Safest band for high impact sports

[gwozhog]

So other than insurance what would be the safest strongest band you could put on a rolex to keep it from coming off your wrist. The SS band has failed me once on a bad wakeboard wipeout and I dont ever want that to happen again. Would a nato be the best way to go or maybe a rubber strap.

[antbkny]

Which ss bracelet failed?

[gwozhog]

The tuna style clasp came open on impact.

[gslaskin]

Nato

[iazrollie]

Rubberb with tang clasp. Good luck.

[Wesley Crusher]

Nato all the way.

[Matt C]

Isofrane is nice and tough too.

[Quotron]

I don't believe NATO straps are any more secure on a watch with springbars, I think it places a greater amount of stress on the bars and causes failures. It seems many times a springbar fails the watch is on a NATO, I know the old addage "the plural of anecdote is not data" but I believe it deserves more exploration.

Keeping a watch secure can be accomplished by a fairly simple - and some may say stylish - "hack".

Simply wrap some paracord around the watches bracelet at any point (so that it is parallel to the spring bars) and then attatch said retaining strap to a paracord bracelet on your wrist, or simply create a bracelet with the excess.
It should protect from both a clasp failure and/or a springbar failure. Think of it as functionally similar to a sidearm retention strap.

[DCheeta]

After your experience with the 14060 at the bottom of the river, I can definitely see your need for caution. RubberB or NATO should be more safe.

I know this is sacrilege here, but personally I'd probably be wearing my G-Shock in those situations.

[eco8gator]

I agree...get a G-Shock or if you want to get something more fancy...the Oris Aquis is a nice swiss watch...

If you insist on wearing a Rolex...then get a NATO. I wear mine no NATO's since it makes it less obvious as to what I am wearing and I prefer the feel of the strap vs the bracelet. I get a good snug fit and the watch stays perfectly center on my wrist. It also has a little give during the day when it gets hot and my wrist swell.

Make sure you get some good HD Spring Bars.

[ExplorerChris]

Heard good things about the Everest Rubber Straps

[Old Expat Beast]

The good thing about a nato is that if one springbar does go, the watch stays on your wrist. For wakeboarding, etc, like you do, I would also consider wearing a sweatband over the watch.

[crowncollection]

nato imho

[tfly212]

Wouldn't the safest solution be to not wear it wakeboarding? Its not like wakeboarding is a surprise event that comes out of nowhere...you know when you will be going, just leave the watch home that morning. One lost watch already...why even risk it?

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by tfly212

Wouldn't the safest solution be to not wear it wakeboarding? Its not like wakeboarding is a surprise event that comes out of nowhere...you know when you will be going, just leave the watch home that morning. One lost watch already...why even risk it?

I'm in this camp too ..... I guess I'm getting too practical in my old age

[cop414]

Clark, after what you went through with your Sub I'd have to agee with the Gshock idea. Barring that idea I'd have to say a NATO. Good luck with whatever you decide.

[Turbo23dog]

G-shock

[antbkny]

With your luck, pick up a nice gshock lol

[Presa canary]

Sorry to sound harsh, but the last thing I'd be inquiring about is what strap to wear on my rolex while wake boarding. Right after I just got done losing one.... My only advice would be there's absolutely no need, and no benefit to wearing ANY watch for certain activities. This being one of them. Sans watch

[wantonebad]

Originally Posted by Presa canary

Sorry to sound harsh, but the last thing I'd be inquiring about is what strap to wear on my rolex while wake boarding. Right after I just got done losing one.... My only advice would be there's absolutely no need, and no benefit to wearing ANY watch for certain activities. This being one of them. Sans watch

X2
Have to agree!

[Jason71]

I take mine off when wakeboarding...... But when I get back in the boat? It goes right back on the wrist ON A NATO for swimming and other general boating activities

[linesiders]

G-Shock on a ZULU


http://www.broadarrow.net/maratac.htm

[Knappo 1307]

Originally Posted by Presa canary

Sorry to sound harsh, but the last thing I'd be inquiring about is what strap to wear on my rolex while wake boarding. Right after I just got done losing one.... My only advice would be there's absolutely no need, and no benefit to wearing ANY watch for certain activities. This being one of them. Sans watch

This all day long.......

[SlimJim16v]

Where a Seiko or Citizen instead. Many very nice options from both.

[mjclark32]

If you're going to keep it on, put it on a NATO. If one spring bar fails the other is there as a failsafe

[Jason71]

Wakeboarding today with my trusty 5513 on a MARATAC NATO. Of course it still comes off when I'm the one on the board

[Brenngun]

Nato always. Especially when in an open body of water.

[azguy]

Hey, I had my sub on about 2 weeks ago and the surf board wacked me and the clasp popped open, it got held up on my wet suit, so I grabbed it.

Scared the out of me and bought a quartz SMP 300 virtually immediately....

[zama]

G Shock makes the most sense or no watch at all, have never found a real need to have a watch while doing watersports. Remember losing my prized original white swatch in the surf....

[Tempusfugitus]

I think NATOs are very secure IF the watch has drilled lugs, which means longer pins on the spring bars and no spring bar shoulders to catch on the strap. Although the NATO needs both spring bars to pop out for the watch to be lost, the NATO strap itself puts a lot of lateral force on the spring bar and does not support it at all, as a bracelet does. With spring bars with shoulders and shallow "blind" lug holes, i.e. modern Rolexes, I think a NATO is less secure than the bracelet. After all, they were originally designed for watches with fixed spring bars.