The Gear Issue
Or, Your 2026 Father's Day Gift Guide
More often than I ever expected, my publishing gift guides — usually for Father’s Day and the holidays — suggest to people that I’d be a good person to ask for gear recommendations. And (cough) they are right. Just ask my wife — the parade of backpacks, coolers, pens, journals, shoes, boots and water bottles is not for my benefit, gentle reader, but for yours.
Let me be clear though. The gear I will shortly review ain’t for mountaineering K2. No, no. I care about gear to get you and me through the rough and tumble of day to day existence, through the difficult negotiation of real life. As Terrible Terry Tate, Office Linebacker, says: “I came to play, baby!”
As it turns out, the dear ole Dads and Grandads and Father-figures in your life would love the items here. I do, and I use them almost every day.
To all the Dads, Grandads and Father-figures out there, enjoy a very happy Father’s Day! And let us always remember that the best gifts are the people whose lives enable us to celebrate this day.
Your Space
Simple productivity system. I’ve used it for years.
Like Ugmonk, simple, customizable and a delight to use every day.
My friend Katy Bowser Hutson, who writes Katy Plays about the process of writing her new book, Play Book, got me into these journals and especially the larger sizes – A4 for her and B5 Composition for me “Look, you don’t want a small journal for your big ideas, Russell,” she told me. And she was right.
Geiger New Caanan Leatherwrap Sit-to-Stand Desk
Last year I decided the time had arrived for a new desk at my office. I liked the sit to stand functionality of my previous desk, but it included no drawers/storage, and the cables/cords organizer seemed a bit 2010s clunky. So I called my friend Jake Theisen of ID+A for ideas. He suggested the Geiger desk. I customized the leather and the wood, and truly, I could not enjoy this desk more. Elegant, lovely, it’s a work of art itself. It makes work and coming to work a joy.
A friend gave me this for my 50th birthday last year, and it has revolutionized my writing process. In fact, I am writing this essay on it right now. I really can’t adequately describe how much I love it and love using it.
Look, Calgon and candles aren’t only for the ladies. But as you’re soaking in the epsom to restore the body after slaying the day’s dragons, light one of these candles — with names like “Medieval Deer Hunt” and “Warrior’s Hearth” — and breathe in the restorative aura to revive you for tomorrow’s battles.
Threads
I’d never owned any Tom Beckbe items, so I ordered this collaboration with David Coggins with a bit of trepidation. It instantly became my favorite waxed jacket, even more than my Barbour, which I’ve worn for over 20 years. The extra room under the armpits and slightly longer length suit me well. And I like that the sleeves have a bit of insulation built in. It has large pockets, which I also put to good use.
The perfect summer slip on when flip flops won’t do. The ‘Heritage Brown’ color shines.
Bedrock Cairn Sandals and Clogs
Michael Williams interviewed Amy O’Hoyt of Bedrock Sandals and few months ago, and it caught my attention. I’ve had so much trouble with my feet over the past few years that I figured, what the heck, why not try them out. And they both feel terrific on my feet.
They dry quickly and have SPF 50 protection. My go-to fishing shoes on the boat or shore in summer or warm climes.
Not that you care about this, but given my foot troubles, I’ve had a difficult time finding good shoes over the past few years. The New Balance Fresh Foam v7 Hierro served me well for a couple years. Then New Balance discontinued them. I’d heard about Topo and its wide toe box so I bought a pair of boots for the rain and snow. I loved them. When NB discontinued my go-to, therefore, I decided to try the Topo Terraventure. Wonderful — the wide toe box accommodated swelling feet when worn all day and the shoe offered just the right level of support for my mercurial feet. I wore three pairs in a row. And then what did Topo do? They ‘updated’ it to 5. I bought them, expecting a seamless transition....and was crushed when the front, despite the wide toe box, and midsole, cramped my feet. I believe another Topo model will end up working out for me and will report back.
Ye ole legs have gotten ye olde and need some support throughout the day. My physical therapist suggested this brand. I especially like the Sport version. And the dressier ones look nice when I wear a suit or slacks too.
This is what Andre Dawson wears every night as he sits back, smokes his cigar, drinks his brandy, and savors what a badass on the diamond he was. Available for many teams.
On the Go
I love the vibrant colors, and the texture and quality of the leather.
The best gift I’ve ever given my family members. I dive in and grab at least one item out of there every single day.
Colonel Littleton No. 1 Saddlebag
I’ve carried this every day for 14 years. Each year it looks better and better. I’ve never received so many compliments on a briefcase as I have on this one. Showstopper.
I wear my Fenix 6 Sapphire watch when exercising and rucking. Garmin discontinued this model. The updated version I’d use is the Fenix 8. Large screen to see key data easily. And it has a ton of features if you need them. I really only track distance, steps, heart rate and O2 level, and elevation when traveling.
It seems that I see many people wearing a weighted vest when they ruck. But I still prefer the backpack. Plus, if you do events or go on a long ruck, you can easily carry water and snacks as needed. I use the 4.0 but last week GORUCK came out with the 5.0. Looks like a nice upgrade.
Husky 9-Inch Job Site Lunch Cooler Bag
Too many lunch boxes have the standard 1950s lunchbox rectangle design. That’s fine for sandwiches, a small bag o’ crisps, and a soda. But for lunch, I bring in leftovers, bananas, apples, and sometimes a big tall drink. Those don’t fit easily into that standard design, and unless the bags/containers are leakproof, you can end up with a mess. The Husky solves that design flaw for the modern lunch packer. You can stack a couple solid, waterproof leftovers containers, and still have room for fruit and a drink. This — THIS — should be the new standard, people.
Otterbox Fre Series Phone Case
Pretty much break-proof and waterproof, I got his case to protect it when I went fishing. It does add some weight and heft in your pocket, which I’m okay with, knowing my, you know, $20,000 iPhone is protected until a software update in 2 years renders it obsolete.
Incharge 6-in-1 Keychain Charger XL
A nice way to carry multiple charger ends in a small package.
Your intrepid correspondent may live big and write big, but he has a tiny wrist for a man. I’m pretty sure my 13-year-old daughter has a larger wrist. Maybe my 11-year-old too. My wife gave me this watch for Christmas a long time ago and I cherish it. My every day watch.
Watches of Espionage Travel Pouch
My friend John gave me this travel pouch a couple years ago. Keeps my Shinola protected while I wear my Garmin in the airport.
Yeah, alas, previous versions of this seemed better. This one needs recharging much more frequently, I believe, than the two versions before it. Still, a great headlamp, light and bright for your nighttime illumination needs. Also comes in 400 and 500 lumens versions.
Sustenance
Meat Church Chef Knife and Rubs
About a year ago, my friend Aaron got me into the church — the Meat Church. He and I met Matt Pittman when he visited Louisville not long ago. Super nice guy and giving with his knowledge. I follow Meat Church because they offer straightforward recipes — in writing and in video — that deliver a tasty product again and again. Look, as much as I enjoy smoking meats on my Big Green Egg, I don’t have a lot of bandwidth to experiment. I want easy to follow recipes, and proven rubs and sauces, that deliver consistent, delicious food time and time again. That’s what the Church does.
Blanco has become my top pork and steak rub. My girls’s mouths water when I pull out the Blanco. And Holy Cow has become my other all-purpose rub. Almost everything gets better with a lil Holy Cow.
Thanks Matt for great recipes and products that make us simple, part-time backyard chefs total studs in the eyes of our families and guests.
The first time I cook a recipe, I try to reproduce it exactly as the chef hosts. If he or she says to buy a whole chicken from the usual grocery, I do it. If they ask the butcher to cut off a certain piece, even if they show how to do it at home, I ask. When I smoked dino beef ribs for the first time, using a recipe from the aforementioned Meat Church, Matt Pittman used ribs from 44 Farms. So the first time I smoked them, when I hosted the Gents Book Club to read my selection, Spring Snow by Yukio Mishina, I ordered them from 44 Farms. Not cheap, but duh-duh-DAMN did they taste amazing! Even my wife, who does not eat much red meat, raved about the dino ribs and declared them the best food I’d ever smoked!
My friend Rachel Lutz gave me this mug a few years back. I use it to drink my fancy-man tea — about more anon — every work day. It is simply perfect.
Tea
And what do I put in that perfect mug from Sailor Ceramics? Well, my daily cup of restorative tea. Some favorites from Louisville Tea Company and Churchill’s Fine Teas:
Christmas Morning (the greatest tea ever made; available seasonally)
Nick’s Sick Mix (you know, for when you feel sick)
Stassen Pure Ceylon Black Tea (My friend Marci introduced this tea, grown by a friend’s family in Sri Lanka, a few years ago. Normally I prefer loose leaf tea, but these bags deliver a punchy, rich black tea flavor. Bags are simply easier on the road, so this has become my go-to travel tea.)
Simple, inexpensive. I thoroughly enjoy watching the color darken and deepen as my tea steeps. One of my life’s small delights.
I love that Leuchtturms are in here! This is a fabulous list, Russell!