Gear Review: Tinlid Thrive Hat

Tinlid Thrive Hat

I wear baseball caps on the daily, at least until temperatures drop and my trusty collection of brimmed lids are replaced by skull caps for the winter. There is a reason the baseball cap is a staple of American dress and has been for generations. It protects one from the sun in high heat (especially for baldies like me) and holds in warmth when things get a little cooler. The brim shields ones eyes from harsh sunlight or can be reversed to keep sun off the neck when needed. Let's face it, baseball caps also offer a highly functional  and utilitarian way to express a bit of fashion and aesthetic sensibility, too. In the case of the Tinlid Thrive Hat, one has the added advantage of expressing social values in addition to solid, rough hewn style. This is because Tinlid Hat Company was founded with a social mission to have a positive impact on the planet. For every hat sold, the company plants fifteen trees, working in partnership with Trees for the Future, an organization that works to revitalize degraded lands in impoverished areas.

Gear Haiku: Thrift Store Beanie

Thrift Store Fleece Beanie

Why So Plaid? A Case For Going Off The Grid

When evaluating any critique of bourgeois market goods, one must be wary of first world complaints made by shallow consumers born of privilege and harboring a deep seeded sense of entitlement. However, there are some serious and legitimate inquiries to be made regarding the manufacture, sale, and distribution of goods in a global economy of limited resources. Clearly the question of why – WHY – so many manufacturers of outdoor clothing choose to incorporate plaid patterns into almost any collared shirt when solid colors are obviously superior by any legitimate aesthetic merit; well, this question falls squarely in the latter category, I'm sure you'll agree. This matters, and you know it. Now, lest I tempt you to place me among those indulgent first-world hang-wringers, please note I purchase almost all of my clothing used from ebay or thrift stores. This is by virtue of the simple fact that I am a morally superior being. It has nothing to do with a limited bank account and a tendency towards fanatical frugality. But, let’s get back to the matter at hand, this plaid and its unrelenting ubiquity.