Reconnaissance #26

Every week, The Listening Post delivers a curated roundup of the past weeks best links. Here's this week's Reconnaissance:

> Is War Photography Beautiful or Damned? - The New Republic
> Land Rover Stories - Land Rover
> The Photography of Tomasz Furmanek - Instagram
> Ride on Texas Rangers - Roads & Kingdoms
> The Red Wing Heritage Master Shoe Care Kit - Selectism

Morning Routines: Charlie Gladstone

Welcome to the first instalment of the new Morning Routines series. Over the next month, I'll be talking to industry experts, adventurers, pioneers and influencers about how their morning sets them up for the day ahead.

First up is founder of Pedlars, The Goodlife Experience and countless other exciting endeavours, Charlie Gladstone. I first met Charlie at this year's Good Life Experience but I've been shopping at his Pedlar's store for a good few years now. Charlie is a down to earth and straight forward family man who calls North Wales home. Over the years, he's built up a collection of businesses including a pub, farm shop and a sideline in high end accessories for dogs. With houses in Wales, Scotland and Burgundy, Charlie is always on the go. My Friends at Best Made Co recently shot one of their catalogues in and around the Gladstones home at Balbegno, and their Hawarden Estate is the location for the incredible Good Life Experience festival. I admire how Charlie juggles his business and home life and his morning routine is a perfect example of how he manages them both at his own pace.

Standard Issue Instruments - Tough Watches for Tough Operators

It's 0300hrs, you're 25 clicks over the Cambodian border, neck deep in river water and you're about to put a six man ambush on an NVA supply boat. You're a MACV-SOG officer working with an 8 man SEAL team and they're waiting on the opposite river bank. Intel says the boat is going to pass into the ambush zone at 0302hrs and at exactly that moment both you and the SEALs will attack. Synchronise watches.

Reconnaissance #25

Every week, The Listening Post delivers a curated roundup of the past weeks best links. Here's this week's Reconnaissance:

> Stark Images of Shackleton's Struggle -  BBC News

> The People Behind Filson's Restoration Department - Outside
> 13 Miles of Typography on Broadway - Hopes and Fears
> California by Horseback - The Hand & Eye
> Inside Snowpeak's new Japan Store - Selectism 

Six of the Best: Down Vests

Vest, body warmer, gilet, one of those coats with no sleeves - whatever you call it, the down vest is an essential part of your winter wardrobe. I've always been a big fan of the vest and throughout my life I've faced an ongoing barrage of jibes from people of a certain age asking me if I've 'jumped ship'. I like them because they give your arms freedom of movement, work well as part of a layering system and keep you warm as toast.

Timex X Red Wing Waterbury Watches

JAPAN; All-american watch manufacturers Timex have teamed up with the equally legendary Red Wing Shoe Co to deliver a line up of very handsome new watches as an addition to their Waterbury collection. Launched yesterday at the Red Wing Shoe store in Japan, the 3 watches feature Red Wing leather straps and a distinctly vintage feel, bringing together over 250 cumulative years of experience to honour a heritage of craftsmanship and authenticity. 

Currently only available in Japan, shipping to the UK and US early next year.

When the Time Comes: Meeting the Third Man at Death's Door

James Sevigny lay bleeding to death and alone in a remote part of the Rocky Mountains after an avalanche carried him over 2000ft to what he imagined would be his death. He lay there with his back broken in two places, both his kneecaps shattered, loosing blood quickly and he gave up on life. He curled up in the snow and waited to die. But he didn't and he later claimed he was not alone. He is not the only one to have experienced this phenomenon. This is the story of the third man.

Ghosts of Progress: The Photography of Danila Tkachenko

In the cold war years, the Soviet Union strived to develop a range of world beating technologies that would show the rest of us they meant business. Serious business. The space race was over and the threat of World War 3 loomed over the earth. Behind the Iron Curtain, The Russians worked away in secrecy on countless covert projects - The Dead Hand System, open air small pox tests at Vozrozhdeniya Island and the development of hundreds of secret cities across the country. The Soviets, desperate to prove they were the world's number one super power, created a military advancement program that would end abruptly with the collapse Soviet Union. These projects and the evidence of them were abandoned and left to decay in the snowy wastelands.

Reconnaissance #24

Every week, The Listening Post delivers a curated roundup of the past weeks best links. Here's this week's Reconnaissance:

> The Enduring Appeal of the Iconic Zippo - Cool Material

> The 100 Greatest Products of 2015 - Gear Patrol

> Whats Next for #Menswear? - The New Yorker

> 13 New York Street Photographers Profiled - Cool Hunting

> Inside the Two Stores Defining 'American Casual' in Tokyo - Selectism

The British North Greenland Expedition

In 1952, Commander James Simpson RN led an expedition of 25 explorers made up of men from the armed forces, merchant navy and civilian scientists to North Greenland. The purpose of the expedition was to carry out scientific studies in glaciology, meteorology, geology and physiology and also to provide useful information about the Arctic environment to the armed forces. During their time on the icecap, expedition members made pioneering ascents in the Barth Mountains and Dronning Louise Land. The team faced record low temperatures, winters of 24 hours darkness and summers of 24 hours daylight.

30 Skills to Learn by Your 30th Birthday

Thirty is the last milestone of a young man's youth. By now you're standing on your own two feet, paying your way and living your own life. Hopefully you know where you're headed and who you are. There's some skills I've picked up along the way on my journey towards thirty (I'm not quite there yet) that I've found make life easier and more fun. I'd like to share them with you. Here's 'Thirty by Thirty' - 30 Things You Should Be Able To Do By Now.

The All Night Listening Post Christmas Gift Guide

Christmas is just round the corner. You're no doubt starting to wonder what to buy for your loved ones and perhaps mild panic is sinking in when I tell you there's 5 shopping weekends left till December 25th. So, take the stress out of giving with this gift guide, curated by the All Night Listening Post and featuring a collection of goods from my friends at Huckberry.

I know I'm difficult to buy for (apparently) so the men in your life probably are too - The gifts featured in this guide are guaranteed to put a smile on their face on Christmas morning. Whether he's a 9-5 cube farmer or an actual farmer, theres something on this list for everyone.

Full Disclosure: I'm posting this in the hope my girlfriend does actually read my blog and might buy me at least one of these things for Christmas.

Introducing Huckberry, Gear for Today, Inspiration for Tomorrow

Imagine a general store, beautifully laid out and offering some of the worlds best gear, staffed by a team of writers, designers and doers. The doors are always open and theres always a warm welcome here. The shelves are well stocked with everything you need for a well curated home, a weekend in the woods, or even a pocket full of the best EDC kit money can buy. 

And then imagine all this was available at the click of a mouse. Well, that's Huckberry.

Reconnaissance #23

Every week, The Listening Post delivers a curated roundup of the past weeks best links. Here's this week's Reconnaissance:

> Breathing New Life into Your Red Wings - Red Wing Heritage

> Take a Tour of the Filson Factory - Cool Hunting

> Building a New E-type Jaguar - Youtube

> The Gear Patrol Magazine is Here! - Gear Patrol

> The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald - Great Lakes

> The Abandoned Buildings of the Eastern Bloc - BBC

110 Years of Cone Mills' White Oak Plant

Still true to its heritage 110 years on, Cone Mills is one of the most respected denim manufacturers in the world and their signature White Oak denim is still produced in Greensboro, North Carolina.  Over a century since their inception, Cone Mills are heading the resurgence of high quality, American made goods.

The New Filson Small Pullman

A heavy weight twill canvas construction with bridle leather strapping and bombproof stitching make Filson's bags truly unfailing. They just don't wear out. But that's the thing about Filson, they older they get and the more battered and bruised they become, the better they look. I've owned my Filson bag for almost a year after my last one was stolen and its now just starting to pick up some nice patina - scuffs on the leather, denim bleed on the back side and a nice coffee stain down the front. It looks well loved - It's mine and that's the way I like it. Anyway, Filson just released a very handsome new bag.

Getting Down With Best Made Co

You guys know by now that I am the world's biggest Best Made Co fan, I make no bones about that. When I heard they were expanding their outerwear, I was excited to see what they had in store and, as usual, they didn't disappoint.

Everyday Carry - Pocket Dump

One of my most frequented websites is Everyday Carry. The site provides an in-depth look into the pockets, professions, and lives people all over the world. Since 2009, Everyday Carry has been committed to helping people discover items to improve their day-to-day lives, prepare for adventure, excel in the workplace and tackle unexpected emergencies in stride.

Reconnaissance #22

Every week, The Listening Post delivers a curated roundup of the past weeks best links. Here's this week's SECOND Reconnaissance:

> Inside: Schoolhouse Electric - Cool Material
> Why Russian Cosmonauts Carried a Shotgun Into Space - Medium
> How the Nazi's Almost Destroyed Grand Central Station  - Gothamist

> Make a Maple Bourbon Smash Cocktail - Valet

> Whats the Best Barn Find Ever? - Petrolicious

What Exactly is an "All Night Listening Post"?

Over the past month, a few people have asked me why this blog is called The All Night Listening Post. I thought it was high time to to share exactly why it is and what it means.

A Year of Practiculture: Hunt

If you're not familiar with Whole Larder Love then you should head over to Rohan's site now and enjoy some of his recipes for living, growing, hunting and cooking with the seasons.

Field Report: Inside an Abandoned Asylum

Five AM. The morning was thick with dense fog as we snaked along quiet roads and cut through the dawn undetected. Adventure laid in wait. We had spent the previous week planning this. As the evening drew in we'd synchronised watches and tried to get an early night. We couldn't sleep and we found ourselves at the kitchen table pouring over maps and aerial photographs, blueprints and reports. Hell, we could have been Green Berets. Our schematics and our methods were immaculate.

We managed to get a few hours shut-eye before early morning roll call. We bundled out into the car and hit the road.

Reconnaissance #21

Every week, The Listening Post delivers a curated roundup of the past weeks best links. Here's this week's Reconnaissance:

> 50 Years of Land Rover - Silodrome
> Meet the guys making knives from salvaged steel - Bloomberg
> The Call of the Road - Aeon Magazine
> The (Nearly) Indestructible Commuter Bike - Valet
> Longevity on the New Jersey Coastline - Selectism

Listen: Iron and Wine - Half Moon

Sam Beam performs "Half Moon" from his appearance on Sound Opinions.