Damian Rintelmann, the Director of Interactive Business Development for integrated marketing communications firm Hart Associates is the June 2009 Black Rucksack Polestar!
There are some guys that from the moment you meet them, you know they have what it takes to succeed. I met Damian back in 2000 at in Internet company in East Lansing, MI and knew immediately that he was one of those guys. And for the past nine years, he has proven to be exactly that. Damian is an industry leader in digital marketing, a well-regarded community organizer and one of the fastest guys I’ve ever seen on the ice.
Excerpt:
What is one adventure or event that you’ve experienced that shook you at your core?
-There was one trip in particular that shook me to my core. I was backpacking with a relative out in Arizona. We were up in the mountains, 60 miles from the closest town and there was an unexpected snowfall. We didn’t have the right gear, and found out really quickly what a mistake it was.
Travis Stoliker, the Director of Marketing for the web hosting company LiquidWeb, is the inaugural Black Rucksack Polestar! We interviewed Travis because he’s an interesting guy who has his life in line and is a drummer, hockey player and beer fan trapped in the body of a sharp-minded business man. He’s got the right attitude on life and is definitely someone we can all take a lesson or two from!
Excerpt:
You’re grilling out on a Saturday afternoon with your favorite brew in hand… what food do you throw on the grill?
-Steak, without a doubt. I am a huge fan of steak. I think it may be the only thing that I actually know how to cook.
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.
A stunning entry into the wallet world...
Verbosity has its time and its place. For instance, when I’m checking for hockey scores and highlights in the morning, I don’t want to read an entire article to get to marrow of the game. I want to keep verbosity out of that morning pleasantry. However, when I am roving for information on new gear or getting ready to purchase said gear, verbosity is welcome; thank you J. Peterman and Braithwaite Wallets, Inc.
Before you read the rest of this article on Braithwaite Wallets, take a moment to visit the Braithwaite Wallets, Inc. website… I’ll wait. … … The elegance of the site speaks to the elegance and creative eyes that influence every wallet design. The verbosity of the writing tells us that details are cared for. The design of the five wallets, Cypress, Orpheus, Raptured, The Sunrise and The Vagabond, is impeccable, flavorful and rich with fervor.
The Vagabond is described as being “designed for the man for whom wanderlust isn’t an affliction, but a choice.” Brilliant. If the name “The Vagabond” is enough to capture your attention then that description will sell you on the wallet without an iota more information. The Vagabond is large enough to hold a passport, currency (both plastic and paper) and even a Moleskine notebook. Its measurements are a hearty 7 1/8″ x 4 1/4″ and it’s made from dependable leather. Check our previous article on Moleskine notebooks entitled, Anything That Interests.
There is a true difference in the Braithwaite Wallet. Comparatively, many other wallets are shameful in design and aren’t nearly as durable. The Braithwaite style is unique and well-tailored while not being overzealous. The Vagabond is stunning. Trust us… your inner jacket pocket or your back pants pocket will thank you for filling it with a Braithwaite Wallet.
Stay dry... stay warm...
I’ve been in two violent thunderstorms while driving across Nebraska on Interstate 80 (I-80) between California and Michigan, the first was in February of 2007. Days earlier I installed new windshield wipers on my Escape, and of that I was thankful. During that storm, even though many cars and trucks pulled off the road, my Dad and I were able to keep heading toward California.
The second storm was in April of 2007 and of course, mid-storm one of those wipers decided to partially detach, leaving me looking through an opaque windshield. I immediately pulled over on the right side of the road and started to think, “do I have a poncho in here?”
The answer was no, I did not have a poncho. Thankfully, I had the next best thing, a Marmot jacket. And during the time it took to fix the wiper, I was kept remarkably dry. For spring 2009, Marmot has another weatherproof jacket… the Marmot Aegis Jacket.
This jacket is well-designed from top to bottom, from collar to zipper. The Marmot material known as MemBrain Strata serves as the main material for the jacket and is incredibly lightweight, breathable and of course, waterproof. Zippers on the jacket are water resistant and the seams are taped. In addition to that, there are useful pockets including hand warmer pockets and a sleeve pocket. The jacket also as a hood that rolls into the collar.
All in all, this is one good jacket. Buy one now and you’ll have it for the next decade.
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.
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
Turn the light on...
Leatherman, known for their multi-tools, also produces an LED flashlight worth noting… the Serac S3.
As we all know, a flashlight typically has at least a few fragile components. Therefore, often it is essential to take close care of your flashlight. That does not work for me because I treat my flashlight just like any other piece of gear. And therefore, I was breaking a lot of flashlights. Thankfully, my Leatherman Serac S3 has held up very well to the many tests I’ve put it through, ie. hiking, boating, camping and road tripping.
The Serac S3 has three settings and can put out up to 100 Lumen on high. Granted, set that high a full battery will only last about an hour but, the high setting is great for signaling and other short uses. The medium setting pushes out 43 Lumen for four hours per battery and the low (normal) setting 7 Lumen for up to thirty-six hours. The low is plenty bright for most uses including map reading, hiking, setting up a tent, etc.
Also of note, the flashlight body is made of a hard-anodized aluminum, has a 10 year warranty and is resistant to humidity, corrosion and shock. Tough… as… hell.
Leatherman Serac S3 Flashlight
$90
$90
Get the Leatherman Serac S3 Flashlight:
-at Cabela’s
-at Amazon
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