FOR DAILY WEAR. Mack Weldon thinks it’s time to get back to basics with, well, basics.  At a time when men have become a legitimate fashion consumer force, why are millions still settling for less when it comes to what they wear under all those well-tailored suits and premium brand denim? The creation of Mack […]

If you’re anything like us, you probably don’t need much past the words “pig” and “roast” to get your attention. When you add the words “New Orleans,” “Competition,”  “Beer” and then garnish it with some live music and a worthy philanthropic cause, then our attention actually starts to smoke with the ferocity of a, well…traditional […]

Camping gear maker Bush Smarts is bringing back the art of bushcraft. We’re talking carving spoons out of wood and starting fires without matches. “We want to reconnect people to the ancient heritage of connecting with nature,” says Kevin Sterling, co-founder of the New York-based company. “We want them to enjoy their precious time in the […]

Besides fast fashion, today we also have fast furniture. Ikea is the most well known but now with Etsy and even the particle board cabinets found at Pottery Barn, many pieces of our furniture won’t be passed down to our kids (Hell, our movers refused to move anything from Ikea since it is so flimsy) […]

Central Phoenix has grown up in recent years as a haven for foodies, so it’s no surprise that it welcomes back the Welcome Diner with a gourmet twist. The “gourmet diner” is a growing trend from London to Phoenix. Think limited menu with high-quality burgers and an intimate atmosphere. But most importantly it’s an affordable dining experience. The Welcome […]

Cufflinks have a unique history. They first appeared in Europe in the early 17th century, but were not widely used. The men of that time preferred to wear lace and ribbons to hold their shirt cuffs together.  Accounts from this period suggest that men of elegance were not to be seen wearing jewelry. The exceptions […]

Sometimes in life we have to travel many a road until we find the path right for us. For David Watkins, he worked in the ad world for years until he started feeling burnt out. Then he remembered buying shirt fabrics in college and decided to try his hand at shirt making; then the dreadful […]

If you’ve ever read the label on your shampoo bottle, you’re probably well aware that it’s got some harsh stuff in it. Methylisothiazolinone, ammonium xylene sulfonate, paraphenylenediamine – this stuff is just as hard on your hair as it is on your pronunciation skills. You shouldn’t be shampooing every day anyway, let alone doing it with such […]

Do you find yourself feeling somewhat Grinch-eqsue around St. Patrick’s Day? Berating your shamrock-clad, toothy-grinned roommate for not knowing who Saint Patrick was, and for “not even being Irish?” Not to worry, we’ve got the cure to your green-day blues. Actually, we’ve got ten of them. Here are our favorite places around the nation to […]

In a world of fast fashion and mass-produced everything, we tend to lose sight of where and how our clothing is actually made. And when it comes to dress shirts, walk into any office or a bar on Saturday night, and it’s likely the men wearing them look exactly the same. But we all come […]

For every child of the 80s and 90s—especially those who were sports fans—the Starter Jacket was an iconic piece of apparel. There are countless images of legendary coaches such as Bill Parcells, rappers such as the members of NWA, and even Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall in the movie Coming to America, all wearing the […]

We’re not statisticians here at The Manual, but based on our own independent research, we know that there are approximately a zillion different weather apps for your iPhone. With such a large selection of great apps both free and paid, you have no excuse to stick with the native iOS weather application. It’s boring, lacks […]

When Hall Newbegin, the founder of the California-based fragrance company Juniper Ridge, develops a scent, he asks himself, “Does it really smell like that place?” An avid outdoorsman who has hiked many miles in the West Coast’s prime hiking destinations like Big Sur, the Cascades and the Sierra Nevadas, Newbegin wanted to bottle their scents […]

Portland: a city steeped in beer. With so many great breweries around, who needs anything else? Well, sometimes, only a glass of fine wine will do. Portland has a burgeoning wine bar scene, thanks to an influx of transplants who favor vino over barley and hops. These bars don’t just serve Oregon Pinot, however. You’ll […]

You just arrived in Austin, TX for famed music, film and interactive conference SXSW. Sure you have tons of bands to see and parties to attend, but Austin is also an wonderful city that needs to be explored for its amazing restaurants, shopping and natural beauty. Ditch the travel guide and listen up: we visited […]

What’s better than great skin? Getting great skin for free. The Manual is pleased to announce our first giveaway. 10 lucky readers will win the latest product from LAB Series new The PRO LS line.  It’s an all-in-one face treatment that targets every guy’s problem areas. The formula soothes irritated and blotchy skin, moisturizes and […]