Posts Written by Vic Arkoff

No trees are no problem with the portable Nomad Hammock Stand from Eagles Nest Outfitters. Ready to go anywhere in its carrying case, Nomad’s lightweight aluminum alloy poles use shock-corded construction to snap into place easily. Designed to work with most ENO camping hammocks like the popular, equally packable Doublenest hammock for two.

Hanging out at the shore is a blast with the inflatable Hangout 360 Trio floating lounge. Now available in a vibrant Native Paradise pattern, Bote’s ultimate portable deck is made up of three Hangout 120 platforms that can be joined in a donut shape or used individually. Pontoon backrests makes it comfy for chilling all-day.

A tasty tequila has joined the Campari Group and (surprise!) it’s not an aged anejo. Mayenda Tequila is a rarity: a young blanco made to be equally good for sipping or mixing. How? Mayenda captures flavors of cooked agave by adding two extra steps before distillation: maceration and the addition of agave miel.

Grovemade’s form-meets-function Note-Taking Kit declutters desks with three simple tools in three beautiful finishes: walnut, maple, and oak. The Display Rail keeps notes and devices upright with improved sightlines. The Small Notepad has a metal base so it stays put for whenever genius strikes, and the Vertical Organizer sorts notes. Felt desk pad sold separately.

The Tote Collection from the sustainable bag brand, Troubadour has gotten a bunch of impressive eco-friendly upgrades. Our fave is the handsome Carrier Tote with a zip-top to keep things secure, a padded laptop sleeve, interior pockets, a non-slip neoprene shoulder strap, and side snaps to expand the bag’s cargo space as needed.

A multi-platinum star without a booze brand is like a day without sunshine. Or, in this case a day without a Tequila Sunrise. Not only does Bay Area hip-hop star E-40 have his own Blanco, Reposado and Anejo tequilas — he named them after himself: E. Cuarenta literally means E-40 in Spanish.

Heatonist double dares you to taste the hot sauces used in insane Hot Ones challenges. Recreate Season 21 of the spicy interview show at home with this ten-pack of bottles representing each heat level from 1-to-9 plus an 11 (one-better-than-ten) with a Scoville Heat Unit rating so intense it hasn’t been measured yet.

Southwest style spruces up outdoor folding chairs in this collaboration between portable furniture makers Helinox and iconic Pendleton Woolen Mills. The Chair One HDB comes in two limited-edition geometric patterns that pop on the durable 1200D poly fabric and minimalist black aluminum alloy frames. Polished for the backyard, lightweight for camping.

Seedlip developed the world’s first distilled non-alcoholic spirits. Each botanical ingredient is distilled separately in a six-week maceration, distillation, filtration, and blending process, which yields a zero-calorie drink without alcohol and sugar. The Seedlip Trio is an ideal sampler for sophisticated mocktails.

(PG-13: Language) Opposites attract, so naturally, punk-metal band GWAR and NPR hooked up for a Tiny Desk Concert. Blöthar the Berserker held court, saying they brought maestro Wilhelm Fartwrangler along to class things up, then plunged into a surprisingly blood-splatter-free set of Sex Cow, I’ll Be Your Monster, Ratcatcher, and Phantom Limb.

Mexico City is one of the world’s most dog-friendly cities, especially the charming Condesa neighborhood, where dogs outnumber people. At the pet-loving hotel Andaz Mexico City Condesa, canines live it up at the Rooftop Beer Garden & Canine Club. The indoor/outdoor hangout on the second-floor terrace caters to dogs and their humans.

There are booze cruises, then there’s the 40-week, 60,000 nautical-mile voyage taken by American white oak barrels carrying what would become Goslings Spirited Seas Ocean Aged Rum. Goslings is the Official Rum of US Sailing, so the experiment kinda makes sense. Regardless, the Goslings Spirited Seas rum blend really floats our boat.

When Astral Tequila Blanco debuted, it was practically written in the stars that they’d eventually launch two more affordable offerings: Astral Tequila Reposado and Astral Tequila Añejo. For just a couple extra bucks, go for the Añejo, a mellow 100% Blue Weber agave spirit aged 12 months in single-use American Oak Bourbon barrels.

Ryan Gosling as Ken would totally rock the roomy Everywhere Sling Bag from Away’s Aura Collection. The blue-green gradient matches Ken’s eyes, and the limited-edition Sunrise color looks like a unicorn painted it. A perfect EDC, especially for neon headbands and neckerchiefs. Also great in black, blue, and sand for low-Kenergy peeps.

The clever Lumos squad really use their heads to design smart helmets that protect cyclist noggins. Lumos is now in pre-launch phase for its next two lightweight MIPS innovations — the sleek Ultra Fly and Fly Pro — which promise to boost visibility and protection with the use of attachable Firefly lights.

When a cocktail is this substantial, it’s easy to justify a liquid lunch. For the Taquito-rita, JAJA Tequila took a classic margarita, added muddled jalapeños, and garnished it with a stack of Delimex Taquitos. Genius. The celery stalk makes it a balanced meal in a glass, and Go Puff’s kit makes it easy.