference.

The keeper on a G10 prevents the watch head from sliding around the strap on the wearers wrist. There is also the added security of a G10 type's foldover when threaded back through third ring near the buckle.

These two types are generically called NATO straps because NATO did the original specs and MOD adopted them. The originals were stamped on the buckle NSN for NATO Stock Number. G10s have three rings; one to accommodate the keeper at the middle and two for the fold over. It was called G10 because that was the MOD requisition number. Original MOD milspec straps are grey and 20mm. Any striped ones were and are civilian. Phoenix Straps Ltd. made them originally for the MOD to DefStan 66-47 (now obsolete) and still produces them.

Waterborne Safety Strap is a copy of the G10 (with a keeper to prevent sliding the watch head from sliding on the strap) and was marketed to recreational divers. It is 11" long; same as a G10. It is made of nylon webbing, has four heavier rings and the same "double buckle system" (a Waterborne marketing term) as the G10.

Zulu is a Maratac trade name. Maratac Zulu was introduced to compete with Waterborne in the recreational dive market but does not have the keeper feature. They are 17" long to fit over wet and dry suit sleeves. A Maratac Zulu strap has two rings and a buckle. It is made of a thick ballistic nylon.

Maratac also makes other types of straps sometimes incorrectly called Zulu. Neither Maratac Zulu or Waterborne straps are milspec.

As both Zulu and Waterborne straps are much thicker than NATO types two compromises exist. One, as you discovered, is that many watch head lugs don't have sufficient clearance between watch head and springbars to fit through. The second is they are bulky at the fold over end, sometimes going over twice, and as such protrude quite a bit on the outside of the wrist inviting snagging.

Additionally are several NASA types. They are made of Velcro webbing instead of a buckle and are longer than any of the others to fit over an astronaut's pressure suit sleeve. They have no keeper and one ring.

All of these strap designs will keep a watch head on the wrist should one springbar fail. Obviously a two-piece strap of any material won't. Many milspec watch heads are spec'ed with fixed lug bars to prevent a springbar failure. Screw pins or screw bars rarely fail but yet allow two-piece strap changes.

[Emanon9046]

Where did you get the red and tan 5 ring zulus??

I have this "issue" with my Fortis B-42!
when putting a heavy duty 5-ring Zulu it is very hard to slip it through the screw bars...


"Problem" solved by getting me less thick zulus...




Never had an issue from any type of Nato strap...

[PullTheTrigger]

Here's a primer on NATO and Zulu straps and others.

Authentic so-called NATO straps (both G10 NATO with "keeper" and the single layer RAF NATO styles without a keeper) are made of thin woven nylon as originally specified by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD). There are many copies on the market. Most of them do not conform to the original MOD DefStan specifications for a nylon watch strap in 1973. The G10 type has three rings and a buckle and can be worn on the wrist with a foldover going through the third ring or over a wet suit sleeve without a foldover. The RAF type is shorter than a G10 and has two rings and a buckle. It is meant to be worn directly on the wrist and is not meant to be worn over a jacket sleeve. There should be no foldover. As both types are made of the same nylon they were designed to be trimmed to size by the wearer to their wrist circumference.

The keeper on a G10 prevents the watch head from sliding around the strap on the wearers wrist. There is also the added security of a G10 type's foldover when threaded back through third ring near the buckle.

These two types are generically called NATO straps because NATO did the original specs and MOD adopted them. The originals were stamped on the buckle NSN for NATO Stock Number. G10s have three rings; one to accommodate the keeper at the middle and two for the fold over. It was called G10 because that was the MOD requisition number. Original MOD milspec straps are grey and 20mm. Any striped ones were and are civilian. Phoenix Straps Ltd. made them originally for the MOD to DefStan 66-47 (now obsolete) and still produces them.

Waterborne Safety Strap is a copy of the G10 (with a keeper to prevent sliding the watch head from sliding on the strap) and was marketed to recreational divers. It is 11" long; same as a G10. It is made of nylon webbing, has four heavier rings and the same "double buckle system" (a Waterborne marketing term) as the G10.

Zulu is a Maratac trade name. Maratac Zulu was introduced to compete with Waterborne in the recreational dive market but does not have the keeper feature. They are 17" long to fit over wet and dry suit sleeves. A Maratac Zulu strap has two rings and a buckle. It is made of a thick ballistic nylon.

Maratac also makes other types of straps sometimes incorrectly called Zulu. Neither Maratac Zulu or Waterborne straps are milspec.

As both Zulu and Waterborne straps are much thicker than NATO types two compromises exist. One, as you discovered, is that many watch head lugs don't have sufficient clearance between watch head and springbars to fit through. The second is they are bulky at the fold over end, sometimes going over twice, and as such protrude quite a bit on the outside of the wrist inviting snagging.

Additionally are several NASA types. They are made of Velcro webbing instead of a buckle and are longer than any of the others to fit over an astronaut's pressure suit sleeve. They have no keeper and one ring.

All of these strap designs will keep a watch head on the wrist should one springbar fail. Obviously a two-piece strap of any material won't. Many milspec watch heads are spec'ed with fixed lug bars to prevent a springbar failure. Screw pins or screw bars rarely fail but yet allow two-piece strap changes.

Now there is what I was looking for!