Hands-On With The Nodus × Raven TrailTrekker Clay
Sometimes, a hands-on experience will turn you from a critic to an enthusiast. I had seen the gray Nodus × Raven TrailTrekker in photos and wasn’t sure what to expect. This collaborative effort from the American brands Nodus and Raven looks like a watch drawing influences from one we know all too well. But after wearing the watch for two weeks, I can honestly say that the visual resemblance to an industry classic is nothing to worry about. The main worry should be how soon to get your hands on this temporarily unavailable special edition. The Nodus × Raven TrailTrekker Clay is an awesome and affordable adventurer’s GMT. Let me explain why I think this is such a great watch.
Straight out of the box, the TrailTrekker presents an interesting creation. It’s a collaboration between two small independent American watch brands. The first is Nodus, a brand we have covered here on Fratello. I recently wrote an introduction article about the Californian brand’s Contrail GMT. It’s a series I like a lot and hope to properly review soon. The second brand is Kansas-based Raven Watches, which produces watches for adventurers and travelers. Raven’s latest creation is the robust-looking Endeavour II dive watch. Another available model is the Trekker, a diver turned into a versatile adventurer’s watch. But what happens if Nodus and Raven join forces? The result is much more surprising than my first impressions led me to believe.
The Nodus × Raven TrailTrekker — A true adventurer’s watch
Looking at the design of the new TrailTrekker, it’s clear that there is a resemblance to the Rolex Explorer II. But zooming in on the details, you will quickly see plenty of elements that step away from the Explorer II realm. The main elements sparking that comparison are the general case shape and typical style of the sloping bezel and its 24-hour scale. However, the color, dial, hands, and bracelet completely differ from The Crown’s famous creation. Even the case, upon closer inspection, shows tremendous differences. Consequently, the more you wear the TrailTrekker, the less it “suffers” from taking after the Explorer II. On top of that, there is an interesting story behind the watch.
The idea behind the Nodus × Raven TrailTrekker Clay is two brands working together to blend the style of two of their respective watch models. This watch combines elements of the Nodus Contrail GMT and the Raven Trekker. The first watch is a modern GMT, and the second is a dive watch at heart but can be worn during any adventure you might have planned. The combination of the two results in the rightfully named TrailTrekker.
The design details of a combination of two watches
Looking closely at the design, you see that the case and hands come from the Nodus Contrail GMT. The dial design comes from the Raven Trekker with characteristic hour markers and a subtle minute track. It’s quite remarkable how well the two watches blend. I usually don’t like design constructs like this because they often lead to unnatural results. With the TrailTrekker, though, the puzzle pieces seem to fall into place rather nicely.
But I am getting carried away with the design details. The first thing you see is the remarkable color of the TrailTrekker. The brands have opted to call this color “Clay.” It’s a name that perfectly describes the color. The base color is dark gray but sometimes looks almost dark green. It’s a fascinating, stealthy color in its appearance, but it stands out because it’s not a color we see often. It first reminded me of the brilliant Heuer Autavia “Olive Drab” ref. 111.603 from the 1980s, one of my favorite Heuer watches ever made.
The details of the TrailTrekker
Now let’s dive into the details properly. The TrailTrekker has a stainless steel case featuring a gray DLC coating with a matte finish. It measures a comfortable 39.5mm wide, 11.8mm thick, 46.6mm long, and 20mm between the lugs. The case offers a 200m depth rating, a box-shaped crystal on top, and drilled lug holes. On the right side of the case, you will find a black DLC-coated screw-down crown protected by beveled gray guards. You also can see the bevels running along the top and bottom of the case, showing just how much it differs from the case of the Explorer II. The fixed stainless steel bezel features a Cerakote ceramic coating that is slightly greener than the coating of the case.
The brands opted for Cerakote because of its chemical resistance and aesthetics. Had it been DLC, it could have led to adhesion issues when applying the black lacquer used for the engraved 24-hour scale. In terms of color, the brands tried to match the color of the case, but the slight difference does add character rather than feeling like a mismatch. Looking more closely, I quickly found myself loving the overall appearance and the different details.
The dial and bracelet
Another great detail is the dark gray dial with a fine texture you won’t see without a loupe. The dial is combined with black applied markers filled with sand-colored Super-LumiNova BGW9 that lights up blue in the dark. As I mentioned, the hands are inspired by the Nodus Contrail and filled with the same lume as the indices. The yellow 24-hour GMT hand with its cut-off tip is the one that looks different. While I would have preferred a full arrow-shaped tip, it’s a quirky detail that stood out but didn’t bother me once.
The same goes for the neatly integrated date window at six o’clock. It would have been nice if the date disc had matched the lume color instead of being plain white. But as soon as I put the watch on my wrist, I wasn’t bothered or distracted by it once.
The watch comes on a gray DLC-coated stainless steel flat-link bracelet that tapers nicely from 20mm at the end links to 16mm at the proprietary NodeX clasp. Thanks to the quick-release spring bars, the bracelet is easy to remove. Additionally, the clasp features two large, nicely integrated push buttons and a toolless micro-adjustment system offering five locking positions, making it easy to size the watch precisely.
A regulated GMT movement
Inside the case, you will find the Miyota 9075. The automatic GMT caliber is very popular among smaller brands as it is the first widely available flyer-style GMT movement for affordable watches. It operates at 28,800vph, has 24 jewels, and offers 42 hours of power reserve. In an extra step, the movement is regulated by Nodus and offers an accuracy of ±8 seconds per day. That is quite a step from the standard accuracy of +30/-10 seconds per day. The movement is safely hidden behind the gray DLC-coated screw-in case back, which features an image of a covered wagon. This image represents the adventurous American spirit and nicely complements the overall aesthetic.
Wearing the Nodus × Raven TrailTrekker Clay
On the wrist is where the TrailTrekker truly impresses. The proportions are perfect for a variety of wrist sizes. Multiple people on the Fratello team tried out the watch, and without any exception, it looked good on their wrists. Another thing that immediately stands out is the build quality. The watch feels incredibly solid on the wrist.
But more specifically, it gives you the feeling that you can wear this during any outdoor adventures you desire. Unscrewing the crown and setting the time also adds to that feeling of wearing a watch built with a great focus on quality. The bracelet is super comfortable, and the nice taper gives it that extra flair and elegance.
In terms of presence, the watch feels modern and has plenty of appeal thanks to its color. It is what made the TrailTrekker stand out immediately for me. It’s like no other watch currently out there (that I know of), and I love that. The matte coatings add to the stealthy presence, making this a proper adventurer’s watch rather than a luxury timepiece. We also swapped the bracelet with a sand-colored Artem HydroFlex strap, which was a great combination. I think the TrailTrekker would look great with various straps, especially nylon, canvas, sailcloth, and rubber ones.
Final thoughts on the Nodus × Raven TrailTrekker Clay
By now, you will understand that I loved my time with the Nodus × Raven TrailTrekker. It’s simply a great-looking and very comfortable watch. Add the modern-day specs and the overall quality, and the US$875 price tag makes it a great affordable offering. For the money, you will also get an additional olive-drab single-pass nylon strap. Though we did not have that with our review sample, it looks nice in Nodus’s official pictures (see it here and here).
Unfortunately, the pre-order for the Nodus × Raven TrailTrekker Clay has closed for now. But if you are interested in the watch, keep an eye out for the regular sales that should start in August 2024 on the official Nodus website. Then, you will have a chance to get your hands on this remarkable Nodus × Raven TrailTrekker Clay. It’s not a watch for everyone, but if you like the style, you will surely appreciate and recognize the great details and enthusiasm that Nodus and Raven put into this model. And I am sure it will find its way to many new enthusiastic owners because the Nodus × Raven TrailTrekker is a hit!
Let us know what you think of this remarkable collaborative effort in the comments below!
