Tag: gear

I have an updated list which captures what I am using now.

I have found simplicity to be a useful lens which led me to simplify stuff in my life down to a set of items that enable a healthy, impactful life, while removing unnecessary friction and decisions. The following is a complete list of everything I own. My onebag packing list details what’s with me right now. Making this list was inspired by zenhabit’s one bag lifestyle and Tynan’s Gear posts. I have a list of items shared by our family. Please do not allow your possessions to become the basis of your self-worth, security or well being.

Items in bold are exceptionally great. I happily use items marked with “*” but I would not automatically replace them. If I was a “true minimalist” I would get rid of them. The (year) is when the item became a standard part of my life, /year indicates when I re-purchased.

On My Person

Flexon Frames (1995/2020) with high index progressive lens with Transitions XtrActive Polarized (2023) lens. Eyeglasses are an incredible blessing. I used to break frames within a year until I tried Flexon frames in 1995. They last an average of 8 years with lens being changed each year due to prescription changes. The XtrActive lens go from almost clear and unpolarized to 90% light blockage which is polarized!

Apple iPhone 12 Mini (2020) on T-Mobile (2022). I don’t use a phone case. The iPhone mini was the smallest usable full feature phone until it was discontinued. Ease of sharing (AirDrop, iCloud/Photo, iMessage) with family and friends bias me toward Apple. T-Mobile has great international roaming, haven’t needed to pick up a local SIM anywhere though coverage is often not as good as the best local carriers. T-mobile has mediocre coverage in USA compared to Verizon. If/when I spend most of my time in the USA I will switch back to Verizon even though their plans are more expensive… or maybe not depending if data via StarLink becomes a reality. I wish someone made a phone the external size of the original iPhone and a battery that lasts more than a day. There is some hope that Unihertz or some other company will make a small Android phone I will like. Android’s has superior speech recognition, notifications, and an open platform. For people not using T-Mobile,  Airalo makes it easy to acquire an eSIM for wireless data while traveling internationally.

Apple AirPod Pros (2021/2023) are nicely integrated with the Apple eco-system and just work. Bluetooth connects reasonably quickly, is reliable, and switches between my phone and laptop mostly automatically. Noise reduction is “ok”, and the “ambient mode” provides adequate situational awareness. Can adjust volume from AirPods. The case is part of the “Find My” eco-system. Downside is battery isn’t swappable when it wears out. I have written about other headphones. Replaced a pair that was lost.

Hanchor Mica (2023) a tiny wallet / coin purse which holds my IDs, 1 credit cards, 1 debit card, a few bills, coins when needed. Using a Chase Sapphire Reserve card for this season of life. Annual fee is ridiculous, but benefits have more than paid for the fee last year. Really appreciate that the points can be transferred to the frequent flying programs we use, and the access to airport lounges was a lifesaver. For a bit I carried a Chipolo Card Spot (2023) which is part of Apple’s “Find My” network, but decided it wasn’t needed. Switched from my old wallet because I often needed to carry coins for small vendors in some countries.

Victorinox Swiss Army Rambler (1999/2015) is the smallest, usable tool I have found with a blade, phillips head & flat screwdriver, scissors, bottle opener, and nail file. I am on my 3rd Rambler after losing a couple to TSA in the early 2000s. I have some notes about other knives.

Swiss+Tech Utili-Key (2002/2023) Replaces my Rambler when flying and none of my companions is using a check-through bag where I can stash my Rambler. The Utili-Key has made it through TSA checkpoints over 140 times without being confiscated, but isn’t as usable as a Rambler pocket knife. On third Utili-Key due to misplacing them.

Uniball Vision Elite .5mm Pen (2015/2023) Writing feel approaching Pilot V5 and doesn’t leak after plane flights!

N95/KT94 Masks (2020/2023) I like the BOTN KT94 and the classic 3M N95. For other good options see Masknerd reviews. N95 properly worn provides significant more protection than cloth or the basic surgical masks. I was recently introduced to the totobobo mask which looks promising. While not as effective as a professionally fit N95, it was close, and was better than an N95 used by an untrained individual.

Garmin 955 Watch – not shown (2022) accurately tracks my activities and measures my fitness level. Has decent integration with smartphones and notifies me when I have left my phone behind. I find the data I get from Garmin to be higher quality than most other wrist worn sensors I have tried, being close to medical grade when paired with external sensors. Better battery life than iWatch and physical buttons which work with sweaty fingers. The display on the 965 is a significant improvement but I am happy enough with my 955 not to upgrade. There are other good sport watches.

Bags

Tom Bihn Smart Alec (2022) durable bucket style day pack. Stands up by itself and is easily accessible through the top zippered opening without spilling. In this season of life this pack has two functions. When we are using planes as our transportation it is filled with the items I am not using, and is stored in the trunk of our car. When at home or at destination we drove to, it functions as my office storage. It is also the perfect size to hold two folding chairs and food for a picnic and works well as a grocery bag.

Gossamer Gear Vagabond – my review (2022) a 23L day pack which is light weight, comfortable to carry, works well for EDC, and is large enough to hold everything I take when traveling. I am using the discontinued Trail model. The current Jet model has some nice upgrades. The 46x27x15cm (18/10.75/5.75inches) filled with my normal gear is small enough to squish into every “personal item” sizer I have encountered and under the seat in front of me on every jet I have flown in. While access is not as easy as a clamshell style bag, I have no problem retrieving items by feel because my clothing and organizing sacks have different textures. Stands up on its bottom making access on the go easy. I have a list of other traveling packs.

Tom Bihn 1” padded waist strap (2021) allows a moderate amount of weight transfer for me when attached to my TB or Gossamer Gear daypack. The Gossamer Gear fast belt has pockets but don’t transfer load for me.

Decathalon Packable 15L Courier Bag (2023) Used around town and sometimes to hold items I will use on a flight if I put my pack in the overhead compartment. Unstructured, so care is needed when loading it up. A very inexpensive clone of the discontinued Patagonia Packable Courier Bag which I used for 10 years.

Daily Life

“Tech Kit” items are stored in a small litesmith zipza pouch (2023) which is the perfect size, mostly waterproof, light, and a different texture than anything else in my bag so easy to find by touch.

• Anker 523 (2023) Dual USB-C, 47w. Single port 45w, using both ports 27w top, 20w bottom. Can charge my MacBook at near maximum speed when it’s the only device plugged in. Over night can charge fully depleted iPhone, Nitecore 10k, and MacBook with power flowing through the 10k. It’s fairly compact making it less likely to slip out of loose outlets. I recommend the Nomad Slim 65w, Anker 735 and I am amused by the SharkGeek charger for people who need 65w.
• Nitecore 10000 Gen2 (2023) power bank with USB-A&C out. Lightest and most compact 10k battery I have found. Comfortable in my pocket while charging my phone, Enough power to very slowly charge my MacBook or mostly power the MacBook while charging my iPhone. Supports pass through charging so I can charge this battery while my MacBook is plugged into the charger. Spreadsheet of many power bank options.
• Cables: Apple 4ft USB-C to Lightning, 4ft video rated UCB-C and 6″ USB-C cable
• Adaptor tips from USB-C to (A, micro, Lighting, Garmin), and 2 USB-C to A converter.
• Apple USB-C to AV-multiport dongle for those times I need to display my laptop on an external screen. Might drop.
• MagSafe Charger (2021) is bit heavy, but useful when lighting port in aging iPhone becomes unreliable or when I want to charge phone while using the lightning port for headphones.
• Mogics Adapter MA1 (2023) is the smallest, lighter “universal” power adaptor I have found. For type E remember to unscrew and extended the type C prongs. I wonder about its durability but it’s been ok so far. In some UK outlets had a bit of a trouble making good contact, sparking until I got it set.

Etymotic HF3 (2013/2023). Great sound isolation, Apple friendly volume stop/start button, and mic. Provides me with around 40db of noise reduction which is better than any consumer grade active noise cancelling headphones I have tried. Also gives better audio quality on phone calls than BlueTooth earbuds. I have a lightning and airplane double jack adaptors. I thought the double jacks would be phased out, but in 2023 I flew on several newish 777 which still had these plugs?! The foam eartips eventually stop sealing, but can be replaced.

Nicore NU20 headlamp (2016) Just 29 grams when the headband is replaced with shock cords. Adequate regulation on medium and low settings. When closed the power button to covered preventing accidentally turning it on. Use when I need hands free light: repairs, backpacking, running in the dark, and it has been used when I forgot to recharge my bike light. Lit our kitchen during a power outage by bouncing light off ceiling. Can be powered from a remote USB power bank making it useful in extreme cold or when needing exceptionally long runtimes. The NU20 classic is a nice upgrade. There are many other good flashlights.

6 Foot Tape Measure (2023) I often need to measure things. Replaced a retractable fabric tape measure that broke.

Fold-it-flat Unitensil Spoon/Fork (2015) I have gone years without needing to carry my own utensils in urban environments, but there are exceptions to this. Last year there were numerous times that having a spoon/fork would have useful. I added this back in at the end of the summer and have used it several times.

MacBook 12″ from 2017 (2023) This is the last ultra portable made by Apple. It’s 2lb, decent keyboard, and enables me to complete daily tasks with a minimum amount of friction. Apps can be slow to start but deliver acceptable performance thanks to 16gb of RAM. Tablets are great for media consumption, but even with a keyboard had too much friction when I switch between windows/apps while integrating information. Chromebook aren’t lighter and are missing some Apps I want. Tiny PCs like the GPD Pocket 3 have keyboard and screens which are too small for me to be productive. There are some amazingly light x86 laptops such as the 1.4lb Fujitsu Lifebook UH-X, the Asus Expertbook B9 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano which would give me a much more performant laptop, but several of my apps aren’t available under Linux (Lightroom Classic & Bear), and I don’t like Windows due to the fragility / pain of patching and upgrading the OS. Maybe in the future running Linux with macOS in a VM is worth a try. My 14″ MBP (2022) has been left running in a safe location and us accessed remotely via Tailscale and I can spin up AWS instances when I need more computing power.

Zojirushi Double Walled Mug 16oz (2013/2017) can easily be used one handed, locks, pours at the perfect speed, the mouth is wide enough for ice cubes, and insulates better than every other mug I have tested. When air temp is ~80F and the mug is exposed to the sun, 6 small ice cubes in cool water have just finished melting in around 3 hours – water temp is 35F. In 68F conditions ice lasts most of the day. In many countries you you can fill mug with ice (no water) and get through airport security. Once through, add water and you can have icy cold water for your flight. I have a Deep Cherry color mug which is easy to spot. When I want to go extra light weight, I swapped it with a SmartWater bottle I reuse.

Sleep Mask (2022) helps me get longer / better sleep because it stops external light from disturbing me. This mask was a free gift which replaced a mask that got lost. For a number of years I used Bucky brand, but they wore out in less than two years.

Bathroom

REI Micro Shower Bag (2017) is the perfect size for my toiletry kit and make it easy for me to find everything quickly. Inside pocket holds a few doses of nyquil and benadryl. Main area has: lip balm, toothpaste, a micro fiber cleaning / storage bag for my glasses, a small HumanGear GoTubb to store aleve, and the bathroom items listed below. Outside pocket holds first aid kit which includes band-aids, single use benzoin tincture, compeed blister pads, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic cream, superglue, a couple of safety pins. This bag is discontinued… the GOX Organizer looks to be similar.

Matador Flatpack Soap Case (2020) to carry a 100senses body bar (2019/2023) which takes care of all my cleaning needs without drying out my sensitive skin or making my hair feel like straw. One bar lasts around six months. There are better shaving creams and detergents to wash clothing, but it’s been good enough and simplifies life for me. The Flatpak lets the soap dry out better than a ziplock bag, but it’s far from magical. Downside is that it doesn’t work very well as a case while showering.

Gillette Power Mach-3 Razor (1999) and blades (1999/2021) Using as a manual handle since vibration stopped working and they stopped making the “power” version of the handle. Use around 11 blades / year. Costco often sells large packs of the blades

PaRaDa Nail clipper (2014) are large and heavy but effective and the trimmings catcher is brilliant. I have been saying for years that I will replace it with something lighter and more compact but I haven’t done it yet.

Retractable Bristle Hairbrush (1994) Compact and more effective than a comb for me.

Reach (rebranded Listerine Woven / Ultraclean) Floss (1996/2022) is the most effective dental floss I have used. Gentle to the gums while still getting plague and food wedged between teeth out. I believe it has been discontinued but still possible to find stock. My dentist has recommended coco floss as a good replacement though it’s more than twice as expensive.

Oral-B/Braun 6000 Electric toothbrush (2016) and USB powered charger. A recent meta analysis concluded that the rotational approach of Oral-B is likely superior to approach of Sonicare, but both are significantly more effective than manual brushing and the electric toothbrushes like the Quip and my old Violife which relies on a brushing motion.

Crystal Deodorant – not shown (2023) Simple Potassium Alum crystals. Years ago I ran an experiment and discovered if I showered regularly, no one could tell that I didn’t use deoderant. I suppose I have lower BO than some people. After >10 years I gave this deodorant a try after reading about them on /r/onebag. I notice that my shirts go a day or more longer before they pick up body odor. Carrying a 1.5 oz stick which shows little wear after a year. It’s best to apply right after a shower since it needs to be wet and works best on clean skin. It’s not an anti-perspirant nor doesn’t cover up existing odor. Rather it produces it environment that is hostile to the odor creating bacteria.

PackTowel Ultralight Body Size (discontinued) – not shown (2009) Dries in less than 3 hours after I dry myself when hanging indoors, faster in sun, is compact, weights just 3oz. Large enough that I can wrap it around my waist like a small sarong. I found the face size sufficient for me to dry my body, but I am willing to carry a larger towel for the added versatility and ease of use. There are other travel towels.

I acquire sunscreen wherever I am. I try to select SPF >=50, considered very low risk for health, and reef safe when near the ocean. The sun screens in EU are way better than in the US because the FDA hasn’t approve some of the newer options. Such a shame since they are reportedly are safe, feel better on the skin, and often don’t leave you looking like a ghost. If the trip is short and I don’t have any sun screen from the EU left I will bring a Neutrogena Mineral stick. Around town where I don’t need to worry about form factor or TSA I will see what the top rated sun screen that is liked by both consumerlab and ewg.

Core Clothing

I have notes about selecting clothing for an active life which goes in detail  about how I select clothing for a wide range of activities and conditions. My core clothing comes on every trip I take and is used for my daily life at home. Some people achieve simplicity by having many pairs of the same clothing item which the rotate through. My approach is have fewer items and run small loads of wash when they get dirty. I keep a log tracking each item’s longevity. Number of days of repeated wear was determined by asking others who would be honest with me if the clothing still looked good / had no odor after airing out overnight. The following items I have with me always and would have provided effective clothing which would have been acceptable in every circumstance I faced in the last five years.

Western Rise Slim Evolution V1 Pants (2020/2022) Slightly stretchy nylon pants that are a cross between jeans and chinos which can dry overnight when hanging in the bathroom. The most comfortable pants I have found in hot weather that have a “business casual” look. I found their fit to be “snug” fitting rather than the nearly tailored fit of the Outlier Slim Dungarees. After around 300 days of wear they are a stretched and the color fades slight but otherwise are still in good functional shape. My second pair had a seam separated after only 200 wears, now on pair 3. Sizing is not consistent, customer service is poor. Version 2 of the Slim Evolution has an overly tight, but “fits” thanks to a greater stretch. Classic hiking pants like prAna Brion are cheaper, have a more consistent quality, and are more rugged, but not as comfortable in heat and aren’t as refined looking. UPDATED April 2023: Outdoor Research Ferrosi Transit pants have replaced my Evolution pants because they look as good once the logo is remove, have better mobility, dry more quickly, and are much more comfortable in hot weather. Other suggestions for good pants.

Patagonia Hydropeak Hybrid Walk Shorts (2023) dry in a couple of hours while hanging, faster when wearing. The are very comfortable, give me good freedom of movement. Not excessively “technical” looking. They can function as a swim suit, but if I am going to be on a beach for multiple weeks I will retrieve my Bluesmith board shorts described in the “beach section” below.

Western Rise Unlimited Button Down (2022) Blue Merino / Polyester blend button down shirt. My wife tells me it also looks like it was just ironed as it comes out of the my pack. Reported to be UPF 40. Fairly air permeable, resists odor, comfortable in a wide range of conditions. Dries quickly enough to hand wash at night and be ready to be worn the next morning. Can wear 4 days without any odor. It’s a great shirt for “urban” use. UPDATED April 2023: now in storage, and pulled the OR Astroman Button Up from “Extra” to my standard core. Astroman dries faster, more comfortable it hot weather, and my wife prefers how it looks.

Arcteryx Cormac Hoodie (2023) A casual UPF 50 shirt. Slightly calendared which I find reasonably comfortable when I am hot and sweaty. When using a crystal deodorant resists odor for 3+ days of normal activities, 2 day of vigorous activity. Provides full sun protection. Resists stains pretty well so spills generally clean with a quick rinse, but after 130 days of continuous use (mostly hand washing) there were stains which won’t come out even after being machine washed a few times on heavy duty. Thankfully light stains on the white heather aren’t as noticeable as pure white shirts. I found this shirt dries in less than 3 hours after being squeezed, rolled in a towel and hung in a cool indoor room with modest ventilation. When hung in bright sunlight on a warm day dries in less than 1 hour. Also dries in less than 1.5 hours when I am wearing it in moderate temperatures and humidity. This is my default shirt for “sporty” / “athletic” activities and what I wear most of the summer. The Outdoor Research Echo is a good alternative for many: lighter, cooler feeling, with a slimmer fit, and good anti odor. Unfortunately for me, the Echo’s UPF is 15-20 has resulted in me getting sunburn when I spend all day outdoors in locations which have >10 UV Index. I have notes about other base layers.

Icebreaker Anatomica Tee-shirt (2014/2021) merino wool with a bit of nylon for durability and a bit of lycra for a body hugging fit. This tee-shirt fits me perfectly, is super comfortable, doesn’t smell after many days of wear, dries fairly quickly, and my wife likes how the shirt looks on me. UPF between 15-30? I get around 500 days of wear before an Anatomica Tee looks tired, and 600 days before the first small holes appear. I think Icebreaker makes the best merino tees, but there are a number of other good options from Smartwool, Outlier, Wool&Prince, and several other companies. While I love merino wool, there are advantages to synthetic technical-tees: absorb less water, dry more quickly, and are more cost effective because they tend to be cheaper and longer lasting.

Icebreaker Anatomica Briefs – 4 pairs (2014/2021) the most comfortable underwear I have worn. They dry quickly and resist odor. I get around 600 days of wear before the waist band deforms and small holes appear. Only downside is that they bunch up a bit in hot weather when carrying a backpack. Tommy John’s Air Briefs (2022) are really wedgy-proof and dry very quickly except for the waist band. In the past I found the synthetic briefs from Ex Offico were pretty good but their quality has dropped. I tried Saxx a number of years ago, and didn’t think they were worth their high price. I have heard Uniqo Airism, 32 degree mesh, and Duluth Trading Buck Naked briefs are great, but no personal experience. When going light I bring two pairs: one to wear, one to wash/dry.

Xoskin Toe Socks – 2 pairs (2022/2023) prevents blisters forming between my toes when walking or running for extended distances. I have worn one pair 30 days in a row doing 15-37 miles of hiking each day without blisters and had pre blisters that were forming before I started using the socks heal. They weren’t stinky after six days of continuous use (and not washing) while backpacking in sandals, though they are more prone to pick up odor after several hundred miles of use. They are significantly more durable than my previous merino toe socks. After ~500-700 miles get my first hole when a sandal strap was rubbing or my toenail sliced through. I nursed by first pair to 1400 miles. I expect to retire them every 1,200 miles or so.

Luna Venado Sandals (2012/2022) I love the feel of running almost barefoot and the tiny space they take when packed. I can walk 15-37 miles / day for a month on hard surfaces and my feet are still feel good. They mold to your feet over time. Even after 1500 miles they have a bit of cushion though I have worn the sole through in at least one spot. I generally replace them every 1200 miles or so. I have used them in the back country but traction is poor. These have been my “shoes” in town unless social convention would have me wear closed toed shoes. On my third pair.

Inov-8 Trailfly G 270 (2022/2024) Used to be called the TerraUltra G 270. Zero drop trail running shoe that is a good amount of cushion and a 12mm stack. Great fit for me: enough room for my toes to splay while gripping my heel perfectly. Used for backpacking or trail running when the terrain is too challenging for my Luna sandals or when I need to wear closed toe shoes. They have been acceptable footwear in snobbish establishments and no one has ever commented about them. I wear in transit and pack my sandals. The graphene infused soles are more durable than typical trail runners. At 1500 miles though the uppers still look good and there is still a bit of tread on the highest wear areas of the sole. The V2 of this shoe reinforcements is a shiny grey rather than black :(. I have hear it claimed that Nike Pegasus Trail 4 might be even longer lasting though I am skeptical.

Extra Clothing

There are some clothing that I take / use based on what the next leg of my journey will require. When not in use, they are stored in the trunk of our car’s trunk.

Outlier Slim Dungarees – 2 pairs (2014/2019) High-tech nylon pants in the style of jeans. Gives me an almost tailored fit, looks great, good mobility and durability. Thanks to the NanoSphere treatment very stain and water resistant. They are perfect when it’s <75F and I am inactive, <55F when active. When highly active and >70F the seam that runs along the inner thighs chafes. In hot weather prefer OR Ferrosi Transit pants. Over time the pants stretch out a bit especially around the knees which make them a bit less slim fitting. I get more than 550 days of use before there is any signs of wear: light pilling at the top of the pocket I use the most. I have yet to completely wear out a pair though I have retired a few pairs after a pen leak created a large stain and after I lost weight and needed to switch to a smaller waist. When paired with nice shirt, and blazer have been accepted in situations which called for semi-formal dress. The hiking pants I wore in the past couldn’t do that. I have repeatedly had women say “Where did you get those pants? They look great. I want to buy a pair for my husband.” SD seem pricey but it depends what you compare them to. When considering the cost / day of wear ($0.07/day)… they are 5x the cost of mass market nylon pants which don’t fit me that well, 2x the cost of higher quality nylon pants from companies like Prana and Patagonia, and about the same cost per day as Levi 501 jeans if you retired them when the knees are blown out. Maybe an indulgence, but I don’t think them as a luxury item when I see $1390 nylon shorts from Prada. Current pairs I am wearing were acquired in 2017.

Patagonia Terrebonne Joggers (2023) Very light weight polyester pants which provide a good range of motion, are very light, pack up small, UPF 40. Dry in less than 2 hours when hung indoors, less than 1 hour when wearing after being completely soaked in a rain storm. Very breathable and comfort in hot weather. These are the only pants I worn when walking the 800km Camino Frances in 2023. found them good for outdoor activities in cooler weather and for sleeping / lounging. Downside are that the pockets are a bit shallow so items fall out when sitting down. Will likely move to my grab and go backpacking kit because the OR Ferrosi Transit pants dry almost as quickly, are only a bit heavier, and are more versatile.

Outlier New Way Shorts 2 pairs – (2014/2017) are nice looking shorts which fit me perfectly, are durable, and resist stains. The first place place for wear to show up is the mesh to drain the pockets develop holes. These shorts feel like they were tailored for me. I can’t put into words how “right” they feel each time I put a pair on. The fabric is thick enough to prevent items in my pocket from really standing out. They are pricy but I hadn’t found any shorts that I liked as much. They can function as a swim suit but aren’t ideal for that use because they take 2x times to dry as some of my board shorts and my wife observed “they don’t look like a proper swim suit.” Still wearing the first pair I purchased.

Minus33 Mid-weight Merino Mock Turtleneck (2023) Purchased for cooler days when I want something bit more casual than button down shirt but a dressier than a hoody. Warm enough that I don’t need a sweater when it’s cool, but not overly warm when sitting around indoors. Have been able to wear for more than a week with no noticeable odor retention.

Patagonia Cool Daily Hoodie (2022) Comfortable hoodie, resists odor for 4 days when somewhat active, provides moderate sun protection which I believe is good enough when I am indoors much of the day or in locations with moderate UV index. Patagonia removed any UPF claims because between their initial testing and production the UPF performance dropped / was inconsistent (from >50 to 17-45, average 34). Use when my Cormac hoody is dirty.

Second Icebreaker Anatomica Tee-shirt in grey which enables me to do wash just once / week.

Darn Tough Socks – 2 pair (2013/2019) are unsurprisingly durable since they come with a lifetime warranty. Icebreaker and the Smartwool PhD line are good alternatives. Worn out and replaced 2 pair of the no show light socks after >4000 miles of use for each pair. None of my light crew have been worn through yet.

Vivobarefoot Gobi II (2017/2022) are comfort, zero-drop, minimalist ankle boots which look good with casual clothing or dressed up in a suit. I have used them around town, hiking in the backcountry and even run in them. Sending my original pair to be resoled after walking more than 1500 miles. With an occasional brush and polishing the uppers still look good after repeatedly soaked in rain storms, covered in mud, etc. Unlike shoes with breathable nylon uppers, keeps sand and dust away from my feet and socks. They are generally not needed given current dressing standards, I can typically get away with trail runners.

OR Astroman Button-Up (2023) UPF 50, light weight long sleeve button-up shirt. It’s reasonably comfortable in warm weather and it’s been reported that mosquitos don’t bite through it. When under a blazer can pass for a dress shirt, but no some much stand alone due the slash pocket and that the collar is a bit floppy. Being used as an experiment this year. If performs well, it will likely become part of my core clothing, swapping places with my Wester Rise Unlimited shirt.

Bluffworks Hopsack Blazer (2022) Blazer which doesn’t wrinkle, can be washed in a machine, and is light enough to wear in hot weather. Took on several trip but used very rarely and was never required (even venue I wore it I saw people without a suit or blazer who were accepted). Current dress standards make it mostly unnecessary. From what I have observed, suits are only required by lawyers, bankers and business exec in more formally dressing companies, and more formal wedding. Oh, and whoever the wife says “I would really like you to wear your suit”. I have noticed “the cool kids” are using canvas work jackets rather than blazers when getting “dressed up”. I believe the time has come to view suits / blazers as optional. If the Bluffworks Telex model existed, I would have purchased it rather than the Hopsack. I have been tempted by ArcTeryx’a now discontinued Veilance Windshirt Blazer… but it was way too expensive.

The Following is a picture of my core clothing plus the “extras” I most often use when I am going to be in the same location for an extended period of time and am optimizing for easiest life without minimizing space. The extras added to core: Outlier SD pants, Terrebonne Joggers, Outlier New Way Shorts, second Icebreaker tee, and 2 pairs of wool socks.

Outerwear

The following clothing allows me to be comfortable at all actively levels when the temperature is 0F or warmer, and colder if I am engaged in high aerobic activities like running or cross country skiing.

Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody (2020) Keeps me comfortable ~25F lower than I would be without the jacket. Provides just the right insulation for me for winter nights in the SF Bay Area and shoulder season backpacking in the sierras. Combined with down vest or Nitro Hoody it’s just right for winter trips in the sierras. Reasonably light and compressible. Long enough to cover my blazer. Only take when I expect temperatures to regularly be below freezing.

Montbell Plasma 1000 Down Vest* (2021) Incredibly light weight vest which provides moderate insulation for my core. I have the Japanese version which has pockets. With a long sleeve shirt and shell I am comfortable down to around 40F. When combined with a tee-shirt, Macpac Nitro, and a shell allows me to be comfortable while walking down to 25F. Combined with Nitro and Micro Puff keeps me warm enough in any winter conditions I am likely to encounter in the next few years. More acceptable looking over button down shirt / under blazer than my hoodie. Less than perfect for me: cut is a bit too boxy the neck doesn’t seal well.

Macpac Nitro Pullover (2021) Made from Polartec Alpha Direct (90gsm). Highly breathable and dries super fast. Very light insulate without a shell, surprisingly warm under a shell. Great when active in cold conditions. I can feel air flow at walking speed in still air. Worn whenever my shirt isn’t warm enough. I am comfortable sitting in 68F wearing the Nitro and a tee-shirt, but when I pull up the hood and layer on a shell I am comfortable down to 40F doing light work (walking 2mph), and in colder conditions when highly active. There are lots of good options for an insulation layer.

Montbell DryPeak Jacket (2022) made from Shakedry. I can actually wear it and not be soaked by sweat when active! I have done zone 2 runs for 2 hours in 48F rain with just 1 gram of water accumulating in my running shirt. Waterproof and doesn’t wet out. Works well as a wind shell. Alas Shakedry is somewhat fragile and is being discontinued… hope something equally performant comes out soon. In the mean time I have picked up several Shakedry jackets for my “stash”. Other options are discussed in my post about rain gear.

Zpacks Vertice Rain Pants (2018) are simple, light, breathable, waterproof rain pants. Have used them occasionally in cool rain when commuting by bike, hiking, or backpacking. After a few years of light use I am getting some minor leaking in the seat, and the bottom cuffs are fraying / delaminating. I forgo using them when I spend all my time in urban locations. When they fully wear worn out will go with rain pants made from a more durable material, GoreTex Pro or Columbia Outdry Extreme Mesh.

PolarBuff* (2003) Generally I use the hoods on my garments, but sometimes I want extra insulation for my neck or head. Don’t use it that often, but small and light enough it doesn’t make sense to retire it.

Enlightened Gear Visp Rain Mittens (2022) Super minimalist protection from hands. Keeps my hand comfortable from freezing to around 50F when engaged in modest activity up to zone 2 workout.

Manzella Power Stretch Touch Tip Gloves – not shown (2023) Light weight gloves that I can mix/match with shell mittens. Hands have been ok Visp mittens down to 20F.

Montbell Umbrero Rain Hat from Japan, also avail from US Site for more $$ (2021/2023) is a 1.8oz folding hat which fully shades my face, ears, and neck. It’s fully waterproof but still provides the best ventilation of any hat I have used. It deforms but usable in <25mph winds. Montbell originally said provide protection from sun, but when I reached out to ask what’s its UPF was informed the indication of UV protection was a bug in their website. I addressed the lack of UV protection by coating the inside with a paint which fully blocks UV. I think it’s silly looking, and periodically have people point and laugh… but I have also received compliments and have had people chase me down to ask where they could purchase one for themselves. When walking the Camino we had around 90 people ask us where they could get their own. There are lots of other good hat options. UPDATE Sept 2024… after three years of daily use the wire in the brim broke… hat still functions but is a bit more floppy. I just replaced it with an Umbrero I purchased on our last trip to Japan which I had cache for when my current hat wore out.

Sports / Exercise

Garmin HRM-Pro (2021) get higher accuracy during interval training than built in optical sensor on smart watches and works when swimming. Can record data without the watch being connected, but I don’t generally use that feature. Also provides running power which has been somewhat useful. Supports ANT+ and Bluetooth.

Foam Visor (2023) Keeps sun, rain, and sweat out of my eyes when running or hiking and doesn’t absorb water when worn in the rain. Typically combined with a hood which protects neck and ears.

Xoskin Compression Shorts (2023) Started using when my Tri-Shorts began to chafe on long runs in hot weather. Wore a hole in the first pair when I used them bicycling without shorts over them. The have eliminated chafing on long, hot runs, and of course work fine in less demanding circumstances.

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Used When I Drive To the City of Residence

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Household Items

The following are used whenever they can be easily transported to where we are staying for >2 weeks. If we are flying to a destination, they are stored in our car. We also have a cooler and some kitchen tools and stables we have put aside for when we travel by car.

Withering Body WiFi Scale (2014) makes it easy to track weight which is well integrated to Garmin, Fitbit, MyFitnessPal, LoseIt, and numerous other health tracking eco-systems. Body composition numbers not accurate. Having trouble getting it to switch WiFi networks.

ChiliPad (2019) which cools or warms water which flows through a mattress topper. I need to be significantly colder than Jackie to sleep soundly. When under our bed the heat exchanger not able to hit the cooling target when the unit was under the bed, but it has been fine when sitting out. We tried an eightsleep system which much quieter but not worth the added cost to us. I didn’t find the automatic temperature adjustment of the eight sleep particularly helpful and the sleep tracking wasn’t significantly better than my Garmin watch.

Pulse Flex Wireless Speaker (2017 & 2022) allows us to have synchronized whole house music and plays nicely with other BlueSound products and can be combined into a reasonable quality stereo system. We have the original Flex speaker and the updated Flex 2i. It also supports inputs via USB, Bluetooth, AUX, a number of streaming services like Spotify, and many free sites via URIs. Has a iOS and Android remote control app which works but has a somewhat awkward UI. Controls on the top let you select one of 5 user-defined “channels” without using the remote. I have the optional battery pack so it can be used outdoors. Sound quality is significantly less than KEF LS50 but better than most portable speakers, the speakers on our phones and the built-in speakers on TVs. When using them away from home primarily play lossless music which is stored on a thumb drive plugged into the back of the speaker. For most people I would recommend Sonos: for its lower price point, better streaming options, and slightly more processed sound quality which everyone but audio purists like me prefer. Even cheaper are products from Audio Pro.

MacBook Pro 14-inch (2006/2022) Holds the family’s archives: pictures, videos, ripped CDs, digitized books, and documents. There are better performing laptops for the money, but the touch pad is more usable than most laptops and OS X provides high quality commercial applications and full UNIX tooling. I have made it through many OS upgrades without problems and have never had to wipe the disk and reinstall the operating system. I select a configuration with enough storage for 2x my current usage (4tb at the time of purchase) and the maximum memory available which has allowed me to use the same MacBook Pro for ~5 years before I feel the need to upgrade.

Lives in Car

I leave some items in car trunk in case we encounter unexpected conditions. I rarely use these items personally, but have often loaned them out to friends who weren’t prepared for the weather we encountered.

Gossamer Gear Vagabond Packable (2021) 23L pack which is comfortable to carry and easily packs away in my larger bag. Used for done in a day outdoor activities, as a EDC / grocery shopping bag, and has been used as my primary luggage on trips on several trips. This is by far the most comfortable carrying packable day pack I have ever used. Most packable daypacks feel like a sack with straps designed to fit a non human.

Tilley LTM6 Hat* (2014) durable hat that provides good sun protection. I prefer the LTM8 which has more ventilation. Replaced a 20 year old canvas Tilley that was lost on a river trip.

ArcTeryx Squamish Wind Shell* (2012) is a 5oz windshirt with an air permeability of ~30 CFM. When combined with a heavy base or light middle layer provide comfort over a huge range of conditions. Comfortable against the skin. Best replacement would likely by the Mountain Hardware Kor.

Icebreaker Quattro Hoody* (2012) is a medium weight merino wool sweatshirt. After several years of near constant use starting to pill and is a bit stained, so has been “retired” to the car.

Backpacking Gear

I have a 3-season packing list which makes use of a number of the items on this list and has several items which are specific for backpacking. I have not taken pictures of any of these items. The “winter gear” is not used “at home” because the Bay Area never gets cold enough to need these items, but they are pulled out when traveling to winter destinations. These are stored in a old Coke crate in the garage.

Hanchor Tufa (2023) 40L pack which weights 26oz and carries up to 22lb with great comfort, usable up to around 27lb. I found it more comfortable than the HMG SW2400. When the rolltop is fully cinched down qualified as carry on for most airlines. When lightly packed has passed for a personal size item, can scrunch into many personal bag sizers. Beautifully made. Most of the body is 100D PC so highly water resistant without the risk of delimitation.

Osprey Ultralight Drysack (2021) Used as a liner to protect against rain, can be used to wash clothing on trips if I am sharing a bathroom and can’t soak my clothing in the sink, and as a giant “clothing packing cube”. Sometimes used to separate dirty from clean clothing.

Gossamer Gear Whisper (2023) Ultralight shelter for one person which weights 9oz. Uses two hiking poles to stay up, and 7 stakes. Has bug netting around the perimeter, and you provide your own floor (I typically use polycro). Provide bug and rain protection for typical 3 seasons use, 2.5 above treeline? Lots of room with easy access and exit.

Durston X-Pro 2 (2022) Ultralight shelter for two people that weights 20oz. Good performance for 3 seasons. Used it in moderate snow without problems. Easy to set up provided there is a flat space. Footprint in a bit larger than some 2-person shelters. Large vestibules. Very easy to use.

NunatukUSA Ghost Quilt (2003). 16oz, comfortable to 30F, have comfortably pushed it down to 15F when wearing my clothing and jacket. This is the second version of one of the first backpacking quilts commercially made. A bit narrower than several of the more modern quilts with a tiny footbox which I like because it makes it easy to ventilate my feet when I get too hot.

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm Air Mattress (2012). 15oz, R5, comfortable for me to below 10F. This is my second after the first failed to stay inflated and was replaced by Therm-a-Rest. Acceptably comfortable, but a bit noisy when I move. The Nemo and Sea2Summit insulated air pads are likely more comfortable, but I already own this. For a bit was being used by my daughter after I purchased a NeoAir UberLite. The UberLite top seam started leaking after less than a month of use. Back to my old XTherm.

Trail Designs ULC Caldera, Gramcracker esbits Stove, MLD 850ml Pot. (2009). 4.5oz cooking set which fits inside the pot. Easy, efficient, compact. Couldn’t ask for something better, except the Tri-Ti version which can burn wood as well as esbits and alcohol.

HydraPak 28mm Water Filter (2023). 2oz, can push more than 1l / minute through it with modest pressure. So little pressure is required that I can actually use it inline between a water bladder and a hydration tube. Attaches to SmartWater and Platypus water containers. Huge improvement over my old filter whose flow requires much more force as it has been clogging. Just remember to give it a good soak if fully dried out before the next trip, otherwise you will have very slow flow for around 30 minutes during the first use.

Garmin InReach (2020). 3.5oz. Satellite communication device. Can send an SOS and do short 2-way text messages. Take on solo trips when in locations without a lot of human traffic so my family doesn’t worry about me. I have found it works with tree cover and in most canyons, but in these conditions will often take 30-45 minutes to get a message out or receive messages. There were time it did not work in a slot canyon. Much faster when it have a broad view of the sky. Can be using with a smartphone, or the numeric pad on the device.

Montbell EX Wind Shell (2023) Weights just 56grams and easily fits in my pants pocket. Provides decent wind protection while still being fairly breathable. Normally I use a Shakedry jacket as a wind shell, but carry when I am using a poncho.

Trailbum Gnu Rain Cape (2023) Ultralight 3.5oz rain protection. Nice because it protects me and my pack. I wrote up a description of using this poncho combined with a piece of polartec alpha direct as a poncho liner.

Patagonia Cap 3 Tights (2007): added to my legs when facing continuously below freezing conditions.

Outdoor Research Meteor Mitts* (2004): which have a removable 300wt fleece inner mitt which folds back to let you use your fingers and a durable, waterproof shell. Can use the shells without liner when it’s warmer. The magnets on the inner mitt detract from overall comfort. Many people replace the liners. Dries faster than all-in-one handwear.

Traction Devices* (2020): Gives trail runners and other shoes grip on snow and ice. Picked up when we were facing icy trails in Grand Canyon without footwear with sufficient traction. Don’t remember the brand and it’s not stamped into the chains. When doing a lot of winter trips I would use screw shoes.

OR Gaiters: (<1988) for keeping snow out of shoes/boots and the lower legs most dry.

Hostel sleep system: 48″ x 62″ piece of Polartec Alpha Direct 4004, 120gsm (2022) compressible warm blanket which is a $20 piece of bulk fabric, MLD Bag Liner (2023) 3oz 10D nylon sleep sack, in a Sea2Summit 2.5L Ultra-Sil Stuff Sack (2022). For stays in basic hostels and alberques that don’t provide bedding of any sort. Comfortable for sleeping down to 55F. The sack is snug but not too tight, keeping the blanket well positioned when cold. As it warms move blanket to outside of the sack or remove completely. Blanket can be warm like a shawl during particularly cold days. I will likely get a bigger piece of alpha direct, add a head slit so it can be worn as a poncho and get a larger sleep sack if I am regularly staying in the dorm style hostels.

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Stored during our travel (2022-????)

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Bicycling Gear & Clothing

Specialized S-works 2019 Roubaix (2021) an endurance bike that smooths out the road making it easy to be confident on less than ideal road surfaces with a responsiveness that approaches the Cervelo R-series. A huge improvement from the 2013 version of the Roubaix. Fitted with an Infinity Seat (weird looking but the most comfortable seat I have used), 2 water bottle cages, and a small seat bag which holds a pump, tubolito, bike tool, and 2 tire levers. I have a charger for DI2 which is powered via a micro USB cable gets used every month or so. Otherwise it sits in the garage.

Cervelo R3* (2013/2015). Replaced with identical bike when my first was stolen. Comfortable enough for an endurance ride, responsive like a race bike, great for climbing. Wore out drive train which has now been mostly replaced… still looking for Rotor chain rings. Now primarily lives on a Kickr for indoor “rides” and is my “spare bike” and if my Roubaix is out of action or an out of town friend wants to go for a ride.

Felix BC21R Bike Headlamp and Cygolite Hotshot Pro 150 (2019) The BC21R uses a removable 18650 rechargeable battery. I don’t love the Felix but it’s getting the job done and the swappable battery is very handy.

Power Tap P1 Pedals (2015) because I like objective measures. No longer made. The Garmin Vector pedals use standard Keto cleats, and are lighter.

Bicycling Shoes (2013) with cleats for PowerTap peddles. No idea the brand.. they were the cheapest shoes I found at a local bike shop. They are near the end of their life, but I haven’t found a shoe that is as well ventilated so I continue to squeeze a few more miles out of them by regluing the seams.

De Soto Mobius Tri Shorts (2018/2021) Can be used forcycling, running, and swimming. They used to be comfortable for all the activities I engage in when the temperature is above freezing. For many year reduced issues with chafing, dries fairly quickly, and are reasonably comfortable when wet. They have side pockets large enough to hold some nutrition and my phone so I don’t need to use a special cycling jersey. I get around 1000 hours of use from each pair before the elastic no longer provides any compression. Never had a pair develop holes. For many years I loved using these because I never need to think about what to wear for vigorous physical activities…. I just grab a pair of tri-shorts. Recently I have been chafing on my male parts when running in hot conditions so now not used for running.

Xenith Delta Shirt (2021/2022) is the most comfortable shirt I have worn when sweating heavily. The shirt maintains air permeability and doesn’t stick when wet. The shirt dries at the perfect rate: faster than wool or cotton, but slower than classic “fast dry” shirts, and feels cool against the skin. I have also found that is it the most odor resistant synthetic shirt I have tried, though not as good as wool. Only UPF 30. Use a ArcTeryx Cormac on longer rides.

Black Diamond Alpine Start (2021) is a 6oz hoodless ultralight soft-shell which is very air permeable (30-60 CFM depend on who did the measurement… feels like 45cfm to me) and extremely water resistant thanks to the Schoeller NanoSphere treatment. Very comfortable in high wind <60F doing normal activities, bicycling at tempo pace (~220watts / ~18mph) when it’s <55F or doing a zone 2 HR runs when it’s <50F. In a light rain find it easier to manage moisture than a Shakedry shell because the higher air permeability helps me dump heat (reducing the amount I sweat) while resisting the rain. Normally I like a hood, but the lack of a hood is useful when cycling and running with a hat. Windshirts are great!

Pearl Izumi P.R.O. Barrier WxB Cycling Gloves (2021) Keep hands comfortable on rides when it is cool and maybe wet. Cheap thanks to a clearance sale at sierra.com. Likely better gloves but they are getting the job done.

Giro Air Attack Shield Helmet (2013/2016) provides protection, good ventilation while having a streamlined aerodynamic profile. Has snap on optical shield. On my second Air Attack helmet due to a crash which broke the helmet but protected my head. If you ride a bicycle, wear a helmet!! I have been able to walk away from at least two accidents thanks to the protection of a helmet. Helmets don’t lead to more injuries due to a false sense of security. These days there are helmets which are more aerodynamic than mine, and also cheaper while providing equivalent protection.

Wahoo Fitness Kickr (2013) is a trainer for when it’s not convenient to hit the road. Integrated power meter and variable resistance which can be controlled via ANT+ or BlueTooth. Very useful if doing structured training based on power.

o2Trainer – not shown (2022) Working on improving my breathing. Not used enough to have an opinion.

“Variety” Clothing

While I normally like to wear my “uniform”, but I sometimes want to wear something a bit different. I know my wife likes variety in my clothing. I sometimes call the following my “Jackie clothing”. These clothing can be rolled over their hangers and be stored in a $4 Ikea Frakta Duffel (2022) along with my beach items and extra clothing items.

Toni Richards Hawaiian Shirt (2019) Everyone needs at least one shirt for “Hawaiian shirt day” though some might argue that white and blue with sharks rather than flowers isn’t very Hawaiian. I find the cotton lawn fabric used by Toni Richards to be one of the most comfortable materials when it’s hot and humid. Alas, UPF is quite low.

White Cotton Button-up Shirt* (2012) Was my default when I want to wear something more formal than a tee-shirt. Appropriate in almost any setting. Shirts which have more sun protection and dry more quickly have replaced it.

Muji Black/Grey/White Checked Button Up Shirt* (2013) for something that is casual but a bit more dressed up than my tee-shirt or hoody. Gift from Jackie.

Outlier AMB Merino Wool Button Up Shirt (2019) Very comfortable. It doesn’t wrinkle and if I don’t spill food on it can be worn many days without washing. Good air permeability, surprisingly comfortable in warmer conditions.

Wool and Prince 210wt Burgundy Oxford Shirt* (2020) Slim fit, classic oxford cloth look while being 100% wool. Christmas present.

Banana Republic Purple Merino Wool Sweater (2013) for cool days or when some color is called for. Purple is the color of royalty… so it can function as a Christmas or Easter sweater. Gift from Jackie.

Grey Cashmere V-neck Sweater* (2019) for fall and winter evenings when I need more warmth than just a shirt and my hoody is too casual. Love cashmere but durability is low, it pills very quickly.

Boss Blazer* (2014) for dressy events in the fall and winter that don’t require a formal suit. Have found that it doesn’t wrinkle when packed carefully in my backpack while traveling between locations. Christmas present.

Boss Wool Suit (2012) slim/european cut in super 140 wool. Fits me perfectly though not bespoken. First suit that I wear rather than the suit wearing me. Light enough that it’s usable in the summer. I use it for weddings, funerals, and special nights out on the town. I won’t naturally choose to wear a suit, but sometimes it’s appropriate.

Alpaca Blend Socks* – not shown (2021) are soft, warm, and cushioning with non slip “dots” on the bottom.

Softstar Zen Moccasin (2021) Comfortable slippers for cold days.

Luna Oso Flaco Sandals (2022) I can walk 25 miles / day for a week on hard surfaces and my feet are still feel good. Has decent ground feel and pack very compactly. Good traction on trails. The wings are must more convenient that the “traditional” lacing. They irritate the side of my foot when I run without socks (fine for walking). When they are wet my feet slide a bit which makes me consider trying 5fingers again for back country trekking and trail running. Bedrock Sandals are very similar.

Keen Clearwater CNX* (2014/2018) are the lightest sandals Keen makes. The toe cap has been effective at protecting my toes. When worn with gray socks they can “pass” for shoes most of the time. Keens ground feel is a bit “dead”.

“Extra” clothing stashed for when my existing clothing wears out. Most of the extra clothing was purchased on sale, lightly used, or I had been wearing and decided to drop the number of items I have in a weekly rotation. I currently have 1 pairs of outlier slim dungarees (2019), 2 outlier new way shorts (2014-8), 2 western rise evolution pants (2022), 3 icebreaker tee shirts (2018-2021), 1 arcteryx cormac shirts (2023), 3 pairs of briefs (2019-2021), 6 pairs of darn tough socks (2015-2019), 2 pairs xoskin socks (2022), GoreWear R7 trail running jacket (2020/2022), 1 Montebell Peak Dry Jacket (2023), Macpac Nitro hoodie (2022), 2 delta tee-shirts (2022). These items will be pulled out when my current clothing wears out. It’s useful to have have an unused items purchased at the same time as one which is in “heavy rotation” to see how much wear and tear accumulates over time.

Beach / Water Clothing and Gear

When we spend extended time near a tropical beach these get pulled out.

Bluesmith Spartan Board Shorts* (2016) For days that I am living in swimming suit, going in an out of the water. These shorts dry very quickly. Could use my other shorts if I was trying to minimize more.

Patagonia R0 Longsleeve Shirt* (2022) UPF 50 shirt for water activities. Tight fitting, dries quickly. Jackie approved. Picture has my retired Bluesmith shirt rather than white R0.

Matador Pocket Blanket* (2019) to sit on when at the beach.

Matador Droplet Wet Bag* (2019) which holds items on the way to the beach, and wet items on the way home.

Yeesam Prescription Snorkeling Mask (2019) which lets me actually see underwater life when snorkeling rather than just blurs and flashes of color!

Akona 2mm Neoprene Socks – not shown (2019) Prevent my toes from getting ripped up when using flippers. Sometimes used with sandals if I am constantly going in and out of water or with my cycling shoes if doing an extended ride is cold rain.

TYR Corrective Optical Performance Goggles not shown (2012) so that I can actually see when I am swimming in pools.

Sentimental Items

There are a several items I have kept as a specific way to honor people I love or past experiences.

Box which I store these things, my spare glasses, some old documents, etc.

Various buttons collected over the years related to projects or movements that were important to me.

Libby’s pins (<2000) of a nativity scene, a mother and child. Originally worn by Libby on special occasions, they became daily decorations on the hats she wore during chemotherapy. They remind me of Libby’s courage and the two things most important to Libby, family and Jesus.

Gumby (2011) which was given as a reminder that when life is difficult, we need to be flexible.

Dad’s (<1980) tie tacks and Alox Swiss Army Knife which remind me of his love of the outdoors and his care for his students.

Knit Cap with 23andme logo (2016)

CatBus Plushy (2018) given to me by Jackie. It reminds me of the gentle film My Neighbor Totoro. I wanted a real CatBus, but no one can find one for me 🙂

Computer Wizard’s Tee Shirt (1977) from high school group club… still fits. Not shown: 23andme Tee-Shirt (2016) Hashicorp Cycling Jersey (2021)

Grandpa’s Yamaka (<1980)

Stored – Possibly Retire

Tom Bihn Passport Pouch (2022) Small pouch which is large enough to hold my passport, phone and everything that might be in my pockets when passing through security checkpoints. In high crime cities I wear it under my shirt. Haven’t needed it.

Entchin Fanny Pack (2020) Inexpensive fanny pack which is a good size for half day activities. Can hold a headlamp, mini first-aid/emergency kit, water bottle, a protein bar, and small volume jacket. Use rather than daypack so my back is ventilated. The bucket has broken three times and is being held together by tape. Looked at a bunch of much more expensive fanny packs, but not work as well. Closest was the REI Trail 5 but when I put my water bottle in a holster it gets in the way of my arms as they swing.

Gossamer Gear Gorilla (2012) An older version of the Gorilla which I used when doing multi-night backcountry trips or urban travel when I am carrying more weight / volume than appropriate for the Vagabond. Its weights just 28oz, comfortable carries up to 25lbs for tens of miles in a day, has survived thousands of miles, and works as a carry-on bag. My size L is actually 23″ long, but has been able to fit in airline sizers and overhead luggage bottom in first if not overpacked and placed at an angle. Sidenote: The first generations of the Gorilla carried pretty well, the current generation connects the frame directly into the hip belt which has been stiffened compared to the first generation improving it’s carry characteristics. Likely being replaced by Hanchor Tufa which is more carry-on friendly and as comfortable to carry up to 22lb which is the most I typically have.

Carots Shoes* (2017) are formal looking zero drop shoes. These are the only minimalist shoes I have found that looks like traditional dress shoes (heels and and tapered toe). They are sufficiently comfortable for an evening, but I won’t want to walk or stand for an extended period of time. My Gobi II are formal enough for any events I am likely to attend in the future.

REI Swiftline Running Shorts Shorts* (2022) are very light shorts which dry quickly and pack down into a tiny space. Useful for running, working out in the gym, and as sleep wear. They can be used for swimming in a pinch. Over the years I have purchased these sorts of minimalist shorts, used them a bit, ultimately sold them because they weren’t being used, only to re-acquire a pair. I now know to store these away until the next time I think they would be a good idea.

Patagonia Capilene Thermal Weight Hoody (2009) for cool/cold weather outdoor activities. Without wind protection the grid weave lets air flow through speeding the release of heat. With a shell it provides some insulation. Comfort down to 30F when running without a shell, below that with a shell. When walking around town keeps me comfortable down to 45F when combined with a wind shirt with hoods up. I am reasonably comfortable engage in high energy activities when it’s 65F by fully opening the zipper and pushing the sleeves up to my elbows. Dries amazingly quickly and feels more comfortable than any other shirt I have used when it’s wet in cool conditions. Mine was actually called Capilene 4 because it pre-dates the renaming to “thermal weight”. Likely retire because light base + macpac alpha direct hoody is more versatile and has better performance.

Castelli Light Arm Sleeves* (2021) and Leg Sleeves* (2022) UPF 50 sun protection I combined with short sleeve shirt and shorts to avoid hassle of sunscreen. When in direct sunlight, limbs actually feel a bit cooler than when uncovered. Often using the Arcteryx Cormac hoody so don’t need arm sleeves.

CoolNet UV Buff* (2022) Protects my neck and ears from sun and also functions as a headband to keep sweat out of my eyes. A set of magnets made to “pin” race bib to a shirt keeps the buff from riding up and exposing my neck. Often using the Arcteryx Cormac hoody so don’t need any more.

Ultrafino Santa Fe Hat* – not shown (2021) is “Panama” straw hat. Alas, this hat’s weave is so tight that the ventilation is minimal, and the brim isn’t large enough to consistently shade my face and neck. The function of this hat isn’t as high as I expected, but I have held on to it because it’s a great looking hat that I will sometimes wear to a party when the UV index isn’t too high (like early evening).

Rudy Project Ketyum Frames with Transitions DriveWear manufactured by Sports Optical* (2021) provides excellent protection for my eyes while cycling and any other daytime activity. Ketyum is one of the few wrap around frames that can handle a prescription as strong as mine. The lens are thick but not too heavy. Transition lens work well during daylight but are a bit too strong at dusk.

HiFiMan RE800 Silver IEM (2022) Light weight, good quality sound which doesn’t completely cut me off from my environment. Used when I want to listen to music without disturbing family. Great deal at $90. Not really using it much.

Radsome EarStudio ES100 (2018) bluetooth/DAC/headphone amplifier allows me to use wired headphones with devices missing a headphone jack. Can also function as a USB DAC. The ES100 is tiny, with decent sound quality (though Chord Mojo is better) and can even drive Sennheiser HD800 to reasonable sound levels. Not in situations that require a BlueTooth receiver or improved sound quality over the earphone jack.

AWS AC-650 Digital Pocket Scale (2012) a small scale which makes it easy to weight food on the go.

Kindle Oasis (2019) Lets me carry the majority of my library and every book can be displayed with large print for my aging eyes. Love being able to quickly search for notes / highlighted passages. I miss physical books and I know knowledge retention is better when reading paper books, but the convenience of the ebooks outweighs this for me. The Oasis ergonomics allows reading with a single hand and I like the warm backlight in the evening. I have been tempted by e-paper Android tablet such as those made by Boox which are a more versatile devices. If I lost the Oasis I would likely use my phone and laptop to access my Kindle “library”.

Apple iPad Air 4 + Smart Keyboard Folio + Magic Keyboard for iPad (2021) Purchased as a second monitor (via Sidecar) for MacBook for when I am working away from home. I have found the iPad also works well for consuming media. The Folio keyboard is compact making it compact for onebag travel, but the keyboard feel is mediocre and not stable enough to use on the lap. I tried to do most of my “personal” computing on the iPad with a Magic Keyboard to see if a iPad could replace a laptop: it was a failure. There is too much friction integrating information from several windows and often the app experience on the iPad fell short when compared to the experience on a real laptop or Chromebook. This is my third iPad since they were first introduced. While each was useful for a particular task, I have yet to find it a compelling device for general use. A portable UCB-C powered screen is more effective for me as a second screen. I have mostly abandoned using the iPad. Jackie tried and gave up on “live on it”. Lives in garage for when exercising using Kickr and is taken to meetings when I want to take notes and a laptop would be too intrusive.

Retired

Montbell Wickron Dry Touch Short Sleeve Shirt (2021) for when I need to be more dressed when it’s is hot. The seersucker fabric is more comfortable than many other materials when it’s hot and humid. It resists accumulating odor better than many synthetics shirts I have used. A gift from my wife. Alas, UPF 20 which isn’t enough protection for my skin.

Solbari Weekend Shirt (2022) White button up which is UPF50+, resistants odor for a few of days when moderately active, dries quickly, and under a sport jacket can be mistaken for a more formal dress shirt. In cooler weather blocks a bit of wind, surprisingly comfortable in hot weather. Downside is that it seems to be a dirt magnet and has collected stains and has started to slightly grey after just 34 days wearing it while hand washing every other day or so, and machine washing weekly. Still gray after several runs through washing machine using a non-chlorine bleach suggested by Solbari customer care.

Peach Button Up Shirt (2014) for a change from a white shirt when we are going out for the evening. Birthday present. No really used.

Tadeevo Derby (2023) Just 13oz, flexible, zero drop shoes. Purchased to be a dress shoe that packs smaller than my Gobi. Ok, but the Gobi’s are better looking and more comfortable on my feet. What looked like a dark shadow around the toe on the website is a different material than the leather uppers which gives the shoe a casual look. The run a bit large, make sure you read their fitting instructions.

Nike Dri-Fit Visor (2012) keep sweat and sun out of my eyes while maximizing air circulation for my head. Mostly used when I am running. Combined with a hoody for sun protection. Stains from years of use couldn’t be removed. Switched a foam visor which is more compact, can be used in the rain without absorbing water, and it’s stained.

Mountain Hardware Grub Gloves (2015/2020) medium weight PowerStretch gloves with a quilted mitten cover which folds away into the back of the glove making it comfortable to wear in a wide variety of conditions. My second pair worn out and won’t be replaced because it has been discontinued 🙁

Flowfold Minimalist Wallet (2012) which was a perfect minimalist wallet for me, except doesn’t hold coins which has been needed in the last couple of years.

NiteIze RunOff Waterproof Pocket (2023) is extremely useful when spending time on a beach when there was no one to watch my stuff while swimming. Large enough to hold my wallet, cellphone, keys, and passport, but not so larger than it interfered with swimming. I tucked it under my suit’s waistband on my back. When transiting International flights I would use it as a tiny sling across my chest to hold travel documents, my wallet, and phone. I have used it under clothing as a security wallet when in high crime areas. After around 200 zip/unzip cycles the it stopped sealing and was retired. A Loksac elements proof bag is smaller, cheaper, can operate phone but less durable and has no “strap” option.

Matador Freerain24 (2017/2020) The waterproof zipper on a 1.0 model wore out after 2 years of daily running commute with my laptop and other supplies and so was replaced with the second version. Keeps contents dry in the worst rain. Weights only 5.5oz, and stuffs into a fist size package. Carries reasonably well but not as well as packable Vagabond. Shape tapers which is good for running but makes it a bit challenging to load properly for more “urban” uses. Given to a friend who needed a water resistant daypack.

Gossamer Gear Loris (2023) 25l daypack. Top loading with a covering flap and a zipper to make it easier to reach into the pack that was gifted to me. Has a dual purpose foam back panel / sitpad. Internal unpadded sleeve is large enough to hold a MacBook Pro 14″ and is suspended around 1″ from the bottle of the pack. I found the wide but thin shoulder straps quite comfortable which has pockets on them for small items that are regularly needed. I found the Vagabond much more convenient to access. One surprise was that I found this pack as comfortable as a GoRuck GR1 when carrying 40-50lb with the caveat that the GR1 shoulder straps were not “broken in”. Gifted to one our of children who needed a new daypack.

Linen Towel (2020) Lighter weight, dries faster, and less likely to get smelly than a traditional cotton terrycloth towel, but isn’t as soft. Lost 🙁

Violife slim sonic toothbrush (1999). Had trouble finding replacement heads and wanted a more powerful motor for better cleaning. For now, use a small manual toothbrush or short trips and carry the family Oral-B toothbrush on longer trips.

Panasonic LX100 II Camera (2023) Purchased to get back the control which I couldn’t find with photo apps on my phone and I don’t have to fight with my phone’s “unlock” to take a picture, and to have an effective fill flash. Has a one generation back micro 4/3s sensor which works better in low light than 1″ sensors like the Sony RX100 or the even smaller sensors in phones. Reasonably compact weighting in at around 400grams. Viewfinder so it can be easily used in bright light. A decent quality small zoom lens. Analog controls which remind me of classic rangefinders. Used primarily for street and portrait photography, particularly in challenging light conditions often using a fill flash which cell phones still haven’t mastered. Notes about cameras / photography. In the past year didn’t significantly improve images I captured, so not worth the weight. If I want significantly better image quality I will need to go with a larger camera. I am tempted by an image quality of my friends Leica M10, but reluctant to spend that kind of money or carry a camera of that weight on a daily basis. Maybe I will trying a Fuji X100V if they become available.

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also

Matthew 6:19-21

I would like to produce images which inspire to help others see the world in new ways like Ansel Adams, Mary Ellen Mark, Sebastiao Salgado (Salgado@NYT), Steve McCurry. Peter Turnley, David Turnley or Galen Rowell. After many years I realized I am more of a “snapshot” taker. While less aspirational, taking good snapshots is still valuable. I can capture images which trigger memories and/or invite people into a sight they missed. Typically snapshots aren’t planned, rather they pop up. Often you only get one chance of capturing them. This means that you want the camera with you always (small and light so you are willing to carry it), a fast and accurate focus, and good low light performance. Surprisingly, the modern cell phone works pretty well to capture these sorts of images thanks to improvements in sensors and the advent of computational photography.

Updating this post was triggered by deciding I want to use a “real” camera. The initial trigger was missing a number of pictures due to delays of unlocking my phone and my inability to control exposure / fill flash. I also believe using a more traditional camera will help me stay in the moment. I think I will also be more fun. I am writing down what I want to optimize for to clarify my thinking. This page also has an updated set of bookmarks I made between 2000-2016 and ends with a bit of my photography journey.

What I am Using Today

Updated: December 2024

I am once again trying to use just a cell phone. I have been pleasantly surprised by the image quality from the iPhone 16 Pro. The camera button allows me to quickly unlock and take pictures. The 5x optical zoom seems adequate for most of my needs.

After a year I concluded the image quality of the Panasonic LX100 II wasn’t sufficiently better than my phone’s camera to justify the added weight and size of the camera. Using a dedicated camera did help me be a bit more mindful, but not enough for me to be carrying it all the time. I spent some time with a friend who carried a Leica M10 everywhere. When we reviewed pictures we took at the same time I deleted 90% of my pictures and made copies of his. They were so much better… but I am not prepared to spend that sort of money, nor be that focused on photography.

If I decided to put more effort into photography again, I will give up on finding the most compact camera, and select a camera with interchangeable lens that has superior performance / image quality. These days I think this would be Leica Mx, Fuji X-series, or Sony.

Seeking a Compact Low Light Camera (2022)

For several years the only camera I have used was the camera on my phone. It has produced respectable image quality which is conveniently geotagged which increases it power as a memory aid. While fairly effective, I still miss having a “real” camera. The failings of a camera phone are:

• Wildlife and sports subjects where a fast, long telephoto lens is needed. I rarely am taking these sorts of pictures. When I plan to do this I just rent a camera and lens.
• Challenging lighting situations like heavy backlighting. I have found the flash on the iPhone is often inadequate for “fill”, the native app doesn’t have decent controls, and third party apps are hard to use.
• Taking pictures quickly, especially when I am in bright sunlight. A screen based user interface rather than knobs is slow and the screen is virtually unreadable which means I am often “shooting blind”.

It’s time to purchase a camera which is smallish and light but also versatile and effective. If you search the internet you will find countless queries such as what’s the best camera for a world trip. I identified the following as cameras that would make sense for me:

• Panasonic LX100 II: Felt notably smaller / lighter than other options, even though it has a zoom and compared to cameras with pancake style fixed lens. 49 contrast focus zones which was surprisingly speedy and accurate. Downside is that the sensor and lens are just ok, sensor is only really good to ISO 1600. Product Guide.
• Fuji X100V: a beautiful camera with great ergonomics. Wonderful viewfinder. Great image quality to ISO 3200, very good to 6400 and beyond. Great, Fixed 35/2 lens strength and limitation. Built in flash. Downside is no image stabilization and virtually impossible to find due to supply issues and influencers who have made it a badge of honor.
• Panasonic GX9 + a small prime lens. Small but tiltable viewfinder. Built in flash. In body Image stabilization which can be combined with OIS lens. Clean at ISO 1600, decent at 3200 though dynamic range suffers. 49 contrast focus zones. The Olympus OM E-M10 Mk IV and E-M5 Mk III would be heavier/larger but more performant options. All would allow me to mount longer lens when needed.

It’s difficult to purchase any of these cameras due to supply chain issues. I had hoped I could pick one of them up in Japan, but none of the stores had them in stock either. Shortly after writing this post I found a new Panasonic LX100 II and a Panasonic GX9 with a small pancake lens for sale. After less than a day I decided to keep the LX100 and return the GX9. The LX100 was noticeably smaller/lighter, had faster less error prone focus, with what seemed to have the same image quality.

Rejected

• Sony a6600, Fuji X-T30, Fuji X-E4 + prime lens: Wonderful low light performance. Good focus performance. Downside no flash or image stabilization. The Fuji X-T5 does have IBIS. Larger and heavier than desire when factoring in lens.
• DSLR style Micro Four Third camera. Larger than desired, rather go with Fuji X-T5 for low light performance in the image quality.
• Sony RX100: Tiny. Super fast focus. Wide zoom range. Nice built in flash. Up to ISO 600 image quality (to my eyes) is in the same league as any camera, but above ISO 800 image quality starts to suffer. Honestly, the picture from my iPhone or a modern Android phone look better. The Canon G5 Mk II is cheaper, not quite as good option.
• Ricoh GR III: a classic “street shooter”. Very fast usage. The lack of a viewfinder, flash, and and noise above around ISO 1000 is a fail for my needs.
• Leica D-Lux 7 an expensive sibling to the LX100 II. Why pay the extra money for the same performance.
• Leica Q2 – crazy expensive, larger / heavier
• Sony RX1R1 – fairly expensive, larger / heavier than alternatives

Skills, Learning, Communities

• Kodak’s Guide To Better Pictures (archive)
• lensculture street photography guide
• PhilG’s Making Photographs online text book
• The Robert Farber Interactive Photography Workshop
• Bastard’s Book of Photography
• Understanding MTF
• Next Level Page 2 , Next Level Page 3
• Luminous Landscape
• strobist lighting-101
• Hyperfocal Table (Excel) | Depth of Field (Excel)
• PhotoSecrets (location guides)
• High Dynamic Time Range Images
• Sensor Cleaning by Michael Reichmann
• Find Stolen Camera
• Photo Critique
• x100forum

Photographers

• Bob Atkins
• Bill Atkinson (Nature)
• William Castleman (Astro)
• Rob Galbraith
• Dirck Halstead’s The Digital Journalist
• Dan Heller (Travel)
• Stephen Johnson (Landscape, Digital)
• Ken Light (PhotoJ)
• Fred Miranda (Digital) 
• Moose Peterson (Nature) 
• Bjørn Rørslett (Nature)  
• Guy Tal (Outdoors)

Interesting Galleries

• Washington Post Camera Works (PhotoJ) 
• Photography @ nationalgeographic.com
• ZoneZero
• Journal E
• Fotosearch (Stock)
• Getty Images (Stock)

Equipment & Reviews

• Camera Size Comparision
• CameraReview
• Photodo (industry news, lens MTF results, background articles)
• PhotoZone.DE (industry news, user surveys on gear, technical background)
• dxomark
• the-digital-picture.com (Bryan Carnathan)
• Thom Hogan MFT System Guide
• Steve Vansak’s (shotkit) Guide to MFT (wedding shooter)
• tilt-shift_adapter_for_micro_four_thirds
• Canon Angel of View
• LUSENET: Leica
• Low Light Recommendations (ephotozine)
• Classic Camera Profiles
• A Nikon Pictorial History 

Stores

• Rental:  borrowlenses.com (near home), lensrentals.com, hireacamera
• Mail Order: B&H Photo / Adorama / KEH (Used)
• Mounting Hardware: Kirk Photo / Really Right Stuff

Post Processing (in process of cleaning up)

• Processing: Instant Photoshop, Photoshop Workflow, Out of Gamut:  Sharpening in Photoshop
• pictopia (affordable large prints)
• Tools: tawbaware, Tech #43: PTlens, panoramas – autostitch, noise ninja
• Location: http://wwmx.org/
• Guide to Realistic High Dynamic Range Images by Leviathor
• stuckincustoms HDR tutorial
• bythom workflow
• Lightroom CC
• narrative.so
• magcloud
• photo mechanism

My Journey

I started taking pictures in the 1970s: b&w street, nature, and landscape photography using a Minota Hi-Matic E,  Leica M3 rangefinder, and sometimes was able to borrow a friend’s super cool new (in 1974) Olympus OM-1. I saw photography as a way to capture striking images that could speak truth or inspire people with the beauty of nature. I was inspired by the picture by Ansel Adams (@100), Mary Ellen Mark, Sebastiao Salgado (Salgado@NYT), and Steve McCurry. A bit later I discovered Peter Turnley, David Turnley and Galen Rowell.

Around the time I moved to California (1992) I made a real effort to improve as a photography. I really benefits from PhilG’s photo.net site. My Leica was stolen. I picked up a Nikon SLR because I couldn’t bring myself to spend the money on a new Leica. After several years of using an SLR I found that I missed the rangefinder experience so I picked up a used Minolta CL. In 2002 I switched to all digital when my favorite E6 lab closed. At that time I was delighted by Domke bags, Gitzo legs, Arca Swiss ballheads, and mount brackets from Really Right Stuff. I observed that using a tripod is likely to be one of the very best ways to improve image quality and allow you to take images in low light. I will admit I often didn’t follow my own advise. With the advent of image stabilization, tripods aren’t as necessary as they used to be.

Around 2005 I made some acquaintances who are really good photographers. We would be in the same place and they would captures images that amazed me, things that I completely missed. Their images helped me see the world in a new and different way. I aspire to see the world as they do, but so far I have not been able to cultivate that sort of vision.

Around 2010 I concluded that I could take a good snapshot which captures a moment, but not a picture which would change the way people see the world. As I had this realization I lost my willingness to lug my DSLR + pro lens everywhere and mostly carrying a “pocket camera”. The number of pictures I took started to drop off and I didn’t have pictures of things I wanted to remember. I realized that my “pocket camera” wasn’t really up to the task. I tried to find a camera which was good enough for available light photography which was light enough that I was willing to carry it. I tried use the first generation of the Micro Four Thirds which was ok and a Fuji X mirrorless line which I like quite a bit.

After I lost my wife my photography slowed down and I found that I wasn’t willing to even carry a Fuji X100. I gave my micro four third camera gear to a friend whose camera had been stolen and eventually ebayed my Fuji cameras. I downsided to a Sony RX100, and then with the improvements from computational photography to just using the camera on my iPhone 12 mini.

Calendar Project

I have found pictures really help my ability to recall events. My goal to to take pictures every day, and at every significant event. Each day I will select a picture which best charactered the day and place it in a yearly calendar.

In have an updated list which captures what I am using now.

I strive for simplicity using items that enable a healthy, impactful life, while removing unnecessary friction and decisions. Additional thoughts in my packing light post. The following is a complete list of everything I own. Making this list was inspired by zenhabit’s one bag lifestyle and Tynan’s Gear posts. I have a list of items shared by our family. Please do not allow your possessions to become the basis of your self-worth, security or well being.

Change in 2023: improved sun protection, added items for walking the Camino, moved more items into storage as we travel seeking our next “home base”. My “working set” fits in a 23l daypack. The extra items which get swapped in as we change conditions / locations are stored in a 26l daypack. My long term storage is a 75l Ikea duffel which holds clothing I have archived for this season of life, and a 75l box holding backpacking and camping gear. Minor updates in June 2023. A variant of this in a retro posted on reddit.

Items in bold are exceptionally great. I happily use items marked with “*” but I would not automatically replace them. If I was a “true minimalist” I would get rid of them. The (year) is when the item became a standard part of my life, /year indicates when I re-purchased.

On My Person

Flexon Frames (1995/2020) with high index progressive lens (1995/2023). Eyeglasses are an incredible blessing. I used to break frames within a year until I tried Flexon frames in 1995. They last an average of 8 years with lens being changed each year due to prescription changes. I typically have one pair of frames with clear lens, and one pair that are prescription sunglasses. After several disappointments over the last 45 years, I decided to give photo chromatic lens one more try. Transitions XtrActive Polarized go from almost clear and unpolarized to 90% light blockage which is polarized. They actually work!! Now I don’t need to carry sunglasses.

N95/KT94 Masks (2021/2023) I like the BOTN KT94 and the classic 3M N95 but they are sometimes hard to acquire. For other good options see Masknerd reviews. KT94/N95/etc properly worn provide significant more protection than cloth or the basic surgical masks.

Victorinox Swiss Army Rambler (1999/2015) is the smallest, usable tool I have found with a blade, phillips head & flat screwdriver, scissors, bottle opener, and nail file. There are variants with a small pen or LED which replace toothpick/tweezer. I am on my 3rd Rambler after losing a couple to TSA. When flying and no companion that is checking a bag I swap my Rambler for a Swiss+Tech Utili-Key (2002/2023) which has made it through TSA checkpoints over 100 times without being confiscated, but isn’t as usable as a Rambler pocket knife. On third Utili-Key due to losing them. I have some notes about other knives.

Flowfold Minimalist Wallet (2012) a tiny wallet which holds my IDs, 1-2 credit cards, 1 debit card, a few bills, and a Chipolo Card Spot (2023) which is tied into Apple’s “Find My Item” network. I historically used a BarclayUS card that has no annual fees or foreign transition charges, but few other benefits and a wonky anti fraud system that often required me to approve purchases via SMS. This year we added a Chase Sapphire Reserve card because the benefits we receive are worth more than the annual fee given the travel we are doing in this season of life. Really appreciate that the point can be transferred to the frequent flying programs we use, and like the access to airport lounges.

Uniball Vision Elite .5mm Pen (2015/2023) Writing feel approaching Pilot V5 and doesn’t leak after plane flights!

Apple iPhone 12 Mini (2020) on T-Mobile (2022). The iPhone mini is the smallest full feature phone on the market. I wish the mini was a bit smaller because my thumb can’t reach the upper right corner. Can someone please make a phone the size of the original SE with a 4″ high resolution screen? How about it Apple or Unihertz? Ease of sharing (AirDrop, iMessage. iCloud) with family and friends keeps me in the Apple eco-system. I am tempted by Android’s superior speech recognition, notifications, and open platform. I switched from Verizon which has good coverage in the US but crazy pricing for international use to T-Mobile which has great pricing if you do international travel, but mediocre coverage in USA. While using T-Mobile internationally is convenient, I am tempted to use a local SIM which is typically cheaper when using more than 5gb of data/month, and is often faster because T-Mobile seems to partner with the second place carrier in many markets. Airalo and Gigsky make it easy to acquire an eSIM for wireless data while traveling internationally but I haven’t need this since switching to T-Mobile. I would consider switching to whatever carrier offered satellite coverage at a reasonable cost.

Apple AirPod Pros (2021/2023) are nicely integrated with the Apple eco-system and just work. Bluetooth connects reasonably quickly, is reliable, and switches between my phone and laptop mostly automatically. Noise reduction is “ok”, and the “ambient mode” provides adequate situational awareness. Downside is battery isn’t swappable when it wears out, though there is a company that claims to refurbish AirPods. I have written about other headphones. Upgraded from v1 to v2 when the original case fell out of my pocket while biking. v2 volume control is a nice addition and the case now can be found using Apple’s “Find My” app.

Garmin 955 Watch (2022) accurately tracks my activities and measures my fitness level. Has decent integration with smartphones and notifies me when I have left the paired phone behind. I find the data I get from Garmin to be higher quality than most other wrist worn sensors I have tried, being close to medical grade instruments when paired with a HRM and a power meter. Better battery life than iWatch and physical buttons which work with sweaty fingers. There are other good sport watches. A gift from Jackie to replace my Garmin 935 whose battery had degraded after 5 years of use.

Daily Life

MacBook 12″ from 2017 (2023) – picture is a 14″ MBP. I purchased the 12″ MacBook used with a replaced battery. It’s the last ultra portable Apple made. It can feel sluggish, but thanks to 16gb of memory the dual core cpu is generally adequate. I wanted a device which was less than 2lb, decent keyboard, and would let me complete the tasks I do daily with a minimum amount of friction. I have tried a number of options. Tablets with keyboards have too much friction when I switch between windows/apps while integrating information. The Chromebook I used for a year was ok, but none are lighter than a MacBook and are missing some Apps. Tiny PCs like the GPD Pocket 3 have keyboard and screens which are too small for me to be productive. There are some amazingly light x86 laptops such as the 1.4lb Fujitsu Lifebook UH-X and the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano which would give me a much more performant laptop than a 2017 MacBook, but several of my apps aren’t available under Linux (Lightroom Classic & Bear), and I don’t like Windows due to the fragility / pain of patching and upgrading the OS. In the past I found maintaining a Hackintosh too fiddly. Maybe in the future running Linux with macOS in a VM is worth a try. For now Jackie and I are using a slow, 6 year old laptop, and are content. My 14″ MBP (2022) has been left running in a safe location and accessed remotely via Tailscale when I need more computational power and/or I can spin up AWS instances.

Zojirushi Double Walled Mug 16oz (2013/2017) can easily be used one handed, locks, pours at the perfect speed, the mouth is wide enough for ice cubes, and insulates better than every other mug I have tested. When air temp is ~80F and the mug is exposed to the sun, 6 small ice cubes in cool water have just finished melting in around 3 hours – water temp is 35F. In 68F conditions ice lasts most of the day. I have a Deep Cherry color mug which I picked up after misplacing my silver mug at work. The color make it easy to spot when searching for it. In many countries you you can fill mug with ice (no water) and get through airport security. Once through, add water and you can have icy cold water for your flight. While 16oz is how much water I often want, I prefer the physical size of my wife’s 12oz mug. Sometimes swapped for a couple of reused “disposal” bottles or one of the Platypus water bladders in our camping gear if I need to carry a lot of water.

6 Foot Tape Measure (2023) I often need to measure things. Replaced a retractable fabric tape measure that broke.

Newvanga Sleep Mask  (2021) helps me get longer / better sleep because it stops external light from disturbing me. More durable that the Bucky I used to use.

Nicore NU20 headlamp (2016) Very light-weight (29grams), especially when the headband is replaced with shock cords. Adequate regulation on medium and low settings. When closed the power button to covered preventing accidentally turning it on. Use when I need hands free light: repairs, backpacking, running in the dark, and it has been used when I forgot to recharge my bike light. Lit our kitchen during a power outage by bouncing light off ceiling. Can be powered from a remote USB power bank making it useful in extreme cold. I was using a NU25 which I left in Costa Rica as a gift. The NU21 seems the closest product now made. There are many other good flashlights.

Panasonic LX100 II Camera (2023) Gives me control which I couldn’t find with photo apps on my phone and I don’t have to fight with my phone’s “unlock” to take a picture. Has a one generation back micro 4/3s sensor which works better in low light than 1″ sensors like the Sony RX100 or the even smaller sensors in phones. Reasonably compact weighting in at around 400grams. Viewfinder so it can be easily used in bright light. A decent quality small zoom lens. Analog controls which remind me of classic rangefinders. Used primarily for street and portrait photography, particularly in challenging light conditions often using a fill flash which cell phones still haven’t mastered. I found that the camera on modern cell phones are just as good for day time landscapes. Pictures of wildlife need a much longer lens, say 300-600mm 35mm equivalent. Notes about cameras / photography.

Etymotic HF3 (2013/2023). Great sound isolation, Apple friendly volume stop/start button, and mic. Provides me with around 40db of noise reduction which is better than any consumer grade active noise cancelling headphones I have tried. Also gives better audio quality on phone calls than BlueTooth earbuds. I have a lightning and airplane double jack adaptors. I thought the double jacks would be phased out, but this year I flew on several new 777 which still had these plugs?! Was cheaper to purchase than to re-shell my Westone 5ES IEM which no longer sealed well.

“Tech Kit” items are stored in a small litesmith zipza pouch (2023) which is the perfect size, mostly waterproof, light, and a different texture than anything else in my bag so easy to find by touch. Picture is a muji pouch I previously used

• Nitecore 10000 Gen2 (2023) power bank with USB-A&C out. Lightest and most compact 10k battery I have found. Enough power to very slowly charge my MacBook or mostly power the MacBook while charging my iPhone. Supports pass through charging so I can charge this battery while my MacBook is plugged into the charger. Replaced a RAVpower 10K which was a bit to chunky to carry comfortably in my pocket. Spreadsheet of many power bank options.
• Anker 523 (2023) Dual USB-C, 47w. Single port 45w, using both ports 27w top, 20w bottom. Can charge my MacBook at near maximum speed when it’s the only device plugged in. Over night can charge fully depleted iPhone, Nitecore 10k, and MacBookwith power flowing through the 10k. It’s fairly compact making it less likely to slip out of loose outlets. Replaced a Sharge 3-power USB charger (2020) which my wife is using. I recommend the Anker 735 for people who need 65w and/or 3 jacks.
• Cables: Apple 4ft USB-C to Lightning, Generic 4ft and 2 6″ USB-C cables
• Adaptor tips from USB-C to (A, micro, Lighting, Garmin), and USB-C to A converter.

Garmin HRM-Pro not shown (2021) get higher accuracy during interval training than built in optical sensor on smart watches and works when swimming. Can record data without the watch being connected, but I don’t generally use that feature. Also provides running power which has been somewhat useful. Supports ANT+ and Bluetooth.

o2Trainer – not shown (2022) Working on improving my breathing. Not used enough to have an opinion.

Small combination lock (2012) for use at the gym.

Bags & Travel Accessories

Gossamer Gear Vagabond – my review (2022) a 23L day pack which is light weight, comfortable to carry, works well for EDC, and is large enough to hold everything I am using. The 46x27x15cm (18/10.75/5.75inches) filled with my gear is small enough to squish into every “personal item” sizer I have encountered and under the seat in front of me on every jet I have flown in with the exception of the aisle seat of of the AirBus 350-900 used by French Bee (maybe other AB350s) which has a bar to secure the seats right in the middle of the space. Thankfully, there was plenty of overheat space. A Tom Bihn 1” padded waist strap allows a reasonable amount of weight transfer for me (works better than the GG fast belt). While access is not as easy as a clamshell style bag, I have no problem retrieving items by feel because my clothing and organizing sacks have different textures. Stands up on its bottom making access on the go pretty easy. Replaced a Tom Bihn Synik 30l because I needed less volume and wanted a pack which was more comfortable when carried for multiple hours. I am using the Trail model. The Jet looks even nicer but I don’t have a compelling reason to upgrade. I have a list of other traveling packs that could be a good alternative.

NiteIze RunOff Waterproof Pocket* (2023) is extremely useful when spending time on a beach when there was no one to watch my stuff while swimming. Large enough to hold my wallet, cellphone, keys, and passport, but not so larger than it interfered with swimming. I tucked it under my suit’s waistband on my back. When transiting International flights I would use it as a tiny sling across my chest to hold travel documents, my wallet, and phone. I have used it under clothing as a security wallet when in high crime areas. After around 200 zip/unzip cycles the it stopped sealing and was retired. A Loksac elements proof bag is smaller, cheaper, can operate phone but less durable and has no “strap” option.

PackTowel Ultralight Body Size (2009) Dries in less than 3 hours after I dry myself when hanging indoors, faster in sun, is compact, weights just 3oz. Large enough that I can wrap it around my waist like a small sarong. I found the face size sufficient for me to dry my body, but I am willing to carry a larger towel for the added versatility and ease of use. There are other travel towels.

Mogics Adapter MA1 (2023) is the smallest and lighter power adaptor I have found. For type E remember to unscrew and extended the type C prongs. I wonder about its durability but it’s been ok so far. My previous adaptor, a Micro International power adapter (2018) is being used by my wife.

Sea to Summit Clothing Line* (2022) Has beads to tighten around clothing which removes the need for clothing pins. I prefer braided rubber cloth line which was retired years ago. I retired it after doing the Camino. Just don’t need it.

Decathalon Packable 15L Courier Bag – not shown (2023) Used around town and sometimes to hold items I will use on the flight if I put my pack in the overhead compartment. Seems to be a very inexpensive clone of the long discontinued Patagonia Packable Courier Bag which I used for 10 years.

Coin Purse – not shown (2023) Used instead of my wallet in locations that still frequently use coins (TW, Japan, Costa Rica, EU, etc)

Tom Bihn Smart Alec – not shown (2022) durable top loading day pack. Stands up by itself and is easily accessible through the top zippered opening without spilling. Large enough to carry two folding chairs and food for a picnic. Functions as my “office” storage. In this season of life is holding my “extra” stuff. When at home or at destination we drove to placed wherever I am doing “work”. When we flight to a destination left in the trunk of our car holding whatever items I am not taking.

Bathroom

REI Micro Shower Bag (2017) is the perfect size for my toiletry kit and make it easy for me to find everything quickly. Inside pocket holds a few doses of nyquil and benadryl. Main area has: lip balm, toothpaste, a micro fiber cleaning / storage bag for my glasses, a small HumanGear GoTubb to store aleve, and the bathroom items listed below. Outside pocket holds first aid kit which includes band-aids, single use benzoin tincture, compeed blister pads, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic cream, superglue, a couple of safety pins. This bag is discontinued… the GOX Organizer looks to be similar.

Matador Flatpack Soap Case (2020) to carry a 100senses body bar (2019/2023) which takes care of all my cleaning needs without drying out my sensitive skin or making my hair feel like straw. One bar lasts around six months. There are better shaving creams and detergents to wash clothing, but it’s been good enough and simplifies life for me. The Flatpak lets the soap dry out better than a ziplock bag, but it’s far from magical. Downside is that it doesn’t work very well as a case while showering.

Gillette Power Mach-3 Razor (1999) and blades (1999/2021) Using as a manual handle since vibration stopped working. Use around 11 blades / year. Costco often sells large packs of the blades

PaRaDa Nail clipper (2014) are large and heavy but effective and the trimmings catcher is brilliant. Will likely replace someday with something lighter and more compact.

Retractable Bristle Hairbrush (1994) Compact and more effective than a comb for me.

Reach (rebranded Listerine Woven / Ultraclean) Floss (1996/2022) is the most effective dental floss I have used. Gentle to the gums while still getting plague and food wedged between teeth out. I believe it has been discontinued but still possible to find stock. My dentist has recommended coco floss as a good replacement though it’s more than twice as expensive.

Oral-B/Braun 6000 Electric toothbrush (2016) and USB powered charger. A recent meta analysis concluded that the rotational approach of Oral-B is likely superior to approach of Sonicare, but both are significantly more effective than manual brushing and the electric toothbrushes like my Violife which relies on a brushing motion.

Crystal Deodorant – not shown (2023) Simple Potassium Alum crystals. Years ago I ran an experiment and discovered if I showered regularly, no one could tell that I didn’t use deoderant. I suppose I have lower BO than some people. After >10 years I gave this deodorant a try after reading about them on /r/onebag. I notice that my shirts go a day or more longer before they pick up body odor. Carrying a 1.5 oz stick which seems like it will last for more than a year seems like a good trade-off. It’s best to apply right after a shower since it needs to be wet and works best on clean skin. It’s not an anti-perspirant and doesn’t cover up existing odor. Rather it produces it environment that is hostile to the odor creating bacteria.

I acquire sunscreen wherever I am. I try to select SPF >=50, considered very low risk for health, and reef safe when near the ocean. The sun screens in EU are way better than in the US because the FDA hasn’t approve some of the newer options. Such a shame since they are reportedly are safe, feel better on the skin, and often don’t leave you looking like a ghost. If the trip is short and I don’t have any sun screen from the EU left I will bring a Neutrogena Mineral stick. Around town where I don’t need to worry about form factor or TSA I will see what the top rated sun screen that is liked by both consumerlab and ewg.

Core Clothing

I have notes about selecting clothing for an active life which goes in detail  about how I select clothing for a wide range of activities and conditions. These are the clothing I take on almost all trips and use in my daily life at home. Some people achieve simplicity by having many pairs of the same clothing item which the rotate through. My approach is to have at most three, and run small loads of wash when they get dirty. I keep a log tracking each item’s longevity. Number of days was determined by asking others who would be honest with me if the clothing still looked good / had no odor after airing out overnight.

Western Rise Unlimited Button Down (2022) Blue Merino / Polyester blend button down shirt. My wife tells me it also looks like it was just ironed as it comes out of the my pack. Reported to be UPF 40. Fairly air permeable, resists odor, comfortable in a wide range of conditions. Dries quickly enough to hand wash at night and be ready to be worn the next morning. Can wear at least 4 days without any odor.

Icebreaker Anatomica Tee-shirt (2014/2021) merino wool with a bit of nylon for durability and a bit of lycra for a body hugging fit. This tee-shirt fits me perfectly, is super comfortable, doesn’t smell after many days of wear, dries fairly quickly, and my wife likes how the shirt looks on me. UPF between 15-30? I get around 500 days of wear before an Anatomica Tee looks tired, and 600 days before the first small holes appear which is 2-3x longer than the original Anatomica which was 100% merino. I think Icebreaker makes the best merino tees, but there are a number of other good options from Smartwool, Outlier, and Wool&Prince. While I love merino wool, there are advantages to synthetic technical-tees: synthetics work better when I am heavily sweating, dry more quickly and are more cost effective because they tend to be cheaper and longer lasting.

Arcteryx Cormac Hoodie (2023) A casual UPF 50 shirt. Slightly calendared which I find reasonably comfortable when I am hot and sweaty. When using a crystal deodorant resists odor for 3+ days of normal activities, 2 day of vigorous activity. Provides full sun protection. Resists stains pretty well so spills generally clean with a quick rinse, but after 130 days of continuous use (mostly hand washing) there were stains which won’t come out even after being machine washed a few times on heavy duty. Thankfully light stains on the white heather aren’t as noticeable as pure white shirts. I found this shirt dries in less than 3 hours after being squeezed, rolled in a towel and hung in a cool indoor room with modest ventilation. When hung in bright sunlight on a warm day dries in less than 1 hour. Also dries in less than 1.5 hours when I am wearing it in moderate temperatures and humidity. This is now my default shirt.

De Soto Mobius Tri Shorts (2018/2021) works well cycling, running, and swimming. They are comfortable for all the activities I engage in when the temperature is above freezing. They have reduced issues with chafing, dry fairly quickly, and are reasonably comfortable when wet. They have side pockets large enough to hold some nutrition and my phone so I don’t need to use a special cycling jersey. I never need to think about what to wear for vigorous physical activities…. I just grab a pair of tri-shorts. I get around 1000 hours of use from each pair before the elastic no longer provides any compression. Never had a pair develop holes.

Outlier New Way Shorts (2014) are nice looking shorts which fit me perfectly, are durable, and resist stains. The first place I have noticed wear is mesh to drain the pockets develop holes. These shorts feel like they were tailored just for me. I can’t put into words how “right” they feel each time I put a pair on. The fabric is thick enough to prevent items in my pocket from really standing out. They are pricy but at the time that I purchased them, I hadn’t found any shorts that I liked as much. They can function as a swim suit but aren’t ideal for that use because they take 2x times to dry as some of my board shorts and wife observed “they don’t look like a proper swim suit.” Still wearing the first pair I purchased. Purchased some others (some at goodwill!) which are in my cache.

Western Rise Evolution V1 Pants (2020/2022) Slightly stretchy nylon pants that are a cross between jeans and chinos which can dry overnight when hanging in the bathroom. The most comfortable pants I have found in hot weather that have a “business casual” look. I found their fit to be “snug” fitting rather than the nearly tailored fit of the Outlier Slim Dungarees. After around 300 days of wear they are a stretched and the color fades slight but otherwise are still in reasonable shape. I love my first pair of these pants, I am not as happy with later pairs. Sizing is not consistent, customer service is poor, and others have reported issues with stitching. Version 2 of Evolution are a bit more tight fitting and stretch more.There have been a few times these pants got completely soaked in the rain. I survival but it was uncomfortable. Bluffworks, Maker&Rider, Outlier, and Wool&Prince makes nice alternatives. Classic hiking pants like prAna Brion aren’t as refined looking but are cheaper. There are a number of good pants.

Icebreaker Anatomica Briefs (2014/2021) the most comfortable underwear I have worn. They dry quickly and resist odor. I get around 600 days of wear before the waist band deforms and small holes appear. Only downside is that they bunch up a bit in hot weather when carrying a backpack. Tommy John’s Air Briefs (2022) are really wedgy-proof and dry very quickly except for the waist band. In the past I found the synthetic briefs from Ex Offico were pretty good but have heard their quality has dropped. I tried Saxx a number of years ago, and didn’t think they were worth their high price. I have heard Uniqo Airism and Duluth Trading Buck Naked boxer briefs but no personal experience.

Xoskin Toe Socks – 2 pairs (2022) prevents blisters forming between my toes when walking or running for extended distances. I have worn one pair 30 days in a row doing 15-37 miles of hiking each day without blisters and had pre blisters that were forming before I started using the socks heal. They weren’t stinky after six days of continuous use (and not washing) while backpacking, though the are more prone to pick up odor after several hundred miles of use. They are significantly more durable than my previous merino toe socks. After 640 miles my first pair of socks got a hole from a toenail. I darned the sock and continue to wear it. Small holes between my hammer toes appeared at 700 miles but are not impacting it’s blister prevention At 1400 miles developed a large hole from my sandal’s toe strap. I have switched to primarily using a new pair, but on days that are less than 5 miles of walking I am still using them for sun protection when wearing sandals.

Luna Venado Sandals (2012/2022) I can walk 15-37 miles / day for a month on hard surfaces and my feet are still feel good. I love the feel of running almost barefoot and the tiny space they take when packed. They don’t make the slap sound some sandals do. They mold to your feet over time. Even after 1500 miles they have a bit of cushion though I have worn the sole through in at least one spot. I expect to replace them every 1300 miles or so. I have used them in the back country but the traction isn’t great. These have been my “shoes” in town unless social convention would have me wear closed toed shoes and have become my favorite track / street running footwear. Why is it women can were sandal and be considered dressed up and men have to wear closed toe shoes?

Inov-8 Trailfly G 270 (2022) Zero drop trail running shoe that is a good amount of cushion and a 12mm stack. Great fit for me: enough room for my toes to splay while gripping my heel perfectly. Used for backpacking or trail running when the terrain is too challenging for my Luna sandals or when I need to wear closed toe shoes. This model used to be called the TerraUltra G 270. I don’t have enough miles to determine if the graphene infused soles are any more durable than typical trail runners. So far they have been acceptable footwear in fairly snobbish establishments. I typically wear them whenever I am in transit because they are more bulky than my sandals.

Extra Clothing

There are some clothing that I take / use based on what the next leg of my journey will require. When not in use, they are stored in the trunk of our car.

Outlier Slim Dungarees – 2 pairs (2014/2019) High-tech nylon pants in the style of jeans. Gives me an almost tailored fit, looks great, good mobility and durability. Thanks to the NanoSphere treatment very stain and water resistant. They are perfect when it’s <75F and I am inactive, <55F when very active. When highly active in >70F the seam that runs along the inner thighs chafes. In hot weather prefer Western Rise Evolutions Pants. Over time the pants stretch out a bit especially around the knees which make them a bit less slim fitting. I get more than 550 days of use before there is any signs of wear: light pilling at the top of the pocket I use the most. I have yet to completely wear out a pair though I have retired a couple of pairs after a pen leak created a large stain (why I no longer use Pilot V5 pens) and after I lost weight and needed to switch to a smaller waist. When paired with nice shirt, blazer, and tie they have been accepted in situations which called for semi-formal dress, something the hiking pants I wore in the past couldn’t do. I have repeatedly had women say “Where did you get those pants? They look great. I want to buy a pair for my husband.” Twice the question was from someone in the “business” such as the owner/buyer of a women’s clothing boutique that my wife loves. SD seem pricey but it depends what you compare them to. When considering the cost / day of wear ($0.07/day)… they are 5x the cost of mass market nylon pants which don’t fit me that well, 2-3x the cost of higher quality nylon pants from companies like Prana and Patagonia, and about the same cost per day as Levi 501 jeans if you retired them when the knees are blown out. Maybe an indulgence, but I don’t think them as a luxury item when I see $1390 nylon shorts from Prada. Current pairs I am wearing were acquired in 2017.

Extra Icebreaker Anatomica Tee Shirt & Underwear which when added to my core clothing enables me to go for a week before I have to wash all my clothing. If I am going to be staying in one location for an extended time I will bring these along so I can avoid the hassle of hand washing my clothing. I have found washing machines clean clothing more effectively than when I hand wash.

Patagonia Cool Daily Hoodie (2022) Comfortable hoodie, resists odor for 4 days when somewhat active, provides moderate sun protection which I believe is good enough when I am indoors much of the day. Patagonia removed any UPF claims because between their initial testing and production the UPF performance dropped / was inconsistent (from >50 to 17-45, average 34). The Outdoor Research Echo is a good alternative for many: lighter, cooler feeling, with a slimmer fit, thumb loops, anti odor that almost as good. Unfortunately for me, the Echo’s UPF is 15-20 has resulted in me getting sunburn when I spend all day in locations that hit >10 UV Index.

Solbari Weekend Shirt* (2022) White button up which is UPF50+, resistants odor for a few of days when moderately active, dries quickly, and under a sport jacket can be mistaken for a more formal dress shirt. In cooler weather blocks a bit of wind, surprisingly comfortable in hot weather. Downside is that it seems to be a dirt magnet and has collected stains and has started to slightly grey after just 34 days wearing it while hand washing every other day or so, and machine washing weekly. Still gray several runs through washing machine using a non-chlorine bleach suggested by Solbari customer care.

Bluffworks Hopsack Blazer (2022) Blazer which doesn’t wrinkle, can be washed in a machine, and is light enough to wear in hot weather. Took on several trip but used very rarely and was never required. Current dress standards make it mostly unnecessary.

Darn Tough Socks – 2 pair (2013/2019) are unsurprisingly durable since they come with a lifetime warranty. Icebreaker and the Smartwool PhD line are good alternatives. Worn out and replaced 2 pair of the no show light socks after >4000 miles of use for each pair. None of my light crew have been worn through yet.

Vivobarefoot Gobi II (2017/2022) are comfort, zero-drop, minimalist ankle boots which look good with casual clothing or dressed up in a suit. I have used them around town, hiking in the backcountry and even run in them. Sending my original pair to be resoled after walking more than 1500 miles. With an occasional brush and polishing the uppers still look good after repeatedly soaked in rain storms, covered in mud, etc. They are generally not needed given current dressing standards, I can typically get away with trail runners.

Patagonia Hydropeak Hybrid Walk Shorts – no shown (2023) dry in a couple of hours while hanging, faster when wearing. The are very comfortable, give me good freedom of movement. Not excessively “Technical” looking. They can function as a swim suit, but if I am going to be be constantly doing water sports by the ocean I will retrieve my Bluesmith board shorts described in the “beach section” below. Used when I want to bring a single pair of shorts and expect to spend time at the beach.

Outerwear

The following clothing allows me to be comfortable at all actively levels when the temperature is 25F or warmer, and colder if I am engaged in high aerobic activities like running or cross country skiing.

Montbell Peak Dry Shell (2021) made from Shakedry. I can actually wear it and not be soaked by sweat when active! I have done zone 2 runs for >2 hours in 48F rain with just 1 gram of water accumulating in my running shirt. Waterproof and doesn’t wet out. Works well as a wind shell. Alas Shakedry is somewhat fragile and is being discontinued… hope something equally performant comes out soon. In the mean time I have picked up a few Shakedry jackets for my “stash” for when my Peak Dry wears out. This jacket was pulled from my stash when my GoreWear R7 Shakedry’s zipper failed. The Montbell is heavier, has a bit more room for insulation under it, a better hood, and a lot less ugly “branding”. Other options are discussed in my post about rain gear.

Zpacks Vertice Rain Pants (2018) are simple, light, breathable, waterproof rain pants. Used when in cool rain commuting by bike, hiking, or backpacking. I have been known to wear them while doing the laundry. After a few years of light use I am getting some minor leaking in the seat, and the bottom cuffs are fraying / delaminating. When they wear worn out will go with rain pants made from a more durable material like Gore Tex Pro.

Macpac Nitro Pullover (2021) Made from Polartec Alpha Direct (90gsm). Highly breathable and dries super fast. Very light insulate without a shell, surprisingly warm under a shell. Great when active in cold conditions. I can feel air flow at walking speed in still air. Worn whenever my shirt isn’t warm enough. I am comfortable sitting in 68F wearing the Nitro and a tee-shirt, but when I pull up the hood and layer on a shell I am comfortable down to 40F doing light work (walking <2mph). There are lots of good options for an insulation layer.

Montbell Plasma 1000 Down Vest (2021) Incredibly light weight vest which provides moderate insulation for my core. I have the Japanese version which has pockets. With a long sleeve shirt and shell I am comfortable down to around 40F. When combined with a tee-shirt, Macpac Nitro, and a shell allows me to be comfortable while walking down to 25F. Combined with Nitro and Micro Puff keeps me warm enough in any winter conditions I am likely to encounter in the next few years. More acceptable looking over button down shirt / under blazer than my hoodie. Less than perfect for me: cut is a bit too boxy the neck doesn’t seal well.

Montbell Umbrero Rain Hat (2021) is a 1.8oz folding hat which fully shades my face, ears, and neck. It’s fully waterproof but still provides the best ventilation of any hat I have used. It deforms but usable in 25mph winds. Montbell listing originally said provide protection from sun, but when I reached out to ask what’s its UPF was informed the indication of UV protection was a bug in their website. I addressed the lack of UV protection by coating the inside with a paint which fully blocks UV. I think it’s silly looking, and periodically have people point and laugh… but I have also received compliments and have had people chase me down, say across the parking lot at Costco to ask where they could purchase one for themselves. When walking the Camino we had around 90 people ask us where they could get their own and several requests for selfies with the hat. There are lots of other good hat options.

PolarBuff (2003) Generally I use the hoods on my garments, but sometimes I want extra insulation for my neck or head. Don’t use it that often, but small and light enough it doesn’t make sense to retire it.

Enlightened Gear Visp Rain Mittens – not shown (2022) Super minimalist protection from hands. Keeps my hand comfortable from freezing to around 50F when engaged in modest activity up to zone 2 workout.

Patagonia Micro Puff not shown described in the section below labeled “In the Car”

Camino Gear

When walking the Camino I wanted to carry a light and compact pack. We will be staying some nights in alberques which don’t provide linens and post COVID don’t have blankets. We will be washing clothing and letting them dry over night and sleeping in spaces that are mixed gender. I want to use clothing which is exceptionally low water absorption and fast drying.

Hostel sleep system: 48″ x 62″ piece of Polartec Alpha Direct 4004, 120gsm (2022) compressible warm blanket which is a $20 piece of bulk fabric, MLD Bag Liner (2023) 3oz 10D nylon sleep sack, in a Sea2Summit 2.5L Ultra-Sil Stuff Sack (2022). For stays in basic hostels and alberques that don’t provide bedding of any sort. Comfortable for sleeping down to 55F. The sack is snug but not too tight, keeping the blanket well positioned when cold. As it warms move blanket to outside of the sack or remove completely. Blanket can be warm like a shawl during particularly cold days. Likely will get a bigger piece of alpha direct, add a head slit so it can be worn as a poncho and get a larger sleep sack.

Patagonia Terrebonne Joggers (2023) Very light weight polyester pants which provide a good range of motion, are very light, pack up small, UPF 40. Dry in less than 2 hours when hung indoors, less than 1 hour when wearing after being completely soaked in a rain storm once the rain stopped. Very breathable and comfort in hot weather. These are the only pants I worn when walking the 800km Camino Frances in 2023. found them good for outdoor activities in cooler weather and for sleeping / lounging. Downside are that the pockets are a bit shallow and loose so items can fall out when sitting down. Now my default backcountry backpacking pants.

REI Swiftline Running Shorts Shorts* (2022) are very light shorts which dry quickly and pack down into a tiny space. Great for running, working out in the gym, and as sleep wear. They can be used for swimming in a pinch.

Trailbum Gnu Rain Cape (2023) Ultralight 3.5oz rain protection. Nice because it protects me and my pack. I wrote up a description of using this poncho combined with a piece of polartec alpha direct as a poncho liner.

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Used When I Didn’t Fly To the City of Residence

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Household Items

The following are used whenever they can be easily transported to where we are staying for >2 weeks. If we are flying to a destination, they are stored in our car.

Withering Body WiFi Scale (2014) makes it easy to track weight which is well integrated to Garmin, Fitbit, MyFitnessPal, LoseIt, and numerous other health tracking eco-systems. Body composition numbers not accurate. Having trouble getting it to switch WiFi networks.

ChiliPad (2019) which cools or warms water which flows through a mattress topper. I need to be significantly colder than Jackie to sleep soundly. When under our bed the heat exchanger not able to hit the cooling target when the unit was under the bed, but it has been fine when sitting out. We tried an eightsleep system which much quieter but not worth the added cost to us. I didn’t find the automatic temperature adjustment of the eight sleep particularly helpful and the sleep tracking wasn’t significantly better than my Garmin watch.

Pulse Flex Wireless Speaker (2017 & 2022) allows us to have synchronized whole house music and plays nicely with other BlueSound products. We have the original Flex speaker and the updated Flex 2i. It also supports inputs via USB, Bluetooth, AUX, a number of streaming services like Spotify, and many free sites via URIs. Has a iOS and Android remote control app which works but has a somewhat awkward UI. Controls on the top let you select one of 5 user-defined “channels” without using the remote. I have the optional battery pack so it can be used in our backyard. Sound quality is significantly less than KEF LS50 but better than most portable speakers. When using them away from home primarily play lossless music which is stored on a thumb drive plugged into the back of the speaker. For people who aren’t using Roon, I would recommend Sonos: for its lower price point, better streaming options, and slightly more processed sound quality which everyone but audio purists like me typically prefer. Even cheaper are products from Audio Pro.

MacBook Pro 14-inch (2006/2021) Holds the family’s archives: pictures, videos, ripped CDs, digitized books, and documents. There are better performing laptops for the money, but the touch pad is more usable than most laptops and OS X provides high quality commercial applications and full UNIX tooling. I have made it through many OS upgrades without problems and have never had to wipe the disk and reinstall the operating system. I select a configuration with enough storage for 2x my current usage (4tb at the time of purchase) and the maximum memory available which has allowed me to use the same MacBook Pro for ~5 years before I feel the need to upgrade. My wife is still happily using my 2012 MacBook Pro. Only downside is size and weight. I hope Apple brings back an ultra-portable someday.

Lives in Car

I leave some items in car trunk in case we encounter unexpected conditions. I rarely use these items personally, but have often loaned them out to friends who weren’t prepared for the weather we encountered.

Linen Towel* (2020) Lighter weight, dries faster, and less likely to get smelly than a traditional cotton terrycloth towel, but isn’t as soft.

Matador Freerain24* (2017/2020) The waterproof zipper on a 1.0 model wore out after 2 years of daily running commute with my laptop and other supplies and so was replaced with the second version. Keeps contents dry in the worst rain. Weights only 5.5oz, and stuffs into a fist size package. Carries reasonably well but not as well as packable Vagabond. Shape tapers which is good for running but makes it a bit challenging to load properly for more “urban” uses.

Tilley LTM6 Hat* (2014) durable hat that provides good sun protection. I prefer the LTM8 which has more ventilation. Replaced a 20 year old canvas Tilley that was lost on a river trip.

ArcTeryx Squamish Wind Shell* (2012) is a 5oz windshirt with an air permeability of ~30 CFM. When combined with a heavy base or light middle layer provide comfort over a huge range of conditions. Comfortable against the skin. Current Squamish isn’t as air permeable. Best replacement is likely the Mountain Hardware Kor.

Icebreaker Quattro Hoody* (2012) is a medium weight merino wool sweatshirt. After several years of near constant use starting to pill so has been “retired” to the car.

Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody (2020) Keeps me comfortable ~25F lower than I would be without the jacket. Provides just the right insulation for me for winter nights in the SF Bay Area and shoulder season backpacking in the sierras. Combined with down vest or Nitro Hoody it’s just right for winter trips in the sierras. Reasonably light and compressible. Long enough to cover my blazer.

Keen Clearwater CNX* (2014/2018) are the lightest sandals Keen makes. The toe cap has been effective at protecting my toes. When worn with gray socks they can “pass” for shoes most of the time. Keens ground feel is a bit “dead”. I use them when I have been biking and Jackie meets me somewhere for lunch so I have something to wear besides my cycling shoes with cleats.

Backpacking / Hiking / “Real” Winter Gear

I have a 3-season packing list which makes use of a number of the items on this list and has several items which are specific for backpacking. I have not taken pictures of any of these items. The “winter gear” is not used “at home” because the Bay Area never gets cold enough to need these items, but they are pulled out when traveling to winter destinations. These are stored in a old Coke crate in the garage.

Gossamer Gear Gorilla (2012) An older version of the Gorilla which I use when doing multi-night backcountry trips or urban travel when I am carrying more weight / volume than appropriate for the Vagabond. Its weights just 28oz, comfortable carries up to 25lbs for tens of miles in a day, has survived thousands of miles, and works as a carry-on bag. My size L is actually 23″ long, but has been able to fit in airline sizers and overhead luggage bottom in first if not overpacked and placed at an angle. Sidenote: The first generations of the Gorilla carried pretty well, the current generation connects the frame directly into the hip belt which has been stiffened compared to the first generation improving it’s carry characteristics.

Osprey Ultralight Drysack (2021) Used as a liner to protect against rain, can be used to wash clothing on trips if I am sharing a bathroom and can’t soak my clothing in the sink, and as a giant “clothing packing cube”. Sometimes used to separate dirty from clean clothing.

Gossamer Gear Vagabond Packable (2021) 23L pack which is comfortable to carry and easily packs away in my larger bag. Used for done in a day outdoor activities, as a EDC / grocery shopping bag, and has been used as my primary luggage on trips on several trips. This is by fair the most comfortable carrying packable day pack I have ever used. Most package daypacks feel like a sack with straps designed to fit a non human.

Entchin Fanny Pack (2020) Inexpensive fanny pack which is a good size for half day activities. Can hold a headlamp, mini first-aid/emergency kit, water bottle, a protein bar, and small volume jacket. Use rather than daypack so my back is ventilated. The bucket has broken three times and is being held together by tape. Looked at a bunch of much more expensive fanny packs, but not work as well. Closest was the REI Trail 5 but when I put my water bottle in a holster it gets in the way of my arms as they swing.

Patagonia Cap 3 Tights (2007): added to my legs when facing continuously below freezing conditions.

Mountain Hardware Grub Gloves (2015/2020) medium weight PowerStretch gloves with a quilted mitten cover which folds away into the back of the glove making it comfortable to wear in a wide variety of conditions. My second pair almost worn out. Alas, this model has been discontinued.

Outdoor Research Meteor Mitts* (2004): which have a removable 300wt fleece inner mitt which folds back to let you use your fingers and a durable, waterproof shell. Can use the shells without liner when it’s warmer. The magnets on the inner mitt detract from overall comfort. Many people replace the liners. Dries faster than all-in-one handwear.

Traction Devices* (2020): Gives trail runners and other shoes grip on snow and ice. Picked up when we were facing icy trails in Grand Canyon without footwear with sufficient traction. Don’t remember the brand and it’s not stamped into the chains. When doing a lot of winter trips I would use screw shoes.

OR Gaiters: (<1988) for keeping snow out of shoes/boots and the lower legs most dry.

Bicycling Gear & Clothing

Specialized S-works 2019 Roubaix (2021) an endurance bike that smooths out the road making it easy to be confident on less than ideal road surfaces with a responsiveness that approaches the Cervelo R-series. A huge improvement from the 2013 version of the Roubaix. Fitted with an Infinity Seat (weird looking but the most comfortable seat I have used), 2 water bottle cages, and a small seat bag which holds a pump, tubolito, bike tool, and 2 tire levers. I have a charger for DI2 which is powered via a micro USB cable gets used every month or so. Otherwise it sits in the garage.

Cervelo R3* (2013/2015). Replaced with identical bike when my first was stolen. Comfortable enough for an endurance ride, responsive like a race bike, great for climbing. Wore out drive train which has now been mostly replaced… still looking for Rotor chain rings. Now primarily lives on a Kickr for indoor “rides” and is my “spare bike” and if my Roubaix is out of action or an out of town friend wants to go for a ride.

Felix BC21R Bike Headlamp and Cygolite Hotshot Pro 150 (2019) The BC21R uses a removable 18650 rechargeable battery. I don’t love the Felix but it’s getting the job done and the swappable battery is very handy.

Power Tap P1 Pedals (2015) because I like objective measures. No longer made. The Garmin Vector 2 pedals use standard Keto cleats, and are lighter.

Bicycling Shoes (2013) with cleats for PowerTap peddles. No idea the brand.. they were the cheapest shoes I found at a local bike shop. They are near the end of their life, but I haven’t found a shoe that is as well ventilated so I continue to squeeze a few more miles out of them by regluing the seams.

Xenith Delta Shirt (2021/2022) is the most comfortable shirt I have worn when sweating heavily. The shirt maintains air permeability and doesn’t stick when wet. The shirt dries at the perfect rate: faster than wool or cotton, but slower than classic “fast dry” shirts, and feels cool against the skin. I have also found that is it the most odor resistant synthetic shirt I have tried, though not as good as wool. Only UPF 30. If I am doing a long ride I put sun screen on and then put the shirt on. My first shirt has holes after around 1500 hours of exercise. If day to day wear-and-tear is similar, I would only get 90 days of all day wear :(. Hopefully my second shirt will last longer.

Black Diamond Alpine Start (2021) is a 6oz hoodless ultralight soft-shell which is very air permeable (30-60 CFM depend on who did the measurement… feels like 45cfm to me) and extremely water resistant thanks to the Schoeller NanoSphere treatment. Very comfortable in high wind <60F doing normal activities, bicycling at tempo pace (~220watts / ~18mph) when it’s <55F or doing a zone 2 HR runs when it’s <50F. In a light rain find it easier to manage moisture than a Shakedry shell because the higher air permeability helps me dump heat (reducing the amount I sweat) while resisting the rain. Normally I like a hood, but the lack of a hood is useful when cycling and running with a hat. Windshirts are great!

Castelli Light Arm Sleeves* (2021) and Leg Sleeves* (2022) UPF 50 sun protection I combined with short sleeve shirt and shorts to avoid hassle of sunscreen. When in direct sunlight, limbs actually feel a bit cooler than when uncovered. Typically using the Arcteryx Cormac hoody so don’t need arm sleeves.

Pearl Izumi P.R.O. Barrier WxB Cycling Gloves (2021) Keep hands comfortable on rides when it is cool and maybe wet. Cheap thanks to a clearance sale at sierra.com. Likely better gloves but they are getting the job done.

CoolNet UV Buff* (2022) Protects my neck and ears from sun and also functions as a headband to keep sweat out of my eyes. A set of magnets made to “pin” race bib to a shirt keeps the buff from riding up and exposing my neck. Typically using the Arcteryx Cormac hoody so don’t need any more.

Giro Air Attack Shield Helmet (2013/2016) provides protection, good ventilation while having a streamlined aerodynamic profile. Has snap on optical shield. On my second Air Attack helmet due to a crash which broke the helmet but protected my head. If you ride a bicycle, wear a helmet!! I have been able to walk away from at least two accidents thanks to the protection of a helmet. Helmets don’t lead to more injuries due to a false sense of security. These days there are helmets which are more aerodynamic than mine, and also cheaper while providing equivalent protection.

Wahoo Fitness Kickr (2013) is a trainer for when it’s not convenient to hit the road. Integrated power meter and variable resistance which can be controlled via ANT+ or BlueTooth. Very useful if doing structured training based on power.

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Stored during our travel (2022-????)

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“Variety” Clothing

While I normally like to wear my “uniform”, but I sometimes want to wear something a bit different. I know my wife likes variety in my clothing. I sometimes call the following my “Jackie clothing”. These clothing can be rolled over their hangers and be stored in a $4 Ikea Frakta Duffel (2022) along with my beach items and extra clothing items.

Toni Richards Hawaiian Shirt (2019) Everyone needs at least one shirt for “Hawaiian shirt day” though some might argue that white and blue with sharks rather than flowers isn’t very Hawaiian. I find the cotton lawn fabric used by Toni Richards to be one of the most comfortable materials when it’s hot and humid. Alas, UPF is quite low.

Montbell Wickron Dry Touch Short Sleeve Shirt* (2021) for when I need to be more dressed when it’s is hot. The seersucker fabric is more comfortable than many other materials when it’s hot and humid. It resists accumulating odor better than many synthetics shirts I have used. A gift from my wife. Alas, UPF 20.

White Cotton Button-up Shirt* (2012) Was my default when I want to wear something more formal than a tee-shirt. Appropriate in almost any setting. Shirts which have more sun protection and dry more quickly have replaced it.

Peach Button Up Shirt* (2014) for a change from a white shirt when we are going out for the evening. Birthday present.

Muji Black/Grey/White Checked Button Up Shirt* (2013) for something that is casual but a bit more dressed up than my tee-shirt or hoody. Gift from Jackie.

Wool and Prince 210wt Burgundy Oxford Shirt* (2020) Slim fit, classic oxford cloth look while being 100% wool. Christmas present.

Outlier AMB Merino Wool Button Up Shirt (2019) Very comfortable. It doesn’t wrinkle and if I don’t spill food on it can be worn many days without washing. Good air permeability, surprisingly comfortable in warmer conditions.

Banana Republic Purple Merino Wool Sweater (2013) for cool days or when some color is called for. Purple is the color of royalty… so it can function as a Christmas or Easter sweater. Gift from Jackie.

Grey Cashmere V-neck Sweater* (2019) for fall and winter evenings when I need more warmth than just a shirt and my hoody is too casual. Love cashmere but durability is low, it pills very quickly.

Boss Blazer* (2014) for dressy events in the fall and winter that don’t require a formal suit. Christmas present.

Boss Wool Suit – not shown (2012) slim/european cut in super 140 wool. Fits me perfectly though not bespoken. First suit that I wear rather than the suit wearing me. Light enough that it’s usable in the summer. I use it for weddings, funerals, and special nights out on the town. I won’t naturally choose to wear a suit, but sometimes it’s appropriate.

Alpaca Blend Socks* – not shown (2021) are soft, warm, and cushioning with non slip “dots” on the bottom. Work well as slippers at home and are very pleasant on cold days inside shoes.

Luna Oso Flaco Sandals – not shown (2022) I can walk 25 miles / day for a week on hard surfaces and my feet are still feel good. Has decent ground feel and pack very compactly. Good traction on trails. The wings are must more convenient that the “traditional” lacing. They irritate the side of my foot when I run without socks (fine for walking). The sandals can make a slap sound when walking on concrete which the Venado don’t make. When they are wet my feet slide a bit which makes me consider trying 5fingers again for back country trekking and trail running. Purchase because Venado were nearing end of their life and wanted more traction.

Carots Shoes* not shown (2017) are formal looking zero drop shoes. These are the only minimalist shoes I have found that looks like traditional dress shoes (heels and and tapered toe) that are sufficiently comfortable for an evening..

Tadeevo Derby* – not shown (2023) Light (13oz), flexible, comfortable, zero drop shoes. Purchased to be a dress shoe that packs smaller than my Gobi. I like them, but the Gobi’s are better looking. What looked like a dark shadow around the toe on the website is a different material than the leather uppers which makes the shoe look at lot more casual. I considered returning them but international shipping back to Poland was expensive. The run a bit large, make sure you read their fitting instructions.

Ultrafino Santa Fe Hat* – not shown (2021) is “Panama” straw hat. Alas, this hat’s weave is so tight that the ventilation is minimal, and the brim isn’t large enough to consistently shade my face and neck. The function of this hat isn’t as high as I expected, but I have held on to it because it’s a great looking hat that I will sometimes wear to a party when the UV index isn’t too high (like early evening).

Nike Dri-Fit Visor – not shown (2012) keep sweat and sun out of my eyes while maximizing air circulation for my head. Mostly used when I am running. Combined with a hoody for sun protection.

Beach / Water Clothing and Gear

When we spend extended time near a tropical beach these get pulled out.

Bluesmith Spartan Board Shorts* (2016) For days that I am living in swimming suit, going in an out of the water. These shorts dry very quickly. Could use my other shorts if I was trying to minimize more.

Patagonia R0 Longsleeve Shirt* (2022) UPF 50 shirt for water activities. Tight fitting, dries quickly. Jackie approved. Picture has my retired Bluesmith shirt rather than white R0.

Matador Pocket Blanket* (2019) to sit on when at the beach.

Matador Droplet Wet Bag* (2019) which holds items on the way to the beach, and wet items on the way home.

Yeesam Prescription Snorkeling Mask (2019) which lets me actually see underwater life when snorkeling rather than just blurs and flashes of color!

Akona 2mm Neoprene Socks – not shown (2019) Prevent my toes from getting ripped up when using flippers. Sometimes used with keen sandals if I am constantly going in and out of water or with my cycling shoes if doing an extended ride is cold rain.

TYR Corrective Optical Performance Goggles not shown (2012) so that I can actually see when I am swimming.

Sentimental Items

There are a several items I have kept as a specific way to honor people I love or past experiences.

Box which I store these things, my spare glasses, some old documents, etc.

Various buttons collected over the years related to projects or movements that were important to me.

Libby’s pins (<2000) of a nativity scene, a mother and child. Originally worn by my late wife Libby on special occasions, they became daily decorations on the hats she wore during chemotherapy. They remind me of Libby’s courage and the two things most important to Libby, family and Jesus.

Gumby (2011) which was given as a reminder that when life is difficult, we need to be flexible.

Dad’s (<1980) tie tacks and Alox Swiss Army Knife which remind me of his love of the outdoors and his care for his students.

Knit Cap with 23andme logo (2016)

CatBus Plushy (2018) given to me by Jackie. It reminds me of the gentle film My Neighbor Totoro. I wanted a real CatBus, but no one can find one for me 🙂

Computer Wizard’s Tee Shirt (1977) from high school group club… still fits. Not shown: 23andme Tee-Shirt (2016) Hashicorp Cycling Jersey (2021)

Grandpa’s Yamaka (<1980)

Stored – Possibly Retire

“Extra” clothing stashed for when my existing clothing wears out. Most of the extra clothing were purchased on sale, lightly used, or I had been wearing and decided to drop the number of items I have in a weekly rotation. I currently have 1 pairs of outlier slim dungarees (2019), 3 outlier new way shorts (2014-8), 3 western rise evolution pants (2022), 3 tee shirts (2018-2021), 2 arcteryx cormac shirts (2022-2023), 3 pairs of briefs (2019-2021), 6 pairs of darn tough socks (2015-2019), 2 pairs xoskin socks (2022), GoreWear R7 trail running jacket (2022), Montebell Peak Dry Jacket (2023), Sikta Shakedry Jacket (2022), Macpac Nitro hoodie (2022), 2 delta tee-shirts (2022). These items will be pulled out when my current clothing wears out. It’s useful to have have an unused items purchased at the same time as one which is in “heavy rotation” to see how much wear and tear accumulates over time.

Tom Bihn Passport Pouch (2022) Small pouch which is large enough to hold my passport, phone and everything that might be in my pockets when passing through security checkpoints. In high crime cities I wear it under my shirt. Picked up a waterproof pouch for when we are in Costa Rica which can provide this function.

Patagonia Capilene Thermal Weight Hoody (2009) for cool/cold weather outdoor activities. Without wind protection the grid weave lets air flow through speeding the release of heat. With a shell it provides some insulation. Comfort down to 30F when running without a shell, below that with a shell. When walking around town keeps me comfortable down to 45F when combined with a wind shirt with hoods up. I am reasonably comfortable engage in high energy activities when it’s 65F by fully opening the zipper and pushing the sleeves up to my elbows. Dries amazingly quickly and feels more comfortable than any other shirt I have used when it’s wet in cool conditions. Mine was actually called Capilene 4 because it pre-dates the renaming to “thermal weight”. Likely retire because light base + macpac alpha direct hoody is more versatile and has better performance.

Rudy Project Ketyum Frames with Transitions DriveWear manufactured by Sports Optical* (2021) provides excellent protection for my eyes while cycling and any other daytime activity. Ketyum is one of the few wrap around frames that can handle a prescription as strong as mine. The lens are thick but not too heavy. Transition lens work well during daylight but are a bit too strong at dusk.

HiFiMan RE800 Silver IEM (2022) Light weight, good quality sound which doesn’t completely cut me off from my environment. Used when I want to listen to music without disturbing family. Great deal at $90.

Radsome EarStudio ES100 (2018) bluetooth/DAC/headphone amplifier allows me to use wired headphones with devices missing a headphone jack. Can also function as a USB DAC. The ES100 is tiny, with decent sound quality (though Chord Mojo is better) and can even drive Sennheiser HD800 to reasonable sound levels.

MagSafe Charger* (2021) at bit heavy but useful when lighting port in aging iPhone becomes unreliable

Extra Batteries and Charger for Panasonic LX100 (2023). So far haven’t needed to carry an extra battery.

AWS AC-650 Digital Pocket Scale (2012) a small scale which makes it easy to weight food on the go.

Violife slim sonic toothbrush (1999). I was thinking about some other travel toothbrush when I couldn’t find replace heads, but I decided that oral health is too important to to bring a full size electronic toothbrush on any trip that is for more than a few days.

Kindle Oasis (2019) Lets me carry the majority of my library and every book can be displayed with large print for my aging eyes. Love being able to quickly search for notes / highlighted passages. I miss physical books and I know knowledge retention is better when reading paper books, but the convenience of the ebooks outweighs this for me. The Oasis ergonomics allows reading with a single hand and I like the warm backlight in the evening. I have been tempted by e-paper Android tablet such as those made by Boox which are a more versatile devices. If I lost the Oasis I would likely use my phone and laptop to access my Kindle “library”.

Apple iPad Air 4 + Smart Keyboard Folio + Magic Keyboard for iPad (2021) Purchased as a second monitor (via Sidecar) for MacBook for when I am working away from home. I have found the iPad also works well for consuming media. The Folio keyboard is compact making it compact for onebag travel, but the keyboard feel is mediocre and not stable enough to use on the lap. I tried to do most of my “personal” computing on the iPad with a Magic Keyboard to see if a iPad could replace a laptop: it was a failure. There is too much friction integrating information from several windows and often the app experience on the iPad fell short when compared to the experience on a real laptop or Chromebook. This is my third iPad since they were introduced. While each was useful for a particular task, I have yet to find it a compelling device for general use. A portable UCB-C powered screen is more effective for me as a second screen. I have abandoned using the iPad. Jackie tried and gave up on “live on it”. Lives in garage for when exercising using Kickr.

Retired

GoreWear R7 Trail Running Jacket (2020) I can actually wear it and not be soaked by sweat when active! For example: doing a zone 2 run for two hours in 48F rain just 1 gram of water accumulated in my running shirt. Downside is that the fabric is fragile developing pinpoint holes in the shoulders after 2 years of use though I didn’t experience leakage. Then the zipper broken hence retiring it. GoreWear replaced it under warranty. The “new R7” is a bit more boxy, 50% heavier (4.2->6.4oz), has stretch fabric on the cuffs which I don’t like, and a double zipper which isn’t as stiff. I wish the branding on the jacket wasn’t so obnoxious / ugly. The replacement is in my future wear box for when my Montbell Dry Peak wears out.

Icebreaker Spector Tee (2021) I decided to try a lighter weight tee that isn’t as body hugging and is more colorful. I quickly decided that I prefer the Anatomica fit, and black for daily wear. After 300 wears it was looking tired. The first hole appear around 400 days.

REI eVENT Rain Hat (2013) a discontinued ball cap made from waterproof / breathable eVENT. Used when hiking or running when I know it’s going to be raining. Keeps rain off of my face and glasses.

Altra Running Superior Trail-runners (2017/2022) zero drop, modest cushion, trail running shoe which are light weight with a fairly grippy sole for mixed trail conditions. Beside wearing them running, they are my primary footwear in the backcountry, and I wear in town when my feet are sore and need some extra cushion. I have worn 18 pairs. Wish I could get more than 400 miles before they wear out. Pair 17 soles came detached after around 75 miles. Alta sent me a new pair under warranty. Something changed in version 5 (or maybe my feet changed) and they aren’t as comfortable as they used to be.

Bluesmith Kanaha Shirt (2021) Hydrophobic treated shirt which protects from the sun and absorbs very little water. Very comfortable to wear and works well when swimming without being extremely tight. Replaced a misplaced “rashguard” shirt. I experimented with it as a general fitness shirt but I don’t think it’s hydrophobic approach to moisture is better for me that Polartec Delta in hot weather. Downside if not used for water sports is it quickly accumulated body odor, upside is that a quick rinse seems to wash the odor away. Its effective, but Jackie really hates it style so it’s being retired.

Muji Sport Jacket (2013) A casual blazer which resists wrinkles and has served me well. Retiring because it was never a great fit and there are some stains that aren’t coming out.

Tom Bihn Synik 30 Backpack (2020) Wonderfully designed with organizational features that perfectly fit my needs. Large enough to hold everything in my packing list, but small enough looking that I have never needed to check it. Have notes about other travel packs. Downside is that it doesn’t have a load transferring hip belt. These days larger than I need.

Osprey Transporter 46L (2004) is nearly identical to the current Osprey Porter 46 with the exception that it doesn’t have a laptop compartment or a luggage pass thru slot. Used for 10 years as my primary travel bag until I downsized to a Tom Bihn bag in 2014. I can list features it’s missing, but I still loved it. Used to transport items to family and left with them to use.

Patagonia Tres 25L Bag* (2016) 23andMe swag which I don’t need.

Biosense (2022) ketosis breath meter to simplify measuring ketosis when experimenting with diets and fasting. Don’t need to test frequently and prefer accuracy of blood test.

Immersion Water Heater (1992/2019) carried primarily for Jackie when taking trips to cold destinations where the hotel rooms don’t have any way to heat water. We generally stay places that it’s not needed.

RunScribe Plus (2020) to get information about running form. I am not getting particularly actionable insight but provides more data on running form that Stryd.

Twelve South AirFly Pro (2022) BlueTooth transmitter and receiver used on long flights to listen to audio. Allows me to use AirPods with the audio from the airplane and to drive my Westone from devices that don’t have a headphone jack. There are cheaper/better bluetooth transceivers.

Westone 5ES IEM (2012) Great audio quality, used to provide 35db noise reduction which could be comfortably worn on 14 hour flights. Alas, my ear canals have changed shape so they longer seals well enough to significantly reduce external noise. The cost of reshelling doesn’t make sense given I don’t use them that much.

Geyes Bluetooth Keyboard (2015/2022) I have repeatedly searched for a compact bluetooth keyboard to use with my phone. In the last few years I twice settled on the Geyes keyboard. Yet, I end up giving up on it. Certainly better than typing on the screen, but falls way short of a real keyboard. I have decide to give up on a compact bluetooth keyboard once and for all, and will try to remember not to revisit this decision.

Portable 14″ 4K Monitor (2022) for more screen real-estate. Was needed when I was doing a lot of Zoom meeting and needing to also have screen space for documents. Now that I am not in back to back meetings likely not needed. A better solution might have been xebec since the screen is attached to the laptop rather than sitting to the side.

Moved from me to Family

LG 27BN88U 27-inch 4K Display (2020) No longer doing endless Zoom meeting for work. Left in our guest room for visitors.

Foldable Desk (2012) which the above monitor is mounted on. When folded up small enough to fit in the trunk of our car for transport. No longer needed by me. Now functions as a desk in our guest room.

USB Power Task Light (2020) In guest room.

RAVpower 120w USB-C Charger (2021) A compact power source with 2 USB-C, 2 USB-A ports allows me to rapidly charger all the devices I might use in day. Only downside is it sometimes gets confused how much power to deliver to which port and I need to disconnect / reconnect devices until each is getting power. Now in living room to be used by anyone who is sitting on the coach and needs power.

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also

Matthew 6:19-21