Flipping through The Manual: California in 5 days, classy bags, an insane axe

By Digital Trends Staff August 1, 2015

Burned out on apps, keys 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.

California’s wilderness: Enjoying the outdoors in less than a week

California's wilderness: Enjoying the outdoors in less than a week — (sergioboccardo/Shutterstock) Image used with permission by copyright holder

From the tallest peak in the Lower 48 (that’d be Mt. Whitney) to the lowest point in America (Death Valley, of course), the great state of California boasts a bounty of natural splendor.

Read the full story on The Manual

7 of the classiest laptop and tablet bags out there

7 of the classiest laptop and tablet bags out there — (ONA Designs) Image used with permission by copyright holder

Like many Manual men, you probably don’t like to completely forsake practicality for style. Why not have both? Here are a few classy laptop bags for you to consider.

Read the full story on The Manual

How to: Shop for trousers

How to: Shop for trousers — (Haspel) Image used with permission by copyright holder

Alex Wilcox helps us understand what to look for when buying a pair of trousers.

Read the full story on The Manual

Trekking: The Multi-Mission Axe is the only axe you’ll need

Trekking: The Multi-Mission Axe is the only axe you'll need — (Outland Equipmen) Image used with permission by copyright holder

The most resourceful axe should do more than simply chop wood. Thankfully, the Outland Equipment Multi-Mission Axe lives up to its name and then some, providing you with a blade, seatbelt cutter, hammer, and more.

Read the full story on The Manual

Micro Guide: Bar Harbor, Maine

Micro Guide: Bar Harbor Maine — (Alicia Dauksis/Shutterstock) Image used with permission by copyright holder

While it’s difficult to write an off-the-beaten-path travel guide to Bar Harbor, here are a few of our favorite places to play, eat and sleep.

Read the full story on The Manual

Polo experts Feldspar Brook launches SoHo flagship store

Polo experts Feldspar Brook launches SoHo flagship store — (Feldspar Brook) Image used with permission by copyright holder

“We aren’t about to sway someone to try chartreuse when all they wear is black or grey, unless they truly want to be swayed.”

Read the full story on The Manual

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Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra vs. Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo: Which premium robot vacuum is best?

The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra placed in its dock.

Roborock and Ecovacs are two of the biggest names in the world of robot vacuums. The companies have been producing some of the best robot vacuum and mop combos for years, and that trend has continued into 2024 with the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo. Both are ultra-premium devices that clock in at over $1,000, and we awarded both of them impressive scores in our reviews. In short, it's hard to go wrong with either robot vacuum.

However, there are some key differences between the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and the Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo. From suction power and mopping skills to pricing and additional features, here's a comprehensive look at the two robot vacuums to help you decide which is best for your home.
Pricing and availability

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Samsung Spring Sale: Get up to $915 off smart ranges today

A Samsung smart range with the Smart Oven camera.

Samsung's Spring Black Friday sale has slashed the prices of all kinds of home appliances, including gas and electric ranges. There are discounts available for Samsung's smart ranges too, which will allow you to enjoy savings of up to $915. Feel free to check out all the ranges that are cheaper than usual in the ongoing sale, but if you want to focus on getting a smart range for your kitchen, read on to learn all about them and how much you'll have to pay.

What to buy in Samsung's Spring Black Friday sale for smart ranges
Samsung's smart ranges are equipped with the Smart Oven Camera, which will allow you to check on the food that you're cooking through a livestream on your phone. You can even make time-lapse videos and share them on social media. You'll enjoy this feature on the Samsung Bespoke 6.3. cu. ft. smart slide-in electric range, which is from $2,536 for a $737 discount, and the Samsung Bespoke 6.0. cu. ft. smart slide-in gas range, which is from $2,659 for savings of $760. Both smart ranges have illuminated precision knobs that light up to let you know that the home appliance is on, and they work with the Samsung SmartThings app for pre-heating the oven, planning meals, downloading cooking modes, and much more.

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How to reset the Nanoleaf Skylight

The Nanoleaf Skylight lighting up a room various shades of purple.

The Nanoleaf Skylight is a unique piece of hardware. Unlike most Nanoleaf products that are quick to install or easy to move and replace, the Skylight is designed as a permanent fixture in your home. Instead of simply plugging it into an electrical outlet, you'll need to hardwire it onto your ceiling – and once it's in place, you'll want it to stay there for years.

However, like all electronics, it's possible for your Nanoleaf Skylight to start acting up. And since there's no easy way to get the entire unit down from your ceiling, you might be wondering how you can quickly solve the problem. Thankfully, Nanoleaf designed a simple way for you to reset the Nanoleaf Skylight without the need to disassemble the entire setup.