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Flipping through The Manual: Pumpkin beer, heritage jeans, an Ikea-style kayak

Burned out on apps, keyboards, and screens? Improve your analog life this weekend! Digital Trends’ brother site The Manual exists to give men straight-up advice, from unspoken suit rules you need to know to the latest in fashion, food, drink, travel, grooming, and culture. Here are a few of our favorite stories to appear on The Manual lately.

The ambitious More Than Just Parks film project

The-ambitious-'More-Than-Just-Parks'-film-project_

To capture the majesty of our national parks, filmmaking brothers Will and Jim Pattiz of Sea Raven Media have embarked on the ambitious More Than Just Parks film project. Their goal is to make 59 short films — one for each American national park.

Read the full story on The Manual

Marc Nelson Denim is your new must-have jean

Marc-Nelson-Denim-is-your-new-must-have-jean_

“For us, being authentic American makers celebrates the eclectic heritage of denim and the craftsmen who came before us.”

Read the full story on The Manual

Man School 101: Hiking to an overnight camp

Man-School-101--Hiking-to-an-overnight-camp_

Today we’re going to have a little primer for the first time (or amateur, at any rate) backwoods camper.

Read the full story on The Manual

The best pumpkin beers of 2015

The-best-pumpkin-beers-of-2015_
MaxyM/Shutterstock

It’s that time of year again. Pumpkin-flavored beers are everywhere right now, so we’ve taken the liberty of rounding them up and giving them all a taste test, and now we’re here to let you know which ones to sip and which ones to skip.

(p: MaxyM/Shutterstock)

Read the full story on The Manual

Beard Balm, proudly made in Detroit

Beard-Balm,-proudly-made-in-Detroit_

This mix of grape seed oil, coconut oil, lanolin, beeswax, lemon oil, eucalyptus oil, and geranium oil prevents split ends, conditions, and makes your beard shine.

Read the full story on The Manual

Trekking: The O Six Hundred kayak takes a cue from IKEA

Trekking--The-O-Six-Hundred-kayak-takes-a-cue-from-IKEA_

Kayaks can be unwieldy. Composed of Kevlar and 42 individual ribs, the O Six Hundred weighs a little more than 22 pounds and capitalizes on an Inuit design more than 4,000 years in the making. You can even assemble it without tools.

Read the full story on The Manual

Digital Trends Staff
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The best air purifiers
best air quality monitors version 1681233172 winixhr900

Pet dander and other allergens can build up in the air you breathe. These particles can become a problem if you have allergies, suffer from asthma, or have young children. Germs and dust particles can also affect air quality, but you can take steps to improve the quality of your indoor air. An air purifier works by filtering the air and catching pollutants, allergens, and other particles. Running an air purifier in your home can significantly improve the quality and cleanliness of your indoor air.

Our list of the best air purifiers includes options with HEPA or PECO filters, as well as additional features to help keep your air clean. We’ve included a variety of price ranges, so people who want an air filter can find one that fits their budget.

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The best DIY home security systems
Nest Secure top

Professional security systems aren’t cheap. Not only are they expensive to have installed, they often require expensive monthly fees – which can quickly add up over the years. Thankfully, homeowners looking to secure their property now have a robust selection of DIY home security systems that offer many of the same perks of professional systems at a fraction of the cost.

DIY home security systems are highly customizable, but you’ll typically find a variety of cameras, door sensors, hub stations, and motion sensors in most packages. If you need some help sifting through all your options, here’s a look at the best DIY home security systems of 2023.

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The best air quality monitors
Product still of the Awair Element, tabletop

How clean is the air you’re breathing? At one time or another, your home has probably been the unwilling host of microscopic pollutants. The best air quality monitors will constantly measure the types of irritants in your air, log the readings, and even kick on your air purifier to combat your home’s microbial pests.

Two common types of indoor air pollutants are fine particles and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Fine particles are invisible irritants no larger than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, but they can cause serious issues for those with respiratory conditions. VOCs are invisible vapors and gases that are often the byproduct of burning fuel products, like gasoline and wood-burning stoves. While the best air purifiers on the market will work wonders to combat these invisible irritants, one thing most purifiers lack is the ability to locate and analyze the pollutants flying around your home. That’s the job of an air quality monitor.

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