Skip to main content

Trekking: The Pampa Cuff WP Lux looks as good on the trail as off

Man isn’t meant to stay indoors — our weekly “Trekking” column can attest to that. It’s a column dedicated to the adventurer inside of all of us, the one pining to ditch the office humdrum for a quick surf session or seven-week jaunt in the Grand Tetons. One day we may highlight an ultra-light stove and the next a set of handmade canoe paddles. Life doesn’t just happen inside the workplace, so get outside and live it.

The changes seasons signal more than just the arrival of Starbuck’s gingerbread frappuccino — or a least it should, anyway. Cooler weather often accompanies the latter months of the year, along with snow, rain, and generally wetter conditions that often make us pine for a time when the days were longer and the air warmer. That said, harsher conditions typically call for a more rugged and durable type of apparel, one the Palladium Pampa Cuff WP Lux ($140) perfectly embodies.

Garage_DSC0832-620x413Readily available in four distinct colors, the Pampa Cuff WP Lux serves as a go-to when you’re in need of a boot that excels when it comes to both practicality and versatility on and off the trail. The California-based company initially began manufacturing tires for a then-fledgling aviation industry, essentially layering canvas bands beneath vulcanized rubber for the utmost durability. It later began crafting boots that were as tough as the tires, and now nearly a century later, the folks behind Palladium continue to apply their penchant for design with each new release. The Pampa Cuff WP Lux sports utilizes the same premium materials within a sleek and modern build, while opting for a waterproof nubuck uppers that keep your feet dry when the weather outside is not.

Related: The Vasque Inhaler GTX hits the high notes (and more)

A waterproof exterior is just the tip of the iceberg, however. Additional touches such as the lace-up closures and padded tongue also help optimize the fit and imbue it with added comfort,  and thanks to the integrated pull-tabs on the heels, you can effortlessly shed the boots in a matter of seconds. The textured rubber midsole and outsole help round out the appeal without sacrificing style, too, meaning you can transition from the winter wonderland outside to a whiskey-soaked bar without anyone batting an eye.

Check out Palladium online for more information, to make a purchase, or to gloss the company’s entire collection of low and high-top boots.

Topics
Brandon Widder
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Brandon Widder is a journalist and a staff writer for the Manual and its brother site, Digital Trends, where he covers tech…
12 classic sci-fi books everyone should read
If you love science fiction and reading, these classic sci-fi novels are a must
Man reading a book and drinking coffee

It may feel like we were recently living in a science-fiction dystopia life -- and in some ways, we were -- but that doesn't mean that we should simply avoid an entire genre of writing. Hardly. In fact, this is probably the perfect time to explore classic sci-fi books, to see what the masters have written, and maybe even see if someone predicted anything like this. Many, though, simply ignore sci-fi wholly and completely because of an association with robots, aliens, and the like.

Long story short, if you think you don't like sci-fi, you have never read great books from the genre. But indeed, many such books abound, including a number that has delighted generations of readers going back well over 150 years. In fact, one of the best things about so many sci-fi books is their very timelessness. As by definition, this type of fiction breaks away from the norms of the everyday world -- whether slightly twisting things or taking place on entire other worlds -- the stories often feel as fresh and relevant today as when they were published decades ago.

Read more
The 7 best classic fantasy books to get lost in
Even adults can enjoy entering the fantasy world
Man reading a book

Using the term "fantasy" when it comes to fiction, we are admittedly casting a pretty wide net. After all, think about just how many shows and movies could technically be considered fantasy, too. If. we're talking about classic, canonical fantasy, though, the net shrinks considerably. If a book is to stand the test of time to be considered a classic -- regardless of genre -- it has to be damn good. At the risk of offending plenty of authors and fantasy fans both of yesteryear and today, most fantasy writing ... how should I put this? In a few decades, it won't be on some future writer's list of fantasy classics.

I say all that as an absolute fan of fantasy writing. From the Game of Thrones books, our era's Lord of the Rings, to the novels of Neil Gaiman, to the Twilight series (except not that), there is a plethora of great fantasy writing being produced today. But if you're looking to get into the genre or are already an aficionado with a few gaps in your reading list, classic fantasy novels are always a fine choice, as are classic mysteries, classic adventure books, and on it goes across every genre of literature.

Read more
How do cigars make you feel? My experience as a cigar smoker
Man smoking a cigar in a newsboy cap outside.

Most enthusiasts and cigar lovers smoke for more than just the appearance. In other words, it's not about looking cool or suave but about the experience itself. Smoking a good cigar is flavorful, pleasurable, and relaxing, and, on occasion, may even make you feel light-headed or give you a slight buzz -- although it's nothing like drinking or imbibing other common substances. For someone who's never smoked before or is interested in getting into the hobby, wondering just how cigars make you feel is a valid concern. What can you expect, and what is it about cigars that change the experience for better or worse?
How does a cigar make you feel?

For the most part, a cigar experience is pleasurable and relaxing, but nothing more. You don't smoke to feel something, so it's not like drinking alcohol or taking other substances in the sense that you're doing it to chase a particular feeling. If you like drinking for the taste or the flavors, that's the best comparison to smoking a cigar. A good cigar will be aromatic but also leaves a lot of nuanced flavor on your tongue and, if you retro-hale, in your nostrils. You'll get hints of chocolate, coffee, leather, spice, and maybe even some sweet tones like fruit. It depends on the cigar and the blend.

Read more