A few years ago I switched from a low-quality rolling bag to the Osprey Vector 22″/46L Pack. What a difference. Osprey is an outdoor pack company known for its durability and quality of construction. I travel quite a bit now and the benefits of having a sturdy, max carry-on size, easily maneuverable rolling pack can’t be understated.
Favorite Features:
The Osprey Vector 22 Inch pack complies with the maximum carry-on size requirements for most airlines. Except on small regional jets that specifically exclude rolling luggage, I never have an issue stowing this pack in the overhead compartment.
I was originally turned on to Osprey via Backwoods, my local outdoor retailer of choice. Each year on my birthday I receive a card from them instructing me to come into the store for a free Osprey pack, provided I’ve spent at least $50 at Backwoods that year. I look forward to it every year. I have three of these free smaller Osprey birthday packs now and still use them all regularly. I recommend both companies highly.
Backwoods store locations.
Osprey Vector 22:/46L Pack
$199 via Backwoods
$159 via Amazon
You can find the full list of MM Essentials here. If you have an Essential in your life that you would like to see here, let me know. I’d love to test it out and include it in an upcoming post.
[banner image via Backwoods]
Ebbets Field Flannels make my favorite baseball caps. Unless you’re wearing one to support a specific team, there’s really nowhere else to look. They created their pattern by painstakingly disassembling an original 1954 Cleveland Indians cap and use a period-correct wool broadcloth for the exterior. Most of the hats are $39, but you can get three for $84. There are also several on sale for under $30, including this KC Monarchs cap for $15.
Ebbets Field Flannels Winnipeg Whips 1970 Cap
Ebbets Field Flannels Oakland Oaks 1948 Cap
Ebbets Field Flannels The Natural New York Knights Cap
As a further testament to the quality of Ebbets’ products, Baldwin Denim carries a custom KC hat they had Ebbets make for them. They’re available in Navy/White, Navy/Red, Red/White and Black/White and are outstanding. Pick one up at the store on online here.
Baldwin Denim KC cap in Navy/Red - image via Baldwin Denim
While the caps are the only Ebbets products I currently own, I recently received their Fall 2011 catalog and saw some other pretty great items:
The Fungo Shirt – $55
I really like this one, a wool/cotton two-layer baseball shirt.
This shirt is made exactly the same as the baseball undershirts professional ballplayers wore in the 1950s and 1960s. The outer layer is made of an unbelievably soft blend of merino wool, cotton and nylon. The aerated cotton inner layer provides comfort and absorbs moisture.
The catalog also states that they’ll accept custom requests if you don’t see the team you’re looking for.
Ebbets Field Flannels Kansas City Monarchs Fungo Shirt
Ebbets Field Flannels Brooklyn Tip-Tops Fungo Shirt
Clubhouse Jackets – $179
These are dialed in. Baseball jackets have been showing up everywhere in the last year, but I haven’t seen any that top these.
Ebbets Field Flannels Kansas City Blues Clubhouse Jacket
Ebbets Field Flannels Seattle Rainiers Clubhouse Jacket
T-shirts – $18-$25
Ebbets Field Flannels New Orleans Pelicans T-Shirt
Ebbets Field Flannels San Francisco Seals T-Shirt
Ebbets Field Flannels Boston Bean Eaters T-Shirt
You can find the full list of MM Essentials here. If you have an Essential in your life that you would like to see here, let me know. I’d love to test it out and include it in an upcoming post.
You may not expect this, but my most-used kitchen appliance is the OXO Digital Scale
The model I linked to above is the 5 lb. capacity model that sells for under $30. I have the beefier OXO Digital Scale – 11 lb.
OXO Food Scale - 11 lb.
Any digital scale with a tare function will be useful to you, but my OXO has been performing reliably for several years now. I’ve even dropped it a few times. OXO has become synonymous with quality when applied to kitchen tools. If I’m shopping for a kitchen item, there’s a good chance I’ll look first to see if OXO makes it.
You can find the full list of MM Essentials here. If you have an Essential in your life that you would like to see here, let me know. I’d love to test it out and include it in an upcoming post.
[images via OXO]
