Spotlight: Karas Kustoms Render K Brass Pen

As I explained in the first post of this blog, I don’t see materialism the way that most people do. Rather than focusing on the quantity of my possessions, I’ve come to value their quality. As such, many of the things that I have and cherish and carry with me every day have been tirelessly researched with one goal in mind: I want to love this thing, and I only want one. Be it a backpack or a wallet or a pair of jeans, I try to seek out the “best” in each scenario. And that’s not to suggest that there is an objectively “best” pair of jeans or backpack somewhere out there. What I mean is that I want to find the best thing for me. 

Well, enough philosophizing. The point is, I’ve been writing avidly since I was 13 and, as such, an outlandish number of pens have come and gone from my life. Some have been cheap-o disposables, and some have been a little nicer. Last fall I decided to seek out the best (for me) pen that I could own. Something solid and beautiful and well made enough that it would truly last the test of time. So, after scouring kickstarter projects and website upon website, product review upon product review, I finally took a risk and ordered a pen that I thought might fit my needs. And I have to say…I hit the jackpot. Enter: The Render K Pen. 

Karas Kustoms is a small shop located in Mesa, Arizona, where they make (among other things) machined metal pens. They currently have three models available: the Bolt Action, the Retrakt (click pen), and the Render K (screw cap). Additionally, each model is available in three different metals (aluminum, brass and copper). 

I went with the Render K model in brass (tied with copper for the heavies option) because I wanted something almost too heavy. I wasn’t let down!

Weighing in at 3.3 ounces (when capped), this thing doesn’t mess around. The typical response when handing it to someone is “holy shit”, usually followed by “what’s this thing made of?”. Just to give you an idea, a roll of dimes weighs 4 ounces. 

But to say that this is a heavy pen and nothing else would be criminal. This thing is designed and built to near perfection. Machined out of a solid piece of brass, the shape and subtle details really make this pen what it is: The knurling on the cap, the heavy duty stainless steel clip, and (perhaps best of all), the ability to take a huge variety of ink refills using the included spring and plastic spacer. I use a Fisher Space Pen refill in, which writes through anything. 

Knurling detail

Stainless steel clip

Space pen ink refill with included fitting hardware

The cap screws on and off, which I thought might be annoying to have to do every time I wanted to write something down. What I’ve found, however, is that I love this ceremonial unsheathing. In fact, the brass pen sliding out of the brass cap sounds like a movie sound effect of a sword being drawn (pretty awesome). The cap doesn’t post on the back of the pen, but this doesn’t bother me. It either sits on my desk next to my notebook, or ends up clipped to my clothing for safe keeping.

Uncapped

I’ve never had any problems with the cap unscrewing, either. This was something that I was actually pretty worried about: that the cap would loosen on its own and I’d lose a piece of the pen. I wasn't sure, being that it’s metal on metal, how tight of a seal the machined threads would make. This concern disappeared the second I opened the package. This thing tightens up incredibly well, and I’ve never had it loosen when I didn’t want it to. Not only that, but the these are “triple start” threads, meaning that you don’t have to fiddle around lining them up.

Threading

This pen has served its purpose incredibly well. Perhaps the biggest thing that I wanted in my pen was a kind of companion. Something that was with me every single day, and something that feels like it will never break or fail on me. I look forward to, one day, being able to pass this along to a son or daughter. That’s how confidence inspiring this beauty is. 

If you want to peruse their pen selection, or take a look at their phone cases or tops or other machined metal goods, head over to karaskustoms.com. 

Thank for reading, and I’ll see you next time. 

Spotlight: Field Notes Notebooks

About a year ago I decided something: that I don’t write enough things down. Writing has been a big part of my life and my identity since I was in high school (mostly poetry). As someone who concentrates on his writing so much, I decided that I wanted more of a record of my day-to-day thoughts and ideas, lines of poetry, observations, etc. Since I started carrying these things I haven’t been able to figure out how I ever lived without them. I always have one on me, and am constantly amazed by their usefulness. On any given day I’ll be writing down snippets for new poems and ideas for editing current ones, as well as To-Do lists, shopping lists, reminders, quotes from friends, book or music or movie recommendations, or just quick little refections. This has sparked my larger Field Notes project, which is to fill about one book per month, and then catalogue them chronologically. In a section of my desk I have all of the books I’ve filled out so far, and I already cherish the ability to pick one up and see where my head was at a few months earlier. 

I fill about one per month (48 pages), and it’s easy to store them chronologically because of the space provided inside the cover page. 

By finishing a book and then shelving it in chronological order, it’s easy to refer back and re-read whatever I like. Also, I love the beat up, worn in look that they take on depending on where I’ve taken them and what I’ve done with them. When I was baking pizza in a wood fired oven, they  got way more beat up than from working in a high school. It’s also probably worth noting that, no matter what I’ve thrown at them, they’ve held up without exception. 

Filled notebooks go on the right, fresh ones live on the left.

A particularly abused example that I carried for a month while I worked at a pizza place

Field Notes has standard brown notebooks that are always available in blank, lined and graph paper. Also, four time a year they release special, limited edition versions of their books with different tweaks and perks and bonuses, whether it’s a different color, or cover artwork, or paper. My favorite so far have been their “America the Beautiful” edition, which uses heavy duty, thick covers and great art depicting amber waves, mountains majesty and fruited plains. I’ve also added their “red blooded”, “night sky”, “expedition” and “county fair” editions to my collection. They even offer a subscription that guarantees you two three packs of each edition for a year. And, perhaps best of all, every three-pack, regardless of the edition, is always the same price: 10 bucks. 

 "America the Beautiful" Edition

"County Fair" Edition (Vermont)

It’s so great to stay tuned-in and see what each new edition will bring. So far I’ve gotten my hands on a few different kinds, and I’m sure my collection will only grow. Plus, with each edition, my main fashion accessory continues to fluctuate, adding a little dash of different color depending on what I decide to carry. 

Perhaps best of all is, since they’re made so well and since each edition has so much unique personality, I am always excited to grab one on my way out the door. And since I’m so drawn to them, I now have a running, written dialogue recorded in them of the past year. It makes me excited to keep writing everything down, and to think about being able to flip back through these books when I’m old and grey. 

If you’re intrigued, check them out at fieldnotesbrand.com. It’s incredible what a big difference it can make just having the ability to jot a note or two down here and there. There’s something about the act of writing something in itself, whether it’s a reminder or an idea or a random thought, that brings that moment into focus. Sometimes I want to be able to look back on it later, and sometimes I just crave the experience of writing something down in the moment. 

Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you next time. 

Spotlight: Topo Designs Mini Mountain Bag

Well, here we are. The first post of define:Materialism. Of my long, long list of potential first posts, I settled on blogging about one of my favorite items which, appropriately, holds a bunch of other stuff that I’ll eventually post about as well. But, for now, it’s all about the vessel. 

I live on a 1,400 acre farm in Vermont, where my wife runs an inn. What this means for me is that I have a tremendous amount of land and shoreline to explore. On a typical day off you might find me hiking around the woods, finding caves along the lake, stringing up my travel hammock, building a fire by the water, reading, writing, or just taking in the fact that I happen to live in an almost disgustingly beautiful place. That’s right: so beautiful that it nearly goes full circle and becomes gross. See for yourself…I’m not lying. 

Anyway, a couple of years ago I decided to seek out the perfect shoulder bag, something that I’ve since deemed my “adventure bag”. It didn’t need to be big, but it had to be durable and have enough space for my hammock, a book or two, some water, a flask, some pens, and maybe some food. Enter the Topo Designs Mini Mountain Bag. And man, man do I love this bag. 

Straightforward, but with just enough finishing touches to give it some style, the bag is constructed of 1000d Cordura, which means that it’s absolutely built to last. But, of course, materials are only part of the equation, as they also have to be assembled well, which this particular bag certainly is. Great materials and built like a tank: that’s a combination I can’t get enough of. 

The zippers are heavy duty and wonderfully confidence-inspiring, as is the beefy seat belt style strap and the tarp lining. 

Without being too feature-laden, the interior has just enough organization for my liking, perfectly fitting my phone, knife, bandana, and notebook so that they’re easily accessible and don’t clank around. 

In the front pocket I usually throw a book (currently The Traveling Sprinkler by Nicholson Baker, which is amazing). 

A large d-ring on one side allows me to clip things on if I want easy access to (often times my Holdster with a little whiskey). 

And on the other side, a large plastic strap adjustment that’s super easy to change up on the fly and holds everything firmly in place. 

Underneath are two compression straps that can squeeze the bag into a smaller size, and also double as an additional place to carry those excess supplies (often times my snowshoe poles when I don’t need them). 

Maybe one of my favorite features is the dual lash tabs on the front of the bag. I love the understated 70’s camping gear kind of style that they lend the bag, but they’re also quite functional. For an extra 15 bucks, Topo Designs sells straps to fit the tabs (available in four colors). This is extra handy if you’re shedding layers, or want to strap down a blanket for a picnic. 

If you’re looking for something that is at once stylish, functional and built to be with you for years and years to come, head over to topodesigns.com to check out the Mini Mountain (available in six colors), as well as a wide variety of other bags, cases, clothes and accessories. 

Oh, did I mention that their products are all made in the USA and that their customer service is lightening fast and top notch? That’s probably worth noting too, huh? 

Thanks For Reading!

See you next week with another Spotlight.

define:MATERIALISM Manifesto

A blog with the intention of redefining the concepts and connotations of “materialism”. 

This is a word that gets thrown around a lot, right? And rarely in a good way. When one is labeled as a materialist or as being materialistic, the connotations is that this particular individual is a consumer, even a mindless consumer. The materialist buys things for the sake of buying them, for the sake of increasing his or her closet or bookshelf or kitchen…you get the idea. 

But what if materialism means something quite to the contrary? 

Over the years I’ve developed a profound love for and appreciation for well made goods. 

The question that began driving most purchases became: if I’m going to buy it, why not buy something that will truly last? Something I could pass down to future generations of this particular blogger? 

And why stop there? If it’s going to be well made, I should also take the time to understand what makes something “well made”, and how to differentiate between one pair of jeans and another, on a meticulous and detail-oriented level. 

This has lead to countless hours of web-based research on a plethora of items:

• Wallets
• Jackets
• Shirts
• Knives
• Pens
• Notebooks
• Bags
• Accessories
• Especially raw denim jeans

And on and on into the vast potentiality that is consuming and is the world of internet reviews. 

And thus, collected here, you’ll find my reviews, my quips, my thoughts and vast discussions of any number of random goods with one connecting theme: I love them. 

If we’re going to be consumers and, as a result, materialistic, shouldn’t we love the things we buy?

And by love, I mean cherish. 

I've done the research. 

I've spent the money.

I've waited for UPS.

And once I receive something, it’s always been my opinion that I should love, use, wear-out or break-in whatever it may be. 

So here is a blog about all of those things. Things that I love, and cherish, and appreciate for being so well made. This blog is about those things. 

Expect weekly Spotlight/Review posts on one item from the above list.