Staff Picks: October 13th

Welcome to InsideHook’s Staff Picks, a compendium of what our editors are digging recently.

Adorable Arctic Foxes 1, Camera 0.

On with our foxy staff picks:

Levi’s Sherpa Trucker Jacket
The unisex, retro look of these sherpa jackets fades in and out of trendiness (they happen to be cool again right now), but it’s one of my main cold-weather go-tos year after year. Even the modern remakes are extremely sturdy and the insulated ones can be a bona fide winter coat if your layering game is strong. — Athena Wisotsky, Senior Editor

CRKT Daktyl Knife
Of the various and sundry pastimes my father has taken up in retirement, his favorite is admiring his now ample collection of knives. I don’t mean ornate, handmade or decorative blades — these are functional knives, of the sort hunters and fishers and outdoorsmen tend to dangle all over their person. And this little ditty from Columbia River Knife and Tool — with its ingenious “ambidextrous” folding mechanism, a lifetime warranty and an accessible price point ($40) — will soon be among them. Actually, he’ll probably be wearing it retired-dad-style, like this. — Walker J Loetscher, Editor in Chief

Brooks Levitate Running Shoes
When looking for a new running shoe, speed is the last thing on my mind—I grew out of runner’s envy years ago. But I’m open to anything that’ll help me put in more miles. So lately I’ve been wearing Levitates from Brooks, a road runner seven years in the making. The DNA AMP midsole cushioning technology provides industry-leading energy return that helped me, a fair-weather runner, keep up with a marathon-training coworker. (Full disclosure: It was only a 3-mile fun run, but I’m still counting it.) — Alex Lauer, Associate Editor

Icebreaker Utility Softshell Jacket
Jacket selection during the fall, especially thanks to the inconvenient truth of the weather these days, can be tough. You don’t want to go too heavy and relive the summer sweats you thought left behind last month, but going too light can leave you feeling a winter chill way too early. Smack dab in the middle is a jacket like the Utility Softshell from Icebreaker. Durable but stitched with some give, this surprisingly breathable layer is made from 48% merino wool, 42% nylon and 10% LYCRA. With plenty of pockets and snap closures to keep the wind out, this fall coat is a perfect match for foliage and football. — Evan Bleier, News Editor

Talus Cashmere Hoodie by NAADAM
I look forward to fall because the weather hits that 55-70 degree sweet spot where I can work in my dozens (yes, dozens) of hoodies into the daily wardrobe. For something that’s decidedly not Zuckerberg-ian but actually elevated, I go with Naadam’s ridiculously soft, lightweight cashmere hoodie, which is also a perfect fit for my stocky frame. — Kirk Miller, Managing Editor

DIY Cocktail Bitters
Here’s the thing: You love (or at least like) someone. (Think: dad, brother, buddy, intern.) He loves to drink, and you’re going to want to get him a present that reflects that — without going down the super-expensive libation route. Maybe he’s not so stuffy; maybe he’s the kind of guy who likes to drink on a lawn chair on a deck versus in an overstuffed club chair in a library. And he may very well enjoy the process of making his own bitters. What’s better than personalized bitters? Nothing. It’s two parts chemistry, one part DIY weekend workshop, and he gets to drink the work-product. Top result. — Diane Vadino, San Francisco Editor

TSY Keith Richards For President Tee
Maybe not the hero we deserve, but the hero we need. — Danny Agnew, Creative Director

THE BEST THING WE DRANK THIS WEEK

During a taco crawl with the good folks at Milagro Tequila and their ambassador, Jaime Salas, we came across this fine libation, the Vato Loco from NYC’s Street Taco:

1.5 oz Milagro Silver
.5 oz Lime Juice
.5 oz Agave
.75 oz Passion Fruit Puree

Shake and pour into a rocks glass with a Tajin Salt Rim. Note that the Milagro tequila used here was jalapeno-infused, which gave the drink a nice kick.

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And for no reason, leaving you with the best musical critique of all-time (and Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood agrees).