Author: Ben Brooks

  • Meermin Ultraflex Hiking Boots

    Meermin Ultraflex Hiking Boots

    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.

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  • Reexamining Cotton as and Outdoor Performance Material

    Reexamining Cotton as and Outdoor Performance Material

    Amundsen Press:

    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.

  • Member Journal — 1/20/25

    Member Journal — 1/20/25

    This week: are you upgrading to be more productive, or are you upgrading for the sake of upgrading?

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  • Bleu de Chauffe Business Musette

    Bleu de Chauffe Business Musette

    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.

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  • Gear Report — 1/15/25

    Gear Report — 1/15/25

    This week: hats and gloves.

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  • Member Journal — 1/13/25

    Member Journal — 1/13/25

    This week: your RTO mandates and corporate greed.

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  • Member Journal — 1/6/25

    Member Journal — 1/6/25

    This week: note taking in 2025 — digital apps, and analog tools.

    It’s 2025 somehow, so that’s a thing all year apparently.

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  • Gear Report — 1/3/25

    Gear Report — 1/3/25

    This week: the new gear to start the year.

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  • The Best List — 2024 Out Now

    The Best List — 2024 Out Now

    I have published my 2024 Best List for members, check it out here. If you don’t have a membership the past lists are free to view!

  • Member Journal — 12/23/25

    Member Journal — 12/23/25

    This week: advice and rules for life.

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  • Gear Report — 12/18/24

    Gear Report — 12/18/24

    This week: the only things you need list.

  • Preview: Bleu de Chauffe Business Musette Bag

    Preview: Bleu de Chauffe Business Musette Bag

    Note: this item was provided for review.

    I wanted to give you a quick preview at another fantastic bag that Bleu de Chauffe sent over for me to look at. This is the Business Musette Bag in khaki bm. I’ve not had this bag long, but I can already tell that this is one of those items I am going to get a lot of use out of.

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  • First Look: Meermin Hiking Books

    First Look: Meermin Hiking Books

    Note: this item was sent for review.

    When I saw these on Meermin’s site, I knew I needed to check them out. I’ve been wanting a boot of this style for some time, and the pricing looked outstanding for what was being offered. I’ve had these for a few weeks now, and I’ve found them to be excellent all around boots. The pair shown here are the Black Calf colorway, but Meermin offers Tobacco Waxy Calf, Brown Scotchgrain, and Green Thibet (and a few more coming soon).

    I am still putting these through their paces, but it’s winter and that’s when these boots shine, so I wanted to share some initial thoughts.

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  • Member Journal — 12/16/24

    Member Journal — 12/16/24

    This week: a secure travel MiniPC; moving away from iCloud custom domains.

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  • Jansport, and Backpacks

    Jansport, and Backpacks

    Ian Bogost, for *The Atlantic:

    Such a circumstance made the school backpack possible too. McCory was a Seattle-area native and attended the University of Washington. Pacific Northwesterners have a reputation for outdoorsmanship, and the classic hiking backpacks—with their large, rigid frames—were familiar to McCory (who also invented the dome-shaped tent). Once JanSport figured out how to make a lightweight backpack suitable for carrying books and supplies, it sold the product at the University of Washington bookstore. There, more stereotypically outdoorsy youths surely understood the pitch intuitively.

  • Member Journal — 12/9/24

    Member Journal — 12/9/24

    This week: delegation and ownership, and the pitfalls of a new manager.

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  • Gear Report — 12/4/24

    Gear Report — 12/4/24

    This week: the MVP gear from my recent road trip; and some good gift ideas.

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  • Member Journal — 12/2/24

    Member Journal — 12/2/24

    This week: streaming killed TV because it gave us freedom and lower costs — now it’s the same price (or more expensive) and they’ve managed to degrade the experience fully — what’s next?

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  • Bleu De Chauffe Black Friday Sale

    Bleu De Chauffe Black Friday Sale

    Some great prices on Bleu de Chauffe bags for Black Friday. I love the bag they sent me, and it’s among one of my favorite bags I’ve used. Big fan.