Modern Simple Living

Gear Review Finding the Ideal Urban EDC: The Victorinox Climber Why this specific Swiss Army Knife hits the sweet spot for everyday carry ~82 Grams 9 Tools 3 Key Factors Table of Contents ① The Search for the Perfect EDC ② Weight and Portability Considerations ③ Closing Thoughts: Alox Pioneer X and Wine Section I The Search for the Perfect EDC After experimenting with various Swiss Army Knife models, I've concluded that the Victorinox Climber is the ideal choice for my urban EDC needs. Portability, weight, and a good pair of scissors are the three key factors I consider when selecting a Swiss Army Knife for everyday carry. Here are a few other contenders I considered:   → Compact — Lacks an awl and a second blade. → Super Tinker — Features a Phillips head instead of a corkscrew. → Pioneer X — Has no bottom-side tools and an awl instead of a second blade. Tools of the Climber The Climber is a highly versatile toolset that fits perfectly in a pocket: → Large Blade → Small Blad...

Gear Review Restarting My Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Collection for 2021 *Refining my approach to collecting, utility, and everyday carry.* 16 Items $900 Total Spent 33 Projected Pieces Table of Contents ① Collection Overview ② History and Age Verification ③ Future Strategy and Acquisitions ④ Closing Thoughts Section I Collection Overview I'm excited to restart my Victorinox Swiss Army Knife collection for 2021. I've recently acquired an Alox Cadet and have a Huntsman and Climber on the way. My focus will be on a few select models, emphasizing Alox for its durability and aesthetics, while the plastic scale models will serve utility roles, stored at the office, home, and in various bags.   Current Collection → Swiss Champ — Red // 2011 // Collectible → Trekker — Black // 2011 // BOB bag → Huntsman — Silver Tech // 2016 // EDC rotation; Black // 1979-1985 // Hiking Bag → Cadet — Alox Silver // EDC rotation → Climber — Black // 1979-1985 // Collectible; Traveler // 1979-1...

Gear Review EDC Essentials for March 2021 *A look at the pocket carry setup for urban mobility.* 6 Items 8GB Storage 1 Month Date Section I Everyday Carry Philosophy I’m usually with my messenger bag that includes more items, like first aid, bottled water, and some snacks. But if I’m on foot around town, this is usually what I have in my pockets along with my keys and a Kingston 8GB USB drive.   Future Additions I’ll likely add a Bic lighter to make for a more complete basic tool set. Possibly a small bit of paracord wrapped in a keychain. Current Items → iPhone 11 — Primary communication and digital tool device. → Ballpoint pen — For everyday writing and note-taking tasks. → Victorinox Cadet Swiss Army Knife — A reliable multi-tool for daily utility. → Leather wallet — Used for carrying cards and currency. → Keys — Standard set for home and vehicle access. → Kingston USB Drive — 8GB of portable digital storage. Tip: Always evaluate your EDC based on the environment; a mes...

Gear Review Commemorating the Wild Year with a Victorinox Alox Cadet A tactile transition from plastic scales to the refined durability of the Alox series ~12 Months 7 Years 111mm Model Section I A Wild Year The past 12 months have been the wildest of my life, and even that is an understatement. To commemorate the COVID-19 years and remind myself of how crazy it’s been, I picked up a Victorinox Swiss Army Knife - Alox - Cadet.   Section II Design and Evolution A Design That Captivates I've always wanted an Alox model ever since I purchased the Alox 8GB USB drive and found the all-metal design truly breathtaking. There is a certain feeling of assurance in its durability when you hold it in your hands, and while it’s smaller than my Spartan, it weighs about the same. Trusty Companion — The Spartan My trusty Spartan has been by my side for several years, and unfortunately, it has begun to show its age, with the plastic scales warping and coming undone. → Spartan — My long-term EDC...

City Guide Discovering Dean & Deluca in Waikiki A quiet coffee stop in the heart of the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center 3 Tables 1 Iced Americano ~15 Minutes Section I A Hidden Gem in the City There are several Dean & Delucas in Waikiki, and I stumbled upon one of them in the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center. It's fairly tiny, featuring just three tables outside, and this location seems more like a coffee shop with a narrow selection of items.   Shop Offerings While compact, the location carries the essentials for a quick refreshment or a small souvenir: → Coffee & Tea — A selection of house-made coffee and tea beverages. → Coffee Mugs — Branded drinkware available for purchase. → Cookies & Jams — A variety of shelf-stable pantry items and local-style treats. Section II A Different Experience It's nothing like the larger Dean & Delucas I'm used to, which are more of an upscale grocer, akin to a fancier Trader Joe's. Nonetheless, this visit provi...

Gear Review Reflecting on the Victorinox USB Drive A look back at the form and function of a discontinued EDC classic 8GB Capacity ~$60 Resale Value 2 Potential Replacements Section I A Functional Aesthetic I acquired the Swiss Army Victorinox USB Drive in Green Alox several years ago and found it both useful as a storage device and appealing in its aesthetic design. However, I have since relegated it to a storage container, as I now have drives with much larger capacities and faster USB 3.0 speeds. A Discontinued Classic This particular Alox model has since been discontinued, and to my surprise, these now sell for more than I originally paid for it, hovering near $50 to $70 for pre-owned versions. I'm assuming this price increase stems more from a collectible standpoint. While it still functions well as a USB drive, and 8 GB is more than sufficient storage capacity for most non-media files, I have no use for it, and perhaps it's time to part with it. Considering the Next Ste...

Travel Journal A Short Vacation in Honolulu Exploring a familiar place during an unusually quiet season 1 Destination ~3 Primary Activities 1 Essential Watch Table of Contents ① Exploring a Familiar Place ② Soothing Sights and Sounds ③ A Trusty Companion Section I Exploring a Familiar Place Prices were cheap, so I decided to take a break and went to Honolulu for a short vacation. I've been here several times before, both for work and play. This time, I was amazed at how empty the whole place felt.   Trip Dynamics The downside was that there wasn't much to do other than eat, drink, and sleep. Trip Element Observation Pricing Cheap / Affordable Crowds Unusually empty Pace Slow and relaxed Section II Soothing Sights and Sounds I took in the sights, and it was actually quite soothing to sit outside my balcony and listen to the ocean waves. The calming sound of the surf was a perfect backdrop to my relaxation. Section III A Trusty Companion During this trip, a specific piece of...

Food & Drink Coffee Weekends and Literature *Finding the rhythm of deliberate reading over a cappuccino* ~25% Completion 1 Book 1 Weekend Section I The Joy of Slow Reading Back to coffee weekends with a good book. I’m currently enjoying a cappuccino while reading Sakhalin Island by Anton Chekhov. I bought the book a while ago and have been casually reading a few pages at a time. So far, I’m maybe a quarter of the way through it.   Chekhov's Observations Chekhov is already on the island and visiting the various settlements. His descriptions of the inhabitants and their conditions are quite stark and consistent, resembling a business report but infused with a novelist's flair through his social commentary. Reflecting on Pace I could speed-read through the book, which I have done with others in the past just to "say" I've read them. However, I believe that amassing a great quantity of books read is not equivalent to a more deliberate reading of a few books or ...