Tag / the friday find

by Beau H.

The Friday Find: All-American Maker Is Delivering Some of the Best Beard Balm for Men On the Market

Best men's beard balm.

As I scour the market for prime finds of all sorts, across all categories — from my passions, like flannel shirts and whiskey and benchmade boots, to grooming must-haves and other daily essentials — I’m always impressed by how some companies stay steadfast and double down when it comes to doing things the hard way, the right way. That’s where my good friends at All-American Maker now enter the fray, and I think you’re going to love what you find.

Find out more at All-American Maker

That’s not just hyperbole: As we tend to find out during the aptly named Friday Find series, it’s the often-unheralded brands striving to make a difference that tend to impress me the most, be it a commitment to quality and craft or USA-made production, or a supreme dash of all three.

And when you consider the sometimes-tricky category of beard care for men, doing things with better ingredients in the U.S. of A presents its own share of obstacles — obstacles that the good folks at All-American Maker are tackling head-on.

And while the brand offers a run of handsome candles in rugged tins, plus hand and body balm and excellent solid cologne, it’s the lineup of beard care essentials at AAM that have caught my eye (and the attention of my facial hair!) as of late. More specifically, its All-American Maker Beard Balm is a surefire winner, a simply excellent beard balm available in a range of rich, masculine and yet versatile scents for the well-groomed, well-dressed modern man.

I’ve had the chance to try the lineup of 100 percent USA-sourced and crafted All-American Maker Beard Balm, with some outstanding results just this week (keep an eye out for more on the brand over on my Instagram Stories).

With distinctive and lovely scents like Alpine Juniper & Cypress, plus personal favorites like Tobacco & Bourbon, there’s plenty of care and quality in every 2oz. tin of All-American Maker Beard Balm, with ingredients like beeswax and coconut oil for a soft, nourishing approach to taming your mane.

Each scent is pleasing and lingering, while the beard balm provides softness and shape, a must for any guy with a growing mane. The next time you crave an upgraded beard care experience with plenty of steadfast commitment to USA-made quality and craft, reach for All-American Maker’s Beard Balm — consider this a ringing endorsement.

by Beau H.

The Friday Find: These Viberg Service Boots Are Some of the Most Well-Made Boots on the Market, Period

In my line of work — curating this Brooklyn style blog and writing about some of the finest menswear brands on the planet for a range of sites in this #FreelanceLife — there are simple pieces I come across that warrant a double-take or a third take, at that. Viberg men’s boots have long fit the bill in that regard, representing the pinnacle of craftsmanship as far as fine footwear is concerned, and then some.

Made in the Great Wild North (Canada, to you) in a 3rd-generation, family-owned factory, the story of iconic and remarkably well-made Viberg men’s boots dates back decades. It’s a story of legendary boots, renowned for their toughness (and now their modern style appeal), and a story of harnessing the power of exceptional leather quality and distinctive Goodyear Welt construction featuring its own take on a heavyweight leather insole.

And across the decades, certain Viberg boot styles have stood alone, like the Viberg Service Boots — the very pair of boots that brings us here today. In my experience wearing Viberg men’s boots, that construction and quality allows the boots to mold to your feet over time while remaining incredibly durable inside and out.

Of course, the newest pair of eye-catching Viberg Service Boots fits the bill quite nicely in matters of stunning good looks and exceptional design.

Made with C.F. Stead’s Naked Kudu leather that should develop an incredible patina over time, these boots are assuredly worth the higher price tag, boasting the kind of investment-level quality and production you simply can’t find many places these days. Naturally, that makes the newest pair of Viberg Service Boots quite worthy of our ongoing Friday Find series.

Shop the best boots for men at Viberg

Finished with a rugged Commando outsole for the ultimate in traction, these are handsome leather boots as worthy of a pair of wool dress trousers and your new favorite shawl cardigan as they are dark indigo jeans and a thermal henley — from there, let your imagination run wild, since you’ll want to get as much wear as possible out of your new go-to leather boots.

by Beau H.

The Friday Find: This Triple Aught Design Service Sweater is an Underrated Blend of Performance and Style

The headline above hits the nail right on the head: Whether layering up for a day hike, gearing up to build a winter bonfire or taking a stroll to your favorite brewery, the right mix of performance and style is critical in the brisk winter months, with warmth of the essence.

And across this year in my many freelance writing pursuits, from the cobblestone streets of Amsterdam to the rolling hills of Scotland, I’ve found that Triple Aught Design expertly fuses substance, style and performance — especially in pieces like the Triple Aught Design Service Sweater shown above.

It’s an unheralded style staple from a brand that if you know, you know: Its gear blends the tactical and the rugged with the streamlined and stylish, and that’s what we’re all about during today’s Friday Find. The Triple Aught Design Service Sweater takes its design cues from thick-knit, heavy weight sweaters issued to British special forces in inclement weather, featuring a durable vertical rib knit and the use of modern 100% extra-fine, non-mulesed Merino yarn, a replacement for traditional wool.

Find out more now at Triple Aught Design

It makes the hard-wearing Triple Aught Design Service Sweater a useful staple for layering and for fighting odor while regulating temperature, complete with a tough fisherman’s knit rib design and full-zip front for a customizable fit and ventilation as you get from point A to point B on the go.

A zip chest pocket helps store your everyday carry essentials, while the raglan sleeve design amps up mobility in a big-time way (it’d be ideal for layering underneath a waxed trucker jacket or a field coat, at least in my humble opinion).

The handsome and rugged Triple Aught Design Service Sweater is rounded out by a stand collar finished with a rib knit, another useful touch for fighting back against the cold. And with its tailored fit, the brand says the tactically inspired Triple Aught Design Service Sweater works well on its own or layered up across the globe. Look to the unexpected this season when it comes to the best men’s sweaters, and your next #OOTD will reward you in kind with style and function hand in hand.

by Beau H.

The Friday Find: The Devium Alder Flannel Shirt is An American-Made Wardrobe Standout

Best flannel shirts for men.

As we tend to talk about week in and week out here on The Style Guide — especially in our Friday Find series, where we spotlight an unheralded brand worthy of your time and hard-earned cash — they don’t make ’em quite like they used to, except when, well, they do. In my experience, that sense of know-how, good old-fashioned hard work, rugged style and exceptional utility can still be found in the best American-made menswear, if you know where and when to look.

Find the best USA-made menswear here

That’s why, again — in my experience! — you can trust Devium to deliver consistently high-quality USA-made goods, with inspiration drawn from both the auto shop, the factory line and the rich alpine climes of an upstate getaway.

Case in point might be the Devium Alder Flannel Shirt, at least as we get ever deeper into the brisk climes of fall and winter. Right off the bat, the handsome construction and utterly classic good looks of the Devium Alder Flannel Shirt call to mind something your grandfather might have worn back in the day.

In my book, that means no fuss, no frills, just dependably rugged design and the kind of classic construction made to be counted on for backyard beers, hauling brush and cozying up to the fire at the end of the day. It doesn’t get much better than that, does it?

And yes, the Devium Alder Flannel Shirt certainly delivers — starting with rich double-brushed cotton flannel fabric that just so happens to be cut and sewn in Southern California.

A mix of sturdy yet supple organic cotton flannel makes the difference, as do rich seasonal colorways and small-batch production that go well beyond the everyday plaid flannel shirt (although a man’s wardrobe needs options, so don’t count out one of those, either!).

Boasting a pre-washed design for added softness and no additional shrinkage, small touches like custom 26L matte and debossed cat-eye buttons add strong durability to the Devium Alder Flannel Shirt — an exceptional flannel shirt made for all the moments you need it this autumn and winter, my friends.

Find out more and shop now at Devium USA
by Beau H.

The Friday Find: The Warren Barnard Shirt Coat Is a Fresh Twist on the Classic Chore Coat

The quest continues apace as we roll into another fine fall weekend — the quest for some of the best fall menswear, that is, and for rare finds that might have flown under your radar previously (that’s what the Friday Find series is all about, after all).

With its rugged durability, its hybrid nature as both as a work jacket and an adventure layer, and its ability to be dressed up ever so slightly — or dressed down in rugged fashion — the best chore coats for men (like the Warren Barnard Shirt Coat as shown above) are a reliable fall style option we talk about frequently here on this Brooklyn style blog.

Shop chore coats and more here

But finding one of those ever-useful chore coats being made in the U.S. of A is a difficult task these days, made less so by the good folks at New England upstart Warren. We’ve talked on the blog before about American-made menswear, plus Warren founder Peter Holbien’s commitment to quality, craft and New England-made production, fabrication and design.

It’s enticing stuff, especially if you value high-quality, American-made menswear on all fronts, and the Warren Barnard Shirt Coat just might be the best of the bunch, at least in this writer’s humble opinion. Modeled after classic barn jackets and made with sturdy yet supple fabric from American Woolen, the 21-ounce wool blend should prove durable, warm and yet ready to layer, perhaps over a Warren flannel shirt or one of the brand’s ultra-soft long-sleeve T-shirts.

There’s also a sense of classic style to the Warren Barnard Shirt Coat, which is also outfitted with large patch pockets to store your everyday carry.

The Warren Barnard Shirt Coat also features a grandad collar to finish things off in eye-catching, crisp fashion — this chore jacket/barn coat hybrid should wear more than well with everything from a chambray shirt and tobacco-hued chinos to dark blue jeans and a rugged thermal henley. If expertly made American menswear is your focus as you layer up this season, there’s nothing finer than this chore cjat.

by Beau H.

The Friday Find: The LUCA Drift Moc Toe Boots are a Prime Smart-Casual Footwear Move

Best moc toe boots for men.

I’m certainly willing to bet you’ve got your own idea of what “smart casual” or business casual means in your menswear wardrobe: Pieces that are a step down from a traditional dress shirt and a full suit, for instance, but that can be mixed and matched with ease for a stylish sense of polish. The navy blazer, the white Oxford shirt and the khaki or tan chino are prime examples of some of the best business casual style for guys, but what about your footwear? There’s a way to bridge the gap handsomely between rugged work boots and dress shoes polished to a shine — for all those times that you might pair said Oxford or chambray shirt with dark blue denim, for instance, some of the best moc toe boots might suffice (see below for exhibit A in this instance).

And in today’s Friday Find — where we take a fairly quick-hit look at a must-buy product that might have flown under your radar — the LUCA Drift Moc Toe Boots exemplify smart casual, pleasingly rugged yet versatile footwear for your fall style rotation.

For those unfamiliar, LUCA is the prime smart casual footwear brand designed in-house at Huckberry, blending gum rubber outsoles with hybrid silhouettes, like a moc toe leather boot upper or a sneaker boot or Chelsea boot construction up top. And in this case, the LUCA Drift Moc Toe Boots use the classic hallmarks of a sturdy moc toe work boot, then take a more laidback approach with a gum rubber wedge outsole.

Triple-stitched contrasting construction accents the moc toe design itself, while a three-eyelet, chukka boot-like upper also gives them a dash of wear-with-anything appeal, especially when teamed with olive chinos, expertly faded blue jeans or grey cotton canvas work pants.

There’s a versatile appeal to the fairly priced, carefully constructed LUCA Drift Moc Toe Boots, and you can be sure they’re up to snuff — thanks to the good folks at Huckberry, of course. Lace up the LUCA Drift Moc Toe Boots the next time you need rugged new, stylish fall boots.

by Beau H.

The Friday Find: The Buck Mason Thundercloud Quilted Western Jacket Is a Distinctive Spin on a Classic

There are certain distinctive finds in the menswear world that almost defy convention: They take one thing you think you might know, like one of the best Western shirts for men, and then blend it with another ultra-dependable staple, like one of the best shirt jackets on the market. And of course, the good folks at Americana menswear masters Buck Mason certainly know just how to blend the two, and that results in highly wearable, stylish, classic-yet-modern selections like the brand-new Buck Mason Thundercloud Quilted Western Jacket.

Remarkably, the Buck Mason Thundercloud Quilted Western Jacket manages to be both things at once, yet stands alone as a reliable fall and winter layer, complete with quilted down filling to round out 190 GSM cotton-nylon blend exterior.

And that’s where things get even more interesting: This stylish shirt jacket also nails the details of traditional Western shirts, including five-point chest flap pockets and Western-style yoke detailing. And those snaps on the Buck Mason Thundercloud Quilted Western Jacket? They’re made of pearl for extra authenticity, just like the old days.

The square quilting should deliver maximum comfort and warmth when layered over everything from a thermal henley to a durable chambray shirt, and you could even go so far as to layer the Buck Mason Thundercloud Quilted Western Jacket over another faded Western shirt if you really wanted to lean into classic Western, Americana vibes.

Shop the best autumn menswear now at Buck Mason

The Uniform Khaki color also gives it another level of versatility — that shade should wear well with everything from faded blue jeans to olive chinos and even shades of rust and tobacco. It’s prime time to layer up in distinctive fashion, and this hybrid shirt jacket manages to be two things at once — all the while doing both remarkably well, my friends. If you end up scoring the Buck Mason Thundercloud Quilted Western Jacket, let me know in the comments, my friends.

by Beau H.

The Friday Find: XTRATUF’S Vintage Ankle Deck Boots Can Handle Anything Thrown Their Way

My days in Brooklyn might look a little bit different than fall and winter in my home state of Michigan (raking leaves! Hauling brush! Shoveling snow!) but I like to think I still know a thing or two about the best work boots for men, and about how to wear ’em. And when the time comes to get down and dirty (especially as I trek back to home to Michigan), there’s a pair of boots I’ve found myself reaching for consistently across the summer and into early fall.

As shown above, that’d be the XTRATUF Vintage Ankle Deck Boots, a revamp of the same design trusted by fishermen on the frigid high seas of Alaska (and now worn to great effect as a work boot across the lower 48.

As luck would have it, you can find these sturdy and dependable boots online at XTRATUF, as well as through my friends at Huckberry — and they’re packed with the sort of specs every person needs when it comes to durable fall work boots.

Shop XTRATUF boots and more gear at Huckberry

To hear XTRATUF tell it, the XTRATUF Vintage Ankle Deck Boots, from the company’s Vintage Pack Collection, feature design details well-suited for anglers, and in this case, that means front-and-back pull tabs that nod to nautical rope, plus a pre-distressed, vintage-style finish and a rich array of earthy color combinations across the sole and upper.

The outsole is famously slip-resistant, the boots feel sturdy and substantial without being absurdly heavy (a tricky balance to strike among pull-on work boots at times!), and the vintage effect is a style touch I appreciate (just like your dad or grandfather might appreciate).

Find out more now at XTRATUF

Particularly when paired with canvas work pants or a dependable set of faded blue jeans, these are lightweight work boots made even better than one might expect, and they’re offered at a more-than-agreeable price (more dough in your pockets to load up that YETI cooler with cold beer, right?).

To step into fall properly and in durable fashion, the XTRATUF Vintage Ankle Deck Boots (available either through the brand or at Huckberry ) are a tried-and-true winner with vintage-style looks and reliable specs to match.

by Beau H.

The Friday Find: The Taylor Stitch Bourbon Corduroy Ojai Jacket Is Handsome Fall Style Personified

Best chore jackets for men.

Now that we’re past the first day of fall — always a momentous time on my own personal calendar for a number of reasons — it’s high time you kicked things into high gear as far as your array of autumn style essentials is concerned.

The best menswear for fall expertly balances rugged appeal with versatility, rich texture and even seasonal, carefully considered colorways — as luck would have it, the Taylor Stitch Ojai Jacket checks each of those boxes in a handsome silhouette that nods in expert fashion to iconic French chore coats.

And it’s all thanks to the good folks at Taylor Stitch, a brand I’ve admired for a decade and one that has some serious chops as far as the variety of its classic-meets-modern menswear rotation.

The Taylor Stitch Ojai Jacket is every bit as much of a brand staple for the San Francisco outfitter as its expertly crafted Taylor Stitch Jack Shirt, a modern version of the timeless Oxford shirt. Its array of sturdy cotton tees, the Heavy Bag Henley, its two different cuts of chinos and of course, the utterly cool Taylor Stitch Moto Jacket are also heavy hitters, to be sure.

And while it’s a high bar to clear, the casually roguish stylings of the Taylor Stitch Ojai Jacket might just be the best-suited of the bunch for fall, particularly in eye-catching, richly crafted organic cotton corduroy in a mighty tempting shade of Bourbon.

Shop men’s outerwear and more at Taylor Stitch

With top and side-entry hip patch pockets and a chest patch pocket for your everyday carry, plus secure ring-back buttons, this jacket is as functional at the workshop or drafting table as it is stylish enough for sipping on a speakeasy Old Fashioned.

Whether layered over a rugged organic cotton henley or worn atop a Taylor Stitch chambray shirt for high-low style, this is a surefire seasonal winner — and an expert Friday Find pick, if I do say so myself. Good luck layering out there this fall, my friends.

by Beau H.

The Friday Find: The PANZERA Flieger 45G Is Made For Elite Pilots (And Your Own Watch Rotation)

Panzera Flieger 45G watch review.

In my many freelance writing pursuits, I’m very fortunate every day and every week to stumble upon some of the coolest gear, menswear and products (period!) on the market, and across a wide variety of categories. That’s an understatement, I should think!

And while I certainly consider myself something of a watch buff as I cover some of the very best watches for men, I hadn’t yet discovered the wonders of Australian-made watch company PANZERA. Talk about a brand that’s about to get a whole lot more well-known: The company was recently tapped by the United States Air Force’s elite Aggressor Squadron to deliver a custom, pilot-approved timepiece.

And while that resulting timepiece is only available to USAF pilots, I had the chance to check out another stellar PANZERA watch as of late, as you might have seen on my Instagram — the results are in, and the PANZERA Flieger 45G is simply one of the coolest watches I’ve had the pleasure of trying lately.

Don’t get it twisted: While handsome and stylish on the surface, this pilot’s watch is every bit as functional as it is formidable, and that’s the kind of piece we look to spotlight in our weekly Friday Find series (view past entries here).

With customizable options aplenty (select from two case and three dial color options), plus ten strap options, the combinations are nearly endless. I opted for a black dial, brown leather and silver case build, but the real story here when it comes to the PANZERA Flieger 45G is the burly build, the handsome and thick leather strap and its GMT functionality.

Equally appreciated in my experience to date with the rugged and yet versatile PANZERA Flieger 45G is the trio-date window, with today’s date marked at the red arrow — an eye-catching design detail that sets it apart from the pack. I also appreciate the functional inner bezel for easy time-zone tracking at a glance, while its dial and hands are topped by scratch-proof sapphire and adorned with Super LumiNova luminous markings.

Shop for your new favorite watch at PANZERA

For a bit under $1K, this striking pilot’s watch is a wrist game upgrade worth making: Functional, fashionable without being too flashy, and utterly dependable in my experience to date. And while it’s not quite as souped-up as the timepiece used by real-life pilots, the dependable and hard-working PANZERA Flieger 45G is the next best thing — take that to the bank, and to your watch collection, my friends.