The Nodus Nomad was born of the need for a specific watch for a specific mission: a team of 30 explorers traversing the Gobi Desert on camelback. The team travelled for two weeks with prototype versions of the watch on their wrists. Nodus then used the feedback to perfect the production version. Changes included a 60-click bidirectional bezel to enhance navigation and timing usability, improved legibility through bezel and dial changes, increased lume, and a date function. If you like this watch, visit the Nodus website to secure yours now.
The part I'm most excited about is that members of the expedition chose to swap out their metal bracelets for StrapHabit straps. The people, the watches, and the straps survived 124°F temps, violent sandstorms, and wet desert conditions for two weeks. I would have been delighted to partner with Nodus on any of its watches. I knew the Ribbed Pass-Through FKM strap was Wes's favorite, but I never imagined it would be part of something like this.
Nodus Nomad First Impressions
The Nomad will be available in the two colors shown here. The matte, sand-colored Gobi (named for obvious reasons) is the more subtle of the two, but it still features orange accents on the bezel, dial, and the GMT hand. The Signal colorway is all orange and black. Compared to the Nodus Sector Deep Random Rob Edition, the Signal's orange color is less saturated but with a glossy finish. Both watches feature color-matched date wheels.
Nodus Nomad Details
The Nomad dials are matte and feature a stepped-down center. The raised section that contains the hour markers also applies a subtle fumé effect. Nodus uses minimal text, with only the brand and model names and an indication of a GMT function.
The round date window added to production models is inserted at 4:30, with an attractive step applied that mimics the center of the dial. While some people don't prefer this layout, it functionally makes the most sense. Legibility is improved by maintaining full-size hour markers. The date disc is color-matched and has the numerals oriented correctly, so it doesn't distract when you're not looking for it. If I were riding a camel for two weeks, I would want to know what the date is each day.
Like my Nodus Canyon, the sapphire crystal is slightly boxed, but flat on top, with a blue AR-coated underside. It has minimal distortion, making the watch easy to read at angles. Beneath that, a 24-hour scale is printed on a nearly vertical chapter ring.
Wearing the Nodus Nomad
The Nomad uses a 38mm case shared with Nodus Sector models. It has sharp lugs and finishing, with a pleasing mix of brushed and polished surfaces.
A 40mm bezel overhangs the case slightly, making the watch wear smaller and the bezel easier to grip.
The movement used in the Nomad is not known for being thin. This makes the Nomad's 11.7mm thickness even more impressive, especially for a 4-hand watch. Downward-curving lugs further help it sit flush on the wrist.
The Nodus Nomad's Strap
Wes from Nodus has been wearing a black StrapHabit Ribbed Rubber Pass-Through on his personal watch since they came out (all current Nodus watches have a 20mm lug width and drilled lugs). I didn't design it for desert use (not to be confused with our Dessert straps), but in retrospect, it's the perfect strap for it. It's lightweight and thin, especially when converted to a single-pass strap by removing the spring bars securing the additional material. It also has molded-in ventilation features and adjustable keeper positions for the perfect fit.
A number of colors were provided to the expedition team, but Nodus chose to include a versatile black strap with custom Nodus branding on the buckle with each production Nomad.
The straps included are 20mm,, but this strap will also be available in 22mm soon. You can buy yours here:
Ribbed FKM Rubber Pass-Through
Nodus Nomad Movement
Unlike the Nodus Contrail and Trailtrekker, which use Miyota GMT movements, the Nomad has a TMI NH34. This is the commercially available version of the Seiko 4R34 that you'll find in Seiko 5 Sports GMT models. This allowed Nodus to keep the Nomad's price point lower. The brand also regulates it in-house to +/- 10 seconds per day, which is an improvement over the stock Seiko tolerances. It sits behind a numbered caseback with engravings commemorating the expedition.
While I typically prefer traveller GMTs, the caller GMT application makes sense here. I bought my Nodus Contrail to cross time zones in airplanes, but the Nomad is designed to traverse deserts at a slower speed (how fast does a camel go, anyway?). For its intended use, wearers will always want to keep the 24-hour hand set to local time in order to use the compass bezel for navigation. The function is still there, however, for those who prefer to set it independently.
Nodus Nomad Conclusion
While I don't plan to use a compass bezel to traverse a desert on a camel, the features added to the Nodus Nomad for that purpose also make it a perfect everyday watch. It has great legibility, a useful GMT and timing bezel, plus it comes in two attractive colors. It also comes on a fantastic strap (no bias here, whatsoever). Nodus combines this with its attractive design language and finishing at a great price, making the Nomad a compelling package. Visit the Nodus website to secure yours now.
Nodus Nomad Specifications:
Name: Nodus Nomad - Gobi and Signal
MSRP: $575
Diameter: 40mm
Height: 47mm
Thickness: 11.7mm
Bezel: 60-click, bi-directional
Lug Width: 20mm
Movement: Seiko NH34 GMT
Power Reserve: 41 hours
Water Resistance: 100m
Crystal: Flat sapphire with domed underside and blue anti-reflective coating on the underside
Crown: Screw-down
Strap: Ribbed Pass-Through FKM rubber strap by StrapHabit®