Stab Recommends: The (Absentee, Vagabond) Editor-in-Chief Edition
A beanie-free zone.
This week’s Stab Recommends has been commandeered by a man who sits atop the editorial totem pole.
Ashton Goggans is many things: a fair surfer, proven face in front of camera, ample wordsmith, purveyor of a personal aesthetic that’s been best described as American Hobo Chic, etc… And he’s become somewhat of a travel-gear savant living on the road. Borne out of an absurd amount of days O/S in the last two years, here’s what Stab’s EIC stuffs into his suitcase.
Epokhe’s Chippa Wilson Meets Big Wednesday Military Frame
Chippa Wilson’s new signature Epokhe frame sold out like two days after they dropped. The Italian-made, US Military-inspire frames are a favorite alternative to the dozens of good, albeit predictable variations of the Wayfarer hanging off surfer’s domes. Back in stock for now, these are the closest frames we’ve seen to Matt Johnson’s from Big Wednesday.
And Another Pair Of Frames Because It Would Be Irresponsible Not To
Full-time road life yields vagabond-specific learnings, and one you realize quickly is you can’t really carry enough sunglasses. Light and small as they are, losing or breaking a pair on the road can get expensive when you have friends in low places that make incredibly beautiful, American-made non-plastic acetate frames are the chunkiest, sturdiest frames we’ve seen, from Ahnah, a new brand from Chris Gentile and the Pilgrim Surf + Supply design team. Take a gander, the whole line’s epic.
Desert Island Denim
If American men had to settle on a national uniform, it would have to be Levi’s Vintage Clothing’s period-correct, selvedge 501’s, built from the last of the sadly now-shuttered Cone Mills in North Carolina.
You can still get a pair, while they last.
The Most Dependable, Versatile Travel Jacket
Roark’s Layover range is ripped straight from dirtbag dreams, durable, water-resistant, ultra-packable, and featuring myriad trusty little pockets and compartments to stash shit on the road.
Post-Punk Don Draper On A Sunday Afternoon
Warren Smith and Grady Archbold have had their mitts in some of the surf biz’s most progressive labels, and their new efforts under Welcome Rivers is thoroughly good. These understated tech walk shorts look simple, but they are, quite simply, a revelation.
Support the pointy end of ‘surf’ attire.
A Made-in-LA, Road-Ready Hemp And Cotton Chore Coat
Jungmaven’s hemp tees have become the definition of dependable daily drivers—improve with age, hang effortlessly off shoulders, fade naturally—and their workwear-inspired coat is the logical next addition to a growing organic cotton wardrobe.
A Hemingway In Havana Shirt For All Seasons
Banks Journal does timeless understated staples as well as they do post-modern casual, and it’s too easy to grab their ’50s leisure cut Nashua button-down without thinking most mornings.
Birdwell’s GI-Inspired 311s
While we’ll never stray far from black Birdies, there’s occasionally inspired limited editions from their Santa Ana factory that pique our interest, and these new GI-inspired 311s (think three fingers above the knee) are obnoxiously good.
American-Made, California-Designed Bombproof Duck Canvas Trousers
The gents at San Francisco’s Tailor Stitch are all surfers with a sartorial penchant for fine albeit heavy-duty materials, and their Boss Duck pants are an absolutely radical improvement upon the classic Carhartt carpenter ducks.
Life’s too short to wear poor quality trousers.
Vans’ Murdered Out, Weatherproof Classics
The blacked-out, weatherized Vans’ Sk8-Hi MTE are a utilitarian update on the Anaheim classics. The vulcanized lug outsole, and premium leather, and luxury feel make these the most versatile skate-inspired kicks we’ve found.
A Hat For Those With Too Many Already
Yeah, guy wears a lot of hats. Mostly Fair Ends. American-made, logoless waxed canvas, etc.
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