Category: Non-Leather Reviews

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How To Customize Your Trucker Hat

 

Mainstream fashion has seen the rise of the trucker hat once again, with celebrities and influencers casually adding it to their looks, leading to an increase in public demand for the hat. A type of baseball cap, a trucker hat is also known as mesh or netback cap due to the plastic mesh at the back.

In the 1970s, the trucker hat was called ‘feed cap’ or ‘gimme (give me) cap’ because animal feed manufacturers in the US used them as promotional giveaways to farmers, truck drivers, and other workers. The caps advertised these suppliers while providing relief and protection for blue-collar workers working in the heat of the sun. 

Trucker Hats Popularized In Later Years

In the following years, the trucker hat was used by more companies to promote their brand and by various groups to bear their logos. Hat companies also started selling these hats as protective headwear. 

In the fashion world, wearing a trucker hat was popularized as a casual look and later promoted by celebrities, especially in the 1990s. Aside from truckers and farmers, the trucker hat was also embraced by skaters and other youth subcultures well into the 2000s. By the late 2010s and early 2020s, trucker hats have remained popular and considered part of mainstream fashion.


Different Trucker Hat Styles To Choose From

The defining feature of a trucker hat is its foam front section along with the mesh at the back for breathability. Compared to baseball caps, trucker hats have a slightly curved bill with six triangular gores and a distinguishing button at the top. It’s also adjustable at the back, making it a one-size-fits-all headwear. 

There are numerous styles to choose from, and here are some of them:

    • Two Tone Trucker Hats: These trucker hats are composed of two colors. Usually, the front foam section’s color differs from that of the bill and mesh. It’s easier to pair two tone hats with any outfit, making it a good choice if you’re planning to elevate your look. 
    • Snapback Trucker Hat: The snapback trucker cap became popular in the 2010s, with the rise of modern hip-hop culture that incorporated the trucker cap as a fashion statement. It has a foam front and a mesh back but with a shorter, flat bill with a stitched design. By the mid-2010s, many celebrities, influencers, and those following the y2k trend on the internet sported this snapback trucker cap look. 
    • Curved Brim Snapback Hat: This is similar to the snapback trucker cap, with a curved longer bill at the front. The distinctive feature of these snapbacks is the plastic snapping straps located at the back that allow the user to easily adjust the cap according to head size. This type is donned casually in street-style fashion and can be seen worn by celebrities and influencers. 
    • Dad Trucker Hat: Trucker hats usually stand upright due to the foam in the front panel of the cap. One variation, the dad trucker hat, is similar in many aspects to the usual trucker hat but without the foam in the front supporting its structure. These hats have a more relaxed fit, usually worn casually by middle-aged men, thus earning the name dad hat. 

 

  • Paparazzi Cap: The innovative paparazzi trucker cap features a snap lock at the side of the hat where a detachable face mask can be placed both for protection and anonymity. This trucker hat got its name because it obscures the face, allowing celebrities to avoid the paparazzi.  
  • Leather Trucker Hat: If you’re going for a less casual, more stylish look for your trucker hat, you can opt for one made of genuine cowhide leather. It’s similar to the usual trucker hat but with leather as the material for the front section of the cap. This makes the casual trucker hat look more formal, and you can also match it with other leather apparel.

 

You may opt for any of the styles above to accessorize your outfit. 

Designs You Can Incorporate Into Your Trucker Hat

You can customize your trucker hat using the following:

  • Distressed Woven Badge: The most common addition to trucker hats is the distressed woven badge, a stylish design with a casual, rugged look. The woven badge usually has an illustration or a logo stitched in the foam front part of the hat. You can choose from various designs to customize your hat according to your personality. 
  • Woven Label: For a more stylish touch, a woven label can be attached to the front part of the hat. The chosen design is woven into the label itself, then glued or stitched onto the front of the trucker hat. Most apparel companies usually have this design for their trucker hats, making the logo subtle yet bold. 
  • Screen-Printed Logo: For many companies that still use trucker hats for advertising their products, a screen-printed logo is a better option. It results in a smoother finish because the design is printed flat on the front foam panel of the trucker hat. This option is also ideal for more intricate designs. Furthermore, this printing technique permits mass production and costs less.  
  • 3D Embroidery: If you’re looking for a design that’s more straightforward yet makes a bold statement, you may opt for 3D embroidery. This type of embroidery, also called foam or puff embroidery, is another interesting way to customize your trucker hat. The usual designs include single letters or initials in bold font, stitched onto the front panel of the trucker hat, making it the focal point of the headwear.

With these options, personalizing your trucker hat is a cinch.

Conclusion

The trucker hat, which became popular among rural workers in the 1970s, is undoubtedly part of mainstream fashion today. There are many styles to choose from, including snapback, curved brim snapback, dad hat, and paparazzi hat. In addition, there are two-tone trucker hats and those with leather front panels.

If you want to customize your trucker hat, you can add woven badges, screen-printed logos, or 3D embroidered designs. You may pair it with any outfit that matches the casual look of the trucker hat. You can wear it front-facing or backward if you’re going for a more street-style look. Either way, trucker hats with always be the casual cap that will never go out of style and looks good on practically everyone.

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Goruck Weighted Sandbag Review – $145.00

Disclosure: We are a professional review site that receives compensation from the companies whose products we review. We test each product thoroughly and give high marks to only the very best. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed are our own.

2020 has been a rough year, there were severe shortages in major areas such as medical masks, disinfectant and the almighty toilet paper roll. Another lesser known shortage was home fitness equipment. Gyms shut down and tens of thousands were scrambling for exercise machines, dumbbells- even a thigh master or shake weight were fetching hefty premiums. It was in this search I found a brilliant product, the Goruck Weighted Sandbag.

Construction

The Goruck Sandbag is made of 1000D Cordura – That’s about twice as thick as the nylon on the old Jansport you had in 5th grade. For zippers we see heavy duty YKK zips with paracord pulls. All critical stress areas are double or triple stitched. This bag has a lifetime guarantee. If you somehow manage to break the bag, Goruck will fix it..and probably wonder how on earth you managed that. The sand (You must supply) is kept securely in a tough nylon bag with double folding velcro – Don’t worry, the sand does not escape at all.

Function

This bag can do it all. There are multiple handles positioned on the tops, sides and ends of the bag. You can perform shrugs, squats, bicep curls, log lifts and the list goes on and on. I really enjoy the near instant transitions. I can go from body squats to bent over rows to shrugs without setting the bag down once.

Please note, you do have to get the sand at your local hardware store to fill the inner pocket. I strongly suggest “Play Sand” that has been washed and sifted – Anything else and you risk powder seeping through the nylon. See the below video on how to fill it. 

Aesthetic 

A cursory glance and the Goruck looks like a slender duffle bag. The tank like construction looks at home among the rubber mats, iron plates and dumbbells in my basement gym. At the end of the day it’s a tool and looks are nugatory. However, this tool happens to look pretty awesome. 

Conclusion 

At $145, The Goruck Sandbag is a bit pricey considering other options on the market. When it comes to something as messy as sand, and the fact that the bag endures tremendous stress and abuse through training – I would only trust Goruck – Saving $50 bucks and having a bag rip at the seams would be no fun- Buy the best and cry once. This fitness tool offers endless uses and will be a staple in your home gym for years. 

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Triple Aught Design Parallax Messenger Bag Review – $315.00

The backpack vs messenger bag debate has been going on for quite some time. Backpacks usually offer more capacity and utility, whereas messengers are more “grown up” and easier to access. In this installment, we take a look at the Triple Aught Design Parallax Messenger Bag, which I think does a great job at meshing the strong suits of both bag types into one cohesive carry option.

Construction

The Parallax is composed mainly of a proprietary ripstop nylon produced by Dimension-Polyant, a major manufacturer of professional grade sailcloth. You know those boats that are skimming halfway out of the water piloted by dudes with Rolex watches? Yeah, that kind of sailcloth. It’s essentially a combination 200 Denier Nylon with special X-Ply Polyester tafetta backing, a .25 mil PET Film, which is described as “BOPET (Biaxially Oriented Polyethylene Terephthalate) is a polyester film made from orientated polyethylene terephthalate (PET). BOPET is used because of its high tensile strength, chemical and dimensional stability, transparency, reflectivity, gas and aroma barrier properties and electrical insulation.” So, we’re talking about some serious hardware here. The material is inherently water and abrasion resistant.

Measurements come in at 18” (45.72cm) W X 12” (30.48cm) H X 5” (12.7cm) D and the Triple Aught Design Parallax weighs just over 2 lbs empty. TAD spared no expense with the YKK zippers, Fidlock/Duraflex buckles too, the feature list on this pack goes on and on.

Function

Typically messenger style bags fall just out of my usage range, often being too narrow to carry bulkier items. The Parallax Messenger hits that sweet spot of being just big enough without being obtrusive. You can easily fit a water bottle, light sweater, laptop/tablet and bagged lunch in this pack. If you ride a motorcycle you’ll appreciate the underarm supplemental strapping that keeps the bag secure and stows away when not in use.

This bag has tons of pockets and ways to organize your things. It’s definitely fun tweaking it to your needs. The material used for the bag is somewhat loud when handling, vaguely comparable to opening a bag of fiery cheetos. The buckles utilize a magnet to snap into place, then must be slid out – this makes shutting your bag easy but opening it a little more involved, which is what you want – your gear secure.

 

Aesthetic 

Triple Aught Design has a very clean, signature aesthetic. No unnecessary  embellishments or gimmicky style ques. The bag is a purely functional tool, which happens to look great. This could work in a number of situations, allowing you to transition pretty seamlessly from casual to business. All of the quality components down to the stitching just give the bag a classic appeal that still manages to be under the radar.

Please TAD Responsibly

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conclusion

Triple Aught Design is one of the few apparel and gear companies that keep American manufacturing ahead of the competition. Their designs are iconic and have been replicated, duplicated and sometimes downright ripped off by other brands. The real McCoy stands out. Triple Aught Design’s Parallax Messenger uses cutting edge materials and every facet of design has been meticulously thought out. All of this innovation commands a premium price, so it consider your budget and end uses carefully.

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KeySmart CleanKey Brass Hand Tool Review – $24.99

As the Novel Coronavirus continues to infiltrate every aspect of our lives, we’ve come to realize the “New Normal” that surrounds us. Wash your hands, limit contact, wear a mask, etc – It’s can be overwhelming, and we’re seeing a lot of new products to help alleviate the common concerns of limiting chances of contracting Covid 19. One tool in particular is the KeySmart CleanKey Brass Hand Tool – 

Construction

 

The CleanKey is composed of 70% Brass and 30% Zinc this combination of metals produces the alloy Brass. One of the most pertinent properties of brass is that it’s antimicrobial. There are countless scientific studies backing this up, microbes just can’t sustain themselves on brass surfaces, so much so that Laboratory testing has shown that copper and its alloys, brass and bronze, kill more than 99.9 percent of bacteria, such as the superbug Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, within two hours.

The Cleankey measures about 3.5” long and weighs 1.8 ounces, or about as much as a pack of gum for all you metric folk. It has a large trigger for leverage and knurling along the top for grip. The machining is actually pretty decent and smooth.

 

Function

I just want to get possibly my biggest caveat out of the way, your hands will smell like pennies from handling this. It’s perfectly ok, but that’s just the price you pay for Brass. I’ve been using the KeySmart CleanKey almost non stop for a month now. I’m out and about quite a bit for my secular job, and this has been great for opening doors and punching buttons at gas stations. 

With a little finesse you can even get some turn knob doors to open. I find the stylus capabilities a little lacking. It sometimes takes a few tries for a touch screen to register a punch, but it does work. The included retractable carabiner makes it so accessible it becomes second nature using the CleanKey.

Aesthetic 

The CleanKey is actually pretty good looking. It’s simplistic design and solid brass construction really leave no kinks in the looks department. It doesn’t seem out of place and looks pretty slick hanging from your belt loops. I think it fits in with my EDC quite well. They say form follows function, but here we’re rarely treated to both in equal measures.

 

Conclusion

I am very pleased with the Keysmart CleanKey. It’s small footprint and ease of use really makes it a formidable weapon in the war on cooties. At just $24.99 I think it’s more than a bargain, considering it will last you for years. The natural properties of brass means this tool will also never lose its antimicrobial properties. They’ve been selling like hot cakes, so if you want one, I’d suggest visiting the site often. 

 

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Trayvax Summit Wallet & Trek Field Knife Review – $34.99 & 169.99

I’ve been following Trayvax since the beginning when they offered just one extraordinary wallet. Since then they’ve grown and expanded their product line with tons of other cool gear. I wanted to spotlight on one of their original designs as well as one of their totally new offerings. We’re big on EDC here at Bestleather so taking a look at a couple core components was a rare treat. Read on for the full scoop!

Construction

The Summit Wallet is one of Trayvax marquee products. A no nonsense card and cash carry device in a radical design.  Constructed of solid steel with a mil-spec nylon strap, the Summit is a simple, durable wallet. The wallet is also treated with a melonite finish which hardens the metal without adding another layer to it.

The Trek Field Knife is a skeletonized frame composed of CPM S35VN Stainless Steel – This steel has a respectable 58-61 on the Rockwell Hardness Scale. CPM S35VN Stainless Steel also has superior edge retention and corrosion resistance. Blade length is 3.5”

Function

The Summit is a minimalist wallet in function. The updated version now offers RFID blocking, a seeming must have feature in today’s technologically advancing society. You can fit about 5 or so cards comfortably and about 6 or so cash bills. If like me, you don’t handle cash that much, this isn’t an issue. However if you’re constantly in and out for cash, I’d consider it a little more closely. It works great as a front pocket carry.

The Trek Field Knife is definitely a unique knife and follows Trayvax’s signature line of innovative designs. It’s an ambidextrous design that allows several retrieval options from the supplied holster.

I’m a big fan of the steel used, but not a fan of the handle. I’m thinking of wrapping it with paracord to give it better grip and ergonomics. The slim profile is definitely unobtrusive and really blends in with your everyday attire. This knife can cut rope as well as it can peel an apple.

Aesthetic 

The great thing about Trayvax, is that their designs are almost instantly recognizable.  Even a knife and a wallet, two very unrelated objects and you can tell their kin. The skeletal structures are very industrial but polished as well. They’re so different from the norm, I find myself just fidgeting with my wallet sometimes – appreciating all that metalloid goodness.

Conclusion

Trayvax is a great American company. Their innovative products have spawned a legion of copycats. The design isn’t for everyone, but you can’t deny the unique angle of both the Trayvax Summit Wallet and Trek Field Knife.

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Mujjo Double-Insulated Touchscreen Gloves – €49.50

Anyone who has lived in a cold climate in the 21st century knows the deal. It’s cold–really cold. You’re walking to your car or enjoying the big game at the stadium. You’re already having a hard time keeping your hands warm, and the last thing you want to do is take them out of your pockets, out of your gloves, and expose them to the weather. But you have to answer that call or text or check something on the internet. You either have to make your hands suffer, use your nose, or try those cheap thin gloves that claim to have touchscreen capability but never do and don’t keep your hands warm anyway. Or you could use the Mujjo Double-Insulated Touchscreen Gloves.

About Mujjo

Mujjo (pronounced ‘moo-joe’) is a Dutch designer label that began in 2011. Their attitude towards design is to take something simple and make it as perfect as possible. This has resulted in an impressive lineup of fine leather tech accessories. Each is made to look and feel luxurious while also fulfilling it’s intended function fully. In their own words:

We try to make our products as simple, striking and functional as possible. This is something that dates back to our early days and will continue as we challenge ourselves going forwards.

Materials & Construction

There’s clearly two focuses in the assembly of these gloves: keeping your hands warm and letting them use a touch screen. These gloves are assembled with several layers of warmth, including a 3M Thinsulate layer. The materials are enhanced to work with a touchscreen using a conductive treatment on the fabric. To make smart device use even better, grips are placed in strategic spots on the palms and fingers and the material is assembled to try to maximize flexibility in the thumb. 

These materials are very well assembled. Stitches are strong, and both from visual inspection and use I’m given the impression of longevity. In the few months I’ve been testing these gloves they’ve held up perfectly and show no signs of wear.

Function

If you’re looking for slim, fashionable gloves that keep you warm in extremely cold weather, look no further. These gloves are incredibly warm. If I put them on before I step outside, my hands start to sweat! I was recently stuck in an arm immobilizing sling for 6 weeks. My sling hand wasn’t moving and I couldn’t put it in my pocket or protect it with a jacket. As a result, it was always cold and my skin would get really dry in the winter weather. These gloves were the solution. 

Next let’s look at the touch screen performance. I’d say these are a step above less expensive touch screen gloves, but not quite like using your bare hands. I was impressed to sometimes be able to even play mobile games with the gloves on, with near-perfect responsiveness. However, there were also frustrating times when it felt like I couldn’t get any touches to register without trying different fingers or swiping. I wasn’t able to figure out when this happened, so I asked Mujjo about it. Turns out, this can happen when it’s simply too warm! The way the conductive treatment works actually performs best in colder temperatures, so if you want to use a touchscreen, best to take them off indoors.

Other touchscreen features work really well. The silicone pads are in just the right spots to help you have a sure grip on your device. These are also definitely the warmest gloves I’ve worn that provide a fair amount of finger dexterity, allowing you to reach the far corners of your smart phone. These gloves seem to have been designed with real hand mechanics in mind, and the bit of stretch helps as well. 

A quick note on sizing for anyone looking to order: after measuring with their sizing tools, I was between a medium and large, and Mujjo suggested a large size to me. I think I probably could have gone either way here, as the gloves are just a hair big on me. This will probably come down to personal preference if, like me, you find yourself between sizes. 

Aesthetic

Hard to go wrong with slim profile, black gloves. You’ll fit in just fine out playing in the snow or heading to a board meeting. The Mujjo gloves are both professional and discrete. They have a bit of a driver’s glove appearance to them and are very attractive.

Conclusion

I’d recommend the Mujjo Double-Insulated Touchscreen Gloves to anyone who is in need of a very, very warm set of gloves that aren’t bulky and come with some added touchscreen capabilities (if you don’t need bitter-freezing capable gloves, Mujjo have a standard insulated glove as well!). They’re reasonably priced and are far more functional than any other glove I’ve used that’s able to handle such low temperatures.

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Loctote Flak Sack II Anti Theft Backpack Review – $129.00

It all started last week. My wife and daughter were at the community pool, it was a blistering 90 plus outside and the place was packed. We grabbed a patch of grass by the fences, about 30 feet from the water. We had brought our phones and wallets with us and obviously couldn’t take them in the water, so we took turns swimming with our daughter. It was ridiculous. It was after that ordeal that I started looking for a secure option to store our personal belongings when out and about. That’s how I found out about the Loctote Flak Sack II Anti Theft Backpack.

Construction

The Flak Sack is built like a traditional drawstring pack with some very interesting features. The fabric is made from Loctote’s proprietary Flaknit, a highly slash and abrasion resistant material. Loctote states this bag scored an impressive A9 cut level. I believe this is an actual ANSI based guideline, so this rates up there for safety equipment used in industrial applications where contact with dangerously sharp materials is performed frequently. The drawstrings are also made of slash resistant textiles. The bag has a large open compartment with a smaller RFID blocking fleece lined interior. We also see a steel reinforced locking strap to keep prying hands out.

The bag weighs about 2lbs empty (including lock) and measures in at 18”x14”

Function 

The Flak Sack II functions much like your standard drawstring bag. The material is a little rigid and less pliable than nylon, which is kind of expected given the security features. The main compartment makes stowing gear pretty easy, but this bag will fill up quick, and you can’t stuff it to the brim. I found out the hard way because you can’t cinch it completely shut and get the lock on if it’s packed. So definitely try to keep the bag about 75% loaded at most. 

The drawstrings are also slash resistant. I think it would have been great if they had steel cable running through them to add even more reinforcement. There’s video of guys making multiple attempts at slashing them though with little success though, but you’d have to be at it awhile and cause a scene to get this bag open. The locking function is pretty easy once you see it done on video. Once secured the bag is cinched so tight you can’t even get a finger inside the bag.

The major selling point for me is the ability to lock it to stationary objects like posts or fences. I wish I had this bag in college. You could leave your expensive electronics locked to your bedpost! The RFID blocking feature is a nice bonus, although I pity whomever wasted their time trying to get into my laughable finances in the first place.

Aesthetic

Drawstring bags aren’t typically great looking, usually towing the line between teenager at soccer practice and gym bro man bag. However Loctote did a nice job “adulting” it up a bit. The material is inherently thicker, so the bag has a more quality look and feel to it. The leather accents really do a great job at adding a subtle flair to the bag. It comes in a few other colorways like heather and digital camo if you want something a little more conspicuous. 

Conclusion

I want to point out that no anti theft device is fail proof. However, Loctote’s Flak Sack II definitely adds peace of mind when storing your goods. The fact that the Flak Knit material is so resistant to cuts and punctures just adds to the “It” factor. I like the fact that I’m wearing a bag that could quite literally double as a shield against edged weapons. I wish it was a little bigger and cost a little less, but that’s the price of innovation. All in all, it’s definitely worth a look if you travel with a lot of expensive goodies and find yourself away from your pack at times.