The Tudor Pelagos FXD: The Ultimate Summer Watch — And The Best Straps To Wear With It
If there is one watch in my collection that feels like it was made for summer, it's the Tudor Pelagos FXD.
It's lightweight, ridiculously capable, comfortable in the heat and, importantly, it was designed to be worn on a strap rather than a bracelet. The 42mm titanium case is waterproof to 200m, has fixed strap bars and a highly functional bezel, while the whole watch has that unmistakable military/tool-watch character.
But the thing that really makes the FXD such a brilliant summer watch is the strap.
Because of those fixed bars, you can't simply fit a conventional two-piece strap. You're looking at single-pass, hook-and-loop, NATO-style or other fixed-bar-compatible designs. And that opens up a huge amount of opportunity to change the personality of the watch.
At Yorkshire Watch Straps, we've spent a lot of time experimenting with different materials and constructions on the FXD. Here are four of our favourites.
Why the Tudor FXD is such a good summer watch
The FXD was never designed to be a delicate desk diver.
The original FXD was developed with a specialist unit of the French Navy around the specific requirements of underwater navigation. Even the unusual bidirectional bezel is there for a reason: its countdown-style graduation was designed around navigating by successive stages rather than simply timing a dive.
Then there's the case.
The 42mm titanium construction keeps the watch remarkably light, while the fixed bars are machined directly into the case. The FXD is also 200m water resistant and uses a sapphire crystal, making it perfectly happy around swimming pools, beaches, boats and pretty much anything else summer can throw at it.
And unlike a lot of watches, the FXD actually looks better with a bit of wear.
The matte titanium, military-inspired dial and fixed-lug construction all lend themselves to being used rather than babied.
But when temperatures rise, strap choice becomes even more important.
Your wrist expands. You sweat more. You're swimming, travelling, walking, hiking and generally spending more time outside.
That's where the right strap can completely transform the FXD.
1. The Adventurer Elastics — Ultimate Summer Comfort
If I had to choose one strap for an FXD during the hottest part of summer, this would probably be it.
The Adventurer Elastics combines the practicality of our hook-and-loop Adventurer design with an elastic construction that moves with your wrist.
And that matters more than you might think.
Your wrist doesn't stay the same size throughout the day. When you're sitting in an air-conditioned office at 9am, your strap might fit perfectly. A few hours later, after walking around in 25°C heat, your wrist can swell enough to make that same fit noticeably tighter.
Elastic solves that problem.
Rather than forcing your wrist to fit the strap, the strap adapts to your wrist.
The hook-and-loop fastening also gives you much more adjustment than a traditional buckle, allowing you to dial in the fit incredibly precisely.
The result is an FXD that feels light, secure and almost unnoticeable on the wrist.
And that is exactly what I want from a summer watch.
The Tudor FXD itself pays tribute to the French Navy's use of parachute elastic straps, including green examples with contrasting central threads, so there's actually a nice historical connection here too.
Best for: Hot weather, travelling, hiking, everyday wear and anyone who prioritises comfort.
2. The Adventurer — The Ultimate All-Rounder
If the Elastics are the comfort option, the standard Adventurer is the one I'd choose when I want the FXD to feel like a proper piece of military equipment.
The Adventurer is our ribbed nylon single-pass hook-and-loop strap, designed specifically around the sort of watches that use fixed lugs.
It's tough, lightweight and incredibly easy to adjust.
The ribbed nylon construction gives it a more traditional military aesthetic, which works brilliantly with the FXD's own military heritage.
And because it's a single-pass design, there's no unnecessary second layer of material sitting underneath the watch.
That's particularly useful with the FXD.
The watch already has a fairly substantial presence on the wrist, so adding a thick traditional NATO underneath it can make the whole thing feel unnecessarily tall.
A slim single-pass strap keeps everything sitting much closer to the wrist.
The curved stainless-steel buckle also helps the strap sit comfortably around the wrist, while the hook-and-loop closure means you can get the fit exactly where you want it.
Best for: Everyday wear, hiking, travelling and anyone who wants the most authentic military/tool-watch look.
3. FKM Rubber Single Pass — The Ultimate Summer Diver
If you're taking your FXD into the water, this is the one I'd reach for.
FKM rubber is extremely well suited to summer.
It's waterproof, highly durable, resistant to heat and UV and doesn't absorb water or sweat in the way some other materials can.
But the important bit is the single-pass construction.
You get the advantages of rubber without turning the FXD into a bulky traditional rubber-strap setup.
It's also incredibly easy to clean.
Spend the morning swimming in the sea, rinse the strap off, dry it down and you're ready to go again.
The FXD's original fabric strap was developed specifically around the needs of French Navy combat swimmers, while Tudor also supplies a rubber strap with some FXD configurations. So rubber feels completely natural on this watch rather than being an aftermarket compromise.
Our FKM Single Pass collection gives you that same practical summer capability while retaining the clean, military-inspired silhouette of a single-pass strap.
Best for: Swimming, beaches, watersports, hot climates and maximum summer durability.
Shop FKM Rubber Single Pass Straps
4. The Nomad Canvas Single Pass — Summer Adventures
Then there's the Nomad.
If the FXD is coming on holiday with me but I'm not planning on spending the entire trip in the sea, this is probably the strap I'd choose.
The Nomad is made from durable canvas and has that slightly more rugged, vintage-adventure feel that works incredibly well with the FXD.
It's a little different from the technical feel of FKM rubber or the military aesthetic of the Adventurer.
Think road trips, hiking, exploring old towns, camping and travelling.
The canvas gives the FXD a much more tactile, outdoorsy character while still keeping the watch low profile on the wrist.
And that's one of the great things about the FXD.
Change the strap and you've essentially changed the personality of the watch.
Black Adventurer?
Modern military tool watch.
Elastic?
Ultimate summer beater.
FKM rubber?
Summer dive watch.
Canvas Nomad?
Same watch. Completely different feel.
So, which Tudor FXD strap should you choose?
There's no single answer — and that's what makes the FXD so much fun.
| Strap | Best for | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Adventurer Elastics | Hot weather & comfort | Lightweight, flexible & extremely comfortable |
| Adventurer | Everyday wear | Rugged, military & highly adjustable |
| FKM Single Pass | Swimming & water | Technical, durable & easy to clean |
| Nomad Canvas | Travel & exploring | Rugged, vintage & outdoorsy |
The important thing is that all four suit what the FXD is about.
This isn't a watch that needs a precious leather strap or an elaborate bracelet. It was designed around the idea of being a robust piece of equipment, and the strap should complement that.
Tudor themselves describe the FXD as an expression of the modern tool watch, and I think that's exactly why it works so well with different strap materials.
The Tudor FXD: One Watch, Four Summer Personalities
For me, that's the real appeal of the Pelagos FXD.
It's already one of the most capable modern tool watches around, but the fixed bars make strap choice part of the ownership experience.
Going swimming? FKM.
Going hiking? Adventurer.
It's 30°C and you're travelling? Adventurer Elastics.
Road trip through the Highlands? Nomad Canvas.
And because the FXD is a watch that genuinely deserves to be worn rather than kept in a box, having a few straps to suit different adventures makes perfect sense.
The Tudor Pelagos FXD is, in my opinion, one of the ultimate summer watches — lightweight titanium, 200m water resistance, sapphire crystal, military heritage and a design that practically begs you to put it on a strap and get outside.
Now you just have to decide which strap you're taking with you.