Dispatch 118

• J.R.R. Tolkien’s Little-Known Art » Imgur via Reddit
• I Am Happy Now » Sean McCabe
• Black Air: The Buick Grand National Documentary » GNmovie.com
• Why We Still Need True Dive Bars » A Continuous Lean
• A Fire Remembered » Best Made Projects

Items of Want 022

Rite in the Rain Nº YE99 Mechanical Pencil

"Do you like pencils but fear they will break when it matters most? You're not alone. A Rite in the Rain Mechanical Pencil may well be the last pencil you'll ever need to buy. True to the Rite in the Rain brand, this pencil is tough, reliable, made in the USA, and writes no matter what."

Bush Smarts Pack Lighter

"Your survival in the backcountry is dependent on your ability to make fire. You should always carry redundant fire starters and spread them around in your pack, emergency kit and pockets in case things break or get left behind. These small, dependable lighters are perfect."

Fältovn Portable Camp Stove

"The Fältovn by Dutch company Leenders definitely does have some practical applications as a heater in canvas, army style tents popular with hunters and large group camps. It would certainly make a nice addition to a backyard gathering area, farmstead or campsite and has the added bonus of being a functional cooking surface."

I have no use for this right now but it looks awesome. My ideal situation? A winter camping trip with this wood stove in the corner while I enjoy the snow falling through the open door of an old canvas tent.

Photo by The Gear Junkie

[Acquired] Brooks Cambium Bike Saddle

I've heard so many good things about Brooks Saddles and this new one looks to be the perfect "buy it for life" bike saddle. The original leather version of this saddle needs to be broken in properly and cared for but the new Cambium is ready to go right out of the box.

[Acquired] Olympus OM-D E-M5

Even though I just got a new camera a little less than a year ago, I'm seriously considering this Micro Four Thirds from Olympus. I've been getting more and more into photography and I'd love to step up my game from a high quality point and shoot to something with some lens options but still be smaller than a traditional DSLR. One of the coolest things about this particular camera is that it's weather sealed so you can use it in the rain or snow. That may not be a big feature to some but I see it as a nice little bonus.

Photo by The Phoblographer

— Check out past Items of Want —

Back from Muster 3

I recently got back from the third annual ITS Muster. It’s nearly a week long and sleep is often a luxury so it’s taken me a little longer than usual to get back up to speed.

Since I was the “official” photographer for the week, I’m not in any of the photos but I like it that way. There is one photo I’m in that a friend of mine shot but you may not know it’s me.

I’m on the far right.

Overall it was a great event because I got to get away from the desk and computer and spend time in the field with old friends and some new ones too. I always forget how good it feels to not know what’s going on in the world because I’m so engrossed in what I’m doing physically.

We usually spend the entire time camping from our tents but the new venue this year meant bunks and cabins which was totally welcomed in my book. I love sleeping on a ground pad but a mattress and electricity makes it easier to get going in the morning.

Even though I just got back in town and I'm barely settling into my normal routine again, I'm already looking forward to the next camping trip, wherever it may be.

Dispatch 117

• Land Cruiser Camping » Sam H.
• Alan Watts - The Story of the Chinese Farmer » Vimeo
• How To Cook Breakfast Over A Campfire Like A Pro » Indefinitely Wild
• How to Do Nothing with Nobody All Alone by Yourself: A Timely Vintage Field Guide to Self-Reliant Play and Joyful Solitude » Brain Pickings
• "No one could make a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little." » Edmund Burke

Items of Want 021

US Army Field Manuals (set of three)

"There are well over 600 Field and Technical Manuals published by the US Army and we've handpicked three of the most timeless and useful. All three books come profusely illustrated and are brimming with practical, arcane and bizarre tips and instructions: learn how to apply a field dressing, discover the uses of a ComboPen auto injector, or fashion your trousers into a make-shift parachute (we know you've just been dying to do that!)."

[Acquired] Pioneer Cycling Goods Bootlegger Bottle

"Prohibition made it harder for a fella to get his hooch; that is until a new breed of pioneer took to the back roads. Bootleggers were the first to perfect the art of pushing themselves and their machines to the limit, running from Johnny Law with a trunk full of the "White Lightning" or better known as moonshine. We can’t help but respect and be inspired by that kind of outlaw "pedal to the metal" way of life."

Tactical Tailor Enhanced Duffle Bag

"We designed our Enhanced Duffle Bag to replace the old fashioned G.I. style duffle bag, updating the classic design that has not been changed since World War II. Identical in size to the original military issue duffle, our duffle bag features a zipper that runs the full length of the bag, no more rummaging through your duffle looking for something you placed at the bottom and just like the original, the bag can be secured with a padlock by passing the zipper pull through a grommet at the end of the zipper."

Five Minute Journal

"Begin the day right: When you start the day on the right note, things automatically start to fall in place. Every day.  Cultivate Gratitude: Gratitude is the opposite of depression and anxiety. It's the conscious experience of appreciation of the gifts in our lives and the results are tangible. Introspection: Ending the day on the right note can be essential to a good night's sleep, eliminating negative thought loops and learning more about yourself."

The Man Comb

"A tough & compact flip comb. The ultimate tool for your hair & beard." The fact that it has an integrated bottle opener makes it just extra cool.

— Check out past Items of Want —

Dispatch 116

• High Sierra » Backcountry Pilot
• The non-optimized life » Seth Godin
• How To Get From Your Desk To All The Places You Want To Travel » Fox Nomad
• Ideas without action are called dreams » Chris Spagnuolo
• Paddle Away From Civilization: 4 Amazing Wilderness Canoe Trips to Take » Art of Manliness

Items of Want 020

Oris Big Crown ProPilot Altimeter

The Oris Big Crown ProPilot Altimeter is the world’s first automatic mechanical watch with an altimeter. ”The Oris Big Crown ProPilot Altimeter watch has an outer scale for the altitude via the yellow indicator, while the “recessed” scale is used to indicate the barometric pressure via the red indicator.”

[Acquired in Black] GORUCK Shoulder Bag (Coyote)

I know I just posted this exact bag (in Black) but I think the Coyote color is just a great variant. “Bombproof Laptop Bag in 15 liter size as your workday professional, mil spec carrying bag.”

[Acquired] Danner Bull Run

"Constructed of full grain leather and lightweight yet durable Vibram® outsoles, the unlined Bull Run work boot may look like a simple design at first glance. However, the trained eye will notice the intricate stitching, the hand of the leather, and how all of the parts work together to simply create a product that is built to last."

The Film​ograp​hy of Airc​raft Prin​t

"A giant print illustrating 100 years of Aviation in Film. Through 66 intricately detailed hand-illustrations, we’ve charted the iconic aircrafts of film from 1903 to the modern day. From the early 1900s Wright Flyer to the Tomcat in Top Gun - we have it all covered. Whether they were notable for their superior performance or the superior performers who flew them, this print pays homage to all the truly iconic aircraft that have graced our screens over the years."

The Art of Manl​iness True Nort​h, Skip​jack, Boxe​r Stat​ioner​y

"A unique collection of letterpress printed notecards with vintage, manly motifs." I need to get better and sending handwritten notes, thank you or otherwise.

— Check out past Items of Want —

Eyes on the Sky

Since as far back as I can remember, I've been interested in all things aviation. The past few years, the interest has been pretty dormant but the last couple months has been a completely different story.

I've been finding myself at various flight museums, air shows, and the local municipal airport to just watch panes come and go and I can't seem to shake the flying bug.

With knowing that I want to get my pilots license someday and my personality of wanting to be as prepared as possible, I've started getting back into flight simulators (X-Plane) and I hope to have a yoke and rudder pedals soon so I can get some realistic practice in.

Both money and time are the obstacles holding me back from getting into flight school but I'm creative. I actually found some scholarships I may be able to get and just recently joined my local EAA chapter and hope to meet some useful contacts through that program.

For now, I've settled on reading articles online and watching YouTube videos to absorb as much information as possible. That sounds like it's not enough but with the amount of quality instruction online, you'd be surprised.

If you have any tips or know anyone who wants to share their 2 cents about obtaining a pilots license, send 'em my way.

Even though the photo above was taken an extremely long time ago, I think my kid brother and I did a good job of acting like we knew how to fly.

Dispatch 115

• Found Favorites: Bringing the Past to Present » National Geographic
• The Best Places to Work in 2014 » Outside Magazine
• Recipe for Fresh Camp Bread » Bush Smarts
• Building GR1′s in Bozeman, Montana » GORUCK
• How Do We Make Ourselves Alert Again? » Richard Powers

Items of Want 019

Huckberry Explo​rer​’s Shir​t*

"Made a stone’s throw from our warehouse in San Francisco, the Huckberry Explorer’s Shirts are made from a hearty 10oz stone washed duck canvas and are equipped with heavy-duty brass YKK buttons—ensuring that the only thing you’ll be popping off during your travels is a cold one."

*Sign up for a Huckberry account (it’s free and awesome) through this link and get $5 off your first purchase. I get $10 when you make your first purchase but hey, I found it first.

[Acquired] GORUCK Shoulder Bag

"Bombproof Laptop Bag in 15 liter size as your workday professional, mil spec carrying bag."
What I really want is one of these bags in their Sand color. Now that would be pretty awesome.

Best Made Co. Strongbox

"We seem to accumulate a growing number of small things, be they knives, flashlights, watches, or mementoes (like the small pebble brought back from Alaska, or the ticket stub from the last Springsteen concert). Securely stowed in our strongbox, these rare gems finally have a home. "

Clark Orr Design Co. Shop Rags

Solid art design and practical to boot. “4 individual Clark Orr Design Co. shop rags packaged in a one pint can.”

[11th] Doctor Who Sonic Screwdriver

I’ve recently started re-watching the latest Doctor Who episodes and I realized I need this. Something to round out the EDC.

— Check out past Items of Want —

Dispatch 114

• Hiker discovers an abandoned town inside Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains National Park » Roadtrippers
• Why No One Will Sell You The Bike You Want » Lanesplitter
• Signals of September » Danner
• You’ll Always Lose at the Comparison Game (So Stop Playing It) » Chris Guillebeau
• How to Overcome Self-Doubt, Get Rid of Anxiety, and Stay Focused » Sean Wes

Items of Want 018

Le Guest Book

"Le Guest book is a stylish coffee table book designed to collect memories of time spent with friends and family. Inside, each page is designed with several options to accommodate any kind of writing style, from a space that allows free writing to simply answering multiple choice questions about your hosting style. Each page is designed and printed in elegant light blue ink on an off white 80lbs. archival paper and finished with colored edges. Last but not least, Le Guest book flaunts a dark grey marker ribbon."

COAL x DDC Field Notes

Limited edition Field Notes memo books. USA themed. That’s really all I need to say.

[Acquired] Source Low Profile Hydration Bladder

I’m a big believer in Source hydration over other bladders. They’re just better quality all around. If you’ve ever had a full hydration bladder in their standard size and a full ruck, you know that the bag stands off of your back in an odd way. This low profile version evens out the size and keep things from getting uncomfortable feeling. I need one of these for sure.

Terrapin Stationers Engraved Calling Cards

"To the unrefined or unbred, the visiting card is but a trifling and insignificant bit of paper; but to the cultured disciple of social law, it conveys a subtle and unmistakable intelligence. Its texture, style of engraving, and even the hour of leaving it combine to place the stranger, whose name it bears, in a pleasant or a disagreeable attitude even before his manners, conversation, and face have been able to explain his social position. -Our Deportment" via Art of Manliness

Amazon Fire Phone

Truth be told, I find the Dynamic Perspective (aka 3D) feature a bit gimmicky but it’s still pretty cool. But that’s not why I want a new Amazon Fire Phone. 13MP with image stabilization, unlimited cloud storage for photos, one button quick access to the camera, Firefly [Shazam like] technology, one handed scrolling and a battery nearly double that of an iPhone 5S all add up to an interesting device; at least for me.

What’s the reason I’m not getting the Amazon Fire Phone right away? The main one is that I don’t think all the apps I want are on the Amazon App Store. I took a hit going from the iTunes Store to Google Play store and it’s been an okay experience but relying solely on the Amazon App Store might be too much of a stretch. I’ve grown to really love my Google Apps. We’ll see.

— Check out past Items of Want —

Dispatch 113

• A Thousand Words: Series 1 » Backcountry Pilot
• Does Your Stuff Free You Or Own You? » Hilary Oliver
• what I’ve learned as of september 29, 2014 » Upward Bound
• Attitude is Everything » Alistair Farland
• What are some historical weapons that most people have never heard of? » Quora

Items of Want 017

Tom Bihn - The Guide’s Pack

"Functionally modern, yet aesthetically grounded in our 40+ years of outdoor-equipment design, The Guide’s Pack is a daypack for hiking and mountaineering; it will likely be as at home on city streets as on alpine trails."

Field Notes “Arts and Sciences” Edition

These new limited edition “Note Books” from Field Notes are both larger than the usual and have more pages as well. They’ve also done something different from their previous versions on the page styles that’s worth checking out.

"The ‘Arts’ Note Book is designated for creative musings, featuring a wine-colored cover containing a wealth of handy information for writers and fine artists. … ‘Sciences’ sports a dark slate gray cover loaded with the formulas, theories, and ideas you need to get you through your day. "

Bradley Mountain - The Traveler’s Mug*

"The Traveler’s Mug combines the perfect drinking vessel with a hand stitched, wet-formed oiled leather holder that will protect your hand from the heat of your coffee (or the chill of your beer)."

*Sign up for a Huckberry account (it’s free and awesome) through this link and get $5 off your first purchase. I get $10 when you make your first purchase but hey, I found it first.

Rules for My Unborn Son

"Rules for my Unborn Son is a collection of traditional, humorous, and urbane fatherly advice for boys. From the sartorial ("If you are tempted to wear a cowboy hat, resist") to the practical ("Keep a copy of your letters. It makes it easier for your biographer") to even a couple of sure-fire hangover cures ("There is no better remedy than a dip in the ocean"), the book of rules and accompanying quotations is quite simply an instruction manual for becoming a Good Man - industrious, thoughtful, charming, and of course, well-dressed."
// Photo by it’s a prosser life

2nd Shift KeyPlate

"The Key Plate is a simple and clever solution to keeping your often misplaced keys where you need them. It is a redesign of a door frame strike plate, found in almost every home."

— Check out past Items of Want —