NATO strap source in the US

[ExpII]

Hi -

Any good sources of NATO straps in the US? I tried ordering from Gnomon Watches but their delivery times suck (I'm coming up on 15 days, expected 5-7) and I found customer service lacking.

Thanks.

chris

[Rebel]

Corvus
Ebay

Bought from (off) both and went well.

[psv]

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

http://www.tripleaughtdesign.com/Equ...bat-Dive-Strap

[Jason71]

Chris, I have around 75 nylon straps being either NATO or ZULU. I have tried many different brands, but without question...........the Maratac are by far the best quality. I have tried gnomonwatches, corvus, and some decent quality ebay straps. Main problem is that the holes fray very easily. Maratac does a great job with this issue. Plus, the hardware is just a little more robust, as is the thickness and quality of the strap.

I have a black Maratac on right now that is quite old and still is at about 90%. I have had it diving and everything.

You can purchase Maratac from:

Broadarrow.com
Countycomm.com
Wetcoasttime.com

My favorite is broadarrow.

HTH

[bscepter]

+1 on broadarrow.net

but avoid the watch barn at all costs. they'll take your money, but you'll never receive your strap.

[Runnin' Rebel]

I just ordered 3 straps from broadarrow, I hope they are the right size for my GMT II and Model-116610LV....20MM

[Speed]

I just ordered from Gnomon again. We'll see if I have shipping issues. It would be a first.

[greekbum]

http://www.internationalwatchman.com/home.html
go to military straps

[mws222]

Just picked up one from broadarrow.

[Dr. Robert]

If you're in the USA, please spend your bread @ home............Broadarrow.net, Countycomm.com or Westcoastime.com, Calif. based.

[metaphysician]

I agree that Maratac is the best NATO out there. I want a nice gray one and their gray NATO is ACU (Army Combat Uniform) gray and it's really a green. Nice color but not exactly what I was looking for. Not interested in a ZULU.

Any of the US sources the guys have mentioned here are good. I've personally ordered from CountyComm and Broadarrow and had no issues.

[pdoukas]

x2 on Corvus. Love the strap and got it quickly. Ordering was fast, smooth, easy.

[moishlashen]

Waiting on Anders myself. The fun thing about it is it takes so long to get to me-this is my 4th order-that I forget I even ordered them in the first place. Then one day they show up out of the blue and its like getting a present in the mail

I do like the Maratacs the best as well but the color nato I prefer I've only seen at Gnomon which is the absolute only reason I go there.

[ExpII]

Originally Posted by Jason71

the Maratac are by far the best quality.

You can purchase Maratac from:

Broadarrow.com
Countycomm.com
Wetcoasttime.com

My favorite is broadarrow.

HTH

Thanks for all the info guys, I really appreciate it. I'll pick up a few Maratac straps and wear my 16570 with a smile (not that I don't anyway).

[CPTL]

Ordered from Gnomon last week, because they have the most color selections that I've seen in what is regarded to be a decent quality strap. Maratac straps are good, if you just want black/gray/green/NATO.

[Mike1066]

I have a Martac from Countycomm.com I also love the NATOs from Eddie at Timefactors.

[Saxon007]

Good luck getting something in a reasonable amount of time from Gnomon Watches. I've ordered from them twice, from ordering to delivery was 46 days and 38 days respectively. Never again for me.

I have a few Maratacs but much prefer the straps from Timefactors. The straps show up at my house about a week after I purchase them and they are very thick, comfortable and properly heat-welded (not sewn). Shipping is a bargain, around $3 or so.

[threemonkeys]

Originally Posted by Speed

I just ordered from Gnomon again. We'll see if I have shipping issues. It would be a first.

I placed my first order with them two days ago. I hope it goes well. They did respond to a question I had within ten minutes via e mail, however.

[Eric88]

My favorite straps are the Maratac military style (non NATO). I got all four colors from Broad Arrow and wish I could find this same style strap in more colors. It is like a Zulu minus the big chunky hardware.

Does anyone know where to find more variety in this type of strap?

[cpo]

Originally Posted by threemonkeys

I placed my first order with them two days ago. I hope it goes well. They did respond to a question I had within ten minutes via e mail, however.

I ordered from them previously, two matte NATOs. I think it took about a week and a half before they were at my door - maybe less. I honestly don't remember, but it wasn't that long.

I just ordered 4 more from them. I liked the first two that much. I have a couple of Maratac straps for my Luminox. I tend to like the thicker straps on that watch...but I don't like the heavy duty straps on my SD for some reason. The ones I get from Gnomon are comfy, look good, and are reasonably priced.

I ordered my Maratac from COUNTY COMM and it took 7 days to arrive, and I paid $3 more for shipping.

[threemonkeys]

Originally Posted by cpo

I ordered from them previously, two matte NATOs. I think it took about a week and a half before they were at my door - maybe less. I honestly don't remember, but it wasn't that long.

I just ordered 4 more from them. I liked the first two that much. I have a couple of Maratac straps for my Luminox. I tend to like the thicker straps on that watch...but I don't like the heavy duty straps on my SD for some reason. The ones I get from Gnomon are comfy, look good, and are reasonably priced.

Good info regarding Gnomon. I ordered four straps and if they turn out nice I think I'll get a bunch more from them. They've got a lot of the brighter colors which I prefer. I would love it, though, if there were a company with similar colors I could buy from in the States.

[Jason71]

Originally Posted by threemonkeys

Good info regarding Gnomon. I ordered four straps and if they turn out nice I think I'll get a bunch more from them. They've got a lot of the brighter colors which I prefer. I would love it, though, if there were a company with similar colors I could buy from in the States.

Craig, I totally understand the lack of color options with Maratac. However, do yourself a favor and order 1 Black Maratac and then a strap or two from Gnomon just so that you can see the quality differences. I am not saying that the Gnomon straps are "bad" (I have several of them), but they are just not the same quality of the Maratacs. I am getting to the place that I only wear Maratac straps when I dive, and some of the other brand NATOs when I am just doing other things when it is not that critical to have the best security.

The biggest differences between the Maratacs and other brands:

Maratac straps are stitched at the buckles where all other brands that I have found are just heat-welded. -- THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGER +++ For MARATACS
Maratac straps have more robust hardware than "some" other brands. There are several other brands that have very good hardware.
Maratac straps are a little thicker than several of the other brands. Some see this as an advantage, some.....a disadvantage.
Maratac straps have better heat-welded holes than anything else that I have found. Gnomon, Ebay straps, and Corvus holes fray very easily and after a couple weeks of wear the holes will be stretched and unsightly (my personal experience, not necessarily everyone's). -- THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGER +++ For MARATACS

I really cannot comment on the Timefactors straps because I haven't personally tried one. I would like to get one of the black ones with PVD hardware, but just haven't yet because they are similarly priced to the Maratacs, and I have been so happy with the Maratacs after trying so many different brands.

NATO straps are cheap, and can help to satisfy the urge to flip watches. Try out some different brands and different colors. It is a ton of fun.