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

Be sure to write it down...

I have quite a few Moleskine notebooks. One diligently tracks my travels; one holds my thoughts, as random as they are. These journals are an absolutely necessary part of my personal life and are really quite handy. Moleskines were more commonly used in a bygone era which is why, I suppose, I use them.

Crafting journals is a bit of a lost art, I believe. Men like Hemingway did it; so did Chatwin. Van Gogh was an intense user of Moleskines as was Picasso.

While sitting in the hurry and fervor of downtown or at some little known house of beer and whisky, writing in a Moleskine proves to be a great getaway. I can be on a busy street on a park bench and not notice a single SUV roaring by … if I am writing in my Moleskine. While traveling, they provide the opposite; I can better focus on the world around me. Accurately translating my travels into a Moleskine is effortless.

Moleskine – Ruled Pocket Notebook
$10

Regal Rockies

A man, in his necessary travels, should be sure to cross over and also through the Rocky Mountains.  Their majesty and grandeur is only exceeded by their height.

And while traveling through, you’ll inevitably come to a hideaway or a pass in the interior that will stand-out.  There, you’ll stop and breathe the fresh, chilled air of Colorado or perhaps Montana.  This memory will be yours forever; below is an account of mine.

Rocky Mountain National Park
$20 (Park Entrance Fee)

A dustland fairytale...

The new, third studio album by Las Vegas quartet The Killers has something for just about everyone. In a follow-up to their highly regarded second album, Sam’s Town, The Killers take a few bold steps into funk dubs and spacey grooves while maintaining their rock roots. “Human”, the first single from the band’s third album Day & Age, starts in the realm of electronica and ends up on the edge of alternative rock. The second single, “Spaceman”, is pure alternative rock and one of the best singles of 2008; definitely a song for future jukebox heroes.

“A Dustland Fairytale” is an ever-building rock yarn with a dash of ballad and is by far my favorite on the album. The lyrics, by The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers, were written specifically about the young romance of his mom and dad when they first met in their teens. Flowers describes his dad as “some kind of slick, chrome American prince.” This song ends with an orchestral flurry that leaves you screaming “ENCORE! ENCORE!”

A few other notable songs: The even groove “This Is Your Life”, the bold reverie “Neon Tiger” and the unbashful “Tidalwave”.

4.5 out of 5 Rucksacks

The Killers – Day & Age
$11

The Waterman Hemisphere

The Waterman Hemisphere pen is simple, elegant and contemporary.  It is the perfect pocket partner for day-to-day use and is a peerless projection of professionalism and confidence when signing large contracts.  We dare you not to look sophisticated when you use this pen.

The Waterman company has been producing pens since 1884 when it was established by Lewis Edson Waterman.  The Waterman I’ve owned have been very well crafted and high quality.  For the Hemisphere, I suggest a roller ball over a fountain pen.

You can find the Waterman Hemisphere starting at about $25 and run up to about $100 depending on the style one chooses.  If you’re new to the Waterman brand or the Hemisphere then we suggest starting with the Starlight or the standard stainless steel version.

Waterman Hemisphere Pen
$25 to $100

The Climber by Victorinox

The Explorer, Ranger, Rucksack, Mountaineer, Climber or the Handyman?  My personal favorite of all the Victorinox Swiss Army knives is without a doubt the Climber, followed closely by the Rucksack.  There aren’t many pieces of gear as simple and as useful as a Swiss Army knife.  I carry mine in my front pocket just about every day.

It’s easy to see how the Swiss Army knife has become the quintessential piece of gear.  The knives flexibility and diverse set of tools lend favorably to its usability.  Compared to many other multi-tools it is far less cumbersome and the bold red shell is pretty tough.  While the Swiss Army knife is a good friend for a cautious fellow, it is also the embodiment of resourcefulness.  Choose this knife and you’ve chosen brains and versatility over unsteady, oft detrimental brawn.

Take a look at the rich history of these knives and you’ll catch a glimpse of World War I and World War II.  Since the birth of the knife in 1891 it has been a stand-by for many soldiers.  And, now in 2008 there is a new soldier’s knife that has been re-invented for this era.

The Climber and the Rucksack represent two different types of Victorinox knife.  The Climber is a traditional Swiss Army knife with the following 14 tools: large blade, small blade, corkscrew, can opener with small screwdriver 3 mm (also for Phillips screws), cap lifter with screwdriver 6 mm and wire stripper, reamer, punch, key ring, tweezers, toothpick, scissors and multi-purpose hook.

The Rucksack is a more ergonomic knife with a locking blade and contains the following 12 tools: large lock blade, corkscrew, can opener with screwdriver 3 mm, cap lifter with screwdriver with automatic locking and wire stripper, reamer, punch, key ring, tweezers, toothpick and wood saw.

Both are fine companions for hiking, hunting, fishing, camping, and most any other outdoor activity you can think of, as well day-to-day use even in the office.

Victorinox Swiss Army Knife
$15 to $38