Product Reviews Archives - Page 2 of 5

Top Men’s Briefcases / Messenger Bags For 2019

A stylish and functional bag is one of the most important accessories a man can own and we thought it was high time we updated our previous picks. We love a good backpack of course, but no matter what type of field you work in, carrying your goods in something sharp and professional is important. You’re better than that old, falling-apart school bag.

In this video, we’re running down a batch of the latest and greatest new men’s briefcases and messenger bags for 2019!

Incase – $70

We loved the clean, simple design for those looking for a budget-friendly option. It features a clean, no-frills design and is made from rugged canvas with plenty of padding to protect your goods. It also comes with a shoulder strap for extra flexibility.

Italic – $250

Another bag with a clean, minimal aesthetic, the Italic bag is a great leather option. It features really nice pebbled leather that feels luxurious, especially for its affordable price point. This bag also comes with a removable shoulder strap (in nylon) and an interior padded laptop compartment. The metal feet on the underside were the real drawback as they can sometimes cause damage if you aren’t careful.

Stuart & Lau – $325

This bag features a nice nylon base with leather accents and matte hardware giving it a very sharp design aesthetic. While not all leather, it would be an excellent option for those of you who don’t work in super formal environments. It has nice details with a ton of functional interior pockets and a nice-looking leather shoulder strap with matching hardware. Overall we really liked this bag and felt it was well worth the price given its excellent design and functionality. It comes in multiple colors too.

Bellroy – $590

Dorian is a big fan of their phone cases so we were excited to see one of their briefcases as well. The Bellroy features really nice leather and a lot of structure, which we really like. It has a clean, functional design and some nice touches with its interior contrasting color and nicely integrated eyelets for the shoulder straps. Two things we weren’t in love with were the leather accented nylon shoulder strap and a little bit of excess branding. It’s on the expensive side but we felt like it was definitely worth the investment for those looking for a modern, structured briefcase.

This Is Ground – $649

We’ve featured some of their products before and we’re definitely fans of their high-quality construction and great leather. This bag is on the slim side so it’s definitely for the guy who carries less stuff. It’s got a great minimal design and an exterior pocket for extra storage as well. The interior is very cool and it features a bunch of different organizational compartments for your extra goods and features an interior magnet set up that works with their innovative mod products. It’s definitely on the expensive side but well worth the price for its quality.

Frank Clegg – $900

Dorian’s bag mentioned in the video, very high-quality leather and handmade construction. An investment bag that will last you a lifetime.

Oliver Cabell Low 1 Sneaker Review – Are They Worth It?

By now you probably know how important it is to have a sharp white sneaker in your footwear rotation. They’re probably the most versatile casual shoe you can own. We’ve discussed other styles in the past, and in our latest edition of Worth It, we’re reviewing a new entrant in the minimal white sneaker game, the Low 1 from Oliver Cabell. Tune in and find out if we think these white sneakers are worth it!

Pros:

Great Design – We loved the clean, minimal design and sleek profile. It has a nice shape that’s reminiscent of another one of our favorites, the Adidas Stan Smith, but with a bit slimmer profile.

Good Materials and Construction – We really liked the high-quality leather and solid construction.

Multiple Colors – We tested the white version but there are a bunch of other versatile color options too.

Good Price – While not cheap at $178, they do compare well to pricier options.

Cons:

Squeaking – Our main issue with the shoes, and it was a big one, is that they are incredibly squeaky. We tried two different sizes and unfortunately couldn’t figure out what the issue was, but it was very distracting.

Verdict:

Ashley and Dorian: Not Worth It

While we loved the design and quality, ultimately the squeaking was so pronounced that we just couldn’t get on board.

Shop The Oliver Cabell Low 1 Here

Are These The Best Chino Pants Of 2019?

As we discussed in our Spring Essentials and our Budget-Friendly Chino Pants posts, chino pants are a major wardrobe key. Since we’re in prime chino pants season we thought we’d dive in on the all-new chino pants from our friends over at The Tie Bar. How do they stack up? Are they the best chino pants of 2019?

Extra special thanks to our friends at The Tie Bar for sponsoring this video! Don’t forget to check out our picks and outfit details below.

Materials & Construction

We really liked the stretch chino fabric which had a nice weight and thickness. They are available in 3 versatile colors and have a sharp, dressy feel. You should note that they are flat front but do come with a crease, which we actually didn’t mind since it added a slight slimming effect to the leg.

Fit

The Tie Bar chino pants come in a slim fit that’s trim but not tight. The thighs have a little bit of room and the leg has a nice taper down to the ankle. Overall, these would be a great fit for a range of body types from large to medium builds.

Price

Like with all things Tie Bar, we felt these chinos were a great value for the money at $60 plus free shipping. They’re of high-quality and definitely compare favorably to a lot of the other chinos we see that are more expensive.

Outfit Details

Look 1:

Chinos

Denim Jacket (similar)

Look 2:

Shop everything from The Tie Bar right here:

The Tie Bar Chinos

The Tie Bar Shirts

POTW: The Bullet Journal Method

In this Pick of the Week, Ashley and Dorian are sharing their latest pick to help you get organized, be more productive and crush your goals.

Here’s our guide to the Bullet Journal Method!

Get the Bullet Journal Method book

More Bullet Journal resources:

Learn more here

Bullet Journal Method videos and tutorials

Bullet Journal Method on Reddit

Greats vs Koio vs Common Projects – Which is Best?

We’ve talked about how important white sneakers are to your casual wardrobe. In our latest video, we compared 3 of our favorite white sneakers, Greats, Koio, and Common Projects, to find out which ones we liked best. They all have their pros and cons so tune in to the video to see which ones we liked best! Don’t forget to check out the special offer below from our friends at Koio.

Common Projects

Pros:

Clean, minimal design
High-quality leather

Cons:

High price

Koio

(Use code ASHLEY at checkout for a free pair of shoe trees with purchase!)

Pros:

Clean, minimal design
High-quality leather
Suede accent adds a unique touch
Good value

Cons:

Moderately high price

Greats

Classic design
Lowest price

Cons:

Poor value
Comfort / inside seam issues

POTW: Leather Weekender Bag

We see a ton of bags, some good ones and plenty of bad ones, and finding a good-looking AND well-priced leather weekender bag can be super tough. We recently got a chance to check out one of the weekender bags from Beckett Simonon and we were so impressed we had to make it our Pick of the Week!

The bag features excellent leather quality, a solid build and a nice set of features, all at a great price. We loved the tan color but it also comes in a few other colorways. Make sure to check out the links below for all the options!

Tan Weekender Bag

Black Weekender Bag

Oxblood Weekender Bag

Their Other Collections

Dorian’s Outfit

Topman Shirt

Barton Perreira Glasses

Nvidia Grenchen Chronomaster (Vintage)

Watch Strap

Worth It? Cashmere Sweaters

Now that we’re headed into Fall it’s about time you start thinking about your sweater rotation. While cashmere is expensive, it’s no longer just a true luxury item, and you can now find cashmere sweaters at multiple different price points. We get asked about cashmere sweaters a ton so we thought it was time we gave you our opinion on whether or not cashmere was worth it.

Pros:

-Very light, soft, and warm. Cashmere is the ideal material for sweaters.

-They are extremely comfortable and layer easily.

-Have a nice finish that can be dressy or casual.

Cons:

-Expensive to very expensive.

-Delicate and require extra care. Not as durable as merino wool or cotton versions.

-Cashmere sweaters now come at a huge range of price points so it can be tough to know the quality.

Verdict:

Ashley: Worth It
Dorian: Not Worth It

Picks

Designer:

Budget Friendly:

Worth It? Nike J.Crew Killshot 2

As I’ve mentioned before, solid white sneakers are a casual staple that no man should be without. Over the past few years the Nike for J.Crew Killshots have gotten very popular, so we wanted to discuss whether they’re actually worth the $100 price tag or not.

Pros

-Great, vintage/classic design.

-A versatile basic color scheme with blue, white and gray.

-I like the vintage look of the Nike logo back detail.

Cons

-The gum sole – I’m not a fan.

-Better looking alternatives available – they’re basically a white sneaker with a really weird colored sole that gets even worse as they get worn and dirty.

-Price is high relative to similar shoes.