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The Audi Sport quattro concept is another lumpy plug-in hybrid supercar
Like it or not, the world of performance cars is headed towards hybridization. But that’s OK, right? Sure it is. You’ll save more fuel while also utilizing the torque-y nature of electric motors. Just because virtually every mass market hybrid that has gone sale in the last decade has been terrible to drive in one […] -
It’s All About the Ride
If you look at some of the big players in recreational boards (skateboards, surf boards, snowboards, etc.) the vast majority are California based, but Doug Stevens and his business partner Leslie McCullough Casse are set to make their mark on the industry with their new East Coast business called AsheVillain. The company, just gearing up […] -
The Volkswagen Scirocco R is the coolest car we can’t get in the States
This week I’m in Napa driving some 2014 Volkswagens. Volkswagen, without anything really new to show off, flew a few of us down to drive its entire 2014 model year lineup. This included, as you might expect, the Jetta, the Passat, the Beetle, and the Touareg. As I wandered through the lot full of silver, […] -
Feel Good Friday- Jed & Marne
We are serious shorts lovers here at The Manual. We know some style mavens shudder at shorts in the city, but when it’s 90 degrees your legs need to breathe. Period. And there are some regions in the States where guys can sport shorts nearly year round so variety is key. One brand we recently […] -
The Brabus 800 Roadster: born from weather machines
When it comes to Mercedes-Benz performance, there’s a definitive power ladder. At the base, we have the standard run of the mill models with enough power to give most anyone a giggle. Then we step up to AMG, which are built for playboys and investment bankers. Above that, we find the AMG Black series, which […] -
The 1967 Cadillac Eldorado is reborn as the Elmiraj Concept
Just yesterday I wrote about the manliness of new Mercedes-Benz GLA compact crossover. I concluded that it is very manly because it’s stylish, efficient, and versatile – capable of doing most anything you ask it to do. And what’s manlier than that? While I haven’t in any way changed course on my conclusions surrounding the […] -
Feel Good Friday – G.H. Bass’ Pennies Towards Progress
For fall 2013, the classic American company, G.H. Bass is honing in on their most iconic style, the Penny Loafer or Weejun (short for Norwegian, where the concept of the shoe came from) which they launched back in 1936. The fall campaign is called Power to the Penny and each spread shows a customized penny […] -
The Mercedes-Benz GLA is very manly indeed
Mercedes-Benz has released a new car and it’s called the GLA. I think it is a thing of absolute beauty. In fact I’ll go so far as to say I think it is the epitome of the modern car for a modern man. Let’s look at why, shall we? First off, it’s a Mercedes-Benz. Mercedes, […] -
Meet the Superyacht Adastra
If that article we posted a couple weeks ago about the Wally 55 Poweryacht gave you a boat boner, then just wait till you see this thing. The superyacht Adastra, which won Most Innovative Design at this year’s World Superyacht Awards, is an exercise in drop-dead gorgeous, ultra-efficient design. That super sleek, drool-inducing exterior isn’t […] -
Feel Good Friday – Bombas Socks
Athletic socks haven’t been in the style vernacular since the days of the Harlem Globetrotters. Yeah, it’s been a while. Nobody has reworked a damn ankle or knee sock for eons yet athletic shoes are redeveloped constantly. On a more sobering note, socks are the most requested item at homeless shelters. This statistic had two […] -
Mercedes-Benz does a swimsuit-inspired convertible
For decades, BMW has commissioned art cars from some of the world’s most infamous artists, including Andy Warhol (pictured second in gallery above) and Jeff Koons. Often brightly and wildly colored, the cars brought notoriety and attention to both the artist and BMW. The ostentatious art cars are a delightful contradiction, as the bright paint […] -
Whiskey Barrels Remake The Man Cave
If you are the kind of gentleman that likes to sip straight Whiskey and make a statement, hold your shot glasses up for Heritage Handcrafted. The artisanal furniture maker uses whiskey and wine barrels to create several unique furniture pieces. Their latest creation is signature celebratory box complete with a bottle of Belle Meade’s finest […] -
Top Music Venues Across the Country
Sometimes it’s the smallest places that offer up the best opportunities for catching a great band. We admit, it’s hard to choose just a few musical venues from across the country, but here are a few worthy of note. Orange Peel, Asheville, North Carolina Housed in a former skating rink, The Orange Peel Social Aid […] -
Lose the Heavy Amp With the AmpliTube Fender App
Hey electric guitar and bass players, now you can get that rock and roll sound from the comfort of your iPhone or iPad. The next best thing to plugging into a Fender amp has come along — in the form of the AmpliTube Fender app. This handy app comes with all the benefits of a […] -
Feel Good Fridays – Soles4Souls
Wondering what to do with those shoes you bought on a whim that have been sitting in your closet for two years? Soles4Souls is here for ya. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Soles4Souls is a non-profit institution that collects new and used shoes and clothes from everyone from ordinary people like us to civic and faith […] -
Sienna Miller and James Franco unveil the BMW i3 electric car, for some reason
Celebrity vehicle unveilings are nothing new. Just this spring, Daniel Craig was paid $1-million to pull the covers off the new Range Rover Sport. A couple years before that, Sharon Stone and a Baldwin brother were hired to debut the new Lotus models that, sadly, will likely never see the light of day. This latest […] -
Why Knot? 60 Indispensable Knots for Any Situation
On August 7th, 1974, a whispy young Frenchman by the name of Philipe Petit stepped out onto a wire he illegally rigged between the World Trade Center’s twin towers. Once he was atop the cable, he stayed there for over an hour – completely free of any safety harnesses or nets hung below to save […] -
Cedar Cycling Goes the Extra Mile
Cycling is more than just exercise to Neil Berrett, co-founder of biking apparel company Cedar Cycling. “When I was a kid, the bike gave me freedom. I could ride out into the world and explore. There was adventure and it was accessible through the bike,” he says. “Now I use it to stay healthy and […] -
The Nocqua 2000 Underwater LED Lighting System Illuminates Dark Waters
If you love being in water as much as we do, not even nightfall can pull you out. Unfortunately, unless you’re near lights coming from boats, it’s pretty much impossible to see anything directly underneath you. Lucky for us Billy Rossini developed a solution in the Nocqua 2000 Underwater LED Lighting System. Simply attach the […] -
Be a Modern Paul Bunyan With the Joseph Bowen Micro Hatchet
We bet you hear the word hatchet — a small ax with a handle — you think of Paul Bunyan-like man chopping down trees. Lucky for you, Joseph Bowen, a knife maker and tattoo artist with a family history of fisherman and blacksmiths, came up with a modern day version of the ax. Bowen, who […] -
Floome: a Breathalyzer for your Smartphone
If all the articles we post about whiskey, rum, wine, and beer didn’t already tip you off, we’re huge fans of booze here at The Manual. We love to get our drink on, but we also know that part of being a grown-ass man is knowing when you’ve had too many pickleback shots to get […] -
The 2013 FIAT 500 Abarth Cabrio Has Both Style and Substance
When I started covering cars for The Manual, my editor told me that the cars I should write about ought to be the kind that make an eight-year-old boy stand up and applaud. Or at the very least be worthy of his bedroom wall. Accordingly, I’ve covered supercars, mental sports sedans, and gorgeous concepts. This […] -
Shoot in Style with the Leica D-Lux 6 G-Star Raw Edition
What do you get when you mix a high-end point-and-shoot with a designer denim brand? In a nutshell, you get a camera that looks just as good as the pictures it takes. Leica has always favored a vintage aesthetic in their cameras, but the new D-Lux 6 G-Star RAW takes the company’s signature style to […] -
Late Night? Bookman Lights Will Guide You Home
When the phrase “bike accessories” is spoken, it’s easy to associate it with your childhood wheels. Baskets, bells and spoke knick knacks certainly pop into our minds. And though each can serve it’s own special purpose, making your bicycle safer and more useful, these accessories can also clutter your bike and even weigh it down. […] -
Feel Good Friday: Gear Up and Give Back with Victorinox Travel Gear
Whether you are gearing up for back-to-school or just looking for a new bag to lug around office, gym, camping or weekend must haves, Victorinox has a great line of bags ‘with the individual in mind.’ The Altmont 3.0 (the 3rd iteration of the Altmont collection launched last January) collection has standard backpacks as well as ones designed specifically […] -
The 2014 Cadillac CTS-V Sedan Will Scare You Half to Death
Sport sedans, as I see it, make for the ultimate car. They’ve sleek lines, powerful engines, luxurious interiors, rear- or all-wheel drive, and four doors. Sports sedans, then, can just as easily send your heart into palpitations on the track as they can get your kids to school in safety and style. When you think […] -
North Street Bags – On Your Back or On Your Rack
If you commute via bike, finding the right bag to lug your stuff around in can be tricky business. A big backpack can throw your balance off and make for an uncomfortable ride, but rack-mounted panniers aren’t always ideal for carrying your gear once you’re off the bike. Even if you do manage to find […] -
Power Low? Charge Your Phones With Tylt
When Rami Rostami founded Tylt in 2011, he knew that there was a need for consumers to have a way to charge their devices with gadgets that also look cool. How many times have you been out and about and your cell phone battery was at 10 percent and there was no outlet in sight? […] -
The BMW Active Tourer Outdoor Concept is a Gorgeous Abomination
BMW has just unveiled the all-new Active Tourer Outdoor Concept that you see above. It’s both very good and very bad. We’ll explain why. Slathered in an exclusive Gold Race Orange paint color, the Active Tourer Outdoor aims to be as stylish as it is versatile. On the inside, BMW says the interior is “hard-wearing” […] -
Head Outdoors with Casio G’zone Commando
You’re the adventurous sort. Camping, sailing, biking–you do it all. So chances are, you’ll need a device that can keep up. The Casio G’zone Commando 4G LTE ($149.99), powered by Verizon Wireless, is one such device. This rugged Android smartphone was designed to withstand harsh climate conditions. Sporting a thick rubber casing, it can resist shock, water and dust. […] -
Get Behind the Wheel of a Gotham Dream Cars Luxury Vehicle
Have you ever dreamed of getting behind the wheel of a your dream car for an entire day or more? Gotham Dream Cars can turn that dream into reality. Whether you want to indulge in a Bentley, experience the speed of a Porsche or impress your date with a Rolls Royce, all you need to […] -
Feel Good Friday: Fairphone
If you were to dissect your smartphone, pick it apart with tiny screwdrivers and pliers, and scrutinize its innards like a sophmore biology student scrutinizes the guts of a disemboweled bullfrog, you’d inevitably discover some unsettling facts about the device. Take for example the gold in the circuits, the tantalum in the phone’s capacitor, or […] -
Inflate Summer Fun With ULI Boards
There’s nothing that says “summer” quite like water sports. From sailing to surfing, hitting the beach for more than a tan and a few mai tais always keeps us coming back for more. We want to squeeze as much out of these warm-weather months as possible, so having the top gear is an absolute must. […] -
Poweryacht Porn: The Wally 55
Got an extra 2.5 mil to spare? Get yourself a Wally 55, or as we like to call it, the Goldilocks yacht. It’s not too big, not too small, but juuust right. This thing is so stylish, so sleek, and so beautifully minimalist, it almost doesn’t feel right to call it a yacht – it’s […] -
Vest to Impress: 5 Lifejackets You’ll Actually Want to Wear
We know you’re a pretty strong swimmer, but if you’re on the water this summer, chances are good you’ve got to comply with some sort of state regulation and wear a life vest anyway. Nobody likes it, but laws like this exist for a reason, so you might as well make the best of the […] -
Gear Up: The Manual’s Summer Camping Essentials
Now that summer is officially in full swing, it’s time to gear up for all the warm weather adventures you’ll soon be having. We’ve come across a slew of incredible new outdoor gear in the past year, so to help you get prepared for your next trip, we took some time to round up a […] -
Feel Good Friday: Shinola, Where American is Made
When you think about Detroit, you might think cars. Start envisioning something else-watches, bicycles, and more. Shinola is part of a growing movement that celebrates the beauty of manufacturing and investment in the American workforce. It was founded in 2011 with the goal to make quality products and to make them right here in America. […] -
Relax and Breathe Easy in the Cave
Relaxation and easier breathing may be as simple as heading back into the cave. The trend of Himalayan Salt Caves is beginning to sweep the country. Salt therapy, which is known as halotherapy, is natural, safe and non invasive. Reported benefits include relief from a wide range of respiratory distress including asthma, allergies and sinus […] -
Down With Smoke
We all know that smoking is a habit that has become increasingly taboo and while many smokers wish they could just quit, it’s a goal that is easier said than done. So, what exactly are electronic cigarettes (or e-cigs) and how do they work? We spoke with a few popular brands on the market to […] -
The BMX Bike Grows Up
Remember the days when you were young, popping wheelies on your BMX bike? Now you can relive them, thanks to Biomega’s Brooklyn, a grown-up version of the beloved bike of your youth. The bicycle fuses modern Danish design with the durability of the original. Jens Martin Skibsted looked back to the ‘80s original for inspiration, […] -
Telemark Skiing Carves Fresh Tracks
Let’s face it. Despite the bone-chilling temperatures and lack of sun-sustaining vitamin D, winter sports can make Northeastern temperatures bearable. Even, dare I say, fun? Downhill skiing and snowboarding are all well and good, but lately many snow-bound adventurers have been trying their hand at Telemark, a hybrid of downhill and cross-country skiing. Not only […] -
Planika Fires: Your ‘Burning Desire’ Has Arrived. Innovative, Technologically Advanced Fireplaces
Having your own personal fire place in your home is, for the most part, a stroke of luck. It’s rare to find a fire place already built into your home and/or apartment. And while there are ways to supply your home with one—yes, the Yule Log that runs twenty-four hours on Christmas day counts; but […] -
Beauty and the Box: Sony’s S5100 Blu-Ray Player
Home theater boxes are in an awkward transitionary period right now; almost like the VHS to DVD switch that happened years ago, but worse. It’s clear that streaming media from the Internet is the way of the future, but streaming services like Netflix and Hulu haven’t been able to match the variety and availability of […] -
Lookout Mountain Rocker
Necessity may be the mother of invention, but it was a dad who recognized a need to craft a comfortable rocker to rock his sons to sleep when they were babies. Today, those two boys join their father to create that same rocker, dubbed the Lookout Mountain Rocker, for others in their Wood Studio business. […] -
Vintage Winter Style
Vintage winter sports items will always be in-style. No matter how advanced the technology and materials become to make snowboards and skis lighter and more aerodynamic; no matter how much ski destinations start to resemble amusement parks, there is something appealing about an old pair of solid, wood skis, or a warm, rustic lodge. The […] -
The Chemex: A Coffeemaker That’s Easy on the Eyes
Ever feel dissatisfied with your coffee maker? Almost three-quarters of a century ago, inventor Dr. Peter Schlumbohm was frustrated with the conventional coffee makers of his time because they were unable to produce the right flavor or temperature that he preferred, so he took matters into his own hands. Schlumbohm aimed to develop a coffee […] -
Catching Up with Threads and Fins
As we mentioned yesterday, surfing is reaching new found popularity the sport hasn’t seen since the 50s. We wonder if it is a reaction to all the technology in our lives that has kept our heads down and fingers swirling opposed to taking a deep breath and finding our groove back in nature. Regardless, it’s […] -
Sailing into New Design with Victorie Yachts
With the massive popularity of surfing in recent years, (thanks to companies like Saturdays bringing it into the fashion fold), we wonder when sailing will take off with equal hype. The excitement of being on the ocean or a great lake and rigging the sails, heeling to a strong wind and listening to the waves sure […] -
Five Questions for Bob Kramer
Legendary Master Bladesmith Bob Kramer spends his days forging top-of-the-line kitchen knives in his Washington-based shop. His work has been featured in Saveur, Bon Appetit, The New Yorker, GQ, and Vogue, as well as on Bravo’s Top Chef. He is one of 120 master bladesmiths in the United States. To get their hands on one […] -
Commit to Fit: Will Torres Gives Expert Tips on Getting in Shape for the New Year
New years resolutions – easier said than done, right? Whether you want to get fit or quit smoking, staring down a year of grueling work and dedication can be daunting. But you don’t have to go it alone. We caught up with fitness expert Will Torres, one of the most sought-after trainers in the business […]
