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!
Top Posts
The Hype: Yoshida & Co’s Porter BagsAugust 26, 2025
G-SHOCK DW-H5600 After 7 MonthsJuly 31, 2025
Casio Duro MDV-106 Re-ReviewDecember 15, 2022
Recent Articles
-
Member Journal — 12/23/25
Why you should be a regular somewhere, and other advice.
-
Gear Report — 12/18/24
Here are the only items you actually need.
This week: the only things you need list.
-
Preview: Bleu de Chauffe Business Musette Bag
Let’s go ahead and earmark this bag now for the best list.
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.
-
First Look: Meermin Hiking Books
A quick review of some excellent new boots from Meermin.
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.
-
Member Journal — 12/16/24
A traveling minipc, and email woes.
-
Jansport, and Backpacks
Fun read on how backpacks took over schools.
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
There’s giving people tasks, and then there’s delegation.
-
Gear Report — 12/4/24
MVP road trip gear, and some gift ideas.
-
Member Journal — 12/2/24
Streaming is getting costly and shitty.
-
Bleu De Chauffe Black Friday Sale
Good time to get an amazing bag.
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.
-
Triple Aught Design Black Friday Sale
More great deals on gear I love.
Triple Aught Design’s Black Friday sale has great prices, especially on:
- Overland Shirt which has become a stable for me.
- Astral VR Shell which I now always travel and hike with.
-
Filson Black Friday and Extra Off Outlet Sale
Gear that will last a lifetime, on sale.
Filson has their Black Friday sale posted and an Extra 20% off items in the Outlet. Some great deals to be had:
- Ultralight Jacket: I have the vest and it’s a great item.
- Rugged Twill Field Bag: these shot up in price, so it’s a good time to grab one.
- Lightweight Down Jac Shirt: I wear mine all the time.
- Alaskan Guide Shirt: the best flannel shirt money can buy.
- Lightweight Alaskan Guide Shirt: for those who want the flannel look, but live in a warmer area. I wore mine a ton in Houston.
-
GORUCK Black Friday Deals
Huge savings, on more bags.
Some great deals on almost every bag. GR1s and MacV boots included in the deal.
-
MKM Malga 5: Quick Look
Better tools, better steel, more weight.
-
Gustin 75 OKAYAMA STANDARD Denim
My first pair of raw denim, and it’s been a success. Great jeans.
Note: this item was provided for review.
I’ve been wearing a lot more denim these days, while actively trying to stay away from going deep into the world of denim. At the same time, I’ve been curious about the denims people rave about. That’s why, when Gustin offered to send a pair of their 75 OKAYAMA STANDARD denim — I went for it. This felt like a great chance to dip my toes in the water, and try out my first pair of raw denim.
It’s been nothing like I expected, and I get how people can go deep on something like denim.
-
Member Journal — 11/25/24
When I apply all my snark usually reserved for gear, to cities.
-
25% Off at Mystery Ranch
Good deal on some of the best bags out there.
Running until 12/1, 25% of this selection of gear. Includes the Rip Ruck, District, Radix, and 2 Day Assault bags — all of which are fantastic.
-
Kyrgies Indoor Wool Slides
This might be the perfect slipper.
Note: this item was provided for review.
My new home office is the coldest room in the house, and because of that, I’ve had cold feet a lot of the days I’ve worked in this office. Add to that my recent move from muggy and hot Houston, to cool and dry Boulder — it’s a recipe for needing slippers. Thankfully, Kyrgies sent over their Indoor Wool Slides for me to test out, and they might have found a customer for life.
I have no complaints about these.