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

Staying afloat...

One of the most refreshing experiences I can think of is spending an afternoon on the dock throwing a stick out into the water so my dog can fetch it. She gets a running start and flies yards off the end of the dock landing SPLASH into the water. It’s obvious she enjoys it and she is an excellent swimmer. In fact, all dogs have a strong innate ability to swim. Still, there are some times on boats, canoes or fast rivers when even the best swimming dogs need a little extra protection… enter the Ruff Wear K-9 Float Coat.

This coat is made from a durable ballistic nylon and has buoyancy cells that are variably sized for added fit. It also features luminescence reflective trim so it is easier to find the dog in low light. The Ruff Wear K-9 Float Coat is well designed and a must have for the water-bound dog owner; it’ll keep man’s best friend alive if an accident happens on the water.

Available in colors yellow and red and sizes XS through XL.

Ruff Wear K-9 Float Coat
$56

Rugged... resilient...

The Filson company has a long, reputable history among “hunters and fishermen, engineers and explorers, mariners and miners” alike. Their gear is well-known as being among the toughest gear for the outdoorsman; the Filson Shelter Cloth Packer Coat is no exception.

This coat has several features that make it ideal for most day-to-day outdoor work and travel. It is made of a ’shelter cloth’ which is named after military shelter tents due to its durability. The oil finish and is paraffin treated to aid in repelling water. There are pockets-a-plenty on this jacket as well; perfect for tools, knives, or any impromptu item you may need to carry.

Critical to any jackets performance is its hardware. The zipper, grommets and snaps on this coat are damn high quality and will themselves last longer than the coat. With all of the above features and a moleskin-lined collar, this coat will always keep you well-protected and comfortable!

Filson Shelter Cloth Packer Coat
$275

No. VI Chophouse > Volare

Dinner at an upscale restaurant can set a perfect tone for a Valentine’s Day evening. Just a few days ago I had a very difficult, albeit truncated, experience at a restaurant called Volare Ristorante in Wixom, MI, near Novi. Thankfully, my wonderful, hot girlfriend was gracious enough to not let Volare’s failure effect our evening.

Our reservation was for 9pm. I made the reservation about 10 days before Valentine’s Day and expected to have a great dining experience. To my surprise, we didn’t even make it to our booth. We arrived about two minutes before 9pm to a packed vestibule… not a good sign. I talked to the frantic hostess at the hostess stand and she said it would only be a few minutes until a table was cleared. Now, in my opinion and I think in common practice, it is not too much to expect to be immediately seated when one has a reservation. But, I was OK though not pleased with waiting a few minutes.

A few minutes turned into ten minutes at which point, I was riled. I asked the hostess when we were going to be seated and what the holdup was and all that was said was, “there are about five groups in front of you”. At the twenty! minute mark, I decided to call another fine restaurant in Novi, the No. VI Chop House. Luckily, they had immediate seating and thus our decision was made. Once I informed the hostess that their service was shameful, we headed out to get the car from the valet. Long story short, I waited ten minutes for the valet and finally ended up having to help them find my keys. By 9:35pm we were on the road to No. VI Chop House.

We had a very nice dinner at the No. VI Chop House. The only negative was the smell of cigar smoke wafting in from another nearby room. The service was amiable and fast. The filet mignon was perfectly seared and the bleu cheese scalloped potatoes were ambrosia. Additionally, the dining experience served to perfectly accent the evening and the weekend.

No. VI Chop House Review – 4 out of 5 Rucksacks – $$$$
Absolutely worth experiencing!

Volare Ristorante Review – 0 out of 5 Rucksacks – $$$$
DO NOT DINE!

On time...

Swiss mechanical watches have the power to transform the wearer from average to exclusive.  They accent give definition to any mens style.  Since 1904, Swiss-company Oris has been producing quality time keeping pieces such as the Oris Classic Date. The emblematic high-quality craftsmanship of an Oris will suit any dress-to-impress affair.

The Oris brand includes four distinct collections: Motor Sport, Aviation, Culture and Diving. Each collection features many different styles each with unqiue, defining characteristics. The Classic Date, the Black Rucksack favorite, is a part of the Culture collection.

To find an Oris, either check out their store locator or a reputable supplier online.  If you do decide to order online, at least checkout the watch at a brick-and-mortar store before you buy!

Oris Classic Date
$695

It’s almost time for your brothers wedding… you’re the best man and so far, the whole day has gone smooth. You’re at the church and ready to take your place in front of the church when suddenly… no cuff links! Thankfully, there are some emergency cuff links you can keep with you for just this scenario and many others.

Spunique Emergency Cuff Links
$17

Pack of six...

Wallet Essentials Emergency Cuff Links
$11

Cuff Links For Your Wallet

All-in-one...

In the toughest situations, it’s essential to have the right communication gear. But sometimes, the battery power in your gear doesn’t last as long as you do. For those situations Eton Corporation has the perfect answer… a two-way radio that can be powered by a hand-crank with several other features… the FR1000 Voicelink.

First off, this radio has several features worth noting: 22 channel two-way radio (GMRS and FRS), NOAA weather radio and weather alert system, AM/FM receiver, siren, flashlight and cell-phone charging jack. The weather alerts and AM/FM receiver will keep you informed while the siren and light can act as an SOS beacon, saving your voice.

All of these features can be powered in one of four, redundant ways. The FR1000 has a built in Rechargeable Ni-MH battery.  Additionally, it is possible to power the system using 4 “AA” batteries, the included AC Adapter or, in the case all other power is depleted, the dynamo hand crank.

At 3.6lbs the unit is a bit heavy for light hiking however, if you can spare the weight in your pack, it’ll be a welcome gear addition.

Eton FR1000 Voicelink
$94

Black hooded...

As we described in a previous article, Armani Exchange (A|X) is the trendy, accessible off-the-peg brand from Armani. A|X features stylish, branded gear such as t-shirts, sweatshirts, jeans and jackets. One sweatshirt that is really emblematic of the uniqueness of A|X is the Zip Neck Hoody.

In jet black, the Zip Neck Hoody features a hood that folds easily into the collar. Although, you may find, like I did, that you like the hood out a whole lot better.

The sweatshirt is a medium weight and perfect for an outdoor rock concert in a Midwestern state during spring or fall.  Or, it’s good for that early fall tailgate and football game.

Armani Exchange Zip Neck Hoody
$115

Survival of the fittest...

The single most important item in any survival kit is the means to start a fire. Another necessity for every survival situation is a knife. When you combine those two functions, you get the ToolLogic SL3 Fire.

The SL3 features a partially serrated 3″ blade and a magnesium alloy fire starter. This particular type of fire starter will spark at over 2500 degrees Fahrenheit and will always spark when wet. If you watch Man vs. Wild you’ll notice that survivalist Bear Grylls often uses a similar type of magnesium fire starter.

Perfect for any rucksack at only 2.7 ounces, the ToolLogic SL3 Fire is a fundamental piece of survival gear.

ToolLogic SL3 Fire
$38