At the Manual we take pride in introducing brands we love. Our latest discovery hasn’t arrived on this side of the pond yet. Dutch brand Vico Footwear caught our attention with their fresh take on men’s casual footwear. Founded in 2012, the company produces their entire product line in Portugal with European leathers and recycled […]

Do you honestly know what vermouth is? Feel free to admit it if you don’t. Any cocktail aficionado worth his or her salt enjoys at least one drink that features vermouth as a key ingredient, but few people under the age of 35 really know what that means. To many, it’s just some kind of […]

Like an off-label industrial process or cult ritual conducted in the dead of night, an artery flowing open in spurts or a complex society on the verge of
 collapse, Neuroplasticity is both terrifying and morbidly enthralling to witness. Cold Specks has returned, two years and a world map of tours after 2012’s I Predict a […]

Ok, Ok, we know Grand Rapids is a decent sized city. We know it’s where Anthony Keidis, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Gerald Ford were born. But we had zero idea that it’s where A.K. Rikk’s, one of the flossiest menswear stores in America is located. Guys, we aren’t kidding. This place is no joke. Image […]

While it seems the media is on the fence about whether the speakers are an aesthetically pleasing addition, everyone seems to agree: The X900B sounds spectacular, and it's got a stellar picture to match.

Ever crave a post-workout bar after an evening at the gym, playing basketball or riding your bike around town that doesn’t involve what feels like a gunky chewy mass of processed ingredients you can’t identify? The folks at KIND — the snack company that makes products like snack bars and grain clusters with flax seeds, […]

I don’t care who you are – we’ve all had those daydreams of selling all our belongings, buying an old RV or teardrop trailer, and roadtripping across the country in a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants, Kerouac-style adventure. It’s definitely a tempting prospect, but before you hit up craigslist in search of a busted-ass Winnebago you can tow behind […]

Although the German-born, Bali-based Markus Gneist didn’t grow up surrounded by waves, he knew that the water was where he felt most at home, so as soon as he had the chance, he moved to Indonesia, where he could surf as much as he pleased. Gneist soon felt the need to customize his board, and […]

We love following color trends because they’re an easy way to update our wardrobes without investing in pieces that will be out of style next season. The last couple years, camouflage has been all over the runways and in our favorite brands’ collections, so it only makes sense a deep, dark green would come next. […]

Yup — you read that right. Denim distressed by big cats is totally a thing now, and surprisingly, it’s not horribly unethical either. Normally when animals are exploited for the sake of fashion it’s not a pretty picture, but this? This is actually a pretty brilliant idea. Not only is it good for the cats […]

Last week at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, I had the distinct pleasure to “test drive” the latest chronograph creation from the fine fellows at Autodromo. It’s called the Stradale Automatic and it’s a true thing of motoring-inspired beauty. In Italian, “stradale” means “road going” and this new flagship timepiece is certainly that. With […]

Think creating savory meals like a chef is too challenging? Australian chef Guy Turland says think again. He says the goal of his Bondi Harvest cooking show, which airs on YouTube, is to take away the intimidation of cooking. In the videos, he prepares meals in his apartment on Bondi Beach. He also spends time sitting […]

Everyone knows sleeping bags and tents are necessities when it comes to camping, but what about the gear that pushes beyond the everyday essentials?

This post originally ran on our brother site, DigitalTrends. Hot or not? We’re about to find out. Every major technology company is pushing into wearable devices, with futuristic visions of tech such as Google Glass, to the usable and everyday gear from companies like Fitbit and Samsung. But like a new restaurant in New York […]

Summer is fleeting. This means fall is upon us and beards are back — or not. At the very least, carefree summer grooming is out the door. When you’re ready to roll off the beach or check back in, we teamed up with eShave to help you brush up for fall.  Here’s our suggestions for […]

Now that we find ourselves at the tail end of summer, the urge for a sumptuous flannel shirt has resurfaced. Right now, it’s the beautifully crafted versions from new brand Portuguese Flannel that we’re really interested in. The brand was founded in Porto, North Portugal, by brothers Manuel and Antonio Magalhães, who are the fourth […]