Black Rucksack – The Gear, The Lifestyle and The Pastimes of Men

Photo By: abc.go.com

Editor’s Note: This is Black Rucksack post 25! If you have any suggestion for us, e-mail us at rucksack |at| blackrucksack |dot| com!

There are very few television series that actually strike me. In fact, generally I avoid watching television so I can focus on other hobbies… grillin’, gear, hockey, etc. One television show, however, causes me to stop what I’m doing every Wednesday at 10pm… Life On Mars.

The premise of Life On Mars is that in 2008, Detective Sam Tyler was hit by a car and knocked-out. When he awoke, he found himself in 1973, without any idea of how he got there. Now, he struggles episode by episode with trying to get back to his own time, while working for a tough boss, old style cop Gene Hunt, at the fictional 1-2-5 precinct in New York City.

The show is mostly a cop drama that is intense and unforgiving though, there are some minor sci-fi elements. Life On Mars also covers dirty cops, mobsters, hate crime, fast women and hot rods. One other addicting feature of this show is its understanding and appreciation of ’70s rock and beyond. The series premier featured music by David Bowie, The Who, The Sweet and the ‘Stones… perfect, right? You can find a list of music from every episode at the Life On Mars website. Watch this show… you’ll be glad you did.

Life On Mars
Wednesday at 10pm EST on ABC

It's grillin' time...

It’s only January, it’s around 21 degrees Fahrenheit outside here in Lansing, MI and I’m thinking about one thing… grilling. Last year my Dad designed and built himself an outdoor grill island in his backyard (and from what I hear, my Mom gets a lot of credit for the engineering as well). The design includes a gas grill, tiled top, wood trim, stone facing and many other features. The most kick-ass feature of this grill has to be the view while you’re grilling… Bear Lake.

It’d be awesome to duplicate his custom grill station in my backyard someday… not this year, maybe next. This spring, summer, and fall I am going to stick with grilling on the porch. But, lucky for me there is an equalizer in this grill island v. porch grill throw down… grill tools.

There are a lot of puny, cheap grill tools out there and we don’t want you to buy something you’ll regret. For example, the average grill tool set you might see at your local grocery store is most often not acceptable. For your grilling pleasure you need the serious grill tools. The tools made out of tougher metal that will last through more abuse and torture then the cheap-o grocery store kind. The toughest we’ve tested so far is the 12 piece Deluxe BBQ Tool Set by Ledmark Industries.

The right tool for the job...

This set includes a multi-function spatula, a marinating brush, tongs, a two pronged fork, a BBQ knife, four skewers and a two piece steak set. The tongs are great for large pieces of meat because of their large grip.  The knife and fork are long enough to reach the back of the grate on a deep grill without causing a serious mishap. Plus, the set is easy to carry, easy to pack away and well protected in the included aluminum case.

This spring we plan on testing out more grill tools and letting you know the results. And for our gear-addict friends patrolling all of the B[+]R gear posts… “hey!”

Ledmark Industries 12 piece Deluxe BBQ Tool Set
$60

Scotch... Kahlua... Bliss

Almost every combination of alcohol has probably been named and spoken for; we understand that. And, the reason for this post isn’t to claim, but to share. Often times when the next article we’re working on is being talked about at Black Rucksack, we like to drink what our founding members originally called a “Nightwatch”. Now, we either refer to it as either a Rucksack or a Black Rucksack… whatever you call it, it is smooth and delicious.

1.5oz scotch whisky
.75oz coffee-flavored liqueur
.75oz soda water
garnish with a lime

In an old-fashioned glass (rocks glass), add the scotch and the coffee-flavored liqueur. Stir well. Then, add the soda water, serve it on the rocks and garnish with a lime. For the scotch, we suggest a mid-grade blended scotch whisky such as Dewar’s. For the coffee-flavored liqueur we suggest Kahlua. Also note, for those of your who are mixing novices, 1.5 oz is a standard size shot glass.

Yam sing! (that’s the “cheers” equivalent in Chinese interpreted as “Dry your cup!”)

Photo by: jpeterman.com

The first item I ever owned by The J. Peterman Company was a t-shirt. I didn’t know much about the brand… only that it was well regarded by a few friends of mine. A t-shirt seemed to me the perfect way to test that notion. I went with the aptly named Father of All T-Shirts and to this day it provides the best comfort and fit of any undershirt I own.

I opted for the original navy blue mostly due to the first sentence in the shirts description within the J. Peterman Owner’s Manual: “The T-shirt first appears on American radar just before WWI, when the U.S. Navy introduced it as an undershirt.” Navy blue just seemed to be the obvious choice. When the t-shirt finally arrived I threw it on and was immediately pleased with the fit. It’s perfect for guys with an average or athletic physique.

The writing in the J. Peterman Owner’s Manual is one of its differentiating and defining features. Often, you’ll be transported to another world in another time through the descriptions of their products. Take this bit:

“The idea seemed laughable to most people back in ancient 1964, but not to Swiss archaeologist Charles Bonnet.

He packed his steamer trunks, headed for Nubia in the Sudan, uncovered an entire culture including larger-than-life statues of the Black Pharaohs who once ruled Egypt up north.

The man is astute about where to dig; and he’s also astute (to get to the immediate point) about what to wear when he’s digging.”

Every single product is written about in such an evocative way. We at Black Rucksack suggest you first look over the J. Peterman website… take your time… read and enjoy the experience. Then, start looking for the few pieces of clothing or unique items from J. Peterman that will transform you.

The J. Peterman Company – Father of All T-Shirts
$29

A necessary addition...

When you have to look your best it is relatively easy to take care of the major items: shirt, pants and jacket. It’s even pretty easy to take care of medial importance items: hair, shoes, belt, etc. But, there are a few minor details that are often overlooked that can make or break your style. And if you’re going to put all that effort into dressing well to attract that one stunning woman you’ve been working on, you’ll need just one more thing… the collar stay.

A collar stay isn’t universally required; there are many shirts and collars that are best worn slightly unkempt. On the other hand, when you’re wearing a suit or shirt and tie a collar stay is most likely necessary.

One the best quality collar stays is produced by Stayclip. They are made out of metal, come in many different finishes and provide that durable, lasting perfect collar. In addition, you can have them engraved for a personalized touch. Included with purchase is, in essence, a keyring to keep all of your Stayclip collar stays together and that keyring can be wall mounted right near the rest of your wardrobe. And if you’re wearing them through a metal detector, according to the Stayclip site, no worries.

Stayclip Collar Stays
$35 to $130

Got a light?

Much is familiar about the Zippo lighter: the “clink” they make when they open and shut, their windproof flame and the distinct shape. My Grandpa had one that he cherished and kept with him in his trouser pocket every single day. And like the few Zippo’s in my family, Zippo’s around the world hold the same two roles: lighter and heirloom.

There are few day-to-day items that carry as much history as a Zippo lighter. It was 2007 when a friend and I were driving through Pennsylvania on a road trip. We literally, accidentally drove past the Zippo Manufacturing Company in Bradford… and we then stopped. There we toured the part-store, part-museum visitors center and took in a lot of the history of Zippo. First produced in 1933, the lighter was popularized by many American soldiers of World War II and the tradition continues on; it remains one of the most popular brands to date.

In 2007, Zippo released a new line of lighter… the Zippo Blu. It’s a butane torch lighter and a must for the cigar smoker. The case design is slightly different than the standard Zippo case and thus a distinguishing feature.

The Zippo is sturdy and resilient but just in case, it also includes a lifetime guarantee. If there is a problem with your lighter the company will replace or fix it for free.

Zippo Windproof
~$18

Zippo Blu
~$38

Up Close... On The Glass...

The rush of cool air… the sound of the boards rattling after a hard check… the blur of 10 players speeding down the ice… there aren’t many experiences like attending a National Hockey League (NHL) game.

My team is the Detroit Red Wings… they are electric skaters and an absolute blast to watch. And even though I’m a Wings fan, I still love the game of hockey more than I do any team. It is my Dad that instilled in me the importance of hockey; and how the sport has no room for the nervous.

One thing we at Black Rucksack suggest as an experience for every guy is an NHL game. While simply attending a game is a guaranteed good time, especially when the two teams are among the most exciting (like the Wings), there is more to this suggestion. To really get an understanding of the talent and speed in the game hockey, sit as near to the glass as you can. Catching a game three or four rows off the glass purifies the NHL experience.

To get good tickets, we suggest attending a game in pre-season or during the months of October or November; attendance is usually lower during those months.  Also, you may want to shoot for a weekday game as you’ll also have a better chance at getting good tickets.  StubHub.com is one of the most reputable sources to find tickets sold by other fans.

National Hockey League Game
$50 to $250 per ticket
StubHub.com

Photo by: merchco-online.com

Pnatrul… sure, they spell it strange… but they can get away with it because they of the quality gear they hock. Worn by drummers, rockers and thrashers everywhere, Pnatrul is based in southern California. The Pnatrul logo is based on a crescent-shaped pendant worn by Navajo and other Native American tribes called a “naja”, the Navajo word for crescent. The brand also casts themselves as “eco-friendly”.

They carry a range of t-shirts, hoodies and other gear. The shirt we suggest is the most unique in their online store… the Blizzard.

Pnatrul Blizzard
$66