Excellent video Josh. I knew FKM from long before they came up with using it for watch straps. We design and build process equipment for the food, chemical and other industries and often we will use FKM diaphragms in air operated fluid pump systems. FKM diaphragms can flex under huge pressure thousands of times per hour for years on end. So you can be sure your strap is going to last for many years into the future too.

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching Brian! Sounds like I should have had you in this video for an interview! FKM seems like an amazing material!

@brianmsahin

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheTownWatch Lol. I'm not sure it's a good idea. I do have a face suitable for radio though! 🤣

I have experience with StrapsCo and Strap Seeker and like you said, the quality is the same. I’ll stick with saying FKM since I already forgot what it stands for. 😂

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

😅C'mon say it 10x's fast . . . FLUOROELASTOMER . . . 😂 Thanks for watching pal!

Terrific video Josh, and absolutely love the research and explanation of FKM. Maybe you can do more learning videos. I'm definitely going to take a look at the companies you mentioned. Thank you again for your very informative episode 👏 👍

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching Felo, appreciate your support!

@Sobruh17

Жыл бұрын

I thought it sayed terrible video for a sec

Great deep dive into these types of straps. The info at the beginning was very helpful, thanks!

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed! Thanks for watching!

Wow, thats alot of straps, just put my Seiko on a navy blue FKM and I'm loving it.

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

What brand did you go with? I'm loving this FKM material!

@jamesblonde2271

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheTownWatch Hmm, from my local market guy, they're pretty generic, but only a tenner, I'll post it on IG

Great video. thanks for introducing me to some new brands. I will definitely be checking them out.

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! Hope you pick some up, FKM straps are awesome!

Love fkm straps so comfortable and hard wearing .

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

Amen! Thanks for watching!

@dariosandoval5140

3 ай бұрын

This material is so great!

@chriskelly509

15 күн бұрын

Just ordered several, hope they are worth the hype 😀

Got the Zulu Diver MKII Padded Tropic FKM strap for my SPB213. Love it. Great vid!

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

Nice! Thanks for watching!

If anyone watching has a line on quality extra long tropical straps please let me know. Another great review, my man.

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching Alton! Hope you can find what you're looking for!

Great video. I just ordered a couple of straps from Strap Habit. Vaer also makes a FKM tropical strap but only offer it in 20mm and black but it is really good quality. I di wish that Bartons would start using FKM in their Elite line of straps.

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

Awesome! Hope you enjoy your straps! I'll have to check out the Vaer ones!

Juelong on AliExpress sells exactly those straps for 8-12 bucks, at your home in 10 days. I am almost 100% sure they are exactly the same straps. Those brands are probably just selling them at a huge profit. It would be interesting to see a comparison side by side video.

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

I definitely hear what you're saying! Thanks for watching!

Very funny and informative bud. I had never heard of Strap Seeker. Also- I like the school picture backdrop. ;)

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed! 😅 When I was editing the video, I thought the same thing about the backdrop! 😂

I have an FKM strap on one of dive watches and vulcanized rubber on another. I like them both for different reasons. I will say that an FKM strap is a more comfortable wear.

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching Greg and sharing this information because I've heard that vulcanized rubber is similar to FKM.

@gregalonzo747

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheTownWatch In my opinion, you can't go wrong with either one. A shout out to Average Joe, he knows that I have sailcloth on three of my other watches. Frankly Artem is the best and I love mine.

The Orient with the red FKM strap looks fantastic! Great video Josh! 👏👏👏

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching Luis!

Preaching to the choir man, I am wearing my Clockwork Republic fitted strap on my SKX

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

Very nice! Thanks for watching!

The WatchGecko straps that use the HNBR rubber made In Italy under contract by Bonetto Cinturini are also really nice. I have a couple of those. Expensive though. They feel similar to the caoutchouc natural rubber that Breitling uses on their divers, or at least used to use when I owned one (a SuperOcean from about 10 years ago).

Thank you for this video. I have wondered what FKM rubber is and how good it is for straps for a while. 🙂👍

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching Jeffrey! Good to hear from you again! Hope you're doing well!

I think an FKM strap will probably last you the rest of your life. The only thing that might go is the spring bars, but they're easily replaceable. I have an FKM black waffle strap on my Captain Willard and it really is almost indestructible. Thanks for the video!

Really nice & informative straps video 🙏

@TheTownWatch

Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed, thank you so much!

Very informative video. I have a few watches I’ve been think about changing the ss straps for rubber straps. I would like to see multi colored straps.

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

Appreciate it my friend!

Once locked in, Is there a lot of wiggle with FKM straps and the spring bars? This video is FKM. Fukin Killer MOD. Amazing breakdown here, Josh. Learned so much. 👊🏻

@TheTownWatch

11 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed! One the ones that I have, there wasn't much wiggle room

@thegorn

10 ай бұрын

FKM also stands for FKn Mofo - someone who cuts you off in heavy traffic so bad you have to pump the brakes and then get rear-ended.

Hey! Have you used any of the strapseeker fkm butterfly clasp straps??

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

Hello, thanks for watching! I have not tried their butterfly clasp, I didn't know they had one. Sorry!

FKM is a great material.. only toped on the Rubbery side of life from vulcaniced natural rubber (wich is expensive as hell). Its sometimes realy hard to find good rubber straps, because a lot of companies or seller dont delcare the rubber correct.. and i personaly hate silicone. i mean silicone is flexible, wears great, looks nice, but the lint man, the lint. what also can happen is, that a company change the supplier or the rubber material. i bougth one a realy nice Seiko style waffle strap. nice, flexible, a typical higher end FKM rubber strap. because i like it, i bought another one for a smaler watch.. it was silicone and matt and a lint magnet. for buying Rubber strap: never trust a Product shot or a product description. i have stoped to buy Rubber straps, because its just cambling. there is only one type of product with more lies in the watchstrap world: leather.

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

Good points! Thanks for watching Stefan.

@noobfl

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheTownWatch you'r welcome Dude

@tiagodvt

2 жыл бұрын

@@noobfl If you are after the "Waffle" Seiko stlyled strap, I can 100% recommend Juelong on AliExpress. Costs 8 bucks, made of FKM, doesn't pick up dust nor lint at all. No joke.

My brain hurts.

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

😅

Do you have any advice where to find these FMK straps but for people with larger wrists? i cant find anything for my monster wrists lol

@TheTownWatch

Жыл бұрын

That's a good question! Probably something you would have to reach out to the companies about. Sorry. Thanks for watching.

I use Barton rubber straps on my divers ,super comfortable but these look cool too

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

I've heard of Barton for sure! What material do they use for their rubber straps?

@Dave062YT

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheTownWatch Just silicone I think .They do claim to be "Soft as a babies bottom" and makes my hefty Orient MForce feel light as a feather .Maybe a side by side comparison would make a good video ?

@candide1772

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheTownWatch They have number of different options, including silicon, TPU, D80 rubber and leather hybrid, and silicon and canvas hybrid. I have a TPU strap and an elite silicon strap, and they are both good options that feel similar on my wrist to the FKM strap I have from Long Island Watch.

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

@@Dave062YT Good idea! Silicone straps are nice too but sometimes I've found debris to stick to them.

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

@@candide1772 I'm not familiar with TPU or D80 rubber, what is it?

Got a few FKM rubber straps and they are awesome, have one on my 7002 currently and it is so comfortable to wear and they aren't that expensive if you know where to buy them from. Great job on the video mate

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

Awesome! Thanks for watching! Where'd you pick yours up at?

@WesWatchRoom

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheTownWatch anytime and AliExpress

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

@@WesWatchRoom 👍Some of the ones on there seem like the exact same styles as from these other companies. Seems like these companies source them from the same places in China most likely.

@WesWatchRoom

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheTownWatch they do, buy em cheap, mark up and sell. I just go straight to the source and pay less for the same stuff

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

I hear ya! 😄

Watching this cos I just bought some $5 replacement straps from aliexpress and wondering if I did ok

Springbar tip size?

Great video thanks man. I bought 3 fkm straps from Ali express that Peter kotsa recommended and they look exactly like all of these except they are 8$ each. But China gets a lot of our custom these days so maybe go with homegrown companies 💪

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! Yeah, I hear you on that! Definitely something to consider! Peter is great! I love his channel!

Please help me out… difference between a $20-$30 FKM strap vs a… $200+ FKM strap from say Marathon as just one example. What’s the difference???

@TheTownWatch

Жыл бұрын

There is probably not much difference but I couldn't tell you for sure! Thanks for watching.

Orange is my weakness 😊

Does FKM rubber feel like SWISS rubber? Used on the Omega Seamaster or like the Everest strap ?

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

Good question, I am really not sure. I wonder if you can find any information about the actual rubber that is being used by those you mentioned. Thanks for watching!

@u.u.u9969

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheTownWatch Can you take a trip to your local AD and put hands on some swiss rubber found on the Omega and report back to us. Swiss rubber vs fkm rubber?

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

@@u.u.u9969 😅 Perhaps.

@u.u.u9969

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheTownWatch Thanks that would be cool to see you jump up the price bracket a bit. Everest vs Rubber B vs Tropic vs Zulande vs Swatch Group Rubber ect...

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

@@u.u.u9969 I would love to try all those out! If the companies would send in a sample I would definitely do a video on them but I don't think they're willing to do that for a channel like mine.

Great vid. I actually have the Ali versions and love them, for a fraction of the cost and they're essentially the same. Unless you're going to wear the same one for years, then maybe I'd pay more. Delivery times are a gamble but, like $12 usd, in can live with that.

@lk754

2 жыл бұрын

They are indeed exactly the same, produced in the same factory. These sellers are basically ripping their customers off hard, no other way to put it. They buy them in bulk even cheaper and resell them for 5-8 times as much.

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching Anthony.

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

@@lk754 This is something to consider for sure! I guess buying from a US based strap company you get quicker (more reliable) shipping and better customer service.

@lk754

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheTownWatch There's no doubt about that. But FKM from Ali reaches EU in 3-4 weeks easily, should be about the same for US, and they are roughly 10 USD a piece. You could pretty much buy 4 or 5 of them for the price of a single strap purchased from US store. And again, they are exactly the same, produced in the same factory. As far as customer support is concerned, these are bulletproof, don't think much assistance is needed. To each their own of course, keep up the good work. :)

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

I definitely hear you! These are all valid points.

Hi I bought the same San Martin on a bracelet and looking for a good "rubber" strap and stumble on this video.

@TheTownWatch

Жыл бұрын

That's awesome! Thanks for watching! Hope you check the links in the description for some good FKM rubber straps!

Wait a minute here, so all these new multi-colored straps I'm seeing all over the different shopping sites are being incorrectly advertised as "silicone"? (are actually FKM? they sure look so much like the examples you provided in your video, albeit from different makers (but like what you said they all seem to be the same)

NBR are good too, perhaps a little harder to find and more expensive, but very good.

@TheTownWatch

Жыл бұрын

What does NBR mean? I'm not familiar. Thanks for watching!

@thegorn

10 ай бұрын

Yeah the WatchGecko HNBR ones are made In Italy under contract by Bonetto Cinturini are also very nice. They also have a nice vanilla scent too. HNBR stands for hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber.

Je suis français, depuis que j'ai des bracelets tropique fkm, je les adore Avec en plus les pompes rapide, c'est super pratique

@TheTownWatch

Жыл бұрын

I'm sorry, I don't understand.

You would have made a great science teacher 😁👍

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

😂😂 I don't know about that!!! Most of what I was reading I didn't understand! 😅

Nice Zodiac Sea Dragon !

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you and thanks for watching!

WOW, did I just hear him say that you can bend these RUBBER straps. A BENDING RUBBER STRAP, what will they think of next.

I have the red design but in blue. FKM changed my view on rubber strap. I am biased towards bracelets.

@TheTownWatch

11 ай бұрын

👍👍

Just got an fkm strap for $300 they better be good

FKM ..What does it really mean in hidden terms: I'd say from the chemical composition: F-uh-K-eM : meaning, its it going to cause cancer or other long term disease, it's the customers problem. But hey, thats just a drop in the bucket of poisons that we are all exposed to. I'm no big worrier of these things, but it sure came to mind. I personally prefer stainless steel bracelets on my watches, but I'm not aware of the effects of that on the wrist. Anyway, good job on the video, but the introduction was corny if not annoying.

@TheTownWatch

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

@scotts6596

Жыл бұрын

I retract my harsh comments. I'm going to get the vented slot design from Strapsco or Strap habit for my Seiko Arnie Pepsi: Black( maybe) , red or blue , more likely! 😊

what about skin iritation, carcinigens etc. How safe is FKM to health?

@TheTownWatch

Жыл бұрын

That's a great question! I'm not sure! Thanks for watching!

@joeyb5228

6 ай бұрын

Doesn’t cause any skin irritation. Amazing stuff

@ExtremeSquared

6 ай бұрын

this elastomer is used pretty often in both food and medical industries, so unless you're a homesteader, it's probably not worth worrying about.

Juelong fkm strap also good quality

So how long do they last?

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

That's hard to say because that depends on a lot of factors... Thanks for watching.

@deanwaller8283

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheTownWatch ball park figure if worn every day?

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

@@deanwaller8283 I would say, with normal wear on a daily basis these could last you 15 years plus, I mean FKM material is used for gaskets and such which are many times exposed to pressure and high temperatures.

@deanwaller8283

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheTownWatch wait,,, seriously??? 15 years!!!

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

@@deanwaller8283 That would be just a guess, but I encourage you to do your own research on FKM as a material in general and also try out a watch strap made of it to see for yourself what you think. Use any of my links in the description of this video...😁

Yes but what's atomic number 9? 🤔 hmm.

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

Great question! 😅 Thanks for watching!

Is it okay to disinfect FKM watch straps using soap or alcohol? To clean the coronavirus off of the strap.

@TheTownWatch

Жыл бұрын

Sure!

To much info about the meaning of the word and not enough strap showing

What will happen if i use alcohol to sanitize FKM straps?

@TheTownWatch

Жыл бұрын

I think it would probably be fine but there is only one way to find out. Try it!

What is an FKM strap? Before I show you, let me explain how the universe was formed and elements came into existence.

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

Not quite! 😅 Thanks for watching!

@vipnetworker

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheTownWatch just kidding, I enjoyed all the details. Well done. 👍🏻

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

@@vipnetworker 😅

Just get to the point damn😂

I like your video, but your sound effects and intro are a lot louder than your speaking voice and they are very sudden.

Dude what weed is your favourite

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

I don't understand, I don't smoke. Thanks for watching.

@thegorn

10 ай бұрын

All of them

Plastic isn't rubber. Fix your header.

i use hirsch! i dont give a shit about american made in china kickstarter dime a dozen rubber bands! i hate colored rubber straps!

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

What's Hirsch? Is that a strap company?

@bent540

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheTownWatch hey fun fact smartass: Hirsch is 10y older than your dumbass nation! lol so is my local brewery.

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

@@bent540 I'm not following . . . I'm not being "smart" . . . I have no idea what you're talking about or what Hirsch is. . .

@noobfl

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheTownWatch hirsch is a german watchstrap maker. they are considered as higher end. Hirsch is well known for their dressy leather straps and their more tooly rubber straps. here in germany, probably their most well known line is the performance line. those are rubber straps with a leather upper. BUT.. i personaly think, the performance straps are overhyped. there are a lot (and i meen a lot) of unsadisfied costumers, for wich the leather uppers get broken of.

@TheTownWatch

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I had to look them up! Seems like they make some good stuff but definitely a little pricey!

Got bored after the first 2 minuets

@markr831

5 ай бұрын

Who cares what you got?