Men's Journal's Blog, page 2087

Flip Ahead

Free your feet from sweltering sneakers and let 'em breathe in these new sandals. … [visit site to read more]

Pulling No Punches

Fresh off his light heavyweight title win, Bernard Hopkins visited Men's Journal to chat about what it's like to be the oldest to ever win a championship boxing belt, his healthy lifestyle and the art of the stare down. Check out this exclusive video. … [visit site to read more]

Gladiator Garage Flex Cabinet Systems: Sporting Goods Savior

This article was produced in partnership with Gladiator Garage.

 Your summers are jam-packed with kayaking, biking, and surfing. Fall is high season for climbing and hiking. And winters are one giant powder fest spent skinning, snowboarding, and skiing. You live for outdoor adventures, but when all is said and done, your garage can look like a sporting goods store. We're not telling you to part ways with your equipment. We're just advising you to clean up your toys and invest in a smart storage system like the new Gladiator® Garage Flex Cabinet System.

We know organizing all that gear is daunting. It's easier to let it all pile up in your garage, but resist the urge. The Gladiator® Flex Cabinet System can help you compartmentalize your items by purpose and sport. Organizing your stuff gets you out the door faster, which means you can spend more time having the adventure and less time packing for it.

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Simple, Customizable Gear Storage 

Let's think about everything you need for a day spent outdoors. Road rides with your triathlon buddies require a helmet, tubes, spare parts, and multi-tools—oh, yeah, and the bike itself. Backpacking trips need packs, stoves, sleeping bags, boots, and cooking accoutrement. Climbing has a whole slew of special cams, nuts, carabiners, ropes, shoes, and chalk bags. Watersports come with big, bulky items like life jackets, paddles, and dry bags. And winter sports are an even bigger fiasco with boots, climbing axes, skis, skins, snowboards, sleds, jackets, bibs, and gloves.

The Gladiator® Flex Cabinet System can help eliminate the stress of storing and deploying all this and more. Because this four-piece suite of cabinets can be customized into five different systems, you can tailor them to fit your specific storage needs. It’s a simple and elegant solution to the great gear conundrum.

Each cabinet is built to last, made from 24-gauge steel that’s welded for durability and given a powder coat finish that resists scratches and corrosion. Gladiator went all-out with the finishes, too, giving each cabinet beveled edges, soft-touch recessed handles, soft-close doors, and auto-return drawers. The cabinets have self-leveling feet if your garage is slightly slanted. Or you can take things up a notch (literally) and mount the units to your garage wall for a clean look.

A peek inside the Tall Cabinet.

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Cabinet SizesTall Cabinet

This is the workhorse of each Flex Cabinet System. Measuring 75 inches tall, 30 inches wide, and 19 inches deep, the Tall Cabinet is built to store large items, with fully adjustable shelves that rest on hidden brackets and hold up to 200 pounds of gear each. You can arrange them to make room for ski boots and helmets, or add a removable closet rod to hang ski jackets and pants.

Each Tall Cabinet comes with one small Cabinet Storage Basket ($34.99 per additional basket) that fits beneath one of the shelves to help maximize organization for small items like ski socks, hand warmers, and the all-important flask. You can add more Cabinet Storage Baskets, up to two per shelf, to maximize gear capacity within the unit. You can also pair the Flex Cabinet System with Gladiator® GearWall Panels, available in 4 foot ($64.99) and 8 foot ($119.99) and Tool Hooks ($11.99) so you can hang your skis on the wall for quick grab-and-go access when the powder hits.

Wall Cabinet

This small-but-mighty unit (24 inches wide) is built to hang on the wall, with fully adjustable shelves you can tailor to the gear at hand. Water bottles, lunch boxes, trail maps…it all has a spot in the Wall Cabinet, and a two-point locking mechanism keeps everything safe. We’re big fans of the soft-touch handles and soft-closing doors.

Man pushing 2-Door Base Cabinet using Casters. 

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2-Door Base Cabinet

This 24-inch-wide cabinet is built to nest next to the Tall Cabinet, with locking, soft-closing doors that reveal adjustable shelves. The cabinet can either be set on the floor, mounted to Gladiator® GearWall or GearTrack systems, or put on Casters ($69.99) to enhance mobility.

1-Drawer, 2-Door Base Cabinet

Similar to the 2-Door Base Cabinet, only this cabinet has an auto-return drawer at the top of the unit, perfect for a set of tools used to keep your gear, like bindings, in shape. You can add a hardwood 24-inch Worktop ($79.99) to either Base Cabinet to serve as a workspace should you need to make repairs or pack your kit for the day ahead.

For even more versatility, try adding two Worktops to the Base Cabinets to create 48 inches of work space, ideal for tuning your own skis. Or maybe you’re a multi-sport athlete, and want to dedicate a cabinet for each sport—climbing gear in the Wall Cabinet, ski gear in the Tall Cabinet, backpacking gear in the 2-Door Base Cabinet. The potential is endless thanks to the Flex Cabinet System’s versatility. Speaking of which, here are the five different Flex Cabinet Systems you can choose from. 

5 Flex Cabinet System Configurations

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Flex Cabinet System I comes with the Tall Cabinet, Wall Cabinet, and 2-Door Base Cabinet, holding up to 1,610 pounds of dispersed gear.

54" W x 75" H x 19" D

[$1,019.99; gladiatorgarageworks.com]

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Flex Cabinet System II swaps out the 2-Door Base Cabinet for the 1-Drawer, 2 Door Base Cabinet, and holds up to 1,660 pounds.

54" W x 75" H x 19" D

[$1,119.99; gladiatorgarageworks.com]

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Flex Cabinet System III adds an extra Wall Cabinet to System II and increases the weight capacity to 1,730 pounds.

78" W x 75" H x 19" D

[$1,399.99; gladiatorgarageworks.com]

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The Flex Cabinet System IV has the most storage, holding up to 2,350 pounds of gear between the Tall Cabinet, two Base Cabinets, and two Wall Cabinets. 

78" W x 75" H x 19" D

[$1,599.99; gladiatorgarageworks.com]

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The Flex Cabinet System V adds in the option of a 24-inch 2-door Base Cabinet with a drawer, but drops one of the Wall Cabinets from System IV.

78" W x 75" H x 19" D 

[$1,499.99; gladiatorgarageworks.com]

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Regardless of the system you choose, all of the units come pre-assembled and shipped to you nesting inside the Tall Cabinet. All you have to do is unbox, set it where you want it, and start loading your gear. 

[From $1,019.99; gladiatorgarageworks.com]

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The Defender Service Awards Finalists Are In. Vote Now!

Most people who do service work aren’t in it for the glory. But that doesn’t mean the positive change created in our communities by non-profit organizations should go unrecognized. Enter the Defender Service Awards, an annual program created by Land Rover honoring service organizations in North America that are making a significant impact. For 2023, the Defender Service Awards, along with their sponsors, will commemorate six standout service organizations. Each awardee will receive $25,000 and a custom Defender 130 SUV. And voting is now open.

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"The Defender Service Awards are a beloved initiative that we are proud to bring back for a third year," says Joe Eberhardt, president and CEO of Jaguar Land Rover North America. "Celebrating the organizations that make a difference in our communities speaks to the core of the Defender brand that it's most powerful when it’s on a mission to help others."

Eligible service organizations submitted videos up to three minutes long describing their mission and how a Defender 130 SUV would help them make an even greater impact. A panel of judges then selected five finalists across five different categories of service work who best represent the Defender spirit.

On September 14, Land Rover announced the 25 finalists for 2023. All 25 receive $5,000 donation from Defender Service Awards sponsors CHASE and $2,500 from Warner Bros. Discovery.

Now it’s up to the public to decide which finalists should be awarded $25,000 and a custom Defender 130 SUV. Anyone can participate. Go to the Defender Service Awards website and click “Vote Now” to watch the finalists’ videos. You can cast up to one vote per day, per category, for the organization you feel most deserves to win.

The six winners—one from each category, plus a sixth organization chosen from among previous years’ non-winners—will be announced at Destination Defender, a weekend celebration of the Defender Lifestyle at Iron Horse Ranch in Somerville, TX . Defender will host a special gala event the evening of Nov 11, announcing the winners and honoring the tenacity of North America’s service workers.

Here’s a sneak peek at the 25 finalists, listed in alphabetical order by category, and a chat with Sauvetage Bénévole Outaouais of Ottawa Volunteer Search and Rescue, a 2022 Defender Service Award Winner.

Land Rover Defender Service Awards (4:10) Animal, Wildlife & Marine Welfare Award (Presented by Animal Planet)

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and this category salutes those who work tirelessly to protect and conserve animal, wildlife, and marine mammal welfare. These champions devote their lives to preserving our planet’s precious biodiversity.

Appalachian Wildlife Refuge in Candler, NC, gives injured and orphaned wildlife animals in Western North Carolina a second chance at life by providing a place for care and treatment.

Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network in North Charleston, SC, protects dolphins, whales, and seals in South Carolina waters. The Lowcountry is home to approximately 350 year-round resident dolphins.

Manitoba Underdogs Rescue Inc. in Winnipeg, MB, runs a 600-volunteer strong foster home-based dog rescue serving the province of Manitoba. To-date, they’ve rescued more than 3,500 animals.

Midwest Animal ResQ in Raytown, MO, is a foster-based rescue group serving the Greater Kansas City Area. They also operate an adoption center and an animal sanctuary.

Sea Turtle Inc. in South Padre Island, TX, has been working to protect sea turtles through

conservation, medical care, applied research, and education since 1977.

Community Services Award (Presented by ei3)

Here, Land Rover applauds organizations that tackle critical social issues within their communities, from fighting food insecurity and homelessness, to empowering seniors, to protecting the natural environment.

Chattahoochee Riverkeeper in Mableton, GA, works to ensure there’s enough clean water in the Chattahoochee River—now and for future generations—through research, monitoring, education, and advocacy.

Connecting Kids to Meals in Toledo, OH, provides hot, nutritious meals at no cost to children in low-income and underserved areas year-round. Since 2002, the organization has served more than 6 million meals to kids in need.

Enjoy Detroit in Detroit, MI, makes creating positive change in Metro Detroit cool for kids through high-energy volunteer efforts and consistent involvement in city rehabilitation activities and initiatives.

Kairos Adventures Inc in Casselberry, FL, empowers people with disabilities to discover and develop their unique potential and purpose. The organization envisions a world where all people are seen, known, and celebrated.

LiveOnNY in Queens, NY, facilitates life-saving organ donations, educates the community on the power of organ donation, cares for the families of organ donors, and advocates on behalf of those awaiting transplants.

Outdoor Accessibility & Education Award (Presented by OUTSIDE Interactive, Inc.)

This category acknowledges organizations committed to promoting outdoor accessibility, adaptive sports programs, environmental education, and conservation efforts, honoring those who work to ensure everyone has the chance to enjoy nature.

Camp Rainbow Gold in Boise, ID, has a mission to provide emotionally empowering experiences to Idaho children diagnosed with cancer, and their families, through week-long camp programs offered year-round.

Idaho Trails Association in Boise, ID, builds and maintains Idaho’s extensive trail system, educates the public about land stewardship and leave-no-trace principles, and serves as a voice for Idaho’s hiking community.

The Bethlehem Center in Chattanooga, TN, dates back to 1920. “The Beth” runs a variety of programs and community outreach designed to foster spiritual growth, education, and leadership development for both youth and adults.

Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports in Killington, VT, empowers people with disabilities through inclusive, year-round sports and recreational activities, regardless of ability to pay. The organization’s programming includes access to state-of-the-art adaptive sports equipment.

Youth Sports Alliance in Park City, UT, aspires to empower dreams and build futures by introducing kids to sports and inspiring them to keep moving their bodies throughout their lives.

Search, Rescue & Emergency Support Services Award (Presented by PELICAN)

When disaster strikes and lives are at stake, heroes step up to provide crucial support. This category recognizes organizations involved in remote area search and rescue, natural disaster support, firefighting, and other emergency services facing dangerous situations.

Allegheny Mountain Rescue Group in Pittsburgh, PA, has been offering support to government agencies responsible for lost- and injured-person incidents since 1985. The organization not only helps locate, access, stabilize, and transport patients in wilderness settings, but also aids in searches for suspected crime victims, and evidence.

Resources in Search & Rescue, Inc. in Monroe, CT, is a team of nationally certified canines and their handlers who assist official agencies in recovering lost persons in the wilderness, missing children, Alzheimer's patients, drowning victims, homicide/suicide victims, victims of burned structures or downed aircraft, and victims of natural disasters.

Squamish Search & Rescue Society in Squamish, BC, is made up of more than 80 volunteer members who devote thousands of hours of their personal time to training, and who respond to over 100 calls each year to assist lost or injured skiers, hikers, climbers, and kayakers in the region’s rugged backcountry.

Taos Search & Rescue in Taos, NM, trains and maintains ten highly specialized units that execute search and rescue operations across all of New Mexico’s diverse backcountry terrain, from the mountains to the high desert to the Rio Grande River Gorge.

TEXSAR in Wimberley, TX, deploys statewide at the request of local, state, and federal agencies to provide highly specialized services including search and rescue, flood and swiftwater rescue, incident management, and wildland fire response.

Veteran & Civil Servant Outreach Award (Presented by Hearts & Science)

This category salutes the men and women who've served our country and protected our communities, honoring organizations that offer vital support to military veterans, firefighters, first responders, and police officers injured in action.

Big Red Barn Retreat in Blythewood, SC, offers integrated practices and programs that help active-duty service members, veterans, and first responders thrive. Offerings range from tai chi to farm-to-table cooking classes to seven-day transformative trainings like Warrior PATHH, all at no cost.

Calgary Veterans Services Society in Calgary, AB, aids veterans in need of short-term services like food, money, and clothing, and helps them develop a path to self-sufficiency through job boards, training opportunities, nature retreats, and therapy.

Heroes Homestead in Clayton, WA, runs a family farm that hosts unique workshops and events designed to help fortify not only active-duty service members, veterans, and first responders, but also their families.

Honour House Society in New Westminster, BC, provides accommodations for members of the Canadian military, veterans, and emergency services personnel and their families to stay, free of charge, while they’re receiving medical care and treatment in the Metro Vancouver area.

Warriors Choice Foundation in Jupiter, FL, serves combat veterans struggling with PTSD, mental illness, and catastrophic injuries. The organization provides trained service dogs, ancillary medical services, alternative wellness retreats and education, and recreational retreats.

Visit the Defender Service Awards website to learn more about these hard-working organizations and cast your vote.