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Men's Journal|January 2018Letter From the EditorIF YOU WORK AT a magazine, there’s a phrase that inevitably gets tossed around about now: “New year, new you.” I hate it. Sure, I get the impulse. And I know that people actually do tend to take stock after the holidays. But on January 1, I’m pretty sure I’m going to be the same guy who fell asleep on the couch long before the ball dropped in Times Square. Or, more accurately, the same guy with a headache courtesy of a few too many IPAs.Well, a funny thing happened after I summarily dismissed any notion of a new year and a new you. I got an offer I couldn’t refuse: The good people at Nike reached out to see if I wanted some help jumpstarting my fitness regimen. (Clearly…2 min
Men's Journal|January 2018War and Piste in IraqHIGH UP IN IRAQ’S Zagros Mountains, on the country’s northern border, six of us hike slowly into the growing light of day. As we walk in silence, each of us focused on the narrow beam of light from our headlamp, I decide to lighten the mood.“Come on,” I say to Robin Brown and Matthew “Griff” Griffin, two Iraq War vets following me up the icy slope. “All we have to worry about is losing a limb or two.”It’s cold, but it’s not frostbite or avalanches that have us concerned—at least not at the moment. A saw-toothed ridgeline to our east was sporadically topped with glimmering lights, each marking the location of an Iranian border-defense tower. It’s a stark physical reminder that these mountains are littered with land mines left over…8 min
Men's Journal|January 2018WORTH THE STOPVALENTINE’S BIG DAYIf you’re in West Texas in February, BIG BEND BREWING CO. throws a Valentine’s Day fiesta in Valentine, in which cowboys line dance and local bands croon country and Latino folk tunes at a restored 1907 mercantile building. “The Valentine’s Day party is like being in Austin in the 1970s,” says Big Bend founder Matt Kruger. “It’s the best party of the year.”MAKING THE MOST OF THE NIGHT SKIESForty-five miles north of Marfa is the MCDONALD OBSERVATORY, home to the third-largest telescope in the world. In addition to educational exhibits on-site, it hosts regular “star parties,” during which experts set up telescopes trained on specific objects in our solar system and talk you through what in the galaxy you’re looking at.…1 min
Men's Journal|January 2018Hitting the LinksSAUSAGES OF THE WORLD1 / MORCILLASPAINBlack pudding, boudin noir, morcilla—no matter what you call it, this pork-and-grain sausage gets its earthy richness from blood. Savenor’s butchery in Cambridge, MA, does its in micro batches, tinkering each time with the grain content (usually rice) and warming spices like cinnamon. savenors market.com2/ GREEN CHORIZOMEXICOButchers in central Mexico have long made this twist on the classic by adding serrano peppers, spinach, and pumpkin seeds, which give it a spicy, nutty profile. Brooklyn’s Meat Hook has an even spicier version with poblanos, jalapeños, cumin, oregano, and cilantro. the-meathook.com3/ LOUKANIKOGREECEThis traditional sausage is made with ground pork combined with either lamb or beef and spiced with orange zest. The Sausage Foundry, in Cedar Rapids, IA, does an all-lamb version with a big glug of port…6 min
Men's Journal|January 2018What’s NewThe Globe-trotter’s CollectionReigning NBA MVP Russell Westbrook has an undeniably unique fashion sense—find @russwest44 on Instagram if you haven’t seen his looks— so it’s equal parts surprising and delightful that Tumi, typically makers of black luggage, teamed up with him to design this run of hard-wearing bags. For more travel gear, turn to page 79. From $225; tumi.comAlexa at the WheelThe floodgates are open: Everything eventually will be controlled by your voice. In 2018, it invades your car: The Garmin Speak with Amazon Alexa is a tiny, windshield-mounted gadget, so you can keep your eyes on the road as you fire up tunes and ask for directions. And, since it’s a Garmin, you get reliable, turn-by-turn navigation at a glance. $150; garmin.comThe Eye-Catching ShellYour ski crew will have no problem…2 min
Men's Journal|January 2018Anthony BourdainFOOTWEAR Clarks suede Desert Boots are the most comfortable shoes on Earth. And they’re dirt cheap if you buy them at the right place. You can kick them off in a second when you’re going through airport security, which is a big benefit in my line of work. But they’re great for anything. I buy about three or four pairs at a time. When one pair dies, I just rotate it out.LUGGAGE I don’t like having to worry about taking it easy on luggage when I’m throwing it in an overhead bin or tossing it on the tarmac. So I travel with a piece of near-bulletproof Tumi luggage, which can take a beating and fits absolutely everything I need. Not to mention if sh*t goes down, I can hide behind…1 min
Men's Journal|January 2018Hot Type1 The AfterlivesBY THOMAS PIERCEOn the first page of this debut novel, the main character, Jim Byrd, collapses in a parking lot and dies—at least for a few minutes. But while indisposed, Byrd sees no bright lights or celestial beings. The close call sets him on a quest to solve the haunting of a local Tex-Mex joint. Ghosts and holograms make cameos, as does a psychic. But at its core the book is utterly human (and hilarious], prodding some of life’s biggest mysteries to see what truths shake loose.—J.R. Sullivan2 American WolfBY NATE BLAKESLEEWriting professors often dissuade students from using animal protagonists, for fear their stories will come off as corny. Blakeslee’s new book, however, which follows 0-Six, a well-known Yellowstone wolf, subverts this advice. Through masterful reporting, Blakeslee constructs…2 min
Men's Journal|January 20184K, Your WayBuying a new TV? Since price tags have been shrinking on 4K or “Ultra HD” models, it makes sense to skip over the 1080p units and go straight for the higher-resolution sets, which boast 8 million pixels and produce better sharpness, with smoother lines, curves, and edges. Find a set that supports HDR (high dynamic range) and delivers brighter highlights; deeper, more detailed shadows; and scenes that look closer to real life. These are our favorites, at any price.1 TCL P-SeriesThis 55-inch set pairs a pristine 4K image with a seamless interface that’s ideal for cord-cutters—with a price tag we haven’t seen for such a set. Its specs are solid: aside from its UHD/4K resolution, the P-Series relies on 72 contrast control zones to maintain detail in shadows, even right…2 min
Men's Journal|January 2018Ice Road RunnersPeregrine 7 ICE+SAUCONY $150The biggest obstacle to running during the coldest months: snow and ice. But these trail shoes conquer frozen roads, thanks to a Vibram Arctic Grip outsole that has a special rubber formulated to improve traction. The bottom feels just like a superfine sandpaper but absolutely locks on to icy surfaces. For heavy snow, we like the Peregrine’s deep lugs. saucony.comWindproof Boxer BriefSAUCONY $30A January wind can slice through all but the hardiest running pants. But it’s no match for the polyester panel down the front of these trunks. saucony.comPhD Run Cold Weather Mid CrewSMARTWOOL $21Our rule for slushy runs: no cotton. These merino blend socks keep our toes warm even when wet—and you will get wet. Plus, the high cut eliminates gaps at the ankle. smartwool.comZonal AeroShield…1 min
Men's Journal|January 2018Pocket Shooters1 Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II $450The current trend in point-and-shoots is to go steadily bigger, since the features that outclass smartphones add necessary bulk. The G9 is a welcome outlier, as it packs a 1-inch, 20-megapixel sensor and 3x zoom lens into a slim, 1.2-inch-thick package. Better still, Canon managed to keep the price genuinely low (for an enthusiast compact). usa.canon.com2 Sony RX100 V $1,000Rather than specializing in video, low-light, or stillimage performance, this 20-megapixel jack-of-allmodes adapts to a wide range of shooting. It autofocuses lightning-fast (0.05 seconds) and shoots at superhigh shutter speeds (for portraits with artfully blurred backgrounds) and in ultra-slow-motion (960 frames per second). sony.com3 Olympus Tough TG-5 $450The TG-5 is as rugged as cameras get, able to survive seven-foot drops, 50-foot dives, and temperatures…3 min
Men's Journal|January 2018How to TRAVEL now!HOT SPOT1 MaltaTIME TRAVEL TO THE OLD, WEIRD MEDITERRANEAN.Strategically located between Italy and Tunisia, Malta has been coveted (and conquered) by nearly every major historic superpower, from the Phoenicians to the Brits. But by tourists? Not so much. That’s good news for you, because Malta feels like southern Europe must have decades ago—sundrenched and gorgeous, with friendly locals, a quiet vibe, and prices that are way, way lower than in today’s France, Italy, or Greece.Malta, the largest of the country’s three islands, is just 122 square miles. You get there via a short flight from European hubs—three hours from London, one and a half from Rome. The capital city of Valletta dates to the 16th century—no surprise that it has served as a set for Gladiator and Game of Thrones.…6 min
Men's Journal|January 2018Lodging’s New LookSCATTERED HOTELSLive Among LocalsRather than putting the whole thing in a single structure, scattered hotels offer a central hub for check-in, co*cktails, and dining, but the rooms themselves are dispersed throughout a town or village. It adds up to the laidback, local feel of an Airbnb stay, but with the amenities of a luxury hotel. The concept originated in Italy in the 1980s and has since spread to other European countries, such as France and Switzerland, but we’re still waiting for it to touch down stateside.Our Pick: Located in Santo Stefano di Sessanio, a historic southern Italian hill town surrounded by a perimeter wall, Sextantio Albergo Diffuso has its main hub in a castle watchtower and guest houses in the surrounding village.EXTENDED STAYSTake Your TimeWe generally think of extendedstay hotels…2 min
Men's Journal|January 2018GET A HAIRCUTAs with food and language, every nation finds in its barbershops a piece of itself. Last year in Yangon, Myanmar, I wandered into a side-street joint, in need of a trim. The shop was small and narrow, as was the young Hindu barber. He sat me down urgently, then began to purify the space with murmured prayer and burning parchment, which he dropped, still aflame, into a drawer. As he wielded his rusty scissors and began to work, I felt a pang of unease, though this was not my first time in a foreign chair. I had visited a barber in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, who first needed waking; a clamorous shop in Cuba; and, unwittingly, a saloncum- brothel in Beijing. At a time when so much of travel can be…1 min
Men's Journal|January 2018The Ball’s In Your CourtFORGET ABOUT WEIGHTS. If you’re serious about ratcheting up your workout, you need a medicine ball. Unlike traditional dumbbells and barbells, which tend to hit individual muscles, these weighted spheres force you to engage during an entire range of motion, ensuring that none of your muscles get an easy pass. “When you work with a medicine ball, your body has to control this oddly shaped object,” says Detric Smith, a strength and conditioning coach in Williamsburg, VA. Trying to manage a ball will keep your muscles guessing and amp up calorie burn to help you push past plateaus. Plus, medicine balls are versatile. You can lift them overhead, chuck them against a wall, add them to your pushup and lunge routines, and more. Medicine balls date back some 3,000 years,…6 min
Men's Journal|January 2018Power PlantThe Nutritional GoodsThe term powerhouse is overused, but that’s what seaweed is. It contains vitamins A, C, and E, as well as compounds called phytonutrients, says Andres Valenzuela, R.D., of Canyon Ranch resort in Tucson, AZ. “These nutrients are potent antioxidants that can protect the body from stress at the cellular level and promote recovery from tough workouts.” It’s a vegetarian form of omega3 that helps with brain health, and it contains the trace minerals iodine, calcium, and potassium to support electrolyte balance.Where to Get ItAdd seaweed in one of its many forms to your leafygreen rotation once or twice a week. Sushi rolls wrapped in nori are a natural conduit, and add a salad of bright wakame or inky hijiki to your order. Healthfood stores will carry spirulina, a…1 min
Men's Journal|January 2018Adult SwimPEOPLE HAVE TWO MAJOR HANG-UPS with swimming. The first is finding a lap pool that’s convenient. (Hard to help you there, but surely you have a YMCA nearby.) The second is how hard swimming feels. We can’t really help you there, either. While just 20 minutes in the pool can burn more than 250 calories—the same as running—swimming is a full-body workout that introduces new challenges. “It engages every fiber of muscle from your core to extremities,” says Morgan Mabe, swim coach at Asphalt Green in New York City. There are no other sports equally tough on your upper body and your lower while being gentle on joints. Not only that: “The anaerobic aspect of the sport will instantly raise your heart rate as it stimulates hypertrophy— essentially, muscle growth.”…1 min
Men's Journal|January 2018Ted DansonWhat advice would you give your younger self?Wake the f*ck up! I was very slow to mature emotionally. But the day I walked into an audition for a play, a lightbulb finally turned on. I even slept in my car for two or three months behind the theater. It was a spark, and to this day, I get thrilled when I go through the gates of a studio.If you hadn’t discovered acting, what would you have done?I really don’t know. I mean, good lord, I grew up in Flagstaff, Arizona, and my friends were children of ranchers. I could have become a cowboy! My father was an archaeologist, so I grew up on his dig sites, finding bones and skulls. He would always emphasize the importance of the past and…4 min
Men's Journal|January 2018Letters‘I’ve surfed for many years and have seen firsthand the territorial behavior of the Lunada Bay Boys described in ‘Gang War on the Shore.’ It’s unfortunate that these surfers have decided that this precious resource belongs to them. My experience with these types is they are not exactly a crew you’d ever want to grab a beer with.”—MICHAEL SEBAHARCARLSBAD, CAWAR ON DRUGSI want to commend Jon DeLena and his team of DEA agents [“The War at Home,” by Paul Solotaroff, November 2017]. Being the father of an addict,I can tell you that arrest and incarceration are not always the answer. Arresting an addict can ruin employment prospects with larger companies and government agencies. It’s important that we start devoting more funds to addiction education and rehabilitation.KEN LUTHYRIVIERA BEACH, FLAs someone…2 min
Men's Journal|January 2018West Texas’ SwingMARFA, THAT MODISH art colony in the desert, has reached zeitgeist status as a must-visit destination for hipsters and art lovers looking for an extra dose ofinspiration. But there’s much more to do in West Texas than get in touch with your inner artiste. For the intrepid nature lover, there’s Big Bend National Park and its ancient limestone canyons. For the cosmically inclined, there’s the impossibly dark night sky. And for those who just want to take in the stark landscape from the front seat of a car, the towns of Alpine, Marathon, and Balmorhea form a constellation of sorts, with highways between that capture the spirit of the desert—as you fly by at 80 miles per hour.“Where we are in Texas is very particular,” says Rocky Barnette, owner of…5 min
Men's Journal|January 2018American Alpine TragedyON OCTOBER 7, Hayden Kennedy, 27, and Inge Perkins, 23, two of the most talented mountain athletes of their generation, decided to hike deep into Montana’s imposing Madison Range to ski Imp Peak, a littleknown, 11,202-foot summit blessed with a long, perfectly cut couloir. Imp often holds soft, early-season snow even when the leaves are still golden in the valleys. Most hard-core locals stick closer to town, but Kennedy and Perkins were never the type for easy summits. They were also deeply in love, and had moved to nearby Bozeman together two months prior, so perhaps they wanted to have the mountains to themselves for the day.In the predawn darkness, Kennedy and Perkins parked and hiked six miles in. When they hit the snow line, they fixed climbing skins to…7 min
Men's Journal|January 2018Back to His RootsBEER TASTINGCOFFEE MILK STOUTMy bar manager really opened my eyes to craft beer. I like big, bold beers with some body, so I’m a stout-porter kind of guy. Holy Mountain, one of our local breweries, makes some of the best around. I love its Shadowlifter, a viscous, chocolaty stout.BASIC RECIPE EVERY MAN SHOULD MASTEREGG SALADEgg salad is easy and satisfying, and it has a ton of protein. To get perfect hard-boiled eggs, bring water to a boil, add your eggs, cook exactly 12 minutes, then shock them in ice water. You can keep it basic with mayo and relish or go fancy. I make my own curry blend with tarragon, turmeric, and ginger and add that to egg salad with a little brown sugar and cayenne.FAMILY DINNERNO KIDS MENUSI have…2 min
Men's Journal|January 2018Well-Heeled WagonsMSRP (FROM) $96,200ZERO TO 60 5.2 sec. (V6)HORSEPOWER 330CALLING ALL ICONOCLASTS: The coolest car that Porsche makes may not be that 911 Turbo you’ve been drooling over. It might just be a wagon, of all things, that drives with the life-affirming feedback of a sports car yet fits four adults plus their luggage. Here’s why: The Panamera sedan arrived in 2009, and while car geeks worked themselves into a lather over its bulbous rear end, the car actually felt low-key brilliant behind the wheel. About a year ago, Porsche debuted a version with a lower, wider look and a rear end resculpted as if it went through months of hot yoga and barre classes.The story gets even better with the arrival of the Sport Turismo, a wagon variant of the…2 min
Men's Journal|January 2018WHEN THE STONES RULED RADIOThe Rolling Stones just wanted to make people dance—at least in the beginning. On Air, a new 32-track collection of early radio performances, shows that from the get-go, the group recognized the importance of the audience having fun and could deliver. The songs are mostly covers of blues and soul hits, and together they drive home that the Stones’ initial genius was making these tunes not only more gritty but also more groovy than the originals, often turning them from ballads into beer-drinking romps. Mick and Co. make a jubilant mess of “Cry to Me” and “If You Need Me,” hits first popularized by soul legend Solomon Burke. And you can’t help but envision bubble-gum-chewing baby boomers bobbing along to the band’s rendition of the Valentinos’ “It’s All Over Now.”…1 min
Men's Journal|January 2018True DetectiveIN 1953, a government scientist named Frank Olson plunged to his death from a New York City hotel window. The fall was ruled a suicide, but it was later revealed that Olson had been surreptitiously dosed with LSD as part of the CIA’s notorious MK Ultra program. Errol Morris, the man behind such classic documentaries as The Thin Blue Line and The Fog of War, reopens the case in his new series, Wormwood, which is available for streaming on Netflix on December 15.What drew you to this story?MK Ultra had something to do with it— the fact that the American government might have had a “Manchurian Candidate” program, in which it was involved in training assassins, erasing memories, programming behavior. Could it be true? There’s also a detective story at…2 min
Men's Journal|January 2018THE NEW WAVE OF 4K STREAMERSYou’ve got a 4K set—now what to watch? There’s little live programming available in 4K. (DirecTV is the only cable or satellite provider offering programming now, and over-the-air 4K signals are years off.) So look to an ultra HD Blu-ray player or one of these fast, streaming gadgets.1 / APPLE TV 4KThe latest version is built around an ultra-quick processor (the same as an iPad Pro’s), adds 4K resolution, and supports the Dolby Vision and HDR standards. A big part of the Apple TV experience is iTunes, which you can navigate usinga Siri-capable remote. One cool perk: As movies you’ve already bought are remastered into 4K, you’ll automatically get the upgrade. It doesn’t yet support Dolby Atmos surround sound (see next page). From $179 apple.com2 / ROKU STREAMING STICK+Despite its…1 min
Men's Journal|January 2018A Clean Sweep1. Cordless 4-in-1BLACK+DECKER $40We had high hopes for this dirt-cheap model, which lifted flour, cat litter, and shredded cotton balls (to simulate everything from fine dust to pet hair). Then it powered down after 12 measly minutes. blackanddecker.com2 OUT OF 52. React Whole Home CordlessHOOVER $270We love its portability (7.3 pounds), powerful suction (it gets flour out of carpet in one pass), and 27-minute run time. Its drawback: the fussy need to remove the battery for charging. hoover.com4 OUT OF 53. V8 AbsoluteDYSON $600What do you get for a luxurypriced stick vacuum? Unmatched suction power in its class, 40 minutes of run time, easy maneuverability, and the only model in our test that could fully replace an upright vacuum. dyson.com5 OUT OF 54. Multi ReachBISSELL $250An all-around solid performer, it’s…1 min
Men's Journal|January 2018Cut the Cord1/ SoundSport FreeBOSE $250The enormous body generates a deep bass that is typically missing in cable-free models. Even though they’re the largest buds here, we found that they stayed put comfortably, thanks to three sizes of ear wings. bose.com2/ Run True WirelessJAYBIRD $180Small and comfortable for long jogs, these have sets of round and oval ear tips to fine-tune the fit. The connection was strong with a phone in an armband but cut out when carried in a jeans pocket. jaybirdsport.com3/ AirPodsAPPLE $159You may not like their look, but AirPods work more reliably than all others. They paired with an iPhone in seconds, reconnected every time we stuck them in our ears, and never cut out. Plus, the case holds a 19-hour charge. apple.com4/ Gear IconX 2018SAMSUNG $200You can use…1 min
Men's Journal|January 2018Prime Pit StopsREYKJAVÍK ICELANDAIRIcelandair’s now-famous layover program lets you stay up to seven nights in Reykjavík on all flights between North America and Europe. And budget carrier WOW Airlines has followed suit with similar stopover options.HONOLULU HAWAIIAN AIRLINESIf y you’re headed to Asia, avoid the agony of the full-day flight with a few sun-soaked afternoons in Honolulu— Hawaiian Airlines allows one free stopover per itinerary for all international flflights.AMSTERDAM KLM ROYAL DUTCH AIRLINESOn flights to Europe, KLM offers a free stopover in the Dutch capital, and you can hang out for as long as you want. Even better, the airline provides special offers on activities like canal tours and a trip to De Hoge Veluwe National Park.LISBON TAP PORTUGALStay up to five days in Portugal’s hilly capital, and take advantage of TAP’s…1 min
Men's Journal|January 2018NOT YOUR FATHER’S WINNEBAGOIf you’re planning the ultimate road trip, why not do it in the ultimate road-trip vehicle? Believe it or not, that r rig is a Winnebago—the new Revel. Built on a 4x4 Mercedes Sprinter chassis and equipped with a three-liter turbo-diesel engine and on-demand 4WD, the Revel more than holds its own on mountain passes, forest-service roads, and even traversing boulder-strewn streams. But when it’s time to call it a day, it’s a Winnebago, with all of the comforts of home, including a stylish kitchen, bedroom, and living area. There’s even a garage—raise the ingenious power-lift bed, and you have space to store two bikes plus camping and even ski gear. (Boats go on the roof.) It all runs on a solar-charged battery or diesel from the fuel tank, so…1 min
Men's Journal|January 2018GET OUTUNTRODDENThere are countless cool cabins and small lodges out there—the trick has always been discovering them. Untrodden curates the coolest off-thebeaten- path digs—an ultra-modernist inn jutting over the rocky Newfoundland coast or a cozy mountain cabin high above Alaska’s Ruth Gorge—for travelers seeking a true one-of-akind experience. Think of it as a Relais & Châteaux for adventurers. (From $20 per night; untrodden.com)ONXOnX provides access to nearly everything that’s been mapped over the last 50 to 100 years— wilderness areas, national forests, trails, streams…you name it. Create a custom map, upload it to your smartphone, and set out into the backcountry. No cell reception required. (From $30 per year; onxmaps.com)TOURRADARA kind of TripAdvisor for hardcore adventurers, TourRadar offers user reviews—and a staff of travel experts—to help you research, compare, and book…1 min
Men's Journal|January 2018Seated Rope PullAROWING MACHINE IS is great for cardio, and adding a seated cable row to your workout is good for your chest and shoulders. With some rigging and a long stretch of floor, you can have the best of both. The seated heavy rope pull is an ideal component in a high-intensity interval routine. “The best thing about this move is how it dynamically works muscle groups that are notoriously hard to train,” says Richard Wilco*ck, a strength and conditioning specialist in Bolton, U.K. “It hits most of the muscles in the upper body, but the big focus is on lats, delts, traps, and biceps.”To set it up, knot one end of a 30-foot battle rope to the front of a sled or to a kettlebell, or thread it through weight…1 min
Men's Journal|January 2018Be a Goal-GetterSETTING OFF TOWARD A NEW GOAL is its own endorphin rush. You’ve set your target and can practically taste success. In the words of every group fitness instructor, “Time to get after it!”If only it were that easy. In fact, we humans are terrible at getting after it. And we not only suck at achieving goals—we suck at setting them, going after objectives that are too vague or hopelessly grandiose. John Norcross, a psychologist at the University of Scranton, found that less than half of people who made a New Year’s resolution (probably the most common type of goal) kept it up six months later.Beating the odds comes down to having a plan. “It’s like going on a trip,” says Jim Taylor, a sports psychologist and author of Train Your…7 min
Men's Journal|January 2018SWIM COACH1/ Warm up on dry landThe sport places demands on the legs (calves in particular), back, and shoulders, says Brian Tovin, a physical therapist in Atlanta who specializes in swimming. Stave off leg cramps with sprinters’ moves: Stand a few feet in front of a wall and, using it as support, step one foot back and bend front leg. Switch, then pull each leg to your butt for a quad stretch. Prep your back with side bends: Stand with feet together, arms overhead, pressing palms together, and tilt torso to each side. For the shoulders, press palms into the small of your back, fingertips up, draw elbows toward each other and raise your chest. And shoulder rolls work, too, but don’t go Michael Phelps aggressive. Bend elbows at 90 degrees,…3 min
Men's Journal|January 2018Health NewsYet Another Reason to Eat OrganicYour grocery bill is about to go up. Findings from a 23-year study at the University of California, San Diego, have shown that Californians may have high levels of glyphosate, the active chemical in the herbicide Roundup. In the 1990s, only 12 of the 100 people researchers followed had detectable levels of the weed killer, which is sprayed on nonorganic wheat, oats, barley, and soybeans. Now, 70 of them have glyphosate, and their overall levels jumped 1,200 percent. The herbicide’s long-term effects are unclear, but California classifies it as a “known carcinogen,” and animal studies suggest it causes liver damage. Unlike the hoops pharmaceutical companies go through to get drugs on the market, “with herbicides, the industry can say, ‘We ran a few studies and…3 min
Men's Journal|January 2018Sky HighNEARLY 3,000 FEET IN THE AIR, with few precautionary measures beyond a seat belt, climber and photographer Renan Ozturk—seen here behind pilot Chris Dahl-Bredine—captured Utah’s unmistakable Monument Valley in October of last year. The pair flew over the valley with four cameras in tow, including a Sony A7R III attached to a mount on the wing of their ultralight, recording every second of their flight—though the images are serene, the expedition was not without its dangers. “You’re facing 60-mile-per-hour winds,” says Ozturk, who flew multiple trips through the area, “and dropping anything in front of the propeller can bring the glider down.”The flights were part of a campaign to document nearby Bears Ears National Monument, 1.35 million acres of unspoiled public lands that have become a political flash point because…1 min
Men's Journal|January 2018MARFA MUSTSWHERE TO STAYEach of the 24 rooms at the 1950s-era motel THUNDERBIRD, which was updated in 2004 into a modish neon-lit hotel (complete with a courtyard that feels like a desert-themed conservatory) has curated LP collections and record players. But for glorious kitsch, opt for the luxe tepee camp EL COSMICO, situated on 21 acres outside of town.WHERE TO GET INSPIREDRequisite stops on the culture tour are the JUDD FOUNDATION, the main studio of the man who made Marfa an art destination; BALLROOM MARFA, a contemporary arts space in an old dance hall; and the AYN FOUNDATION, which houses the permanent exhibit of Andy Warhol’s Last Supper. For author readings and other high-minded events, head to MARFA BOOK COMPANY.…1 min
Men's Journal|January 2018Doubling DownTHE MOST IMPORTANT part of a classic co*cktail tends to be the base spirit. That’s why, when ordering, you of ten specify the brand—a Rittenhouse manhattan or a Beefeater martini. But where one is good, two can be even better, and bartenders across the country are finding that by splitting the base in booze-forward drinks—that is, using two complementary brands of, say, bourbon or vodka—the drinks achieve a new level of sophistication and subtlety. At the Grill, in New York City, bar director Thomas Waugh combines the assertive Tanqueray gin with the softer Plymouth to create a complex, delicious martini. “You get the best of all worlds,” says Waugh, who also employs two vermouths in his variation (below). “You get a lot of complexity out of putting four ingredients in…2 min
Men's Journal|January 2018Made in ArkansasIN A WINDOWLESS office park in Little Rock, AR, Tony Karklins holds up a sheaf of black carbon-fiber fabric cut into various trapezoids and rectangles the length of his forearm. “This is your top tube,” he says. “Every carbon bike starts like this.” With ruddy cheeks and a flop of sandy brown hair, Karklins is the founder of the upstart bike brand Allied Cycle Works. I’ve come to Arkansas to pick up a test bike. But first, Karklins wants me to help build it.Under the watchful eye of Allied’s head engineer, Sam Pickman, I painstakingly swaddle each sheet of fabric around a form that resembles a plastic-wrapped baseball bat. With only 19 individual pieces, the top tube is one of the simplest parts. An Allied employee can make one in…7 min
Men's Journal|January 2018Get to WorkIT’S NOT JUST Red Wing and Filson anymore. For centuries, American heritage brands have been creating workwear for construction crews, timber fellers, and outdoorsmen. These days, brands not normally associated with manual labor are making classic yet durable clothing for everyday use but incorporating modern materials and silhouettes. Take Patagonia’s Iron Forge Hemp canvas ranch jacket ($179, patagonia.com). Its material is softer and more abrasion resistant than the traditional, thick duck cotton used in traditional workers’ outerwear. Layer it with Best Made’s plaid flannel field shirt ($128, bestmadeco.com) and Polo’s waffle-knit Henley for extra warmth ($98, ralphlauren.com). That brand’s jeans ($125), retooled last fall, have a slimmer cut that still provides enough room to move around, and are expertly weathered to look like they’ve sustained a lifetime of use. Blundstone’s…1 min
Men's Journal|January 2018Katie AseltonDo you play fantasy football in real life?I play with my nephews because I think it might keep me in the realm of being a cool aunt. I will forever be the Jenny, and I’m pretty damn good even though I autodraft and don’t know what the hell I’m doing. Still, I won in one of the years in which all of the cast played along with the show’s creators, who love fantasy football. The fact that I won makes me realize that it’s all kind of bullsh*t.So you’re the cool aunt. Are you also a cool mom?I have 5- and 9-year-old girls, and I try to teach them confidence, self-assurance, and to never change yourself. My 9-yearold is definitely aware of boys and how they perceive her, so battling…5 min
Men's Journal|January 2018AN INSIDER REVEALS HIS SUNDANCE SECRETSEach January, the world’s most promising filmmakers descend on Park City, Utah, for the Sundance Film Festival (Jan. 18–28 this year), to show off their work in hopes of scoring a distribution deal. But the 10-day event isn’t just for insiders. Some 71,000 people attend more than 850 screenings, which are open to the public, affording you a sneak peek at the year’s most cutting-edge new films. Sundance director John Cooper explains how to have a killer moviegoing experience, and how to score a cheap seat.ESSENTIAL VIEWING See at least one low-budget film. Those are the movies that’ll surprise you. Take Winter’s Bone, in 2010. It sounded dark, so a lot of people stayed away from it. But then you had unknown Jennifer Lawrence in this amazing role. So there…1 min
Men's Journal|January 2018Super Screen TimeONCE YOU’VE TEST-DRIVEN the latest home theater gear of 2018, you almost start to feel bad for cinema operators. Here’s why: It’s never been cheaper (or easier) to get vivid pictures and immersive sound to rival what you experience at the multiplex. The time is right to jump in: The price for 4K TVs, with nearly four times the pixels of “full HD” sets, have dropped off a cliff, and new streaming devices are delivering a growing amount of 4K content. Pair those crisp visuals with Dolby Atmos–compatible speakers, which synthesize three-dimensional sound, and you will have a home theater even the staunchest projectionist couldn’t scoff at. But be forewarned: You may never leave the house on Friday night again.…1 min
Men's Journal|January 2018Blockbuster Sound1/ Get a SoundbarThe simplest audio solution is to get a system you can contain under your TV (while hiding its subwoofer somewhere close by). The Sony HT-ST5000 uses nine built-in speakers—including two drivers that fire upward—to create spacious sound. You can plug a streaming device into it to pass through 4K and HDR content. $1,500 sony.com2/ Upgrade Your Existing SystemIf you’ve already got great surround sound speakers at home, consider updating them with a receiver that supports Atmos— such as the Yamaha RX-V583, then add a pair of up-firing drivers, like the Klipsch R-14SA speakers, that sit atop your existing flfloor-standing units. Receiver: $500 usa.yamaha.com; Speakers: $400/pair klipsch.com3/ Pick Up a Home Theater-in-a-BoxMost all-in-one setups offer a low price tag but suffer from muddy sound. But here’s an exception:…2 min
Men's Journal|January 2018Big Wheels for Grown-UpsBEST TRAILS FOR WINTER FAT BIKINGJACKSON, WYOMINGThe Cache Creek trailhead offers access to the Snow King Area Trail System, in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. It’s a summer favorite for hikers and mountain bikers alike, but in winter the trails are a playground for snowsho*rs and skiers, since it’s the rare backcountry trail system with winter maintenance. www.fs.usda.govEAST BURKE, VERMONTIn winter, mountain-biking heaven Kingdom Trails maintains a 25-mile network of groomed singletrack, packed by snowmobiles and snowshoes. Like a ski mountain, the trails are marked according to difficulty. Access requires membership or a day pass, and your bike must have tires at least 3.5 inches wide. kingdomtrails.orgCABLE, WISCONSINOn March 10, 2018, the Birkebeiner Ski Trail (the site of the largest crosscountry ski race in the U.S.) becomes the site of the…2 min
Men's Journal|January 2018EASY RIDERHe’s right, of course. It’s a fairly useless cliché to say, “Seth Meyers, over a Cobb salad…” which I point out, before he adds that it’s also tricky when you are being interviewed to know what to order. Isn’t it just what makes you look best? Meyers shakes his head, quipping: “That’s how you end up with the Cobb salad.”It is 10 p.m. on a Wednesday and Meyers, a writer and overthinker long before he became a late night talk show host, is as quick as ever. He has just finished a bustlingly full day, delivering a sober monologue about a terrorist attack in New York, before making on-air chitchat with country star Blake Shelton. After rehearsing and performing his 601st episode of NBC’s Late Night With Seth Meyers, he…12 min
Men's Journal|January 2018THE JET SET1/ Bulletproof SuitcaseAWAY TRAVEL $225Travel is hell—on your body and luggage. The hard-shell Away Carry-On flexes to protect your gear. Plus, it packs a rechargeable battery, so you can juice up on the go. awaytravel.com2/ Kickass HeadphonesBEATS $350Never get on a plane without headphones. Better: Pack the noise-canceling Studio 3 Wireless Headphones, which boast a 22-hour battery. If you run low, a 10-minute charge gives you three more hours. beatsbydre.com3/ Portable WiFiSKYROAM $150Forget paying a cell-service provider exorbitant fees for spotty signals. The Solis WiFi Hotspot gets you unlimited WiFi in more than 100 countries for as little as $9 per day. skyroam.com4/ Cool KicksADIDAS $200Pack a single pair of do-it-all shoes like the Ultra Boost Laceless, which marries casual style with long-run performance. The bouncy midsole is comfortable even…1 min
Men's Journal|January 2018Your Wish, Their CommandTHE COMPETITORBored by Spartan Races and Warrior Dashes? Pure Wild Adventures creates custom adventure races—combining biking, climbing, swimming, and more—in exotic locales like Oman, Iceland, and the Scottish Highlands. (From $7,500; purewildadventures.com)THE THROTTLE JOCKEYBook with Travels With Samadhi and you’ll pilot a sleek BMW 1200 GS along Malaysia’s most beautiful byways, crisscrossing UNESCO World Heritage sites and passing by largely tourist-free fishing villages and ancient temples. ($3,750 per week; travelswithsamadhi.com)THE REALITY-STAR WANNABEGet naked and afraid (sort of) when Oceania Expeditions drops you on the remote island of Kabakon in Papua New Guinea, where you’ll spend five nights in a thatched hut and learn survival skills from villagers. ($5,700; oceaniaexpeditions.com)THE FAMILY HISTORIANTü Elite starts by sending you a DNA kit. Then, your ancestry scientifically determined, the company creates a trip to…1 min
Men's Journal|January 2018THE LAST GASPTo his surprise, Ralf Dujmovits woke up warm. An hour before midnight, the Garmin GPS watch he’d placed under his hat began to chirp and buzz. Over the years, he’d learned it was all too easy to sleep through an alarm if the watch was way down on his wrist, muted in a mitten or muffled in baffles of goose down. But draped on his head, with the straps pointing at his ears, it was impossible to ignore. It sounded like a bomb.He sat up in his sleeping bag and switched on his headlamp. He’d slept three hours, propped at an angle to mitigate the high-altitude apnea that had plagued him the last few nights. The wind that had hammered his yellow North Face tent at Camp 2 was gone,…24 min
Men's Journal|January 2018Head-to-Toe CompressionRUSSELL WESTBROOK has a reputation both for being a dominant point guard and for wearing compression everything. Whether one has anything to do with the other is not so clear.A quick history. Before it was expensive and came in neon colors, compression gear took one form: putty-hued, knee-high, post-op stockings. Since they increase circulation, doctors prescribed them to help prevent swelling and blood clots. Then, in the 1980s, researchers realized that this concept applied to athletes, too.“During a workout, the body has endured microtearing of the muscle and created lactic acid, which it flushes out through the lymphatic system,” says Chad Beauchamp, a Southern California–based sports physical therapist. “It would normally take two or three days to flush out the excess, but these garments quicken this process, so you’ll have…2 min
Men's Journal|January 2018Let’s Get That In WritingYou’re on your phone all day already, so you may as well make it work toward your goals. There are scores of apps and products for each need, personality, and preferred level of feedback. A good first question to ask yourself: How type-A are you, anyway?FOR THE STRICT RECORD-KEEPERSGood goal-tracking apps, such as Goalscape or Strides, provide guidance and encouragement dayto- day, and prompt you to step back periodically to see where your are excelling or coming up short. Or program your Google calendar to remind you to run or check in with a friend. For pen-to-paper folks, we like the aptly named Best Self Journal (bestself.co).IF YOU’RE MORE INTO DOODLINGWhen boxes aren’t your thing, man, check out “mind mapping” software to lay out projects and goals visually. You put…1 min
Men's Journal|January 2018POOLSIDE ESSENTIALSTYR MEN’S DURAFAST ELITE SOLID JAMMER$45On the coverage continuum, these are between board shorts and banana hammock, with a slim and sturdy design that cuts down on drag.TIMEX IRONMAN CLASSIC 50 FULL SIZE$65GPS-enabled watches are great for open water, but a large display watch that records laps and time intervals is more than enough tech to get going.AQUA SPHERE KAYENNE GOGGLES$28Their wide, 180-degree field of view and fog-fighting lenses allow for more situational awareness in the water.SPEEDO SWITCHBLADE FINS$32Increase your speed to improve your position in the water (remember, the more parallel, the better) or to focus on your arm stroke. Medium-length blades will get you swifter without the “cheating” feel of longer ones.…1 min
Men's Journal|January 2018ASK DR. IMBERI put on SPF, so why do ski trips still end in raccoon eyes?Goggle-shaped pale skin against a very tanned face is not a good look. Worse, it means your skin is suffering. It’s great you wear sunscreen, but it may not be enough. At altitude, the atmosphere is thinner, so there’s less resistance to UVA and UVB rays. For every thousand meters above sea level you are, the sun is 10 percent stronger. Snowboarding in the Rockies is five times harder on your skin than surfing in Malibu. And the reflection off the snow nearly doubles the sun’s intensity. Add in low relative humidity, and your skin can get so parched that it can flake or even crack. This is the basis for sun damage, premature aging, and skin…1 min
