The original TrailTrekker released in 2024 to a huge amount of fanfare, and for good reason. The modern field watch design incorporated a true GMT complication courtesy of the Miyota 9075, and featured a stunning sage Cerakote uniform finish. The strong design language was evocative, the story behind the two brands collaborating, Nodus and Raven, was compelling, and best of all, the price was under $1,000. The original and pair of follow ups were difficult to fault, and you can never have too much of a good thing, so the folks at California based Nodus and Kansas based Raven have come together for a fourth time to release a new TrailTrekker, and this time, they’ve gone all in on carbon.
Carbon is an interesting material within the watch world. It has been, and continues to be, used in a broad range of manners, from accents within the dial, to full cases and bracelets, and everything in between. Its use has been democratized thanks to the existence of modern manufacturing partners that can work with it in cost effective manners, meaning we are getting access to watches featuring the stuff at lower and lower prices. It’s great for consumers, and brands can’t quite get away with marketing it in the same exotic manner as they could in the early ‘00s.
Additionally, it’s been used in more and more creative ways. Of course, not all carbon is manufactured equally, and I don’t mean to take anything away from high end uses that may justify a higher price. But as far as I’m concerned, it’s being used in more of an aesthetic manner within a watch, so any unique strength characteristics (e.g. surviving 593,052,948 Gs) aren’t exactly adding anything meaningful to my experience of the watch.
With this TrailTrekker, high-performance forged carbon fiber is used in the dial and the bezel. But they take it a step further by injecting it with a blue Super-LumiNova, which is done in a manner that creates a unique marble pattern. This marble threading of lume will glow in low light situations, and that pattern will be unique to each dial and bezel. It’s a strangely beautiful effect that compliments the rest of the watch quite nicely. And they’ve managed to do this without totally destroying the value proposition of the watch.
The rest of this TrailTrekker is exactly as good as the original, meaning a 39.5mm case that measures 11.8mm in thickness and 46.6mm from lug to lug. This case and bracelet get a matte grey DLC finish, and the only hit of color you’ll find comes from the 24 hour hand, which is rendered in red. Overall, still a sharp watch with clear inspiration from some of the greats. Pricing remains compelling at $1,075, and that includes an FKM rubber strap. Nodus / Raven
