The Brooks Review

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The Hype: Yoshida & Co’s Porter BagsAugust 26, 2025
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Casio Duro MDV-106 Re-ReviewDecember 15, 2022

Recent Articles

  • Wndsn High-Viz Quadrant Telemeter

    You can find the distance of something using a string and a plastic card, no batteries needed. Crazy, right? I’m told it’s actually ‘math’.

    Note: this item was provided at no cost for review.

    Wndsn XPD has been making these neat Quadrant Telemeters for a while now. To be honest, they are one of those items I have been aware of, but confused by. What are they for?

    So when Wndsn asked if I would like to try one out, I jumped at the chance to get my hands on one. I, you see, am not someone trained in astrology, astronomy, navigation, or really math. So, as a pretty basic guy who is interested in cool stuff, this little card both baffles me and intrigues me.

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  • Topo Designs Mini Quick Pack

    It looks stellar, but functions poorly.

    I picked up this tiny sling from Topo Designs while it was on sale for a mere $30. At 2.5L this is about as small as you can reasonably go, while still holding everything you generally want to carry. But, while simple, I didn’t expect it to be as odd as it is.

    Overall, I’d pass on this one, but allow me to explain why.

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  • Member Journal — 1/18/21

    Our homes have terrible ventilation, and so you should consider a fan. Also, remember when social networks only grew a backbone after it was clear Trump was leaving office?

    This week: newsletters are blogs; ban hammer blowback; CO2; cocktails; dealz.

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  • The Wirecutter Missed AGAIN: Ignore their Best Knife Sharpeners

    Edge Pro Apex. Enough said, nothing else you need. Done.

    Edge Pro Apex. Enough said, nothing else you need. Done.

  • GORUCK Rucker 3.0 25L Launched

    GORUCK has released the Rucker 3.0 in the 25L configuration (finally). I picked one up in Coyote Brown right away. There’s a ton new about this bag so the short run down of the 25L: New Lumbar Support New fabric against your body to be more comfortable Two ruck plate pockets to hold up to…

    GORUCK has released the Rucker 3.0 in the 25L configuration (finally). I picked one up in Coyote Brown right away. There’s a ton new about this bag so the short run down of the 25L:

    • New Lumbar Support
    • New fabric against your body to be more comfortable
    • Two ruck plate pockets to hold up to 65lbs
    • Integrated reflective stripe so you don’t get murdered by cars, well at least not without being seen I guess. Anyways.

    From what I have heard of the smaller models, this bag is killer. Mine comes next week. I can’t wait.

  • Code of Bell X-Pod Sling Pack (S)

    This is one really clever and well designed sling, I love it.

    When Code of Bell came out, their first bag was a large cross the back sling. It looked cool, the strap setup and bad ass pictures. I don’t know any bag nerd who looked at the pictures and felt like it would be a bad bag. And yet, I loathe cross the back bags like that. One strap is not better that two, it is worse in almost every way.

    But, given my obsession with finding a good sling to use as my purse, I knew I needed to get a Code of Bell bag, specifically the small Sling Pack called X-Pod. It is essentially the larger bag, shrunk down to a much more manageable size. I have had this bag for a while now, and since it is topping the price scales compared to the other slings I have reviewed thus far, I took more time putting this together.

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  • Member Journal — 1/11/21

    I left Twitter, and found a tripod desk which looks cool.

    This week: why I left Twitter; Signal; work stuff on personal devices; top tip; mass loaded vinyl; Morgrie; and tripod desk.

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  • Visiting Seattle and the Pacific Northwest — Before I Forget Everything

    So I have one place to send people to, here’s what I know, and what I suggest. You’ll probably hate it.

    Surprisingly, over a dozen people, from readers to coworkers, have asked me about the Pacific Northwest since I moved away. Specifically, along the lines of “I really want to visit/move there, can you give me some tips”. I used to keep a page for members on all my recommendations, but it is long gone. So I thought I would memorialize all my thoughts on the Pacific Northwest, with a bias towards the Seattle region, before I forget it all.

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  • Member Journal — 1/4/21

    Screen Time is a screen which shows you pointless information, and yet some people have made a business out of telling you how what you see there is bad, and what you should instead try to see. I can’t.

    This week: the reminders I get from taking time off; why people always blame phones for their distractions; odds and ends; and my quarantine bag of choice.

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  • System Building: Notion, OmniFocus, and the Cult of Tinkering to Feel Something

    You only have so much time in day to do stuff, so how much of it are you wasting in systems?

    What does it take to be your most productive? The right book? That one philosophy? Is it a state of mine, and is that state of focus or is it flow. Perhaps it’s the right headphones, playlist, or morning routine. Yes, the right pen, or notebook. It’s all about software, find the right one and bam you are a millionaire cashing checks while sipping down margaritas on your private yacht.

    If you follow productivity schemes as long as I have, and you try enough of them — you find that every underlying way to do more work, to do that work fast, or to generally be more productive/creative/orwhathaveyou is simply boiled down to system building. The idea that all which is missing in our lives is a system by which we shove everything into and magic shall happen at the other end.

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  • Benchmade Mini Osborne

    One heck of a good looking knife, which does not even come close to living up to its looks.

    Benchmade has been on a roll with the Bugout lineup, and something which has become ever popular the last couple of years is the Benchmade Osborne family of knives. People seem to love them, but I’ve always steered clear as they are higher priced (start at $200) and they have a rather large blade for an everyday carry knife, coming in at 3.4” long. The combination of both, making it a losing proposition for me.

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  • Member Journal — 12/28/2020

    I hacked together a really great tripod mount so that we could do a FaceTime Christmas without tired arms.

    This week: my FaceTime Christmas iPad rig; turning 38, my list strategy you should copy.

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  • Member Journal — 12/21/20

    Large widgets are the best widgets, and we need a Rotten Tomatoes style app privacy rating from the EFF.

    This week: Office finally has good trackpad support; large widgets are better than small widgets; privacy labels for apps; tips for men; Pepsi; and the Solar Winds hack is a nightmare.

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  • Aer City Sling

    An excellent sling for only the essentials.

    Note: this sling was provided by Aer for review at no cost.

    The City Sling is a more compact sling from Aer, with he goal of being for quick trips around the city — not for collecting, or traveling. Just the essentials.

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  • Aer Day Sling 2 X-Pac

    One of the best slings I have tested so far, and it looks stellar.

    Note: this bag was provided for review by Aer at no cost.

    The next sling I have to talk about is the Aer Day Sling 2, in the limited edition X-Pac (also available in black nylon, gray, and black multicam). My first impressions of this bag, upon receiving it, were simply: oh man I really like this. The pictures of this sling on Aer’s site and here in this article simply don’t do it justice. In a lot of ways the size and rather not traditional shape of this sling make it something which both stands out as unique, but fades away when you are carrying it.

    It’s awesome.

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  • Tom Bihn Shadow Guide V2 23, a Preview

    This is going to be a strong contender for the best of list next year. Showing huge potential.

    Hot on the heels of the Shadow Guide V2 33, is the all new 23 liter variant. It’s smaller, but otherwise the same. And yet, so much better than the 33.

    I’ve only had the bag a short time, so this is more of a preview and quick comparison, than any sort of review.

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  • Bellroy Sling

    A magical fabric, and a clever compression system makes, this a very strong sling offering for those who like minimal organization.

    Note: this bag was provided by Bellroy for review at no cost.

    Continuing on my search for a great sling, we have the Bellroy Sling — which is an apt name. This is easily the best looking sling of all I have so far, so I really want to focus on more than just how great it looks. But, to be clear, it looks fantastic.

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  • Member Journal — 12/14/2020

    Fitness trackers don’t work to get you in shape, because they record the wrong metrics, and they also barely help already fit people ‘level up’. So what are they good for?

    This week: fitness trackers are fitness theater and are not really great for anyone who is their target market; headphones; privacy first web analytics; the best boots; Chrome is having another *thing*.
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  • Mystery Ranch Full Moon

    A big sling, with a small price.

    I started my sling journey by grabbing the Mystery Ranch Full Moon and as the cheeky name implies — it is first and foremost a hip/fanny bag but so are most of these sling bags. Overall, this is a really good option, but has left me wanting something a little different.

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  • Member Journal — 12/6/2020

    If your company let’s you wear shorts, than 10 to 1 odds that your company has poor data stewardship practices.

    This week: watch wearing in 2020; music in 2020; Reeder 5 is better than Pocket; Dress Code and Data Stewardship; 3 apps I tried; Autonomous.ai Support; Ergonomics reminder; Mini Osborne.

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