Several items on my personal gear list were used by the whole family, and thus, this page was born. I have excluded our furniture. We keep only those items that are useful and/or are enjoyed which allows our family to focus on doing things that we find rewarding rather than devoting ourselves to managing stuff. When we needed to move, it took less than 10 hours to pack which started with acquiring boxes and included breaks to eat. We were able to unpack even more quickly. By the end of a weekend we were not just out of one place, but fully moved into the new with boxes put away and pictures hung on the walls. Items in bold are particularly great, and those with “*” I am not sure we would replace if they were lost or damaged. The (year) indicates when the item was acquired.
Outdoor Gear
In our garage we have a baker’s rack which holds most of the outdoor gear we use.
Hiking pole hanging.
Bin with Xmas decorations. Outdoor in the sense that there is lighting for the front yard, but also has decorations for inside.
Enlightened Gear Accomplice Double Quilts (2014), Montbell Down Hugger Super Stretch #3 (2005) and NuntakUSA Ghost Down Blanket/Quilt (2002). Notes about Sleeping Bag & Quilt
Therm-a-Rest XTherm Air Mattress (2012) Big Agnes Q-Core SLX Sleeping Pad (2019). Notes about Sleeping Pads
Duffel bag 50L described below in “Camping Supplies” which has gear for car camping, disasters, and cookware for group backpack trips.
A few packs and a foldable cooler.
Coleman Portable Stove/Grill (2000) with one burner on the right side, and the left can be used as a grill or with a large non-stick griddle.
Coca Cola Crates – 3 (1950) which have a steel frame and cardboard sides holding a number of items
Coke Box 1: Mark’s bicycling: repair / replacement items such as inter tubes, patch kit, CO2 cartridges, second water bottle, chain lube, charger for Di2, crank wrench, bike lock
SteadyRack not shown (2021) to store bikes in the garage.
Topeak JoeBlow Bike Pump (1997)
Camping Supplies
Northface basecamp duffel small – 50L (1987) holds all the contents described below and also some TP, extra fuel canisters, plastic bags and aluminum foil.
Platypus Water Containers, Gravity Filter (2018) because we are sometimes places that don’t have safe drinking water.
Plastic tub (2000) Used to wash dishes and pots when car camping. Use the case for the dinner set for rinsing. Pack Towel (1988), sponge (2002/2021), nylon pots scraper (2002), Dr Bronner’s Soap (1972/2020)
Work Gloves (2008)
Gear “Repair Kit” (2009) zippers, grommets, rope, safety pins, etc. Supplemented with various other small repair items and single use superglue (2014)
Leatherman (2000), Fallkniven F1 fixed blade knife (2002). There are numerous other good knives I would recommend.
REI Dinnerware Set for 4 (2012) including wash basin, drying rack, and cutting board
Misc items for kitchen most of which are stored in a ziplock bag. Durable items from 1992, consumables refreshed as needed Long Lighter, Cooking oil, Hot Sauce, Salt/Pepper, matches/lighter, paring knife, tongs
1.3L Evernew Ti Pot (2001), Snowpeak GigiPower Stove (2001), Fuel Canister, Silicon Cup/Bowl (2010), and MSR folding Foon (2010). This kit is used when we do family backpacking trips. We used to have a set of pots and pans for car camping but got rid of them when we realized that we typically used grill and skillet built in to our Coleman stove. We really only needed one pot for heating up water. On car camping trips the Snowpeak stove is typically not used.
N95 Masks (2021)
Whistle
Rite in Rain Pad and Pen
Trip Tease Cord. So many uses of rope. Stringing up a tarp, a line to dry clothing, etc.
Black Diamond Apollo Lantern(2018) which is a perfect size and amount of light for car camping or emergency lighting in a house in the case of a power outage. Built in rechargeable battery with the ability to use three AA batteries if the internal battery has been fully discharged and you need light.
Zebralight H600 Headlamp, which uses a 18650 battery. A bit heavy, but very bright and long run times. H51 Headlamp (2010) and H52W flashlight (2012). These lights are compact, surprisingly long runtimes due to excellent regulation, and use a single AA that is easy to acquire. There are several other flashlights and headlights I recommend.
GoalZero Power Sherpa 100* (2020) High versatile power system. Has been used during power outage to keep our Internet connection up, as a portable power outlet for small appliances and to charge devices on extended trips without access to car or wall power. Not shown are a few USB cables to be used to charge a variety of devices and an Olight Universal Magnetic Battery Charger (2018) which charges pretty much any size battery including 1.5V NiHM, 3.6 & 3.7V LI batteries
Lijiani Weather Radio – not shown (2022) Had the best reception on AM/FM/Weather bands of 6 radios I tried and happens to be the least expensive. Fairly intuitive user interface when performing basic functions. Downsides are that it feels cheap, power is exclusively 2 AA batteries, and the speaker is mediocre.
Picnicking/Emergency
Arctic Zone 36-can Folding Cooler (2011) is a good size for long weekend car camping trips. Not super insulating, but ice keeps contents cool for 2 days, and dry ice works for 4 days.
Wine Tote (2016) which is a good size for wine and cheese in a park: holds up to two bottles, some snacks, and a couple of glasses, with a small cutting board, bottle opener, small knife.
Alife Mayfly Chair* (2010) is a low slung folding chair which works on any surface and doesn’t have legs so it can be used at Shoreline amphitheater.
GoChair – 2 (2018) which we funding via indiegogo which deploys very quickly.
Pentax S 8×42 Binoculars (1994) Nitrogen filled, excellent visual quality in a moderately compact body.
60w Solar Charger* to provide power off grid over an extended period of time (2020). When people were purchasing excess TP at the beginning of COVID I was beefing up my disaster kit.
“Emergency” Food (not shown) – The box also has some freeze dried food and food I commonly take backpacking but don’t eat a lot of home such as cous cous. We also have durable bag to collect food from our pantry in the event of a disaster. We keep a week worth of food in our pantry that won’t spoil and is easy to cook.
Tools
Dekopro 126 piece Toolbox convient box with most of the tools I need. Quality isn’t want I have been used to, but mostly good enough. Originally purchased when renting out a house so there would be some on-site tools. Many of my tools (Snapon and Craftsman) were stolen a few years ago and decided to see if I could make do with the Dekopro set. So far it’s been ok.
Milwaukee Hex Electric Screwdriver with right angle adaptor and multiple bits. It is mostly powerful enough to use as a light duty drill.
Additional tools that live the the Milwaukee case (avoiding pulling out the Dekopro case): metric hex wrench, screwdriver, precision screwdriver with multiple bits, box cutter, pencil, sharpie, cresent wrench, hex wrench bits, precision needle nose pliers, nitecore nu20 headlamp
Misc other tools not shown: Fluke IR Temp. Meter, Fluke Multimeter, Soldering Iron, Clamps, Calipers, Level, Micro screwdrivers
Electronics
LG OLED55B6P SmartTV (2017) for family / friends movie night and other group activities that use a screen. I would be content using the screen on my laptop or even iPhone for the occasional video streaming I watch. That said, the picture quality is amazing and the webOS based controls work well. Also sometimes used as a display for Macintosh. 4k works nicely when trying to see a lot of pictures using Adobe Lightroom.
Apple Mac mini* (2017) The Mini is compact, low noise, with a good collection of ports, has enough CPU, memory, and disk for our family needs, and plays well in the Apple eco-system which we am committed to until our next refresh in a few years. It is overpriced compared to non-Apple hardware. Used primarily as a media server. Roon for audio, Lightroom for photos, various programs for video / streaming. Retired in early 2022 after Mark got a new MacBook Pro.
KEF LS50 wireless monitor speakers (2017) with a built in DAC and amplifier designed for the speakers. Good quality sound that fills a room, excellent for near field use in a nicely designed, compact package. Can take TOSlink, USB, Bluetooth, analog, and several IP based streaming protocols inputs over ethernet or WiFi. Roon can stream directly to it over the network, but it’s not Roon-Ready so can’t be synchronized with other Roon-Ready systems. The iOS remote application is poor. I drive the LS50 via USB on a Mac Mini running Roon which remove the need for the KEF remote and the speakers can be synchronized with other Roon Ready end-points giving me whole house music. I still prefer the sound quality of electrostatic speakers with audiophile grade full electronics, but I am happy that I downsized our stereo so we can focus on other things.
BlueSound Node Audio Streamer (2021) to remove dependency on Roon for multi-room audio playback. Lets me connect Plus Flex speakers with our KEF LS50s through the house for Spotify or as an AirPlay2 endpoint.
Pulse Flex Wireless Speaker not shown (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. It can be used away from it’s home, but you have to reconfigure it’s WiFi settings which is a pain. Sound quality is significantly less than KEF LS50. For people who aren’t using Roon, I would recommend Sonos: for it’s 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.
Google WiFi Mesh (2017) network access points easily install and just work when you have an area than a single WiFi router isn’t sufficient. There may be faster / more featureful options out there, but the Google devices work flawlessly and are visually appealing. We are using ATT fibre which so far as been a big improvement over Comcast for slightly less money.
Brother MFC-J880W not shown (2017) Multifunction Printer, Scanner, Fax, Copier has been a reliable device for us unlike several other multi-function devices which failed within a year. WiFi enabled, supports AirPrint, Google Print, and several other standards. Connected to a Obi device which lets us Fax over Google Voice.
Small Appliances
Vornado 660 Fan (2008) air ciculation in the garage or living room
Vornado Panel Fan (2014) pulls cooler outside air into bedroom to avoid using air conditioner most of the summer
Conway Air Purifier / HEPA Filter (2020) Was a lifesaver during the summer time fires summer of 2020. Took air quality from over 200 down to 25 in our study.
Dyson V10 Cordless Vacuum (2019) Expensive. There are cheaper options but works very well but the battery life is slowly dropping.
Breville BOV800XL Smart Oven (2020) is used for nearly all our baking, broiling and toasting needs. We have a full size, built in oven, but this unit heats up more quickly, seems to heat more evenly, and is the perfect size for almost everything we make.
Oxo 11lb Scale (2014) Easy to use, accurate, the display can be separated to enable viewing when weighting oversized objects.
Soda Stream (2017) To avoid purchasing bottled bubble water. Cheaper, cuts down plastic waste, don’t have to haul water back from costco.
Rival RC101 5-Cup Rice Cooker (2017) Simple to use and faster than a rice cookers with fuzzy logic and other advanced features.
Panasonic Electric Water Boiler (2019) Holds 3.2quarts of water. Insulated to minimize energy usage and allows hot water to be used for a couple of hours when power is not available.
Zojirushi Electric “Hot Pot” (2005) Hot pot is one of our favorite ways to celebrate holiday or when having a small dinner party with friends.
Waffle Maker* (2005)
Amazon 6 sheet Paper Shredder (2020)
Pulse SpO2 Meter* (2020) Purchased primarily for better insight in the face of COVID19. my wife sometimes uses to get a read of pulse rate when doing HIIT.
Baking and Mixing
Silicone Oven Mitts not shown (2014) with inner, removable terrycloth liners. Effective, waterproof, durable.
Pampered Chef Mixing Bowls (2007) Light weight, rubber on the bottom keeps them from sliding around. Useful size. Often use the larger as a salad bowl. Have well sealing lids which aren’t shown.
Electric Hand Mixer (2017) Christmas gift for Amber who loves to bake. Used to have a Kitchenaid but got rid of it because it’s ease of use compared to the hand mixer was overshadows by the hassle of pulling it out of the garage.
Measuring Cups
Rolling Pin
Hand whisk (not shown)
Strainer, Collapsing Silicon Funnel
KitchenAid Immersion Blender (2014) for many mixing, blending, and whisking tasks. There are better models on the market, but this one is good enough for our needs. Has several attachments.
Pots and Pans
T-fal 10″ frying pan (2014/2019) replaced in 2019 when first was warped. Modest price. Anti-stick works well and is durable.
Zojirushi Mr Bento Lunch Jar* (2014) for hot and cold lunch, snack, dinners when we are doing a fun / special “picnic”. Great for personal lunch but unnecessary.
Zojirushi Bottle* (2005) which holds 51 ounces and can keep beverages warm for almost 24 hours. Nice pouring spout with a lid which functions as an insulated cup. Haven’t used for several years.
Propane Hose* (2020) that allows Coleman grill to run from a full size propane tank rather than the smaller disposable tanks. Not really needed.
MSR Duralite Cookset* (2003) Typically cook over grill or use griddle. Evenew backpacking pot is adequate for boiling water for drinks and is easier to pour.
Eton Microlink FR160 Emergency Radio (2009) Internal rechargeable batteries (3 AA batteries in special packaging) can only charged by the crank or poor quality solar cells on top. Should allow to changing via USB or other external power source. AM/FM weather band, but not weather alert.
18650 Battery Charger (2018) and GoalZero AA Charger (2004). Both double as a USB power supply. Not the most efficient charger or power pack, but works. Hasn’t been used for several years. La Crosse Battery Charger – 2 (2007) which does a great job charging any combination of 1-4 AA or AAA NiNH or NiCad batteries. All replaced by a single Nitecore UMS4 charger which does both NiNH and Lithium batteries with more informative display and is powered by a USB-micro jack.
Roon software (2017) isn’t really an item, but it effected many of my decisions related to audio playback. Roon integrates my iTunes library which is made up of CDs ripped using ALAC codex with the TIDAL streaming service to provide loseless audio to multiple speakers around the house. In the last couple of years I found bugs in Roon and in the Roon endpoint of the first generation BlueSound Flex speaker. Today I am using the native BlueSound grouping for multi-room, and doing lossless streaming from Apple Music and from Spotify. If I didn’t care so much about sound quality the family would use Sonos speakers combined with Spotify for whole house music.
Added in 2022
Nitecore UMS4 (2022). Versatile charger powered by micro-USB. Supports most battery formulations and sizes with informative display which describes state of batteries and charging process. A bit larger than I would like but it has to accommodate large batteries. We generally use Eneloop Pro Batteries. Reasonable power density and power retention when stored.
Dimmer for String Lights (2022) Allows use to schedule changes which can include sunset or sunrise as triggers.
I have an updated list which captures what I am using now.
Minimalism led me to simplify my possessions. Each year I review what I used the previous year to determine what changes I want to make. I strive to use items that enable me to have an a healthy, impactful life, while minimizing friction. The following is a complete list of everything I personally own. Making this list was inspired by zenhabit’s one bag lifestyle and Tynan’s Gear posts, and is similar to blackshine’s list. Please don’t use this list to fuel consumption or as a challenge to create a curated list of minimalist styled possessions. Do not allow your possessions to become the basis of your sense of security or well being.
Items in bold are exceptionally great. I happily use items marked with “*”, but not so much that I would 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.
While I enjoy simplicity, a bit of variety can be nice. For example, I often wear my pullover hoodie when it’s cool, but sometimes I prefer a sweater. For the first half of 2022 I am between several locations which will blur the differences between “travel” and “everyday” resulting in several items going into storage while my “traveling list” will likely grow. Items that are used by the whole family are on our family gear page.
On My Person / Day Activities
Flexon Eyeglasses (1995/2020) eyeglass frames with Zeiss high index progressive lens. Eyeglasses are an incredible blessing. I used to break frames within a year of getting them. I started to use Flexon frames around 1995. They have lasted an average of 8 years with many prescription changes. In 2021 I tried transition lens but was disappointed. My cycling sunglasses (listed below) worked well in daylight but don’t go clear enough as dusk approached. Transition Xtra Active go clear enough, but don’t darken enough while driving and aren’t polarized so doesn’t cut down glare. There is now Transitions XtrActive Polarized which almost what I long for: goes from almost clear and unpolarized to 90% light blockage that is polarized but isn’t available in high index materials. For me, prescription glasses with clear lens and fit-over sunglasses that are polarized and have >=90% light blockage seem best combination other than looking silly.
N95/KT94 Masks (2021) have replaced my cloth masks because N95 are more effective and now available without taken them away from medical professionals. Masknerd has great reviews. My family really likes one of his top recommendations, an appropriately sized BOTN KT94, but they are sometimes hard to acquire.
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. When flying I switch to a Swiss+Tech Utili-Key which is not as usable as the Rambler, but has made it through TSA checkpoints over 100 times since 2002 without being confiscated. I am on my 3rd Rambler after losing a couple. I have some notes about other knife options.
Flowfold Minimalist Wallet (2012) which holds my IDs, 2 credit cards, a few bills, while taking up minimal space.
Uniball Vision Elite .5mm Pen (2015/2021) has a good “feel” and doesn’t leak after plane flights! I think the Pilot V5 has the best writing feel, but they leak 🙁
Apple iPhone 12 Mini (2020) on Verizon. Not as small as the original SE… the upper right corner is a stretch for one handed use but smaller than most phones. I am somewhat locked into the Apple eco-system because they rest of my family is deeply committed. I found the UI on Android 10 and later has caught up with iOS and has superior notifications and speech recognition. Can someone please make a thin smart phone with a high resolution screen that is 4″ on the diagonal? Maybe Unihertz will do this someday? Verizon is expensive, but gives me the coverage I want in the USA. I will give GoogleFi a try when they support multi-carrier / network switching on the iPhone. Airalo and Gigsky make it easy to acquire an eSIM for wireless data while traveling internationally.
Apple AirPod Pros (2021) are nicely integrated with the Apple eco-system and just work. I found Bluetooth connects quickly and the connection is reliable. Noise reduction is decent, and the “ambient mode” provides situational awareness. I have written about other headphones options. These replace a pair of AirPods that died and often use on shorter flight so I don’t need to hassle with my IEM + bluetooth receiver.
Garmin 935 Watch (2017) accurately tracks my activities and measures my fitness level. The watch is light enough that I don’t mind wearing it continuously. It originally could last ~5 days without charging while using GPS 12 hours during this time. Now I can get 9 days without using the GPS, and each hour of GPS uses 10% battery, so I typically see 3 days with 6 hours of GPS. 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 significantly higher quality than other wrist worn sensors, being close to medical grade instruments when paired with a HRM and a power meter. When battery dies will likely replace with a Garmin 255. There are other good sport watches.
Zojirushi Double Walled Mug (2013/2017) can easily be used one handed, locks so it doesn’t open accidentally, pours at the perfect speed, the mouth is wide enough for ice cubes, and insulating better than every other mug I have tested. I have a Deep Cherry color mug which I picked up after misplacing my silver mug at work. The striking color make it easy to spot when searching for it. In many countries you you can fill it with ice (no water) and get through security. Once through, add water and you can have icy cold water for your flight.
Nicore NU25 rechargeable headlamp – not shown (2019) Very light-weight, especially when the headband is replaced with shock cords. Decent regulation, electronic lock so it doesn’t turn on accidentally. Use when I need hands free light: repair work, hiking, backpacking, running in the dark, and it has been used when I forgot to recharge my bike light. Can be powered from a remote USB power supply making it useful in extreme cold. There are many other good flashlights.
Office / Electronics
MacBook Pro 13-inch (2020) provided by Hashicorp and a MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021) – not shown for personal work. Been using MacBooks since 2006 as my primary computer. There are better performing laptops for the money, but I like the ergonomics of the Macbook touch pad and OS X because it gives me high quality commercial applications and full UNIX tooling. When I purchase a MacBook for personal use I select a configuration with the maximum memory available which has allowed me to use the same Macbook for ~6 years before it feels too sluggish. The 2021 MacBook Pro is a return to what it should have been. I hope Apple brings back the ultra-portable 12″ MacBook someday.
LG 27BN88U 27-inch 4K Display (2020) provide by work. Historically I have worked from the display on my laptop, using an external monitor only occasionally when needing to visualize a lot of data. In the era of Zoom meetings I use the laptop screen for displaying people, and the external monitor for notes, presentations, and general work.
RAVpower 120w USB-C Charger* – not shown (2021) A compact power source with 2 USB-C, 2 USB-A ports allows me to rapidly charger all the devices I use each day. Purchased so the previous charger could move into the garage. has 2 USB-C cables, a UCB-C to Micro adapter, a Garmin and an Apple Lighting cable attached to it. It sometimes gets confused how much power to deliver to which port and I need to disconnect / reconnect devices until each is getting powered 🙁
Apple iPad Air 4* + Smart Keyboard Folio* (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 a good choice 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 (works better than the Folio 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 is now seeing if she can “live on it”. It looks like it’s no better for her.
Patagonia Tres 25L Bag (2016) 23andMe swag which holds my current “working set” of paperwork and office supplies. Much of the year it’s not really needed, but it is required during tax season. I haven’t succeeded in getting all my tax documents into electronic form yet. There is still room to add my MacBook Pro and power supply. Switched from the plastic file folder for easier transportation.
Small fabric tape measure – not shown (2012) to measure packages and other smaller items.
USB Power Task Light* (2020) to replace a task light my wife needed somewhere else in the house. Most of the time I don’t need task lighting, but it works well when I need the extra light.
Foldable Desk (2012) which my monitor is mounted on. When folded up small enough to fit in the trunk of our car for transport.
Bathroom
REI Micro Shower Bag (2017) is the perfect size for my toiletry kit while providing just enough organizational features to make it easy for me to find everything quickly. Inside pocket holds a few doses of medicines for allergies and colds. Main area has: Violife slim sonic toothbrush (was thinking about some other options but replace heads are back), lip balm, toothpaste, a micro fiber cleaning / storage bag for my glasses, a small HumanGear GoTubb to store aleve, and most of the bathroom items listed below. Outside pocket holds first aid kit which includes waterproof Band-Aids, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic cream, superglue, a couple of safety pins. No longer made. The GOX Organizer looks to be similar.
Matador Flatpack Soap Case (2020) to carry a 100senses body bar which takes care of all my cleaning needs without drying out skin or making my hair feel like straw. Replaced Dr Bronner’s soap, Aveda shampoo, and Pacific shaving oil. One bar lasts me around 1/2 a year. I am sure there are better shaving creams and shampoos, but it’s been good enough and simplifies life for me.
Listerine Floss (1996/2021) is the most effective dental floss I have used. Gentle to the gums while still getting plague and food wedged between teeth out.
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 lower power electric toothbrushes like my Violife which relies on a brushing motion. When traveling for less than a month I leave the Oral-B behind.
Linen Towel – not shown (2020) Lighter weight, dries faster, and less likely to get smelly than a traditional cotton terrycloth towel, but isn’t as soft.
Sleep!
ChiliPad (2019) which cools or warms water which flows through a mattress topper. I need to be significantly colder than Jackie to sleep soundly. Allows me to sleep without requiring the room to be cold and Jackie needing heavy blankets. I had problems with the heat exchanger isn’t able to dump enough heat to hit the cooling target with the unit under the bed (it has the specified clearance) but it has been fine when I move it from under the bed. The eightsleep system is more advanced, much quieter, but also more expensive.
Newvanga Sleep Mask (2021) helps me get longer / better sleep because it stops external light from disturbing me. Since 2015 I have gone through 4 Bucky 40 Winks Sleep Mask which are similar. The Newvanga is cheaper at purchase time, hoping that it is more durable than the Bucky. If I was a hard core minimalist I would use my Buff as a sleep mask.
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. All the clothing, shoes, and outerwear listed below (excluding the “Variety” section) easily fits into a 46L bag.
Core Everyday Clothing
Outlier New Way Shorts – 3 pair (2014) are nice looking shorts which fit me perfectly, don’t have cargo pockets, durable, dry reasonably quickly, and resist stains. They are pricy but at the time that I purchased them, I hadn’t found any shorts I like as much and have had no need to replace them.
Icebreaker Anatomica Tee-shirt – 2 shirts (2014/2021) merino wool with a bit of nylon for durability (3x longer lasting 100% merino in the the same fabric weight) with just a bit of lycra for a body hugging fit. This tee-shirt fits me perfectly, is super comfortable, doesn’t smell after several days of wear, dries fairly quickly, and my wife likes how the shirt looks on me. I still find synthetics technical-tees superior in two ways. First, synthetics work better when I am heavily sweating while exercising [See Xenith shirt mentioned below]. Second, synthetics are more cost effective because they tend to be cheaper and longer lasting. I get around 500 days of wear before an Anatomica Tee looks tired, and 600 days before holes appear. There are a number of other good merino wool tee shirts from Smartwool, Outlier, and Wool&Prince.
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 grey or black for daily wear. When this shirt wears out I will replace it with another black Anatomica tee-shirts.
Black Webbing Belt – not shown (1996) Easy to adjust to exactly the right length and has no metal so metal detectors don’t get triggered.
Icebreaker Anatomica Briefs – 4 pairs (2014/2021) the most comfortable underwear I have worn. First generation developed holes after around 150 days of wear. All my original pairs have worn out. The newer version has a bit of nylon with the wool. I have gotten >600 days before the waist band deforms and small holes appear. Some people prefer boxer style but I see no reason to have extra fabric. Good alternatives are the synthetic travel oriented briefs from Ex Offico, Uniqlo, and the comfortable but expensive underwear from Saxx.
Darn Tough Socks– 6 pair (2013/2019) are unsurprisingly durable since they come with a lifetime warranty. I have a mix of no-show mesh and light cushion crew. Icebreaker and the Smartwool PhD line are good alternatives. Worn out and replaced 2 pair.
Akona 2mm Neoprene Socks (2019) which protect my feet when using flippers or with sandals if I am on a trip which is constantly going in and out of water.
Western Rise Evolution Pants (2020) Slight stretch nylon pants in the style of jeans. Compared to Slim Dungarees: less expensive, lighter material which makes them pack smaller, are more comfortable in hot weather, less stain/water resistant, not quick as dressy looking, but over all pretty good. The coin pocket is too deep.
Outlier Slim Dungarees – 2 pair (2014/2019) High-tech nylon pants in the style of jeans. Wonderful fit, looks good, excellent mobility. Thanks to the NanoSphere treatment very stain and water resistant. They are perfect except when it’s >80F and I am active. They seem pricey, but the per day cost of wearing is about the same as denim jeans. I have gotten more than 550 days of wear before my original pair started to pill in a high wear location. I have yet to completely wear out a pair. Buffworks, Maker&Rider and Wool&Prince makes nice alternatives. Current pants acquired in 2017 and 2019.
Montbell Wickron Dry Touch Short Sleeve Shirt* (2021) for when I need to be more dressed when it’s is hot. A gift from my wife. The seersucker fabric is more comfortable that my tee-shirts in hot, humid conditions, but the lighter colored are estimated to be 15-20 UPF. Late in 2022 replaced it with a UPF 50 shirt.
White Button-up Shirt (2012) when I want to wear something more formal than a tee-shirt. Appropriate in almost any setting.
Muji Sport Jacket* (2013) for events when I should be more dressy than a shirt but I don’t need to wear a formal suit. Doesn’t easily wrinkle. Gift from Jackie.
“Variety” Clothing
The following I sometimes call my “Jackie clothing”. I know my wife get tired of me wearing the same thing every day (sometimes I do as well), so when we are doing a special activity together, I will select something than isn’t my daily wear. While we are moving about in 2022 thee cloths are going into storage. When rolled over their hangers these items and my “optional” shoes fits nicely into a $4 Ikea Frakta Duffel (2022).
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 best materials when it’s hot and humid.
Peach Button Up Shirt* (2014) for a change from a white shirt when we are going out for the evening. Birthday present.
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.
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.
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. Might replace white button-up as my default “dressed up” shirt.
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.
Boss Blazer Jacket* (2014) for dressy events in the fall and winter that don’t require a formal suit. 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.
Footwear
Vivobarefoot Gobi II (2017) are comfort, zero-drop, minimalist ankle boots which are acceptable to wear with casual clothing and when fairly dressed up, though I have been told aren’t appropriate when wearing a formal suit. I have even been known to run in them. I have been very pleased with their durability.
Altra Running Superior Trail-runners (2017/2021) 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 am on pair 14. Wish I could get more than 400 miles before they wear out.
Keen Clearwater CNX (2014/2018) are the lightest sandals Keen makes. I liked the minimalist sandals made by luna but the toe protection of the Keens makes them a clear winner for me. When worn with gray socks they can “pass” for shoes most of the time. Comfortable in a wide range of conditions. Replaced in 2018 when my first pair wore out.
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) that are sufficiently comfortable for an evening. Going in storage while not living in our home.
Montbell Unbrero (2021) is a 1.8oz folding hat with a brim 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 20mph winds. Montbell says the hat doesn’t provide UV protection which I fixed by applying UV absorbing paint on the inside. I think it’s silly looking, and sometimes I have had people point and laugh at the hat, but others have said it’s pretty cool. There are lots of hat options.
PolarBuff (2003) Generally I use the hoods on my garments, but sometimes I want extra insulation for my neck or head.
Outerwear
Macpac Nitro Pullover (2021) Made from Polartec Alpha Direct. Highly breathable! Very light insulate without a shell, surprisingly warm under a shell. Great when active in cold conditions. I can feel air flow by walking in still air. Worn whenever my tee-shirt isn’t warm enough. I am comfortable down to 40F with a tee-shirt, this pullover and a uninsulated shell doing light work and sitting inside when it’s 68F. There are Lots of good options for an insulation layer if you need something warmer.
Gore Gear R7 Shakedry Hooded Rain Jacket (2020) is a compact, ultralight, ultra-breathable rain jacket designed for trail running. I can actually wear it and not be soaked by sweat when active! No other rain jacket has worked as well. I am also using it as a wind shell. Need to be careful not to jam the zipper. Huge downside is that the fabric is fragile. Expect to replace after 1-3 years. I have a a few pinpoint holes in the shoulders but so far they have not impacted performance. 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 when commuting by bike, hiking, or backpacking. After a few years of use I am getting some leaking – maybe through the seams. Will be sealing the seams to see if that fixes the problem.
Outerwear in Car
We carry some warm clothing in the back of the car for those days that the weather was cooler than expected. I rarely need to use these garments but have often loaned them out to friends.
ArcTeryx Squamish Wind Shell (2012) is a 5oz windshirt with an air permeability of ~35 CFM. When combined with an air permeable heavy base or middle layer provide comfort over a huge range of conditions. Comfortable against the skin.
Icebreaker Quattro Hoody (2012) is a medium weight merino wool sweatshirt. After several years of near constant use starting to pill.
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 it’s just right for winter trips in the sierras. Reasonably light and compresses well. Has a good hood. Long enough to be worn over suit jackets without looking silly.
Tilley LTM6 Hat (2014) provides good sun protection while offering ok ventilation. If I was going to pick a single hat to own, it would either be this hat, or the LTM8 which offers more ventilation. I used a canvas Tilley hat for more than 20 years, purchasing the LTM6 because I lost my first Tilley on a river trip.
Winter (Outside Bay Area)
Generally not used “at home” because the Bay Area never gets cold enough to need these items, but pulled out when traveling to winter destinations. 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. When mix/matched with a tee-shirt, Macpac Nitro, and Gore R7 Shell allows me to be comfortable while casually walking 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. Boxy in cut and the neck doesn’t seal well.
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. Alas, this model has been discontinued. On my second pair. The PowerStretch palms are starting to wear out on the second pair and they are now discontinued so I won’t be able to replace them.
Patagonia Cap 3 Tights (2007): added to my legs when facing continuously below freezing conditions.
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”.
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. Don’t remember the brand and it’s not stamped into the chains.
OR Gaiters: (<1988) for keeping snow out of shoes/boots and the lower legs dry.
Beach
When we spend extended time near a tropical beach I pull my “beachwear” out of storage.
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 Tri or New Way Shorts if I was trying to minimize more.
Bluesmith Kanaha Shirt* (2021) Hydrophobic treated shirt which protects from the sun and absorbs very little water. Replaced a misplaced “rash guard” 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.
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.
Exercise / Active Clothing
De Soto Mobius Tri Shorts (2018/2021) works well cycling, running, and swimming. I also use them backpacking. 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 to wear for vigorous physical activities…. I just grab a pair of Tri Shorts. I get around 1000 hours of use from each pair, around 1 year worth of physical activities.
Xenith Delta Shirt (2021) is the most comfortable shirt I have worn in hot weather, especially when I am exercising. The shirt maintains breathability 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 feeling cool against the skin. I have also found that is the most odor resistant synthetic shirt I have tried, though not as good as wool. Replace a shirt that wore out.
Castelli Light Arm Sleeves (2021) combined with Xenith shirt when I don’t want to hassle with sunscreen. Arms actually feel a bit cooler than when uncovered in strong sunlight. Stains easily.
Nike Dri-Fit Visor (2012) keep sweat and sun out of my eyes while maximizing air circulation for my head. Worn anytime I go for a run.
Black Diamond Alpine Start (2021) is a 6oz hoodless ultralight soft-shell which is very air permeable and extremely water resistant thanks to the Schoeller NanoSphere treatment. Very comfortable bicycling at 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 the R7 because the higher air permeability helps me dump heat (reducing the amount of sweat) while keeping the rain away from me. Normally I like a hood, but the lack of a hood is useful when cycling and running with a hat. Could be eliminated but expect it will prolong the life of the R7 (which is more expensive) and is slightly better adapted for my activities.
Exercise Equipment
MX Select MX55 Adjustable Dumbbells (2021) 20-55 lb in 5 lb increments. Smooth and fast to change weights. Considered the Bowflex adjustable dumbbells, but local store told me they stopped carrying them due to mechanism failures (they were a service problem).
Pullup Bar (2020) To work upper body without going to gym.
20lb Rucking Plate* (2020) – Held in a backpack and used to add weight to my pull-ups, squats, etc. I have stopped adding it to my daily walks, hikes, etc. It seems the weight continuously on my shoulders is causing pain in other parts of my body when walking on concrete sidewalks.
Bowflex Adjustable Kettlebell (2020) Useful for numerous exercises. Max weight is 40lb, would like it to be 60lb, and there is a 10lb jump between 25-35 lb. Used for several of sets in the Simple Six workout.
Garmin HRM-Pro (2021) because optical heart rate monitors aren’t sufficiently accurate for HRV measurements and aren’t responsive enough to track interval training. Works when I am heavily sweating and swimming. Does both ANT+ and Bluetooth. Replaced a ANT+ only HRM so I can I could connect it with software running on iPad when using KickR.
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.
Entchin Fanny Pack – not shown (2020) Inexpensive fanny pack which is the good size for most of my done in a day activities. Unfortunately, it is cheaply made, the main bucket broke after just six months of use. I was able to repair it, it broke a second time, and I repaired it again. Can hold a headlamp, water bottle, a protein bar, and small volume jacket. I switched to a fanny pack because the strain of a courier bag or sling on a single shoulder was painful after several hours.
Specialized S-works 2019 Roubaix (2021) an endurance bike with a responsiveness that approaches a race bike while smoothing out the road making it easy to be confident on less than ideal road surfaces. This is a older model that I purchased on sale when my R3 drivetrain wore out and was going to take months to repair due to supply chain issues. I found this version of the Roubaix approach the handling on the current generation Cervelo R-series, and was significantly better than the Cervelo Calidonia-5. 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, inter-tube, bike tool, and 2 tire levers.
Felix BC21R Bike Headlamp and Cygolite Hotshot Pro 150 (2019) which was purchase when my Expilion 850 and an original Hotshot were stolen. The BC21R uses a removable 18650 rechargeable battery. I think I slightly preferred the quality of light from the Expilion, but the BC21R works well enough to stick with it, and I do appreciate that the battery can be charged outside light housing.
Power Tap P1 Pedals (2015) because I like objective measures about how my physically condition is changing. The Garmin Vector 2 pedals integrate better into the Garmin eco-system, use standard Keto cleats, and are lighter / more streamlined at about the same price point.
Bicycling Shoes (2013) with Cleat for PowerTap peddles.
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.
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.
Pearl Izumi P.R.O. Barrier WxB Cycling Gloves (2021) Keep hands comfortable on winter rides when it is wet and/or cold. Cheapest gloves I could find (thanks sierra.com) to slow down wearing out the palms on my Grub Gloves.
Cervelo R3* (2013/2015 replaced stolen R3). Pricy but amazing road bicycle. Comfortable enough for an endurance ride, responsive like a race bike, great for climbing. Drive train has been mostly replaced… still looking for Rotor chain rings which are fairly worn. Now my “spare bike” which I use if my Roubaix is needing service and on Kickr when “riding” indoors.
Wahoo Fitness Kickr* (2013) is a trainer for when I don’t want to hit the road. Integrated power meter and variable resistance which can be controlled via ANT+ or BlueTooth. Wahoo built the Kickr with an open API so there are numerous companies which have applications which can control the Kickr. At the beginning of 2020 I was thinking about selling it, but once shelter in place started, I found having a way to exercise at home was useful and held on to the Kickr.
Hiking / Backpacking
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. In addition to the items on my backpacking list, I have several items which come out when I am heading to the mountains and expect snow. I have not taken pictures of any of these items. They are stored in a plastic bin which holds my backpacking gear. One item which was on my clothing list last year but is purely used backpacking is an Outlier Air Forged Oxford Shirt which I use to protect my upper body from sun and mosquitos.
Travel
Tom Bihn Synik 30 Backpack (2020) is my luggage for most trips. Wonderfully designed with just the right amount of organizational features. Large enough for every trip I have taken, while small enough that it fits under seat and is not viewed as “luggage” by transportation operators. Replaced a Tom Bihn Synapse 25 purchased in 2014 which worked for 80% of my trips but on trips that I needed to have a suit, warm outdoor clothing and beach wear was too small. Have notes about other travel packs.
Osprey Transporter 46L (2004) very similar to the current Osprey Porter 46. Used for 10 years as my primary travel bag until I downsized to a Tom Bihn bag 8 years ago. It is large enough to hold all my core clothing and possessions not in “storage”. It’s coming out of storage because we will be living a semi nomadic in the next year and I might want to carry more than my typical onebag packing list. Specifically I might want to carry items for our kitchen and some exercise equipment.
Gossamer Gear Vagabond Packable (2021) Comfortable to carry. Use it around town to bring groceries home (carry handles are useful) and for done in a day outdoor activities. I have used it for as my primary bag on some multi-week long trips. Have a Osprey Ultralight Drysack which can be used as a liner when expecting particularly wet conditions.
Tech “Survival Kit” is stored in a small pouch from Muji. RAVpower 10Kbattery with USB-A&C outlets, Sharge 3-power USB charger which is small, can put out 65W across 2 USB-C and 1 USB-A ports. [No longer made? The Anker 735 is a good alternative.] Cables slightly different from picture. 2 6” USB-C cables, 4ft USB-C cable, 1 3ft USB-A and Lighting cable (use in cars), with adaptor tips from USB-C to (A, micro, Lighting, Garmin)
AWS AC-650 Digital Pocket Scale (2012) a small scale which makes it easy to weight food on the go. Going into storage, because we will bring our full size kitchen scale with us.
PackTowel Ultralight (2009) Bodysize/XL – dries amazingly quickly, is compact, and is very effective. The XL is large enough that I can wrap it around my waist like a small sarong. For awhile I used a medium/face size which packs in a tiny space. I found the face size sufficient for me to dry myself after a swim or shower, but I am willing to carry a larger towel for the added versatility and ease of use. If continue to use it only on beach trips will store with those items.
Westone 5ES custom In-ear-monitors – not shown (2012) with excellent sound quality and comfortable enough to wear on 14 hour flights. They reduce noise by 35db which makes travel much less fatiguing. They are more effective at blocking noise while providing high audio quality than active noise canceling headphones. I short flights I might leave behind and just use Apple AirPod Pros which reduce noise a bit, are more versatile, and less hassle.
Sentimental
There are a several items I have kept as a specific way to honor people I love.
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 during the last months of her life. 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) Used to wear to show company spirit. Not used regularly because my jackets have hoods, and I try to show my Hashicorp spirit rather than 23andme.
CatBus Plushy (2018) given to me my Jackie because it reminds me of the gentle film My Neighbor Totoro which has delighted my family. 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.
Grandpa’s Yamaka (<1980)
In Storage / Maybe Retire
These items, and my sentimental items have been stored away a box while we move between a variety of locations.
Small combination lock (2012) for use at the gym. Not using locker room in the gym right now.
RunScribe Plus* (2020) to get information about running form. They have been a bit troublesome to use due slow sync times. So far I am not getting particularly actionable insight but provides more data on running form that Stryd. In the future might work with a coach which using data from these.
Immersion Water Heater* (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.
Magic Keyboard* for iPad (2021) Works much better than the Folio Keyboard, decent feel, can actually be used sitting on my lap, and the keys are lighted which is handy in the evening. Alas, the weight of this keyboard + the iPad is as heavy as a real laptop and I am primarily using an iPad for display so I don’t need a good keyboard..
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 was 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 not replace it and just use my other devices to access my Kindle “library”.
Ultrafino Santa Fe Hat* (2021) is “Panama” straw hat. It isn’t a durable or packable as a Tilley, but much nicer looking. In the past I found straw hats feel cooler in hot weather, but this hat’s weave is so tight that the ventilation is minimal.
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.
Matador Freerain24 2.0 (2017/2020) The waterproof zipper on my first, a v1 wore out after 2 years which included a daily run to 6+ miles to/from work with my laptop. Weights only 5.5oz, carries well. easily folds into a small stuff sack, and keeps contents dry in the worst rain. Likely being replaced by a Gossamer Gear Vagabond which is more comfortable to carry, a bit more versatile for daily use, and almost as good in the rain when used with a waterproof liner.
Radsome EarStudio ES100 (2018) bluetooth/DAC/headphone amplifier allows me to use Westone IEM (or other wired headphones) with devices missing a headphone jack. Can also function as a USB DAC. The ES100 is tiny, with good sound quality (though Chord Mojo is better) and can even drive Sennheiser HD800 to reasonable sound levels. I have written about other DAC and Players. Retiring because AirFly Pro can do an adequate job and is usable to transmit and receive.
I have “extra” clothing in storage 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 2 pairs of outlier slim dungarees, 2 outlier new way shorts, 1 western rise evolution pants, 4 tee shirts, 4 pairs of briefs, 4 pairs of socks, Macpac Nitro hoodie, delta tee-shirt, tri shorts, and a Montbell Peak Shakedry jacket. These cloths 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.
Stolen 🙁 So Now “Retired”
We were sad to have our car burglarized twice. The first time items that would keep people warm, bags to hold things, and flashlights were taken. The second visit took everything else. A few days later the thief put warranty paperwork, a checkbook, and gym membership card in our mailbox but kept the owner manual and my wife’s prescription eye glasses?! We hope that the thief was someone who was homeless and needed warm clothing more than we do. Items from my “gear list” that was lost:
Wool Blanket originally owned by my grandfather from his service in WWI. It has been on countless fishing and camping trips and to virtually every picnic and outdoor concert I have ever attended. Everytime I see the blanket I think of my dad and many wonderful moments. This was the biggest / saddest loss.
Montbell Chameece Inner Jacket (2004/2013) is a very light weight fleece. About the same warmth as a sweater but much more convenient to put on and take off.
Uniqlo Ultralight Down Vest (2012) is decent quality, low price down vest. Combined with a fleece and a shell keeps me warm enough in the coldest weather I encounter in the SF Bay area.
Patagonia Down Sweater with 23andMe Logo (2016). Swag from work. It was too warm for me to use in the Bay Area, but it has often been used by family and friends.
Water Bottle Sling (2004) which Nancy brought back from South America.
Retired
Timbuk2 Classic Messenger (2001/2019) The small size is just the right size for my daily needs. My first bag was used from 2001-2017 and was still usable (gave it to someone in need) when I switched to a backpack when I was primarily running to work. I purchased a new Timbuk2 when my commute switched from running to biking. I prefer courier style bags over backpacks because they are easier to access on the go and leave my back with ventilation. I appreciate the water resistant fabric and that the fabric is heavy enough to retain it’s shape, but light enough not to be a burden. It’s been retired because it’s highly unlikely I will commute by bike in the future. I think Hashicorp is the last company I will work for, and my company is remote first.
Drain-stopper (1996) to make sure sink can fill with water to wash clothing. Haven’t used in years even though carried on many of my trips.
Montbell Trekking Umbrella (2012) has the best balance I have found between small/light and useful canopy size. It has survived 40mph wind/rain storms but one of the ribs has broken (and then repaired). In warm to hot weather much more comfortable than wearing a rain jacket but doesn’t adequately protect my legs in a hard rain. Lost.
Stryd Footpad power meter (2015) to capture run’s intensity better than using pace or heart rate. Replaced with RunScribe which should provide better information about run form. Easier to use than RunScribe and fits better into the Garmin eco-system. The Garmin Running Dynamics Pod is a cheaper way to get running power metrics. Not adding that much value today because my runs are mostly on level ground. Gave it to a neighbor who is trail running in the hills.
Garmin Swim Heart Rate Monitor (2019) replaced with HRM-Pro which has BlueTooth support allowing me to use it with software that controls my Kickr. Gifted to a friend who wanted to replace his HRM which just broke.
Xero Terraflex (2020) are zero drop trail shoes with has a sole reported to survive 5000 miles, rather than the <600 most trail runners. After wearing them for several weeks they seemed to contributed to my development of plantar fasciitis.
Merrill Vapor Glove 4 (2019/2020): are the most minimalist running shoes I have found that fits me, “like a glove”. Great for travel because it packs into a very small space. Sole last around 400 miles for street running. Downside is that any moisture (rain, wet grass, etc) goes right through the uppers. For people who need more cushion and a wide toe-box I would recommend Alta Running & Topo, or if you need extreme cushioning Hoka OneOne. Worn out and replaced 7 pair. After I recovered from plantar fasciitis they were still comfortable running, but would sometimes have pain while walking.
Montane Prism Booties (2020) keeps my feet warm around the house on particularly cold days. Replaced with slip ons that have a sole I can wear outdoors.
Flower Print Short Sleeve Shirt (2019) gift, not worn much, prefer my sharks shirt when I want to wear a fun, casual shirt.
Wool and Prince 130wt Blue Oxford Shirt (2014) Slim fit, crisp look while still having all the advantages of 100% wool. Very business casual. Did need business casual for several years and it was a bit tight in the shoulders.
Columbia/Montrail Titan Trailrunning Shirt (2018) After an bike accident a hole and somewhat stained. Replaced with a Xenith Polartec Delta technical tee which is more comfortable in hot weather and more odor resistant, though the Titan shirt is slightly lighter and dries more quickly.
Vissla All-time Surf Tee Shirt (2019) Rash guard shirt to protect my skin from the sun while engaged in water sports. Body hugging without being overly tight. Misplaced.
Patagonia Down Shirt with 23andMe logo (2015). I now work for Hashicorp! Away with the old, in with the new. Gave to someone who needed a jacket. Micro Puff is a better match for the conditions I regularly encounter.
GoLite Snow Cap (2002): polarguard insulated bomber style hat which can be layered over other hats. Fairly windproof, warm, and light weight. Not needed due to Micro Puff hood.
Lacrosse Ball (2021) – Purchased at recommendation of several people to help roll out sore muscles. I haven’t found it that useful.
Grip Strengthen (2020) to build my hand strength. No longer gaining strength.
Refurbished Google Chromebook Pixel LS (2020) – Tired of Apple prices, the time it takes for OS updates to run / machine to restart, and increasing security threat. Given that most of my work is web based these days seeing if I can make do with an Chromebook as I make a hard separation between work and personal use. Purchased refurb unit for $100 to run the experiment. Used March 2020 – Dec 2021. While I prefer a MacBook, I found I could largely live on a Chromebook, and could use Chrome Desktop Remote to family Mac Mini when I needed a “real” computer. Just wish was a bit lighter and have biometric unlock. The last OS update was May 2021 :(.
Google Pixel2 Phone on Google-Fi (2020): Android 10 fixed most of the issues I had with audio out being routed to the “right” device. Notification management is better than iOS. Normally left deactivated, but brought out when traveling internationally. Purchased refurbished for less than $100 + a month of Google Fi is cheaper than international roaming on Verizon, and more convenient than purchasing local SIMs in each country. Alas, just after I purchased it our plans for a lengthy international trip was canceled due to COVID and Google stopped doing OS updates. Replaced by using Airalo Esim for my iPhone when traveling internationally
Sony RX100 VI Camera (2020). Great quality image capture in daylight, so/so performance in low light situations, with a 200mm optical zoom that fits into my pocket. The features on the VII didn’t justify the extra cost compared to the VI. Geotagging mostly works through Sony’s smartphone ImagingEdgeMobile app. Computational photography in current iPhone is good enough for my needs.
Original Joby GorillaPod (2012) for when I need more stability for the Sony RX100… which I no longer own.
Apple AirPods(2017/2020) have decent sound quality while letting in ambiance noise providing situational awareness, stays in place during exercise, no wires to get tangled, has good user interface with iOS, so/so with Android. They aren’t rated for water resistance, but after more than four years of using them while sweating heavily, rides and runs in the rain they continue to function. In 2020, after three years the battery life was poor, so I paid $98 for Battery Service (which is really a replacement). I used to love the AirPods, but recently the microphone is not always connecting to the phone when receiving phone calls. This is happening with both Android and iOS and I have heard other people complaining about the same things. What’s going on?! After less than a year of use the right AirPod doesn’t always charge, and has a run time of around 1 hour.
Mikikin Fan* not shown (2020) Gift from my wife for hot days I need some air circulation. It’s too noisy for the amount of air that it moves.
Portable File Case (2002) Has been used to hold paperwork / office supplies. Switched to Patagonia briefcase because it is more transportable.
Purchased in 2022
Twelve South AirFly Pro BlueTooth transmitter and receiver used on long flights to listen to audio. I am sure there are cheaper options but this was available quickly.
MagSafe Charger a charging puck which makes use of an existing USB-C cable. Hard to remove material accumulates in my iPhone’s lighting port resulting in unreliable charging.
Portable 14″ 4K Monitor so I have enough screen real-estate for remote work which stays reliably connection which wasn’t the case using an iPad Air + slide car. Not nearly as effective as a large 4K monitor, but good enough. A better solution might have been xebec since the screen is attached to the laptop rather than sitting to the side.
Biosense ketosis breath meter to simplify measuring ketosis when experimenting with diets and fasting
Lactate Plus Meter for determine my zone 2 and zone 5 thresholds to optimize training.
TB Smart Alec Backpack I had an opportunity to get this excellent but discontinued pack. Perfect size for trips to grocery store and Costco when on my bicycle. Very durable, so perverse the life of my Gossamer Gear Packable Vagabond which has been discontinued and will wear out in a couple of years if used every day.
Western Rise Unlimited Button Down 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 luggage. My new default “nice” shirt. Reported to be UPF 40. Fairly air permeable, resists odor, adequate comfort in hot weather.
Solbari Weekend Shirt for UPF 50 protection because I learned that my existing shirts aren’t providing enough protection. The most comfortable shirt I have tried that is >=UPF 50 when >80F. Resists stink for a few days, formal looking.
Patagonia R0 Rashguard Shirt for UPF 50 protection during water sports and to replace a shirt Jackie really doesn’t like the style.
ArcTeryx Cormac Zip Neck Shirt for UPF 50 protection. In hot weather about as comfort as my merino wool tee, but not as good as Polartec Delta. Resists stink / feeling “icky” for a couple of days .
arcteryx incendo trail running pants for cold weather outdoor exercise that’s lower intensity than running (like tai chi in the park)
Luna Venado Sandals because I really missed the light and dynamic feel and the Keen’s feel “dead”.
Xoskin Toe Socks which last way longer than merino toe socks, stink a lot less than coolmax socks, and have completely eliminated blisters between my toes.
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
In have an updated list which captures what I am using now.
Minimalism led me to simplify my possessions.This post is the complete list of everything I personally own. At the end of each year I review what I have used in the previous year and decide what to use, retire and add in the coming year. I strive to use items that enable me to have an a healthy, impactful life, while minimizing friction. This list was inspired by one bag lifestyle and Tynan’s Gear posts, though I am not living that lightly.
Items in bold are exceptionally great. I happily use items marked with “*”, but not so much that I would automatically replace them. If I was a “true minimalist” I would get rid of them. The (year) is when this item became a standard part of my life. My traveling list is a subset of these items. Items that are used by the whole family on our family gear page.
Please don’t use this list to fuel consumption or as a challenge to create a curated list of minimalist styled possessions. Do not allow your possessions to become the basis of your sense of security or well being.
On My Person / Day Activities
Flexon (2019) eyeglass frames with Zeiss high index progressive lens. Eyeglasses are an incredible blessing. I used to break frames within a year of getting them. I started to use Flexon frames around 1995. They have lasted an average of 8 years through numerous prescription changes.
Garmin 935 Watch not shown (2017) accurately tracks my activities and measures my fitness level. The watch is light enough that I don’t mind wearing it continuously. It can last ~5 days without charging with 1-4 hours of GPS use each day for runs, hikes, and/or bike rides. Has decent integration with smartphones and notifies when the phone is left behind. There are other good sport watches.
Flowfold Minimalist Wallet (2012) which holds my IDs, 2 credit cards, and a few bills taking up minimal space.
Victorinox Swiss Army Rambler (1999) is the smallest, usable tool I have found with a phillips head & flat screwdriver, scissors, knife, bottle opener, and nail file. When flying I switch to a Swiss+Tech Utili-Key which is not as usable as the Rambler, but for years has made it through TSA checkpoints without being confiscated. I am on my 3rd? Rambler after losing a couple to TSA. I have some notes about other knife options.
Uniball Vision Elite .5mm Pen (2015) and Post-It Notes (1990) for jotted down ideas until I can get them into an electronic system. Has good “feel” and doesn’t leak after plane flights. I have stopped using Pilot V5 (best writing feel I have used) because several have leaked even when I didn’t fly with them.
Apple iPhone 12 Mini (2020) on Verizon. Not as small as the original SE… the upper right corner is a stretch for one handed use but smaller than most phones. Obviously plays well in the Apple eco-system. I used to think iOS UI was superior to Android, but I think Android 10 is pretty close for most things and has superior notifications and speech recognition. Replaced my iPhone SE whose battery wouldn’t make it through the daytime hours. Can someone please make a smart phone with a high resolution screen that is 4″ on the diagonal running a modern OS?
Apple AirPods(2017) have decent sound quality while letting in ambiance noise providing situational awareness, stays in place during exercise, no wires to get tangled, has good user interface with iOS, so/so with Android. They aren’t rated for water resistance, but after more than four years of using them while sweating heavily, rides and runs in the rain they continue to function. In 2020, after three years the battery life was poor, so I paid $98 for Battery Service (which is really a replacement). I used to love the AirPods, but recently the microphone is not always connecting to the phone when receiving phone calls. This is happening with both Android and iOS and I have heard other people complaining about the same things. What’s going on?! When the batteries die for a second time I will investigate alternatives.
Nicore NU25 rechargeable headlamp (2019) Very light-weight when the headband is replaced with cords. Good regulation, bright enough for trail running, a decent electronic lock so it doesn’t turn on accidently. Use it for when I am running in the dark and it has been a backup for when I forgot to recharge my bike light. In cold weather can be powered from a remote USB power supply. If I lost this light I would choose the NU20 for it’s simpler UI. I have a post about other good flashlights.
Sony RX100 VI Camera* (2020). After 2 years of trying to use only the camera on my phone I found that I wanted a better sensor and lens. Great quality image capture in daylight, ok performance in low light situations, with a 200mm optical zoom that fits into my pocket. The features on the VII didn’t justify the extra cost compared to the VI. Geotagging mostly works through Sony’s smartphone ImagingEdgeMobile app.
Original Joby GorillaPod* (2012) for when I need more stability for the Sony.
Purell Hand Sanitizer (2002) Carried for a long time, but more important than ever in the time of COVID.
Zojirushi Double Walled Mug (2013) can easily be used one handed, locks so it doesn’t open accidentally, pours at the perfect speed, the mouth is wide enough for ice cubes, and insulating better than every other mug I have tested. I have a Deep Cherry color mug which I picked up after misplacing my silver mug at work. The striking color make it easy to spot when I forget it in a conference room. When flying you can fill the Zojirushi with ice (no water) and get through TSA security. Once through, add water and you can have icy cold water for your flight. For several years I have been tempted by the very pricy Snowpeak Titanium Kanpai Bottle for it’s beautiful design and versatility. I have resisted because my Zojirushi is working, has better insulation, is already paid off, and the sipping lid doesn’t leak.
Entchin Fanny Pack (2020) Inexpensive fanny pack which is the good size for most of my done in a day activities. Unfortunately, it is cheaply made, the main bucket broke after six months of use. I was able to repair it. All of the items above, a protein bar and small volume jacket fit. I switched to a fanny pack because the strain of a courier bag or sling on a single shoulder would be painful after several hours.
My Office
For the last few years most of these items (and items listed as temporarily retired) were either everyday carry or travel items. Since COVID struck I have been working from home so this is now office gear.
MacBook Pro 13″ (2020) provided by Hashicorp. Been using MacBooks since 2006 as my primary computer because I get the best of a UNIX environment and high quality applications. There are better performing laptops for the money, but I like the ergonomics of the Macbook, especially the touch pad. When I purchase one for personal use I select a configuration with the maximum memory available which has allowed me to use the same Macbook for 4-6 years before it feels too sluggish.
LG 27BN88U 27″ 4k Display (2020) provide by work. Historically I have worked from the display on my laptop, using an external monitor only occasionally when needing to display a lot of data. In the era of Zoom meetings I use the laptop screen for displaying people, and the external monitor for notes, presentations, and general work.
Westone 5ES custom In-ear-monitors (2012) with excellent sound quality and comfortable enough to wear on 14 hour flights. They reduce noise by 35db which makes travel much less fatiguing while being much smaller and having better sound quality than over the ears active noise canceling headphones. Stored in a medium size HumanGear GoTubb with adapters. I have written about other headphones options.
Radsome EarStudio ES100 (2018) bluetooth/DAC/headphone amplifier allows me to use Westone IEM (or other wired headphones) with devices missing a headphone jack. Can also function as a USB DAC. The ES100 is tiny, with good sound quality (though Chord Mojo is better) and can even drive Sennheiser HD800 to reasonable sound levels. I have written about other DAC and Players
Nekteck 4-port 72W USB C Charger (2018) with 1 USB-C and 3 traditional USB ports which allows me to charge every device I use on a daily basis from a single power brick, including the 13” MacBook Pro from work. When the MacBook Pro isn’t being charged can rapidly charge all my devices.
Small fabric tape measure (2012) to measure packages and other smaller items.
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 Kindle outweighs this for me. Replaced a PaperWhite because the Oasis ergonomics allows reading with a single hand and I like the warm backlight, especially in the evening.
USB Power Task Light (2020) to replace a task light my wife needed somewhere else in the house.
Portable File Case (2002) Holds current paper items I am working on.
Mikikin Fan* not shown (2020) Gift from my wife for hot days I need some air circulation.
Bathroom
REI Micro Shower Bag (2017) is the perfect size for my toiletry kit while providing just enough organizational features to make it easy for me to find everything quickly. Inside pocket holds a few doses of medicines for allergies or colds. Main area has: a small HumanGear GoTubb to store aleve and tylenol, lip balm, toothpaste, and most of the bathroom items listed below. Outside pocket holds first aid kit which includes waterproof Band-Aids, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic cream, superglue, a couple of safety pins. No longer made: the GOX Organizer looks to be similar.
Gillette Mach-3 Razor + Pacific Natural Shaving Oil (1999). I am sure there are better razors and many people would suggest that shaving oil is a prep step which should be followed by shaving cream… but I have found this combination effective, reasonable cost effective. 1 bottle lasts me a year. When traveling I often leave the shaving oil behind and use Dr Bronners to lather my face.
Listerine Floss (1996) is the most effective dental floss I have used. Gentle to the gums while still getting plague and food wedged between teeth out.
Dr Bronner’s Soap (1978) – small bottle for travel, larger bottle in shower. Large bottle lasts around 1.5 years.
Micro Fiber Cleaning / Storage Bag + Cleaning Fluid (2008). When traveling I typically leave the cleaning fluid behind.
Oral-B/Braun 6000 Electric toothbrush (2016). Oral-B and Sonicare both make excellent toothbrushes which are significantly more effective than using a manual toothbrush. When traveling I leave the Oral-B behind and bring a Violife Slim Sonic toothbrush which isn’t as effective, but is much smaller. On an extended trip I would be tempted to purchase a USB powered charger for the Oral-B.
Linen Towel (2020) Lighter weight, dries faster, and less likely to get less smelly than previous cotton towel but isn’t as soft.
Sleep!
ChiliPad (2019) which cools or warms water which flows through a mattress topper. I need it to be significantly colder than Jackie to sleep soundly. Allows me to sleep without requiring the room to be cold and Jackie needing heavy blankets.
Bucky 40 Winks Sleep Mask (2015) lets me sleep even when it’s not completely dark outside. On my third purchased in 2020. These masks are not very durable. Want to find something as compact but longer lasting.
Sports & Exercise
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.
Pullup Bar (2020) – To work our upper body when gym closed
Bowflex Adjustable Kettlebell (2020) – Useful for numerous exercises though a bit too light for me. Max weight is 40lb, would like it to be 60lb. Used for several of sets in the Simple Six workout.
20lb Rucking Plate (2020) – Helps to turn my my daily walks into a workout and makes my pull-ups and squats a bit more challenging. Typically carried in daypack.
Pulse SpO2 Meter* (2020) Purchased primarily for better insight in the face of COVID19. Also used to get a read of SpO2 when doing HIIT.
Grip Strengthen* – not shown (2020) to build my hand strength which has dropped dramatically compared to when I was climbing.
RunScribe Plus* shown below (2020) to capture run’s intensity better than using pace or heart rate and to get information about running form. Jury is out if I am getting actionable insight to justify use. They have been a bit troublesome to use due to bugs and difficulties getting them to sync.
Garmin Swim Heart Rate Monitor shown below (2019) because optical heart rate monitors aren’t sufficiently accurate for HRV measurements and aren’t responsive enough to track interval training. Works when I am heavily sweating and swimming.
Clothing
I have notes about selecting clothing for an active life which goes in detail about how to select clothing for a wide range of activities and conditions.
De Soto Mobius Tri Shorts (2018) works well cycling, running, and swimming. They are comfortable for all the activities I engage in, in a wide range of conditions. 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 shorts to wear for vigorous physical activities…. I just grab my pair of Tri Shorts. Earlier used Zoot shorts.
Vroomi River Run Shirt* (2020) ultralight wool poly blend with great air permeability. This years attempt I finding a long sleeve shirt for sun protection which is comfortable in hot weather while active. Resist odors almost as well as 100% merino wool shirt. Downsides are that it is expensive, already lightly piling, and easily stains. When it wears out will try a Rab Pulse Hoodie, Outdoor Research Echo, Patagonia Men’s Capilene Cool Daily Hoody or something made from Polartec Delta.
Columbia/Montrail Titan Trailrunning Shirt (2018) Omni-Freeze fabric that helps cool when working out in moderate to hot conditions. Super light weight and breathable. Dries very quickly! Anti-stink is so/so. Might be replaced by whatever I replace the Vroomi with.
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 insulates well. 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. 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. Mine was actually called Capilene 4 because it pre-dates the renaming to “thermal weight”.
Outlier New Way Shorts – 4 pair (2014) are nice looking shorts which fit me perfectly, don’t have cargo pockets, are durable and dry reasonably quickly. They are pricy but at the time that I purchased them, I hadn’t found any shorts I like as much
Icebreaker Anatomica Tee-shirt – 4 shirts (2014) merino wool with a bit of nylon for strength with just a bit of lycra for a body hugging fit. This tee-shirt fits me perfectly, looks good, is super comfortable, doesn’t smell after several days of wear on the road, and dries fairly quickly. There are two downside. First, they are pricy. Second, they don’t work as well as synthetics when engaged in high energy activities producing heavy sweat. There are a number of other good merino wool shirts from Smartwool, Outlier, and Wool&Prince. My original purchase were replaced when they wore out. The new shirts have a bit of nylon for strengthened are more durable. I get around 600 days of wear from the current version before small holes appear.
Black Webbing Belt (1996) Easy to adjust to exactly the right length and has no metal so metal detectors don’t get triggered.
Icebreaker Anatomica Briefs – 7 pairs (2014) the most comfortable underwear I have worn. Earlier version developed holes after around 150 days of wear :(. All my original pairs have worn out. The newer version has a bit of nylon with the wool. So far none of my new pairs have worn out. They are up to around 600 days of use without holes. Some people prefer boxer style but I see no reason to have extra fabric on my thighs. Good alternatives are the synthetic travel oriented briefs from Ex Offico and the comfortable but expensive underwear from Saxx.
Darn Tough Socks– 8 pair (2013) are unsurprisingly durable since they come with a lifetime warranty. I have a mix of no-show mesh and light cushion crew. Icebreaker and the Smartwool PhD line are good alternatives. Worn out and replaced 2 pair.
Akona 2mm Neoprene Socks (2019) which protect my feet when using flippers or with Keens if I am on a trip which is constantly going in and out of water.
Outlier Slim Dungarees – 4 pair (2014) High-tech nylon pants in the style of jeans. Wonderful fit, looks good, excellent mobility. Thanks to the NanoSphere treatment very stain and water resistant. They are perfect except when it’s >80F and I am active. They seem pricey, but the per day cost of wearing is about the same as denim jeans. I have gotten more than 450 days of wear on some pairs. Maker&Rider and Wool&Prince makes nice alternatives. All my original pairs retired at the request of my wife: 1 looked wore out, 1 stained from a leaking Pilot pen :(, 2 a color my wife didn’t like. Current pants acquired in 2017 and 2019.
Western Rise Evolution Pants (2020) Slight stretch nylon pants in the style of jeans. Think of these as cheaper, lighter, slightly less advanced Slim Dungarees. Find that they are more comfortable in warmer conditions. Don’t know yet if they are as durable as Slim Dungarees. My only complaint is that the coin pocket is too deep.
White Button-up Shirt (2012) for when I need to be dressed up.
Outlier Air Forged Oxford Shirt (2014) Fits me well, made from durable nylon Supplex weave so it dries quickly and doesn’t wrinkle, and looks like a normal dress shirt rather than a “travel” shirt. Used backpacking when I need protection from biting bugs but is also appropriate for business meetings.
Clothing for Jackie
The following are worn because my wife cares more about how my clothing looks than I do. When we are doing a special activity together, I give Jackie the option to select clothing that will match what she is wearing. This costs me nothing and she appreciates seeing some variety in the clothing I am wearing.
Vroomi Running Shirt* (2020) in Bright Yellow
Flower Print Short Sleeve Shirt* (2019) for festive summer outings.
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 is more comfortable than other materials when it’s hot and humid. This is my favorite shirt for when I am in tropic locations.
Peach Button Up Shirt* (2014) for a change from a white shirt when we are going out for the evening.
Wool and Prince 130wt Blue Oxford Shirt* (2014) Slim fit, crisp look while still having all the advantages of 100% wool. Very business casual. I would retire it because it hasn’t been worn: tee-shirts are fine at my work but my wife loves it.
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.
Outlier AMB Merino Wool Button Up Shirt* (2019) a bit more dressy than a tee-shirt or hoodie but don’t need to wear a suit.
Mid-Weight, 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.
Grey Cashmere V-neck Sweater* (2019) for fall and winter evenings when I more warmth than just a shirt and hoody or fleece is too casual.
Muji Sport Jacket* (2013) for dressed up but casual date nights.
Boss Blazer Jacket* (2014) used when going out and it’s appropriate to be wearing something more dressy than a fleece or a sweater.
Boss Wool Suit (2012) slim/european cut. 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 anytime I need to be properly dressed up: weddings, funerals, a very special nights out on the town. I won’t naturally choose to wear a suit, but sometimes it’s the right thing to wear to show respect.
Footwear
Keen Clearwater CNX (2014) are the lightest sandals Keen makes. I liked the minimalist sandals made by luna but the toe protection of the Keens makes them a clear winner for me. When worn with gray socks they can “pass” for shoes most of the time. Comfortable in a wide range of conditions. Replaced pair in 2018 when my original pair wore out.
Altra Running Superior (2017) zero drop, modest cushion, trail running shoe which are light weight with a fairly grippy sole for mixed trail conditions. Wear when I need extra cushion when feet are sore or in the back country when I need good traction. I am on pair 12. Wish I could get more than 400 miles before they wear out.
Merrill Vapor Glove 4 (2019): are the most minimalist running shoes I have found that fits me, “like a glove”. Great for travel because it packs into a very small space. Sole last around 400 miles for street running. Downside is that any moisture (rain, wet grass, etc) goes right through the uppers. For people who need more cushion and a wide toe-box I would recommend Alta Running & Topo, or if you need extreme cushioning Hoka OneOne. Worn out and replaced 7 pair.
Vivobarefoot Gobi II (2017) are comfort, light weight, zero-drop, minimalist ankle boots which I have been told are acceptable to wear with casual clothing through dressed up with nice pants and a sport jacket, but not a full suit.
Booties* (2020) because I shouldn’t be wearing shoes inside according to the rest of my family, and this passed winter my feet were cold wearing just socks.
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) that are sufficiently comfortable for day long wear. Jackie thinks this are much more appropriate with my suits than the Vivobarefoot Gobi boots.
Head and Hand Wear
Visor (2012) keep sweat and sun and sweat out of my eyes while maximizing air circulation for my head.
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 out of my face and glasses.
Tilley LTM6 Hat (2014) provides good sun protection while offering decent ventilation. I think it’s one of the more stylish hats which provides good sun protection. Jackie says I am wrong… that the OR SunRunner I used before was better looking. I have a list of other hats that you might prefer. I used a canvas Tilley hat for more than 20 years. Purchased the LTM6 when I lost my old Tilley.
DIY Facemask & Under Armor Sportmask (2020) What a year it has been. The DIY is three fabrics as recommended by the Northwestern University study which combines two tightly woven cotton layers with a layer of chiffon.
Mountain Hardware Grub Gloves (2015) 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. Alas, this model has been discontinued. On my second pair. The PowerStretch palms are starting to wear out on the second pair, will likely have to replace in the coming year.
PolarBuff (2003) Sometimes configured as a hat, sometimes as neck gaiter.
Outer Wear
Montbell Chameece Inner Jacket (2004) is a very light weight fleece. About the same warmth as a sweater but much more convenient to put on and take off. On third light fleece (1 worn out, 1 replaced due to weight loss). In the coming year will live in the back of our car for days that are surprisingly cold.
Icebreaker Quattro Hoody not shown (2012) is a medium weight wool sweatshirt which had been living in the back of the car for the last couple of years for days that we experience a surprise drop in temperature. At the request of Jackie it’s swapping places with my Chameece fleece. I will use the Quattro whenever a tee-shirt isn’t warm enough by itself.
ArcTeryx Squamish Wind Shell (2012) is a 5oz windshirt with an air permeability of around 35 CFM. When combined with a air permeable base or middle layer provide comfort over a huge range of conditions. Last few years I had been using a Montbell Tachyon windshirt that is 1/2 the size and weight of the Squamish, and my Squamish went into our car trunk for “emergency” use.
Gore Gear R7 Shakedry Hooded Rain Jacket (2020) is an ultralight and ultra-breathable rain jacket designed for trail running. I can actually wear it and not be soaked by sweat when physically active! Other options are discussed in my post about rain gear. Cut isn’t as form fitting as the ArcTeryx Norvan SL, and has a huge logo which I don’t like, but the zipper doesn’t leak during multi-hour rain storms though you have to be careful, the zipper can easily get jammed by the rain flap.
Zpacks Vertice Rain Pants (2018) are simple, light, breathable, waterproof rain pants. Used when commuting by bike, hiking, or backpacking in the rain.
Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody (2020) is the perfect insulation for me for winter in the SF Bay Area and for 3-season backpacking. When standing around, makes me comfortable in conditions which are 25F lower than without the jacket. This means when layered over a thermal weight base or tee-shirt + light fleece, keeps me comfortable when standing around down to 20F. Reasonably light and compresses reasonably well. Has a good hood. This jacket is long enough to cover my suit jacket on nights that are cold and formal. I am still very fond of Montbell Down Jackets, the low cost down outerwear from Uniqlo, and the great price performance of Cumulus Primelite.
Travel
Tom Bihn Synik 30 Backpack (2020) is my luggage for all my trips (and my daypack around town). Wonderfully designed with just the right amount of organizational features. Large enough for every trip I will taken, while small enough that it fits under seat and is not viewed as “luggage” by transportation operators. Replaced a Tom Bihn Synapse 25 purchased in 2014 which worked for 80% of my trips but on trips that I needed to have a suit and outdoor clothing was too small. Have notes about other travel packs. The pack is also used for grocery shopping in town and to hold a rucking plate when exercising.
Matador Freerain24 2.0 (2017/2019) on v2 now. v1 wore out after 2 years of nearly everyday use which was logging 6 miles each day. Weights only 5.5oz, carries well. easily folds into a small stuff sack, and keeps contents dry in the worst rain. Used for done in a day activities and for when I was primarily running rather than biked to work.
PackTowel Ultralight (2009) Bodysize/XL – dries amazingly quickly, is compact, and is very effective. The XL is large enough that I can wrap it around my waist like a small sarong. For awhile I used a medium/face size which packs in a tiny space. I found the face size sufficient for me to dry myself after a swim or shower, but I am willing to carry a larger towel for the added versatility and ease of use.
Google Pixel2 Phone* on Google-Fi (2020): Android 10 fixed most of the issues I had with audio out being routed to the “right” device. Notification management is better than iOS. Normally left deactivated, but brought out when traveling internationally. Purchased refurbished for less than $100 + a month of Google Fi is cheaper than international roaming on Verizon, and more convenient than purchasing local SIMs in each country. Alas, just after I purchased it our plans for a lengthy international trip were canceled. Will need to retire when Google stops updating the OS.
Tech “Survival Kit” is stored in a small pouch from Muji updated in 2020 to reflect more use of USB-C. RAVpower 10K battery with USB-A&C outlets, Sharge 3-power USB charger which is small, can put out 65W across 2 USB-C and 1 USB-A ports. 6” USB Lightning, USB micro, and USB-C cables with some adaptor tips which let me connect pretty much any two USB devices. Was part of my of my EDC when I commuted to work.
Extra long Lightning Charging Cable, sink stopper, Micro International power adapter (2018). If I was doing more international travel, I would drop my power adapter and swap my USB power supply for the Card Travel Adapter.
Montbell Trekking Umbrella* (2012) has the best balance I have found between small/light and useful canopy size. It has survived 40mph wind/rain storms but one of the ribs has broken (and then repaired). In warm to hot weather much more comfortable than wearing a rain jacket but doesn’t adequately protect my legs in a hard rain.
AWS AC-650 Digital Pocket Scale not shown (2012) is a small scale which makes it easy to weight food on the go. Typically at home so use kitchen scale.
Beach
Every few years we spend extended time near a tropical beach. When we do this I pull extra “beachwear” out of storage which includes:
White Rashguard Long Sleeve Shirt* (2019) to protect my skin from sunburn when swimming and snorkelling.
Yeesam Prescription Snorkeling Mask* (2019) which lets me actually see underwater life when snorkeling rather than just blurs and flashes of color.
Backpacking / Snow
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. In addition to the items on my backpacking list, I have several items which come out when I am heading to the mountains and expect snow. I have not taken pictures of any of these items. They are stored in a plastic bin which holds all my backpacking gear except my quilt.
Patagonia Cap 3 Tights (2007): added to my legs when facing 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.
Unremembered-brand Traction Devices (2020): Gives trail runners and other shoes grip on snow and ice. Picked up when we were facing ice trails in Grand Canyon.
OR Gaiters: (<1988) for keeping snow out of shoes/boots and the lower legs dry.
Bicycling Stuff
Cervelo R3: (2013, identical replacement purchased in 2015 when first was stolen). Pricy but amazing road bicycle. Comfortable enough for an endurance ride, responsive like a race bike, great for climbing. Fitted with an Infinity Seat, and a small seat bag which holds a pump, inter-tube, bike tool, and 2 tire levers.
Giro Air Attack Shield Helmet (2013) provides protection, good ventilation while having a very streamlined aerodynamic profile. Has snap on optical shield which is great because with my eye prescription, it’s hard to find sports oriented sunglasses. These days there are helmets which are more aerodynamic, and also cheaper while providing equivalent protection. If you ride a bicycle, wear a helmet!! I am alive today because I was wearing a helmet when I was in an accident. On my second after a crash broke my previous helmet while preventing a concussion.
Felix BC21R Bike Headlamp (2019) which was purchase when my Expilion 850 was stolen. The BC21R uses a removable 18650 rechargeable battery. I think I slightly preferred the quality of light from the Expilion, but the BC21R works well enough to stick with it, and I do appreciate that the battery can be charged outside light housing.
Power Tap P1 Pedals (2015) because I like objective measures about how my physically condition is changing. The Garmin Vector 2 pedals integrate better into the Garmin eco-system, use standard Keto cleats, and are lighter / more streamlined at about the same price point.
Bicycling Shoes (2013) with Cleat for PowerTap peddles.
Wahoo Fitness Kickr* (2013) is a trainer for when I don’t want to hit the road. Integrated power meter and variable resistance which can be controls via ANT+ or BlueTooth. Wahoo built the Kickr with an open API so there are numerous companies which have applications which can control the Kickr. At the beginning of 2020 I was thinking about selling it, but once shelter in place started, I found having a way to exercise at home was useful and held on to the Kickr.
Sentimental
There are a several items I have kept as a specific way to honor people I love. Serveral are functional, e.g. they are still used during the year.
Wool Blanket originally owned by my grandfather. It has been on countless fishing and camping trips and to virtually every picnic and outdoor concert I have ever attended. Everytime I see the blanket I think of my dad and many wonderful moments.
Various buttons collected over the years related to projects or movements that were important to me.
Libby’s pins (2000) of a nativity scene and of a mother and child. Originally worn by Libby on special occasions, they became daily decorations on the hats she wore during chemotherapy during the last months of her life. They remind me of Libby’s courage and the two things most important to Libby, family and Jesus.
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.
Gumby (2011) which was given as a reminder that when life is difficult, we need to be flexible.
CatBus Plushy (2018) given to me my Jackie because it reminds me of the gentle film My Neighbor Totoro which has delighted my family. I wanted a real CatBus, but no one can find one for me 🙂
Water Bottle Sling (2004?) which reminds me of our traveling grandmother Nancy, who brought this back from South America.
Computer Wizard’s Tee Shirt (1977) from high school group club… still fits.
Temporarily Retired
Timbuk2 Classic Messenger (2001) The small size is just the right size for my daily needs. My first bag was used from 2001-2017 and was still usable when I switched to a backpack. I gave it to someone in need. I am back to a Timbuk2 which I purchased in 2019. I prefer courier style bags over backpacks because they are easier to access on the go and leave my back with ventilation. I appreciate the water resistant fabric and that the fabric is heavy enough to retain it’s shape, but light enough not to be a burden. It’s been put in storage because I am working from home and don’t need to carry items to work.
Humangear Gotubb small (2012) to hold some medicine
Small combination lock (2012) for use at the gym… but can’t go to the gym right now due to COVID.
Likely Retire
These items have been put away but I still own.
Stryd Footpad power meter (2015) to capture run’s intensity better than using pace or heart rate. Replaced with RunScribe which should provide better information about run form. If I can’t make the data from RunScribe actionable, I will go back to using Stryd and retire the RunScribe. The Garmin Running Dynamics Pod is a cheaper way to get running power metrics.
Uniqlo Ultralight Down Vest (2012) is decent quality, low price. Combined with my fleece and a shell keeps me warm enough in the coldest weather I encounter in the SF Bay area. The Patagonia Micro Puff is my go to solution now because it’s more convenient and Jackie thinks it looks better. Lives in car trunk in case someone is cold away from the house.
Xero Terraflex* (2020) are zero drop trail shoes with has a sole reported to survive 5000 miles, rather than the <600 most trail runners. Trying them to reduce the number of shoes I go through in a year. I wear them for hiking, backpacking, and for around town walking. I have experimented with using them for trail running, but lacks the energy recovery of trail runners like Altra Superior and Inov-8 G 270. After wearing them for several weeks my heel started to become sensitive to pressure. Once my feet recover I will try to determine if it was these shoes or something else.
GoLite Snow Cap (2002): polarguard insulated bomber style hat which can be layered over other hats. Fairly windproof, warm, and light weight. Not needed give Micro Puff hood, but hasn’t been made in years so tough to replace.
Knit Cap with 23andme logo (2016) Worn to show company spirit and because Jackie likes seeing me wear bright colors. Back to using my Buff because I now work for Hashicorp. Maybe migrate to sentimental.
Patagonia Down Shirt with 23andMe logo (2015). I now work for Hashicorp! Away with the old, in with the new. My new Micro Puff is a better match for the conditions I regularly encounter.
Refurbished Google Chromebook Pixel LS* (2020) – Tired of Apple prices, the time it takes for OS updates to run / machine to restart, and increasing security threat. Given that most of my work is web based these days seeing if I can make do with an Chromebook as I make a hard separation between work and personal use. Purchased refurb unit for $100 to run the experiment since March 2020. While I prefer a MacBook, it’s going surprisingly well. Just wish was a bit lighter and have biometric unlock. The last OS update will be May 2021.
Retired
Icebreaker Wool Hoodie (2012) Oasis 200wt merino wool hoodie with 1/4 length zipper. Simpler to combining my tee-shirts with a light fleece or sweater so sold them to fellow backpackers who love merino base layers.
ArcTeryx Norvan SL (2016) Shakedry Rain Jacket which was very breathable, but it’s zipper leaks after 2 hours in the rain. Sold on ebay and replaces with a Gorewear Shakedry jacket which isn’t cut as nicely but doesn’t leak.
Smartwool Full Zipper Wool Fleece with 23andMe logo (2018) Team swag. Very nice, but I prefer the mobility and weight of puffy jackets. Donated to a friend at 23andme.
Western Mountaineering Flash Hooded Jacket (2012) When I purchased this jacket it was one of the warmest / weight jackets on the market. Just 10oz but keeps me comfortable <10F when combined with a Patagonia Thermal Weight hoodie… too warm for bay area winters or Sierra’s when I am active. Don’t need a jacket that is this warm in this season of life. A warm base + Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody has taken care of me so far. Sold to a fellow backpacker.
Tom Bihn Synapse 25 (2014) which was close to perfect, but just a tad too small on the last several trips when I needed to mix formal events with outdoor adventures. Replaced with a Tom Bihn Synik-30 and sold on eBay.
Patagonia Ultralight 15L Courier Bag (2008) is perfect size for day use and compact enough that I can pack it away in my backpack when moving between towns. Easy access without taking it off, in hot weather maximized ventilation, and can be used at the same time that I am carrying a backpack. The fabric wore out after being used several months a year for the last 15 years. Jackie said it made me look like a homeless person. When I need a bag while traveling use FreeRain24. Given away.
Sennheiser HD800 Headphones (2012) very high quality sound without bother others too much (sound does leak). Sold because I was not using them, always listening to our KEF LS50 which let family share listening experience. These are the second best sounding pair of headphones I have ever used, at 1/3 the cost of the best (Stax SR-009). Sold.
Chord Mojo DAC (2015) offers a nice design, good quality sound, good price / performance ratio, portability, has enough power to happily drive Sennheiser HD 800, and has an internal battery which enables it be driven via USB from phones and portable DAPs. Sold because unneeded with HD800 are being sold and the EarStudio ES100 being adequate when I am using my Westtone 5ES on the move.
Aukey Ultra Compact USB Charger and Anker 30w GaN USB-C charger (2018) replaced by a single unit which can go to 65W which is in my travel bag. Now with family electronics, the 30w is used to charge battery pack which is by our front door.
RAVpower 6700Mah USB Charger (2014) was replaced by charger which has more power and supports UCB-C. The RAVpower is now used by my wife.
Dreem2* (2020) Interesting data. Found that it matched the graphs from my Garmin. Also interesting is that when I look at the graphs from the Garmin there are times I thought “that looks like deep sleep” but the Garmin didn’t identify it as such, but the Dreem2 did. I don’t know what algorithms Garmin is using, but they really need to be tweaked. Sold on eBay.
Refurbished Apple SE (2019) Retired due to battery life being poor and the iPhone 12 mini being released. For the next year it will be a “backup” phone that family members can use if they break their phone. Apple surprised me in continue to support it with iOS15. It’s a great size and has a headphone jack.
Jelly2 Phone (2020) Purchased to replace Pixel2 (Pixel2 updates ended Dec 2020) while traveling internationally and hopefully my iPhone SE. About the size and shape of an old fashion flip feature phone, e.g. small and nearly 2x as thick as most modern smart phones. I was ok with the 3 inch screen for viewing information, but it was too small for me to effectively type on. I also later realized not all the Google Fi features would work on it. Returned in the 30 day trial window. International travel is at least a year away… will revisit what to do closer to the time we travel.
Added During 2021
Rudy Project Ketyum Frames* with Prescription Transitions Drivewear lens from Sports Optical or better eye protection while cycling.
Apple iPad Air 4 + Smart Keyboard Folio purchased for when I am working while traveling. During the day it functions as a second monitor for my work’s MacBook Pro (via Sidecar) and in the evening my wife uses it as her computing device. iPad is also useful as a controller for Wahoo KickR and to do Zoom meetings while cycling indoors.Pearl Izumi P.R.O. Barrier WxB Cycling Gloves to keep hands comfortable while riding my bicycle in the winter (especially in the rain) and to slow how quickly my MH Grub Gloves are wearing out.
Xenith Delta Shirt feels more comfortable than my Titan running shirt in hot conditions and accumulates less odor.
Castelli Light Arm Sleeves combined with Xenith shirt to replace Voomi shirt on hot days when I don’t want to hassle with sunscreen.
Garmin HRM-Pro because a friend wants to get a HRM at the same time as I wanted to upgrade to a heart take supported bluetooth in addition to ANT+ while doing indoor cycling.
Apple AirPod Pros are nicely integrated with the Apple eco-system and just work with fast and reliable Bluetooth connection. Noise reduction is decent, and the “ambient mode” provides some situational awareness. I preferred the openness of the original AirPods, but I went through two pairs with the battery dying prematurity, the Bluetooth periodically dropping and problems with the microphone somethings not connection during phone calls.
Macpac Nitro Pullover made from Polartec Alpha Direct. Warm, highly breathable. Light insulate without a wind breaker, surprisingly warm under a shell. Good insulation for when active in cold conditions. Worn whenever my tee-shirt isn’t warm enough. I am comfortable down to 35F with a tee-shirt, this pullover and a wind shell when walking on flat ground, and I am comfortable wearing this pullover when sitting quickly inside when it’s 66F.
Specialized S-works 2019 Roubaix an endurance bike with a responsiveness that approaches a race bike while smoothing out the road making it easy to be confident on less than ideal road surfaces.
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
Several items on my personal gear list were used by the whole family, and thus, this page was born. I have excluded our furniture. We keep only those items that are useful and/or are enjoyed which allows our family to focus on doing things that we find rewarding rather than devoting ourselves to managing stuff. When we needed to move, it took less than 10 hours which started with acquiring boxes and included breaks to eat and a bit of play. We were able to unpack even more quickly. By the end of a weekend we were not just out of one place, but fully moved into the new with boxes put away and pictures hung on the walls. Items in bold are particularly great, and those with “*” I am not sure we would replace if they were lost or damaged. The (year) indicates when the item was acquired.
Outdoor Shelter
In our garage we have a baker’s rack which holds most of the gear we use when picnicking or camping.
Enlightened Gear Accomplice Double Quilts (2014), Montbell Down Hugger Super Stretch #3 (2005) and NuntakUSA Ghost Down Blanket/Quilt (2002). Other notes about Sleeping Bag & Quilt
Therm-a-Rest XTherm Air Mattress (2012) Big Agnes Q-Core SLX Sleeping Pad (2019). Other notes about Sleeping Pads
Zojirushi Mr Bento Lunch Jar* (2014) for hot and cold lunch, snack, dinners when we are doing a fun / special “picnic”.
Zojirushi Bottle* not shown (2005) which holds 51 ounces and can keep beverages warm for almost 24 hours. Nice pouring spout with a lid which functions as an insulated cup.
Alife Mayfly Chair* (2010) is a low slung folding chair which works on any surface and doesn’t have legs so it can be used at Shoreline amphitheater. 2 GoChair (2018) which we funding via indiegogo which deploys very quickly.
Insulated Wine Tote (2016) which is a good size for wine and cheese in a park: holds up to two bottles, some snacks, and a couple of glasses, with a small cutting board, bottle opener, small knife.
GoalZero Power Sherpa 100* (2020) High versatile power system. Has been used during power outage to keep our Internet connection up, as a portable power outlet for small appliances and to charge devices on extended trips without access to wall power. This can be paired with a 60w Solar Charger* to provide power off grid over an extended period of time (2020). When people were purchasing excess TP at the beginning of COVID I was beefing up my disaster kit.
Propane Hose* (2020) that allows Coleman grill to run from a full size propane tank rather than the smaller disposable tanks.
Pentax S 8×42 Binoculars not shown (1994) Nitrogen filled, excellent visual quality in a moderately compact body.
Camping Supplies
We have a Kelty duffel (1992) that is approx 40L that has three compartments which holds most of our smaller camping gear. This bag is also part of our disaster kit. One side has our first aid kit, the other end has “electronics” which will be described later, the main compartments holds most of our “outdoor kitchen” described below:
REI Dinnerware Set for 4 (2012) including wash basin, drying rack, and cutting board
Misc utensils for kitchen stored in a ziplock bag: scraper, wine opener, tongs, paring knife, mixing spoon, salt/pepper, Dr Bronner Soap, Hot Sauce, Cooking Oil, Spong, matches/lighter, strainer (1992)
MSR Duralite Cookset* (2003). Inside also our cookset for group backpacking trips: 1.3L Evernew Ti Pot (2001), Snowpeak GigiPower Stove (2001), Fuel Canister, Silicon Cup/Bowl (2010), and MSR folding Foon (2010). Typically the Duralite kit doesn’t get used a lot. We use the built in grill and griddle on our Coleman stove for most cooking.
Foil, Extra Plastic Bags, Steel Skewers
Platypus Water Containers, Gravity Filter, Foldable Water Bucket (2018)
Pack Towel (1988)
Plastic tub (2000) Used to wash dishes and pots. Use the case for the dinner set for rinsing.
Repairs & Power
Black Diamond Apollo Lantern(2018) which is a perfect size and amount of light for car camping or emergency lighting in a house in the case of a power outage. Built in rechargeable battery with the ability to use three AA batteries if the internal battery has been fully discharged and you need light.
Zebralight H600 Headlamp, SC600 Flashlight (2014) which use 18650 batteries. A bit heavy, but very bright and long run times. Zebralight H51 flood (2009), H52 beam (2012) headlamps which using AA size batteries. Compact, light weight, surprisingly long runtimes due to excellent regulation, and use standard size batteries that are easy to aquire. There are several other flashlights and headlights I recommend.
Eton Emergency Radio (2009). Internal rechargeable batteries can only charge by crank or power quality solar cells on top. Should allow to changing via USB or other external power source or at least let you swap the batteries. AM/FM plus weather band, but not weather alert. Someday would like to replace this with something that is smaller, support weather alerts, and recharges via USB, but haven’t found a good alternative.
Variety of USB cables to be used to charge a variety of devices. Car adaptor, Olight Universal Magnetic Battery Charger (2018) powered by USB, and can be used with pretty much any size battery, and charges both 1.5V NiHM, 3.6 & 3.7V LI batteries
18650 Batteries in Charger (2018) and GoalZero AA Batteries Charge (2007). Both doubles as a USB power supply. Not the most efficient chargers or power pack, but works.
Fallkniven F1 fixed blade knife (2002) and a Leatherman (2000). There are numerous other good knives I would recommend.
Matches and Lighter, Whistle
Rite in Rain Pad and Pen
Gear “Repair Kit” with zippers, glue, grommets, rope, safety pins, etc. (2014)
Disaster Supplies
Northface basecamp duffel small – 50L (1987) which we have filled with food for a week. The food is a mixture of freeze dried food, high density food from grocery store which we eat at home and while backpacking like cous cous and tuna, and some protein bars. The “normal food” rotates grocery store –> duffel –> kitchen shelves. When something gets consumed from the kitchen it gets re-filled from the duffel, new food is purchased and stored in the duffel. This way we don’t need to worry about food expiring. Also in the duffel are some plastic bags, a roll of toilet paper, and some ISObutane fuel canisters for the stove in our kitchen duffel bag.
Tools
Dekopro 126 piece Toolbox convient box with most of the tools I need. Quality isn’t want I have been used to, but mostly good enough. Originally purchased when renting out a house so there would be some on-site tools. Many of my tools (Snapon and Craftsman) were stolen a few years ago and decided to see if I could make do with the Dekopro set.
Milwaukee Hex Electric Screwdriver with right angle adaptor and multiple bits. It is mostly powerful enough to use as a light duty drill.
Additional tools that live the the Milwaukee case (avoiding pulling out the Dekopro case): metric hex wrench, screwdriver, precision screwdriver with multiple bits, box cutter, pencil, sharpie, cresent wrench, hex wrench bits, precision needle nose pliers, nitecore nu20 headlamp
Misc other tools not shown: Fluke IR Temp. Meter, Fluke Multimeter, Soldering Iron, Clamps, Calipers, Level, Micro screwdrivers
Electronics
LG OLED55B6P SmartTV (2017) for family / friends movie night and other group activities that use a screen. I would be content using the screen on my laptop or even iPhone for the occasional video streaming I watch. That said, the picture quality is amazing and the webOS based controls work well. Also used as the display for the Mac mini. 4k works nicely when trying to see a lot of pictures using Adobe Lightroom.
Apple Mac mini (2017) The Mini is compact, low noise, with a good collection of ports, has enough CPU, memory, and disk for our family needs, and plays well in the Apple eco-system which we am committed to until our next refresh in a few years. It is overpriced compared to non-Apple hardware. Used primarily as a media server. Roon for audio, Lightroom for photos, various programs for video / streaming.
Roon software (2017) isn’t really an item, but it effected many of my decisions related to audio playback. Roon integrates my iTunes library which is made up of CDs ripped using ALAC codex with the TIDAL streaming service to provide loseless audio to multiple speakers around the house. Roon would be perfect if the remote clients supported off-line caching of music so playlists and favorite music was accessible when out of the house. I carry music on my phone by exporting play lists from Roon to TIDAL, and then use the Tidal client on my iPhone to do offline playback. If I didn’t care so much about sound quality the family would use Sonos speakers combined with Spotify for whole house music.
KEF LS50 wireless monitor speakers (2017) with a built in DAC and amplifier designed for the speakers. Good quality sound that fills a room, excellent for near field use in a nicely designed, compact package. Can take TOSlink, USB, Bluetooth, analog, and several IP based streaming protocols inputs over ethernet or WiFi. Roon can stream directly to it over the network, but it’s not Roon-Ready so can’t be synchronized with other Roon-Ready systems. The iOS remote application is poor. I drive the LS50 via USB on a Mac Mini running Roon which remove the need for the KEF remote and the speakers can be synchronized with other Roon Ready end-points giving me whole house music. I still prefer the sound quality of electrostatic speakers with audiophile grade full electronics, but I am happy that I downsized our stereo so we can focus on other things.
Pulse Flex Wireless Speaker not shown (2017) allows me to have synchronized whole house music since it’s Roon Ready. 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. It can be used away from it’s home, but you have to reconfigure it’s WiFi settings which is a pain. Sound quality is significantly less than KEF LS50. For people who aren’t using Roon, I would recommend Sonos: for it’s lower price point, better streaming options, and slightly more processed sound quality which everyone but audio purists like me typically prefer.
Google WiFi Mesh (2017) network access points easily install and just work when you have an area than a single WiFi router isn’t sufficient. There may be faster / more featureful options out there, but the Google devices work flawlessly and are visually appealing. We are using ATT fibre which so far as been a big improvement over Comcast for slightly less money.
Brother MFC-J880W not shown (2017) Multifunction Printer, Scanner, Fax, Copier has been a reliable device for us unlike several other multi-function devices which failed within a year. WiFi enabled, supports AirPrint, Google Print, and several other standards. Connected to a Obi device which lets us Fax over Google Voice.
La Crosse Battery Charger – 2 not shown (2007) which does a great job charging any combination of 1-4 AA or AAA batteries. We generally use Eneloop Pro Batteries. Reasonable power density and power retention when stored.
Small Appliances
Vornado 660 Fan (2008) air ciculation in the garage or living room
Vornado Panel Fan (2014) pull cooler outside air into bedroom to avoid using air conditioner most of the summer
Conway Air Purifier / HEPA Filter (2020) Was a lifesaver during the summer time fires summer of 2020. Took air quality from over 200 down to 25 in our study.
Dyson V10 Cordless Vacuum (2019) Expensive. There are cheaper options but works very well with no trouble.
Breville BOV800XL Smart Oven (2020) is used for nearly all our baking, broiling and toasting needs. We have a full size, built in oven, but this unit heats up more quickly, seems to heat more evenly, and is the perfect size for almost everything we make.
Oxo 11lb Scale (2014) Easy to use, accurate, the display can be separated to enable viewing when weighting oversized objects.
Soda Stream (2017) To avoid purchasing bottled bubble water. Cheaper, cuts down plastic waste, don’t have to haul water back from costco.
Rival RC101 5-Cup Rice Cooker (2017) Simple to use and faster than a rice cookers with fuzzy logic and other advanced features.
Panasonic Electric Water Boiler (2019) Holds 3.2quarts of water. Insulated to minimize energy usage and allows hot water to be used for a couple of hours when power is not available.
Zojirushi electric “Hot Pot” (2005) Hot pot is one of our favorite ways to celebrate holiday or when having a small dinner party with friends.
Waffle Maker*
Amazon 6 sheet Paper Shredder
Pulse SpO2 Meter* (2020) Purchased primarily for better insight in the face of COVID19. my wife sometimes uses to get a read of SpO2 when doing HIIT.
Baking and Mixing
Silicone Oven Mitts not shown (2014) with inner, removable terrycloth liners. Effective, waterproof, durable.
Pampered Chef Mixing Bowls (2007) Light weight, rubber on the bottom keeps them from sliding around. Useful size. Often use the larger as a salad bowl. Have well sealing lids which aren’t shown.
Electric Hand Mixer (2017) Christmas gift for Amber who loves to bake. Used to have a Kitchenaid but got rid of it because it’s ease of use compared to the hand mixer was overshadows by the hassle of pulling it out of the garage.
Measuring Cups
Rolling Pin
Hand whisk (not shown)
Strainer, Collapsing Silicon Funnel
KitchenAid Immersion Blender (2014) for many mixing, blending, and whisking tasks. There are better models on the market, but this one is good enough for my needs. Has several attachments.
Pots and Pans
T-fal 10″ frying pan (2014) replaced in 2019 when first was warped. Modest price. Anti-stick works well and is durable.
I have been reading Thinking Fast and Slow which I would highly recommend. If you have read a summary and think you know what’s in the book you are wrong. I think it takes example after example to actually internalize how easily we are influenced by things we don’t notice. I am writing up some personal notes but they aren’t done. This is a placeholder using an experience I had today.
I need to replace my trail runners. I have very hard to fit feet. I had narrowed down the choices to Altra Superior 4.5 and Inov-8 G 270. I have been wearing Altras for several years, but they keep tweaking the shoe which means I never know if the next shoe I purchase from them will work as well as the previous. They also wear out more quickly than I would like.
I was excited by the Inov-8. First, Inov-8 don’t change shoe designs. I wore their Flyroc-310 for several years… the 14th pair was just like the first. Second, they were using space-age materials which was suppose to add durability and performance. I read that they were using an improved foam which has better energy returning properties. They had updated the design of the 260 G including a wider toebox, which seemed like it would fit my foot. The 260 G toebox was a bit too narrow for me. Seemed like a winner.
So… I took these shoes out for several runs. It seemed to me that the Inov-8 was was performing better than the Altras… they felt more energetic and had a better “ride”. Later I put one of each on a foot and walked around. Both feet were happy… nothing stood out, but when I was concentrating on the feel, I prefered the Inov-8.
Then I looked at metrics gathers from RunScribe sensors. The Altras were performing better. More efficient, lower shock and braking Gs, slightly better form. Hmm… later I put one of each on my feet and went for a run while listening to an engaging podcast. I set an alarm so that 3/4 of the way through the run I would pause to consider which foot felt better. When the alarm went off I had forgotten which foot had which shoe. My assessment… the right foot felt a tiny bit more comfortable. When I got home I looked down. The right foot was the Altra.
So it seems my expectation (and hope) that the Inov-8 was going to be superior made me look for confirmation this was true. Objective metrics suggested that the Altra were better. My attempt to do a pseudo blind test resulting in a slight preference over the Altras. Was this a new confirmation bias? I don’t trust myself to know.
What am I doing? The Altras are cheaper and Jackie prefers their color… so that’s what I am going to use for now. If I have trouble finding the Altra Superior 4.5 in the future, I know the Inov-8 270 G will be an acceptable alternative.
I strive to be grateful for my material possessions and not fall into the trap of consistent consumption. For the last several years I limit my purchases to consumables and replacing items that wore out for most of the year, aka a shopping diet. Think of this as intermittent fasting applied to purchasing.
When I break from my shopping diet every 6 months or so, I normally review items that have accumulated on my “wishlist”. Typically 70% of the items that made it on to my list get dropped, they just don’t feel compelling after the “cooling off period”, 20% stay on the list, they seem relevant but aren’t compelling. 10% of the items on the list I decide to purchase. Then I take some time to reflect on my spending patterns to see what I can learn. This year my lessons were:
Mindset has an huge impact on behavior
I can be lured into “retail therapy” just like everyone else.
Retail therapy give a small boast to a sense of control, this is fleeting
Pausing the shopping diet only needs to be for a week to process wishlist
During the break only purchase items that are already on my wishlist. New items should go on to my wishlist to be reviewed in my next break after a cooling off period.
Mostly Compliant “Before”
I was doing pretty well on my shopping diet for the first part of 2020… then it started to fall apart around two months into shelter in place. More on this later. Until May I avoided falling into a shopping mindset, successful resisted calls to “check out great deals” or spend a lot of time researching products I would ultimately conclude I didn’t need. There were some purchases made that weren’t consumables:
Merrell Men’s Vapor Glove 4 Sneakers (2 pairs), and Hoka Trail Runners to replace worn out runners – actually, maybe these are consumables 🙂
Battery for 2012 MacBook Air – only ran when plugged in
Several books selected by reading group, not available through the library
Pixel2 for trip to Europe that was later canceled. Buying a refurbished Pixel and using Google Fi for a month would have been cheaper than Verizon roaming charges and less hassle than getting multiple local SIM cards. My first generation iPhone SE battery is mostly dead so the Pixel is now my primary phone.
Shelter in Place
Like most people, “shelter in place” changed my day to day life. The biggest change was in-person gatherings were replaced by Zoom calls. Using the built in speaker on my MacBook was OK when it was just me, but when Jackie and I were doing calls with groups it just didn’t seem to be working. I purchased a Jabra 510 Bluetooth speaker. It didn’t help significantly, but ended up being extremely useful when then the speaker in Jackie’s old MacBook Pro died.
During the shutdown it wasn’t possible to go to the gym. I didn’t want to lose fitness and gaining weight. For a couple of months I was running (Little Sprint Intervals) which was helping overall fitness, but I could tell I was slowly losing muscle in my upper body. I thought about doing a pure body weight exercise, but I felt overwhelmed by the countless possibilities I found on the web and in the recommended book Overcoming Gravity: Systematic Gymnastics Bodyweight. In May I decided to going with something simpler:
We also picked up a Pulse Oximeter on the theory that it would be one of the best measures of whether going into the hospital would be prudent.
Compliance Breakdown
Stuck at home during shelter in place and not meeting with people face to face led to more time using the computer. When I can’t DO things, I tend to research things. For example, since my favorite locations for backpacking were closed and international travel was near impossible, I look at sites about backpacking and travel. Alas, many sites which are about activities ends up having a fair amount of content about the gear one uses for the activity. I found myself reading more gear posts then I have for several years, which led me to want to buy, even though I was previously happy with the items I currently owned and I won’t be able to use the items I purchased given shelter in place. My rationalizations:
This company might not survive, I should get this item now
Supply chain might be disrupted, it might be a year before I could purchase this
People are losing jobs… buying things supports companies I believe in
I also justified several purchases saying “this really needs to be replaced” when it was clear it could hang on for months or years. In reality, I was just looking for things that I could control, or that would give me that little dopamine rush of making a purchase:
Voormi River Run Shirt
Outlier Slim Dungarees to replace a pair that my wife tells me was worn out.
GORE Wear R7 Goretex Shakedry Hooded Rain Jacket to replace ArcTeryx Norvan SL which I ebayed because the zipper isn’t waterproof
GoalZero Sherpa 100AC + SUAOKI 60W folding Solar Array (sort of like people buying too much toilet paper… prepping for things going badly).
Breville BOV800XL Toaster/Oven to replace our Krupps Toaster Oven that was still working but was having a problem with the door
Mohu Leaf Antenna… old antenna was failing to work, but we weren’t really needing it because we rarely watch TV
Grilling tools. Ours went missing, but could have used kitchen utensils
Glass Storage Container to replace cracker acrylic canister
Bucky 40 Eye Mask because old one was falling apart but still working
For the last few years I have a month when I give myself permission to purchase items which aren’t replacement or consumables. This year there was only two items I would have purchased following my normal process:
Sony RX100 Mk VI Camera + Batteries because I want optical zoom and better low light performance than a camera phone.
Voormi River Run Shirt (which I purchased before the break month)
This year I was in a “shopping mindset” which started during the shelter in place. I had a hunger to buy things. There were a number of items from my wishlist that I had deferred in past years and would have continued to defer, but since I was in a shopping mindset I choice to buy:
RunScribe to get better analytics to understand my running stride.
Second Patagonia Thermal Weight Hoody
Dreem2 to improve sleep
Obihai Obi200 VoIP Adaptor: lets me send and receive faxes over Google Voice
Small Buddha Board to exercise some creativity
Worse, I found myself looking at “deals” posted on social media and doing all sorts of product research which led me to make a surprising number of impulse purchases. When I started my retro I realized what was happening, and was able to return several of my purchases which I really didn’t need. Here is what I purchased:
Tom Bihn Synik-30 for extra room on trips that the Synapse was just a smidge too small and the ease of the full zip opening would be nice.
Sharge Portable USB Charger to consolidate my on the go charging needs into single device
Used Google Chromebook ($150 dollar experiment) to see if I could live on just a Chromebook… getting tired of Apple’s prices and my 2012 Air is really feeling slow.
Ventilated Back Panel for GG Gorilla
Water Bottle Fanny Pack because my wife really wanted me to retire my Patagonia 15L Ultralight Courier Bag… she said it made me look like a homeless person.
Replacement Milwaukee battery… old ones weren’t holding charge as well as they used to
Drop 40L Backpack… returned. My 2009 Gossamer Gear Gorilla is fine.
Six Moon Designs Gatewood Cape & NetTent… returned. My 2010 Zpacks Hexamid still gets the job done.
Titanium Double Walled Water Bottle… returned. No better than my 2013 Zojirushi.
My packing list for trips than range from a few days to several months. Items “*” are optional. This list was extracted from my Packing & Traveling Light post. For a more complete description of these items see my gear for life. Packing list from 2023 Camino.
Luggage
gossamer gear vagabond
osprey 20l drybag*
Pockets/Wear
hanchor wallet w/ cards, cash
iphone 12 mini t-mobile for international roaming
victorinox rambler / swiss-tech util-key if flying
uniball vision elite .5mm pen – doesn’t leak!
garmin 955 gps watch
n95 masks
tickets* – if not on my phone
passport* – if needed
Daily Life
zojirushi travel mug
apple airpod pro
edc electronics pouch: 3 usb-c cables, anker 523 usb charger, nitecore 10k battery, usb adaptors
nitecore nu20 headlamp with strap replaced with shock cords
6ft tape measure
sleep mask
Core Clothing (Wear or Carry)
luna sandals – preferred when sandals acceptable
inov-8 ultrafly270
xoskin anklet toe socks (2)
tommy john travel briefs (1), icebreaker anatomica briefs (1)
2 outdoor research ferrosi transit pants
patagonia hydropeak shorts
icebreaker anatomica merino tee-shirt
arcteryx cormac hoodie
outlier amb merino wool button up shirt
macpac alpha direct hoody – if temps <55F
montbell dry peak shakedry shell
montbell umbrero hat – for sun & rain
zpacks rain pants* – extended time outdoors in cool & wet
Toiletries/Health
rei micro toiletry bag
toothbrush
reach floss
razor
folding brush
nail clipper
mini first aid kit with superglue
toothpaste (dawn mist .6oz perfect size for shorter trips)
100sense body bar in matador flatpak soap bag
extra n95 masks
High Intensity Exercise?
heart rate strap
xoskin compression shorts
visor
Beach? – Items to be added if a lot of time will be spent at beach
board shorts
rashguard long sleeve shirt (UPF 50 when wet)
matador pocket blanket
snorkling?
neoprene socks* – avoid heel blisters
vision correcting swim mask*
Blazer Required? (these days black trailrunners, slacks, and button shirt get men into most places, so only needed for special occasions)
vivobarefoot gobi II ankle boots
bluffworks hopsack sport jacket
Cold? – Items to be added if spending extended time outdoors temps below freezing
montbell plasma 1000 down vest
polar buff
fleece gloves and/or rain mittens*
swap cormac hoody for minus33 turtleneck*
darn tough light cushion crew socks* (2)
patagonia micro puff hoody jacket*
Extras
macbook 12”*
macbook pro 14”* – when traveling by car
etymotic hf3* – extended flight noise reduction
platypus water bottle* – if longer hikes without water
water purifier* – if hiking where water is available but of questionable drinkability
immersion water heater* – if staying place without microwave, coffee maker, or stove
folding foon*
ultralight body size packtowel*
mld sleep sack + alpha direct 120gsm “blanket”* – staying in minimalist hostels
If a trip includes camping as well as travel in cities, I switch from the Vagabond to a Hanchor Tufa pack + Vagabond packable for EDC. The Tufa is good in the back country and passable for travel. I merge my backpacking list with the items listed above which can been seen in my lighterpack template. When flying I check my trekking pole, stakes, and knife through using a cardboard poster tube and acquire fuel and food at my destination.
Recent load including worn and carried clothing for a four month international trip that ranged from 25-80F with frequent rain, some nights in a budget hostel requiring bring a sleep system, and regularly exercising. Note: there was still room in the pack for some gifts I brought / took back home. Miss from picture that I was carrying most of the time include a an oral-b 6000 toothbrush and charger which my wife also used.
I used pretty much the same gear in 2019 as previous years and will continue to use the same items with minor changes in 2020. My current list is now available. Several years ago minimalism led me to simplify my stuff, keeping just the items that are regularly used and give me joy. My traveling list is a subset of the items in this post.
Items in bold are exceptionally great… I regularly finding myself telling people about them. I am happily use items marked with “*”, but they won’t be replaced if lost.
Everyday Carry Items
Flexon (not shown) eyeglass frames with Zeiss high index progressive lens (not shown). Eyeglasses which let me see clearly are an incredible blessing. I used to break frames within a year of getting them. Flexon last me several years. My current pair was purchased in 2018. My previous pair was worn daily 2010-2018 and is now my backup pair.
Garmin 935 Watch (not shown) is a do everything fitness watch which is light enough that I don’t mind wearing it everyday. It has adequate integration with my phone and provides every fitness and activity tracking feature I want with better accuracy than most other smart watches. I appreciate the alert on the watch when it loses bluetooth connection with it’s paired phone that reduces the likelihood of leaving the phone behind. The charging cables for Garmin have a tendency to not stay connected, the NexGadget Garmin Charging Puck seems to work better than most. There are a number of other sport watches I would recommend.
Timbuk2 Classic Messenger (Small) is just the right size for my day to day needs with just the right amount of organizational pockets. I used an almost identical bag from 2001-2018. It was still functional but looked pretty tired when retired. After a couple of years trying daypacks I am back to this bag. I prefer courier style bags over backpacks because they are easier to access on the go and leave my back with more ventilation. I appreciate the water resistant fabric and that the fabric is heavy enough to retain it’s shape, but light enough not to be a burden.
Nicore NU25 rechargeable headlamp* Very light-weight when the headband is replaced with cords. Good regulation, bright enough for trail running, a decent electronic lock so it doesn’t turn on accidently. I have a post about other good flashlights. Use it for when I am running in the dark and it has been a backup for when I forgot to recharge my bike light. This was a spurge purchase… my faithful ZebraLight H51 was fine, just a bit heavy / bulky.
Pilot Precise V5 Extra Fine Pens with it’s smooth rolling extra fine lines and Post-It Notes for jotted down ideas until I can get them into an electronic system. Alas, the V5 leaks after pressure changes in commercial airlines. When traveling I switch to a Uniball Roller which doesn’t come in black nor as smooth rolling as the Pilot but doesn’t leak.
Victorinox Rambler Pocket Knife is the smallest, most usable tool I have found with a phillips head & flat screwdriver, scissors, knife, bottle opener, and nail file. When flying I switch to a Swiss+Tech Utili-Key which is not as usable as the Rambler, but for years has made it through TSA checkpoints without being confiscated. I have notes on other knife options.
Apple iPhone SE on Verizon. Last year I was using a Xs, but was just too big to hold comfortably. I “upgraded” to a SE. While the screen and especially the camera on the SE isn’t up to the Xs standards, there are several advantages besides size: battery life, a headphone jack, and the touch unlock works better than the face unlock.
Apple AirPodshave decent sound quality while letting in ambiance noise providing situational awareness, stays in place during exercise, no wires to get tangled, has good user interface. They aren’t rated for water resistance, but after more than three years of using them while sweating heavily, rides and runs in the rain they continue to function. Originally the ear buds ran 5 hour, fully recharges in 20 minutes, with a carry case which can recharge them 4-5 times. After three years of daily use, the right bud lasted last than an hour until I paid $98 for Battery Service (which is really a replacement).
Macbook 13″ Pro Laptop. I have tried using tablets but still find myself prefering a real laptop. I would love to find a lighter and more compact laptop, but I like 13” screens, and am still pretty much committed to OSX because it has the applications I use and the good integration with iOS devices.
Tech “Survival Kit” which is stored in a small pouch from muji. RAVpower Portable Charger/Flashlight is small enough to fit in my pocket while proving power to recharge my phone. Aukey Ultra Compact USB Charger is one of the smallest chargers with two slots and up to 2.4A amps. Anker 30w GaN USB-C charger which isn’t fast but sufficiently powerful to recharge my laptop while I sleep and power it while I work. 6” USB Lightning, USB micro, and USB-C cables with some adaptor tips which let me connect pretty much any two USB devices.
Zojirushi Double Walled Mug (1 + 1*) can easily be used one handed, locks so it doesn’t open accidentally, pours at the perfect speed, the mouth is wide enough for ice cubes, and best of all does a better job insulating than any other double walled mug. I have a Deep Cherry color mug which I picked up after misplacing my silver mug at work. The striking color make it easy to spot when I forget it in a conference room. My silver mug which I eventually found I use everywhere else. When flying you can fill the Zojirushi with ice (no water) and get through TSA security. Once through, add water and you can have icy cold water for your flight. Zojirushi makes a number of other excellent styles of mug and Snowpeak makes a beautiful Titanium double walled mug.
REI Micro Shower Bag is the perfect size for my toiletry kit while providing just enough organizational features to make it easy for me to find everything quickly. Holds all bathroom items when traveling. Inside has first aid kit which includes waterproof Band-Aids, antiseptic wipes, anti biotic cream, superglue, a couple of safety pins. Small size HumanGear GoTubb to store aleve and a few nyquil caplets and a Violife Slim Sonic toothbrush.
Ziplock bag with two weeks work of supplies: dropper bottles filled with Dr Bronner Soap, Shaving Oil, shampoo, skin lotion, and a few single use woolite packets
Listerine Floss (not shown) is the most effective dental floss I have used. Gentle to the gums while still getting plague and food wedged between teeth out.
Gillette Mach-3 Razor + Pacific Natural Shaving Oil. I am sure there are better razors and many people would suggest that shaving oil is a prep step which should be followed by shaving cream… but I have found this combination effective, reasonable cost effective, and compact when traveling.
Withering Body WiFi Scale (Not shown) makes it easy to track weight which is well integrated to Garmin, Fitbit, MyFitnessPal, LoseIt, and numerous other health tracking eco-systems.
Oral-B/Braun 6000 Electric toothbrush (Not shown). Oral-B and Sonicare both make excellent toothbrushes which are significantly more effective than using a manual toothbrush. Replaced a model 4000 whose batteries were dying.
Bucky 40 winks Sleep Mask (not shown) which lets me get an extra hour of sleep in the morning because the sun coming up doesn’t immediately wake me.
Sports & Travel
Tom Bihn Synapse-25 Backpack (shown below) is my luggage when traveling. Wonderfully designed with just the right amount of organizational features. Large enough for nearly every trip I have taken, while small enough that it fits under every seat I have used and has never been viewed as “luggage” by transportation operators. The laptop cache works brillantly. Have notes about other travel packs.
Patagonia Ultralight 15L Courier Bag (not shown) is perfect size for day use and compact enough that I can pack it away in my backpack when moving between towns. Easy access without taking it off, in hot weather maximized ventilation, and can be used at the same time that I am carrying a backpack.
Matador Freerain24 2.0* (not shown) replaced v1 which wore out after 2 years of nearly everyday use. Weights only 5.5oz, carries well. easily folds into it’s own pocket, and keeps contents dry even in the worst rain. Used for done in a day activities and for when I run rather than bike to work.
Garmin Swim Heart Rate Monitor strap because optical heart rate monitors aren’t sufficiently accurate for HRV measurements and aren’t responsive enough to track interval training. Switched from Wahoo Fitness TickrX because it became inaccurate for me after a hour of heavy sweating and I can use it swimming. Most people would find the Tickr adequate, and there are plenty of other good HRM including Viiiva which can be used to bridge other sensors between BlueTooth and ANT+.
Stryd Footpad* captures run’s intensity better than using pace or heart rate. The Garmin Running Dynamics Pod might be a cheaper way to get the same sort of data. The RunScribe Plus now syncs to Garmin and other eco-systems and might provide more actionable insights about running form that other running power meters.
PackTowel Ultralight (Bodysize/XL) dries amazingly quickly, is compact, and is very effective. The XL is large enough that I can wrap it around my waist like a small sarong. For awhile I used a medium/face size which packs in a tiny space. I found the face size sufficient for me to dry myself after a swim or shower, but I am willing to carry a larger towel for the added versatility and ease of use.
Westone 5ES custom In-ear-monitors (IEM) with excellent sound quality and comfortable enough to wear on 14 hour flights. They reduce noise by 35db which makes travel much less fatiguing while being much smaller and having better sound quality than active noise canceling headphones. Stored in a medium size HumanGear GoTubb with adapters.
Extra Charging Cables, sink stopper, Micro International power adapter. If I was doing more international travel, I would drop my power adapter and swap my every day USB power supplies for the Card Travel Adapter which looks really nice and was recommended by Tynan in 2020.
Olight Universal Magnetic Battery Charger powered by USB, and can be used with pretty much any size battery, and charges both 1.5V NiHM, 3.6 & 3.7V LI batteries for trips when I need to recharge batteries.
Water Bottle Sling Nancy brought back from South America. Great for days I just need water and nothing else. Sometimes borrow Jackie’s (my wife) Chico Water Bottle Sling because it can hold water bottle + umbrella or windbreaker.
Montbell Trekking Umbrella has the best balance I have found between small/light and canopy size. It has survived 40mph wind/rain storms but eventually one of the ribs has broken. In warm to hot weather much more comfortable than wearing a rain jacket but doesn’t adequately protect my legs in a hard rain.
I have notes about selecting clothing for an active life which goes in detail about how to select clothing for a wide range of activities and conditions.
Tilley LTM6 Hat provides good sun protection while offering decent ventilation. I think it’s one of the more stylish hats which provides good sun protection. Jackie says I am wrong… that the OR SunRunner I used before was better looking. I have a list of other hats that you might prefer.
REI eVENT Rain Hat: a discontinued ball cap made from waterproof / breathable eVENT. Used when hiking or running when I know it’s going to be raining.
Visor: keep sweat and sun out of my eyes while maximizing cool my head on runs.
Mountain Hardware Grub Gloves (not shown) 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.
Columbia/Montrail Titan Trailrunning Shirt: Omni-Freeze fabric that helps cool when working out in moderate to hot conditions. Super light weight and breathable. Anti-stink is reasonable.
Icebreaker Anatomica Tee-shirt (4) merino wool with just a bit of lycra for a body hugging fit. This tee-shirt fits me perfectly, looks good, is super comfortable, doesn’t smell after several days of wear on the road, and dries fairly quickly. There are two downside. First, they are pricy. Second, they don’t work as well as synthetics when engaged in high energy activities where you are sweating a lot. There are a number of other good merino wool shirts from Smartwool, Outlier, and Wool&Price.
White Rashguard Long Sleeve Shirt to protect my skin from sunburn when swimming and snorkelling.
Outlier New Way Shorts (4) are nice looking shorts which fit me perfectly, don’t have cargo pockets, are durable and dry reasonably quickly. They are pricy but I haven’t found any shorts I like as much.
De Soto Mobius Tri Shorts (not shown) works well cycling, running, and swimming. They are comfortable for all the activities I engage in, in a wide range of conditions. They have reduced issues with chaffing, 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 shorts to wear for vigorous physical activities…. I just grab my pair of Tri Shorts. Replaces a pair of Zoot Tri Shorts which wore out.
Icebreaker Anatomica Briefs (7) the most comfortable underwear I have worn. Earlier version developed holes after around 100 days of wear… the newest pair which has a bit of nylon with the wool has so far made it 150 days of use without holes. Some people prefer boxer style but I see no reason to have extra fabric on my thighs. Good alternatives are the synthetic travel oriented briefs from Ex Offico and the comfortable but expensive underwear from Saxx.
Darn Tough Socks (8) are unsurprisingly durable since they come with a lifetime warranty. I found they fit and perform very well and come in a wide variety of thicknesses, lengths, and colors. I like the endurance light socks. Icebreaker and the Smartwool PhD line are good alternatives.
Injinji Ultralight Toe Socks (2) for long distance runs / hikes. Generally I prefer wool, but I found wool toe socks get holes very quickly so I use the CoolMax, original weight version.
Rocky Gore-Tex Socks are the best way I have found to keep my feet reasonably clean, dry and warm in messy back country conditions. Often worn with Keen sandals to maximum breathability and speed drying once they are out of the water.
Akona 2mm Neoprene Socks which protect my feet when using flippers or with Keens if I am on a trip which is constantly going in and out of water.
Alta Running Supreme 3* trail running shoe which are light weight with a fairly grippy sole for mixed trail conditions. Generally I use my Vapor Glove unless I am expecting to need more than normal traction. Alas, Alta is following New Balance playbook… changing shoes so quickly that you had better buy 10 of whatever shoe you like, because they might spoil what you like in the next generation :(.
Merrill Vapor Glove 4: are the most minimalist running shoes I have found that fits me, “like a glove”. Sole works on road and on many trails. For people who need some cushion check out Alta Running, Topo, or if you need extreme cushioning Hoka OneOne.
Keen Clearwater CNX are the lightest sandals Keen makes. I liked the minimalist sandals made by luna and Xero Shoes but the toe protection of the Keens makes them a clear winner for me. If worn with gray socks they can “pass” for shoes. Comfortable in a wide range of conditions.
Vivobarefoot Gobi II are comfort, light weight, zero-drop, minimalist ankle boots which can be worn with casual clothing and Jackie tells me they are acceptable to wear with a sport jacket, but not a full suit).
Carots Shoes 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 day long wear.
Outlier Slim Dungarees (4) Soft shell pants in the style of jeans. Wonderful fit, looks good, excellent mobility. Thanks to the NanoSphere treatment very stain and water resistant. They are perfect except when it’s >80F and I am active. They seem pricy, but the per day cost of wearing is about the same as denim jeans. Maker&Rider and Wool&Prince makes a nice alternative.
Toni Richards Hawaiian Shirt because everyone needs at least one shirt for “Hawaiian shirt day”. I find the cotton lawn fabric used by Toni Richards is more comfortable than other materials when it’s hot and humid.
White Dress Shirt for when I need to be dressed up.
Peach Button Up Shirt* for when Jackie wants me to wear something at is a bit different than normal.
Black/Grey/White Checked Button Up Shirt* for when Jackie wants me to wear something different.
Outlier AMB Merino Wool Button Up Shirt for when I want something a bit more dressy than a tee-shirt or hoodie but don’t need to wear a suit.
Icebreaker Wool Hoodie: (4) Oasis 200wt merio wool hoodie with 1/4 length zipper. Worn when it gets too cool to wear just a tee-shirt. Icebreaker has discontinued this model. Also have 3 in storage which will come out when these wear out.
Patagonia Capilene Thermal Weight Hoody for cool/cold weather outdoor activities. Without wind protection the grid weave lets air flow through letting heat vent out. With a shell it insulates well. Comfort down to 30F when running without a shell, below that with a shell. When walking around town keeps me comfortable down to 40F when combined with a wind shirt. 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.
Mid-Weight, Purple Merino Wool Sweater* for cool days or when I want to wear something that isn’t black.
Montbell Chameece Inner Jacket is a very light weight fleece. About the same warmth as my sweaters but much more convenient to put on and take off.
Montbell Tachyon Windshirt a 1.8 ounce wind shirt that can be compressed into something slightly larger than a cliff bar. Windshirts, especially when combined with a air permeable middle layer provide comfort over a huge range of conditions. Maybe should list in my “Everyday Carry” section since I alway have it with me.
ArcTeryx Norvan SL (2019 model). Ultralight and ultra-breathable rain jacket designed for trail running. The most breathable jacket I have used. Previous model had a problem with the zipper leaking. ArcTeryx upgraded me to the current model free of change. Other options are discussed in my post about rain gear.
Zpacks Vertice Rain Pants (not shown) are simple, light, breathable, waterproof rain pants. Used when commuting by bike, hiking, or backpacking in the rain.
Uniqlo Ultralight Down Vest is decent quality, low price, with just the right amount of insulation for me. Combined with my sweater and a shell keeps me warm enough in the coldest weather I encounter in the SF Bay area.
Patagonia Down Shirt* with 23andMe logo. A jacket which provides adequate insulation for around the town use in the SF Bay Area. Allows me to show my company spirit and Jackie thinks it looks better than the combination of the above items. The Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody using PlumaFill insulation would be better for back country use thanks to it’s superior water resistance. The Montbell inner down jacket continues to be the price performance champ, and Uniqlo’s down jacket is a good alternative for someone on a tight budget. The ArcTeryx Photon LT looks like a great alternative for cool weather, active insulation.
Boss Blazer Jacket used when going out and it’s appropriate to be wearing something more dressy than a hoodie, but a full suit is too formal. On cool evenings I sometimes wear the blazer over my shirt rather than taking a more traditional “outdoor” jacket.
Boss Wool Suit slim/european cut. 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 anytime I need to be dressed up: weddings, funerals, special nights out on the town. Have two ties… one that is “serious” and one that is “fun”
Backpacking / Winter Clothing
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. In addition to the items on my backpacking list, I have several items which come out when I am heading to the mountains and expect snow.
Patagonia Cap 3 Tights: which go under normal pants and/or rain pants when facing below freezing conditions.
GoLite Snow Cap: polarguard insulated bomber style hat which can be layered over other hats. Fairly windproof, warm, and light weight.
Outdoor Research Meteor Mitts: which have a removable 300wt fleece inner mitt which folds back to let you use your fingers and a durable, waterproof shell.
Gaiters: for keeping snow out of shoes/boots and the lower legs dry.
Bicycling Stuff
Cervelo R3: pricy but amazing road bicycle. Comfortable enough for an endurance ride, but responsive like a race bike. Fitted with an Infinity Seat, and a small seat bag which holds a pump, inter-tube, bike tool, and 2 tire levers. Moots makes some great Titanium bikes but you have to special order them.
Giro Air Attack Shield Helmet provides protection, good ventilation while having a very streamlined aerodynamic profile. Has snap on optical shield which is great because with my eye prescription, it’s hard to find sports oriented sunglasses. If you ride a bicycle, wear a helmet!! I am alive today because I was wearing a helmet when I was in an accident. Giro has newer models which have better ventilation and aerodynamic profile and also cheaper models that will protect your head just as well for less money.
Felix BC21R Bike Headlamp which was purchase when my Expilion 850 was stolen. The BC21R uses a removable 18650 rechargeable battery. I think I slightly preferred the quality of light from the Expilion, but the BC21R works well enough to stick with it, and I do appreciate that the battery can be charged outside light housing.
Power Tap P1 Pedals because I like objective measures about how my physically condition is changing. The Garmin Vector 2 pedals integrate better into the Garmin eco-system, use standard Keto cleats, and are lighter / more streamlined at about the same price point.
Bicycling Shoes with Cleat for PowerTap peddles.
Wahoo Fitness Kickr* is a trainer for when I don’t want to hit the road. Integrated power meter and variable resistance which can be controls via ANT+ or BlueTooth. Wahoo built the Kickr with an open API so there are numerous companies which have applications which can control the Kickr.
Electronics
Several items that used to be on my list has been moved to our family list.
Nekteck 4-port 72W USB C Charger with 1 USB-C and 3 traditional USB ports which allows me to charge every device I use on a daily basis from a single power brick, including the 13” MacBook Pro from work. When the MacBook Pro isn’t being charged can rapidly charge all my devices.
Kindle Oasis lets me carry the majority of my library with me and every book can be displayed with large print for my aging eyes. Love being able to quickly search for notes / hi-lighted passages. I miss physical books and knowledge retention with paper books is still better than when using an e-reader, but the connivence of the Kindle outweighs this for me. Replaced a PaperWhite because the Oasis ergonomics allows reading with a single hand.
RAVpower 6700Mah USB Charger for when I need to power devices for a couple of days or for long flights without USB power in the seat.
Radsome EarStudio ES100 bluetooth/DAC/headphone amplifier allows me to use Westone IEM (or other wired headphones) with devices missing a headphone jack. The ES100 is tiny, with good sound quality (though Chord Mojo is noticeably better) and can even drive Sennheiser HD800 to reasonable sound levels.
Sennheiser HD800 Headphones* for when I want very high quality sound and don’t want to bother others too much (sound does leak). These are the second best sounding pair of headphones I have ever used, at 1/3 the cost of the best (Stax SR-009). I have a headphones post with additional information.
Chord Mojo DAC* offers a nice design, good quality sound, good price / performance ratio, portability, has enough power to happily drive Sennheiser HD 800, and has an internal battery which enables it be driven via USB from phones and portable DAPs. I have written about other DACs.
Sentimental
There are a several items I have kept as a specific way to honor people I love.
Libby’s pins of a nativity scene and of a mother and child. Originally worn by Libby on special occasions they became daily decorations for the hats she wore during chemotherapy. They remind me of Libby’s courage and the two things most important to Libby, family and Jesus.
Carl’s Rolex Oyster Watch to remember his craftsmanship, love of teaching, and ironically his frugality.
Jules’ sculptures of musicians made from nails because he passed on a love for music and art.
Wool Blanket (not shown) Originally owned by Carl or maybe even my grandfather. It has been on countless fishing and camping trips and to virtually every picnic and outdoor concert I have ever attended. Everytime I see the blanket I think of my dad and many wonderful moments.
CatBus Plushy (not shown) given to me my Jackie because it reminds me of the gentle film My Neighbor Totoro which has delighted my family. I wanted a real CatBus, but no one can find one for me 🙂
Potentially Retired
The following items weren’t used in the second half of 2019. I have put them aside, to see if they get pulled back out.
Wool and Prince Blue Oxford Shirt Slim fit, crisp look while still having all the advantages of 100% wool. I haven’t really needed a light blue color shirt (e.g. I do casual or dressy, never business casual).
Outlier Air Forged Oxford Shirt Fits me well, made from durable nylon weave so it dries quickly and doesn’t wrinkle when traveling while looking nicer than many “travel” shirts. Hasn’t been used because I live in wool tees or hoody when traveling.
Grey Cashmere V-neck Sweater* for fall and winter evenings that when I should wear something a bit more dressed up than my wool hoody and/or want more insulation.
Smartwool Full Zipper Wool Fleece* with 23andMe logo. Team swag. Very nice, but I prefer the mobility of my 23andme Down Sweater which is approx the same warmth
Westcomb Focus LT Shell made with 2.5 layer eVENT DVT. The most breathable shell I had focus which was durable enough for backpacking. Been using on and off since 2012. Largely been replaced by Norvan SL which is more breathable but fragile.
Items that I removed from my personal gear list because we have them for the general family. This list is incomplete. I plan to make a complete list this year, but haven’t gotten around to it. Maybe I will make the complete list in 2021.
Electronics
Google WiFi Mesh network access points easily install and just work when you have an area than a single WiFi router isn’t sufficient. There may be faster / more featureful options out there, but the Google devices work flawlessly and are visually appealing.
LG OLED55B6P SmartTV for family / friends movie night and other group activities that use a screen. I would be content using the screen on my laptop or even iPhone for the occational video streaming I watch. That said, the picture quality is amazing and the webOS based controls work well.
Apple Mac mini. The Mini is compact, low noise, with a good collection of ports, has enough CPU, memory, and disk for my needs, and plays well in the Apple eco-system which I am committed to until my next refresh in a few years. It is overpriced compared to non-Apple hardware.
KEF LS50 wireless monitor speakers with a built in DAC and amplifier designed for the speakers. Good quality sound that fills a room, excellent for near field use in a nicely designed, compact package. Can take TOSlink, USB, Bluetooth, analog, and several IP based streaming protocols inputs over ethernet or WiFi. Roon can stream directly to it over the network, but it’s not Roon-Ready so can’t be synchronized with other Roon-Ready systems. The iOS remote application is poor. I drive the LS50 via USB on a Mac Mini running Roon which remove the need for the KEF remote and the speakers can be synchronized with other Roon Ready end-points giving me whole house music. I still prefer the sound quality of electrostatic speakers with audiophile grade full electronics, but I am happy that I downsized my stereo so I could focus on other things.
Roon software isn’t really an item, but it effected many of my decisions related to audio playback. Roon integrates my iTunes library which is made up of CDs ripped using ALAC codex with the TIDAL streaming service to provide loseless audio to multiple speakers around the house. Roon would be perfect if the remote clients supported off-line caching of music so playlists and favorite music was accessible when out of the house. I carry music on my phone by exporting play lists from Roon to TIDAL, and then use the Tidal client on my iPhone to do offline playback. If I didn’t care so much about sound quality the family would use Sonos speakers combined with Spotify for whole house music.
Pulse Flex Wireless Speaker allows me to have syncronized whole house music since it’s Roon Ready. It also supports inputs via USB, Bluetooth, AUX, a number of streaming services like Spotify, and many free sites via URIs. Has a decent iOS and Android remote control app. 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. It can be used away from it’s home, but you have to reconfigure it’s WiFi settlings which is a pain. Sound quality is significantly less than KEF LS50. For people who aren’t using Roon, I would recommend Sonos: for it’s lower price point, better streaming options, and slightly more processed sound quality which everyone but audio purists like me typically prefer.
JBL Pulse Bluetooth Speaker for when my family wants music for a group away from home, and wants things to just work without hassle.
Brother MFC-J880W Multifunction Printer, Scanner, Fax, Copier has been a reliable device for me unlike several other multi-function devices which failed within a year. WiFi enabled, supports AirPrint, Google Print, and several other standards.
La Crosse Battery Charger which does a great job charging any combination of 1-4 AA or AAA batteries. Eneloop Pro Batteries are the best rechargeable batteries I have found. Near maximum capacity for the form factor while retaining most of their charge for months.
Duffel Bag with three compartments which I use for first aid supplies, my “outdoor kitchen” + water treatment/holding, and finally lighting / repairs. Items held in the duffel listed below:
Misc utensils for kitchen: matches/lighter, mixing spoon, strainer, can opener, pot holder, etc
Packtowel, Scrubbing spong, Campsuds
MSR Duralite Cookset. Inside also my cookset for group backpacking trips: 1.3L Evernew Ti Pop, Snowpeak GigiPower Stove, Fuel Canister, Silicon Bowl/Cup, and MSR folding Foon.
Foldable Water Bucket, Water Filter, Playtus Water Containers
REI Dinnerware Set for 4 including wash basin, drying rack, and cutting board
Plastic Dish tub (not shown)
Trashbags, Foil (not shown)
18650 Batteries in Charger which doubles as USB power supply. AA Batteries in a Charger which doubles as a USB power supply
Zebralight SC600 Flashlight, and H600 Headlamp which use 18650 batteries. There are several other flashlights and headlights I recommend.
Black Diamond Apollo Lantern which is a perfect size and amount of light for car camping or emergency lighting in a house in the case of a power outage. Built in rechargeable battery with the ability to use three AA batteries if the internal battery has been fully discharged and you need light.
Fallkniven F1 fixed blade knife and a Leatherman. There are numerous other good knives I would recommend.
Gear “Repair Kit” with zippers, glue, grommets, rope, safety pins, etc.
Insulated Wine Tote (not shown) which is a good size for a bottle of wine, some snacks, and a couple of glasses for two person picnics in the park.
KitchenAid Immersion Blender for many mixing, blending, and whisking tasks. There are better models on the market, but this one is good enough for my needs.
Google WiFi Mesh network access points easily install and just work when you have an area than a single WiFi router isn’t sufficient. There may be faster / more featureful options out there, but the Google devices work flawlessly and are visually appealing.
LG OLED55B6P SmartTV for family / friends movie night and other group activities that use a screen. I would be content using the screen on my laptop or even iPhone for the occational video streaming I watch. That said, the picture quality is amazing and the webOS based controls work well.
Apple Mac mini. The Mini is compact, low noise, with a good collection of ports, has enough CPU, memory, and disk for my needs, and plays well in the Apple eco-system which I am committed to until my next refresh in a few years. It is overpriced compared to non-Apple hardware.
KEF LS50 wireless monitor speakers with a built in DAC and amplifier designed for the speakers. Good quality sound that fills a room, excellent for near field use in a nicely designed, compact package. Can take TOSlink, USB, Bluetooth, analog, and several IP based streaming protocols inputs over ethernet or WiFi. Roon can stream directly to it over the network, but it’s not Roon-Ready so can’t be synchronized with other Roon-Ready systems. The iOS remote application is poor. I drive the LS50 via USB on a Mac Mini running Roon which remove the need for the KEF remote and the speakers can be synchronized with other Roon Ready end-points giving me whole house music. I still prefer the sound quality of electrostatic speakers with audiophile grade full electronics, but I am happy that I downsized my stereo so I could focus on other things.
Roon software isn’t really an item, but it effected many of my decisions related to audio playback. Roon integrates my iTunes library which is made up of CDs ripped using ALAC codex with the TIDAL streaming service to provide loseless audio to multiple speakers around the house. Roon would be perfect if the remote clients supported off-line caching of music so playlists and favorite music was accessible when out of the house. I carry music on my phone by exporting play lists from Roon to TIDAL, and then use the Tidal client on my iPhone to do offline playback. If I didn’t care so much about sound quality the family would use Sonos speakers combined with Spotify for whole house music.
Pulse Flex Wireless Speaker allows me to have syncronized whole house music since it’s Roon Ready. It also supports inputs via USB, Bluetooth, AUX, a number of streaming services like Spotify, and many free sites via URIs. Has a decent iOS and Android remote control app. 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. It can be used away from it’s home, but you have to reconfigure it’s WiFi settlings which is a pain. Sound quality is significantly less than KEF LS50. For people who aren’t using Roon, I would recommend Sonos: for it’s lower price point, better streaming options, and slightly more processed sound quality which everyone but audio purists like me typically prefer.
JBL Pulse Bluetooth Speaker for when my family wants music for a group away from home, and wants things to just work without hassle.
Brother MFC-J880W Multifunction Printer, Scanner, Fax, Copier has been a reliable device for me unlike several other multi-function devices which failed within a year. WiFi enabled, supports AirPrint, Google Print, and several other standards.
La Crosse Battery Charger which does a great job charging any combination of 1-4 AA or AAA batteries. Eneloop Pro Batteries are the best rechargeable batteries I have found. Near maximum capacity for the form factor while retaining most of their charge for months.
Duffel Bag with three compartments which I use for first aid supplies, my “outdoor kitchen” + water treatment/holding, and finally lighting / repairs. Items held in the duffel listed below:
Misc utensils for kitchen: matches/lighter, mixing spoon, strainer, can opener, pot holder, etc
Packtowel, Scrubbing spong, Campsuds
MSR Duralite Cookset. Inside also my cookset for group backpacking trips: 1.3L Evernew Ti Pop, Snowpeak GigiPower Stove, Fuel Canister, Silicon Bowl/Cup, and MSR folding Foon.
Foldable Water Bucket, Water Filter, Playtus Water Containers
REI Dinnerware Set for 4 including wash basin, drying rack, and cutting board
Plastic Dish tub (not shown)
Trashbags, Foil (not shown)
18650 Batteries in Charger which doubles as USB power supply. AA Batteries in a Charger which doubles as a USB power supply
Zebralight SC600 Flashlight, and H600 Headlamp which use 18650 batteries. There are several other flashlights and headlights I recommend.
Black Diamond Apollo Lantern which is a perfect size and amount of light for car camping or emergency lighting in a house in the case of a power outage. Built in rechargeable battery with the ability to use three AA batteries if the internal battery has been fully discharged and you need light.
Fallkniven F1 fixed blade knife and a Leatherman. There are numerous other good knives I would recommend.
Gear “Repair Kit” with zippers, glue, grommets, rope, safety pins, etc.
Insulated Wine Tote (not shown) which is a good size for a bottle of wine, some snacks, and a couple of glasses for two person picnics in the park.
KitchenAid Immersion Blender for many mixing, blending, and whisking tasks. There are better models on the market, but this one is good enough for my needs.
