North Face Recon Daypack
My wife will tell you that I have a sick obsession with bags. I've got messenger bags and briefcases of every stripe. The one type of bag in my arsenal that hasn't changed that much is the backpack. The reason is simple. About fifteen years ago, my father gave me an L.L. Bean Daypack that I've used religiously. I have subjected that poor bastard to every form of abuse known to man (the pack... not Dad). No matter what I do to it (and this includes one that got set on fire... don't ask), L.L. Bean would send me a brand-new one whenever I sent them the old one.
That is hard customer service to beat.
The design is old, though. That bag was a design that is about twenty years old, and it is more slanted toward school books than hiking. On the advice of a friend, I decided to make an investment and see what they've improved in daypacks in the past twenty years.
Short answer? A lot.
The color scheme on mine is different than the one in the picture, but the basic build is the same. The Recon has a semi-rigid internal frame, and I love that. The problem with most soft daypacks is that the weight distribution is terrible. No matter how you shoulder or strap it, it strains your lower back. Not so with this one. That alone would be enough to sell me on it. I've kept this, fully loaded, on my back for a couple hours while standing with no problems.
There's some other cool stuff, too. There's a port for a hydration system (if you're into that sort of thing) that doubles as a laptop sleeve. Two side pockets for one-liter bottles. Everything on it is water-resistant, with a couple pockets that are fully water proof. There are good built-in cinching straps and attachment points.One of my favorite features is how air-flow channels are built into the back and the straps, so that sweat will dry easy and wick away. That might not seem important to some, but believe me, if you've ever strapped a pack to your back and covered miles in Florida heat, some way to deal with your sweat is a godsend.
It's pricey (I'm sure a chunk of the money I paid went to the logo), but you do get what you pay for. It is well thought out, very functional, and it has good ergonomics. If you take care of your stuff (I'm getting better at it as I get older), I think this would last quite a long time. And for me? Backpacks are in that same family as shoes, phones, and whiskey: if you can afford quality, don't scrimp!
I'll let you know about how good the warranty is from NF if (read: when) I bust it.
Spyderco Delica
As you know, I'm really fascinated by how our species has refined cutting instruments. I've been pursuing free-hand sharpening as a pseudo-hobby for years. As a result, I'm really picky about any kind of cutting instrument.
Most of the tools I've enjoyed in this field are in more affordable steels. I tend to range between 440A and 8cr13Mov (which is the lowest level of "super steel", made in China). For years, I've heard people gush about how fantastic Japanese VG-10 steel is. I figured I would give it a shot, so I got a Delica.
I should mention before you hear my opinions that I really like Spyderco as a company. While I don't agree with all their design choices, I really admire their obsessive research/refinement process, and their willingness to do things that "aren't done" because they work better, tradition be damned.
Delica has gone through four evolutions over the years. The current model is the result of a lot of research, and a lot of dialogue with the end users. It fits the Spyderco mold I mentioned above: the thing looks like a freaking science experiment, and I did not like it until I held it. Once I did... dude. The ergonomics on this particular tool are amazing. The Spyderhole (I always thought that was a weird term) makes opening very easy, and the shape of the handle and thumb ramp make for the best feel in hand I've ever experienced in a pocket-knife. They've strengthened the blade's point and changed its geometry, so that it isn't likely to break in the even of an accidental drop.
Not to say dropping would be safe. The best feature of this knife is the VG-10 steel that is surrounded by all the puppies and rainbows everyone mentions. The steel is mirror polished and fully flat ground, so the knife slices exceptionally. The curvature helps with that, too (though it isn't quite as curved as I like). The best quality of this steel is its ridiculous edge retention. It came sharp enough to shave with, and after two months of hard use, I can still shave with it. So, if you do drop it... get the hell out of the way before you lose a toe.
The pocket clip rides a little high for my taste, especially if you set it so that it rides point-up in the pocket (you can do up or down, left or right - that's a nice feature, too). I like the matte-black clip, but any understatement you get with that dark clip is killed by the fact that the damn thing sticks almost an inch out of your pocket when clipped. But again, that goes to Spyderco's philosophy. It is easier to grab if it sticks out... and these Spyderco people worship at the temple of practical applications.
The lock is a mid-lock. Per Spyderco, this is the lightest, strongest lock they have. It's rated to about 100 lbs per blade-inch, so call it safe to 300 lbs of pressure on this blade. Short version: this thing ain't closing accidentally. Ever.
Like the Recon, the Delica 4 is a bit pricey. Mine ran me $50 on Amazon. You're paying for that expensive blade steel. So, the question is how much you care about sharpening, appearance, and ergonomics. You can get a decent blade that will handle most anything for $20-30 bucks. Delica is a good investment if you A) use a knife a lot and B) will be able to hold onto something and use it long enough to get your money's worth out of it. I'm not sure I'd own a $50 pocket knife if I was prone to losing them. Luckily, I'm not, so I think this investment will yield good results for years to come.
