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A fantastic wallet with some clever features to make it feel like it is your wallet over time.
Note: this item was provided for review.
As I mentioned in my Best List roundup at the end of 2025: there was no pick because I couldn’t stand behind anything I had been using. I’ve been cycling through loads this year, which is why I was excited when Pioneer Carry reached out to see if I wanted to test the Division Bifold. It’s a really great wallet — large, but easy to use and capable.
I’m a fan of this one, and it’s what I’ve been using the most.
A really good softshell for cooler weather, if the weather is in the exact correct range.
I didn’t own the Gamma for very long before I was longing for the Gamma MX, so I was very happy to be gifted this from my wife this past winter. Since receiving this, it’s been on hikes, walks, and trips with me all over. I’ve come to find that this is an exceptionally good layer for very cold activities, or to wear casually in cooler temps.
It is, however, a different beast than the standard Gamma.
This is a an exceptionally good backpack, and has a lot of good uses.
I was lucky enough to be the person who chose the company gifts, and after a lot of chats with vendors, I settled on ULA’s Cicada backpack in Ranger Green with a custom patch field. It’s lovely, and ULA was stellar to work with.
I expected that this would be a good backpack, but what I did not expect is how great this backpack actually is. It’s one of those bags where the simplicity of it, transcends anything which might be missing/lacking.
I didn’t expect a home WiFi issue to take down my server, and also some really good gear I packed.
This week: some road trip gear that worked out well; and a little phone home issue.
A well made, easy wearing, high performance outdoor vest.
I love Himali, they are a great local Boulder, CO company that makes very technical and practical items. They are underrated, but rather popular here around town. They offer good basic colors, and some really bright stuff that looks killer. I have a lot of stuff from them, but I recently picked up their “Ascent Stretch vest” which is a synthetic insulation line, and I am a big fan of it.
I’d suggest skipping this.
Chuyen Tactical made waves when the brand first came out, at least on Reddit in the sub-reddits for bag nerds like me. Their offerings are very similar to GORUCK’s offerings, at a lower price point, but with several changes that are more inline with many complaints I see.
What surprised me the most was how much people liked the bags when they received them. I finally bit the bullet, and picked one up. I am underwhelemed, and am not going to bother keeping it long enough to even review the bag, by the time you’ve head this, I likely have sold it, but who knows.
Technically if we keep deleting all records, then everything is basically unprecedented, I guess.
This is an absurdly good watch in every respect.
Note: this product was provided for review.
I really like what Vero is doing, they aren’t another brand slightly tweaking iconic watches, or anything of that nature. They approach watch design with a clear path of doing something different. The Open Water 38 line hits a really sweet spot in the market: a popular dive style watch, in a much more wearable case size.
The Swell edition I was sent adds to this, coming in with a color you don’t see in a watch that often.
It’s fun, easy to wear, and quite good.
One of the best mid-layers I’ve ever worn.
I picked this up on sale at REI in a brighter blue color. I bought it replace a nearly 10 year old Outdoor Research jacket that is nearly the same design, but uses Alpha Direct instead of Octa. Thus, my intention with this was to use it while rucking in the winter months. Which I’ve done, but it’s so good, that I’ve moved it to my hiking kit instead.
This is one of the best mid-layers I’ve ever owned. It’s fantastic.
