Every month, the Cool Material team tests, tries, and lives with all sorts of new (or new to us) goods. The Black Book is where we showcase the ones we most recommend right now.
This month, we’re loving Nike trail runners, packs that take sustainability to a new level, hemp button-ups, and a pour over camping set that will make even a rugged set up feel like glamping (even if it’s only for that first cup of Joe sipped while watching the sunrise).
Men's AKHG Lost Lake 10" Swim Shorts with Liner
[PARTNER] Adventures in the water are nothing without the right gear that checks two key boxes: durability to last as long as the warm weather season after season, and comfort. Duluth Trading Co.’s AKHG Lost Lake Shorts are crafted to cover that much and more. There’s the flexible fabric (92% recycled polyester and 8% Spandex) and colorfast treated and water-shedding finish for the former. A gusseted crotch that opens up more flexibility without any pinching or bunching helps out with the latter, as does a fabric liner equipped with Duluth’s cooling tech. Plus, this wave-filled fish print is always eye-catching in all the right ways.
Buy: $74.50
Nike Juniper Trail 3
[PARTNER] If you're going to embark on some trail running, make sure to invest in the proper footwear. Nike's Juniper sneaker is specifically built to offer maximum protection and comfort while you glide over roots, rocks, and fallen branches. Even in rainy conditions, the Juniper Trail 3 gives you plenty of support and grip so you can stride confidently without slipping.
Buy: $90
NEMO Vantage 26L Endless Promise Everyday Adventure Daypack
There are brands that have built a reputation for sustainable practices, and then there are brands go full-in on sustainability in a way that surpasses every industry standard and then some. NEMO’s position in the “full-in” category of brands is on full display with it’s first line of packs released this year. The Vantage is part of NEMO’s Endless Promise collection of sustainable gear, and the Vantage is fully recyclable. But it would take some work to even get to the point of needing a replacement with how durable, adjustable, and repairable the packs are: the recycled yarn fabric has a 2x higher tear strength than industry standard and is 1.5x more water resistant, and the Vantage uses recyclable CCubed cushioning instead of traditional foam for back padding. Of course, all the pack sustainability in the world would be useless if the pack itself didn’t work well. NEMO’s designs make this a go-to for just about anything from the work commute to the gym to the weekend getaway (in a remote adventure setting or otherwise).
Buy: $199.95
Nikwax Fabric & Leather Footwear DUO-Pack
There’s an art to properly maintaining a pair of leather boots or shoes. The best shoes get wear and tear–a lot of it, if they’re as good as you believe them to be. Cleaning and waterproofing will keep them if not pristine, then with an earned patina year after year. Nikwax has for decades created waterproofing and cleaning solutions that skip the products filled with chemicals you wouldn’t normally want anywhere near your skin. The full product line is PFC free and has passed on harmful solvents and fluorocarbons since before those were sustainability buzzwords. Nixwax cleaners and waterproofers breathe new life into your favorite footwear, and keeps the water out so your feet can stay warm and dry even when the weather turns.
Buy: $
Royal Robbins Mens Hempline Short Sleeve
Hemp has woven its way into more and more clothing brands in recent years. The outdoor category is no different. Royal Robbins is known more for it’s adventure ethos than for chasing pure aesthetics (the founder and the man the brand gets its name from is a rock climbing legend, after all). That doesn’t mean looks are sacrificed in the brand’s more leisurely performance wear, though. This breathable, odor-resistant, and endlessly soft button-up is made with 53% hemp, 44% recycled polyester, and 3% Spandex for some stretch. It’s the type of shirt to take your afternoon run or bike ride in style and then wear it straight to the brewery. It has a standard fit that hugs just close enough without coming off as too tight, and the chest pocket has a dedicated sunglass sleeve.
Buy: $70.40
DOD Pour Over and Chill Set
The Japanese company DOD is new to the American market following an exclusive distribution partnership with GR8 Outdoors, but it’s been active in its home market since 1997. It’s hard to understate how much those of us stateside have been missing. DOD makes outdoor and camping gear that provide a touch of luxury and an enviable Japanese design and ethos. Case in point: the Pour Over and Chill Set. It makes the perfect pour over coffee even when you’re hundreds of miles away from your favorite coffeeshop (or the even the nearest cafe). The aesthetics match the functionality. Sure, no one will be taking this on a thru-hike (probably), but the one-pound set-up is compact and light enough to make it a must for overlanding, car camping trips, or even a little backyard tent set up as the sun rises.
Buy: $59
Salewa Fanes Sarner Light Pant
The end of July may mean the end of “peak summer,” but it’s not the end of hot weather–especially these days. There’s always room for another lightweight summer pant with that in mind. Italian brand Salewa, which made its name among the dedicated Alpine climbing set, makes pants that perform well on the trail and look just as good off it. It’s a blend of 63% cotton, 35% polyamide, and 2% elastane. The mix makes moving any angle your legs can easy. It also helps to ensure the only sweat you have is coming from exertion, not heat-trapping clothing. The straight leg and button waistband adds a specific sense of enviable Euro style. The Fanes are also part of the Salewa Committed program, which specifies products that are both chemical verified and third-party tested as well as produced in a factory that’s monitored for fair working conditions. To add onto that, all Salewa Committed products have at least one of the following qualities: PFAS-free, remade with at least 50% recycled materials or recycled and natural materials, or uses responsibly sourced down.
Buy: $119.95
Nightowl Canned Espresso Martinis
The bar world seems to (happily) be mostly over the espresso martini craze that started just before the pandemic and seemed to really explode in the past couple of years. Truth is, not every place that serves alcohol is equipped to make an espresso martini that actually tastes like it’s supposed to. Chances are, you aren’t either. But you don’t have to be with Nightowl. These canned espresso martinis are just as good as what you’d get at a high-end bar and come in two styles that you can take anywhere: a tequila espresso martini made with one shot of tequila and two shots of espresso for a nitro-infused, 12.5% ABV cocktail containing 100mg of natural caffeine; and a vodka version that has the same balance but swaps the spirit of choice. You know the classic, but you’ll fall for Nightowl’s original (the tequila version) just as hard.
Buy (4-pack): $20Black Book: The Cool Material Editors’ Favorite Things Right Now: June 2024
Embrace all that summer has to offer with some of our favorite products this month, from outdoor entertainment systems to clothing and luggage.
