Published by J. A. on 28th April 2009
Protection for your sunglasses...
Editor’s Note: This is post #50! It has been 174 days or 5 months and 23 days since the first Black Rucksack post and we’ve come a long way! Since the first post, we’ve posted regularly on Tuesday and Thursdays, added over 350 RSS, Twitter and Facebook followers, launched the Black Rucksack Life Hack and the Black Rucksack Polestar. We look forward to filling the gear needs of even more subscribers and readers!
The equation is simple: “something that breaks” + “something that protects things that break” = “protected something that breaks”. And despite that simple formula, I can’t seem to stop breaking sunglasses. The reason I would continually shatter, snap and horribly disfigure sunglasses is I couldn’t find the “something that protects things that break” or, a good hard case for sunglasses. Finally, at long last, I found one… the Civilian Lab Pod.
Civilian Lab is a company I only recently became familiar with. After using one of their gear harnesses I borrowed from a buddy, I must say, they produce some quality, gear ready packs and the Pod is no exception. It’s rugged, solid and capable of preventing my sunglasses from a thrashing.
The exterior of the Pod is rigid and durable and made of a ballistic Nylon while the interior of the Pod is made of a softer material to protect the glasses from being scratched. The interior dimensions of the Pod are 6 7/8″ Length x 2 3/8″ Width x 2″ Height; sufficient for most sunglasses. The Pod also has a snap hook for easy and fast attachment to the rest of your gear.
Published by J. A. on 31st March 2009
Rivals...
Downtown Columbus, Ohio has a lot to offer for the guy who just loves to travel or the guy who is looking for a simple vacation with the big city feel but without the big city hassle.
First off, most of the downtown area and especially the “Arena District” is well organized, easy to navigate and densely populated with quality restaurants and bars. We ventured to Gordon Biersch Brewery, Frog Bear & Wild Boar Bar and Buca di Beppo’s. Of those three restaurants Buca di Beppo, a family Italian eatery, had the best food, Gordon Biersch Brewery had the best drinks and Frog Bear & Wild Boar Bar had the best atmosphere and was the perfect place to close out a night. All were quality establishments and are worth a visit.
The Arena District is so named for Nationwide Arena, home of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets. The Blue Jackets have been in Columbus since 2000 and by the looks of it, they’ll make the playoffs this year for the first time in franchise history. Personally, I’m a Detroit Red Wings fan but, it’s always fun to catch a game in another city; especially if you can get tickets like we had… one row off the glass. Sitting that close you’ll better understand the speed and the grit that is the NHL. See the previous Black Rucksack article on the NHL experience and get tickets from StubHub!
More rivals...
Another feature in Columbus a few miles outside of downtown is the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium; one of the best zoos in the country. It’s a good place to relax and enjoy a sunny Spring afternoon. A zoo typically isn’t the place for a hardcore adventure (unless something escapes) but, a lot of the kids, girlfriends and wives you guys have will enjoy it.
This is just a taste of what downtown Columbus, Ohio offers… find a hotel and book it now!
Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena
via StubHub
$50 to $250 per ticket
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
$12 per ticket
Thread Tags:
$0 to $30,
$110 to $150,
$150 to $250,
$30 to $50,
$50 to $80,
$80 to $110,
Buca di Beppo,
Columbus,
Columbus Blue Jackets,
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium,
Detroit Red Wings,
food,
Frog Bear & Wild Boar Bar,
Gordon Beirsch Brewery,
lifestyle,
nhl,
Ohio,
pastimes,
spring,
travel
-"I am motivated by my duty."
Published by J. A. on 24th March 2009
Solace is sometimes hard to find...
He’s got the style, the gear, the women, the car, and the lifestyle that some envy and others just respect. Still, what we seldom realize about the James Bond character is how he transcends time and changes slightly each iteration. And this Bond, Daniel Craig’s Bond, is the perfect fit for our time.
Quantum of Solace is the chronicle of a man on a mission of revenge. His love was struck down in the previous movie, Casino Royale, and this movie picks up immediately after. What then unfolds is a tough, angry all-out action feast and of course, contains much of the necessary style, gear, (fast) women and (fast) cars.
It’s a jolt of adrenaline and highly kinetic from the start to the finish… and every bit the Bond we need.
| 4 out of 5 Rucksacks |
 |
James Bond: Quantum of Solace DVD
$17
James Bond: Quantum of Solace Blu-Ray
$25
Published by J. A. on 12th February 2009
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
-The t-shirt at the helm...
Published by J. A. on 20th January 2009
Filed Under
clothing, style
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
-The many benefits of the Zippo lighter...
Published by J. A. on 13th January 2009
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
Thread Tags:
$0 to $30,
$30 to $50,
accessory,
camping,
cigar,
fire starter,
fishing,
gear,
gear review,
hiking,
lighter,
Pennsylvania,
survival,
Zippo
Published by J. A. on 25th December 2008
In Memoriam...
Merry Christmas!
Just two weeks ago, we posted an article on the Rocky Mountains, whose many peaks and valleys should be on every guys “to be conquered” list. Today, we have a national park that is another must for men… Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
Let’s start with the men on this mountain of South Dakota… Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln, the 1st, 3rd, 26th and 16th Presidents of the United States. All four are consistently ranked by historians as the most successful, bad ass and effective presidents. Washington led the Continental Army against Britain, Jefferson was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, Roosevelt helped create the US Forest Service, negotiated for control of the Panama Canal and busted apart railroad monopolies and Lincoln preserved the Union and ended slavery. All four have a long list of achievements and deserve all of the honor and praise this monument enshrines.
The visit to the monument in honor of the men listed above is a full experience. En route to Mount Rushmore through Custer State Park in the Black Hills, you’ll enjoy rugged terrain and amazing scenery. There is wildlife abound including bison and bighorn sheep. And, if you plan on hiking… know that there are also mountain lions lurking about. Once you arrive at Mount Rushmore you’ll trek through the lower part of the monument featuring a tribute to the 50 states and then onto the viewing platform and the amphitheater. Once you’re on the viewing platform, you finally get a sense of the scale of the monument and its omnipresence. Take a deep breath and take your time once you arrive.
History, wildlife, rugged terrain and a monument honoring great leaders of men…
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
$10 (parking fee)
Published by J. A. on 23rd December 2008
An American experience...
Among the necessary material in a guys library is On the Road by Jack Kerouac. This book follows the tales of a man across America in the 1940’s and the 1950’s. It characterizes the abandon of youth and the urge of a young man eager to experience life. It’s the American Dream, the college road trip and sex, drugs and jazz all rolled into a single affair… and an important lesson or two.
On the Road is a necessary read due to its personal study on approaching life. And while the explorations and adventures of the main characters are specific and occasionally reckless, their approach to experiencing life is applicable to all and an inspiration.
We don’t suggest using On the Road for a word-for-word template or guide. Rather, the story that Jack Kerouac weaves provides a captivating, nuanced adventure; one that will provide a platform and the motivation for your next road trip! If you’re looking to chronicle that road trip, check out the B[+]R article on Moleskine notebooks.
On the Road by Jack Kerouac
$17
