Review of the GORUCK GR Echo

My buddy Álvaro Serrano has nailed it yet again with his review of the GORUCK GR Echo daypack this morning over at Tools & Toys.

[T]he Echo thrives in an urban environment. Its understated looks and slim profile make it easy to dart through crowded areas like subways, shopping malls and the like, while providing the assurance that your belongings are always safe.

However, don’t let its discreet appearance fool you into thinking this is an ordinary bag. The Echo shares much of its DNA with the rest of the GORUCK packs and like them, this bag can take whatever you throw at it, and then some.

As usual, the photos are gorgeous and worth clicking for alone. Check it out.

The SIRUI T-025X Travel Tripod

Álvaro Serrano wrote a review of the SIRUI T-025X travel tripod for Tools & Toys:

In a nutshell, the T-025X is one of the world’s most compact and lightweight full-size travel tripods, but what really sets it apart from the competition is its incredible balance of performance, features, portability and price. There may be some slightly lighter tripods out there, and tripods that can withstand more load. There are probably also taller tripods, and tripods that offer more stability. But you’d be hard pressed to find one that matches the T-025X in all those features at the same time, and even more hard-pressed to find another carbon-fiber tripod that can do all that at this price point.

You wouldn’t necessarily read the term tripod review and think “interesting read” or “gorgeous photography” but Álvaro nailed it on both counts.

The Tom Bihn Parental Unit Review

Erin Brooks wrote a great review of the new Tom Bihn Parental Unit diaper bag for Tools & Toys. It seems like only yesterday, rather than over three years ago, that my wife and I searched seemingly endlessly for the "perfect" diaper bag bef0re finally settling on the Diaper Dude bag. It wasn't a bad bag at all, but I still kinda wish the Parental Unit had been around at the time.

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If you enjoy Erin's review, be sure to check out the first post on her brand-new blog, wherein she discusses her iPhone photo-editing process.

Josh Ginter's Review of the 2015 Hobonichi Planner

As I sit here twenty days into 2015, still struggling to think of ways to use my 2015 Hobonichi planner (a thoughtful gift from my buddy Shawn Blanc), Josh Ginter is out there making me feel bad about all the empty pages in the beautiful book next to me.

“I bought both my wife and I a Hobonichi Techo as a 2015 “resolution” gift. We both understood how busy our lives would become in 2015 and we wanted a simple way to stay on top of everything. A solid three weeks in, and my wife has boldly stated that she loves her Techo. It’s the perfect planner for her. And it’s the perfect planner for me as well.”

Great review with lovely photos.

A Review of the GORUCK GR2 Bag

Speaking of Mr. Serrano, the man has written and photographed my new favorite review of the GORUCK GR2 bag—quite possibly the only review one will ever need to read about it.

This line really sums it up:

“With just a bit of planning and the right strategy, it’s the only bag you’ll ever need to carry.”

But it's more than just an in-depth examination of an excellent bag—it's a call to travel. If you reach the end of the review and don't feel like planning your next big trip, I can't help you.