That’s right folks I’ve been stuck with the arduous task of test driving Artem’s new HydroFlex

Hybrid FKM rubber straps. A mission I took extremely seriously. Let’s just say I understood the assignment (literally no one asked me to do, but I did anyway).

It’s In the Name!

So before I get into all the amazing and adventurous things I got up to wearing these straps I think it’s important to understand exactly what these straps are because they definitely aren’t your bog standard FKM rubber that’s for sure. With a price tag of over 200 Swiss francs each they are by no means an impulse buy, so we need to dig deeper and analyse the details.

Artem are a strap specialist based in Adelaide Australia who launched in 2019 and are notorious for their meticulous attention to detail and for pushing the boundaries of what a luxury strap is, striving to rival the OEM strap at a more competitive price point. It’s sometimes quite shocking how much big brands charge for an extra strap or bracelet. 

The HydroFlex Hybrid FKM Rubber is their latest creation. I’m not sure you know this but not all FKM rubber is of the same quality. Something that has become abundantly clear during my exploration into all things HydroFlex. Let’s get into it.

What is a HydroFlex Hybrid FKM Rubber Strap?

Made with a top quality FKM rubber and layered with an embossed custom sailcloth design. It’s super flexible, water and dust resistant and extremely well made. The strap fits the wrist straight out of the pack with no need to break it in. There are 8 different variations if you include the various stitching colours (the first sign of how much attention to detail there is) but the main colours are black, beige, grey, khaki, and blue in different iterations.

The FKM rubber is made to be super durable and supple due to the extreme heat it’s

exposed to during the manufacturing process. Factory fitted quick release spring bars and a custom 316l steel tang buckle come as standard with the option to buy an additional custom deployant clasp. The HydroFlex strap length is 75/115 mm which tapers from approximately 5.35mm down to around 2.55mm, which gives you an idea of the level of scrutiny these straps have come under in the R&D process. There is nothing standard about these straps.

In short, it’s a highly versatile, rubber strap that looks like a canvas. The best of both worlds!

First Impressions

Upon opening the space age silver packet I pulled out what at first glance looked like a canvas strap. It was a double take moment. The attention to detail with getting the FKM rubber to look like canvas is staggering, it’s not until I glided my fingers along the strap that I could be sure it was in fact rubber. I chose a black, a khaki and black and a beige and black variants, the latter of which I had fitted with a deployant clasp. Three brilliantly neutral and incredibly versatile options. 

I quickly went to work putting the straps on different watches, but I had the khaki and the black in mind for my rugged Tudor Black Bay 54 and the beige was crying out to be paired with my Kuoe Royal Smith 90-006. I’ve been searching for a rubber option for the Royal Smith ever since I’ve had the pleasure of owning it, but the fact it has such an elegant vintage dress watch aesthetic meant a normal sporty and modern looking strap just didn’t feel right. Not to mention it has 18mm lug width, which isn’t unusual but still many rubber strap companies only offer 20mm or above lug width. 

It’s a match made in heaven. The elegance of the hybrid strap means it’s still in keeping

with the watch, yet I can now wear it in more rugged settings like the beach or in this case

sledding with my two rambunctious kids. The deployant clasp just adds that extra level of ease meaning even if you’re in a hurry you can wear the strap like you would a normal bracelet without the added effort of physically strapping it to your wrist. So if you’re someone who likes to be as efficient as possible I would recommend trying a clasp like this out on your straps.

Now my Tudor Black Bay 54 is not shy when it comes to rubber straps. It has a whole wardrobe of them. It’s that overused term we like to call in the watch fam ‘a strap monster’. And this was no exception. I began with the black strap, which conveniently went perfectly with my black and pink ski ensemble and went to work testing the strap out in -10 degrees, wind, snow and ice like the adventurer I feel I was always destined to be. The inside of the strap feels very soft and there is absolutely no break in time. Partly due to the extreme heat the rubber is exposed to when creating the strap. 

I would be remiss not to mention that the standard buckle for this occasion was the

superior choice as I strapped my trusty Tudor over my sleeve after I got to the slopes (it was

bloody cold up there), which is far easier to do with a traditional buckle strap system compared to a deployant clasp. To say Artem is a company made for the detail oriented is an understatement. There is nothing they don’t consider when it comes to strap wearing. I really enjoyed the comfort and how it elevated the watch at the same time. After all, isn't that what we want in a strap?!

After a full morning of successfully trying not to fall over on my skis I decided to give myself and the Tudor Black Bay 54 a costume change and wear the khaki and black Hybrid strap to match my khaki green swimsuit. After all what kind of reviewer would I be if I didn’t test this HydroFlex strap out in water?! Khaki is such a great colour that works all year round and adds a kind of feeling of ruggedness to any watch. I suppose it’s the military connotations it has for me. So as I sliced through the water and proceeded to get splashed in the face by my children with only the HydroFlex to shield me, I realised how beautiful the strap looked in its natural habitat. 

The water droplets sat neatly on the rubber material but leaving no streak marks, which I found on some of my other rubber straps. I suppose the beautiful texture of the canvas style helps with this. The best part about these HydroFlex hybrid FKM rubber straps is there’s no drying time. You just towel yourself off and you’re good to go.

Final thoughts

It really is inspiring to know that there are people who care so deeply about the smallest details of a strap, which is clearly the case here with Artem. They are super quality, great looking and no fuss straps, which are built to last. I really enjoyed the look of the deployant clasp and it’s a real luxury add-on, which makes sense for your favourite pieces in your collection. The brilliant Colour choices and quick release spring bars, means you can easily swap out the strap and use it for all your watches with the same lug size and the fact that they have so many different lug size options is so refreshing.

If you too are a detail oriented adventurous person who loves an elegantly sporty strap then the Artem HydroFlex Hybrid FKM rubber strap may be the perfect strap for you.