Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Grovemade Introduces Extra-Large Felt Desk Pad and We Are Here For It

Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you’re a regular reader of The Manual, you know Grovemade for its great design speakers made from wood, its phone cases and wooden watches, its streamlined and minimalist monitor shelves, and its cork-fronted wireless charging pad for smartphones. Now, the Portland-based company has added to its roster of felt desk pads the biggest yet: the XL Desk Pad.

Made from the same felt fans went crazy over before, this huge desk pad is large enough to cover all the workspace that is typically required of someone chained to his or her computer station all day.

“But, what are the benefits of using a desk pad? Because doesn’t it seem like a sort of superfluous thing to have on hand?”

To those questions, we answer: Many and no.

Grovemade Wool Felt Desk Pad Extra Large

Think of the XL Desk Pad as a landing place for all your work gear. It not only provides you a soft surface for writing on (that is, if you’re still even writing by hand), but it also serves as an organizational tool, helping to keep your various chargers, battery packs, mice, styluses, folders, and charging pads all contained in one area.

Other benefits? No need to use a cupholder, since the felt will absorb any moisture from sweating cups or glasses; no need for a mouse pad, since the desk pad will do the work for your; your keyboard won’t go sliding around your desktop since the felt will keep it securely in place; and even if you’re a total slob, having a desk pad makes you look like you have a place for everything and have everything in its place. Remember, illusion is sometimes more powerful than reality.

For more from Grovemade, check out the latest rendition of the famous wooden watch or check back with our podcast The Manual podcast in June when they will be giving us the lowdown on what it’s like to bootstrap a lifestyle brand from the ground up. To get yourself your own XL Desk Pad or to see Grovemade’s other, smaller versions, head over to the brand’s website .

Editors' Recommendations

Reacher season 3: Everything we know so far
Get up to date on Reacher season 3!
Alan Ritchson in Reacher.

The era of Jack Ryan may be over, but Reacher is carrying on as one of the best shows on Amazon Prime Video. This action thriller is based upon Lee Child's Jack Reacher novels, which previously featured Tom Cruise in the leading role of two different movies. But for Prime Video, Alan Ritchson has stepped into the role of Jack Reacher, a former member of the United States Army Military Police Corps who drifts from town to town and takes justice into his own hands when the local law enforcement isn't enough.

Prime Video didn't waste any time before renewing Reacher for a third season last year. And while new episodes are still several months away, we're sharing everything we know about Reacher season 3.
Which Reacher novel will season 3 be based on?

Read more
The 11 best superhero movies of all time
Here's a short list to start your superhero movie binge
Tom Hardy and Christian Bale in The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Need a break from real life? Here's a list of the best superhero films to binge. Choosing the best superhero films of all time is no easy task. Ask any fan of superheroes, whether it's the comics or films, and you're guaranteed to get a different list every time. Share your list with others, and the responses will include either nods of agreement, raised eyebrows, or blunt responses that you're dead wrong.
In compiling the list of best superhero films of all time, I tried to keep viewers of all ages and devotion to superhero cinema in mind. My original plan was to include Deadpool on the list until I realized there's an entire generation of movie fans still not allowed to watch the film because of its R-rating. The LEGO Batman Movie also appeared in my initial top choices, but the film felt out of place compared to the other films. (I still recommend LEGO Batman to everyone because it's darn hilarious.) Full disclosure: This list might change as we add and subtract films as they premiere and earn their spot on the list.
After much internal debate, I finally drilled down 11 superhero movie choices for both Marvel and D.C. with personal reasons for each selection. While thousands of fans likely won't agree with this list, few will argue that all these films are fantastic and worth multiple viewings. That said, here's my list of the best superhero movies of all time and where to watch them. Many are available on Disney Plus and Amazon Prime for your viewing for your convenience. Spoilers ahead.

11. Black Panther (2018)

Read more
How long should you let new cigars rest in a humidor?
Cigar humidor

Looking at those beautiful, oily cigars you've just unboxed or unwrapped, the calling to light up is real. I get it. I always want to smoke my cigars right away, too. But you shouldn't. Mail day is always exciting after you've ordered a slew of new cigars. When they arrive, the real fun begins. You'll probably need to organize your humidor to make the new sticks fit or arrange them for optimal humidification. As you're handling them, it's difficult to resist the temptation to crack open the cellophane or boxes and smoke one right away. While you can do that in most cases, I would recommend against it. Depending on where those cigars came from, where you live, and how they traveled, they might need a little time to rest in a humidor. They'll need to replenish some humidity and moisture or dry out a little.
How long should you let your new cigars rest?

When you put cigars in a humidor, especially one that's filled, they'll soak up and release humidity over time until they reach the average RH (relative humidity) that you have set inside your humidor. If you have a device like a that does this automatically, it will produce moisture and humidity to keep the levels optimal. You can also achieve the same thing with in smaller humidors, which release and soak up the humidity to match the levels on the label. Boveda packs come in a range of RH levels, from the low to mid-60s to the mid-70s.

Read more