Mystery Ranch Front
This is the best daypack you can get.
In Texas heat, it feels near constant that my kids want a drink of water when we are out on walks — yet the kids won’t carry their own water. So my typical setup of a Bullet Ruck, or the Field Bag means I am constantly diving in and out of the bag to grab water for them. Fast forward to my testing of the Mystery Ranch 2 Day Assault and I found the water bottle pockets on that bag made my life easier, even though I typically loathe such pockets during more general use. With the 2 Day Assault being too large, I looked at what else I might get which was smaller, but with water bottle pockets.
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The GORUCK GR1 8+ Years Later
I’ll keep this short, I just want to convince you that no better backpack exists.
Published
On December 24th, 2012 I wrote my first review/post of the The GORUCK GR1. I still have that GR1, which I believe I actually bought at the end of 2011 — but the timing doesn’t make sense and I cannot find a purchase email for it. Oh well, lost to history.
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Member Journal — 10/19/20
This week I talk a lot about a lot, but I make the greatest revelation yet: smart speakers are the ultimate bathroom device.
PublishedThis week: a HomePod mini in every bathroom, for sanitary reasons. There’s other stuff too, but does anyone read these little preview sections?
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Chicago Carbon Fiber Combs
I combed through all the combs online and this one came out ahead. It seems a to be at least a hair better than the rest.
PublishedI don’t think I have ever put thought into a hair comb before, but I did this time. Couldn’t be happier that I did too.
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Member Journal — 10/12/20
I buy a fanny pack and share the things which I am still too lazy to get done despite lockdown free time on my hands.
PublishedThis week: things I am still procrastinating about during COVID; the small wins I did have; purses; my COVID purse; carbonated water is fine; Ulysses 21; my cat.
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Colors for Bags, How to Choose
A definitive guide on selecting appropriate colors of bags.
PublishedWhat’s color bag should I get if I don’t really want to stand out because of my bag?
Almost universally I see comments from people on sites talking about the best or right color for bags — especially when the advice is geared towards ‘blending in’ — when people ask any ‘which color’ questions.
All these people talking about color choices are full of shit.
For one, and let me be clear on this: it doesn’t matter what color your bag is. That said, here’s how I think of the different color groupings for bags, but ignore me on this and you do you. Because the color of your bag is a statement, and any color bag will blend in when in a large enough populace — because bags simply come in all colors. And people simply don’t care that much about the color of your bag.
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Member Journal — 10/5/20
Let me show you how I can talk about Synology, Letterkenny, and granite cleaner in a singular post.
PublishedThis week: some tech stuff I like; buy for winter comfort now; fire pits; thoughts on The James Brand; some TV shows I recommend; and some cleaning stuff I recommend.
Quite a potpourri this week.
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Mystery Ranch 2 Day Assault Pack
Tantalizingly close to being the best backpack I have tested, just a touch too large for me.
PublishedIn the last year or so, Mystery Ranch came out with the 2 Day Assualt Pack — a civilian backpack which takes heavy influence from the military packs Mystery Ranch is famous for. The 2-Day doesn’t have the famed Futura Yoke that makes the high end (read: expensive) packs legendary, but it has a spin on the Futura system that Mystery Ranch labels as ‘framed’. The yoke, how tall the straps sit from the top to the bottom, is adjustable with a frame sheet integrated. I’ve been putting the bag through its paces to see if it is going to stick.
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Snugpak Jungle Blanket
A great emergency blanket, and warm night camping blanket.
PublishedI’ve had the Snugpak Jungle Blanket for a year and a half, and while originally an impulse purchase — I’ve grown to become a big fan. I purchased this to keep in my bug out bag (and it’s where I still keep it) because it seemed well suited to a versatile emergency item.
Over the year and a half, and now owning two of these blankets, I’ve come to appreciate them for what they are and aren’t. Everyone should own one, or perhaps two.
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Member Journal — 9/28/20
This week: keycaps are a luxury we all need right now; killing off echo chambers and useless feeds; you should buy a watch, not an Apple “watch”; an unpopular Multitool thought; best daypack found?; GORUCK I/O Cross Trainer review; and six words for 2020. You must be a member to read the rest of this […]
PublishedThis week: keycaps are a luxury we all need right now; killing off echo chambers and useless feeds; you should buy a watch, not an Apple “watch”; an unpopular Multitool thought; best daypack found?; GORUCK I/O Cross Trainer review; and six words for 2020.
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Drop x Bradford Guardian 3.5 in Nitro-V
A stellar fixed blade knife for almost anyone’s need, just buy the better steel options.
PublishedFixed blade knives, for me, are like lighters. I absolutely love having them, playing with them, and even using them — but I don’t really have a ton of need for them. Which is why when I saw Bradford Knives post a good deal in partnership with Drop on the Guardian 3.5 (I have the Guardian 3, 4, and 5) I thought I would give their ‘.5’ series a go. For science.