The Gear Journal – Every Day Carry Gear & Gadgets

November 4, 2025

Freenote Cloth Dayton

Ryan

Clothing

Nobody needs a $250 work shirt for winter. Hell, the idea of it sounds ridiculous. You can walk into Costco or Walmart, grab a thick flannel for thirty bucks, beat it to hell all season, and toss it when it starts to look like Swiss cheese. That’s the working man’s logic… and it holds up just fine.

But… there’s another side to this argument, and it involves opening your wallet a little wider.

Freenote sent me their Dayton shirt, built from 6-ounce Japanese wool and stitched here in the U.S. The thing feels bombproof and somehow still fits like a tailored piece. Yeah, it’s $250, and yeah, that’s insane money for a shirt. But after wearing it, I can’t help but wonder if it’s actually worth it.

Time will tell.

Details here.

October 22, 2025

GR IV Monochrome

Ryan

Tech

It wasn’t all that long ago that the GR IV came out. Essentially, it’s best pocket digital ever made… and now, Ricoh has announced the GR IV Monochrome. Holy Hell. I’ve never owned a digital GR, but I think now might be the time.

Limited details here.

October 7, 2025

Top 5 Prime Day Deals

Ryan

News

Goddamnit. I can’t believe I’m doing this… but here we are. My top-5 favorite Prime Day deals, for better or worse:

iPad Mini 7. This is my absolute favorite product Apple has ever made. It’s the perfect size for mindlessly consuming content while sitting on the couch or laying on the bed. It also makes a great notebook if you add an Apple Pencil. And with Prime Day, it’s 25% off. Details here.
Meross Smart Garage Door Opener. This thing is cheap, but it actually works reliably – which is more than you can say about a lot of these… Details here.
Stream Deck Mini. I have a number of these for various uses, but the mini is one of my favorites because of how focused it is… Add a button to anything man. Around 20% off for Prime Day. Details here. If you need more buttons, the big one is on sale too. Details here.
Twelve South AirFly SE. These are great for travel. Allows you to connect your bluetooth headphones to just about anything. About 15% off today. Details here.
Keychron V1. This an absurd deal. Less than $60 for a fantastic mechanical keyboard. Details here.

All are pretty solid deals. In fact, I’m gonna upgrade my iPad Mini 6 to the 7. But don’t buy shit if you don’t need shit… Know what I’m saying? It’s not a sale if you don’t need it.

September 30, 2025

Logitech MX Master 4

Ryan

Tech

The legendary Master Series rolls on… Logitech just dropped the successor to the MX Master 3S. If you’re not familiar, the MX line is often hailed as the holy grail of productivity mice. Comfortable, precise, and built like a tank.

The new Master 4 builds on that legacy, adding haptics and a new coating that promises better durability (and hopefully less peel over time).

I just ordered mine. You can grab yours here.

September 25, 2025

The Light Phone 3

Ryan

Tech

It’s a “dumb” phone… by design. And just about every review of the Light Phone 3 says the same thing: beautifully built, wildly overpriced, and an absolute pain in the ass to use.

And yet… I really, really want to try one.

Details here.

September 18, 2025

The Maker Knife II

Ryan

Knives & Tools

Speaking of utility knives… the one that first pulled me away from traditional pocket knives was the Maker Knife I. Small, light, deployable in a flash, and just as easy to stash away – the mechanism was damn near genius. Smooth, clever, and completely intuitive.

The downside? It was tough to get your hands on, didn’t hold up all that well, and the customer service from the merry band (or lone wolf) behind it left a lot to be desired.

Now that same crew… or maybe just the same guy… has dropped the Maker Knife II. No idea if it’s worth a damn, but it’s definitely worth a shot.

Details here.

September 16, 2025

The Zero-G Utility Knife

Ryan

Knives & Tools

I ditched traditional pocket knives years ago and haven’t looked back—utility knives only. No stressing over blade steel, no sharpening rituals, just simple, effective, and ready to work. For the past couple of years, my go-to has been the C.H.U.B. flipper, and it’s held up like a champ.

That said, I’m always sniffing around for alternatives. Recently stumbled onto a Kickstarter for a utility knife called the Zero-G, and it stopped me in my tracks. Killer design, solid-looking build, and the price was spot on. The campaign’s over, but you can still check it out here.

Keep an eye on their site – restocks might be coming.

August 28, 2025

Herman Miller Dining Chair

Ryan

Other Gear

The iconic Eames Molded Plastic Dining Chair is back… same legendary shape, now built with more sustainable materials and smarter manufacturing. It’s the chair you’ve seen marked up in antique shops and scored dirt-cheap at yard sales, only this time it comes with a conscience.

And for the first time ever, it’s available in a non-upholstered version straight from the source.

Details here.