Andy Jacobs

I really like the Apple Watch. Or at least the idea of the Apple Watch. But for all its amazing-seeming functionality, it just doesn’t seem like it would be tough enough for me. I’d want to wear it 24/7 and for the activities that I engage in, it would need to be pretty durable. The folks… Read More

With so many power-hungry gadgets out there, small, portable power supply devices are all the rage. Sometimes I wish I had something that I could just strap on and have at the ready to power my GoPro or top off my iPhone or my DSLR. The GO PUCK folks must have been inside my head because their… Read More

Go ahead, tell me you don’t wish—on a daily basis—that you had an on-hand way to translate Aurabesh (the Star Wars alphabet) into English. No? Well, I do. OK, maybe I don’t. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want one of these super-cool translator rings from Retroworks. In addition to the Aurabesh-to-English one shown above… Read More

I’ve been on the hunt for a set of wireless headphones for quite a while, even before Apple declared is “war on wires” (my words, not theirs) with their latest iPhone 7 models. My main criterion for wireless headphones was that I could wear them while working out, meaning that they wouldn’t be negatively affected by… Read More

Are you a beverage drinker? Gotta have your java in the morning (like yours truly)? The travel container in which I carry my daily coffee works fine, but it does take up a lot of space in my EDC. That’s one reason why stojo caught my eye. It’s a 12-ounce (355 mL) beverage cup that collapses… Read More

Ever found yourself in need of a quick hose-down but you’re nowhere near a garden hose? I have. After obstacle course races, GORUCK Challenges and other outdoorsy, get-muddy style events or activities, it would be great to have a quick rinse, but I typically don’t have the luxury of being near a water source. The RinseKit… Read More

I’m a fan of simplicity and minimalism, but also of function and durability. The fellows from Grip6 must be kindred spirits because they put these elements into the design and construction of their belts. Grip6 belts consist of only a metal plate and a strip of webbing. That’s it. No traditional buckle, no holes, no flap… Read More

I love wearing jeans.  About a year ago, my company relaxed its dress code from jeans only on Fridays to jeans every day. Every. Day. And my job satisfaction went up several notches. Shortly after this, I discovered the existence of jeans with a bit of stretch to them (which is helpful for guys who actually work out)… Read More

I like my hot coffee. OK, I have to HAVE TO have it in the morning. However, recently my buddy Brian suggested I try cold drip coffee. He’d rigged up some brewing method with some type of brewer designed for camping, but he swore it worked well for creating cold-drip brews. So when Julie provided… Read More

Do you miss your simple but fun childhood building toys like blocks or Lincoln logs? How about toys like train sets, dollhouses, model kits or dioramas? Two guys named Mat and Erik must have missed those toys too, so they created Mini Materials. What are they? Literally, all manner of itsy-bitsy building materials, including their original product, the 24-pack of… Read More

I’m currently a fan of the “minimalist” movement—the “less is more” or “simpler is better” philosophy. One of the areas in which I’ve applied minimalism is in my footwear. I have a couple pairs of minimal shoes—some trail runners and some casual/dress shoes—that I enjoy wearing because I love the feel of the ground beneath my… Read More

Do you ever find yourself out in the bush, operating in raw nature many miles from the nearest outlet, but you still need juice for a device or two? Check out the Poseidon Charger and Paracord Charging Cable from Dark Energy. The Poseidon is a 10,000 mAh portable charger that is IP68 rated, which means… Read More

We carry more gear and accessories all the time, much of it smallish items that we want to keep organized and protected from the elements. For this, the Magpul DAKA Pouch is worth a look. Made from polymer infused textiles with an anti-slip texture that are impenetrably welded on all seams and using a genuine… Read More

I don’t have an Apple Watch. It’s not that I don’t want one, mind you. It’s just that for years I’ve been wearing watches like G-Shocks that are water-, dirt-, and shock-resistant—really tough watches. And as much as I’d like to have an Apple Watch to pair with my iPhone, I just don’t see the… Read More