I’ve had this knife for a while, having snagged it second hand (they are decently annoying to buy new, as they are in high demand). This is a small, and very lightweight, fixed blade knife — designed for processing game (such as birds and fish). It’s made to the same quality and standards of all Chris Reeve blades, and it’s completely unexpected when you have it in hand.
It’s likely to be a polarizing knife, so let’s dive in.
Note: this item was sent for review.
As I mentioned in my First Look of these boots, I was not sure what to expect when I received Meermin’s new Hiking Boots. Will these be nothing more than a fashion statement, not able to handle the grime that comes with being in the muck — or would they be more like an outdoor boot? In the end, they walk a fine line right in the middle of the two worlds. A well made, and good looking boot, with the everyday comfort of a sneaker, and the ability to step on a trail if the urge arises.
I’m a big fan of these boots, and they’ve become one of my most worn pair of boots since receiving them.
Cotton has been forgotten—even vilified—by the outdoor industry. Growing up, we all heard the phrase “Cotton Kills” in the outdoors, because it gets wet and stays wet, leaving you cold. But the more we questioned this adage, the less it made sense as an absolute truth. Yes, cotton can get wet and make you cold if it’s next to your skin, but it’s also extremely breathable, durable, and organic. Was there an opportunity to reimagine cotton’s utility as an outer shell—one that wasn’t noisy or plastic and didn’t break down after a few seasons?
Cotton is overlooked for outdoors use. Vollebak knows this among other forward thinking brands, including Amundsen. I have a pair of wool pants from Amundsen and they are frankly amazing. I hiked all summer in 100% cotton shirts from Vollebak, and had no regrets. In the winter we wear cotton Flannel shirts to stay warm, and we don’t seem to die. Filson knows this too.
There’s a time and place for plastic clothing, but more and more, I think the best place for it is wadded up in the bottom of a bag as an emergency item.
Note: this item was provided for review.
I have used, owned, and tested/reviewed loads of bags which fall into the general category of a ‘do it all day-to-day’ bag. Something large enough to take to the office, or to travel with, but also small enough you can generally take it anywhere with you. That’s a recipe which is ripe for compromise, and while I’ve liked a lot of the bags I have tried in this category, they tend to not stick very well over time — the compromises are almost always too great.
And then I got the Bleu de Chauffe Business Musette in khaki. If you read my preview of the bag then you likely can already guess how good I think this bag is. But it’s so good, that it made the Best List for 2024 as the best all around bag, and that was with only a couple weeks of use. Sometimes you know, and with this bag, I can tell you with certainty: nothing else in this class comes close.
It’s that good.
