Published by J. A. on 16th April 2009
Finally, ear buds that are actually comfortable...
Earphones, specifically ear buds, have come a long way in the past few years and recently they’ve taken another big leap. The Logitech Ultimate Ears 700 skillfully blend comfort and performance into one small bundle.
These headphones use silicone ear-cushions to accomplish noise isolation and provide a nice in-ear fit. Most ear buds that claim to be “comfortable” and to “fit well” are just BS’ing for their marketing literature. The Logitech Ultimate Ears 700’s however, really are comfortable.
Unless you’re an audiophile, it can be hard to justify spending more than $50 on any set of headphones. But, if you’re looking for a set worth every penny, then check out the Logitech Ultimate Ears 700.
-Easily one of the best grills for traveling...
Published by J. A. on 14th April 2009
It's grillin' time!
It’s officially grilling season here in Michigan and grilling at the park, on the road or at the beach has never been easier than this. Coleman has a grill, the Coleman RoadTrip Grill LXE, that is perfect for throwing in the truck or SUV and hitting the road.
This grill is propane fed, has two 10,000 BTU burners and has 285 square inches of cooking surface area. That’s a little more than 1/2 the space on an average size deck grill and good size for grilling for two to four people. The grill also has two side tables that attach easily for extra food preparation space (or a place to set down your favorite beer).
Fully expanded, the Coleman RoadTrip Grill LXE measures 46″L x 18″D x 35″H. Collapsed, the grill measures 36″L x 18″D x 13″H and weighs about 44 lbs (without extras).
There are several additional add-ons including optional grill surfaces and a grill bag available from Coleman. And, if you need tools for this grill, check out the Black Rucksack article Grill Tools for Grilling Right.
EDIT: After posting this article a good friend of mine (Brad) e-mailed me to tell me that his experience with this grill was less than good. Brad pointed out that the grill is definitely not “manproof”. That said, from my usage of this grill I believe it is road trip suitable but I think Brad has a damn good point… it’s not tough enough for everyday use or for two-trackin’ deep into the Michigan woods.
Get the Coleman RoadTrip Grill LXE:
-at Cabela’s
-at Amazon
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
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Published by J. A. on 8th January 2009
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
Published by J. A. on 11th November 2008
A watch above watches... the Suunto Vector.
Suunto labels their watches as “wristop computers” and while this description is accurate, I don’t think it captures the how damn nice these watches are. After some research on Suunto watches I decided that the Suunto Vector best suited my needs. I’m in the woods a lot so, knowing the temperature, barometric pressure and fluctuations, altitude and having a compass is not only convenient but often times necessary. Most frequently and on a daily basis I use the compass and the thermometer. I will use bearing tracking when hiking and the barometer to detect weather patterns. The standard time features such as the stopwatch, countdown timer, calendar and three daily alarms all function as expected. Oh, and I love the 24hr time setting.
I received the
Vector from my beautiful girlfriend, D.M. (thank you!). Guys, just a note, having a girlfriend that will give gifts of gear is
awesome. This watch wears well with many styles of clothing and is very comfortable. The face is easy to read and the control interface is very intuitive. A quick glance at the manual and you’ll be able to use 90% of the features that this watch incorporates.
The durability of the Vector (and most Suunto products) is serious. I’ve beaten, dropped, drowned, smacked, smashed, nicked, knocked and generally abused this watch and it is no worse for wear. If I didn’t utilize and love this watch as much as I do, I think I would spend my time trying to figure out just how to make it stop working.
All thing considered, the
Suunto Vector is definitely my favorite “wristop computer” among all of the watches I’ve owned.
Suunto Vector
$190
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