This is a first for me, both in wearing and writing. I've never taken the time to fully explain my preference in straps until now, and I'll keep it short: fabric or textile straps usually drive me crazy, and my go-to is either a steel bracelet, rubber, or leather strap. Something about a NATO or Zulu has always felt strange on my wrist, and I've tried hard to enjoy each, but to no avail. I want to love them, but I've never found one that felt comfortable enough to keep on a watch—that is, until I received three pieces from RSM that were a pleasant surprise.

Watch reviews typically follow the same process; discuss the specs, design, how it wears, and that's your review. This is my first time reviewing a strap, so planning this one has been a bit odd, but I've decided to just share my thoughts, and if I ramble, I ramble, like I'm doing right now. Fabric and textile straps are always my last choice when it comes to what I want on my wrist, and for some reason, my heart wants to love them. I think I finally found my love: RSM Straps, not just from a wearability perspective, but from a perspective of distressed beauty and utility.

The team from RSM sent over their Two-piece Forest Camo, Single Pass Forest Camo and their Snow Camo Zulu, and each felt completely different. The two-piece Forest Camo feels robust and rugged, with quite a bit of thickness. It feels like a strap that’s ready to take on mud, water, adventure, or in my case, hours spent on my wrist while I sit in my chair and write about a watch strap. It’s super comfortable, the material is smooth, and while I’ve experienced a level of scratchiness and irritation with other fabric straps, this feels great, seamless, and it adds a level of outdoor adventure to my Vaer C4 Tactical Field.

The Snow Camo Zulu is my favourite of the bunch, with its mix of white, charcoal, and light grey in this really cool, almost digital camo design. The coloring and pattern blend and contrast beautifully against the matte case of the Vaer, and there's one thing I didn't mention about both the two-piece forest camo and this Zulu: they have these fantastic pre-distressed tangs and buckles, which look awesome. It's a great addition to these straps that are meant to take on anything. The fabric feels tough and like it'll last a lifetime, or as long as it can handle whatever you throw at it, which could still take a while to wear out this strap. They look meaner and ready to take on anything to a greater degree, and there isn't much need to worry if you scratch it or hit it against anything. They're fabric straps, so that shouldn't be a worry anyway, but I know some people like to keep things clean and pristine.

RSM's forest camo single-pass NATO is a treat as well. The fabric is silky smooth, to the point that it feels seamless. NATO straps are usually the last on my list of choices regarding anything textile or fabric, but this may have converted me. While I normally don't enjoy the wearing experience, this felt very balanced, and it doesn't feel as thin or flimsy as other NATOs I've experienced. Now, in saying that, it's also not thick to the point of being inflexible or creating an issue with how the watch sits on my wrist; it's the perfect middle ground between structure and rigidity with comfort. The only thing I wish the single-pass had was the same distressed buckle and tang as the two-piece and Zulu straps, but apart from that, it's a great option as well.

While I haven't been a fan of fabric or textile straps in the past, RSM may have converted me. It takes a watch already built with adventure in mind and adds even more to the package, making me want to go outside and do stuff—biking, camping, hiking, fishing, whatever my heart desires, and whatever adventure these straps bring out of me. These straps are priced in the premium category as far as straps go (from $65 to $75 USD), but I can say they are fantastic and you'll get a lot of wear and use out of them. My preference for straps will always be a stainless steel bracelet, leather, or rubber, but take it from me, these are great, and I will be using them more often.

Having the chance to check out something that's out of my comfort zone is always appreciated, and I can't wait to experience these straps more and more as the warm weather hits. Maybe that'll call for an RSM Watch Straps review Part 2 to let you know how they handle sweat, heat, and fun under the summer sun. I'm counting the days until that happens; it's been a brutal winter here in Toronto. Do I recommend checking out RSM? Absolutely. They're great straps with plenty of options, and they do more than just fabric and textile; leather, silk, canvas—they have plenty of choices.

As always, thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts on RSM Watch Straps. Whether morning, afternoon, or evening, I hope you have or had a fantastic day, and I'll see you in the next one!