It's finally time! While the snow has been gone for quite some time, we've been facing a very trying spring with temperatures climbing, then dropping, and the cycle kept repeating for a number of months. As much as I love my alligator leather straps from RSM Watch Strap, I was feeling it was time to put the leather away and break out some of my textile options. Sure enough, the last week or so has shown that, so what better way to celebrate than my top strap choices for a comfortable watch-wearing summer.
Most of these will be in the lane of single pass and Zulu straps, but there will be some different options in there, specifically thinking about those cooler nights at the cottage or camping. Enough rambling, let's get into it!
Single Pass Straps:
Right off the bat, we're heading into the lane of single-pass straps. If you're like me, you want a more comfortable, breathable strap for the days when things get hot. Not to mention the lake days when you don't feel like taking your watch off and want to bring it in the water. Please, make sure it's at least 100m water-resistant; we don't need any watch casualties this summer due to lacking water resistance.
Single-pass straps are often the best choice for summer due to their ability to get wet and dry with ease, along with their breathability and durable nature. Whether you're on the trail, in the water, or on a road trip, a single-pass strap will be a phenomenal choice for wherever life takes you on hot, humid, and sun-filled days. RSM Watch Strap has a variety of colours and options, including beautiful camo variations, so take a look around and rock your watch in comfort.
Zulu Straps:
I like to think of Zulu straps as the buff, bigger brother of the Single-pass straps. They're usually made of a thicker material for more rugged and rough activities and come equipped with thicker and more durable stainless steel hardware. You get the same light feeling on the wrist as the Single-pass straps, but with more wrist presence, and the Zulu straps adds a slightly indestructible attitude, especially if you wear a heavy-duty tool watch during the summer.
Zulu straps are the perfect option for those who are looking to spend the summer deep outdoors, camp regularly, or just want a slightly thicker strap that feels a bit more balanced. That being said, both the Single-pass and Zulu straps are fantastic choices; it's all up to wearing preference. I personally recommend trying both to see what you like.
X-Hatch Straps:
X-Hatch is one of my favorite straps offered by RSM Watch Strap. I’ll be honest, I love basically everything they offer, but the X-Hatch has that extra oomph. With its detailed and beautiful cross-hatch pattern, it not only looks great, but it’s also effective in adding additional durability to the wearing experience. X-Hatch straps are again, great for any and all scenarios, from patio to the golf course to anything else you do this summer.
The X-Hatch straps cascades across the wrist, and if you’re like me and sweat a lot during the summer, the polyester is fantastic to assist with moisture wicking to maintain a comfortable wearing experience, even when you look like you just stepped out of the shower. If you’re looking for another comfortable option, look no further than the X-Hatch.
Herringbone Twill Straps:
It's light, it's comfortable, it's Herringbone Twill. To me, these straps are made for those chill cottage weekends or those summer nights out when you want to dress up a bit, but don't want to get too warm. When you want to bring some class to the rooftop patio, but you don't want to stand out too much, that's where Herringbone Twill straps can help.
With their beautiful woven texture, Herringbone Twill straps create a level of understated luxury and are a great choice when going out on those hot summer nights. With their sturdy nylon construction and light weight, Herringbone Twill straps are a fantastic option to comfortably dress up a watch for summer nights or even dress it down when you're just having a chill weekend lounging: the best of both worlds.
2-Piece Watch Straps:
A strap list isn't complete without the reliable 2-piece watch straps.
2-piece watch straps are ideal for those who aren't a fan of single-pass or Zulu straps due to their "undercarriage" way of fitting to a watch: sliding it through the top lugs, across the back of the watch, and out the bottom lugs. Sometimes it can make a watch sit a bit higher on the wrist, and some aren't a big fan of that. The 2-piece watch straps remedies that.
Since it's two separate pieces of fabric that attach like your standard quick-release strap, you're getting the same rugged durability of the Zulu strap due to its overall thickness and choice of hardware, without having the extra material on your wrist. Comfort and reliable durability.
