Author: Ben Brooks

Those who know me, know that I really don’t pay attention to social media. Which means I went to Italy when everyone was going there without knowing everyone was going there (until my wife informed me of the bad news), and I went to Japan this summer — also when everyone was going there. Though, this time, I knew everyone was going and had been going. Japan had been our plan for quite some time.

My grandmother was Japanese, and thus I am a quarter Japanese, and until I was an adult I never realized how much influence that had on our family growing up — how we did things and behaved.

I love Japan. I’ve been a few times before, studied the language many years ago, and have family there. We had been waiting for our kids to be the right age to be able to handle the walking, the differences, and to remember the country. Many years ago, we targeted 2025 for this trip, so it was happening.

We spent 16 days in Japan, in five different cities, with one of my closest friends, his wife and kids. It was spectacular, and I am already itching to go back. But, it had also been a full 18 years since my last visit, and this time as an adult — not as a 20-something playing an adult.

Here’s my thoughts on the cities we visited, and on Japan overall — as someone who deeply loves the country and could not care one lick about Anime. I will note that I found that I am still reasonably conversational in Japanese, which (as I’ll talk about more) helped quite a bit.

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Note: this item was provided for review.

I am a little embarrassed to admit how excited I was to get the Injex Shank. One of my favorite jacket styles, and one of my favorite fabrics coming together in a really killer looking item. Essentially a very lightweight, but still substantial looking, jacket.

If wearing this on two 10hr flights is not testing enough, adding in the movement to and from the airport, then I don’t know what would be a better test. I fell in love, and I remain in love with this one.

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Note: these items were provided for review.

I am not historically a ‘case person’ when it comes to my iPhone. I cannot remember the last time I actually used a case on a regular basis (maybe the iPhone 4?). That said, this iPhone 16 does seem a lot less durable than my other models. I’ve been plagued by an easily scratched display, and thus my confidence in the phone has tanked. So when Benks reached out to send me a couple of their Kevlar based cases, I jumped at the chance.

They sent the ArmorPro and ArmorAir models for my phone, and while both are quite nice and have their place — the ArmorAir has not come off my phone since trying it. And I doubt it will come off my phone — it’s fantastic.

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Note: this item was provided for review.

I’ve noted before (several times now) how much I love Outlier’s Injected Linen fabric, and here they have applied it to a very simple and casual pair of shorts called Injex Littlebigs. Cut a little wider, elastic and drawstring waist, killer pocketing, and a fantastic length. These shorts have been worn almost daily since I got them in to test out.

They’re fantastic.

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Note: this item was provided for review.

I was encouraged to try Outlier’s ‘new’ Ultrafine t-shirts (for both Cut One and Cut Two), as I was told that they are even softer and so much better. Which is a bold claim, as I already hold the last Ultrafine t-shirts to be the softest and essentially, best, merino t-shirt on the market.

That is, until I opened the package with the new ‘exquisite merino edition’ fabric, and holy cow is this unbelievably soft. The best got better. This was also my first go trying the Cut-Two model, and though I initially thought it would be too wide, I think it’s my preferred cut now.

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Note: this item was provided for review.

When Pioneer Carry sent over the Co-Pilot Travel Wallet, I let them know it would be quite some time until I could test it. Well, I have returned from a long international trip where I was able to test this out, and I am thoroughly happy with this Passport Wallet. It’s a lot more than just another passport wallet, and has a couple of interesting attributes that I used over and over again.

This is good kit.

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There are endless categories of backpack types out there, but I think the hardest of them all to find a good backpack in the ‘grab-and-go’ class of backpacks. This backpack is the genre defining backpack — it’s the classic Jansport. Simple, unobtrusive, no-fuss, all utility. Finding a better looking backpack that can still do this like a Jansport is not easy — I’ve been chasing it for a long time.

Bags like the Filson Journeyman come tantalizingly close, but things like an overly large weather flap, and scratchy brass zippers will always set that bag back. As good as it looks, there’s just enough friction, that I keep looking for the next one.

Enter Amundsen’s ‘V-Bond’ (aka Vagabond, depending on the website you look at) 25 Daypack. It’s a very simple backpack, which somehow really nails the ease of use, while adding excellent visual interest.

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I’ve wanted a pair of these Injected Linen Pants for years now, but they never really made sense for me for one reason or another. And then earlier this year I decided to indulge myself and pickup a pair. A little after that, a second pair. And then a third. All my money, none of these are review samples.

The reason I own three pairs of these, is because I do not yet own four pairs. They are the best hot weather pants I’ve ever worn for so many reasons.

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I was gifted this over the holidays, at the end of 2024, as the G-SHOCK DW-H5600 had been on my ‘want’ list since it came out. I wear a smart watch like this when I sleep, as it is my alarm (vibration) and general sleep tracking, and I use this to workout in the mornings. That’s the extent of my smart watch use, but the appeal of the DW-H5600 is that it also looks like any other G-SHOCK, which gave me a lot of hope that I could wear it casually as well.

Seven months into owning this watch, and I have no desire to get any other smart watch — this watch has been fantastic. Not only is this a very good G-SHOCK, it’s perhaps the best of the smart watches I have tried. Good tracking, features, and synchronization, while not looking like a dumb screen strapped to your wrist.

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Note: this item was provided for review.

I have started carrying smaller shoulder bags more and more these days, and as such I am always on the lookout for the latest and greatest. So when I saw AlpineSea’s Tiny Cove — a small 6L banana styled shoulder bag — I knew I needed to give it a go. I don’t love most ‘sling’ designs as they always feel like a solution searching for a problem — shoulder bags always do it better..

The Tiny Cove is very tiny, but has a lot going for it.

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Note: this item was sent for review.

When Himali asked if I wanted to review something from them, I was pretty excited. I am guessing that many of you have not heard of the brand — they are a Boulder based brand that legitimately tests their gear in very extreme alpine areas. When you walk into their Pearl Street store, you immediately start feeling warm as you look at the full body down suits they have.

The brand suggested I try the Eclipse Sun Hoodie, saying it is a staff favorite and what most of them wear daily. It is sun season, and hiking is in full swing, so I accepted and they sent it over.

I’ll skip right to the end for you: this is the best sun hoodie, and generally best warm weather hiking top, I have ever used. It feels impossible. I love it.

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