Our Guide to Nylon Watch Straps

In a word - yes. They’re made from flexible and durable woven materials that can be used to shape and style many different types of watch straps. Perlon watch straps and NATO watch straps are possibly the most well-known, as they are extremely popular with sports watches, and prevent your watch case from coming into contact with your skin. Hook and loop watch straps are also popular with outdoor enthusiasts. The main draw for these watch straps is that they’re lightweight and remain secure and comfortable during heavy activity.

Our nylon watch straps are comfortable from the very first wear but much like a good pair of shoes, nylon often needs to be broken in to completely soften against your wrist. However, once it has you’ll barely notice that you’re wearing it. Luckily, there is a trick you can use to speed up the process. Pop your new nylon watch strap into a pocket with your laundry, put it on a cool wash and once it’s completely dried out, you’ll notice that the material feels a lot softer.

No - they’re usually absorbent, but they also dry out quickly and are very easy to clean. This is why they’re well suited to sports watches worn while exercising or swimming - they remain durable and comfortable even after contact with sweat and water. However, watch straps that are constructed of specially coated nylon fabrics such as Cordura resist water.

There are many similarities between nylon and canvas watch straps - they’re both exceptionally suited to sports watches used by active wearers and are extremely durable. However, canvas watch straps tend to be a lot more rugged in appearance, which is great if that’s the look that you’re going for. Canvas also tends to be thicker than nylon and the latter material is usually softer to the touch. Ultimately, it all comes down to personal preference. There are those who’d prefer canvas over nylon and vice versa - but both materials make absolutely brilliant watch straps.

Let’s dig a little deeper and have a proper look at the three styles of watch straps that we have available on our site.

NATO watch straps

With military origins, this particular style of watch strap has become iconic - particularly if you choose our James Bond-inspired black and grey stripe design. They are extremely comfortable, rugged and easy to clean - qualities of all nylon watch straps. The one-piece design of NATO watch straps gives them added security, and they are remarkably easy to swap out, meaning you can choose more than one colour or style and wear them to complement a number of looks. You can read more about them here.

Cordura watch straps

Cordura is a functional woven nylon material which is rugged with its abrasion and tear resistance. Our Cordura watch straps are constructed from a coated Cordura for added water resistance which is combined with a water resistant leather lining for comfort. These performances watch straps are well suited to the outdoors and those with active lifestyles.

Perlon watch straps

These woven watch straps are remarkably lightweight and breathable, and their lack of traditional holes gives them the ability to be sized perfectly to fit your wrist - you just push the buckle tongue between one of the braids and it stays put. As perlon watch straps are a single-piece design, your watch case won’t come in direct contact with your skin, which makes them an ideal choice for summer. Plus, as with our NATO straps, they dry quickly once wet, are durable and easy to clean.

Hook & loop watch straps

Hook and loop watch straps are extremely adjustable, practical and casual, making them a must for anyone who spends a lot of time outdoors. Our straps are satisfyingly thick, sturdy and come in a range of great colours, from muted blacks to visually striking greens, reds and yellows. You don’t need to worry if they get wet, sweaty or covered in dirt - a quick rinse and dab with a damp cloth will have them right as rain.