bump

space age madness

Space Age Madness
About / Blog / Kungfumaster
You are here: Home / Archives for review

Mini Review: Monowear Nylon Red Band for Apple Watch 

By

I definitely love my Apple Watch. I ordered the Stainless Steel Apple Watch with a black sport band at 12:01 am on the night they went on sale, received it the very first day they shipped, and haven’t really taken it off, except for charging, since. I really like the black sport band, but have wanted to pick up more bands as well.  I see the sport band as a good every day band, and only really liked the black color. I wanted some variety, but found the other Apple options to not really be for me when I tried them on in store.  A few weeks ago, when the Monowear bands went up for pre-order, I placed an order for Monowear red nylon band.

I received the band while I was away at WWDC, and was pretty excited to try it out when I got home. I liked the red color as a contrast to the black band I have been wearing. I have to say that I am not disappointed in this band in any way.  I like it so much that I may be ordering additional bands from Monowear in the near future. Given the current dearth of third party bands that are available, and the premium construction, I don’t think the $59.99 price tag is unreasonable.

The band installed flawlessly on my watch, as easily as any of the Apple bands. Removing and re-installing my Apple Sport Band also proved to be a breeze.  I was definitely concerned about this the most of the various aspects of this purchase, and this band passed with flying colors.

The band itself is well made, and its metal matches the Apple Watch hardware color perfectly. This includes the three band loops, as well as the small pieces that attach the band to the watch body. I can’t find any flaws there at all. The nylon is what I would expect from a premium nylon watch band. It came out of the packaging a little stiff, and so will be a little itchy/scratchy the first few days until it’s fully broken in, but I think that’s to be expected.

Overall, this band is a good option for those seeking a red band, something Apple does not offer. I’d really like to try out their leather bands next, but may have to wait for my next paycheck to make that purchase. Keep in mind that I have only had/worn this band for about 36 hours, and my opinion may change with wear, but, for now, it’s a definite go ahead and buy rating.

Image Source: Nylon – Red Band with Chrome Loops — Monowear

Review: DDC Stuff Sheath

By 1 Comment

stuff sheath

I got a DDC-101 “DDC Stuff Sheath” because I have been looking for a more flexible cover for my massive and constant usage of Field Notes. It is, in Draplin’s own words “Just a simple little leather sheath to protect yer Field Notes, and whatever else your might have in yer pocket.” The simplicity of it made a lot of sense to me, and at $39.99, it didn’t seem like too much of a gamble.

I’ve found that it works much better for me than the cover style Field Notes holders I have used, mainly because it’s also a good catch-all for the other things that are knocking around in my pockets. Mine currently contains a Field Notes notebook, some cash, my frequent shopper card for Octane, a printed recipe that I picked up somewhere, a couple of blank index cards and some Delta airlines coupons for free cocktails.

I’ve been using it every day since it came in the mail, and, if anything, it’s getting more attractive looking with continued use. The Stuff Sheath is very well made and durable, and I think I will more than likely get bored of it long before I wear it out or destroy it. This thing feels like I could end up passing it on to my kids. Granted, not everyone enjoys the orange, but I do. I find the orange color to be visually striking, and a nice respite from the mostly black gear and covers that I tend to be attracted to.

I’ve carried it in both my front and back pockets comfortably, although with a phone in my front pocket, it’s a little tight. It’s capable of holding quite a bit of stuff, and in my quick testing, the combination of everything I already mentioned plus my passport fit comfortably.

The simplicity and flexibility of this little holder are going to make it a part of my everyday carry for a while. I recommend it. It seems really simple, because it is.