Dappered | In Review (& Win It): The Nodus Sector Field Automatic Watch

[Dappered | In Review (& Win It): The Nodus Sector Field Automatic Watch]() --------------------------------------------------------------- - [In Review (& Win It): The Nodus Sector Field Automatic Watch](#1) - [What I Wore Today Working from Home: Andrew, Band Teacher](#2) - [In Review: New Republic Apollo Sneakers](#3) [In Review (& Win It): The Nodus Sector Field Automatic Watch](r/Dappered/~3/ov7R-Qn9IgA/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email) Posted: 01 Apr 2020 03:00 AM PDT Heads up: Buying via our links may result in us getting a commission. Also, we take your privacy rights seriously. Head [here]( to learn more. [Nodus Sector Field in Shale – $400]( This thing reminds me of a Volkswagen [GTI](. They’ve taken a style both humble and effective (hatchback/field watch), and designed the helllll outta it, with great parts, great style, and the end result is something that blows the base idea of what the style “should” be out of the water. Vroom vroom fellas. Everything you want. Nothing you don’t. Field watches are supposed to do a couple of things: 1. be legible, 2. be accurate. And the Nodus Sector excels at both of these tasks, while encased in terrific materials and wrapped in slick & simple design choices. All that, while being designed AND assembled in Los Angeles. 38mm diameter with 20mm drilled through lugs. At 38mm, it’s more classically sized, but the 12.9mm thickness, decent but not cumbersome weight, and thicker textured crown, reminds you that this thing is not just some forgotten… thing. This thing is a THING! Not wee, not twee, but a wearable, effective piece of E.D.C. (every day carry) that you’ll look forward to wearing. The sandwich construction dial has great layers to it, the font they went with is perfect, and the whole thing is really well balanced. Anti-reflective coating on the underside of the crystal. The bracelet is perfect. That’s not an exaggeration. It’s really impressive. Brushed through and through (no shined up bits) with sections that taper from 20mm to 18mm, and look nothing like delicate jewelery. That’s one of the quickest ways to ruin an otherwise good looking watch. And intricate, jangly, jewelery looking bracelet. That’s not the case here. It’s handsome as hell utilitarian. Nothing “more” thank goodness, which would have made the whole thing a lot less. Other watchmakers should take note. This is how you “bracelet”. Movement is a regulated in four positions (+/- 10 secs/day) Seiko (SII) NH38 Japanese automatic. No date here. Keeps the dial super balanced. Hacks and hand winds of course, and that screw down crown locks out moisture to the tune of 150m water resistance. Crystal is a double-dome tapered sapphire. 24 month warranty is standard here with Nodus. The vast majority of the surfaces are “blasted”. Very little shine. And man does it look good. A lot of us are simplifying and appreciating well-made basics more than we used to these days. The Sector from Nodus epitomizes that trend in… not being as trendy… all at a super-reasonable price, while also being assembled here in the USA. [Enter here to win]( the Nodus Sector Field in “shale” shown in the post above. One entry per person. Deadline for entry is 11:59 pm ET 4/2/20. Enormous thanks the the guys at Nodus for sending along one of these new Sector models for review and subsequent giveaway. ff/Dappered?a=ov7R-Qn9IgA:_aFUhIuO6fA:yIl2AUoC8zA ff/Dappered?a=ov7R-Qn9IgA:_aFUhIuO6fA:qj6IDK7rITs ff/Dappered?a=ov7R-Qn9IgA:_aFUhIuO6fA:gIN9vFwOqvQ [What I Wore Today Working from Home: Andrew, Band Teacher](r/Dappered/~3/tH5OqEcTt64/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email) Posted: 31 Mar 2020 02:00 PM PDT Heads up: Buying via our links may result in us getting a commission. Also, we take your privacy rights seriously. Head [here]( to learn more. Welcome to “[What I Wore Today Working from Home.](” AKA, WIWTWFH (pronounced: wee-WIT-wu-fuh). A series on, you guessed it, who wears what to work, when working, or NOT working, from home. Y’know, to help put you in the right frame of mind for your work (day job or self-improvement) when stuck inside for the next few weeks. Would you like to be featured? See the bottom of this post for instructions. About the Author: Andrew Green is a high school music teacher in Washington DC. For the past twelve years, he has been helping young instrumentalists develop their talent. And when he DOES go into work, [he’s not afraid to dress up](. Andrew lives in Washington DC with his wife and two young sons. He enjoys long-distance cycling and cooking. [What I Wore Today Working from Home: Andrew, Band Teacher | Dappered.com] The Shirt: [Land’s End Canvas Chambray Shirt – $29.97](//www.landsend.com/products/mens-traditional-fit-chambray-work-shirt/id_343706?attributes=36972,44255,44967). The younger, slimmer leaning “Canvas” line isn’t around anymore, and the chambray shirt they offer now is their “traditional fit,” but the quality is good. Consider sizing down for a closer fit, or, you can always give [this one from Target’s Goodfellow brand a shot](. The Jeans: [Levis 511 Slim Straight in Sequoia – $50ish](. I’m not Canadian, but I am listening to a lot of Neil Young working at home, so the “Canadian tuxedo” feels just right. Plus, the “Sequoia” wash leans a little bluer. A more cowboy color. Contrast is key when you’re wearing a chambray shirt along with jeans. The Slippers: [Snugleaves – $21.99](. I didn’t want to spring [for the Armolux pair](. These are a cozy felted wool pair with rubber outsoles, so I can step outside to take out the trash, or greet the mail carrier… at a safe, 6 feet of distance of course. The Watch: [Casio Edifice ef-503 1AV Chronograph – $100]( (when you can find it). A public-school teacher’s Speedmaster. Randomly Amazon had three of them in stock last winter. Google Shopping pointed me there. They’re tough to find. The “other” moonwatch, [Bulova’s Lunar Pilot](, would also work great here. [It’s available](, but it’s also way more expensive than the Casio. The Baby Carrier: [Ergobaby 360 – $120](. My wife can work the magic of those slings that are like a Bohemian mobius strip, but I never can. This has a quick velcro-and-buckle waist band, and then an easy carrier that buckles behind your shoulders where our newest little guy can sit snugly and (more often than not) sleep while I hug him. Want to submit your own WIWTWFM? Send an email to joe@dappered.com with who you are, what you do, and what you’d like to submit. And no, you don’t have to actually be working. There are plenty of jobs on standby right now whose workers can’t do the work from home. I’m not gonna discriminate. That’d be dumb. Now, to be featured, we’ll need a picture of you at home (at work, or not) as well as the details on what you’re wearing. Final image will have to be cropped down to 1500×840 pixels, so, keep that in mind when shooting. Landscape mode please, and let’s keep anything from the chin up out of it. Note that sending an email with your picks and a pic doesn’t guarantee publishing. We gotta have some variety, y’know? That’ll help your chances. Let’s keep it “Dappered.” But be yourself. Pics of pets always help too. Good luck. We’ll be in touch. Teacher Andrew might wear a “Canadian Tux” at home, but Jack from 30 Rock might have him beat. ff/Dappered?a=tH5OqEcTt64:Q4CIH_x0YLY:yIl2AUoC8zA ff/Dappered?a=tH5OqEcTt64:Q4CIH_x0YLY:qj6IDK7rITs ff/Dappered?a=tH5OqEcTt64:Q4CIH_x0YLY:gIN9vFwOqvQ [In Review: New Republic Apollo Sneakers](r/Dappered/~3/aDqLYK0DQug/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email) Posted: 31 Mar 2020 08:00 AM PDT Heads up: Buying via our links may result in us getting a commission. Also, we take your privacy rights seriously. Head [here]( to learn more. [New Republic Apollo Sneakers – $73.50]( w/ TOGETHER ($98) About the Author: Adam Terry is a thirtysomething Technical Trainer in the heating and manufacturing industry. He enjoys bourbon, boots, sneakers, raw denim, and being a dad! As the former Creative Director/Designer of J. Press, Southwick, Woolrich, Bass, and much more, Mark McNairy is a CFDA-recognized menswear designer who knows a thing or two about designing shoes. My Greensboro, NC-born brother from another mother signed on to design shoes for the New Republic brand back in 2016. The New Republic team quickly realized that “it’s really about fashion and the guy out there is looking for on-trend products as frequently as possible.” So, how do these budget focused minimalist sneakers stack up against their competition in the sub-$100 market? Let’s find out. [In Review: New Republic Apollo Sneakers | Dappered.com]( It’s showtime with the Apollo… sneakers. Details - Brand: New Republic - Style: Minimalist white sneakers - Size: 10.5 US (43.5 EU) - Last: N/A - Construction: Glued and stitched sole - Leather: Action leather - Sole: Ultra-light EVA foam - Details: TENCEL mesh lining, colorful heel tab, and flat cotton laces - Extras: N/A - Country of Origin: China - Price: $98 About Adam’s Scoring System: The Adam Shoe Scale of Justice (A.S.S.J.) is as follows: 5 – Excellent! No issues and highly recommended. 4 – Good. Above average, but not perfect. 3 – Average. Minor issues, might be good at the right price. 2 – Fair. Below average due to defects, flaws, or imperfections. 1 – Poor. Significant issues, not worth purchasing at any price. Ordering/Delivery/Returns My Apollos launched from the New Republic warehouse in Los Angeles on a Wednesday and were docked at my door on a Friday a full nine days later. That’s over twice as long as the typical UPS delivery. Some of that delay could be chalked up to the high-end EF3 tornado that ripped a 60+ mile long, half a mile-wide path through Nashville, TN the week before buuuut Amazon had no problems delivering stuff. With that said, NR does say that orders generally take 7-10 business days to arrive to the customer. New Republic offers an “entry level” 14-day return policy with a prepaid return shipping label in the box, but you’re on the hook for the original shipping fees. Score: 3/5 Stars – Easy ordering, kinda slow shipping, and basic 14-day return policy. [In Review: New Republic Apollo Sneakers | Dappered.com]( Hoping the heat shield holds. Packaging The two “leather” sneakers arrived wrapped in plastic in a New Republic branded box that opens on one end, like a loaf of bread. There were no spare laces or storage bags, but at this price point, that’s pretty standard. There was also a pair of cards extolling the virtues of the “engineered technical materials” but that’s just extraneous marketing fluff. Score: 5/5 Stars – At this price point, no complaints. First Impressions Have you ever smelled something that instantly activated your memory bank and took you back to someplace else? Maybe it was a slice of mozzarella cheese that had you salivating for some deep-dish Chicago pizza, or maybe it was the scent of someone’s perfume that reminded you of your ex. When I opened this New Republic box, my sniffer was delivered a hint of that sickeningly sweet cheap shoe “leather” that instantly took me back to shopping at Shoe Carnival when I was a kid. I even had my wife double check to make sure I wasn’t stroking out and smelling my own version of “[burnt toast](” but she confirmed! Looking into this a little deeper, these Apollo sneakers are made with “action leather” which is really just medium to low quality leather splits that get buffed smooth and then lacquered with a polyurethane coating. Apparently, this leather is super common in the sneaker industry with most cheap white sneakers using it. I guess that’s why the smell hit so close to home! [In Review: New Republic Apollo Sneakers | Dappered.com]( Leather has that cheap smell. Out of the box, it’ll stir your olfactory tanks. Looking past the upper leather, the navy-blue colored heel tabs and punched side panels are reminiscent of Stan Smiths while the rest of the minimalistic silhouette leans hard into the Common Projects Achilles vibe. Those are good things in my opinion – no distracting stitching or other weird details. The flat white cotton laces are surprisingly nice, too, but I do wish they were waxed for more durability. [In Review: New Republic Apollo Sneakers | Dappered.com]( Molded memory foam insole. A cushioned sea of… tranquility? The super squishy removable insole is made from molded memory foam and feels like a little perforated pillow for your piggies. The TENCEL mesh lining feels like wearing a pique polo shirt on your feet. Soft and breathable for sure, but I’d recommend wearing socks or hand washing the mesh semi-frequently as I’ve read reports that the fabric likes to hold onto foot funk. New Republic and your friendly, local shoe nerds recommend letting them air dry frequently if possible. Cedar shoe trees can help reduce this, too. [In Review: New Republic Apollo Sneakers | Dappered.com]( Glued AND Stitched uppers. Failure is not an option! Okay, the foam soles will wear out. but, nice to see some stitching at least. The lightweight EVA foam outsole is both glued and stitched to the upper. A handful of long-term reports say that the glue eventually fails but the stitching holds tight after years of regular wear and tear. Odds are you’ll wear out the foam soles before the glue and stitching ever become a problem. Score: 4/5 Stars – Looking past the “leather”, they’re surprisingly decent for being “cheap”. [In Review: New Republic Apollo Sneakers | Dappered.com]( VERY comfortable. Eat our collective shorts, 9.8 m/s2! Fit, Sizing, and Comfort The Apollo sneakers fit a little small and a little short. The tox box is fairly wide and rounded, but there’s not a lot of room in front of my toes. This might change as they break in, but I’d recommend sizing up a half-size for a bit more room. Try your normal Nike or Adidas size first. [In Review: New Republic Apollo Sneakers | Dappered.com]( Fit is a little small and a little short. Try half a size up, and they’re weirdly comfortable. NOT like flying with a dead elephant on your back. For reference, I am a 10.5 D/E on a Brannock device and usually take a 10 D in most dress shoes, including Alden’s Barrie last and Grant Stone’s Leo last. I take a 10.5 E in Allen Edmonds 65 last, as that last runs too narrow for me. I also take a 10.5 in Vans and an 11 in most Adidas or Nike sneakers. The pair I tried here were a 10.5. Comfort is always subjective but, in my opinion, these things are VERY comfortable. I’m not sure how durable all of the soft materials are, but comfort is clearly a priority for this brand. Walking on the Moon? I imagine it’s pretty dang close to this. Score: 4/5 Stars – Fits small, but comfort levels are off the charts. Size up a half-size. [In Review: New Republic Apollo Sneakers | Dappered.com]( It’s been a pleasure flying with wearing you. Final Thoughts I believe it’s pretty rare to find something “cheap” that truly exceeds your expectations these days. Coming into this review with zero expectations, I’m surprised to say that the New Republic Apollo sneakers are actually pretty decent when your primary focus is on comfort rather than durability. Make no mistake, these are “cheap” shoes and the almost $100 MSRP is not exactly inexpensive. Personally, I’d like to see them under $75 MSRP, but they do go on sale occasionally. The Apollos are probably not as O.G. cool or as stylish as the Adidas Stan Smiths or Nike Killshot 2s, BUT I think they’re more comfortable and pretty decent overall. Give them a try and see if you think they’re as comfortable as I did. Let us know what you think! Avg. Score: 4/5 Stars – Pretty dang comfortable for the price, especially when on sale. [In Review: New Republic Apollo Sneakers | Dappered.com]( This has been one small step for a sneaker reviewing man… One, good sized leap in comfort, for cheap-sneaker kind. ff/Dappered?a=aDqLYK0DQug:7btqUTTM9pk:yIl2AUoC8zA ff/Dappered?a=aDqLYK0DQug:7btqUTTM9pk:qj6IDK7rITs ff/Dappered?a=aDqLYK0DQug:7btqUTTM9pk:gIN9vFwOqvQ You are subscribed to email updates from [Dappered Style Mail](). To stop receiving these emails, you may [unsubscribe now](. Email delivery powered by Google Google, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States