Our Favorite Things This Month
TAM’s top recommendations for October 2024
Your go-to resource for the finest men’s gear and apparel picks, based on our latest hands-on reviews.
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Pick of the month
You haven't really tried dress socks until you've tried cashmere dress socks, and Peper Harow do it the way we like it. Classy colors, high needle gauge, and just the right fabric mix for consistently luxurious comfort.
Bags
You’ll notice a trend as you develop into a self-respecting adult man. The growing importance of appropriateness. Appropriate clothing, appropriate demeanor, and appropriate bags. Here are our top picks this month.
Our favorite no frills carryall. Boasting genuine leather handles and sturdy construction, Bespoke Post's classy Weekender offers excellent value for money.
Sturdy waxed nylon is the star of this classy weekender bag show. And for good reason---it's robust and waterproof, yet lightweight enough to not give you a shoulder ache on your travels. We also love that it comes with a water repellant drawstring bag for storing your wet towels or shoes.
This tech-inspired minimalist bag has just the right balance of structure and space. Public Rec calls it a Weekender, but it's become a mainstay of the workweek for us.
Paravel’s fairly priced, designer quality Fold-Up bag is a versatile travel essential that can adapt to almost any packing scenario---whether it’s a weekend getaway, daytime excursion or an everyday trip to the gym.
Pants
If we’ve learned anything from the pandemic lockdown, it’s that a pair of comfortable pants can be the difference between a good inside day and a bad inside day.
If you’re going to get joggers, choose quality. The minimalist slim fit design on these joggers hits an excellent balance between comfort and performance.
The Beck is ideal for all the movement and bending one does on the course, but they have a refined texture that looks just as good out on the street.
What you get from this blend is a material that has a cool, airy, lightweight stretch, but one that also doesn't feel like it would split open if you snagged the fabric on a rock or sharp object. It sits right in the middle of lightweight and strong.
If you're looking for a performance-based pair of joggers, Vuori has you covered. This fabric is super lightweight and breathable, and the waist band and taper below the knee help keep them secure, even during your most intense HIIT circuit.
Wrinkle-free pants that are classy enough for the office, but comfortable enough to run a 100 yard dash in.
If you need a pair of pants that look great and you can wear it for a week straight without washing, the Evolution from Western Rise will get you there.
For pants with a jean-like construction but with the comfort and flexibility of chinos, look no further than the Workday Pant from leisure apparel aficionados, Public Rec.
The fit of the Telluride pants from Highland Duds is almost bespoke; relaxed but also tapered, so it does a great job of slimming the lower half and hugging the right places. These stretch corduroy pants cut a nice silhouette without any tightness in the leg, thigh, or crotch.
Watches
“A gentleman’s choice of timepiece says as much about him as does his Saville Row suit.” – Ian Fleming.
We’ve enjoyed mixing up our sometimes-outside-outfits with these timepieces.
Featuring a Swiss Ronda movement, domed sapphire crystal, and coming with two straps, this military-inspired field watch by Vaer is easily one of our favorite affordable timepieces.
The Wasson Watch Co Automatic Field Watch combines tried-and-true construction with modern, character-defining features. Uniquely, this allows you to wear it with any outfit and with a wide range of fashion tastes.
The racing style of the Regalia is more casual than Armogan's dressier Sopraffino Grande, though it perfectly balances sportiness with high class. The biker-esque detailing is undeniably cool, and the watch boasts a fantastic quality for the price.
The Vincero Apex is a unique take on the racing watch genre. With solid water resistance, sapphire coated crystal, and a Seiko mecha-quartz movement, Vincero has stepped up their quality again.
I was impressed already with UNDONE's homage to vintage Rolex designs, and the Basecamp Cali takes that same concept to the next level.
The Vessel puts a unique Vincero spin on classic dive watches. Rated at 200m water resistance and outfitted with a sapphire crystal, the Vessel marks a big leap in Vincero’s overall build quality.
The Hamilton Khaki Field is beloved by the watch community because it's tough, reliable, and the price is right.
Subscription Boxes
Our subscription boxes have been huge for us during lockdown. They’ve helped us stay stocked up on essentials and their surprise factor have helped keep up the fun. These are our current favorites.
Bespoke Post's quality of products, interesting monthly themes, and flexible subscription options, make their boxes a worthy complement to your monthly masculine lifestyle, and a fantastic gift option.
While we’d love to see a more choice-driven sign-up process, Trade Coffee is sure to win over plenty of new and old coffee enthusiasts in equal measure with its outstanding selection of coffee from artisan roasters and excellent customer service, all delivered in a convenient monthly subscription box package.
If you can let go of the need for total control over what you receive in a subscription box at this price point, Watch Gang is a lot of fun, and a convenient way for you to organically develop your own sense of watch style alongside tens of thousands of fellow watch enthusiasts.
ButcherBox delivers great cuts of top-quality meat straight to your door, and while you’ll pay a convenience fee, just knowing you have a freezer full of healthy options is invaluable for when the workweek gets hectic.
Across a sample size of four deliveries, my BREO BOX has consistently been filled with a few things that I’ve always wanted, a few things that’ll make nice gifts, and one thing I’m not sure what to do with. For a box that aims to give you everything you never knew you needed, that’s pretty darn good.
Gentleman’s Box delivered big value going for quality over quantity, and while some items could have used more attention to detail, this package helps complete the image of the modern gentleman.
Jerky Subscription's attractive price point and excellent customer service make them a top choice if you’re looking to get your jerky on, monthly.
Every Day Carry (EDC)
You are what you surround yourself with.
Complete with the Fire Safe, Fire Starter, and Grill Kit, the Campfire Trio is everything you need to cook an amazing meal in the woods.
The three-inch drop point blade has very little curve in the belly, so it’s a sharp, slim piece that can tear up a cardboard box faster than you can say “allium.”
The D-ring attachment allows you to get out of the toughest situations and is rated at a load of 4000lbs. For example, if you were hiking and got trapped in the mountains, a rescue helicopter could literally drop a rope that could be attached to the D-ring, and lift you to safety.
So that's cool.
What does Tom Brady do when he's not slinging pigskins? He's slinging these Wayfarer inspired beauties.
I literally have an emotional attachment to this pen. It’s sturdy, writes smoothly, and its refills are inexpensive. Plus, it’s handsome looking and has the kind of heft that makes you feel like everything you write is incredibly important.
This nifty aluminum wallet carries up to twelve cards, but there are a few bonus features in its simple construction that make it a “must-have” when traveling.
Shoes
“Shoes transform your body language and attitude. They lift you physically and emotionally.” – Christian Louboutin
HEYDUDE makes a compelling bid for your next pair of go-to shoes. Their footwear is lightweight, soft, flexible, breathable, and great with or without socks. I’m a fan of how easy they are to slip on, how easy they are to wash, and the vast selection of colorways available.
These shoes are comfortable from the get-go, and the shine on the upper adds a nice out-of-the-box feeling to go along with the classy wingtip brogue styling. The sneaker sole isn’t overly distracting if you are trying to wear these in a semi-formal situation, making these a solid choice for the smarter side of smart casual outfits or more relaxed formal attire.
This design is entirely intentional as YORK emphasizes a perfect fit as one of their prominent selling points. YORK uses 52 points of measurement to create a fit that “promotes balance, comfort, and support.” I think they delivered on all three of those benefits in this shoe.
Made with waxed suede leather and a sturdy Goodyear welt, the new Taft Dragon is a big improvement on past iterations and a beast of a boot with a slim, sleek profile.
With its top-quality suede, stylish color options, and limited break-in period, The Sacca Donna by M.Gemi is one of our favorite loafers. We especially love the unlined interior which keeps your foot both cool and dry.
The Low 1 is Oliver Cabell's most popular shoe. It boasts a classic low-profile silhouette, with color options that are expressive, but not overly trendy or unprofessional.
The KOIO Capri Triple White is as loud as a white dress sneaker can get without leaving the minimalist realm. Go for these if you're all about quality in your footwear. They're super comfortable with outstanding build quality and an aesthetic that sits in between the dress and athletic sneaker worlds.
Grooming
“Good grooming is integral, and impeccable style is a must. If you don’t look the part, no one will want to give you time or money.” – Daymond John
If you’re not keen on looking like a sundried tomato later in life but don’t know where to start, Geologie provides affordable trials sets that are personalized to your needs. Thoughtful touches like packing in two face washes (one for the shower, and another for the sink) really show that Geologie has my back when it comes to building a routine.
The Good leaves my skin feeling refreshed and full. My pores shrink, my skin looks vibrant, and there’s an even tone across my face. Best of all, my skin smells like an essential oil diffuser.
Why rub a bar of chemicals and aluminum all over your underarms when you can healthily smell like a fresh waterfall instead? Dr. Squatch deodorant features deactivated charcoal, arrowroot, and probiotics, all of which help cleanse your body of toxins, prevent odor-causing bacteria from forming, and help you develop a healthy microbiome in your pits so you smell less in the future. Win-win-win.