Ben Brooks

Getting ready to work for the week.

More GORUCK bag organization stuff.

Ending thoughts on my road trip gear. Gotta get another road trip in soon.

Made good use of the GORUCK Simple Windbreaker battling the winds on sand dunes. (Photo from: Erin)

Kid Ruck looks like an older Echo design (though dimensions are slightly different) without the MOLLE and Laptop compartment. Meets all my specs for a kid backpack. Expensive though likely worth it.

I’m on a family road trip, so I am not thinking clearly. So here’s 11.5% off (for life) a membership to my site. Use code: Benonvacation limited amount of redemptions available. https://brooksreview.net/join/

I found a 40% Keyboard I love.

Yes, I’m selling my car.

A lot packed into today’s members post, all about iPads.

Wrote up my review of Outlier Slim Dungarees on Everyday Wear. Spoiler: amazing.

From Monday, why sometimes I buy things against all other advice.

Allow me to tell you how much I love Massdrop’s Gent knife.

My buddy Steve is selling his Nock Lanier, solid bag, great for tablet users.

Big news for this week: I’ve moved to CARROT Weather and it may stick. Don’t care for the style, but data display is pretty nice in it.

When a bag review site starts selling their own collab bags, they’ve lost all objectivity.

I wasn’t going to write about my camping trip, then a friend said “can’t wait to read about it”. Ugh. So I did write about it.

For those into Reddit, @scientifics and I started an Everyday Wear sub to talk about awesome clothes.

From yesterday, for members, thoughts on Office apps, and a recommendation for the Surface Pro. Wait, kinda.

Some thoughts on AI and ML.

My review of the Wool & Prince merino polo, it’s great.

Knife is comically small, such a good idea though.

Received my new GORUCK Bullet Ruck yesterday. It’s the best one yet. Great upgrade. I’ll also note it removes the hydration hose loops on the straps too.

On napping versus meditation. For members.

I think the one thing Amazon understands far better than most retailers is the importance of expedient and accurate delivery. Typically I will pay more for items fulfilled by Amazon, because I trust that it will actually get here.

For EDC nerds, which I assume is everyone who follows me.

New Bullet Ruck seems like a really nice upgrade. Top handle is a big improvement, as is the d-ring instead of the Velcro (more versatile). But removal of the bottom grommet is going to make many very happy.

Anyone want my Bullet Ruck (Steel), so I can go get the new one? Make me an offer.

Updates to this post, the RTIC and Tote bags are back in stock again.

This knife is really good. I have the 2nd run version, bought one of these too. Review soon, for now get one.

Because you have summer cash burning a hole in your pocket. I can help.

I was able to bust out that Blockbuster membership card again for another review of a wallet.

In addition to my Dunkin Donuts review, I talk about why the Things update is so important.

For members I review Dunkin Donuts among other things.

This screen time calc is fucking unnerving. Apparently I average picking up my iPhone every 6 minutes over the past few days. And every 4 minutes today. It’s 5, FIVE, for my iPad Pros. God help me.

No joke, I just saw another kid at my daughter’s school with a GORUCK Echo. So at least I am not completely alone.

New backpack post: Backpacks for kids. Hide your wallet, I’m crazy.

Found my first iOS 12 iPhone casualty: Zoho Expenses. Trying to open camera, crashes the app. FYI. (Still a great app)

Good time in San Jose.

this is priceless

iOS 12 on my 10.5 iPad Pro is impressively stable.

Some great deals on GORUCK gear right now (affiliate link). That woodland Bullet is sweet.

Some interesting and good App Store rule changes.

I’ll have a member’s post up a little later today, in case you were wondering.

Since I’m at WWDC this week, no better time to post my review of Allbirds.

Office clothes are basically terrible. But there’s better options.

Raising the “good iPad app” bar.

Member post for this week: a redux on Standing Desks, and some thoughts on my favorite EDC/Backpack focused sites.

Also my post for everyone on picking a better travel bag. ‘It’s the season.

My post on tech companies losing self awareness.

Because I’ve heard some people can’t pack for a week in a 20L bag, and want more options. New post on travel bag options.