This article was produced in partnership with Blundstone
Footwear makes or breaks your day. Pick the wrong kind and you could be looking at cold, wet toes, poor traction, and a stiff back. For about half the year, the all-purpose, foot-preserving answer to what to step into each morning is a boot—no matter what kind of day lies ahead. The problem: all too often boots are overbuilt and clunky—like dump trucks for your feet.
From hoofing it to the office to out-of-town adventures to the quiet weekends in between, Blundstone makes lightweight, hardworking boots that fit seamlessly into any environment. The legendary, family-owned Tasmanian bootmaker has a range of styles that keep your feet dry and comfortable, combat fatigue, and keep you right side up. Here’s how to dress up the best Blundstone boots of the season.
1. The Weekend Errand Crusher
Sometimes life gets in the way of fun and weekends get gobbled up with tasks around town—or, worse, helping a friend move. Suit up with something comfy and versatile, just in case a long, errand-filled day happily ends at the pub for a pint—or two.
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Saxx Down Time Hoodie
Saxx is known for making some of the most comfortable underwear around—but that’s just where it starts. Its Down Time Hoodie feels every bit as good as it looks. Roomy in the shoulders and chest, it’s made with four-way stretch fabric for a casual layer you can kick up a notch with a leather or denim jacket.
These might look like standard jeans (and that’s the point), but Kühl covertly weaves in two kinds of synthetic fabrics to give these pants the stretch to move with you. The heavyweight feel has a modern cut with a pocket behind the right thigh to stash your phone.
The Chelsea boot builds off everything Blundstone made famous back in the 1960s before it went on to sell millions of pairs. Rugged and durable, these #585s are equipped with water-resistant leather, a plush footbed, as well as a patented comfort system designed to reduce fatigue. The stretchy sides and pull tabs make them a breeze to slip on while the brown leather matures nicely the harder you wear them.
Packing light means picking versatile pieces that can change with daily conditions. Lightweight and durable, the jacket, pants, and boots here transition from day to night effortlessly.
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Stio Pinion Down Sweater
Don’t be fooled by the full shape of this lightweight, 800-fill sweater-jacket which keeps you warm without the marshmallow look. Thin enough to wear over a midlayer, or by itself to take the chill off plane travel, the Pinion’s abrasion-resistant shell will survive years of getting crammed into a backpack or carry-on.
While they look like the canvas pants you’d wear to work, the cut-above cotton is bolstered with nylon (for strength) and elastane (for stretch). You could totally rock climb in these, but you can also climb into a bus or ascend museum stairs. Meanwhile, the two zip pockets keep personal items safe.
This is a boot that does it all. With a lightweight build, Active combines the easy-to-slip-into Chelsea construction with a cushiony footbed and grippy outsole that holds tight on wet streets or damp trails—wherever your travels bring you. The removable antimicrobial footbed has perforations to increase airflow to keep your feet fresh and comfortable. Brush them off and pair with some dark jeans for a night out.
When you’re plowing through eight-plus hours of office time and meetings, you need reliable workwear designed from modern fabrics that work as hard as you—while keeping you looking and feeling cool ‘n collected.
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Ministry of Supply Aero Zeroº Carbon Neutral Dress Shirt
Wrinkle-resistant and made with 100-percent recycled fabric in solar-powered factories, this button-down keeps things breezy and presentable over those long (long) hours. Perforations in the armpits and stretch construction add solid comfort and covert function.
If your regular cotton office pants went to MIT, they’d be these chinos. Featuring a modern flat-front look, they provide operational four-way stretch for commuting to the office on foot or even by bike. There’s also a hidden crotch gusset so you won’t feel restricted.
Sure, the company has a long history of producing rugged, durable boots dating back to the 1870s, but let’s not be pigeonholed by backstory. Blundstone also makes dressier versions that clean up for the office. The lightweight #1900 boot has a modern, tailored shape that’s covered in supple brown leather. Inside it’s all Blundstone: water-resistant construction for damp commutes, a footbed that absorbs impact to lessen shock, and a grippy rubber outsole for traction on slick surfaces. These ankle boots transition effortlessly from Zoom calls to happy hour.
There’s no doubt when the weather turns colder as we settle into winter, stouts take center stage. And while we enjoy all its iterations: standard stout, imperial stout, and robust barrel-aged stouts, we think this malty, chocolate-filled beer’s close cousin deserves a little respect as well. Of course, we’re talking about the oft-overlooked porter. And the best porters, oh buddy, they’ll have you rethinking your seasonal bevvie of choice.
For those uninitiated, the porter style had its genesis in England like many other iconic beer styles. It first appeared in the 1700s and is (you guessed it) named after porters—individuals tasked with transporting luggage.
A confusing origin story
“Stout is the direct descendant of porter. In the 1700s, it was common to use the word ‘stout’ to refer to a bolder, higher-alcohol version of any beer style, much in the same way we use the word ‘imperial’ today,” says Zach Fowle, advanced cicerone and head of marketing for Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. in Phoenix, AZ. “Porter was the most popular beer of the day, and over time, “stout porter” became a popular variant. But by the late 1800s, demand for regular porters evaporated, and stout porter shortened simply to stout.”
But more has changed between the 1800s and today than just our penchant for wearing top hats. “Today, most brewers seem to market beers as either stout or porter based on vibes, rather than on any notable stylistic differences,” he says.
Specifically, porters are known for their dark, almost pitch-black color and rich, sweet flavor profile. If you were to drink a porter and a stout side by side, you might even have difficulty discerning the differences between the two.
Stout versus porter is an enduring topic of discussion in the brewing industry. “While there’s no debating the porter came first—and stout used to be called stout porter, so it was a stronger version of a porter—the lines have become very blurred over the years,” says Rob Lightner, co-founder of East Brother Brewing in Richmond, CA.
“I would venture that even among professionals, a blind taste test would often yield inconclusive results,” says Lightner.
The difference between porters and stouts
Porters tend to be on the milder, more chocolatey end of the spectrum, Lightner says, whereas stouts are typically a little stronger and more roasty. Of course, this isn’t a hard and fast rule
Fowle agrees, “Porters tend to be fruitier, sweeter, and less bitter than stouts, with cocoa and caramel flavors in balance with dark malt bitterness. And stouts are usually hoppier, drier, maltier, and more coffee-forward—and may even have a touch of acidity.”
Whether or not they fit neatly into boxes, one thing’s for sure: both make for incredible cold-weather brews.
“As the nights grow longer, drinking a light, summery beer just doesn’t seem right,” says Fowle. “Porter is the perfect style for the transition to winter: warming and toasty yet not too heavy, with flavors of coffee, chocolate, and pie crust that correspond with autumn weather and holidays.”
It’s the perfect time to broaden your repretoire. Sweet, robust, warming, and well-suited to the season, here are the best porters to drink now.
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1. Deschutes Black Butte Porter
There are few porters more well-respected than Deschutes’ iconic Black Butte Porter. It’s brewed with Cascade and Tettnang hops as well as 2-row, Chocolate, Crystal, and Carapils malts as well as wheat. This 5.5% ABV year-round offering is great for cold-weather drinking because of its mix of roasted malts, coffee, and chocolate. It’s a robust, subtly sweet beer perfect for imbibing on a crisp fall night.
The key to 360-degree muscle: 90-degree eccentric isometrics. It might seem like we’re throwing a lot of geometry at you, but the concept behind time under tension (TUT) is simple, says Joel Seedman, PhD, owner of Advanced Human Performance: “Perform the lowering phase of a movement in a slow, controlled fashion, usually 3 to 5 seconds; pause in the stretched position, typically around 90 degrees; then perform the lifting phase in a powerful yet controlled fashion.” Believe us, a time-under-tension workout can humble even seasoned lifters…Eccentric isometrics are like the pressure cooker of training.
“Rather than mindlessly performing slow-tempo reps, you’re using the increased time under tension as a means to fine-tune your body mechanics and alignment, which requires more mental engagement and focus,” Seedman adds.
If you want to forge functional muscle mass and strength while simultaneously bulletproofing the joints and connective tissue, give this 10-move, full-body eccentric isometrics workout a go.
Directions
Perform the following moves as 90-degree eccentric isometrics following the above protocol. Use heavy weight, but not at the detriment of proper form. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets and 2 minutes between circuits. Perform once every 2 to 4 days for optimal results.
Best Time-Under-Tension Workout for Total-Body Strength
Circuit 1
Marius Bugge
A. Barbell Back Squat
Set a squat rack up with heavy weight, then grasp bar and step under it. Squeeze shoulder blades together, then stand to unrack bar and step back with feet shoulder-width apart. Inhale, hinge at hips and slowly bend knees to 90 degrees. Pause, keeping natural arch in low back, then extend through hips to powerfully stand. 3 x 4-6 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Renegade Row
Start in the top position of a pushup with hands shoulder-width apart on moderate-to-heavy dumbbells (shown). Explosively drive right elbow back to row dumbbell toward ribs while balancing on opposite hand and feet. Pause, then slowly lower weight, stopping a few inches above floor. Switch sides after all reps are done. 3 x 5 reps each side
Circuit 2
Marius Bugge
A. Dumbbell Bentover Row
Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding two moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in front of thighs, palms facing you. Push hips back and hinge torso forward so it’s nearly parallel to floor, soft bend in knees. Dumbbells should be near shins. Drive elbows back to row weights toward ribs. Pause, then slowly lower down for 3 to 5 seconds. 3 x 4-5 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Incline Dumbbell Chest Press with Legs Raised
Set an adjustable bench to a 30- to 45-degree angle and lie back with dumbbells in either hand. Engage core and lift legs off floor, flexing feet. Press weights overhead, palms in. Slowly lower to 90 degrees, staying tight and compact. Pause, then drive weights up directly over chest. 3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 3
Marius Bugge
A. Dumbbell Bulgarian Squat
Stand lunge-length in front of a flat bench, holding heavy dumbbells in each hand by your sides, palms facing in. Rest the ball on top (shoe’s laces) of your right foot behind you on the bench. Slowly lower your body until your front thigh is parallel to the floor. Pause, then drive through your heel to stand. Switch sides after all reps are complete. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Marius Bugge
B. Single-leg Romanian Deadlift
Stand with feet hip-width apart holding dumbbells or kettlebells. Drive right leg up, foot flexed, knee aligned with hip, making a 90-degree angle. Hinge at hips as you slowly lever your torso toward floor, lowering weights and driving right leg back for counterbalance. Hold, then squeeze glutes to reverse. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Circuit 4
Marius Bugge
A. Pullup
Hang from a pullup bar using an overhand grip with legs extended and feet flexed. Engage lats and draw shoulders down your back, then pull yourself up until chin is higher than hands. Pause at the top, then slowly lower. Pause at bottom, then reset before your next rep. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Kneeling Overhead Barbell Press
Hold a bar with moderate-to-heavy load at shoulder level with forearms perpendicular to floor. Kneel at end of bench with feet flexed to grip edge for support. Inhale, engage your core and glutes, then press the bar overhead, pushing your head forward so it passes your face, exhaling at the top. Slowly lower until elbows are at 90 degrees, then hold to maintain tension. Begin your next rep from here. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 5
A. Dumbbell Pushup
Place hands on dumbbells (this provides greater range of motion) at shoulder width and feet wider than shoulder width with just toes touching the ground. Keep head neutral and hips high to increase tension on core, chest and tris and reduce stress on spine. Slowly lower to the floor. Stop once elbows hit 90 degrees, pause, then push up to start. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
B. Biceps Curl
Stand with feet hip-width apart with moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in each hand hanging by sides. Engage biceps to curl the weights up, keeping upper arms still. Pause at the top, then lower slowly. Don’t let arms drop all the way down to keep greater time under tension on biceps. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
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If you haven’t picked up a jump rope since elementary school, you’re missing out on a fantastic cardio workout. Not only will you burn a ton of calories in a short amount of time—200 to 300 calories in 15 minutes—but jump ropes can also improve your coordination and agility. Better yet, jumping rope doesn’t require much space, so it’s easy to do at home, and it’s often more mentally stimulating than jogging or swimming.
Choosing a Jump Rope
When deciding which jump rope is best for you, it’s important to determine what your goals are. While lightweight speed ropes are popular for cardio-focused training, weighted or drag ropes will be best for those focused on strength training.
No matter what your training goals are, we’ve got you covered with this roundup of 10 jump ropes from top brands including Crossrope, TRX, Rogue, and more.
The Best Jump Ropes of 2022
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