NickEver since I published my first review on Dr. Martens 1460 boots, I’ve been asked to compare it to the shoe’s twin, Solovair. Why? For starters, the boots are practically identical, but the two brands also share a very storied history. Solovair — whose name just comes from “Sole Of Air” — were the manufacturers … Read more
You can get good boots for under three hundred bucks. It’s a real sweet spot, price wise, and I know because I’ve reviewed dozens of boots and gone through the trouble of making a list of the best boots for under two hundred bucks. I can tell you, it was way easier coming up with … Read more
Filson’s Rugged Twill briefcase is maybe the most iconic cotton briefcase there is, named by The New York Times as the “best tough briefcase” and called “ubiquitous” by The Wall Street Journal.1 2 My current mission is to find the best leather bag for men, so it was only a matter of time before I … Read more
Satchel & Page is a direct to consumer brand that focuses on really, really good leather. It’s not that design isn’t a priority for them, rather the products are purposefully simple in order to draw attention to the quality of the leather itself — there are no unnecessary buckles, bells, or whistles. When I’m asked … Read more
Published December 30, 2020. For a perfect lesson on how not to handle a catastrophe, look at Red Wing. On Halloween, Red Wing suffered a cyberattack. Yes, Halloween. For two whole months that encompassed Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the entire holiday period, nobody has been able to buy any shoes online from Red Wing … Read more
It’s not just the toecap. While they’re made on the same last so they fit the same way, there are more differences than you might think between Red Wing’s flagship boots, the Iron Ranger and the Blacksmith. Red Wing is everyone’s first Goodyear welted boot. My own was their moc toe, and I swiftly followed … Read more
Formerly called Oppermann, Carl Friedrik was founded in 2012 and aims to disrupt the industry of luxury men’s bags by going direct to consumer: no middlemen, no stores, no retail space, just quality goods sold right on the internet. At first glance, the brand’s emphasis on saving money with a DTC business model had me … Read more
Having a really cool bag to carry your stuff in can make all the difference between a good day and a bad day. I have more than a few cool leather bags, but Cravar is something else. Not a lot of people are aware of them stateside because they don’t have a huge advertising budget, … Read more
Even if you don’t know a ton about boots, you probably know two names: Dr. Martens, the classic punk boot of choice for young guys, and Red Wing, maker of pricier, Americana-style boots that are regularly worn by celebrities like Drake, Ryan Gosling, and Bradley Cooper. Basically, Dr. Martens are among the most popular boots … Read more
Sometimes, the way they used to make cold weather coats is still the best way. Enter what I think is the best and most famous wool coat ever: the American made Filson Mackinaw Cruiser. If you’re not already familiar with this absolutely legendary coat, you’re probably familiar with its buffalo plaid coat look. That’s because … Read more