How do you keep it easy and flowing without sacrificing style or quality? Well, generally, you have to be ready to look – but we’ve got some easy solutions on deck that are just a quick click away from your doorstep.

Coofandy is coming through with the heat this season. A heavy hitter in the men’s space, Coofandy is setting us up with all the pieces you’ll need to make that signature summer kit. Let’s dive in and take a peek at some of their stand-out pieces for Summer ‘24.

1.  Casual Loose Fit Solid Sports Sets

You’re probably a sucker for a killer sports set, right? There’s no better way to toggle between lounging around at home and heading out for a casual hang than in a classic sweatsuit combo. In the summer heat, however, you have an account for no sleeves and nothing below the knee. 

The Casual Loose Fit Solid Sports Set is a workhorse in the department of rocking a single color, giving you a choice of a handful of color blocks (but also a few graphic and two-tone options as well if you’re feeling adventurous. The solid Army Green is looking pretty appealing from here…

Here are some of our favorite features in the Casual Loose Fit Solid Sports Set:

• Made from 100% premium cotton for ultimate comfort. Comfort is considered in every point of design here! Loose and comfortable fabric creates an effortless cool and casual look.
• A classic cut, providing a roomier fit, and double-needle stitching ensures extra durability.
• Innovative features – we’re talking about things like moisture wicking and odor control to keep you feeling fresh and comfortable. That’s super helpful in these summer months.

2. Fake Two-Piece T-shirt Shorts Set

One of the big kickers when it comes to summer style is that you can’t rely on the biggest style hack that you use daily in the other three seasons – layers. There’s definitely no need for a jacket, overshirt, or sweater in the summertime. Forget it! 

That being said, Coofandy has come up with a cool idea to give the visual allure of layering while keeping the weight of the clothing down low. There’s no need to worry about the heat of extra layers in this puppy, which comes with an awesomely complementary pair of shorts in addition to the top.

Here are some of our favorite features in the Fake Two-Piece T-shirt Shorts Set:

• Quality materials – a blend of 30% Cotton and 70% Polyester keeps you comfortable and cool while still maintaining a somewhat rugged look and a strong ability for the fabric to breathe. Gotta let that breeze in if you plan on staying cool, right?
• Detachable hem for color-blocking on the t-shirt – this is a unique feature that adds a touch of style while not weighing you down with another layer. It’s all about comfort!
• Elastic waistband – keeping it easy breezy on the bottom half is easy with an adjustable drawstring, removing the extra hassle and weight you’d experience with an old-school belt. There are no cutbacks in storage, though – you can count on two stylishly slanted pockets for your phone, keys, and wallet.

3. Leisure Bubble Crepe 2-Piece Outfits

What we’ve covered so far feels closer to the world of athleisure, while the next piece on deck brings us to the beach, poolside, or maybe even your luxury yacht. I don’t know, maybe you’re that guy? Even if you aren’t, the Leisure Bubble Crepe 2-Piece Outfit will get you there.

Featuring a lightweight fabric that almost gives off the allure of linen, the Leisure Bubble Crepe 2-Piece Outfit comes in four different colors that each give off their own very distinctive vibe. The light shade of Blue is a no-brainer for your beach vacation, while choosing something a little more mysterious like Apricot or Brown might have your friends wondering where in the world you pulled up from on your yacht. Classic White, though? That’s a power move. No one said you only had to pick one, either!

Here are some of our favorite features in the Leisure Bubble Crepe 2-Piece Outfits:

• Awesome materials: A solid bubble crepe-style 100% polyester fabric is used to keep you feeling cool while looking elevated.
• The details: extra details you can look forward to include a signature button closure, elastic waist with adjustable drawstring, and 2 side pockets.

4. Casual Cable Knit T-shirt Set

Well, further on the topic of layers – while you definitely aren’t wearing one after the temps start hitting 80, a sweater is a pretty surefire way to class up an outfit for almost any occasion. Doesn’t matter here, you can’t get that look and feel without overheating, right? Wrong.

Coofandy is coming through again with another innovative spin on classic style pieces rebuilt for surviving heat and humidity. Another two-piece offering from their collection, the Casual Cable Knit T-shirt Set, takes the best parts of a sweater and makes it accessible for summer. We’re talking about that awesome cable knit pattern that you’d traditionally find in an Ireland-inspired sweater but building it into a short-sleeved two-piece set. Duh!

Once again, color offerings are really what tell the story here. White, Black, Khaki, Grey, and Navy Blue are the picklist, with each bringing a different spin to the party. What’s it going to be for you?

Here are some of our favorite features in the Casual Cable Knit T-shirt Set:

Killer materials – an intentionally sourced blend of 65% Cotton and 35% Polyester

• Fabric Type – the Cable Knit pattern exists to look cool and classic while leaning on features like stretchiness and breathability to keep you cool and comfortable. Super soft to the touch, too!
• Shirt Details –  As if the Cable Knit pattern isn’t enough, details like chopped short sleeves, V-neck, drop shoulder design really keep the party going all night.

5. Minimalism Leisure 100% Cotton Set

Feeling adventurous? In working through the list together, we might have moved from your highest level of personal comfort (in terms of style, not temperature!) and have now encroached on options that are a little more out of the box. Buckle up!

The Minimalism Leisure 100% Cotton Set is exactly what it says – minimalistic, but not without its own unique style. Out of all the options here, this one is probably the most rugged-looking while also maintaining a high-level element of class. Coofandy’s product picture really sets the stage – this is an easy one to imagine walking through the streets and markets of a faraway city.

As far as color goes, your choices are minimal too – pick between Blue or Grey, or get them both and swap the pieces! Once again, you’re getting bang for your buck in getting both a top and bottom for one price.

Here are some of our favorite features in the Minimalism Leisure 100% Cotton Set:

• Materials –  You can count on a soft, comfy, durable, skin-friendly 100% Cotton fabric that keeps you comfortable and cool. 
• Shirt Details – unique details like a button closure, light but long sleeves, and crewneck style collar keep this set looking one of a kind without sacrificing any degree of comfort.

Summer style doesn’t have to be difficult. It’s hard enough to find the willpower to make it all happen when the mercury starts to rise – you might as well make it easy on yourself with a solid summer style that you can return to day after day. Coofandy, anyone?

Use code NEXTLUXURY30 for 30% off sitewide through August 31, 2024!

I wasn’t always a neat freak. I can’t remember dusting or vacuuming my first apartment. If I’m being honest, the real catalyst in caring was getting a dog. Upon finding out that our precious rescue mutt had a significant chunk of husky DNA, the need for a vacuum with enough power to leave no stray white hairs behind became very clear. Trust me, it’s a significant challenge. 

The biggest lesson I’ve learned when it comes to keeping the floors clean is that not all vacuums are created equally. We’ve broken a few vacuums figuring out what works for our house’s needs, and still haven’t quite landed on the right match. I thought I’d take you along on the hunt to find the perfect vacuum.

Here’s a breakdown of what to look for when choosing the best vacuum cleaner for your home:

1. Reliability. It needs to be built to last, not built to break. I’ve made my mistake grabbing the cheapest option at the cheapest store and I won’t go down that route again.
2. Approachable price point. With the understanding that you don’t address the first desire without a cash investment, I’m also not looking to break the bank.
3. Four-wheel drive. Okay, that’s not what they might call it, but I’m looking for a vacuum that isn’t afraid of any terrain. I live in an old house, which means a few variations of wood (in different conditions, too) and a handful of rugs that will need attention too. Let’s not forget the couch and other pieces of furniture, too.

Today’s selections are all coming from the heavy-hitting and innovative team behind Roborock, a company dedicated to shaking up the way we clean our homes by integrating cutting-edge technology into our daily chores. Their goal? To “improve people’s lives with distinctive products”. Well, let’s get to improving!

Roborock Dyad Pro Combo

The first choice on the list is exciting as it’s the newest to hit the market, and with a handful of stand-out features and functions that put it in the next class of home vacuums. When choosing the best vacuum cleaner for your home, this shoots to the top of the list.

Roborock ensures that you’re prepared for any and all terrains as the Dyad carries not one but five distinct tools to equip you for whatever is in front of you. They’re all about “total cleanliness”, and take it a step beyond most competitors by offering a vacuum that is just as comfortable in wet conditions as it is on dry surfaces. This is a big appeal! The days of your disgusting garage shop vacuum are numbered, if you play your cards right.

Here are some of the stand-out features that shine brightest to me:

• Roborock’s five-in-one approach to vacuuming. We know that not one size fits all for a vacuum in general, so it makes sense that the approach would apply to the Dyad Pro Combo’s five-in-one combo. You can look forward to using the Multi-Surface Brush, Motorized Mini-Brush, Crevice Tool, Dusting Brush, and Wet Dry Vacuum without having to switch plugs. The Motorized Mini-Brush is your go-to for the bed, couch, or surfaces that aren’t the wide-open floor. I’m also intrigued by the Crevice Tool, which makes hard-to-reach places a non-issue (and converts into the Dust Tool, taking care of similarly hard-to-reach places that gather dust around us.
  
• The Dyad is a high-powered vacuum, but the real key to success is the consistency of power. You can clean better and more effectively in one go with a consistent 20N of force from onset to hitting the wall. The Pro Combo has also been well-rated for outstanding suction, so these two forces in action together are unstoppable for any mess. Afraid of TOO much power? The Dyad has a built-in Smart Sensor that understands just how serious of a mess it’s faced with and adjusts accordingly to do the job.
  
• Cleaning up after cleaning up is a major pain, but important to maintain the longevity of your trusted tools. Roborock’s newest offering is armed with a RevoBrush Self-Cleaning & Drying System, which takes the worry out of maintenance and keeps your vacuum up to speed at a high level. The cleaning system is innovative in its ability to dry itself quicker than most other offerings out on the market using a self-contained heat technology, which in turn prevents nasty odors that grow in damp situations.

• It’s easy! There’s no need to worry about long-term maintenance, as the short-term maintenance takes care of itself and any pressing question you might have about use or care will likely be answered in your own palm, using Roborock’s complementary mobile app that ties into the Dyad Pro Combo. You can use the app to address water levels, check in on the internal maintenance, and even set voice alerts and more.
  
• The Dyad is an investment piece, coming in for sale on their website for $699. If you’re intrigued and want to give it a spin on your own messages, you’d be smart to take advantage of

Roborock Dyad Pro

The predecessor to the Pro Combo, Roborock’s Dyad Pro is the mid-tier option from the innovative company. You can count on a lot of the great features found in the Pro Combo, with the main exception being the absence of the five-in-one combo element. When it comes to choosing the best vacuum cleaner for your home on a budget, this still makes for a solid option. You’ll still have access to the self-cleaning features, as well as the proprietary mobile app for easy use. I think my favorite retained feature would have to be the dry and wet combo.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what you can expect from the Dyad Pro, which promises a “clean sweep of all messes”:

• DyadPowerTM System
• 17,000Pa Suction Power
• Improved Edge-to-edge Cleaning
• DirTect Smart Sensor
• RevoBrush Self-Cleaning and Self-Drying
• Auto Cleaning Solution Dispenser
• App Connectivity & Voice Alert

Roborock’s Dyad Pro is priced at $449 and available for sale. I think this is a solid option for users with general vacuuming needs, but I think I would still spring a little higher to get the five-in-one tech because there are more hard-to-reach places than you’d think, right?

Roborock Original Dyad

Roborock’s initial use of their proprietary Dyadpower technology was in the original Dyad vacuum, which hit the market around the start of 2022. What was their motivation in entering the scene, you ask?

“We set out to tackle some unresolved pain points in the wet-dry vacuum space like poor edge cleaning, weak pick-up, and maneuverability issues, and we achieved that and more with Roborock Dyad,” said Richard Chang, CEO of Roborock. “Dyad is the only dual roller motor, multi-roller wet and dry vacuum that cleans edge-to-edge to eliminate messes in one sweep. This multi-use product has the capability to remove everything from dirty water to encrusted dirt seamlessly in a single cleaning session.”

The original Dyad, like its next generation, is priced at $449. A great offering, but again, given the strong need to scoop up dog hair in every corner of the house, I’m still going with the Pro Combo.

Final Thoughts: Choosing the Best Vacuum Cleaner for Your Home

Choosing the best vacuum cleaner for your home doesn’t have to suck. Like most things, you just have to know what you’re looking for and what you need the tool to do. There’s a tool for every job, right? Hopefully, you find yours.

I consider myself to be a little bit of an expert when it comes to chairs. Not only have I sat in my own fair share of them throughout the years, but I also grew up spending a lot of time in my mother’s home studio where she rebuilt and reupholstered chairs professionally. Starting at a young age, I picked up a healthy knowledge of what separates a good chair from a bad chair. I’ll give you a hint: if you’re a casual chair user, you’re probably way more likely to notice the cosmetic details and differences over the structural integrity, and it’s all about structure.

Something else that I picked up in all that time? My fair share of back problems, the international sign of getting older, right?. Whether from sports, injury, or just the daily strain of life, we could all be a little more careful and intentional with our spines. You only get one, after all. That’s why you should put some extra thought into the chair you spend your work week in, office-goers and work from home-rs alike. 

So, if you’re like me and looking to improve your daily posture, you’re probably asking yourself “Where do I start?” I’d start with SIHOO, a company shaking up the way we think about furniture (given how much time we spend sitting in it). Their newest model – the Doro-C300 Ergonomic Office Chair – is a master in all of the necessary categories. Take a seat and read on for Next Luxury’s full review of SIHOO’s latest masterpiece.

Who Is SIHOO?

SIHOO is a Chinese company that hit the ground running. With a 12-year focus on technology and wellness, SIHOO is an industry leader in the furniture world, maximizing efficiency and productivity by designing office furniture that speaks to the body’s core needs while also addressing our natural weaknesses.

Since the beginning, their primary focus has been taking these principles to market without sacrificing quality AND maintaining a price point that is approachable to the widest range of consumers. The M18, SIHOO’s first self-developed ergonomic chair, quickly became a best seller and opened doors for the brand to explore further into the industry.

This year, SIHOO is leveraging its past five years of experience to kick off a big push to educate us on the importance of choosing the right chair for you. Between April to July of 2023, SIHOO is raising a campaign called “Your 2334 Hours,” which is the estimated amount of time that your average office worker will spend at their desk over 1 year. The Doro-C300 Ergonomic Office Chair is at the epicenter of this campaign.

The Breakdown: The Doro-C300 Ergonomic Office Chair Features

The Doro-C300 Ergonomic Office Chair is a best-in-class option for comfort, but not in the way you’re probably used to quantifying chairs. This isn’t like your classic armchair in the living room or lounging chair in the bedroom designed primarily for aesthetics with a secondary emphasis on ergonomics. SIHOO approaches from the opposite direction, focusing on engineering while keeping artistic design in mind too.

Of all of the features found in the Doro-C300 Ergonomic Office Chair, SIHOO emphasizes three major differentiators that set the Doro-C300 apart from competitors. All of these functions are deeply ingrained in the design of the chair, serving as cornerstones of the value passed on to whoever sits in it. Here’s what they want you to remember:

• The Doro-C300 employs dynamic lumbar adaptive support. This means the chair truly moves with you. The chair is designed with an innovative body movement adaptive system, which takes note of your spinal movements with its lumbar support technology throughout your day. This makes the Doro-C300 a stand-out option for folks like me that are looking for a little extra support in the back or back pain relief.
• The Doro-C300 features a flexible motion-chasing seatback. This is where the technical side of SIHOO’s approach to design really shines the brightest. In their words, “the backrest closely mimics the human form, offering spinal support with side-to-side motion-chasing in a triangle formulation that effectively supports your upper torso and arms.” This is starting to sound like a creation from a superhero movie, right?
• The Doro-C300 has a wide-angle mechanical headrest. SIHOO utilizes a high-precision, auto-locking mechanism to control its one-of-a-kind headrest. By having the freedom to move independently, the extra-wide headrest “orchestrates on its own the symphony of ups, downs, and circular and front-to-back movements.” Not only does this approach encourage comfort, but it also supports your cervical spine in ways determined by and customized for your unique movements.

If you grab one of SIHOO’s newest chairs, you can brag on a long list of features in addition to these big three pillars of design, including breathable and stain-resistant cloud netting, super soft and adaptable armrests, a pressure sensing weight distribution system, and ergonomic waterfall design. It’s also worth mentioning that SIHOO is committed to utilizing only the highest quality materials to manufacture the Doro-C300. That’s what we like to hear!

One more quick note before diving into our hands-on review and reflecting on a week of use: could you guess what animal inspired SIHOO while designing the Doro-C300? There’s a chance you may never have heard of it, but the strong and smooth curves found naturally in the horns of the African Kudu served as a strong inspiration to approach the ergonomic needs of the chair with style and a tip of the hat to the natural world. Cool!

SIHOO Doro-C300 Ergonomic Office Chair Review

In order to really give a fair review and assessment of SIHOO’s exciting new addition to the office chair market, I dedicated a full week of work to be done exclusively in the Doro-C300. The biggest challenge of that entire time was sitting still, but that’s a separate issue. At a very high level, I can confirm SIHOO’s claims of comfort, ergonomic support, and attention to design elements with two big thumbs up. Let’s dig into some of the more granular details as I recap my week with SIHOO.

Upon arrival, I was really astounded by the size of the box it came in! It was one of those moments where I was pretty confident I knew what was arriving in the mail but had to backpedal and second guess upon it arriving on my porch. Right out of the gate, my expectation was set to expect luxury and above and beyond quality. A word to the wise, especially to those living on a second floor or above, it’s a two-person lift for sure!

Assembling the Doro-C300 was daunting before opening the box. I don’t excel at following directions (or asking for help), but SIHOO’s step-by-step process to connect the pieces and calibrate the Doro-C300 to your preferred settings was easy and stressless. Don’t be afraid!

Once out of the box and together in one piece, I was immediately really impressed with the look of the chair. While I understand the extra emphasis on ergonomic design, SIHOO is selling itself short on aesthetic appeal! It’s simple enough to blend in with established decor but strong enough in its design principles to be a stand-alone piece in a more minimalist setting. Props to SIHOO for limiting our color choices to black and white, we don’t need more options beyond the classics. Keep it simple!

One thing I noticed pretty quickly was how little I was fidgeting in comparison to other less comfortable chairs I’ve had the chance to work in in the past. The shape of the back and moveable headrest lead to less movement, while also blending in seamlessly with existing movement and probably making my routine fidgets a little less noticeable.

Well, if the setup was Monday morning, we’ll skip right to Friday afternoon from here. It’s worth noting that the Doro-C300 was definitely very comfortable out of the box, but the true measure of comfort and effectiveness will come after some serious use. So, for science, I put my head down and got to work.

I’m finding it hard to compare apples to apples here, mainly because no other chair has been able to keep me comfortable and sitting still long enough to compile this much data! I noticed a huge uptick in my own productivity. I was way more likely to tackle bigger projects (long-form writing or editing galleries of photos) in a stationary place, where usually I itch for small breaks or laps around the house to break up the process. It will be interesting to see how a longer span in the chair (I’m thinking after a month or two) will improve and help mitigate some recurring back pain in my life, as well as keep the good momentum I’ve had during my test week. Productivity for the win, SIHOO. I see you!

In Conclusion

Keep an eye on SIHOO’s website for information on the Doro-C300 Ergonomic Office Chair and how you’ll be able to snag one of your own. Given the success of their prior models and the demand for at-home productivity these days, you might have to wait a minute, but it’ll be worth the wait. Your back will thank you!

First of all, if someone is thinking of me, that’s enough of a gift for me. But beyond that, I’m here for practical presents for the rest of my adult life. Socks? Sweaters? Toothpaste? Bring it on. There’s nothing like being gifted an essential with an edge of luxury that I likely wouldn’t have made the jump on myself.

After a few years of using the full spectrum of MANSCAPED® products in my day-to-day routine, I’m here to advocate either for you or for the gift giver in your life and tell you that the Performance Package 4.0 is the perfect men’s grooming gift for the holidays. Sure, nicely groomed pubic hair may not have been your first idea, but it is the essential luxury that you’re probably missing out on.

This holiday season, MANSCAPED is treating those in need of a slamming gift with The Performance Package 4.0, an all-encompassing body care setup that I’ve been using routinely and have come to swear by. Considering the all-in-one nature of The Performance Package 4.0, it’s a no-brainer for gifting and has a serious leg up against the competition. But while we’ve got a leg up, let me tell you some of the stand-out features that have kept my loyalty.

What’s Included?

I mean, what isn’t included? It’s not just about the razor, it’s about how everything works together and removes the extra thought that comes with setting up a healthy grooming routine. Here’s the full list of what you’ll find in The Performance Package 4.0:

• The Lawn Mower® 4.0. – MANSCAPED’s fourth generation groin and body trimmer features SkinSafe replaceable ceramic blades, adjustable guards, a 7,000 RPM Motor, a 4000k LED spotlight, and a sleek, waterproof design.
• The Weed Whacker® – Revolutionary electric nose and ear hair trimmer with proprietary SkinSafe technology, a 9,000 RPM Motor, and a contoured design for all your maintenance needs.
• The Crop Preserver® Ball Deodorant – MANSCAPED’s signature formulation features soothing aloe vera to help prevent chafing down under.
• The Crop Reviver® Ball Toner – Featuring soothing aloe vera and witch hazel to keep high-friction areas cool, calm, and protected, the Crop Reviver is a formulation I likely wouldn’t have treated myself to, but now pretty much never go without.
• Anti-chafing boxers – MANSCAPED’s premium underwear has made it to the very top of my rotation week after week (after laundry day, of course).
• The Shed – A free gift from MANSCAPED, this premium travel bag is perfectly sized to keep everything in one place with style.

Alright, gifters – if you’re thinking what I’m thinking, yes! This is an easy way to make a big splash with a single gift that keeps giving. Read on for a deeper look into some of my favorite details.

The Lawn Mower – We Haven’t Beaten It Yet

Does carrying an all-season long beard disqualify me as a valid reviewer of a good electric razor? Not with MANSCAPED. I’ll be honest – on the rare occasion that I need a trim above the belt, no shame in using The Lawn Mower 4.0. I’ve been using MANSCAPED’s Lawn Mower 4.0 for over a year now, and have found this product close to the top of my list of recommendations. A few of my favorite facts and features to follow:

• The Lawn Mower 4.0 is built for safety and designed intentionally to minimize the risk of grooming-related accidents. The ceramic blades are the key part of MANSCAPED’s SkinSafe technology, working in unison to mitigate snagging. That’s high value down there.
• This a small detail, but I have to call out the LED light that you can employ for hard-to-reach or hard-to-see areas. I’m not sure I have ever seen this feature before on an electric razor, especially one that you can turn on or off. Needless to say, this is a luxury that I don’t think I’ll ever go without again.
• The travel lock! I have overgrown one too many times on a family vacation or work trip but failed to bring along an electric razor of the past for fear of bulky size and the risk of the razor chopping up my entire Dopp kit on the plane. No need to fear here, as MANSCAPED has implemented a travel lock on The Lawn Mower 4.0 that makes it that easy to toss it in a bag and head out on your way.

The best part about The Lawn Mower 4.0 is that it comes as a part of a complete set of grooming and well-being habits in The Performance Package 4.0, so you’re set with not just a best-in-class razor but also with products and routines optimized to work best together.

Give the Gift of Grooming This Year

It can be hard to find the balance of the perfect gift for someone that already has everything they need, or in my case, someone who is really hard to find a good gift for. There’s nothing wrong with going for a fully tactical gift that will be put to use daily, and perhaps adding a smaller gift on top that speaks to something sillier or an inside joke. Like I said before, I’m way past the point of pointing my nose up to socks. Give me all the practical things, always.

Get the man in your life something he’ll actually use and appreciate. MANSCAPED has made it easy for all of us, and a little more enticing, too – use our Next Luxury exclusive link to save 20% on The Performance Package 4.0 and tack on free shipping, as well. You can find that here. 

The only thing left on your holiday list now? Whatever it will take to get you to remember to clean up the sink afterward.

Did I strike a chord with you there? Good. I didn’t really mean that. I am fighting hard in my daily life to resist the complete technological takeover that runs our day-to-day.

Analog is alive and healthy, but there is merit to adding a watch for the look of it, too. As fall is in full swing and colder months are not too far in the future, It’s a great time to start thinking about a daily driver that compliments the layers we’ve been looking forward to putting on after a hot summer. That’s why we put together a short guide featuring our picks for the 4 best watch brands to wear if you don’t want to go digital in 2023.

What Makes a Good Watch

What makes a great watch, though? As a long-time fanboy in the heritage goods space, I’m usually first and foremost looking for a watch that speaks to a classic, foolproof design. Similar to traditional navy-style tattoo art, there’s a reason why some designs and styles have survived the test of time: they have never stopped working for us. Ironic to search for a watch that is TIMELESS, but puns must be forgiven in the search for the right timepiece.

Oftentimes, this translates on the design side to mean something simple. I’m looking for trustworthy mechanics, bold metals, intentional textures, and a strap that either holds steady for a lifetime or increases in patina over time and use.

It’s not hard to find a good piece within these perimeters, but it’s the extra attention to detail and functionality that separates my top picks from what you’d find behind the glass counter at the big box store. 

With fall and winter style in mind, I want to put a few watch brands on your radar (as well as my favorite of their offerings) that stand out to me as best-in-class options to go along with sweaters and jackets in the cold months.

It’s also worth noting that a classy watch is a great option for gifts as we inch closer to Black Friday and the start of the holiday season. Buckle in and start the clock!

The 4 Best Watch Brands To Wear if You Don’t Want To Go Digital

Nordgreen

Nordgreen is a name I’ve had cross into my periphery a few times since they entered the market in 2017. From a design perspective, Nordgreen nods to the rich Scandinavian history of timekeeping, which speaks directly to what I’m looking for. In their words, they’re marrying “purpose and functionality with the timeless aesthetic appeal.” Bingo.

This fall, Nordgreen has released a Fall/Winter collection that embodies the idea of “Tactile Reminiscence.” Otherwise defined as using the sense of touch to create long-lasting memories. This phenomenon most intimately comes to me through smell or taste (the smell of a lit candle or cookies in the oven ring a bell?) but applying this concept to touch is both fresh and unique while feeling comfortable and close to your own personal experience.

Here are a few watches from their most recent collection that jump out to me:

Throne Watches

Watches are all about time, and the current collections available from Throne Watches deeply resonate with me on the axis of time and place. Both in aesthetics and inspiration, Throne’s watches speak clearly to me of a pre-pandemic world before the onset of digital marketing as we know it today. Mixing the grit of a few guys in Brooklyn trying to piece it together with heritage design aspects that have tracked with success over the course of modern history.

My favorite from their collection is the classic Fragment S1, which ties back to my initial dreams of finding a watch destined for future generations as much as my own.

Shinola

Shinola has been a huge name in watches for a long, long time. Their track record is hard to beat, on top of a refined approach to construction after many years in the business.

While bigger isn’t always better, it can be helpful to know that a wristwatch purchase comes backed up with a good historical track record. That being said, a Shinola piece comes with a price tag, so I’d be looking for either a really solid daily driver or perhaps something to commemorate a special occasion.

It’s hard to pick favorites from their expansive catalog, but the sharp green tones found in their 47mm Runwell model have caught my eye for a long time. This is one of Shinola’s flagship styles, they’re manufactured in Detroit with parts imported from Switzerland, among other places.

Vortic Watch Co.

The header of the Vortic Watches website reads “America wasn’t assembled. It was built.” Vortic, based in Fort Collins, Colorado, bridges the gap between art and function by building one-of-a-kind timepieces here in the United States.

Their unique works of art stem from the idea that the watchmakers of the olden days had it right. Of course, a piece like this comes at a price as well, but I’ve found that taking a look at their collection has helped to jump my memory closer toward the vintage-inspired silhouette of my eventual dreams. It’s hard to pick a favorite here as each piece is one of one. You should look for yourself and see what inspiration you find.

Watch Round-Up Complete

Yeehaw! From a few corners of the world, we’ve put you in front of a handful of best-in-class watch brands to consider for the upcoming holiday season and for falls and winters to come. What’s your pick?

Of all of the five senses, I think that smell may be the most important to me. For my entire life, I’ve had a serious aversion to the idea that I might smell unpleasant, even after a hard day’s work or a session at the gym. It’s just not for me. I like to smell nice.

After reading that, you will have a reason to believe that I have a fully stocked storeroom of colognes, perfumes, and sensory additions to spruce up the wardrobe with the seasons. Well, I hate to burst your bubble. I have a pretty good roster of candles and incense in the house, but I have never been all that much of a cologne guy.

Growing up, cologne or any kind of scented spray wasn’t really allowed around the house. I have a few family members with sensitivities who would come over often and frequently leave with migraines, which didn’t do much for our family’s social status. That being said, I kept it pretty sparse with lightly scented deodorant and made sure that my body washes and shampoos were doing the right job. I hadn’t put much thought into what a good cologne could do for my market value until later on in life.

Scent and Memory

Once I had a little more exposure, it started to click. Smell is one of the most powerful agents of memory. I don’t have to explain this. You know the phenomenon when you smell your mother’s cooking, fresh-cut grass to welcome in the summer, or your second-grade school building and the nostalgia that comes with it. (now, I spent most of my first day of second grade in tears, I’m sure, so that’s not a great memory, but you get the point.)

Cologne extends that principle to the human form. Even just the other day, I was really struck by a perfume that a woman was wearing at the grocery store. Despite not having a physical or verbal interaction with her, her choice of scent provoked a nostalgic response in me without even having to communicate. That’s powerful stuff and goes a very long way in creating and curating the personal mark that you leave with the people around you.

On one hand, you might not think that I’m the best judge when it comes to selecting the best cologne for daily use. On the other hand, I’m a clean slate. That might just make me the best judge you’ll find.

One thing I found to be true across folks with deep knowledge and respect for colognes and perfumes is that they have a distinct taste for what they like and don’t like. I think with a little less of a critical view, you can open your mind up to scents and expressions that you may not have considered otherwise. 

All of that to say that I think I’ve found something pretty good, and I want to tell you about it. After checking out the full spread of products from newcomers to the skincare game Blu Atlas, I’ve found myself reaching for the bottle of their signature cologne time after time as I have gotten ready for my day. In hopes of simplifying the mysteries around the complicated world of smelling good, I’ve gone ahead and highlighted a few of my favorite functions of Atlantis, the inaugural fragrance from Blu Atlas.

The Blu Atlas Atlantis Scent

When it comes to my personal preference, I am above all else looking for simplicity and cleanliness. I do not want to evoke memories of the middle school locker room and I do not want to smell like a generic branded experience made for men who don’t want to have to think about it. Complexity is great, duality is better, but simplicity is king.

I think Blu Atlas hit all of those notes (hah!) with Atlantis. Out of the bottle, the smell is not overwhelming, but calm in the way it lingers out. I like that. While not overpowering, the fragrance is bright while also feeling deep and rich (this, my friends, is duality!).

As for the specific profiles at play, the initial cleanliness comes from heavy top notes of lemon and bergamot, which are both familiar fragrances for freshness on the axis of earthiness, adding to the appeal of a fragrance designed for men without being outright and flagrantly “manly.” The tropical inspiration really kicks in as the wear progresses, employing lavender and stonefruit (like peaches and apricots) to evoke a warm sense of adventure. The lingering base notes are where the fragrance really hammers home the vision of long-lasting adventure, pulling in oak moss, musk, and violet to once again utilize duality to tell a story equally of tranquility and adventure.

In short, this is a home run for men looking for a distinct smell that blends in nicely with what you’re comfortable with. You can’t help but pick up on the inspiration once you smell for yourself, but we’ll get to that in a little bit.

Blu Atlas Atlantis Is a Crowd Pleaser

It took befriending someone who was deep in the world of natural perfumery to really bring to light that cologne goes far beyond what you can find behind the counter at the gas station.

Scent is a complicated industry, as perfumers must work hard to please both the market as a whole and elevate the individual experience of each user as they integrate the product into their daily life. This is not an easy task, and anyone in the game of smell will tell you this firsthand.

This reality at play makes it even more impressive that Blu Atlas has made such a crowd-pleaser with Atlantis. What I mean by a crowd pleaser is that the scent is approachable from many different access points of masculinity, while still reading as unique to the individual wearer.

A few years ago, anything marketed specifically to men in the body care and personal grooming world was basically just flat-marketed as “manly.” Not much distinction there, if you ask me. I am happy to theorize that perhaps the day and age of men’s goods equaling lumberjack caricature might be behind us, and Blu Atlas has risen to the challenge with speed and agility.

Once you get a whiff for yourself, you’ll see what I’m saying. Atlantis could be worn just as comfortably by a 5’5 computer programmer with a pocket protector as it would be by a mechanic looking to cover up a post-shift smell of motor oil.

Okay, those are caricatures too, but I’m thinking we’re likely on the same track. The win here is that the subtlety and cleanness of Atlantis make it malleable to however you plan on wearing it, something that very few colognes manage to accomplish on their own.

The Inspiration Behind Blu Atlas Atlantis

I’m a sucker for a good story. You’re a sucker for a good story. I am always looking to gather inspiration from the stories behind the products I’ve chosen to enhance and elevate my day-to-day life.

Blu Atlas pulls inspiration from their experience of adventuring through the jungles of Bali. While adventure alone in itself is enough to help me uplift my day, I urge you to re-read the fragrance notes above with the vision of riding in a topless Jeep through winding jungle roads. I mean, that’s pretty cool. Not a bad place to escape for a minute or two, if you ask me.

Is my description not enough for you? Take it from Blu Atlas, then. Here’s their creative statement speaking to the intentions of Atlantis:

“We’ve designed Atlantis for the guy who travels off the beaten path, for the guy that craves adventure, who isn’t afraid of venturing into the unknown. Because that’s where the best stories always happen.”

Blu Atlas Atlantis Reviews

It’s one thing to feel confident in your own opinion, but it’s another to have it validated by folks that really know what they’re talking about. In the case of Atlantis, my initial thoughts and lasting impression of the signature fragrance are backed up by those of the critics.

After a relatively short time on the market, Blu Atlas has gotten some impressive press and reviews from big names that know what they’re talking about. In fact, Forbes (a name you’ve likely heard in the world of men’s fashion and body care) has said that Atlantis is the “#1 best men’s cologne.”

I mean, do you need more than that? You can’t say it more directly than they have. You better get a move on, though, we’re almost through with 2022! All jokes aside, I think these reviews will be standing the test of time.

Blu Atlast Atlantis Final Thoughts

As much as we all try to get out and experience the world, unfortunately, most of us don’t live the kind of lifestyle where we’re getting the amount of adventure we’d really wish for ourselves. It’s important to find that refuge and inspiration where and when you can, and in ways that make sense with your day to day. 

Adding a personal cologne to your routine brings consistency, sparks interaction, and acts as a personal signature as you flow through your day.

Blu Atlas has clicked these two problems together in one 100ml bottle. If that all sounds up your alley, then here’s your solution: Atlantis.

You can find Atlantis, Blu Atlas’ signature cologne, on their website. 

It’s less about minimalism and more about efficiency if I’m to be honest. It’s not that I don’t care about my skin and appearance, I just want to get out the door.

As I get older and start to notice my skin getting a little weather-beaten (one too many sunburns over the summer, and maybe a little too much dehydration as we come out of the summer months), I think it might be time to invest a little more into a good regimen for skincare.

Establishing a Fall Skincare Routine for Men With Blu Atlas

That being said, a quick Google search for men’s skincare will give you results all over the board, which can be more than confusing for a first-timer (or someone throwing away their cheap grocery store brand bar of soap). In short, it’s hard to look for healthy routines when most mainstream products are muddled down with unnecessary and potentially harmful chemicals.

This is where Blu Atlas comes into the fold. In having the opportunity to check out their full-spectrum line of body care products, I did a little research on them before cracking open any packaging.

The biggest draw is that the company sources over 96% of its ingredients from natural sources. Woah! With star-studded reviews on their site from major men’s-focused publications alongside tight branding and an elegant brand feel, I am eager to say that I was sold on testing them out before even touching the product. But despite my excitement, I’m still dealing with the reality that I know little to nothing in terms of what makes good skincare good versus the alternative.

Luckily, I have some help. My girlfriend is a recent and proud graduate of esthetician school (which I am told is more than just pimple-popping videos) and is raring to go on her new career helping people figure out solutions for unhappy skin and devising preventative methods to keep things looking great and feeling healthy.

I asked her to sit down with me and go through the Blu Atlas line (each product for sale on their website, to be specific) and help me notate some of the key differentiators in their product’s make-up. Of course, we tried out each product too (that’s the fun part).

After getting gray-masked and squeaky clean, these are our notes on the Blu Atlas collection and what stands out to us as surefire wins for your skin.

Blu Atlas Atlantis Cologne

• Alright, let’s start off with a first-inning home run – Blu Atlas’ signature cologne fragrance, Atlantis, is a knockout. The scent, with layered tones of bergamot, lemon, violet, and musk, is evocative of adventure and inspired by the experience of coastal Bali. In quick terms, the fragrance is light while having a pretty incredible depth, utilizing the strength of floral notes without relying on them heavily.
• If you aren’t immediately enticed by the smell, the elegant packaging will certainly do it for you. Packaged in a matte black bottle and inside its own box to open, it’s a standout on your top shelf for sure.

Blu Atlas Body Wash

• Blu Atlas’ stab at a body wash is all I’m looking for – a nice lather, light scent, and nothing too overpowering, with a light sugar exfoliant to boot.
• An outstanding universal ingredient found in Blu Atlas’ Body Wash is Green Tea, which is rich in antioxidants, green tea is known in skincare for its ability to help heal redness. Aloe, another star, also helps to moisturize and provide antioxidants.
• This product covers almost everything that the other products are not designed for. This will support healthy-looking skin not just on the face, but everywhere on the body!

Blu Atlas Shampoo and Conditioner

• Can’t have body wash without shampoo and conditioner. These two complete the shower trifecta, unified with one scent profile and naturally-derived ingredients that work together smoothly.
• The jojoba oil (the main ingredient) in the shampoo gives amazing nutrients, aloe helps to soften the hair, and Saw Palmetto which helps thicken your hair. In short, the shampoo’s job is to add volume and hydration to your hair. 
• Blu Atlas has employed the help of argan oil (used to shine and smooth hair), white tea (to help moisturize and condition the scalp), and barley protein (rich in proteins, leaving hair shiny and soft to the touch) in the conditioner. Altogether, the combo is anti-inflammatory and will support scalp health!

Blu Atlas Deodorant

• Deodorant can be hit or miss, especially when it comes to one that uses natural ingredients versus what you may be used to from the deodorant aisle. This one is a good one – from application to the end of the day, I found Blu Atlas Deodorant to support me through whatever I threw at it.
• It’s formulated with volcanic ash, which is highly absorbent. That’s a win for deodorant! Another interesting ingredient in Blu Atlas’ deodorant is horsetail extract – with anti-inflammatory properties, it calms and soothes skin irritations.

Blu Atlas Eye Stick

• The Blu Atlas Eye Stick is a really cool product that I (and maybe you) likely wouldn’t have considered before now. This lip-balm-shaped tube will brighten, reduce puffiness, and protect from free radicals. There’s a nice cooling effect on the application with the metal roller ball, and the product comes with no real noticeable scent for easy use. Gotta keep those eyes safe!
• When it comes to ingredients, this is a well-rounded product. It’s just packed with the good stuff, like rose water, which helps reduce puffiness.

Blu Atlas Aftershave and Shave Cream

• I’m a big beard kind of guy, so I rarely find a use for shaving cream and aftershave, but these options from Blu Atlas have a refreshing and calming scent that is not evocative of the aftershave of the past.
• The big selling point of the shave cream is the ingredients that bring strong antioxidants to the forefront of the fight – they’re there to hydrate your skin pre-shave and protect the barrier functions of the skin.
• On the aftershave front, it’s loaded with ingredients that will moisturize and soothe the skin- again, we see rose flower water in this case to help with wound healing (think razor burn or bumps).
  

Blu Atlas Face Moisturizer

• Blu Atlas has another top score in the “well-rounded product” category. Nice and thick, the Face Moisturizer melts into the skin quickly and leaves your face feeling smooth and nourished with a minimal scent profile. Plenty to keep you moisturized and stay moisturized but also contains ingredients that benefit your skin more than just moisture. 
• This one is all about the vitamins! Vitamins E, C, and A are all well represented in the Face Moisturizer, and working hard to help support a healthy skin barrier.

Blu Atlas Face Cleanser

• Volcanic ash, a primary ingredient in the Face Cleanser from Blu Atlas, is great at absorbing excess oil while having hydration and soothing effects. This is definitely a winning combo for a daily face wash!
• The cleanser has an earthy, natural scent to it, feels nice during the application, and leaves skin feeling clean without feeling stripped.
• Pomegranate seed oil, another active ingredient, is an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and has anti-aging properties (but no, you can not turn back time).

Blu Atlas Exfoliating Scrub

• Alright, everyone has used a bad exfoliating scrub in their lifetime, and there’s no shame in admitting it. Blu Atlas uses walnut shell powder, a much better alternative to microbeads (which can damage the skin, is better for the environment as well as being an effective exfoliant). This part is important – exfoliation helps remove any build-up on the skin allowing better product penetration for all of the other products they offer, making them more effective.
• Bamboo is a nice addition to the ingredient roster – it’s antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory and will soothe inflamed or irritated skin (so, great for acne-prone or easily upset skin!). Hibiscus also brings a lovely smell, as well as adding a rich creaminess to the formulation.

Blu Atlas Face Mask

• Okay, boys, we love a face mask. You can’t deny it. This one is the real deal. It left our skin feeling soft and smooth, without feeling tight like cheap grocery store masks tend to do. I have been hesitant to use face masks in the past on their silly color alone, but this sick matte black color dries to an even cooler gray.
• Ingredient-wise, clay, and charcoal are power players to draw out and dry out blemishes, while goji berry will help nourish and promote even skin tone.

Blu Atlas Vitamin C Serum

• I hate to choose favorites, but we saved the best for last. This Vitamin C Serum got the strongest “if you don’t use it, I will” response. The Vitamin C Serum helps neutralize free radicals on the skin (which causes skin damage and premature aging) through the use of four active ingredients, all in the top 4 slots of the product.
• The serum is easy to use in dropper bottles to avoid contamination from bacteria on your hands or face, and sinks into the skin really nicely without feeling oily. The gentle citrus smell right from the bottle is really pleasant but fades quickly to allow your other fragrance choices to shine brighter.

Final Thoughts on the Blu Atlas System

In short, the team consensus over here is that Blu Atlas is indeed an incredibly thoughtfully put-together brand, and we applaud their effort to a) source most ingredients naturally and b) employ all ingredients intentionally. To our investigation, there really is nothing in there that isn’t directly beneficial to the skin.

Another big win across the board for Blu Atlas – most of the active ingredients fall pretty high up on ingredient lists, meaning that they are the top contents of the product. In short – you’re not paying for a Vitamin C serum where the Vitamin C itself is the last ingredient on the list. 

I think the biggest win for Blu Atlas revisits the earlier discussion on efficiency – if you are willing to put in the time, you can make your routine as simple or complex as you would like, based on your preferences and specific skincare needs. In this house, the face cleanser, Vitamin C serum, and face moisturizer build the core roster, thereby starting a foundation to build on beyond that. This is a concise, easy-to-use line while having options to up your game should you like. 

Additionally, our little research project here can confirm that this is a great skincare line, and not just for men. Make sure to check out Blu Atlas products for yourself. We’ll be ordering double next time!

Last summer was one for the books. Pre-pandemic, my life came with a lot of opportunities to travel, both for work and for play (and often some combination of the two).

After obviously being grounded for the bulk of 2020, I made up for some lost ground in 2021. A weekend in the mountains of Maine, followed immediately by a week at the coast, a few days rest before flying to the Midwest or the Rockies.

This was normal, as was being home only long enough to swap dirty underwear out for clean ones. It was a whirlwind.

This summer looks different. For better or worse, this year brought some more stability, routine, and re-prioritization of taking care of myself (I think the kids call it self-care).

With that, unfortunately, comes a little less opportunity for travel, which makes what travel I have planned a little more intentional than in summer’s past.

Nothing crazy booked, but I’m definitely itching for a weekend trip to get me out of the ebb and flow of day-to-day life.

The Travel Self-Care Routine Challenge

Here’s the challenge: once you’ve worked yourself into a good routine, it can be really hard to pull yourself from it, even for something as exciting as a vacation. 

Work and life responsibilities are one thing to escape from, but I’m also thinking about those moments when you come back from a vacation and realize that all of your daily upkeep routines for you have been disrupted. So how do you pack up your grooming routine?

Thankfully, MANSCAPED (the bulk of my self-care routine these days) has made it super easy to take them along wherever the road takes you. You can try anything you learn about here from MANSCAPED at a 20% discount by taking advantage of our exclusive partnership. 

Intentional is a good thing, which I think ultimately makes for a better experience in the end. Maybe it’s not as sexy as going off the cuff, but I’m a big believer in the idea that if you fail to prepare … well, you know the rest.

Anyway, if I know that the time I’m spending away is all I’m getting this summer, I’m going to be prepared for it. While I am only a self-proclaimed expert, here are a handful of my best tips for getting the most out of your carry-on for this summer’s getaway.

1. You Definitely Don’t Need All of the Clothes You Think You Do.

Open up your suitcase right now and put at least half of the pants you’ve packed back into your closet. I used to always find myself overpacking on what I thought were essentials. That included too many pairs of socks when I was also bringing sandals, a few emergency t-shirts, and double as much underwear as I’d ever need in a week. I know you do it, too.

Quantity isn’t nearly as important as quality when it comes to your travel gear, from head to toe. A good pair of pants for any evenings that require sprucing up, a nice shirt or two, and a few trustworthy tops for more physical activity.

While you might not need heavy socks this summer, that doesn’t put underwear out of the question. Recently, I’ve been reeling over MANSCAPED Boxers 2.0. Designed for maximum ventilation and thereby maximum comfort, they’re the perfect base layer for a summer vacation, for whenever you aren’t in a bathing suit!

Instead of taking up room with extra layers, utilize that space to uphold some of your self-care routines. You’ll appreciate that you considered your skin and hair after a long day out in the sun on the beach or on the trails, right?

For me, I’m saving room for a few of my favorite MANSCAPED formulations. I’m not wasting my time with basic cookie-cutter hotel supplies.

The Hydrating Body Spray is a must for any time spent out in the sun. I can definitely be pretty negligent when it comes to remembering sunscreen on the beach, and often leave a little crispy despite my best efforts. The Hydrating Body Spray is great for keeping skin moisturized and healthy.

2. Compartmentalize, Compartmentalize, Compartmentalize!

A little bit of pre-planning goes a long way. Living out of a bag can really suck if you aren’t intentional about it beforehand.

For me, that means keeping all of my clothes in a carry-on style bag and leaving the backpack for personal items, tech gear I may need, or snacks for the trip. If I remember, I usually bring along an empty plastic grocery store-style bag to stash dirty clothes over the course of the trip, or until I find myself with access to laundry. It helps keep things organized!

Easy access is important, too! I always want to make sure I have quick accessibility to whatever I may need, especially when in transit.

You’ll know when you might need a reapplication of deodorant when waiting to de-board your plane. MANSCAPED has made this part super easy.

If you’re on the hunt for a premium Dopp kit to help compartmentalize your travels, The Shed Travel Bag has become my go-to over the past year or so. While it’s also in use under the sink whenever I’m at home, it really shines as a roomy spot for all my on-the-go toiletries.

3. Don’t Forget the Details.

I can’t count how many times I’ve come back from a trip, looked in the mirror, and realized that my mustache is completely out of control. It’s even worse when I feel like I’m looking disheveled in all of the pictures from the vacation. It’s easy to avoid that, but folks often forget to go the extra step.

Now that I have MANSCAPED’s The Lawn Mower® 4.0, it’s literally as easy as throwing the travel lock on the razor, tossing it in the bag, remembering the charger, and getting on my way. The Lawn Mower is a true premium product: ceramic blades with adjustable guards, wireless charging and an LED light on the top are just a handful of the specific design aspects that make it the best handheld electric razor I’ve used.

It makes a huge difference for special occasions on the road or for taking care of an out-of-line hair or two. If you’re looking to take it an extra step further, the Weed Whacker® will make sure you’ve cleaned up around the nose and ears, as well.

Now, if you’re thinking “wait, MANSCAPED is for shaving your junk!”, you would not be completely wrong. MANSCAPED has designed top-of-the-line grooming tools and products for use below the belt. That’s their thing, and they’re good at it. But a fact is a fact, and a razor is a razor.

With a good cleaning, there’s no reason you can’t use their premium trimmer to clean up above the belt as well. Once you try it for yourself you’ll understand. Or, they recommend just buying a second one!

On a less personal note, hair isn’t the only thing that keeps growing even while you’re taking PTO. I have definitely forgotten to pack a pair of nail clippers before hopping on a flight and I have definitely regretted it (especially on a beach trip where your toenails are starting to look like claws). Again, MANSCAPED makes it easy, with a travel-ready solution called The Shears 2.0, a collection of stainless steel grooming tools (scissors, tweezers, clippers, and a file) kept in a leather pouch with a cool magnetic case enclosure. Discreet, sleek, and ready to go. Don’t be left unprepared!

Get Packed Up With MANSCAPED 

Traveling can be just as stressful as it is relaxing if you aren’t planning ahead. That’s not just snacks in the car and dinner reservations for when you get there, it’s making sure you have everything you need to be able to slide into vacation mode immediately upon arrival. That often means packing up the routines that make you feel best at home and taking those along with you on vacation. 

Again, our friends at MANSCAPED have made it easy: you can give any of these products a spin on your big vacation this year with an extra discount thanks to our partnership. Grab 20% here and hit the road!

Eventually, you get accustomed to the smell of your desk-mate’s BO, your boss’ toilet schedule, and a handful of other lightly personal routines. Anyone who has been on a tour of any sort knows this: after a few stops, things like seeing each other in underwear become way more normal than they would be at the office. 

I would pack meticulously for these trips. I am, proudly, a concise and intentional packer. I often arrive for four or five-day work trips with the clothes on my back and a small carry-on or backpack. No room for frilly stuff, just my best black tees, a good pair of jeans, and my boots for the week. I would pack my most reliable underwear, too.

I will never forget the time that my underwear selection was called into question by an inquisition of coworkers after-hours in a Washington DC hotel. “You have to get rid of those by the next trip.” I was heartbroken.

While privy to the intimates of others, it was rare that anyone was bold enough to make a comment. The undies in question were (and I’ve never admitted this out loud) my favorites.

100% cotton, definitely from a brand-name six pack from a value big box chain, green and brown camo print with a purple paint streak from the time I impulse-painted a dresser during a midsummer move into a third-floor apartment. There was no choice but to paint in the buff.

From that point on, I was a changed man. Maybe that was the point where I BECAME a man. I threw them away after that trip.

That wasn’t just the point where I trashed that specific pair, but also made the conscious choice to upgrade my standard when it came to underwear.

Good Underwear Is a Must

The context that’s missing in the story so far is the unexaggerated truth of just how important a tactical underwear choice is when under pressure. I’m not just talking in the bedroom or on a date. That’s a different story entirely.

I’m talking about the consequences of wearing a poor pair of boxers under physical demands, heat, or otherwise swampy conditions. This particular experience would consist of three or four twelve to sixteen hour days, mostly on my feet and with stretches of manual labor. Sometimes the weather didn’t play too much against my favor, but there were a few instances (most notably in 100-degree Texas) that I probably could have used a change mid-day. All this to say no more cheap underwear.

For the last handful of years, I have settled into the next level of generic store-bought underwear, definitely still more economical than tactical, but a cotton/poly blend and all in uniform black. I like them, but that’s not to say I wouldn’t jump ship. 

Over the last year or so, I’ve had the opportunity to try and review most of the offerings from MANSCAPED. My grooming routine has changed pretty drastically, my skin and tattoos are looking fresher from their Hydrating Body Spray, and The Lawn Mower® 4.0 has reached untouchable status at the top of my list of favorite razors.

When they asked if I would try out their Boxers 2.0, it was a no-brainer. Is there even a better man for the job? I knew I could put them to the test. Here’s what I’ve found.

Manscaped Boxers 2.0 – At First Glance

Out of the box, my first impression was that these would fit in nicely with the rest of my underwear drawer. While there was a time in my life where I might have been more flashy or drawn to patterns (um, hello camo and purple paint stripes), these days I’ll take intentional over-embellished any day. These are a perfect middle ground to my once glamorous and now all-black underwear wardrobe in grayscale with touches of gold (very cool) and a few fun but subtle designs.

The packaging was also a knockout. Having been used to the zip lock bagged combo packs of the past, it was cool to see each pair individually packaged in the MANSCAPED branded box. If I haven’t made it clear yet, I’ll say again that the touches of gold bring the aesthetic up to cruising altitude.

While super soft to the touch, you can tell they’re durable. No ripping when you get your leg caught putting them on. What makes them like that? Read on as I dive into the details.

Manscaped Boxers 2.0 – The Fabric

Two things come to mind when it comes to fabric choice for any garment in my closet: is it going to last and is it going to do what it’s supposed to do?

Long-lasting durability is relatively straightforward. When it comes to doing its job (aside from making me look good) it usually comes down to either keeping me warm or keeping me cool and ventilated. For boxers, it’s all about the second.

The crotch is, needless to say, a pretty sweaty area. Swampy, at times. MANSCAPED chose a microfiber blend for the Boxers 2.0.

If you’re familiar with athletic wear to any degree, you’ve heard of this fabric. It’s ideal for athletic use due to its anti-chafing, cooling, and moisture-wicking qualities, which are all tied back to its ability to ventilate and allow maximum airflow.

If you’ve ever sweated down there, you know the consideration.

I unboxed my Boxers 2.0 amidst an unseasonably hot May weekend when temperatures first broke the 80-degree mark and humidity seeped in. The perfect time to test underwear, right?

I threw a pair on (the golden ones, if you need to know) and took a small hike with my dog. I took a route where I could count on some good sweat, but not so arduous that I couldn’t wear jeans.

Despite a breezeless afternoon, I didn’t feel discomfort. I had to pay extra attention because crotch sweat is a thing you notice when it exists, not so much something on your mind when it isn’t present.

It’s worth it to note that the moisture-wicking is doing its job.  Not only does this fabric serve its purpose in helping airflow, but the signature stretch makes the boxers able to fit a variety of body sizes (and also comes in a full-size run so you’re covered on all ends). 

Manscaped Boxers 2.0 – The Design

Underwear is definitely one of those things where if you aren’t directly involved in it somehow, there’s probably no way you could know how much time and thought goes into something that appears to be so simple. Underwear, right?

But even for the most everyday products, a lot of thought goes in behind the scenes to make the final result. MANSCAPED made no exception with the Boxers 2.0. Here are some of my favorite design features in the Boxers 2.0, that ultimately are the factors that lead to more comfort and a better experience:

• There’s no tag. This is something I didn’t think would be important to me until I experienced it without. Thanks, MANSCAPED, for preventing preventable itch down my backside. Let’s make this the worldwide standard. All the info is printed directly on the fabric, in case you need a reminder or are looking for some light reading. No need to put that on a scratchy tag. 
• It’s redundant, but I’m going to hark back to the patterns printed on the boxers themselves. Did I mention I LOVE the gold accents? Seriously, going from all black and thinking that was the supreme way to be, I feel like in a short time I’ve changed my tune pretty drastically to welcome these understated patterns. Way, way better than the ice cream cone or crab patterned boxers we had in middle school. 
• The Boxers 2.0 are 100% flatlock stitched. Don’t know what that means? Time for a lesson. When it comes to stitching clothes, there are a few different stitch patterns to choose from when connecting one piece of fabric to another. Flatlock stitching In the world of performance or athletic clothing, flatlock stitching is basically the only acceptable option. You wouldn’t be running a marathon in tights with “regular” stitching. Why don’t we desk jockeys demand the same comfort, too?

Here’s the best feature, in my opinion: in true MANSCAPED form, they’ve considered what it’s all about by introducing “The Jewel Pouch,” the crotch area specifically designed to maximize airflow to your balls. While you definitely feel the difference and that’s worth writing home about, I think my favorite feature of The Jewel Pouch is that it is fairly discrete about its function, versus other shock and awe undies that shove it in your face (figuratively, in this instance). However you use it, it works.

Manscaped Boxers 2.0 – The Support

I have never really been a “boxer” guy. By generic package definition, I guess I have always been more about briefs. I have worn boxers here and there but never for more than a day or so. I just don’t understand how people can find comfort in so little structure down there.

Now, the Boxers 2.0 are boxers by name, but the perfect underwear by my personal definition. And truthfully, that comes down to one factor: the support.

Like I said before, the fabric is premium with the right amount of stretch while still maintaining a stable form. The fit is in standard sizing, and my true size found me with the legs hugging my body correctly, but not feeling restrictive or tight in any area. 

I have worn underwear that claims to “lift” you or even add a dramatic effect to that region, but not only has it not done what it said it would (and why would I believe them?), they’re removing emphasis from the actual functions you want from your underwear.

The Jewel Pouch, while sewn specifically for airflow, serves a secondary purpose by adding extra support to the region that needs it most. Maybe this all sounds TOO technical for your daily underwear choice, but you’ve definitely sat down and gotten tugged the wrong way by your shorts seam. This is what we’re talking about here. It’s about safety, guys.

MANSCAPED BOXERS 2.0 – THE RESULTS

I’ll keep the recap “brief.” MANSCAPED describes the Boxers 2.0 as premium and in all senses, they’re definitely premium underwear. They’re designed with specific and intentional support in mind for where it most matters. The fabric and form are comfortable, classy, and made from durable materials that will last you far beyond a single season. Especially as we head into the warmest months of the year, you’re up against the heat with anti-chafing, cooling, and moisture-wicking qualities on your side down below.

Even better news: you can get a jump on your underwear upgrade with an extra 20% off + free shipping by taking advantage of Next Luxury’s exclusive partnership with MANSCAPED. Use this link to save a few bucks (and your balls too, while you’re at it.) 

There’s always a point around the time that winter comes to an end where you can feel confident saying that the worst of the winter weather is behind you. Sometimes, especially in New England, you can be proven wrong by a surprise snowstorm or cold stretch.

After a few over 60 days and clocks switching forward for the season, it’s hard to think otherwise. Spring is coming.

It’s probably time to get my car looked at and maybe think about new tires for the spring. I can move some of the plants in my apartment out of their strategically warm winter strongholds. Shovels can start to go away, and ice scrapers can be placed back in the trunk. The transition can be tedious, but worth the exchange in longer days and fewer layers.

Winter Affects Dry Skin

Something that I am always ready to say goodbye to is the destitute state of my knuckles and hands after a few months of brutal cold. In past years, I’ve been plagued by cracks, chapped skin, and general discomfort from the effects of cold weather on the skin.

Again, this is preaching to the choir for anyone that lives in the Northeast or anywhere else that’s cold, though around here we take a certain pride in having to buckle down for cold snaps. It’s not just the cold air, it’s the dry air that removes any hope of keeping skin moist in the winter months. It’s also funny to complain about considering how offensively humid it gets in the summer, but at least in those times, you aren’t dealing with cracked hands.

With the only upside being that you could maybe convince someone that you’ve been on the winning end of a fistfight, I think the value of comfort edges out the potential for fabricated false badassery. I’ve tried a few remedies (usually something my mom finds in the glove compartment of her car and insists I put on), but am often averse to greasy lotions or the practice of maintaining.

This year has been different. While the cold stayed the same as it usually does, I was more prepared with a remedy that I liked. Taking care of yourself? What?!

Discovering the Ultra Premium Collection From MANSCAPED

Last fall, I had the opportunity to test out the Ultra Premium Collection from MANSCAPED. I elevated my daily shower experience with the Body Wash and 2-In-1 Shampoo and Conditioner and added the Lip Balm to my everyday carry. Both wins.

While I was impressed with the initial uses of the Hydrating Body Spray, I wasn’t thinking about long-term effects and how it could make a difference over time. Three months later, I’m here to tell you more.

Manscaped Ultra Premium Hydrating Body Spray

So, let’s start by looking at the routine: on a good week, I apply the Hydrating Body Spray three or four times. This isn’t because of some kind of strategy or best practice. Truly, this could be a daily-use body care product for me, but my day-to-day schedule allows more time on some mornings than others, and that’s evolved to be part of my self-care routine.

After a few months of use down, my favorite thing about MANSCAPED’s Ultra Premium Hydrating Body Spray has to be the feeling after application. It hasn’t gotten old.

Truthfully, each application feels as refreshing as the one before. The best feature is that it does not leave any sort of greasy residue or build-up.

Obviously, the aerosol spray isn’t going to have the same effect as a lotion would (clumping up in your arm hair or prohibiting you from immediately putting on another layer in fear that your arm is going to dry attached to the sleeve of your flannel), but could pose the same feeling that happens after using spray sunscreen.

I have always hated that feeling and that fact has caused more than a few sunburns. But no stickiness, tackiness, or grease here. Fresh-feeling and ready to go.

I would be remiss to not address the fragrance. As someone who has deep roots in rugged style, my house is full of earthy, dark, and sometimes musky fragrances.

Upon unboxing the MANSCAPED collection a few months back, I wasn’t sure how I would adapt to the classic, clean signature fragrance used across MANSCAPED products. Now that it’s worked into the routine, I’ve found that I’ve become a big fan.

The Signature MANSCAPED Refined Fragrance

As someone who grew up whatever the opposite of athletic is, I can sometimes have a hard time distinguishing a “clean” smell from what I remember to be locker room deodorant. The signature MANSCAPED Refined fragrance is evolved far beyond that dichotomy and is also evolving my tastes with it.

It’s also worth noting that the fragrance does a pretty incredible job of sticking around. After a quick spray around 8 or 9 in the morning, I’m often still catching light waves of the signature smell in the late afternoon. A lot of other scented body care products I’ve used in the past tend to either dissipate quickly or sometimes just keep the smell contained to the bottle. The MANSCAPED Refined fragrance develops nicely as the day goes on.

Overall, it’s a really great feeling that I’ve come to look forward to on a given day. Usually, I keep it to my arms and hands.

There were a handful of extra-dry days where a nearly full body spray did the trick. You know, the kind where you get out of the shower and almost immediately start itching. You can’t ignore the value of the package in its entirety, but I would go out of my way to buy the spray on its own.

You can score the Hydrating Body Spray as a part of the MANSCAPED UltraPremium Collection and use the code NEXTLUXURY for 20% off your order.

Does It Work?

We love a good routine, but let’s face it we’re here for RESULTS! After three months of continued use, I am seeing some noticeable results from the Hydrating Body Spray. Most importantly was the defense that a moisturizing routine gave my skin during the cold winter months.

The only knuckle cracking I experienced this year was in the few instances where I had some involved manual tasks to do. Never saw any hints of scaliness, either. That’s a win.

Now, like all good DVDs of the early 2000s, the Hydrating Body Spray also has (you guessed it) Bonus Features. I think my favorite added benefit and feature altogether is the effect that prolonged use of the Hydrating Body Spray has had on my tattoos. I spent a lot of time and money in my early 20s covering my arms in tattoos that I don’t have good explanations for a decade later.

Regardless, they’re important to me, they were an investment, and even if they’re funny now I still want them to look great. There are a lot of branded remedies and products out there for tattoo care, but the honesty and simplicity of MANSCAPED’s Hydrating Body Spray put it in the top tier for me.

It’s for hydrating your skin and keeping it healthy. Healthy skin makes for bold and healthy-looking tattoos.

After a few weeks, it felt like the colors popped a little brighter, even after not giving any special attention to them for a long time prior. After a few months, I’m seeing the same thing happening with the bold, black lines, too. A little goes a long way – and you might even get a compliment or two out of it when it gets to short-sleeve season. I’ve had a few!

Keep the Routine Going

Even with cold months behind us, the Hydrating Body Spray from MANSCAPED is retaining its spot in my self-care routine. I am excited to see what an even longer period of use looks like for my tattoos, as well as how it holds up in the warm, swampy humidity that comes along with summertime. Perhaps I’ll report back with more – but in the meantime, stay hydrated!

If you’d like to give it a go for yourself, you can grab the Hydrating Body Spray with a 20% discount using code NEXTLXURY at MANSCAPED. Happy hydrating!