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In some circles, booze is losing its luster. In 2023, beer drinking in the US hit its lowest levels this century, as Gen Z hasn’t taken to alcohol as strongly as prior generations, so far drinking 20 percent less than Millennials. It’s now practically a given that some people you know will be participating in Dry January (or at least Damp January), and many will also take part in Sober October or even Dry July, too.
But that sober void isn’t being filled by nothing. Non-alcoholic alternatives have risen to fill the gap, with NA beers, spirits, wines and mocktails all vying to be a part of your sober or sober-curious lifestyle. The industry is booming, with hot bars around the world stocking up on “NoLo” beverages. Even Drizly, a site and app created for the sole purpose of delivering booze to your door, saw an 80-percent increase in non-alcoholic brands from 2022 to 2023.
Clearly, booze-free beverages are here to stay, not just for Dry January but for the whole year (and the next several). So to figure out where to start on your sober-curious journey, have a look at our favorite non-alcoholic alternative beverages below.
To learn more about our testing methodology and how we evaluate products, head here.
St. Agrestis is a Brooklyn-based distillery that makes remarkably good local interpretations of amari like Campari and Aperol, along with excellent canned cocktails of cocktails containing those aperitifs. But increasingly, the distillery has turned its attention toward non-alcoholic offerings. It’s most notable is its “Phony Negroni,” a bottled NA negroni using its own booze-free “Amaro Falso” that tastes as good as it’s name is clever. The brand has also branched out with interesting plays on the form, like a Phony Mezcal Negroni and, new for 2024, a Phony Espresso Negroni.
For the past couple Dry January’s, WhistlePig has trotted out its 100% Rye Non-Whiskey — a whiskey-like spirit distilled from rye but containing no alcohol — in a bottled premade old fashioned. For 2024, the brand went a step further and added cannabis terpenes to the mix. But the drink won’t get you high. Instead, the terpenes add some nice aromas and improve mouthfeel, making for an all-around more enjoyable NA cocktail.
Acid League Proxies are not wine. Now that we got that out of the way, we can go on and rave about how this is an excellent wine alternative. Proxies bring the experience of opening a bottle of wine — from removing the wax to the actual uncorking — and give a new purpose to your wine glasses. Each bottle of Proxies houses a liquid that sort of looks like wine, but it’s actually filled with a mix of juices, botanicals and other flavorings. Every time you take a sip of Proxies, you’ll find yourself admiring the complexities of flavors just as you would real wine.
Amass is known for its botanical-infused spirits, particularly its takes on gin and vodka. The latest addition to its lineup is Riverine, a non-alcoholic spirit made from 14 botanicals, such as juniper, coriander and apple. We’ve been drinking this on the rocks with a splash of sparkling water, which helps to spread out the flavor so we can get a little hint of each botanical. I’m especially a fan of the use of sumac, which provides a tangy, savory and fruity flavor that makes us wonder why more spirits don’t use the spice.
A sip of Aplós is like taking an actual chill pill. The hemp-infused spirit supposedly helps regulate your mood, appetite and sleep. While we do feel a sense of calm after drinking it, we keep coming back to Aplós purely because it tastes really good. It’s citrusy on the forefront with a lingering herbal flavor.
When the craving for a beer hits, and I’m not in the mood for a buzz, Athletic Brewing is the way to go. The brewery is amazing at recreating beers that are full flavor with zero alcohol. Whether you want an IPA or a stout, Athletic has you covered. In fact, Athletic is so good at what it does that some breweries turn to it when they want to make a non-alcoholic beer option.
Bonbuz swaps out the booze for some mind-chilling natural stimulants. We can’t exactly verify how well it does with those stimulants, but Bonbuz is a worthy addition to the booze-free bar cart. It’s a punchy and citrusy spirit that pairs well with a simple combination of tonic water and a wedge of lime. Plus, there’s a bit of green tea-derived caffeine for a kick in the productivity.
Some say the sequel never lives up to the original. Brooklyn Brewery’s first Special Effects is a non-alcoholic hoppy ale that blew away the competition in the alcohol-free beer game. Its IPA is a much-appreciated addition to the Special Effects lineup. Resembling a West Coast-style IPA, this brew is fresh and bright with the right amount of bitter hoppiness and fruitiness that makes us question if we grabbed the right can out of the fridge every time.
Casamara Club makes something it calls “Leisure Sodas.” And that name nails exactly what these are. It’s not like Coca Cola, rather it’s like an amaro mixed with some bubbly. The low-sugar sodas come in a variety of flavor ranging from one that’s supposed to be reminiscent of a Negroni, the Alta, and one that’s like a sparkling natural white wine, Onda.
Figlia is a non-alcoholic aperitivo that’ll be the base of any non-alcoholic cocktail you make in the near future. It’s citrusy and bitter, and when the bottle of Campari doesn’t look appetizing anymore, Figlia is the bottle to take its place.
Campari has a new bright-red aperitivo to compete with. Besides being free of alcohol, Ghia also discloses all of its ingredients — which includes things like riesling white grape juice concentrate and yuzu juice — and has zero added sugar. On its own, Ghia tastes fruity and floral on the front with a pleasant bitterness that lingers on the tongue. It’s also endlessly mixable. The number of cocktails you can make with Ghia is almost unfathomable and helps to replicate the process of mixing a drink that one may miss when going dry.
Kin wants its beverages to make you feel better. Through its options like Lightwave and High Rhode, the drinks, as the brand claims, can help you do anything from “socialize, sleep, create, [to] chill out.” Either go for the spirit, which you can mix yourself, or (our preference) one of its ready-to-drink spritzes.
Sweet, sweet gin and tonics are still allowed during Dry January — only because Monday managed to make an alcohol-free gin that actually tastes like the real deal. I’m not sure how Monday does it, but this Juniper-flavored teetotaling tipple rivals a lot of the best-known gins out there.
Optimist’s non-alcoholic spirits are distilled, like a full-booze spirit, but without the alcohol. Each of its offerings is inspired by specific types of alcohol but with a twist: Its Bright is like a vodka, its Fresh sips like a gin and its Smokey brings the heat of tequila.
Think of your favorite cocktail. Great, now take out the booze and swap in some Ritual. The brand makes liquor alternatives that you swap out one for one in whatever cocktail you can think of (given the only alcohol in that cocktail is tequila, gin, rum or whiskey). These zero-proof libations will get you through Dry January, and if you’re always living the sober lifestyle, they’ll keep you satisfied.
Seedlip is an OG when it comes to non-alcoholic spirits. It’s not pretending to be gin or vodka or any clear liquor, and that’s what makes Seedlip taste so good — it’s doing its own thing. Spice 94 is perfect for replacing those warming brown spirits in the wintertime. With flavors of allspice, cardamom and citrus, it makes for a complex and delicious base for mocktails in place of whiskey, brandy and dark rum.
Yes, you can drink wine while living the sober lifestyle. Studio Null makes it possible with its non-alcoholic wines. How does that happen? Grapes, sourced from family-run vineyards, are turned into full-alcohol wine, but it’s then distilled further to remove the alcohol. Studio Null then goes back to the wine and alters it to adjust the acidity and balance. Each glass has 20 to 25 calories and between three to four grams of sugar, which helps with the acidity. The brand currently offers three wines — Sparkling Rosé, Blanc Burgunder and Prickly Red — each of which is worth trying and rebuying.
Don’t go into a can of Suntory All-Free expecting something to perfectly recreate a beer sans alcohol. While it’s made of hops and barley like beer, it tastes more like cereal-flavored seltzer. Odd as that sounds, All-Free does hit the spot when the beer cravings hit. Now, when we think about it, it kind of tastes like Bud Light.
When it comes to non-alcoholic spirits, some try to mimic a liquor, and others do their own thing. Tenneyson is the latter. There’s no alcohol out there that tastes like it, and that’s probably for the best. Its overwhelming flavor profile is a bright and spicy ginger, which sort of helps mimic the heat of booze, as well as lingering notes of citrus and floral. It also happens to be one of the few non-alcoholic spirits we could drink straight up.
If you’ve ever been in an Apple store and wondered about those sticks that everyone phone is perched on (just us?) then wonder no more. The brand recently won a patent for it, which has revealed what goes into these plain-looking but innovative retail displays.
The stands, which look like simple poles, have been painstakingly engineered to reduce movement through a special damping chamber when a customer interacts with a product. It’s just another example of Apple’s especially close attention to detail and illustrates just how much time and energy go into something that seems as simple as a retail display.
Today we’re taking a look at a new smart scale, fresh rain boots and an Alpha x BAPE collab. This is Today in Gear.
Today in Gear is our daily roundup of all the latest product announcements, drops and news from Gear Patrol Studios. Send your most pressing product questions to [email protected].
New Lighting from West Elm
West Elm
Start the new year off with a little extra brightness. West Elm just released a host of new lighting options, from sconces to floor lamps and table lamps. For ideal light-layering, interior designers recommend three sources in every room. Level up your living room with Zigzag Floor Lamp ($64), the Lola Table Lamp ($149) and the Sofia Sconce ($179).
A new collaboration between Alpha Industries and BAPE just launched, and you can find limited-edition apparel, accessories and footwear that combine streetwear style with Japanese craftsmanship. The Alpha x BAPE Reversible Kimono Jacket ($679) is a unique piece with co-branded detailing and embroidery. For an extra cool look, pair it with the Alpha x BAPE 6-Pocket Pants ($349).
Wyze, known for its security cameras and smart bulbs, released the newest addition to its smart home family. The Wyze Scale X ($34) allows up to eight users to measure 13 body composition metrics. There’s other practical modes to track and measure babies, pets, luggage and pregnancy. And the scale syncs with fitness apps so you can keep all your health data exactly where you need it.
Skida, the beloved Vermont-based ski brand, releases fun new prints every season. We’re loving ‘Shimmer’ which was inspired by deep turns and cold powder days (something we’re also trying to manifest right now). Try the Balaclava ($38), which essentially combines a buff and a hat for warmth that can pair easily with a hat or helmet.
Freda Salvador released its Brooke Rain Resistant Boots ($495) in a fresh new color: Dark Forest. The deep green boots with black foam rubber lug soles are perfect for stomping around in style in inclement weather. The boots are made from Italian and Spanish leather for comfort and long-lasting wear. The dark green suede body doesn’t just look nice, it’s also water resistant.
GM has pledged to go all-electric by 2035 (and outsell Tesla with EVs by 2025, for what it’s worth). Meeting those goals — or even making discernible progress toward them — will mean converting normies to EVS. Tech enthusiasts, environmentalists and people who buy $100,000-plus cartoon trucks are ready and willing now, but GM needs John or Jane Q. Crossover-Buyer to follow them toward battery electric cars.
That’s where the Chevrolet Blazer EV comes in.
Now, the 2024 Chevy Blazer EV is not quite Ultium for the Masses, what with its starting price of around $60,000; the upcoming Equinox EV will slot below it as a more accessible offering. But the Blazer is moving GM’s EV lineup more in a mainstream-friendly direction. It’s a two-row midsize Chevy crossover that shares the same premium-ish, quasi-Camaro vibe as the current internal combustion Blazer, even though the two don’t share a platform. Essentially, it’s aiming to be a soft-landing spot for the next tier of buyers transitioning to electric vehicles.
But while aiming for normality, the Blazer EV does one fundamental thing that’s quite weird. Unlike any other car on sale in America today (and basically anywhere, ever), the Chevy Blazer EV offers front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive versions. That means greater complexity, such as the fact that there are two separate all-wheel-drive systems — not to mention two different battery packs.
Chevy brought me out to San Diego to sample the Blazer EV in RS RWD and eAWD forms, the first two trims that will be going on sale. I tested the cars on a solid mix of urban streets, highways and curvy mountain roads for testing. Thankfully, my testing experience went smoothly, but I can’t say all journalists had the same luck; for example, the testers at Inside EVs and Edmundsboth suffered issues with their early-build Blazer EVs.
The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV: What We Think
Tyler Duffy
Chevy nailed its brief with the Blazer EV — at least, beyond the clear reliability issues that need to be sorted. The on-road experience of the RS trim won’t leave you exhilarated, but it’s a comfortable, competent daily driver. It looks distinctive and has a pleasant, spacious cabin. It offers solid range — the company’s claims seemed legitimate over my day of driving.
But is that enough to justify the price? The cheapest LT eAWD Blazer currently starts at $57,710. That’s more than $20,000 above the ICE Blazer, and more than a fully-loaded Hyundai Ioniq 5 or Tesla Model Y. And it’s a lot of coin to drop on a Chevy, especially when spending a couple of grand more will get you a very similar Cadillac.
I’m not sure what the Blazer EV brings to the table to be worth that premium. Plus, factors like a complicated product lineup, early reliability troubles and not having Apple CarPlay may present trouble for an otherwise solid EV — but how the market reacts to that remains to be seen.
Wait, why does the Blazer EV offer FWD, RWD and AWD?
Tyler Duffy
Chevy is flexing the Ultium platform’s modularity with the Blazer. Simply put, it doesn’t cost much to swap in different electric motors. And by doing so, Chevy believes it can target a broader range of buyers in different regions.
The FWD Blazer EV — when it arrives — will be the base model with the smaller 85-kWh battery pack. GM has not provided the specs for that powertrain yet.
The eAWD Blazer EV uses a front-wheel-drive-based layout with a smaller rear electric motor. It’s mostly FWD, but the rear motor chimes in when needed for added traction. Total output is 288 horsepower and 333 lb-ft of torque, and the smaller battery pack delivers 279 miles of range.
The RWD Blazer EV is a long-range model, with some performance tossed in. It uses a different electric motor on the rear axle, and the larger 102-kWh battery pack. It put outs 340 horsepower and offers a 324-mile range — the best of the lineup
Top-of-the-lineup is the SS model. Its pAWD setup packs the RWD motor on both axles for a total of 557 hp and 648 lb-ft of torque. It also sports the larger 102-kWh battery pack.
The Blazer EV isn’t as sporty as it looks
Tyler Duffy
Like its combustion counterpart, the Blazer EV hints at sportiness, looking sort of like a Camaro crossover. The SS version should bring the heat. But in more pedestrian RS form, the Blazer EV just isn’t that sporty. (Burying Sport Mode in a sub-menu was a clear giveaway.)
Most EVs leap off the line thanks to their instant torque, and feel plenty quick at low speeds. Take-off in both the RWD and the eAWD Blazer EV, however, feels more gradual. That’ll likely feel familiar for combustion drivers, but titrating the torque sacrifices some thrills and can make the Blazer EV — coming in well north of 5,000 pounds — feel under-oomphed.
The Blazer EV does feel planted and well-balanced on the road. The battery pack weight provides a low center of gravity, and the suspension tuning delivers a soft, comfortable ride without feeling sloppy. The steering is sort of light, but you can tighten it up a bit with the aforementioned Sport Mode. And as with nearly every EV, the artificial driving noises are odd and borderline off-putting.
The Blazer EV interior feels like an upgrade, but there’s no CarPlay
Tyler Duffy
Interiors aren’t a traditional GM strength, especially at Chevy-bow-tie level, but the Blazer EV feels surprisingly fancy inside. The seats (at least up front) are comfortable, and the materials feel plush and high-quality.
The Blazer EV interior is certainly tech-forward with its massive 17.7-inch infotainment display, but it still offers some balance with its physical buttons. And it offers ample space in the second row and cargo area — there’s up to 59.8 cubic feet of space with the seats folded flat.
Starting the car, however, presents a weird juxtaposition. There’s no start button; like many electric cars, the Blazer EV awakens when you open the door and sit down. But once you do that … you still have a mechanism that’s 2/3 of the way to a physical column shifter to shift into gear. It feels like an odd, quasi-analog distraction from the seamless digital future promised by a car that knows you’re there and powers up accordingly
I’d be remiss if I didn’t touch on the elephant in the interior: the Blazer EV is the first GM car to ditch Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as part of the General’s push to do away with the phone-mirroring systems in all of its future electric vehicles. The company has offered specious justifications such as safety and not excluding non-smartphone owners, but basically, GM wants to control the software experience for all drivers (and monetize it when opportunities arise).
I didn’t get too much time to test all the features of GM’s Google-based system; riding with a colleague isn’t the optimal time to fire off voice texts. But GM’s Google-based system worked quickly and intuitively. Google Maps — a key reason drivers like using their phone — is the proprietary navigation app. You can download and log into music apps like Spotify directly, and stream them thro. In essence, you should be able to replicate most functions of CarPlay or A.A. … that is, after a more arduous setup process than just, y’know, plugging in your phone.
(And don’t forget: while these new GM EVs come with eight years of free data, come 2032, you — or whomever owns the car — will be on the hook for a data plan if they want to use the navigation, or stream music any way other than via Bluetooth.)
Of course, as surfaced earlier, the Blazer EV costs more than those cars. The cheapest LT eAWD starts at $57,710, which is about on par with a fully-loaded Mustang Mach-E and pricier than the full-bore Ioniq 5 and Model Y. Chevy would argue that — like GM’s trucks — it commands that premium being larger and fancier inside than those competitors. I’m not sure I buy that.
Another intriguing option coming soon in 2024 is the all-new Honda Prologue. It’s Ultium-based, built by GM and bears a strong resemblance to the Blazer EV beneath the skin. It’ll have a more spartan interior, sure — but it will also have Honda tuning the driving dynamics.
2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV eAWD
Tyler Duffy
Powertrain: Dual-motor electric drive; single-speed gearbox; all-wheel-drive
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Discommon Goods, the cult-favorite EDC brand, is no stranger to good design. The brand’s aptly-named Wallet, for instance, is a masterclass in slimline, minimalism that doesn’t sacrifice heirloom-quality materials (it’s made of real leather, believe it or not). But the label may have outdone itself this time with the return of another fan-favorite accessory, the Bottle Opener.
Back for its third iteration and with a supercar-inspired design that’s a major departure from the previous version, this device is equal parts useful tool and sculpture art. And it makes an outstanding addition to any kitchen, bar, countertop and/or wherever else.
Inspired by the fastest cars on the road
The Bottle Opener 3.0’s most immediately noticeable features are its sleek, smooth, edgeless bevels. In Discommon’s own words, the device features “an ultra sexy shape nodding to the hips and curves of the prettiest supercars.” In fact, if you look at it top-down, it definitely resembles some of the most high-end racers ever to hit the pavement (see it next to a Ferrari 458 Italia below).
Discommon GoodsFerrari
Of course, looks aren’t everything. Along with those curves, the Bottle Opener also boasts ergonomics and an intuitive design — aspects Discommon balks about a bit cheekily — that make it easy and pleasing to use. You might find it hard to put down if it weren’t for its weight.
It’s a hefty and durable piece, but it will still age
Discommon built this third iteration out of die-cast zinc alloy, which is cast and electroplated with hard chrome before being hand-polished. That means it is very heavy. In fact, it’s hefty enough that you could throw it “through a window,” should you have to.
The brand also goes on to say that, while the chrome finish is hard and durable, it’s not indestructible and will develop knicks and dings over time. However, that’s all a part of using this device and should be embraced. They’re not blemishes — they’re battle scars.
Almost certain to sell out quickly, the Discommon Goods Bottle Opener 3.0 is available now for $79 apiece.
Volvo is in the midst of rolling out its next-generation EV models, as the brand repositions itself to become an electric-only manufacturer by 2030. We’ve seen the flagship EX90 crossover EV; we’ve seen the pint-sized EX30. Next up from Volvo will reportedly be a sedan code-named V551 that may be called the ES90 when it lands on the streets. No matter what it’s called, it should be an electric replacement for the S90 sedan (pictured above).
Here’s what we know about the 2025 Volvo ES90 so far.
When will the Volvo ES90 arrive?
Volvo
According to Swedish outlet Teknikens Värld, Volvo’s paperwork in China suggests the ES90 will enter full production in May 2024, likely making it a 2025 model-year vehicle in America. According to the report, an ES90 prototype is already testing; early versions are already being built, at least based on a photo the outlet obtained from an internal Volvo server that shows a group of employees at Volvo parent company Geely’s Cixi Assembly Plant in China standing in front of a banner stating “Volvo Cars V551 First VP Car Celebration.”
However, Teknikens Värld also concedes that delays that affected the Volvo EX90 and Polestar 3 launches could also affect the ES90.
Will the new electric sedan actually be called ES90?
Volvo
Volvo is using the EX nomenclature for its new electric crossovers, with E standing for electric and X standing for crossover. The natural route forward, then, would be for Volvo to use ES90 for its electric sedan — and indeed, Volvo filed EU paperwork to trademark ES90 back in 2022. But per Teknikens Värld that naming system could come in conflict with the already extant Lexus ES sedan, so it’s possible Volvo could go
Per Teknikens Värld, the ES90 should offer the same 111-kWh battery pack as the EX90. Volvo estimates that SUV will deliver more than 300 miles on a charge, so the sleeker ES90 sedan would presumably be even more efficient and go even farther. The ES90 should offer a more powerful dual-motor performance version and a single-motor RWD model with a longer range, as has become de rigueur for Volvo EVs.
How much will the Volvo ES90 cost?
Volvo
Volvo has not announced pricing for the ES90 yet. But we would guess the starting MSRP will be somewhere between the current S90 Recharge ($65,690) and the EX90 crossover, which starts at $77,990.
How big will the Volvo ES90 be?
Volvo
Teknikens Värld provided dimensions for the all-new ES90, based on alleged leaked documents from inside Volvo. The outlet says the ES90 will be 196.5 inches long, a little under four inches shorter than the current S90 Recharge. The 122.1-inch wheelbase is about an inch and a half longer. The ES90 is 3.7 inches taller than the S90 Recharge and about two inches wider. Curb weight will reportedly come in at around 5,700 pounds.
At the end of calendar year 2024, Ram unveiled a new version of its 1500 full-size pickup for the 2025 model year. It’s technically a refresh of the existing model that’s won ample praise from us and others. But packing some of the most significant changes in the lineup’s history — including the all-electric Ram 1500 REV — the new Ram may as well be an all-new truck.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2025 Ram 1500.
How much does the 2025 Ram 1500 cost?
Stellantis
Car and Driver recently obtained the pricing info for the new 2025 Ram 1500. The report says the Ram 1500 Tradesman with the carryover 3.6-liter V6 starts at $42,270 with the destination and handling included, which should indicate a $40,275 starting MSRP — an $855 bump over the current model. The new twin-turbo Hurricane inline-six is a $2,695 option on lower trims.
The 420-horsepower standard-output Hurricane engine comes standard starting with the Laramie trim ($60,030). The 540-hp high-output Hurricane comes standard starting with the Limited trim ($75,155). The range tops out with the Tungsten trim ($87,155).
Ram says the internal combustion trucks will arrive during Q1 of 2024. The Ram 1500 RHO — the quasi-replacement for the hard-charging Ram TRX, at least for the time being — will hit the dealers in Q3 of 2024. The 1500 REV and the 1500 Ramcharger will arrive before the end of the 2024 calendar year.
The Ram 1500 is ditching the Hemi V8
Stellantis
Here comes the story of the Hurricane. Ram has confirmed it is dropping the venerable 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine from the lineup for the The brand will replace it with the new Hurricane twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six from the Jeep Grand Wagoneer L. It comes in a standard output (420 horsepower, 469 lb-ft of torque) and a high output (540 hp, 421 lb-ft) version. Both outperform the Hemi (395 hp, 410 lb-ft) while being more efficient.
Ram is keeping the 3.6-liter V6 as a base engine, however, so the motor that powered your parents’ old minivan will still stick around for truck duty. All three engines pair with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Meet the Ram 1500 Ramcharger
Stellantis
Ram is debuting another take on the electric truck, the Ram 1500 Ramcharger (which we hope will be shortened to the Ram Ram). It uses the STLA Frame body-on-frame EV truck platform, and packs a 92-kWh battery pack. But it also packs a generator to charge the battery — a modified version of the venerable Pentastar 3.6-liter V6 with a 27-gallon fuel tank.
Ram won’t call it a hybrid, however. The distinction they make is that the gasoline engine does not have a physical connection to the drive wheels. It only charges the battery that supplies the power to the wheels.
This crazy concoction may turn out to be the best of both worlds for many pickup truck owners. You get a claimed 145 miles of EV-only range and 690 miles of driving range total. The Ramcharger also packs an impressive 663 hp and 615 lb-ft of torque. It reportedly accelerates from 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds, and it can tow up to 14,000 pounds or carry 2,625 pounds of payload.
The 1500 TRX goes temporarily extinct. But there is the new 1500 RHO
Stellantis
Ram said there would be more to come with the TRX nameplate. But that more to come is coming at a later date. But the 2025 Ram 1500 does come with a similar-ish model — a new RHO trim. We don’t have complete details on it yet, but Ram says it will “reinforce America’s leading off-road and performance truck lineup.” It will pack the 540-hp high-output Hurricane motor. And it sounds more like a competitor for the F-150 Raptor than the Raptor R.
There’s a new top-of-the-line Tungsten trim
Stellantis
Ram has a new apex luxury trim called Tungsten — think analogous to Capstone on the Toyota Tundra. It will provide an “ultra-premium” experience with a trim-specific Indigo/Sea Salt interior and features like diamond knurling and a suede-wrapped headliner. The Tungsten trim will also offer 24-way heated, ventilated and massaging Natura leather seats and a 23-speaker Klipsch Reference Premiere Audio System.
And there are some infotainment upgrades
Stellantis
Did you like the Ram’s 1500’s 12-inch screen? Well, Ram is updating to a new 14.5-inch configurable version. It has an upgraded, faster version of the UConnect 5 infotainmenr system. It will also have full-time dedicated function buttons on-screen as well as physical switches below.
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It started with carbon fiber: that dark, woven-textured material with myriad industrial uses, familiar to consumers of performance-minded cars and bikes. Strong, lightweight and cool-looking, it found its way into watchmaking years ago. Since then, the use of carbon composites and materials has evolved, and more watch brands are even developing their own proprietary versions.
Carbonium, Carbotech, Carbonox, Norteq … different brands have given their concoctions different names, but they all benefit from carbon’s useful properties. Aside from being lightweight and strong (even more so than titanium), these materials often show unique textures and patterning as a result of other elements used in the material or from the process of their creation, such as in “forged carbon” varieties. When used for watch cases, carbon’s naturally dark hue also offers a way of creating a black look without the use of a coating like PVD or DLC. It’s a material that just feels “technical.”
The watches below showcase some of the variety that’s possible with carbon and the different approaches brands have taken in utilizing the futuristic material.
Norqain has only been around for a few years, and though it has a tough assignment trying to compete in the crowded mid-priced luxury market, the Swiss brand has carved out a nice little niche for itself thanks to its innovation. The Wild One’s case is made from Norteq, the brand’s proprietary carbon composite that’s 3.5 times lighter than titanium and incredibly rugged and lightweight.
The Norteq carbon case of the Wild One is extremely lightweight and comfortable on the wrist.Photo by Mary Garcia-Brayson for Gear Patrol
When you pair this light case with the flexible integrated strap made for Norqin by Biwi, which also supplies rubber straps to ultra-luxury brands Richard Mille and Audemars Piguet, you end up with one of the most comfortable watches around. Add in a COSC-certified manufacture movement and 200m water resistance and you’re really cooking with gas.
Although Zenith is one of the most historically important Swiss luxury watch brands, having been among the first to develop an automatic chronograph in 1969, the brand is not one to rest on its laurels. Flip through Zenith’s catalog, and you’ll see loads of far-out and futuristic designs taking advantage of the latest technology and materials. One fantastic example of this is the carbon version of the brand’s openworked Defy Classic. Truth be told, there’s not much classic about this watch, considering it has a full case and bracelet made of solid carbon fiber — something that’s exceedingly rare.
Movement: Tissot Powermatic 80 (Base ETA 2824-2) automatic
Case Diameter: 42.5mm
Tissot got funky in 2023 when it brought back the Sideral, an odd regatta timer with a fiberglass case that the brand made during the wild and wacky watch design era known as the 1970s. The new version, while aesthetically similar to its ancestor, upgrades the case material to more futuristic forged carbon. There’s also a fun multi-color lume treatment animating the yacht-timing dial, an impressive 300m water resistance and 80 hours of power reserve thanks to the Powermatic 80 movement. The watch comes in three bright colors, each of which is paired with a matching rubber strap.
Lightweight and comfortable on the wrist, carbon is perfect for a rugged, chunky timepiece like this 43mm beater from Luminox. The brand calls its case material Carbonox, and it has a matte texture and a clean look without the patterns found on some other watches. The Original Navy SEAL 3001 Military Dive Watch is one of the brand’s classic designs with a tactical, technical look, supported by glowing tritium tubes on the dial.
Victorinox built and tested its INOX line to be as tough as G-Shock watches, and it’s since expanded with versions using different colors, materials, movements and other features. This Inox model has a lightweight carbon case with a stone-like texture and a Swiss automatic movement from Sellita beating away inside.
Better known for its traditional but distinctive dive watches made in steel, Doxa stepped out of familiar territory by offering its flagship Sub 300 in a forged carbon case a few years ago, which quickly became a hit itself. The bezel and case are both made of lightweight forged carbon, while an interior titanium chamber surrounds the movement and ensures the 300 meters of water resistance Doxa promises. This version of the SUB 300 is light and legible, and it’s powered by a chronometer-certified Swiss movement.
For the second generation of its groundbreaking ProPilot Altimeter — the first watch to ever combine a mechanical movement and a mechanical altimeter — Oris made a few improvements. This version of the watch is 1mm thinner thanks to an upgraded movement, it can gauge altitude higher than before (up to 6,000m) thanks to a new pressure box, and it’s a whopping 70 grams lighter than before thanks to a case made from a proprietary composite of carbon fiber and PEKK another first for watchmaking.
Even if you don’t care about the Alinghi Red Bull Racing branding on the watch (or aren’t even sure what it is), this is still one seriously cool watch that shows Tudor at its experimental best. Built ostensibly on the platform of the Pelagos FXD military diver, the FXD Chrono has a lightweight matte black carbon composite case with fixed strap bars and a bi-directional titanium bezel with a fully-lumed carbon composite insert. The use of carbon fiber and titanium in the watch mirrors the materials used in Alinghi Red Bull Racing’s racing yachts. The COSC-certified manufacture chronograph caliber is perfect for timing races, too.
Panerai watches are known for bold sizing, but this 44mm dive watch weighs only 96g thanks to the brand’s own take on carbon watchmaking, which it calls “Carbotech.” Note the texture of the case with its dark and slightly lighter striping, resulting in a sedimentary look. With minty blue lume for its hands and indices and a jet black dial, the PAM 2661 is sleek, modern and it’s powered by an in-house movement.
This Bulgari is a story of contrasts; a mixture of old and new, traditional and cutting-edge, sporty and dressy. On the one side, you’ve got the case, bracelet and even the dial made from matte-finished, technical-looking carbon. On the other, you’ve got a polished crown made of 18k rose gold, gold-tone hands and indices, and a visible in-house movement showing gold bridges and a gold-plated platinum micro-rotor through a sapphire caseback. The watch is tough and water-resistant to 100m, yet also elegant and incredibly thin at just 6.9mm thick. We can decide which side of the Octo Finissimo CarbonGold we prefer, so we’ll just take the whole thing.
The Laureato is one of the OG luxury sports watches, having debuted back in 1975. That’s three years after the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and a year before the Patek Philippe Nautilus. But you’d never know it by looking at this ultra-futuristic version of it. The case is made from a mix of forged carbon with blue and white fiberglass, which has been compressed to not only increase the strength of the material but also to produce this mesmerizing and colorful marbled pattern.
Carbon fiber goes hand-in-hand with innovative, futuristic designs, and watches don’t get much more innovative and futuristic than Ulysse Nardin’s Freak line. The Freak X is made for Carbonium, UN’s proprietary composite made from aeronautic-grade carbon cutoffs sourced from aircraft production, making it suitably strong for anything you would realistically use this watch for. Despite the high-end case material, though, the real star here, like on any Freak watch, is the movement. There are no hands and no dial, instead, the movement’s oscillator itself is used to tell the time as its flying carousel spins around its own axis. It sounds and looks crazy, and it is, but the watch is surprisingly legible and almost … practical?
Today in Gear: What’s New, Notable and Releasing Now
Today in Gear is our daily roundup of all the latest product announcements, drops and news from Gear Patrol Studios.
Puma
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It’s officially time to count down for the Paris Olympics which begin later this year, on July 26. While not all the competitors have officially qualified yet, there’s still plenty to get excited about. Most recently it’s been announced that Snoop Dogg will be an official commentator for this year’s event. The Rapper will be on the ground in Paris interacting with athletes, visiting landmarks and attending competitions. He’ll be providing colorful commentary for the Olympic Primetime Show on NBC and Peacock.
Today we’re taking a look at a colorful, high-performance shoe release, an adventure-ready timepiece and design-forward furniture for cat lovers. This is Today in Gear.
Today in Gear is our daily roundup of all the latest product announcements, drops and news from Gear Patrol Studios. Send your most pressing product questions to [email protected].
Scoot On Over to Grab These Shoes
Puma
Puma has teamed up with the NBA’s most electrifying new talent on an ultra-colorful, high-performance release. The Scoot Zeros Georgia Peach Basketball Shoes were inspired by Scoot Henderson’s personal mantra “Overly Determined to Dominate,” and are packed with tech including the high-rebound PROFOAM EVA midsole. You can snag this eye-catching release now for $100.
The CineBeam Qube 4K Projector from LG is not your high school teacher’s projector — it’s a compact, elegant solution for watching your favorite shows at home or on the go. Shorter than an iPhone 15 and weighing less than three pounds, the projector is powered by a laser light source and capable of projecting 4K video up to 120 inches in size.
The Prometheus Design Werx Special Project Division has teamed up with Ares to release the Diver-1 Mission Timer ($1,975), a tool watch built to last and lifetime and enable your greatest adventurers. Featuring C3 Super-LumiNova, Scratch Resistant Crystal and 1000-meter water resistance, the Diver-1 comes with PDW’s EWB Compass Kit 2.0 to go beyond telling time.
Papuk means soft and fluffy in Armenian, making it the perfect name for Toronto-based designer Vazken Karageozian’s newest collection. The Papuk CONNECT Collection takes a modular approach to cat furniture without sacrificing on modern design. The solid ash Connect Tree ($549) is the foundation of the collection and can be customized with cushions, trays, pads and toys to create a sleek playground for your furry friend.
Fact: As long as there are snow-covered hills, humans will continue inventing new ways to slide down them. The latest such invention: Ski Skates ($185), a one-size-fits-all, strap-it-to-your-normal-boot snow sports “innovation” promising a short learning curve and ultimate portability. If your 80s one-piece wasn’t attention-grabbing enough for your liking, a set of ski skates should do the trick.
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If you’ve ever shopped for weed vapes, you’ve probably noticed that there’s a pretty drastic range of prices — some vapes are well under $100 and others soar above $500. But the dollar amounts don’t really help you understand what sets these vapes apart, and it can be hard to parse the differences in their tech and performance, among other things.
Why does one highly-rated vape cost $70 while another is $400? Are they really that different, and if so, how? To explore these questions, I’ll compare our top budget-friendly weed vape, the G Pen Dash, and a version of our pick for top upgrade weed vape, the Storz & Bickel Mighty+.
The first thing you’ll notice when you put these weed vapes side-by-side is the clear, sizable difference in their silhouettes. The G Pen Dash, for instance, is under four inches on its longest side, only about an inch and a quarter wide and has less than an inch in depth. All told, I’d say it’s only slightly larger in size and weight than, say, a standard Bic lighter.
Sean TirmanSean Tirman
By contrast, the Storz & Bickel seems absolutely massive. It’s about three and a quarter inches wide, five and a half inches tall and has a depth of about an inch and a half. Whereas the G Pen is the size of a lighter, I’d compare the Mighty to an iPhone 15 Plus — except the phone is slimmer, so maybe two iPhones stacked on top of one another.
The size difference between these two vapes has a couple of implications, however. For one, it means the G Pen is much, much more portable than the Storz & Bickel — the former is pocket-sized, while the latter might only reasonably fit in a crossbody bag, everyday backpack or tote of some kind. But it also suggests — especially when considering the price — that the tech inside is likely vastly different between them, as well. This is immediately apparent when you check out the interfaces and how they differ.
The interfaces and capabilities are distinctive
Sean TirmanSean Tirman
The G Pen Dash’s interface is about as close to completely minimalist as it gets. It is comprised entirely of just a single button with an LED light. With a few pushes of this button, you can turn the device on, choose between three different temperature settings (375º F, 401º F and 428º F) and turn it off. That’s it; that’s everything — which isn’t necessarily a bad thing (simplicity can be quite alluring), but there’s not a whole lot of user control to be had.
The Mighty+’s display and controls are clear, concise and easy to understand, even for first-time users.Sean Tirman
But the Storz & Bickel Mighty+ is a completely different beast. It has a power button on the side that turns the device on (and starts the heat cycle) alongside a small LED display in the bottom center, which is flanked by clearly marked plus and minus buttons (the means by which you can change the temperature setting). These controls allow you to pick literally any whole-number temperature within a range of 104° F to 410° F. That means you can pick the exact temperature you prefer and, even better, set and forget your device so that it’s ready to go the second you turn it on. Lastly, it has an outstanding battery life (about 75 minutes of constant use compared to roughly 30 for the much smaller G Pen).
Even the ovens are different
As the G Pen is extremely compact, it doesn’t have a lot of space in the oven for flower. According to Tools420, it fits “around 0.1-0.15 grams.” While I haven’t measured it myself, this range seems about right. It’s probably good for a few puffs, and that’s about it. This is great for a super-compact on-the-go device, but it might be frustrating when you realize you have to refill it a lot more often.
Furthermore, the device has a glass-glazed stainless steel heating chamber and a conduction heating element (meaning it heats up your weed via direct physical contact). This is a cost-saving measure, but it does mean your weed can burn more easily and might not cook evenly. For a budget-friendly device, that’s a concession that seems worth it to me. However, when compared to the higher-end capabilities of the Mighty+, you can really see the gap between their quality.
While the G Pen uses conduction (like an electric stovetop) only, the Storz & Bickel Mighty+ utilizes a patented heating element that combines conduction and convection (more like a high-end oven) to heat your cannabis. Pair that with its ceramic-coated filling chamber and this means your flower heats more evenly (and more completely) and is at far less risk of burning and eliciting acrid smoke. So all your puffs are pleasant and smooth — which I can attest to, having used this device a great deal.
Along with that, the chamber is around three times larger than the G Pen. That means you can fit a lot more ground flower inside it, which makes for fewer refills. It’s these technological differences that excuse the Mighty+’s comparatively large size.
It’s probably also worth noting that the Dash heats up a bit faster than the Mighty+ — about 20 seconds to the Storz & Bickel’s 60 — but this is probably more a function of the size of the chamber than the quality of the tech. Smaller spaces heat up more quickly. And since the Mighty+ is all about precision, it necessitates a steadier approach.
Take a puff from each and feel the contrast
All those numbers and figures are all well and good, but it’s really the average user experience that’s going to make the difference for most people. So, how do these two devices stack up? Well, the Mighty+ is one of my favorite vapes I own — the vapor is smooth and consistent with every puff, and I feel like I’m getting as much (or as little) as I want whenever I use it.
The G Pen, while being a great budget option, has one glaring issue that I really dislike: the mouthpiece heats up when you pull from it to the point where you can actually burn your lips. The purchase of a Dash comes with a silicon cap that’s meant to ease this heating effect, but it doesn’t attach super securely (it sometimes comes off in my pocket), and it really only buys you a couple more seconds before you start to feel the burn. If you take smaller puffs and breaks between puffs, this is less noticeable, but you’re also not going to be inhaling the same amount of vapor and, therefore, it takes longer to get high. Comparatively, the more expensive G Pen Dash+ (which I also reviewed) accomplishes the silicon cap approach to a much more successful degree.
While the silicon cap of the G Pen Dash helps stave off the heat the device produces, it only buys you another second or two, and it falls off easily.Sean Tirman
Is one actually better than the other? Yes, but there’s a catch
I need to start by saying that the G Pen Dash is a really superb offering for its price. I’ve tested many weed vapes in my tenure here at Gear Patrol, and it definitely stands among the best of them, even though it’s about half the price of most serviceable options. It’s not exactly feature-rich, but it doesn’t need to be. Despite its flaws, it does a great job with what it does offer. I would definitely call the Dash the best in its class, and I doubt any other in the same price range even comes close.
Having said that, I’d turn to the Mighty+ over the Dash any day of the week, given the option. But this should come as no surprise, given the preceding comparisons. The tech is exceptional; the user experience is unparalleled; and it just looks and feels like a cool, interesting device to use. Of course, it isn’t without that one major downside: at $400, it’s a hell of an investment — which, alone, may deter people. If money is a serious issue for you, the G Pen is the better bet. If you have deep, deep pockets, absolutely go with the Mighty+ (or even the Venty for a bit more, which I just recently reviewed).
Yesterday was Public Domain Day, which welcomes thousands of copyrighted works into the public domain as their copyrights expire. Now, you can peruse previously copyrighted works from 1928 and sound recordings from 1923. What does this mean? You’re free to share them, copy them and build upon them however you desire without needing permission or having to pay a fee. Books from authors like Agatha Christie, Virginia Woolf and W.E.B. Du Bois entered the public domain, and of the most notable additions are the original versions of Mickey and Minnie Mouse.
Today we’re taking a look at non-stick pans, a reset kit and an insulated shirt. This is Today in Gear.
Today in Gear is our daily roundup of all the latest product announcements, drops and news from Gear Patrol Studios. Send your most pressing product questions to [email protected].
Kick Off Dry January
Rationale Brewing
We’ve all heard the benefits of giving up alcohol, so why not try it for a month? It’s easier to stay committed to Dry January — or Damp January — if you have some non-alcoholic options at the ready. Pick up a six pack of Rationale Brewing ($14), and choose from the Hazy IPA, Mexican Cerveza or a West Coast IPA. Cheers to a healthier 2024.
Made In just launched a few new limited-edition colors of its non-stick pans, which are ideal for cooking with minimal amounts of oil. Get inspired to cook more meals at home this year by picking up a new 12” frying pan or a three-piece set in Frozen Berry and Silver Lake.
A whole suite of new arrivals are in at Samii Ryan and we’re already eyeballing a few favorites for our winter wardrobes. Inject a little extra joy into your life with the Smiley ‘A New Era’ Carpenter Pants ($112) that feature a subtle smiley face on the thigh, or with the Smiley Mitten Vest ($96), a fuzzy white vest with hip pockets that look like mittens and a prominent smiley.
Part shirt, part jacket; the so-called shacket often offers the best of both worlds. That holds true with the new Flexible Insulated Shirt ($220) from Snow Peak USA. The lightweight, quilted jacket offers extra warmth, plus water resistance and a little bit of stretch in the fabric. The shirt has a collar, full-snap button closure two side pockets and comes in a stunning deep bordeaux color.
Capitalize on that new year motivation to make some healthy changes in your life. The Kroma 5-Day Reset Kit ($545) is designed to kickstart healthier habits and help keep fatigue, bloating, brain fog and weight gain at bay. This limited-edition kit consists of nine nutrient rich meals and beverages per day for five days. All of the ingredients are clean and sourced with care and have no cane sugar, no dairy and no gluten.
It doesn’t feel like it’s been all that long since Porsche debuted the 992-generation 911. Indeed, Porsche is still fleshing out the 911 lineup with new variants. But we’re now several years into what is typically around a seven-year run for a Porsche 911 generation, and that means a mid-cycle refresh should be arriving very soon — most likely, in calendar year 2024, to sync up with the 60th anniversary of the production start of the 911.
Here’s everything we know so far about what Porsche has planned for the upcoming 2025 model year 992.2-generation Porsche 911.
The 2025 Porsche 911 should look like … well, a 911
Porsche
The 911 has changed dramatically since its debut in the 1960s — but not so much visually or proportionally. Don’t expect Porsche to radically rethink the 911, especially for a mid-cycle refresh. Spy photos of prototypes under testing have revealed minimal changes, with the most obvious appearing to be active air shutters on the revised front fascia, which should help improve fuel economy.
The 2025 Porsche 911 could move back towards naturally aspirated engines
Porsche
Currently, you can get a naturally-aspirated flat-six in the 911, but to do so, you need to level up to the $183,000-plus 911 GT3 or even pricer models, like the $290,000 911 S/T whose tachometer is seen here. Lesser models all use a twin-turbo 3.0-liter flat-six, first brought to the lineup in 2015 in an effort to meet more restrictive emissions standards.
According to a December 2023 report from Car and Driver, though, the 992.2 generation Porsche 911 may wind up adding new naturally aspirated models to the mix — and they reportedly won’t be limited to the pricier end of the lineup. While the base Carrera and Carrera S models will allegedly stick with their twin-turbo 3.0-liter flat-six — albeit with minor power boosts — the next 911 Carrera GTS will purportedly use a new 3.6-liter naturally aspirated boxer six. Power will reportedly be similar to the outgoing model, but obviously, the lack of turbos should change the character and power delivery. Given Porsche’s usual model rollout cadence, we’d expect the new GTS to arrive around a year after the 992.2 Carrera / Carrera S debut, so figure on seeing this engine — if the rumors are true — in mid-to-late 2025.
Interestingly, C/D’s report claims the new 3.6 will ultimately replace the forced-induction 3.0-liter and the 911 GT3’s 4.0-liter boxer throughout the lineup. Credit, as it turns out, emissions standards once again; as Porsche’s head of motorsport Frank-Steffen Walliser said in 2020, the next generation of European standards will actually favor larger engines.
The next-gen 911 Turbo / Turbo S could pack new, smaller engines
Porsche
The 992.2-generation Porsche 911 Turbo and Turbo S will also use a 3.6-liter flat-six, according to C/D‘s report. Obviously, however, that 3.6 will boast turbochargers.
While it would be a slight downsize versus the current model’s 3,745-cc twin-turbo boxer, odds seem extremely good that it will still produce more power than the current version. All told, if the reports are true, it seems like all new 911s may use a 3.6-liter engine by the end of the decade, and the turbocharged versions will be reserved for Turbo models … just as God intended.
A 911 Hybrid is likely, and should arrive no later than 2025
Porsche
While Porsche has certainly embraced hybridization with zeal — note that all the most potent versions of the new Panamera are gas-electric models — the 911 has so far avoided adding electric motors to its internal combustion powerplants. That’s expected to change for the 992.2 generation.
Unlike the rest of the brand’s hybrids, it won’t be a plug-in hybrid; rather, its small battery pack will be charged by the engine and braking system. Car and Driver claims the system will initially offer power similar to the 911 Carrera GTS, but more potent versions are possible … and, ultimately, likely.
But the 911 — what with its particular rear-engined blend of vehicle dynamics and weight distribution being so crucial to its identity — will be a hard car to convert to electric mobility. Porsche has said that it doesn’t see that happening before 2030 at the earliest.
The 911 could stick with internal combustion for a long time, thanks to eFuel
Still, should the brand learn to make eFuel available for a reasonable price (at least, reasonable for 911 buyers), it’s possible that the flat-six-powered Porsche could continue in production for decades to come. Indeed, for all we know, the last gas-powered new car ever to be made could one day be a Porsche 911.
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By now, you’re probably aware that the recovery space is far and wide. Massage guns. Foam rollers. Recovery boots. There’s plenty of tools and devices out there that aim to relieve those post-workout aches. While I’m a big fan of these fitness accessories, there’s always something lacking when it comes down to it…style.
But what if there was a recovery tool that didn’t look like it came from a hardware store — or from space? Enter Kane, a footwear company taking active relief a step forward, literally. The brand’s Revive Active Recovery Shoes feature an injection-molded silhouette with a slew of post-workout components designed to help you replenish those tired toes after a lengthy run or strenuous workout.
To see if these sneakers could really kick my recovery regimen into a new gear, I wore these slip-ons for multiple weeks in a number of settings. Whether coming home from the gym, completing a few cool-down laps around the track, running errands or just lounging about the house, I had these breathable sneakers on to truly see if my footwear could be as trusty a recovery tool as my massage gun. Here’s what I found.
Editor’s Note: The Kane Revive Active Recovery Shoes lived up to the hype; so much so, we included them in the 2024 Gear Patrol Fitness Awards. Click here for the full list of winners.
After a hard workout, there’s no better feeling than slipping into a pair of well-made recovery shoes. Photo by Tim Aukshunas for Gear Patrol
Kane Revive Active Recovery Shoes: What We Think
Aside from the occasional squeaks and limited recovery potential, I still think these are excellent post-training sneakers worth adding to your wardrobe. The Kane Revives are easy to slip into, provide exceptional breathability, create a slight massaging sensation underfoot and, if I’m being completely honest, are far more stylish than a pair of slides or other footwear.
The Revive Active Recovery Shoes are available online for $75 in a handful of vibrant and aesthetically-pleasing colorways. While the cost might seem high for a rubberized slip-on, you need to think of these more as training tools than cheap, A-to-B sneakers. Proper recovery is an investment, and with these effective shoes, at least you have the added benefit of some flair when it comes to relief.
Ben Emminger
Kane Revive Active Recovery Shoes: Testing Notes
The slip-on profile cuts down the time (and effort) of changing shoes post-workout.
I’m a big believer in the notion that your running shoes and gym shoes should be only worn in their respective environments, so I routinely wear a pair of street shoes to-and-from training sessions. While the start of a workout isn’t too much of a headache, if I just completed a multi-mile run or a taxing leg day, however, the last thing I want to do is untie my sneakers and re-lace into my daily kicks. These inconveniences (however minor you perceive them) completely left my thoughts with the Kane Revives. I had no issue slipping into them after a hard day’s session, and really enjoyed the pull-string at the heel for added assistance.
Additionally, the cut-out holes across the upper — along with the exterior perforations and interior channels — easily allowed my tired, sweaty feet to breathe and cool off. While my normal post-gym kicks were breathable enough, it was hard to ignore this improved airflow.
Ben EmmingerBen Emminger
Extended wear can lead to some blistering and squeaking.
I really enjoyed the traction and overall feel of the Kane Revives, but am I recommending you sign up for all-day foot recovery? No. For one, when I wore these slip-ons around my house for the entirety of the day, along with running a few errands in-town, I began to notice some rubbing around my ankle. The rubberized upper is great for breathability and dries easily, but doesn’t offer the same forgiveness of a fabric-based sneaker. Plus, the sleek, anatomical design of the shoe promotes excellent security in the heel and midfoot, but that support can turn to constriction after wearing them for multiple hours.
Another fit note to consider, especially for those with neutral or high arches, is that these shoes will squeak from time to time. If you have any room between your arch and the footbed, you’re essentially creating an air pocket, and when you compress your foot in a step, that air releases through the cut-out holes, giving your stride an audible factor. While it’s not the biggest concern when wearing these around the house, I don’t think your patrons on the sidewalk or in the grocery store would appreciate the squeaky beat of your footsteps.
The renewable RestoreFoam is a balanced, cushioned base that’s easy to pick up — or kick up.
When your main goal is to relax, you don’t really want your footwear to be cumbersome or heavy, right? After all, you just spent all your energy in training, so getting home from your session or walking around post-workout shouldn’t be a strenuous ordeal. Thankfully, the Kane Revive’s midsole was light as a feather, and moving around atop the sugarcane-based EVA foam was nearly effortless.
The dual-density construction was a nice touch as well, offering up a balanced feel that was cozy, yet still allowed for me to feel the raised footbed nodes. I could easily get a sense of the bumps at the heel and balls of my feet, creating that massaging sensation without too much pressure.
Of course, not every shoe will last forever, but thankfully, Kane has even thought of that dilemma, too. The brand’s new “Project Renew” upcycling program allows you to send back your worn Revive Active Recovery Shoes in exchange for a $10 coupon, helping you keep your digits cloaked in this comfort for years to come. All you need to do is request a prepaid shipping label from Kane at initial purchase and send back your old kicks once they’ve reached the end of their road. Those tired slip-ons are then sent to Lava Rubber, Kane’s partner in the program, to be shredded and converted into yoga mats. Not only does this help you save on your next pair of Revives, but also helps keep five pounds of scrap out of landfills. To me, that’s a surefire win for everyone involved.
KaneKane
Sorry, but these don’t replace more engaging recovery disciplines.
The raised footbed nodes were definitely present in each step, and I did enjoy the slight relief they created post-training. With that said, though, I don’t think these footwear options will be replacing my rollers or massage gun anytime soon. The comfort is there and the promoted blood flow from the nodes is a nice touch, but for me, if my feet are aching, I’m not going to rely solely on the Kane Revives for relief, and will instead opt for a more active recovery method.
I understand that everyone’s needs are different though, and these kicks do provide some relief, so they may be enough to tackle your nagging toes. For me, however, I think these will be best as a bridge between the actual training session and when I’m able to engage in a rolling regimen or massage gun cool-down. Let’s face it, too — stagnant nodes aren’t going to penetrate the muscles as deep as other modalities.
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Well, like it or not, 2024 is officially here. And if you’re like a lot of folks, you may want to take a break from all the holiday cheer over the last few weeks — perhaps by participating in Dry January. Of course, going cold turkey on all your favorite brews, spirits and the like might not be as easy as you’d like unless you can find yourself a suitable replacement.
If you’re familiar with WhistlePig’s ethos, you know the brand has a penchant for pushing the limits of what whiskey can be (last year’s SummerStock comes to mind) and doing it with unique, high-end ingredients. This release is no different in that regard, but it’s a big departure in some other ways.
Free of alcohol, this limited-edition experimental bottled cocktail is perfect for Dry January.WhistlePig
For starters, this bottled cocktail is zero-proof — meaning it has no alcohol in it (to be exact, it has less than 0.5 percent per volume), crafted from something the brand calls “100 [percent] Rye Non-Whiskey” — eschewing ABV for terpenes extracted from cannabis grown in whiskey barrels that’s been isolated by Satori Premium Cannabis in Vermont. And the whole thing is finished off with some barrel-aged maple syrup for a bit of sweetness.
Sure, there’s no alcohol, but will it get you high?
In short, no. Along with being non-alcoholic, WhistlePig’s Dank & Dry Old Fashioned Cocktail is also 100 percent non-psychoactive, meaning it doesn’t have any THC in it, either, and won’t get you high.
The brand recommends serving this non-alcoholic cocktail over ice with an orange peel garnish.WhistlePig
So what do these cannabis terpenes do? According to Meghan Ireland, WhistlePig’s Head Blender, they’re responsible for “adding aromas and mouthfeel that are often missing from non-alc innovation,” resulting in a smooth, great-tasting beverage.
Enjoy it alone or with added smoke
This experimental, limited-edition cocktail can be enjoyed in a couple of different ways. You can buy it alone in a 750 ml “One Hitter” bottle for $49.99. Or you can buy it alongside the brand’s pig-shaped cocktail smoker and “dime baggie” of cocktail smoking chips in the Hot Box Bundle for $64.20, adding even more dimensions to the non-alcoholic beverage.
Either way, the brand recommends that you pour it over ice and garnish it with an orange peel, just like you would with a regular Old Fashioned. As an added benefit, the entirety of the proceeds of the sale of this bottled drink benefits the bartending community — meaning you can enjoy a smooth sip while doing some good in the process. Both editions are available for preorder now.
Here’s what we know about VW’s new Scout EV nameplate.
Scout will be an American brand
VW
Scout Motors is part of the broader Volkswagen Group, but VW says Scout vehicles will be designed, engineered, built and sold in America. We’re not sure new CEO Scott Keogh (formerly head of Volkswagen Group of America) will take the stage to Grand Funk Railroad’s “We’re an American Band.” Still, we expect Scout marketing to convey that sentiment with gusto.
Scout Motors announced that South Carolina had been selected as a site for its new production facility. The brand says the plant will be able to produce 200,000 vehicles per year. Making the vehicles in America should meet one requirement to be eligible for the federal tax incentive … at least, to the extent we can predict how that will work in 2026.
Scout Motors’s first vehicles could be called Hauler, Reaper or Spirit
Scout Motors
The folks behind Scout have been busy in the meantime working on filing trademarks for potential vehicle names. Among the 41 trademarks filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 2023, according to CarBuzz, are Spirit, Hauler, Reaper, Travelstar XL and Tellus. Of those, Hauler feels like an obvious choice for a pickup truck, while Spirit or Reaper both feel like the sort of adventurous, inspirational names ideal for a sport-utility vehicle.
Scout’s vehicles are NOT using Volkswagen’s MEB electric vehicle platform
VW
VW did release an MEB platform off-roader concept with the ID. Buggy concept. But Scout has confirmed its vehicle will not use the MEB or any other extant Volkswagen EV platform. It will use a newly created all-electric platform.
The new Scout platform design will focus on “ground clearance, approach angles, robust axles, payload capacity and all-electric range” to deliver “credible capability and off-road prowess.”
Scout’s electric truck should be big, but its SUV’s size is less clear
Scout
Keogh confirmed to Automotive News that the Scout pickup will be a full-size pickup, like the Ford F-150 Lightning. (The Rivian R1T, for what it’s worth, straddles the line between mid-size and full-size, so Scout’s truck will likely be a bit larger.)
As for the SUV’s size, that remains slightly uncertain. In the aforementioned Automotive News interview, Keogh described it as a “large B SUV,” which suggests he was referring to the so-called “B segment” of cars — but the “B segment” is traditionally considered to be subcompacts, which would suggest the SUV would be similar in size to the Subaru Crosstrek and Honda HR-V.
Given the size of batteries made with current technology and the fact that the truck will be large, we’re wondering if perhaps Keogh meant something other than the B segment by his remark — and that the brand’s first SUV will be more sizable, in line perhaps with the new Toyota Land Cruiser or Toyota 4Runner in scale. Then again, Scout Motors has also stated its first SUV will start around $40,000, which might suggest a smaller vehicle. We’ll find out more come summer 2024.
Wait, how did VW get the rights to the Scout name?
VW
Good question. Volkswagen’s truck subsidiary Traton merged with Navistar a little while back. Navistar was the corporate descendent of International Harvester, the company that built — and still owned — the trademark for the Scout.
How much will Scout Motors’s truck and SUV cost?
VW
They should be (relatively) affordable. Volkswagen Group of America Chief Operating Officer Johan De Nysschen floated the idea of a Scout brand to journalists before the official launch. He described it as like Rivian, but “at a $40,000 price point instead of $70,000.”
Scout Motors is reportedly partnering with Magna Steyr to develop vehicles
Mercedes-Benz
VW does not have a ton of experience in the off-roading space. But they have found an engineering partner that does. Keogh confirmed plans to partner with Magna Steyr to build the Scout SUV and pickup. Magna Steyer notably builds the G-Wagen for Mercedes-Benz, as well as several other vehicles such as the Toyota Supra.
Citizen’s New Collection of Automatic Dive Watches Goes Deep
The Promaster Dive Automatic channels 99 years of innovative watchmaking.
CITIZEN
Presented ByCitizen
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Citizen has been making powerful dive watches for decades. In 1983, a Citizen watch washed up on an Australian beach, still ticking despite being covered in barnacles. That seaworthy timepiece inspired the Promaster Dive Automatic. This model has a screw-down crown and 200-meter water-resistance. The Super Titanium™ black case has visual heft but a light feel, and the bright luminous hands and markers pop against the graduated gray dial. Sporty, technical and high-performance: This is a watch that lives up to its Citizen’s legacy.
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Wearing fragrance is nothing new. In fact, some historians date modern perfumery as far back as the late 1300s. But as time marched on, the scents we put on our skin changed dramatically. You may no longer be able to spray yourself with a medieval cologne, but you can still find great options from the early to mid-20th century that are still in production and on the shelves of your local department store. We picked one scent from each decade, starting with the 1950s, to trace how men’s tastes have evolved.
Chanel’s first-ever men’s scent, created in 1955, has earned a vaunted place among perfumers as the so-called “reference chypre,” thanks to its skillful blend of citrus and wood notes. Then, as now, the actual guys who wear it praise it for its under-the-radar nature. Like the era that inspired it, it’s subtle and confident, suggesting that masculinity and discretion walk hand in hand.
The original ad for this 1966 fragrance featured a sketch of a man in nothing but a towel, cocking an eyebrow at the viewer. Eau Sauvage is just as fresh as that cartoon’s attitude: it’s lemony, with hints of rosemary and vetiver, an earthy grass scent. But instead of coming across as insouciant or overtly sensual, this fragrance’s underpinnings enable it work in a variety of settings, making it the classic it is today.
If prior designer fragrances relied on citrus and herbs for their crisp, refreshing scents, Polo represented a sharp turn away from that tradition. Its blend of leather, tobacco and patchouli make it a distinctly rich and unquestionably masculine alternative to most other colognes on the market — even today.
After revolutionizing the way well-heeled men dressed in the late 1970s and early ‘80s, Giorgio Armani forever changed the way they smelled, too. In 1984, he introduced his first men’s fragrance, Eau Pour Homme. Its blend of citrus, spice and patchouli hasn’t changed since it was introduced. Perhaps that’s because it’s so closely linked with the era’s trappings of success.
Dolce & Gabbana’s first men’s fragrance, released in 1995, spoke volumes about the way guys saw themselves in the era of irrational exuberance. Its packaging was minimal and clean, but its smell (a blend of neroli, bergamot, lavender, tobacco and cedar), was forthrightly sexy. This attempt to bottle the essence of an Italian lover produced an award-winning fragrance that men still wear today.
In 2006, Hermès released a fragrance named for what it was supposed to convey. In this case, an earthy blend of orange, pepper and cedar — with just a hint of minerality — seems to suggest that men in the Aughts had the desire to get back in touch with nature.
Inspired by the extraordinary life of Napoleon, Aventus has dominated the conversation about men’s fragrance since its release in 2010. In eight short years, this unexpectedly masculine blend of pineapple, jasmine, patchouli and vanilla became the company’s best-selling fragrance — an achievement made even more impressive by the fact that Creed has reportedly made scents since the 1700s.
Nowadays, if you’re on the hunt for a new scent — be it seasonal or a perennial signature — then you’re going to swim through thousands of options, many of which are at a high price point. These are the fragrances we feel, at least so far, have the potential to become the defining scent of this era by decade’s end.
Contenders
Burberry Hero
Courtesy
Burberry Hero debuted in 2022, four years after Riccardo Tisci joined as creative director. He’s since left, but his contribution to the luxury brand’s cologne legacy is a good one: pine, cedar, smoke — these combine in a pleasant way.
Byredo re-issued Mister Marvelous in 2022 to widespread acclaim. The crisp, clean scent had a new frontman, too: Odell Beckham Jr. Byredo founder Ben Gorham hopes the scent inspires a new generation of men to more them and less, well, traditional.
Santal 33 might recall the 2010s for most, but it’s now, in the 2020s, that the scent has really dug its cultural roots. People know it now, and they understand who wears it and why (and where). It’s a touchstone, and a nice-smelling one at that, even if it’s a little overwhelming.
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Just like in years past, Apple has officially announced its 2023 App Store Award winners. These awards are given out by the App Store’s editorial team and they’ve been selected, according to Apple, for “providing users with meaningful experiences and inspiring cultural change.”
It’s a little self congratulatory, admittedly, as these are only apps that are in Apple’s App Store, but it’s also neat to learn about the third-party apps that Apple has chosen to recognize — there’s a good chance you haven’t heard about them all.
Below, you’ll find the award winners for the “Best App” across each of Apple’s five big devices: iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV.
Editor’s note: If you’re into gaming, Apple has announced its best games of the year across its five major devices, too — you can learn more from the company’s press release.
AllTrails is a user-driven hiking, biking and running app for outdoor enthusiasts. It lets you search for various trails in specific areas so that you can plan your trip ahead of time. And you can filter your searches, too, based on trail difficulty, length, elevation or user ratings (and yes, you can read their reviews). The app is free, but if you opt for the “Plus” version ($36/year) you can get extra features such as downloadable maps for offline use, access to more 3D and topographical trail maps, and off-route notifications (so you’ll get a push notification if you stray off the trail). Apple says: “AllTrails nurtures community through comprehensive trail guides and outdoor exploration for everyone.”
Prêt-à-Makeup is a creative iPad app for up-and-coming (as well as professional) makeup artists, allowing them to do the makeup for a digital face. And it feels real. You pick from hundreds of real beauty products that are registered in the app. You can use a finger or Apple Pencil for drawing, shading, brushing, highlighting and coloring. And there are other features, like allowing you to use a ring light and mirror, so it delivers a hyper-realistic experience of what it’s like to do somebody’s makeup.
Apple says: “Prêt-à-Makeup offers a true-to-life makeup sketchpad on iPad for professional artists and casual users, while fostering inclusivity and self-expression.”
Photomator is a powerful photo editor app for Mac (as well as iPhone and iPad). According to DPReview‘s Jeff Carlson, Photomator [is] “aggressively employing machine learning technologies in ways that should help novice and expert photographers get better editing results, and do them faster.” It even has a magical Repair tool that allows you to remove unwanted objects, a la the Magic Eraser on the latest Pixel smartphones.
Apple says: “Photomator’s machine learning-powered tools make advanced editing tasks streamlined and seamless.”
Mubi is a streaming app for the Apple TV that’s specifically geared toward movie buffs and cinephiles. Instead of the mainstream Barbies and Mission: Impossibles of the world, Mubi offers indie and international films, lesser-known documentaries, older (aka iconic) movies and cult classics. There are no TV shows, comedy specials or live sports. Also, Mubi has a “Now Showing” section where it curates 30 films at a time that you can choose from; the idea is that you spend less time scrolling and more time enjoying a new film.
Apple says: “MUBI curates exceptional indie films and international documentaries with a human touch.”
SmartGym is a robust workout app for gym goers as well as people with home gyms. The unique thing about it is that it uses AI to create a personal workout plan for you based on the equipment you have access to, the time you can allocate to working out and overall fitness goals (whether you’re trying to build muscle volume, get stronger, increase endurance and so on). The app is also beautifully designed with animated instructional videos, as well as detailed graphs and charts showcasing your progress.
Apple says: “SmartGym shines on Apple Watch with its comprehensive library of exercises, routines, and robust fitness reporting.”
While there’s plenty of reason to build your workout around gym machines, weight plates, barbells and other fitness apparatuses out there, hopping right into using these devices can be a little intimidating. Some might require unique and difficult movements for proper effectiveness. Some might be too expensive to warrant a purchase. Some might be flat-out miserable to use (looking at you, treadmills).
But despite the existence of all this fitness equipment, there are other ways to train.
Bodyweight training can be a great way to work up a sweat without all the bells and whistles. These simple exercises require virtually no equipment and can be done anywhere at any time. We spoke with Aaron Swenson, a founding coach at FightCamp and NASM-certified trainer, to outline some of the best bodyweight exercises for a proper, effective regimen, but first, it can be worthwhile to understand some of the perks that come with this training discipline.
FatCamera
The Benefits of Bodyweight Training
You already have everything you need.
The big selling point of bodyweight training is right there in the name: Your body serves as the resistance in training, so there’s no extra purchases required to get started — outside of maybe a new pair of gym shoes or snappy new workout wardrobe. You don’t need to drain your bank account buying a ton of resistance bands or bulky home gym equipment. With bodyweight training, your gym is always accessible.
There are additions and accessories that can make your workouts more effective or comfortable if you’d prefer to add some gear to your get-up. Yoga mats can be great for creating a plush surface to rest your joints, back and feet across varying movements, and Swenson highly recommends including a pull-up bar if you have the means, as well. “I think pull-ups and back rows are super important because a lot of times when we’re doing bodyweight movements, it’s really hard to get the posterior chain,” he states. “The lats and the back are so underutilized, especially with strikers, because everything’s so anterior that you end up just kind of hunching forward.”
But for the most part, you are the workout equipment.
It can help lay the foundation for heavier training in the future.
If you’re new to working out, facing down a weighted back squat, deadlift or other heavy exercise can seem daunting, and the added resistance doesn’t combine well with a lack of form. “The benefit of bodyweight training is that it’s really important to start there to build a solid foundation, building up the tendons and the ligaments that support your muscles and your bones and your spine,” says Swenson.
Starting with bodyweight exercises before progressing into weighted movements or machines let you introduce yourself to a whole host of different exercise types with less potential risk of injury. Creating that skill set before tacking on extra resistance can help your joints and muscles assimilate to the work and strain more easily, while also establishing correct form in the process. So, when you do venture into the gym and approach a new machine, you’ll be better prepared to correctly (and safely) move the newfound totals.
It’s simple to build a workout that suits your specific needs.
While we’re all accustomed to walking around with our bodyweight on a daily basis, moving, stretching and bending it in different positions might not be as intuitive for everyone. A push-up or sit-up might seem simple, but if you’re switching from a sedentary lifestyle to a more active one, even those movements can come with some stress that might be too much to overcome.
Bodyweight exercises can be scaled and altered to make the movements more achievable as you learn and grow in the discipline. Trouble with back squats? Try just sitting down in a chair for a set number of reps and sets. Push-ups giving you strain? Elevate your hands on a couch, end table or wall and perform the exercise without as much resistance. As you learn and progress, your muscles and tendons will become more accustomed to these actions. You’re still moving and training, which is the ultimate goal with any regimen.
Willie B. Thomas
How to Build a Bodyweight Exercise Routine
As with any training regimen, you have to start by deciding what you’re aiming for. “If it’s like a sedentary person who hasn’t really been trained that much, I’m going to put them on a much different plan than I would a professional athlete,” Swenson says.
For general newcomers, it can be ideal to plan for 3–4 training days per week, which can give your body some time to recover in-between sessions. Swenson also recommends signing up for a guided app service like FightCamp or employing the help of a personal trainer. This extra support for your training can help better ensure you’re performing each movement with the correct form. “You don’t know what you don’t know, so if nobody ever points that out to you, you’re not going to look for it, and if you continually do those same patterns, you’re going to have muscle imbalances which could lead to injury,” he says.
If you are confident in your abilities and have a good grasp of the movements required, Swenson still recommends recording yourself during training or working out in front of a mirror to give feedback on your form from time to time. It’s a continual progress that you should constantly monitor, because as Swenson notes, our bodies are always looking to adapt movements for the most efficient pathways possible, “The body knows all the cheat codes.” Even after you’ve been training for weeks, months and years, your form can falter at times, which will require some readjustment on occasion.
VioletaStoimenova
In terms of reps and sets per regimen, Swenson typically employs the Optimum Performance Training Model for new clients. This training blueprint moves you through varying levels of intensity and rep ranges targeting different factors associated with growth and progression.
“I start them on the stabilization phase where you’re holding a lot of planks — front planks, side planks, reverse planks, hip thrusts, kind of seeing where we’re at there, building up all those stabilizing muscles. Then from there, [we] go into muscular endurance where you’re starting to rep it out more, like 10–15 reps with push-ups, squats, lunges. All of those basic movements,” Swenson says.
“And then, once you’re kind of solid there, then we move into the more explosive power phase where you’re working jump switch lunges, burpees, box jumps. Stuff like that that’s really explosive, working the fast-twitch muscles. And then once you’re there, then we kind of mix and match constantly, so the body reacts to novelty.”
The exercises you choose can be up to you or your personal trainer, and there’s no wrong answer. Swenson, for example, recommends pairing a push movement, like a push-up or tricep dip, with a pull movement like a glute bridge. Others might want to structure a session solely on either upper body or lower body modalities. In the end, make sure to choose a workable rep range across a handful of exercises, like the ones listed below.
Swenson also recommends building a routine that has you moving in all directional planes of motion. Front-to-back, side-to-side and twisting movements can help engage the posterior chain more and keep the body on its toes, eliminating any of those potential cheat codes and resulting in more progress and performance.
The Best Bodyweight Exercises
Plank
https://www.youtube.com/watch
The plank is a great core exercise and also serves as an effective starting position for a handful of other bodyweight movements. To complete a plank, lie prone on the floor with your elbows bent. Next, raise your frame and core off the ground into a suspended position, supported by your forearms and feet only while maintaining a straight back. Squeeze your scapula together as if you’re trying to hold a pencil in-between your shoulder blades, and engage your core to help maintain that straight profile. Hold for a set amount of time, depending on your ability.
Push-Up
https://www.youtube.com/watch
Yes, we all know the push-up, but it’s worth revisiting its mechanics because it’s easy to do poorly.
Begin this exercise in a raised plank position, supporting your body through your hands and feet. Your hands should be directly underneath your shoulder blades, and your back should be straight. Then, look straight down at the ground and lower yourself to the floor, making contact at your nose, chest and knees. Push yourself back up to ascension, breathing out during your incline. Pause, and then repeat for the desired amount of reps.
Another well-known core-targeting movement, the sit-up begins with you lying on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Your hands should rest at either side of your head in a comfortable position. To complete a sit-up, bend your hips and waist to raise your upper body off the ground. Look straight ahead and keep your chest open as you raise toward your knees. Lower your torso back down to the ground, pause and repeat.
Squat
https://www.youtube.com/watch
Begin your squat in a standing position with your feet just outside shoulder width. Next, push your butt back and hinge at the hips like you’re sitting down in a chair. Once you’ve descended to the desired height, push through your feet and return to a standing position. You can also extend your arms straight out during this movement to add a sort of counterweight for better balance.
Swenson notes to keep your back straight throughout the entire movement and try to keep your knees from caving inward during ascension. “My favorite cue is on the way up, imagine that a piece of paper is sitting underneath your feet and you’re trying to tear the piece of paper outward as you come up,” he says.
Burpee
https://www.youtube.com/watch
Burpees might seem like a complicated movement, but in reality, the exercise can be broken down into four main parts. Begin in a standing position with your legs shoulder width apart. Next, perform a squat by hinging at the hips and kicking your butt back while maintaining a straight back. At the bottom position, kick your legs straight back to go into a raised plank position, supporting yourself at the feet and hands. Spring your feet back into your frame, shifting your weight to your feet, stand up and repeat.
This bodyweight exercise begins with you on all fours with your hands directly underneath your shoulder and knees under your hips at a 90-degree angle. Next, slowly raise and drive your leg backward, squeezing your glute as you lift. Maintain a flexed foot throughout the movement while keeping your hips square to the ground. Lower your leg back to the starting position, pause and then perform the same movement with the other leg. Alternate between each leg for your prescribed amount of repetitions.
Mountain Climber
https://www.youtube.com/watch
Start your mountain climber from a raised plank position, similar to a push-up with your hands right beneath your shoulders. Squeeze your scapula together and keep your back straight throughout this exercise. Next, according to Swenson, “bring your right knee to your chest, bring it back to a back plank and then vice versa.”
“As you do this, I want you to imagine a bottle of water on your back and you can’t let the water bottle spill,” he adds. “You want to keep that back as straight as a board. Once you can stabilize, feel free to pick up the pace, inside out as you breathe and engage your core, syncing your breath with your reps.”
Step-Up
https://www.youtube.com/watch
For this movement, you’ll need an elevated surface that can sturdily house your frame without collapsing. A stool or stair can be sufficient, but other platforms like plyo boxes are fine as well. Begin standing in front of your platform with your arms at your sides. Step up with one leg and land on the platform so that your raised knee is directly over the middle of your foot — your leg should make a 90-degree angle at the knee, resembling a crisp L. Next, drive through your elevated front foot, extending the knee to raise your body to the platform. Bending at the same knee, slowly lower your frame back down to the starting position. Alternate between each leg using the same motion for your desired rep range.
Glute Bridge
https://www.youtube.com/watch
Swenson states to begin a glute bridge by lying on your back with your knees raised and feet shoulder-width apart, similar to your starting sit-up position. Next, “I want you to push through your heels and squeeze your butt at the top. Big range of motion here, and once you get to the top, I want you to hold it for me,” he says. Then, disengage your glutes, lower your hips back down and repeat for the set amount of reps.
Swenson also stresses that your glutes should feel taut at the top end of your glute bridge, so make sure to try and achieve that firmness with each completed repetition. “As my coach always said, you want apples not apple sauce, so make sure those glutes are engaged and right and tight,” he adds.
Superman Stretch
https://www.youtube.com/watch
Lie on the floor in a prone position with your arms and legs fully extended. With your head in a neutral setting looking forward, slowly lift your arms and legs off the ground, resembling your favorite superhero flying through the sky. Engage your core and glutes as you hold this position for a set amount of time, breathing controllably throughout the duration. Lower your arms and legs back to the starting position, pause, rest and repeat.
Tricep Dip
https://www.youtube.com/watch
Start in a reverse plank position with your chest facing the ceiling and your hips high. Your palms should be flat on the ground, stacked underneath your shoulder with your fingers pointing toward your toes, according to Swenson. “From here, bend at the elbows. Your hips are going to come down as well, and then you’re going to extend with a big range of motion,” he adds.
“If you want to make this movement harder, bring your feet further away from your midline. The further your feet are from your midline — from your hips — the harder this movement gets because there’s going to be more weight in your arms, so you can kind of play with that angle.”
Broad Jump
https://www.youtube.com/watch
Before getting into this movement, make sure you have enough room in front of you to jump horizontally. Start from a standing position with your arms raised overhead. Rock slightly onto the balls of your feet and then transition into a squat. At the same time, swing your arms back behind your torso to begin building momentum. Next, press off the balls of your feet from your squatted position and jump forward as far as you can. Try to land comfortably with your knees bent, chest up and arms at your side. Reset and then repeat by standing tall, loading and leaping back to your start position.
Your goal should be to land upright without any compromises to your form, so don’t be afraid to shorten your bounds at first until you absolutely nail the execution. Complete as many jumps as required of your program.
Lunge
https://www.youtube.com/watch
Lunges can be performed stepping forward or backward, but according to Swenson, reverse lunges are better suited for beginner athletes. “You’re going to get people with their knee protruding over their toes a lot, so it’s nice to start them out with a reverse lunge and drop back,” he states.
Starting from a standing position with your feet shoulder-width apart, take a full step back with one leg, bending both knees simultaneously. Swenson notes to make sure your front knee is right above the heel before sitting back. Touch your back knee to ground, maintaining balance with a straight back and upward-facing chest. Bring your back leg to the center line back to a standing position, and repeat with the alternating leg. Again, Swenson says to sync your breathing cadence to your repetitions.
Proper exercise doesn’t require loads of gadgets or a garage full of equipment. You’re plenty capable of getting a worthwhile workout in with just your body, a few thoughtful movements and a dash of dedication.
Anyone who’s been paying attention to the watch world over the past handful of years knows that Timex has been on quite the hot streak. It started back in 2017, when the budget brand relaunched the Marlin dress watch as its first new mechanical watch in decades. The hype behind that watch was surpassed two years later when Timex debuted another vintage redux, the Q Timex, this time proudly recalling the American watchmaker’s 1970s quartz-powered heyday.
The Q line has reinvigorated Timex, spawning a diverse range of handsome, retro, battery-powered timepieces that includes chronographs, dress watches and digital watches, in addition to the original diver-esque sports watch. But perhaps the most desirable configuration of the Q is the Timex Q Timex GMT, which brings improved specs and a travel-ready fourth hand capable of tracking multiple time zones to the original Q’s throwback Pepsi-bezeled form. So how does the Timex Q GMT hold up as a budget travel watch? We got our hands on one to find out.
To learn more about our testing methodology and how we evaluate products, head here.
Timex Q Timex GMT: What We Think
The Q Timex GMT is easily the best Timex I’ve ever interacted with, and arguably ranks among the best watches the brand has ever made. It’s perfectly proportioned to suit a wide variety of wrists — particularly smaller ones — and is undeniably handsome. It nails the vintage cues it tries to execute, such as the bi-color aluminum bezel and highly domed acrylic crystal, and shows surprising refinement in its premium-feeling dial execution.
Of course, it isn’t perfect. The bracelet feels more cheaply made than the rest of the watch, and a lot of watch enthusiasts will still scoff at the quartz movement ticking away inside (even if it’s doing so silently). But still, taking everything into account, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better GMT watch out there for under $300 … or even $400.
Movement: Swiss-made quartz GMT (likely from Ronda)
Water Resistance: 50m
It’s quartz, and proud of it
In case the presence of both the large “Q” under 12 o’clock and the “GMT QUARTZ” text above the six marker didn’t clue you in, this is a quartz-powered watch. Timex isn’t trying to hide that fact. On the contrary, the brand is playing up the watch’s battery-powered pride. Flip the watch over and you’ll see a prominent battery hatch on the caseback that is, charmingly, meant to be opened with a coin so you can easily change the battery yourself. This is a carryover from vintage Timex Q watches and further plays up one of the greatest attributes of quartz movements: their low levels of maintenance.
Timex is proud of its quartz heritage, even making it easy for you to change the watch’s battery yourself.Zen Love
Like many watch enthusiasts, I have a strong preference for automatic and mechanical watches. It’s tough for an electronic device like a quartz watch to match the romance of a mechanical watch, with the latter’s intricate assemblage of springs, gears and levers keeping time by way of a mesmerizing smooth-sweeping seconds hand. But, if there is one area in my collection where I might actually prefer a quartz watch, it’s my travel watch. Quartz watches are far more accurate than mechanical watches, and there’s less risk of them stopping randomly since you don’t have to remember to wind them or keep them moving. In other words, there’s no need to double-check your phone’s clock for fear of missing your flight.
I’ve had zero issues with the quartz movement in my Timex Q GMT, and it’s only gained about five seconds in the three weeks I’ve spent with it (most mechanical watches will be off by at least that much in a day). It’s also of a different ilk than the inexpensive Chinese quartz movements you’ll find in many other Timex watches, in that it’s a more expensive Swiss-made GMT movement. Because of this, it lacks the loud — and annoying — ticking noise with which many Timex owners are familiar. One thing to note on the movement, though: The GMT hand is set independently, but it doesn’t jump in 24 increments. Instead, it glides smoothly along the dial, which means you’ll want to wait until the time hits the hour exactly (e.g., 4:00) to set it accurately.
This thing is really good-looking
The looks of the Q Timex GMT are derived from the original Q Timex Reissue, which got its design from the original Q Timex of the 1970s. But let’s be honest. The true design inspiration here is the OG of GMT watches, Rolex’s original GMT-Master. And the Q Timex GMT really nails the vibe of a vintage Rolex Pepsi without veering too far into homage territory. The shades of red and blue chosen for the aluminum bezel are spot-on, giving off classic travel watch vibes that are just gorgeous. The bezel is bidirectional, but it is friction fit — there’s no ratcheting like on many other watches with rotating bezels. I’d certainly like it if the bezel were ratcheting, as it would be much more pleasing to use and more stable. Still, I will say that the friction-fit bezel here hasn’t been too much of an issue, as it has a good level of resistance that’s easy to turn but also tends to (mostly) stay put.
From the ’70s-inspired case to the aluminum “Pepsi” bezel to the bubbly acrylic crystal, the Q GMT nails the vintage aesthetic.Photo by Zen Love for Gear Patrol
Perfectly matching the vintage vibes of the bezel is the crystal, a monstrously domed hunk of plexiglass that offers just the right amount of distortion at the edges and plenty of clarity to the black dial. All plexi crystals are prone to scratching, but I’ve noticed this one seems to pick up scratches a bit more easily than other acrylic-topped watches I’ve owned. Regardless, all but the deepest gouges are easily buffed out with a little Polywatch.
The case is the same one you’ll find on the standard, non-GMT Timex Q. It’s unabashedly late ’70s in its design, playing to that era’s obsession with integrated bracelet sports watches via its sharp angles, broad shape and lack of traditional lugs. While the finishing on the case won’t blow anyone away, I appreciate the mix of high polish and horizontal brushing — there’s even a subtle line at the mid-case splitting two halves of mirror polish to add more dimension to the silhouette.
The bracelet both looks and feels cheap
The bracelet is stylistically a good match, but its sub-par finishing leaves a lot to be desired.Photo by Zen Love for Gear Patrol
While the Q Timex GMT looks like it has an integrated bracelet, it actually doesn’t. The case simply has hooded lugs that disguise where the bracelet attaches to the case, and the lug width is a standard 18mm. The included stainless steel bracelet even includes quick-release spring bars to make strap changes easier. And I’m thankful for that, as I’m not a fan of the included bracelet. While I think its tapered, multi-link design matches the design of the watch, the finishing isn’t there to back it up. I understand this is a ~$200 watch, but the bracelet feels and looks a lot cheaper than the case and dial, which in my opinion drags the watch down a bit.
And while it is technically easy to swap out the bracelet, you’ll have a hard time finding one that matches the watch. Because of those hooded lugs, standard straps or third-party bracelets with straight end links to fit an 18mm lug span end up looking too narrow because of the wide hooded lugs of the case. Hopefully, Timex or some third party will start selling alternative, higher-quality tapering bracelets for the Q GMT. I would buy one.
The dial is surprisingly refined
The dial of the Q Timex GMT is a considerable step up from the standard Q Timex, both in design and execution. Design-wise, the dial is cleaner thanks to the compact date window replacing the larger day-date display at 3 o’clock. The indices and hands are of the same general design but with some key differences. On the GMT, the seconds hand is in the same silvery metal as the other hands rather than the plasticky red seconds hand on the standard Q.
Applied indices, filled with shockingly strong lume, add a premium feel to the dial.Photo by Zen Love for Gear Patrol
The metal GMT hand, with its red triangle tip, further elevates the look of the dial and matches the red of the bezel almost perfectly. The indices are also applied here with metal surrounds, and they look a lot more premium than the painted-on hour markers of the non-GMT Q. Finally, the lume here is surprisingly good. All indices and all hands are lumed, save for the seconds hand, and they glow pretty bright and last through most of the night.
The sizing is pretty perfect
As a man with wrists on the smaller side (6.25 inches ’round), I’m constantly seeking out smaller watches. Nearly every watch I’ve ever owned has come in below 40mm, as I find them to be a lot more comfortable. And I’m not alone in thinking that either, as small watches have been gaining in popularity in recent years. Vintage men’s watches are notoriously small, and thankfully, Timex kept the size true to the old-school Timex Q with the GMT. The case measures just 38mm across, around 44mm from lug tip to lug tip and is 12.5mm thick — a measurement that includes that tall, box crystal. This all adds up to a supremely comfortable watch that I sometimes forget I’m even wearing.
The vintage themes don’t stop with the watch’s looks — this sits compact and comfortably like an actual vintage watch.Photo by Zen Love
Timex Q Timex GMT Alternatives
Honestly, there aren’t a whole lot of options in this price category when it comes to GMT watches — at least not from reputable brands. Timex itself makes the closest competitor: the Waterbury GMT. A few bucks cheaper at $199, it comes in slightly larger at 39mm, slightly thinner at 11mm (mostly due to the flat mineral crystal in place of the domed plexi) and a bit more robust with twice the water resistance of the Q GMT. It features a Pepsi bezel in some variants and is sold on a leather strap. I think it’s quite a bit uglier than the Q GMT, due in part to the pusher at 2 o’clock, but your mileage may vary.
Then there’s the Citizen Promaster GMT, reference BJ7128-59E, which is powered by Citizen’s Eco-Drive solar quartz movement. It’s a rugged dive watch with 200m water resistance, a rotating dive bezel and an inner Pepsi GMT bezel. It’s also quite massive at 44mm, and while usually priced between $300 and $400, these can be tough to track down. Finally, if you’re willing to spend a little more and are interested in making the jump to an automatic movement, then it’s tough to beat Seiko’s “5KX” GMT. Officially dubbed the Seiko 5 Sports SKX Sports Style GMT, this handsome and compact-wearing 42.5mm diver runs on the Japanese brand’s own 4R36 self-winding movement and comes on a nice stainless steel jubilee bracelet. At $475 though, it’s more than twice the cost of the Timex.
Over the past decade, Quintin Middleton has become a name synonymous with handmade culinary knives that are as supremely functional as they are sublimely beautiful. His creations have appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Vogue and GQ. While the untrained eye can easily admire them, only an icon — like, say, Bob Kramer of Kramer Knives, adored by the likes of Thomas Keller and Anthony Bourdain — can fully appreciate their next-level craftsmanship.
“I’m coming for you, Bob,” Middleton once playfully told his hero in a phone call, and Kramer has deep respect for the 37-year-old rising star. “Quintin’s got such a great enthusiasm and positivity,” raves Kramer. “He’s tireless in his pursuit of making better knives and building his business.”
But from the start, Middleton’s ambition has been about more than making the best knives. For him, the dream is to create something that brings jobs to rural South Carolina. The makers of samurai swords in Japan say that heat-treating steel breathes life into a sword. Middleton intends to use the fire within himself to breathe life into his community. Considering the journey he has taken, I wouldn’t bet against him.
Gavin McIntyreGavin McIntyre
An hour’s drive north of Charleston lies St. Stephen, a little town with a population just under 2,000. In a quiet cul-de-sac on the outskirts sits a compound where Middleton lives with his wife and business partner, Kendra, and their two kids, forging the exquisite Middleton Made Knives that are renowned across the country.
I cruise slowly down the gravel road and park in the grass beside his new home, currently under construction. By the time I step outside, he’s greeting me with an outstretched, work-gloved hand. We had met a week earlier at the Charleston Wine + Food Festival, where he presided over a table draped in a white tablecloth, every square inch covered by his stunning chef’s knives, paring knives, fillet knives, cleavers, and his newest creation: a crowdfunded folding chef’s knife called the Ona.
“I have two rules. It needs to perform well, and it needs to look sexy.”
There, he held court in a black leather jacket zipped to his neck and a different set of gloves to keep fingerprints off the blades, sharing the fruits of his labor with all manner of aspiring foodies. At his home, I saw the other side of the show table. A world of grinder belts, steel dust and hard work. I would come to learn that Middleton’s ability to move in and out of different circles is one of the keys to his success.
“That’s not just my cool swagger, that’s a limp,” he says as we make our way to his shop, referring to a physical disability resulting from nerve damage in his leg caused by a benign tumor that compressed his spinal cord. Parked in and around his shop are a golf cart, a three-wheeled motorcycle and a two-wheeled electric motorcycle that help him easily traverse his property. Everyone I have spoken to — his friends and mentors — confirms my impression of a man who rises to face this measure of adversity like he would any other. As an ordained minister and a “very spiritual person,” his well of positive resolve runs deep.
The inside of Middleton’s workshop is dark on this overcast day, with fluorescent lights hanging where they’re needed most, like over the band saw he uses to cut the knife shapes out of sheets of stainless steel, or above the row of six grinders where he freehand-grinds his blades. Metal dust clings to everything, and on the wall hang hundreds of grinder belts, each with a different job to do.
Middleton makes both stainless steel and carbon steel knives, and each type begins in a different way. Stainless steel knives are cut out of small sheets of steel in a process called stock removal. Carbon steel blocks start off thicker and are heated in a forge and hammered out or kneaded into shape.
“A lot of people romanticize forging, and say that’s the only way to make knives, but truthfully, everything is forged,” he explains. That’s because stainless steel has already been forged in the manufacturing process, whereas with carbon steel, you complete that step manually. “I learned how to do forging first, but after having all these issues with my body, forging is a little harder on my body and stock removal is easier for me,” he says. Yet Middleton still makes knives both ways, and he makes a lot of them — typically 30 a month.
Once the basic shape is outlined, Middleton uses belt grinders with varying grit levels to fine-tune the silhouette. Then it undergoes heat treatment. The first stage is high heat, around 1500 degrees Fahrenheit, for 15 minutes. Once rapidly cooled, the metal is extremely hard but also brittle. That’s where tempering — reheating the blade at 400 degrees over two hours — comes in, lending much-needed resilience to the final product. One needs a deep understanding of how to use heat to manipulate the grain structure of the steel for the perfect balance of hardness and strength.
Next, Middleton grinds the bevel, or the cutting edge, of the knife. He etches a line down the middle of the steel as his grind-to point. “Everything for me is done by hand,” he says, and this freehand grinding stage seems more art than science.
A chef’s knife must be super thin for delicate tasks, unlike a hunting knife. Or as he puts it: “A chef’s knife is a Ferrari, and a Bowie knife is a Hummer.” When the blade is finished, he adds the handle material, using grinders to carve out his signature contoured “Coke bottle” handle shape, a tribute to the style of his mentor, Master Bladesmith Jason Knight.
When does he know a new knife makes the proverbial cut? “I have two rules,” says Middleton. “It needs to perform well, and it needs to look sexy.”
Gavin McIntyreGavin McIntyre
Family matters to Middleton. He comes from a military legacy that he credits for his strong work ethic. He was born at Fort Knox, where his father was stationed at the time. And he now lives on land once owned by his paternal grandfather, who served in two wars and retired as a sergeant major, the army’s highest enlisted rank. When Middleton was growing up, he would wake to the sound of his grandfather whistling as he came to knock on the boy’s window and say, “Don’t let the sun catch you in bed,” remembers Middleton. “That meant I had to get up and go help him.”
When it was Middleton’s time to follow in the footsteps of his father, uncles and grandfather, however, it didn’t feel right. He asked for his grandfather’s blessing to take a different path. “The Middletons have put a lot of blood in the army,” the old man told him. “It’s alright for you to sit this one out.”
After high school, Middleton was studying aircraft mechanics at a technical college and working part-time at a knife and cigar shop in a nearby mall when a customer shopping for a katana mentioned he made knives for a living. That customer was Knight, and Middleton — a lifelong tinkerer who, inspired by Conan the Barbarian, made swords and daggers by hand as a hobby — was thrilled to imagine it was a real profession he could pursue. The teenager began driving an hour each way to apprentice with Knight as often as he could.
“He did this mysterious Mr. Miyagi thing for me,” says Middleton, describing a teacher who gave him specific tasks and then walked away to let him sink or swim on his own. “He allowed me to fail… and always said, ‘If you’re serious, I’m serious.’”
Middleton was quite serious.
“Whenever someone is willing to put forth the work and effort, I’ll share the information,” says Knight. “I try to push all the nonsense out of your way, to get to the place where you’re supposed to be.” Knight gets choked up just talking about Middleton, his “most surprising student, and also the most successful.”
Middleton was mainly making outdoor knives when he dreamt God told him to start making chef’s knives. Knight said to do so, he’d have to invest in an electric grinder; Middleton was still grinding his knives by hand because he couldn’t afford one.
“I told him he needed to sell something to buy one,” says Knight. All Middleton had of value was a gold coin collection he’d inherited from his grandfather, and he told Knight he couldn’t sell the coins because they were his legacy to his kids.
“I grabbed his hands and I turned them over and said, ‘That’s your heritage right there,’” recalls Knight. “He sold his coins and pretty soon every great chef in Charleston had one of his knives.”
But it wasn’t that easy. After losing his job as an industrial mechanic in 2012, Middleton found himself at a crossroads: look for a new job and keep making knives on the side, or go all in trying to make knife-making that job. Thankfully Kendra, whom he met in high school band class and married in 2007, believed in her husband and his dream. She encouraged him to focus on his knives, going back to work to help support the family while he hustled to take his business to the next level.
“A lot of people have talent, but Quintin had the drive and humility to go with it. You could either help him out, or you could tell he’s gonna do it without you.”
As Charleston’s culinary scene boomed, Middleton made a list of all the top chefs in the city and approached each of them with his knives. Every single one rejected him. Undeterred, he shifted tactics, asking one of those chefs to help him develop his chef’s knife. And for the next two years, he refined his design by creating countless prototypes for the executive chef and chef de cuisine at Cypress, then one of Charleston’s top restaurants.
“He just walked in one day and handed us a case of knives to test out,” says Bob Cook, now the executive chef at the Charleston restaurant Edmund’s Oast. “We would tell him, ‘This one’s too long,’ or ‘This one’s too heavy,’ and sure enough he’d come back in a couple weeks with an updated version.”
Every detail was refined, down to things like rounding off the spine so it’s comfortable to pinch the top of the blade for long hours at a time.
“A lot of people have talent, but he had the drive and humility to go with it,” explains Cook. “You could either help him out, or you could tell he’s gonna do it without you.”
The two are still friends a decade later, and Cook owns a number of Middleton’s knives, including one from the first series he ever made.
“He always had a way bigger plan,” says Knight. “He was developing his own market and took a different road, selling at food and wine festivals instead of knife shows — and now Quintin is a master maker in his own right.”
While perfecting chef’s knives, Middleton started working on something different after looking at a broken Japanese santoku blade and thinking it would make a cool folding chef’s knife. He refined the design over eight years, iterating prototypes into what eventually became the undeniably cool Ona (see p. 136). To scale production at the level of quality he wanted, he teamed up with the folks at Idaho’s Millit Knives after meeting them at a trade show.
“I know the design, I know how to make the knife, and I know what I’m looking for, but there are people who are better than me in the manufacturing world,” says Middleton. “And I needed someone to help me get it to a different level.”
This partnership marks an evolution from purely freehand grinding to designing knives and having them fabricated at scale — a critical step toward his dream of building a business locally to manufacture his knives. He compares learning about the manufacturing process today to what it felt like collaborating with chefs a decade ago. Back then, making chef’s knives was his new frontier, and now it’s manufacturing that will open doors and allow him to branch out even further, into knives for hunting and fishing, with the help of other skilled craftspeople.
Gavin McIntyreGavin McIntyre
On the banks of the Ashley River 15 miles northwest of Charleston lies the remains of a vast estate called Middleton Place. The Middletons began building it in the mid-1700s, making money from rice and indigo on nearby tracts, but the riverfront mansion was burned down by Union soldiers in 1865.
The mansion was never rebuilt, but there’s still a sprawling English-style garden there. And in this garden is a tree known as the Middleton Oak, estimated to be nearly 1,000 years old. It was there when Quintin Middleton’s ancestors were enslaved by the Middleton family.
Last year, Middleton made one of his chef’s knives with an oak handle from a branch of this tree. “What are my ancestors saying to me?” he asks. “‘I’m glad you’re taking something that was brutal and building something beautiful.’”
“My grandfather always told me that your name is everything. And I’m defining what my name is.”
Middleton’s community is not just St. Stephen, but also the broader Gullah-Geechee community, an African American diaspora unique to the Southeast. Gullah and Geechee people are the descendants of enslaved people who retained close linguistic and cultural ties to West Africa because of their geographic separation from the rest of the American South. They built Charleston, they are the heart of the entire region, and when Middleton starts manufacturing knives here, he plans to call his line the Geechee Boy Series.
His own last name may be connected to a brutal chapter of South Carolina’s past, and his family’s past, but he sees things differently. “My grandfather always told me that your name is everything,” says Middleton. “And I’m defining what my name is.”
Part of doing so is not taking the easiest path. “I could have gotten a big knife company to produce my knives and I’d be fine, living a great life,” he says. “But to say, ‘No, I’m going to build something.’ That’s the hardest way.”
Middleton’s dream is that 50 years from now, he’ll be known as a man who started something from the ground up and breathed life into the region. “It’s not just me making a knife,” he says. “It’s building something for a community and trying to be a beacon for hope.”
From the inside of his shop, it’s clear more hard work is needed to shift from free-grinding artisanal chef’s knives to overseeing the manufacture of a product line bigger than what his hands alone could ever do. But Middleton is prepared. “For the past 10 years, I’ve built my foundation,” he says. “And now it’s time for me to build up.”
Toward the end of our visit, Middleton asks me if I do any gardening. Then he tells me that he often thinks about a lesson his aunt gave him for planting tomatoes.
“She taught me that you don’t let them bear fruit right away,” he says. “When you start to see the first little flowers, you have to snip off the buds because you need the stalk to get strong. That way, it’ll have the strength to bear the fruit.”
Gavin McIntyreA version of this story appears in Gear Patrol Magazine. Subscribe today
St. Agrestis
