Gear Not Stuff: May '26 Edition

I'm fielding your requests for all kinds of gear - plus how to choose your own.

It’s time for Gear Not Stuff. It is the second Friday of the month, after all.

We live in a world of mass consumerism and have more stuff than ever. As I point out in Scarcity Brain, the average home contains at least 10,000 items. Yet minimalism, as I wrote here, has failed us.

When considering how to make smarter purchasing decisions, I’ve started distinguishing between gear and stuff.

• Stuff is a possession for the sake of it. Stuff clutters. We buy stuff impulsively to alleviate boredom or stress, or to solve problems we could have tackled creatively with what we already have.

• Gear, on the other hand, has a clear purpose of helping us achieve a higher purpose. Gear is a tool we can use to have better experiences.

This month’s Gear Not Stuff: Dealer’s Choice

I recently opened up the chat and asked:

I’m fielding your requests. I defaulted to the suggestions that received the most upvotes or that were requested multiple times. And I also chose a couple that I thought were fun.

We’ll cover:

• Camping gear with kids (start ‘em young).

• Writing gear.

• Sun gear (or how not to get heat stroke).

• Knives for everyday and outdoors.

• Suitcase and travel gear.

• Rim-to-rim gear (which applies to any long hike).

• Backpacking essentials: backpack, shelter, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad.

• A boring/dumb item that truly improved my life.

In each, I’ll also cover the philosophy behind the suggestion. That way, if you don’t like the specific item, you have a framework for finding one that’ll fit your needs.

Shoutout to our partners:

• Run or ruck far as hell with Janji, an independent running brand making gear built for ultra-distance pursuits. They’re the only brand making gear specifically for 200-plus-mile adventures—my favorite kind. The 7” Multi Short 2-in-1 is my go-to. Find Janji at Janji.com and at REI stores nationwide.

• David Protein Bars have the highest amount of protein per calorie of all protein bars. That makes them a great option for anyone who wants protein on the go without the excess sugar and fat of most bars. Visit DavidProtein.com.Become a premium subscriber of Two Percent and get proven, no-fluff tools to master your health, mindset, and performance - 3 per week for less than a cup of coffee.