Leave it to RAEN Optics to step to the plate when we’re all looking for a little pick me up. For TODAY ONLY, enjoy RAEN’s employee discount and receive 50% off site-wide. Hurry, this epic sale ends tonight!
In honor of Willie’s 87th birthday just two days ago, we are dedicating today’s Saturday Spin to 1974’s Phases and Stages. One of the first concept country albums ever made, Phases is a narration of dueling heartbroken divorce, dividing both perspectives—the woman’s perspective gets side one, while the man’s plays out on side two. Breaking the shackles of the worn-out love ballads of country music at the time, Willie chose to throw the blame on the man in the album, tilting the album to an unexpected feminist underline. Phases is one of Willies lesser-known releases, but unmistakably one of his stronger albums.
If analog is in your makeup, then this GEAR GRID graphic has your name written all over it (or shall we say, coded into it). Rock, Paper, Scissors by Julien Vallée explores the relative roles of the computer and handmade processes in design. Julien is widely known for his unprecedented formula, mixing digital conceptions with the implementation of materials like paper, wood, and plastics to bring to life his visuals. The book features everything from motion graphics to design for the TV industry and comes with unique log-ins for accessing online video work created by Vallée himself. May the digital design Gods be with you.
The days are warm and the nights are cool and that’s precisely why you need the Parallel x League Denim Trucker. This jean jacket has an interior pocket hiding in the Hawaiin print lining, two metal button fastened chest pockets, and is stitched from washed denim for maximum comfort. The Denim Trucker is the yippee ki yay to any adventure.
Just because we can’t hit the bars tonight doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy a little Cinco de Mayo margarita or two. Pasote Blanco is a clean, crisp citrus tasting tequila that is distilled with pure rainwater. And depending on your fiesta levels, this Blanco is smooth enough to shoot and masterfully complements the flavors of a spicy marg. Just remember it is a school night, so perhaps close the night with a Pasote Blanco Tequilla soda… a little water to shut the day down.
The Andres Boot is for those who need style and versatility out of a single boot. The boot is hand-made and has the durability to withstand all four seasons, while the 1.25″ heel and Vibram 430 Mini Lug Sole are optimal for long days on the feet. And the gusseted tongue is great for any day that Mother Nature jumps the gun on the extended forecast. Lace-up the Nisolo Andres Boot with confidence that anyone giving you the once over, starts and ends at the boots.
With the cafe life a tidbit on lockdown, it’s time to up your home coffee game with the Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Kettle. It will quickly take your countertop display to a whole new level and for anyone lucky enough to join for a morning cup of coffee, well, it seems they’ll have two reasons to be thankful for meeting you. The Stagg Kettle has variable temperature control and minimalist design, so the focus stays on the bean. And if your day’s success depends on a great cup of coffee, the Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Kettle is the way to go.
Just because the barbershops are closed doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take pride in your appearance. The Jack Black Beard Oil is perfect for those opting for the lumberjack look and even those who’ve let it go the last couple weeks. An exclusive blend helps prevent dry and itchy skin while conditioning a healthy-looking beard. One day soon we all will be released back into the wild, so it’s important to be stocked with Jack Black’s Beard Oil.
09 MayArctic Monkeys / Whatever People Say I am,That's What I'm Not
Arctic Monkeys / Whatever People Say I am,That's What I'm Not
Many involved in the indie rock scene in the very early 2000s remembers the first time they heard about The Arctic Monkeys, because at the time they probably replied with the response, the what? By 2006, there was no mistake to the name, and a collective understanding they were the next big thing. The English working class heroes exploded onto the global stage with their debut studio album Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not. Layered with rebellion, the record proved this wasn’t a post-Strokes knockoff (like quite a few in the time) but more so a band that was here for the long haul, assisting in defining the future generation. Tracks like ‘I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor’, ‘Dancing Shoes’, ‘Fake Tales’, ‘A Certain Romance’, served as anthems for the youth, and hit just as hard today.
“I think I make art for myself, but ultimately I think I make it for the world.” – Jean-Michel Basquiat
Highly regarded as one of the most important artists in the late twentieth century, Basquiat not only changed the way people looked at art, but through his paintings, he altered the way people viewed life. Basquiat was able to speak an artistic language through his recognizable style. And while his paintings were lyrical and poetic, his actual words were just as prolific. This hardcover features quotes, written work, and interviews from the phenom himself.
With masks becoming more and more a part of everyday life and your EDC, it’s important to protect yourself and others with style. The Bilio Koala Mask is a 100% made in the U.S. with recycled yarns and is knit-to-shape with zero waste and no post-processing. The integrated elastic ear loops make for an easy on and off in the instances when you absolutely have to flash the pearly whites. When it’s time to head for the essentials, grab your keys, wallet, and Koala.
The Chore Pant is a slimmer work-pant cut from a space-aged blend of hemp, organic cotton, and recycled polyester with a hint of stretch. The cut is a little more tapered than any pant you’ll find at Murdoch’s, but with reinforced knees and duty rivets, the fabric is tougher than just about any other on the market. The Chore Pant is what you’ll reach for when you’re heading to the garage, out for a moto ride, and even that first post-COVID date.
It’s one thing to carry a koozie in your back pocket, it’s a whole nother when your koozie is the Miir Can Chiller. The Can Chiller is easy to clean, never sweats, and better yet, the Thermo 3D double-wall vacuum insulation guarantees your beverage never surpasses the optimal drinking temperature. Forget the Red Solo Cup and never go bare handed again because the Can Chiller defies physics and looks good closing in for the “cheers”.
The Topo Designs Classic Crew captures the essence of the favorite vintage sweatshirts of yesteryear. The 14oz cotton-poly blend makes this Classic Crew the ultimate lounger and simultaneously a statement piece out on the town. The 3″ ribbed band at the cuff and hem help give the sweatshirt shape while minimalist Topo branding provides just enough of the “what’s up” status. If you had to pick one sweatshirt to hang in your closet, the Topo Designs Classic Crew is an absolute frontrunner.
When it comes to car camping, you can throw up the tent or truly car camp with the Luno Air Mattress. It turns any location into a comfortable night’s sleep from the safety of your car. Fitting over 1800 different vehicles, aside from your mom’s old Previa, the Luno Air Mattress is set to inflate your adventure game.
Blue Train was delivered one week before Coltrane’s 32nd birthday, and many consider it his first bona fide masterpiece. Under a strict contract with Prestige, he was granted a short pass to record a session with Alfred Lion’s Blue Note Label at the Van Gelder Studio in Hackensack, New Jersey, thus giving creation to one of Jazz’s most vital records. It followed in the wake of a time that was deep uncertainty for Trane, as he had been fired from the Miles Davis Quintet for heroin abuse early in the year. By the time the one-off recording of Blue Train took place, he had found a path to sobriety, which echos confidence in his famous “sheets of sound” technique.
The words “To boldly go where no man has gone before” has stained into our ears from television shows. While Star Trek may be fiction, the iconic words from Captain Kirk are not. No, William Shattner has never set foot off this rock, but some have, and bravely changed the world doing so. The NASA Archives. 60 Years in Space features a collection that gathers more than 400 historic pictures and rare concept renderings, scanned and remastered using the latest technology, and reproduced in extra-large size. The NASA Archives is more than just extraordinary photos of the U.S. space program. It is also a profound meditation on why we choose to venture out into space and how we will carry on these adventures in the years to come.
In Duke Cannon’s day, a man didn’t put oranges or pumpkin spice in his beer and he certainly didn’t let his soap slip out his hands. This large, 10oz soap is made with Old Milwaukee Beer, a premium American lager, and it has a woodsy, sandalwood scent that smells like a man should (*it doesn’t smell like or have the effects of beer, even if you take a bite). When it comes time to wash up, best to do so with the Duke Cannon Big Ass Beer Soap on a Rope.
If you’re living in the Denver area, get in the car, and head to Little Owl Coffee for an amazing to-go cup of joe. If you’re living below 5,280 feet, you’re going to have to wait for your beans to arrive, but it’s 100% worth the wait. Little Owl Coffee is roasting in-house an offering of single-origin and single-estate beans from around the world. And as the weeks continue to blur together, you’ll never forget a day started with a cup of coffee brewed from the beans of Little Owl Coffee.
A single shirt to scout the surf, chill by the fire pit, and cruise the city streets seems impossible, but then there is the Outerknown Blanket Shirt. Double chest pockets top the stitched twill that’s both durable and breathable while the 100% organic cotton has led some to say, “it might just be the coziest damn shirt ever built.” When the day calls for an extra layer of comfort and style, throw on the Blanket Shirt.
Days of manhandling a cooler or pulling it like your old Radio Flyer are long gone in large part due to the Hydro Flask Soft Cooler Pack. It has a 22L carrying capacity and because we have our Ti83 handy, that’s 34 cans (without ice) ready and waiting to be cracked. The zipper seal is waterproof and the Smart Insulation will keep all your goods cold for up to 48 hrs. When the adventure calls for adult hydration, strap-up with the Soft Cooler Pack.
If you’ve never seen The Sandlot, drop everything and start streaming, because you won’t understand the brilliance of the PF Flyer Sandlot Center Hi if you don’t know what you’re running from. The updated classic features a vertically-ribbed toe and distinctive treaded outsole, topped off with classic, throwback branding. And keep in mind, it’s not a comeback, because legends… never… die.
Rolling Stone Magazine ranks The White Stripes 4th album, Elephant, as #39 on of their list of the 500 Greatest Albums. Widely considered the bands best, it features the iconic song Seven Nation Army, which gets hummed, played, and sang throughout sporting events worldwide. Beyond the cult classic, the album also introduced Ball and a Biscuit and The Hardest Button to Push which are also critically acclaimed tracks. The album’s theme revolves around the idea of “death of the sweetheart” in American culture and expanded their style more than ever. If you’re a fan of rock and roll this vinyl with its infamous red and black album cover is definitely one for the collection.
With the current new normal of the world, any kind of adventure sounds extremely alluring. To pass the time until when travel is once again safe, Where Architects Sleep should be in your possession. More than 250 of the world’s leading architects share insider tips on where to stay, revealing everything from renowned destinations to undiscovered gems. The intel is laid out neatly and categorically, ironically offering an intriguing sense of discovery to pass the time while at home until the world is once again green-lit for touring, and when it is you will be ready.
With the Gerber Quadrant, it’s fashionable functionality that sets this blade apart from the rest. The finger flip release and sturdy frame lock lets everyone know you mean business once the blade is deployed. The straight-edge design is built for style and utility, with an ample cutting edge to handle daily tasks and even all those Prime boxes. All said and done, the Quadrant is the knife to elevate your EDC.
Tensions with COVID-19 seem to be subsiding and because everyone is itching to explore, you’ll need the HEX Aspect Duffel to ensure safe and fashionably travel. The 600D nylon is treated for water resistance, the main compartment is accompanied by two zippered pockets, and a removable shoulder strap makes this duffel adventure-ready the moment you shut down the workday. Travel safe and remember, if it doesn’t fit in the Aspect Duffel, you don’t need it.
Handmade in limited quantities in Los Angeles, the Mission Workshop Farik has 5 panels of modern style to help reintroduce yourself back into the world. The cap is made from 100% Cotton Ripstop and is equipped with an adjustable nylon-web strap, breathable eyelets, and a signature stitched Acre Supply diamond. There is no doubt the Farik will prove to be a signature piece as you head out to investigate the social distancing bar scene.
A game to display and play is what you should expect from the Printworks Classic Backgammon. It will test your wit, fuel friendly fire between you and your opponent, and on a rainy day up in the north woods, grab a sixer because backgammon is a proven passer of time. And this backgammon is designed in Stockholm and wrapped in an acrylic shell to finalize the feng shui of your modern loft. Now is the time to turn off your screens and battle your friends in a 5,000 yr old game with an updated style.
In a world that seems to be becoming more and more digital, there is no excuse not to look your best from behind the webcam. The Moment WFH Webcam Set is perfect for long days jumping from Zoom call to Zoom call and even for when the parents call to check-in. The mount will work on just about any phone and most laptops, and if by chance it’s your new Tinder date dialing in, you’re going to like the way you look. The Moment WFH Webcam Set is the perfect accessory to our new way of screen life and with the Wide Lens, best make sure your backdrop is well-curated.
Prince’s genius within his ninth studio album Sign O’ The Times was layered around the epicenter of the rattling track appropriately named “Housequake.” Along the journey of what is considered one of the most extensive and expansive R&B records of the ’80s, his guitar weeps and screams as tracks move on to the velvety ‘If I Was Your Girlfriend,” and then to the musical pleas from “The Cross” and “Slow Love.” The album sounds like fearless electricity and captures an imploding feeling, while coming together to offer the sense of something new being born after wild chaos.
This is a book for the true moto enthusiasts. Packed full of stories, photographs, and inspiration, BRUMMM is a timeless publication for the motorcycle community. Created for those who see their two-wheel rides as much more than a piece of transportation—but a way of life. this is a milestone publication in the field, featuring motorcycle culture across cultures and ages.
The GEAR GRID is designed to support small business brands that aim to break the mold. Our team scours the globe to find these well-designed objects, collected to enhance the lifestyle of who we believe the modern explorer is: a hard worker, a free thinker, and most certainly a world traveler. Drop in as a regular to find curated essentials in the categories of apparel, grooming, watches, bags, tech, and more, also including books and classic vinyl to set the tone on the weekends.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkPrivacy policy
RAEN Optics 
