During my commute to class, I felt quite comfortable and incredibly stable, even on a few more iced over inclines at the bus-stop. This level of versatility is nothing new from Ridgemont, yet is just as much of a pleasant surprise as the first time I came in contact with an Outfitters shoe: The Monty Hi. The Crest, in contrast, is significantly lighter, and although it offers comfortable ankle support, doesn’t quite match the level of the Monty – but then again, the Crest is a drastically lighter shoe that reminds more of the Southern California skate culture, and less so of the Colorado Rockies snow communities, the way the Monty does.

With Utah fitting right between the two, I took the liberty of introducing the Crests’ to some Utah habits to get a better understanding of their abilities: I stopped at home to drop by school backpack off, grabbed my board at the door, plugged my head into the newest Yeezy album, and went for a cruise. After blowing a few stop signs, sliding the board to a standstill to test the grip of the soles, and one or two emergency bails, I was sold this shoe could easily double as a quality skate shoe. As I boarded home and hopped on my motorcycle to study at the library, I continued to enjoy the Crest. It provided a rigid composite lasting board, combined with an Ortholite sole, making it stable enough for any hike, should you choose to throw one at it, but also comfortable after quite a few hours into the night studying at the library.

The Crest Hi is perfect for anyone needing improved ankle support and water proof grade construction, without having to sacrifice their steeze.

Under normal circumstances, you’d have to take your pick: active and capable but uncomfortable and uglier than your aunt’s Crocs, cool but only wearable during sunshine and blue skies, fashionable but flimsy, the list goes on an on of possible combinations that only sometimes are the right option.

With Ridgemont Outfitters, you’re able to find a shoe that meets all your needs without compromise, tailored to your particular style, that’s always the right option.

The post Ridgemont Outfitters Does it Again With the Crest appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

RibbedTee is the latest to throw their hat into the ring with their heathered V-neck. To be honest, I was quite skeptical of their pitch. How, I ask myself, can any plain white tee be THAT different from a $3 Hanes classic? And price means a lot to me because 1) I’m “grew up in the midwest where a dollar goes a long way” cheap, and 2) I have a propensity to aggressively stain my clothes the first time I wear them. I don’t have a big closet because I’m fancy, I have a big closet because it is full of doubles and triples to protect myself.

How does RibbedTee answer this? Well they obviously can’t make me any less clumsy, but their shirts certainly don’t feel or drape like a Hanes. By that I mean, I might just be a convert. These cotton layers of goodness wear like nothing and perfect for a sweltering summer day. Thin and heathered to the point of near see-throughness, the RibbedTee is more flowy and long than your father’s Sears-bought grubby and tight undershirt. The V-neck is wide and aggressive, perfect for differentiating your look, as well as further keeping you cool.

They got me. Those bastards changed my cheap mind and have me converted to the upscale tee. If you’re willing to risk conversion yourself, you should check out a 3 pack for yourself. Pray for me, my closet may never be the same.

The post RibbedTee Updates the Classic White Tee appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

By concentrating with maniacal zeal on this mainstay of men’s clothing, Standard Shirt has honed and perfected their craft to offer an above average shirt at a below average price. With a modern cut, quality Xinjiang cotton, and reinforced collars, the Standard Shirt is clearly a cut above. Why pay the same for a mass-market box shirt when you can custom make your own for $59? You wouldn’t. And if you do, I don’t want to ever meet you.

The ordering process is dead simple – just pick your collar style, then your neck size, and choices for typical sleeve lengths for your neck size are automatically populated. And with that, you’ve got a plush white shirt on it’s way to your closet and then everywhere from weddings to boardrooms. Plenty of men’s clothiers, even custom manufacturers have popped up in the last few years. But none of them have the concentration of Standard Shirt, and as such their quality and ordering experience are all over the place. We’ve tested Standard’s predicted measurements, and their shirt out on the town, and are very pleased with both. It appears the crises of not having a viable white shirt for the evening is a thing of the past…

The post This is Your New Standard Shirt appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Before even testing it out at the gym and other high sweat inducing areas, I thought why not try it out at my computer? My hands are always getting my mouse and keyboard all gross, so I gave it a shot. Much to my surprise, no sweat. After about thirty minutes, still no sweat. Even as I type this now post-workout there isn’t any sweat. Keep in mind my hands were rubbing against bars and machines and the powder still stayed effective!

What really attracted me to this powder was the smell. Most talcum powders have that weird baby powder smell that ends up meshing with your stink, making for a deadly combination. Super Powder has a subtle, manly smell that doesn’t clash with cologne or other deodorants keeping a clean smell for hours. Use this on date nights to keep you fresh for your significant other.

There is only one size you can purchase at $16, and based on my heavy usage for a few days it will last for a couple months. I plan on swapping this for my antiperspirant because unlike most of the antiperspirants I’ve tried, Super Powder is effective at blocking sweat for more than 6 hours. I would much rather pay a little extra for a product that works than a half-hearted antiperspirant.

I can honestly say that Grooming Lounge has a customer for life. Even after a few days of use, my body is comfortable with the reduced sweat. They promote no foul balls and there aren’t any on this guy. Don’t believe me? Try it out yourself here.

The post Avoid Awkward Body Sweat with Super Powder appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

The gym can be intimidating, but once you get into a groove, it is smooth sailing. It all starts with a solid program. If you want to look good, fill out shirts quick, and worry about strength later, find a good bodybuilding split which usually focuses two muscle groups. If you instead want strength and your looks to come later, a good powerlifting program will focus on consistent strength gains. I highly recommend a powerlifting program if you’re just beginning.

When I first started working out, I cared about how I looked in the gym. Over the years, this sentiment has faded as I switched from bodybuilding to powerlifting. I’ve always had issues with shorts either being too baggy or too short, until I picked up some gear from Respect Your Universe. RYU’s Discipline Training shorts are sleek enough to stay out of my way when I’m deadlifting, but provide plenty of room when I’m squatting. The pockets aren’t too deep for your choice of music player, and the crotch won’t be all up in your business.

I’ve always been the one to wear ratty shirts littered with stains from who knows where. Today I proudly wore a clean Warrior Tee from RYU apparel and never felt better. Made for athletic builds, nothing on my upper body was restricted when I was benching. The material was stretchy like performance gear, but felt like a normal t-shirt.

Start filling out those shirts, get out of being in between sizes, and hit the gym. You’ll feel better about yourself in the long run along with plenty of other benefits that don’t come from just getting a tailor. Plus, everyone knows confidence is key and when you have the gear from RYU apparel, you’ll have that confidence to push out those extra reps.

The post The Struggle: In Between Sizes with RYU Apparel appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Small designs – like the collar roll – captivate fashion enthusiasts. The collar started out as a full roll, giving the look of volume and signaling superior construction. Present day collars have a very small roll, or god forbid, lay flat with no roll at all. While all OCBDs are made from oxford cloth, the cloth can differ in stiffness and weight. Obviously, a lighter-weight and less dense oxford weave is ideal for summer, where a thick weave that is a little stiff points toward cooler weather. I have a preference for a stiff cloth because I like the way the fabric creases on the arms.

The best part about Oxfords? Little to no maintenance! OCBDs are traditionally a casual shirt allowing the wearer to throw them on straight out of the dryer. I prefer mine a little wrinkled; however, if you left them on your floor, 1), get a better method of storing clothing, and 2), iron out the major wrinkles. Just like any other button down or piece of clothing, put the occasional detergent stick on stains. And if the shirt is white, remember to hit near the neck and cuffs because of dirt build-up. I tend to wait three to four wears (my white OCBD is usually two) before washing because with an undershirt, the cloth takes longer to to truly dirty.

I have been searching for two years for the perfect Oxford button down that fits me off the rack and have yet to find one. My favorite one that is well constructed and fits a reasonable budget is from Uniqlo. It has a slim silhouette and a low price point, making it ideal for students or beginners. Meanwhile, Brooks Brothers has been doing OCBDs longer than anyone, giving them the time to perfect the design. If you want the best and money is no object, start there. My only holdout with the Brooks’ Oxford is they took out the extra-slim fit. To hit the middle road, you can’t go wrong with J.Crew. Make sure you look for sales because they aren’t worth the retail price.

It’s hard to find something that doesn’t go with an Oxford cloth button down. Maybe sweatpants? Even then I think it can be done. With a full suit, I would be careful of the OCBD making it look too casual. But as with all things style, it’s all about experimentation and finding out what works for you.

My suggestion is to play around to find what shirt fits your style when seeking out that perfect Oxford. Want a nice collar roll for your new job? Go with Brooks Brothers. Want something to get you through school? Go with Uniqlo. No matter the time frame though, every man should own at least one Oxford cloth button down..

The post The Shirt Every Man Should Own appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.