Nodus Nomad Field Watch Review

On paper, the Nodus Nomad appears like a sensible area watch at a great worth. With twin time, compass performance, a dependable Seiko motion, and 100 m of water resistance, I used to be intrigued. However the shimmering, sand-colored dial is what actually drew me in. I related with Nodus to rearrange a demo.

Earlier than I ever received one in my palms, the Nodus Nomad GMT watch underwent excessive testing. A minimum of that’s what the model claimed, noting that 15 explorers wore prototype Nomads throughout two weeks alongside distant terrain, “enduring 124°F warmth, violent sandstorms, and moist desert situations with no logistical assist.”

I didn’t have that form of warmth or sandstorms at hand. However I did have a number of mountains, fickle springtime climate, and lots of climbing to get completed. I strapped on the Nodus and hit the path.

Briefly: The Nodus Nomad ($575) is a good-looking automated watch with lots of utility for a really affordable worth. With a cool backstory and distinctive look, it’s a enjoyable, purposeful piece for individuals who love instrument watches.

Examine the Nodus Nomad with one of the best area watches.

Nodus Nomad Overview

Born from a 2-week retracing of Roy Chapman Andrews’ early Twentieth-century Gobi Desert expedition, Nodus designed the Nomad instrument look ahead to excessive situations.

Reducing by way of the advertising chaff, Nodus did construct a sensible, reasonably priced area watch with some good bonus utility. I acquired a demo mannequin of the Nomad about 6 weeks in the past. I’ve pressed it into some powerful obligation since then, strapping it on for downhill and cross-country snowboarding, turkey looking, tenting, and path working. After some tough climate and even a couple of drops onto laborious surfaces, the Nomad continues to be going robust.

To be clear, that’s a low bar. But it surely’s one {that a} good area watch must leap over with zero points. Fortuitously, the Nodus Nomad cleared it simply.

Timing has been dependable. When sporting the Nomad for 2 to 3 days at a time, I haven’t observed any time deviation. As I’ve been leaping between lots of duties this spring, I typically eliminated it for days at a time, revealing one in every of its downsides — a 41-hour energy reserve. It isn’t lengthy sufficient to get by way of two full days of downtime while not having to be reset.

To be honest to the Nodus Nomad, a 41-hour reserve is fairly customary, particularly on the $575 worth vary. It’s a product of the dependable, but reasonably priced Japanese TMI NH34 motion.

Nodus Nomad: On the Wrist

The Nodus Nomad ships on a ribbed pass-through FKM rubber strap by StrapHabit. Testing this watch is the primary time I’ve examined the type, and I’m conflicted in regards to the design.

This strap has a secondary pass-through linkage that extends previous the clasp. Once you put the watch on, you first go it by way of that linkage, then into the clasp, after which by way of two customary pass-through loops. The result’s that the band snugs down extra exactly than with an ordinary watch band.

I discover this each good and unhealthy. On the nice aspect, I discovered a very good, snug match as soon as it was dialed. On the unhealthy aspect, the watch was clumsy to placed on and take off. When hustling out of my home, I’d stand there for an additional minute or two fumbling with the band.

As soon as on, although, the rubber strap was fairly snug. The 38mm case has an outsized 40mm bezel, which permits it to really feel smaller than it’s on the wrist. Primarily, the bezel overhangs the case somewhat, so it’s bigger on the highest than in opposition to the wrist.

I discovered the design fairly nice for each day put on. Do remember, it’s somewhat chunky and barely suits beneath a button-down cuff on a mean flannel. Whereas a area watch in use, it tends to suit somewhat extra like a dive watch at 11.7mm thick.

GMT, Bezel Capabilities

The Nomad is a GMT watch, which means it has a fourth hand that tracks a 24-hour clock by circling the face as soon as each 24 hours. It units simply and independently of the principle timekeeping palms. This allows you to set a second time zone to trace whereas touring, or whereas managing far-flung workers or family members as they journey.

This type, known as the “caller” GMT, is most helpful for these monitoring different areas. Whereas nonetheless helpful for vacationers, it’s not as seamless as a “traveler” GMT, which lets the wearer shortly modify the native 12-hour hand for time zone adjustments.

Utilizing the GMT characteristic is fast and simple by way of the primary crown place. Turning it a technique adjusts the GMT hand, turning it the opposite method adjusts the date within the (actually tiny) date window. Extra on this later.

The Nomad can be geared up with a bi-directional bezel. Emblazoned with cardinal instructions and a “10, 20, 40, and 50” numeral, it means that you can use the watch as a compass or timer. Each are rudimentary instruments, however purposeful with some primary expertise.

To navigate with the bezel within the Northern Hemisphere, lay it flat and level the hour hand on the solar. Within the Northern Hemisphere, south is the midway level between the hour hand and 12 o’clock. This watch takes it a step additional, permitting the person to pivot the bezel to level to north and south, considerably simplifying navigation.

Good Dial, Good Legibility

I used to be initially very drawn to the looks of the Nodus Nomad dial. Its lusterous golden hue recollects sand dunes and sunshine. And whereas sporting the watch, I continued to take pleasure in its good-looking look. However I did discover myself more and more essential of the legibility of the dial.

First, the date window is extremely small. I can learn it, however solely with nice effort and in brilliant gentle. Sure, I’m sufficiently old to have barely decreased close to imaginative and prescient, however I can nonetheless tie a fly line with out studying glasses. The window is legitimately tiny. I believe the watch might lose this complication and presumably be improved, though the date is good for worldwide journey.

With a tringle on the 12 o’clock place, double batons at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock, and single batons at the remainder of the hours, it’s comparatively straightforward to learn. It takes extra time than numerals, however is simple to decipher. I do suppose the watch is somewhat cluttered-looking with the combo of batons on the dial, cardinal instructions, and numerals on the bezel. There’s rather a lot occurring, particularly with every place utilizing a special coloration.

The watch makes use of Swiss Tremendous-LumiNova BGW9 Grade A for low-light visibility. It actually pops at midnight, particularly through the first few hours after publicity to sunlight.

Nodus Nomad: Who Ought to Purchase It?

The Nodus Nomad is a very cool watch. It has lots of utility that vacationers and explorers will admire. And it has an excellent backstory.

Examined on camelback by way of sandstorms and warmth, the manufacturing mannequin was refined by the explorers themselves. It has a good-looking dial, a snug match, and a bi-directional compass bezel. Every individually numbered piece comes with a StrapHabit ribbed strap, which presents an excellent match as soon as strapped on.

Individuals who worth utility, good timekeeping, and a novel timepiece with a cool backstory ought to think about the Nodus Nomad. It’s rugged, dependable, and has a novel, adventurous look. I believe it has room for enchancment, significantly within the date window and barely busy look, however on the worth vary, it’s a compelling watch that the adventurous will take pleasure in.