fitmuncher

Saturday, 8 August 2026

New Balance's Extra-Cushioned Hiking Sneakers Are $50 Off Right Now on Amazon

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New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro V9, From $109 (was $160)

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Why We Love This Deal

One of the biggest trends in men’s footwear today is less about fashion and more about capabilities. This summer, men across the board are buying up the best trail running shoes and hiking shoes to tackle both the outdoors and everyday life. If it all sounds a bit tiresome and you’d like your shoe to take care of the rugged terrain while leaving you feeling soft and cozy, not only are you not alone, but there’s actually an updated New Balance classic for you that’s foamier than ever and 32% off.

The New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro V9 is now $109 in select colorways on Amazon. It's earned a spot among the top 10 best trail running shoes on the entire site, which isn't easy, and has hundreds of reviews to back the hype up. Although the price ultimately comes down to which color and size you pick, you can also find this deal at Zappos, so don’t despair if the one you need is gone at the $109 mark.

New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro V9, From $109 (was $160) on Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

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What Shoppers Should Know

Sizes Available: From 7 to 17 in medium, wide, and extra wide
Color Options: Though 11 colorways exist, only two have the best deal
Best Use Case: This is a high-comfort, yet still rugged, trail shoe with a cotton lining, gusseted tongue, and dual-density layer.

When Men’s Journal looked at the Hierro V8 last year, we used “well-cushioned” and “burly” alike in our description of the shoe. It’s not a paradox. New Balance has built the Hierro line around providing superior comfort and traction in the great outdoors, and V9 just takes it to the next level, providing a new Vibram Megagrip Traction Lug pattern for improved traction and a ton of comfort.

On the interior of the shoe, the biggest difference this time around is going to be a softer dual-density foam layer. But if you look around at the shoe as a whole, you’ll see how it’s evolved to be a super comfort shoe easily. For example, it uses a gusseted tongue, which means it is attached at the edges to prevent debris from wiggling through the shoe’s tongue and under your feet. There’s also a comfortable cotton lining, so you feel cozy in the shoe from the moment you slip it on to the moment it comes off your foot.

Finally, these shoes are available in the standard medium width, as well as both wide and extra wide sizings. Getting a precise fit is important to your comfort, so the fact that this shoe is available in all three widths makes it all the better.

What Shoppers Are Saying

One hiker described the shoe’s feel. “Used these for a whole week in Utah and did not slip. The cushion on these is amazing as well; very good amount, but not overly squishy, but enough to make hiking comfortable.”

Another shopper talked about the difference between this shoe and a Hoka. “I had switched from New Balance to Hoka for my trail shoes, but the Hokas proved less durable than NB. So I went back to NB. Best cushioning ever, IMHO.”

The New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro V9 is now $109 on Amazon or, if you prefer, at Zappos. We’re already seeing some sizes have reduced stock, so be sure to check both sites to ensure you get what you want.

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Columbia's Grippy Waterproof Hiking Sandals Are 40% Off Right Now

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Columbia Trailstorm Hiker Two-Strap Sandal, $45 (was $75)

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Why We Love This Deal

Two-strap hiking sandals might still be widely seen as dad shoes, but they occupy a specific and needed spot in outdoor footwear. They’re more breathable than standard trail shoes and better for water crossings and summer hikes, where ventilated hiking shoes would get your socks soaked. Leave it to Columbia to come through with one of the best affordable hiking sandals of 2026 in the Trailstorm, which is now selling for under $50.

Normally priced at $75, the Columbia Trailstorm Hiker Two-Strap Sandal is down to $45 in both black and dark brown during the brand's annual summer sale, which kicked off this week and will run through August 12. The sale offers up to 40% off products like this hiking sandal, and it’s a good opportunity to stock up on outdoor gear for your remaining summer excursions.

Columbia Trailstorm Hiker Two-Strap Sandal, $45 (was $75) at Columbia

The Columbia Trailstorm Hiker Two-Strap Sandal.

Courtesy of Columbia

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What Shoppers Should Know

Upper: Suede and synthetic leather with two hook-and-loop closure straps
Midsole: TechLite+ EVA foam
Outsole: Adapt Trax rubber for wet-or-dry traction with a hiking-specific tread
Best For: Hiking, water crossings, lake and river trips, camping

Columbia’s Adapt Trax outsole is built specifically for the wet-to-dry transitions found on many hikes, with an actual lugged outsole for stability. TechLite+ foam in the midsole keeps the weight down to 8.8 ounces per shoe, while still providing enough cushioning for all-day wear. You also get two independently adjustable straps, so you don’t have to worry too much about sizing, and you can customize the fit depending on what you’re doing.

Hiking sandals with similar traction and cushioned midsoles typically cost $60 to $90 (sometimes even on sale), since most brands charge a premium for wet-traction features. These Columbia sandals at $45 are much closer to the affordable off-brand picks, but are well worth the extra $10 or $20 for Columbia's reliability and quality.

What Shoppers Are Saying

A hiker commented that these are “great sandals for wet hiking while fishing,” and are “stable and decent on slippery rocks.” A second reviewer said, “The most comfortable and durable footwear I own,” and another wrote, “My favorite to wear anytime I go outside in warm weather.”

These aren’t just for quick hikes, either. Another reviewer said, “I’ve worn them for long walks, and they stayed comfortable all day.” And Columbia didn’t skimp on the comfort: “Still loyal to my Birkies indoors, but this is giving them some competition.”

It’s still hiking season, and if your current sandals aren’t doing the job, Columbia’s Trailstorm Hiker Two-Strap Sandal has your back for $45. Stock is looking healthy at the moment, but sizes for the Bark colorway are already starting to run out, which means now’s a good time to grab your size.

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Friday, 7 August 2026

Huckberry's Rugged Canvas Barn Jacket Is 40% Off Ahead of Fall

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Flint and Tinder Mason Canvas Barn Jacket, From $118 (was $198)

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Why We Love This Deal

Chore coats have dominated fall layering for a few years now (thanks to the rise of the workwear trend), but most versions lean lightweight, think more along the lines of a shirt jacket. Leave it to Huckberry house brand, Flint and Tinder, to make something truly job-ready. The brand's Mason jacket has more substance than your run-of-the-mill chore coat and draws on vintage rancher and hunter workwear to provide something substantial but fashionable. Right now, you can also get one for 40% off.

The $198 Flint and Tinder Mason Canvas Barn Jacket is down to $118 at Huckberry in the classic Dark Olive colorway featured here. The khaki version is also on sale for $168, but if you walk down any city street, you may notice that pale green colorways, similar to the field jacket seen on Robert De Niro in Taxi Driver, seem to be the dominating pick among jackets of this kind.

Flint and Tinder Mason Canvas Barn Jacket, From $118 (was $198) at Huckberry

The Flint and Tinder Mason Canvas Barn Jacket.

Courtesy of Huckberry

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What Shoppers Should Know

Material: Shell is 75% cotton, 24% nylon, and 1% spandex; corduroy collar is 100% cotton; lining is 100% nylon; fill is a recycled polyester blend
Fit: Cut for layering, with triple-needle stitching reinforcing the seams
Pockets: Two drop-in front patch pockets, two chest pockets, one interior pocket
Care: Machine wash cold, tumble dry low
Best For: Fall layering, everyday wear, outdoor work, workwear

Most chore and barn coats around this price skip the fill entirely and rely on denim or waxed cotton alone for warmth, but FnT’s take adds a recycled poly fill under the canvas shell for actual insulation. The small addition of spandex woven into the shell also keeps it from feeling too stiff, and the corduroy collar and metal button hardware pull directly from the barn coats the design is based on, backing up the workwear look with some real utility.

Mid-level barn and chore coats with insulation will run you anywhere from $150 to $350 at full price, since most brands treat the combination of canvas and insulation as a premium feature. At $118, the Mason jacket lands well under that range while keeping the fill, stitching reinforcement, and corduroy detailing that usually push barn coats into the higher price tier.

What Shoppers Are Saying

One helpful shopper wrote, “Absolutely a splendid jacket. I feel like more of a craftsman (I’m a carpenter and general contractor) when I throw this on.” A second reviewer commented, “Sturdy triple stitch holds it together. Feels ready to just put on and go out to start your day.”

The style was another plus for reviewers, and one of them wrote that they get “lots of compliments” when they wear it out. Another shopper wrote, “This jacket is very stylish,” and they “love the quality and feel.”

Fall isn’t too far away, and if you don’t have a reliable layer yet, Flint and Tinder’s Mason Canvas Barn Jacket is an incredibly reliable pick at $118. Just be sure to jump on this deal soon, as Flint and Tinder’s gear tends to sell out fast when it’s on sale.

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Craftsman Makes a $20 Ratchet Set Complete With 18 Essential Metric and SAE Sockets

Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

Why It's a Good Deal

There’s something unrivaled about the power and quality of Craftsman tools. Whether you’re working on an engine or installing a new shed, you know you’ve got something great at your side if it’s Craftsman red. That’s exactly why it's worth checking out the brand's compact ratchet set right now—it's excellent to have on hand at home, and it's currently selling for only $20 on Amazon.

The Craftsman 20-Piece Mechanics Tool Set has sold for as much as $35 on Amazon in the past, but it's now marked at just $20. This set is extremely popular—over 1,000 sets have been sold on Amazon alone in the past month, and it has received over 1,500 five-star ratings in total.

Craftsman 20-Piece Mechanics Tool Set, $20 (was $35) on Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

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What to Know Before Buying

Material: Alloy Steel
Includes: 90-tooth ratchet, extension bar, SAE sockets (9), metric sockets (9)
Case: Versastack series, included

The set is filled with alloy steel tools with the corrosion-resistant polished chrome finish that Craftsman tools are known for. At the heart of the set is a thin, low-profile 72-tooth ratchet, which also has an extension bar as a companion. Alongside this duo is a set of 18 compatible 1/4-inch metric and SAE drive sockets chosen for your needs.

It's the kind of set we recommend to everybody simply because of the breadth of socket sizes. Whether you're fixing furniture or appliances and need an 8mm socket or are actually doing some basic automotive work and need that handy 3/8 socket, it's in this set. Keep it in your garade, keep it in the car, wherever, you'll be reaching for this whenever a task comes up.

What Are Users Saying?

One shopper laid out exactly who the set is for and what it can do. “For most homeowners, hobbyists, and folks who aren't actually working on cars and trucks, this is a great beginner set that includes most of what you'd ever need. It has Craftsman's Full Lifetime Warranty that's good as long as Craftsman is in business, even with no proof of purchase.”

Another shopper, who described the set as being for the “home DIYer,” said, “The ratcheting socket drive works smoothly in both directions and has a thinner head profile, which will make it easier to get into tight spaces.”

A Craftsman tool set for just $20 is nothing to ignore, but this deal won’t always be here. Pick up yours today to guarantee you get the deal.

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Thursday, 6 August 2026

Influencer Shot And Killed During Livestream

In the Sinaloa state capital of Culiacán, Mexico, influencer César Gastélum was shot and killed while live streaming Tuesday night, according to authorities.

Gastélum had over 600,000 followers on TikTok and millions of views and likes. The 25-year-old streamer was best known for his lifestyle content.

The incident occurred near the Sinaloa prosecutor’s office while Gastélum was live streaming with friends outside of a restaurant. He and his friends were dressed as delivery workers. Per Reuters, two people in helmets on a motorcycle approached the streamer, and he was then shot. From the livestream recording, it appears that the driver fired the gun directly at Gastélum. TikTok ended the stream, and later removed it. Local media reported that the two friends were not injured in the attack.

An official from Sinaloa, the state where Gastélum died, confirmed the death and stated that there was a major security operation underway to investigate the attack.

Wednesday, Mexico’s Federal Security Cabinet stated that the investigation included whether Gastélum was killed for social media posts, “in some of which [Gastélum] made reference to a faction of a criminal group.” One of his posts shows him at the grave of Leobardo Aispuro, or “El Gordo Peruci”, another influencer who was shot and killed in December 2024. Local police said that his death may also have been linked to the cartel. The deaths of other influencers like Juan Carlos López, known as El Chilango, and Jesús Miguel Vivanco García, known as "El Jasper," have also been linked to the cartel, according to authorities.

Authorities are looking into “surveillance cameras and other evidence to identify and apprehend those responsible.”

“The actual perpetrators — and, if applicable, the mastermind — must be arrested, and the reason behind this tragic homicide must be uncovered,” said Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum in her Wednesday morning press conference.

Organized crime has been rising in the state of Sinaloa, with both factions of the Sinaloa Cartel, Los Mayos and Los Chapitos, fighting for the last two years to gain control of the main cities of Culiacán, Mazatlán, and others, according to the International Crisis Group. The Mexican military has intervened, but killings keep continuing, according to the ICG. The factions' use of dangerous weapons has led to reports of violence in several areas of Sinaloa.

Gastélum’s death comes a little over a year after the shocking death of another Mexican social media star, beauty influencer Valeria Márquez, in Zapopan, Jalisco. The influencer was shot and died while on a live stream at a salon. Recently, authorities arrested the alleged leader of Los Rs, Ramón Ángel Álvarez Ayala, for the murder. Álvarez Ayala was also accused of ordering the assassination of Carlos Manzo, mayor of Uruapan, on Día de los Muertos last November.

Federal Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch has alleged that Álvarez Ayala’s son had had a romantic relationship with Márquez and that his son was the one who asked for the influencer to be murdered. The son is still at large.

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Wednesday, 5 August 2026

Stefon Diggs Signing with the Washington Commanders: Why This Move Makes Sense

After months of speculation after parting with the New England Patriots following the team’s loss in the 2026 Super Bowl, NFL wide receiver Stefon Diggs finally finds a new home with the Washington Commanders for the upcoming season, per a report from ESPN reporter Ian Rapoport. The deal signed is allegedly a one-year contract worth up to $12 million.

This is a big move for both Diggs and Washington. For Diggs, he’s had a bit of an interesting offseason. Not only has he been without a team since March 11, but he’s unfortunately been battling off-the-field legal issues. And for Washington, Diggs adds depth to a team that finished third in the NFC East last season and is hoping to make a bigger impact come this fall.

Why Steffon Diggs for the Washington Commanders Makes Sense

Dedham, MA - May 4: Stefon Diggs . (Photo by Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Boston Globe / Getty Images

Let’s start with the obvious. Diggs returning home makes perfect sense for someone with ties to the Washington, DC metro area. Diggs is from Gaithersburg, Maryland, which is about 27 miles from the nation’s capital. Additionally, he played college football at the University of Maryland. So he’s well-versed in the area.

From a team standpoint, the Commanders beefed up their roster prior to the addition of Diggs, but plenty of analysts still had concerns surrounding the wide receiver options. Sure, they had wide receivers like Treylon Burks, Van Jefferson, and Jacoby Jones, but Diggs gives quarterback Jayden Daniels a more dynamic option. (Terry McLaurin is also a tough wide receiver for the Commanders who shouldn't be overlooked.) Last season, Diggs received 1,013 yards, had 85 receptions, and scored four touchdowns.

But what do you think? With Diggs, do the Commanders move up in the standings in the NFC East, and overall NFC?

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Tuesday, 4 August 2026

How Jim Beam's Heirs Are Stealthily Transforming America’s Favorite Bourbon

In bourbon, few brand names carry the weight of Jim Beam—and few families have carried that weight longer than the Beams. For a long time it was said that you couldn’t have a distillery in Kentucky without a Beam working there. Now, the Noes who are direct descendants of James Beauregard Beam continue that legacy and help guide the bourbon that bares their famous ancestor's name.

Currently, Fred Noe is the seventh‑generation master distiller of the company and his son Freddie is the eighth. Fred is the steward of the world’s best‑selling bourbon. Freddie is the innovator behind Little Book and Hardin’s Creek lines of whiskey. He is the one rethinking what Beam whiskey can be.

For Fred, the path into whiskey was almost geographic destiny. He is Jim Beam’s great-grandson and he grew up next door to his relative's house. “Going to the distillery with my father was my happy place,” said Fred. “It just seemed like it was the natural thing to do.” Back then, bourbon wasn’t glamorous. It was simply what his family did for a living.

Booker Noe was Jim Beam's grandson and helped launch the rebirth of American whiskey.

Courtesy Suntory Global Spirits

Booker Noe, Fred’s father, was a towering figure in the industry, the man who helped revive small‑batch bourbon in the 1990s, introducing Booker’s, Baker’s, Knob Creek and Basil Hayden. But he never pressured Fred to follow him. “Dad always stressed be yourself,” Fred says. “He said, ‘it’s your ride. Do it your way.’” Booker even tried to push him toward other careers when bourbon sales cratered in the 1970s. While Fred tried out a few different jobs, including working on Hank Williams Jr.’s touring crew, he ultimately came back to the family business. When Booker died in the winter of 2004, Fred's sense of responsibility sharpened. “I can’t rely on Dad anymore,” Fred remembers thinking. “It’s on my shoulders to carry the legacy.”

Freddie also didn’t start out aiming for the distillery. He had other plans, and for a while they seemed pretty far from whiskey. As a kid, he wanted to be a lawyer. “My dad said I had expensive taste,” he jokes. But when he shadowed a lawyer in high school and realized law school meant many more years of classes, the dream evaporated. He went off to college still unsure of what direction to take in life.

At Booker’s wake, Freddie heard story after story about how his grandfather and the Beam family had shaped people’s lives. “I figured out I didn’t want to be in school anymore,” he said. “And I thought, well, maybe this is what I’m supposed to do.”

Freddie Noe brings a new focus on innovation to Jim Beam.

Courtesy Suntory Global Spirits

He also remembered walking the distillery’s grounds with his grandfather and seeing how employees lit up when Booker walked through the gate. “Everyone there is so proud of making Beam whiskey,” Freddie says.

Shortly after Booker passed, he traveled with Fred to Miami for an event about small‑batch bourbon and saw his father lead a tasting. “I’d never heard him do that before,” he says. “It solidified that this was something special.”

But Freddie didn’t want to simply be given a job. He wanted to understand it—and then make it his own. His personal whiskey philosophy starts with preservation: protecting the Beam way of making whiskey. But layered on top is inquisitiveness, a trait he credits to both Booker and his maternal grandmother Annis Noe. “They kept me being a kid longer than most kids can be,” he says. “They kept me curious.”

Freddie and Fred Noe share a whiskey together.

Courtesy Suntory Global Spirits

That curiosity led to Freddie creating Little Book, which is blended whiskey series that has become his signature. The idea for the line was sparked when he read American Still Life by spirits expert Paul Pacult, which is about the Beam family. Freddie started thinking about how corn, rye, and malted barley each express flavor when cooked individually. “Hell, why wouldn’t we individually cook these grains?” he remembers thinking. “Would it taste like Jim Beam or totally different?”

Traditionally, in the United States distillers combine all of the grains together during the mashing process and they get cooked together. When he mentioned this idea to Fred, his father told him bluntly: “You’re talking about blending. That’s a whole new landscape.”

Blending isn't exactly a celebrated word in Kentucky. “Back when Booker was around, blend was a cuss word,” Fred says. Historically, blended American whiskey was a mix of straight whiskey and essentially vodka. It is a cheaper alternative to bourbon or rye and is understandably looked down upon by aficionados.

But what Freddie was thinking about doing was completely different and in fact similar to how blended whisky has been made in Scotland and Canada. So he pushed ahead, experimenting with prototypes, failing, recalibrating, and eventually creating a bourbon‑esque blend that opened a new lane for American whiskey.

Hardin’s Creek, another major project of Freddie’s, digs even deeper into the family’s past. Named for the place where his ancestor Jacob Beam first made whiskey in 1795, the brand explores the effect of age and terroir on bourbon. “It’s a journey of learning,” he said.

Not every experiment works. Freddie laughs when he talks about a hyper‑technical fermentation project that collapsed after a minor chemistry issue. “It taught me nothing within the moment, but a lot holistically,” he said. The lesson: even the smallest details—grain truck schedules, setback levels, pH—can derail a batch. And sometimes the distillery’s schedule and natural rhythms remind you that you’re not the one in control of every detail.

Fred has watched all of this with a mix of pride and amusement. Years before Freddie started pushing boundaries with Little Book, Fred weathered his own innovation storm in 2009 when Beam released Red Stag, a line of flavored bourbon. “Some people thought we were crazy,” he says. “Some thought we were smart.” The product ended up pulling new drinkers into whiskey — a dynamic he now recognizes in Freddie’s blends. “He’s taking straight whiskeys and blending them like it should be done,” Fred says. “Some of those products he’s created amaze me.”

Both men are navigating a bourbon landscape that’s shifting again. Freddie sees consumers becoming more mindful with their dollar—and more curious about how whiskey is made. “It bodes well for us,” he says, pointing to Beam’s transparency and unique process.

Through it all, the Noes remain grounded in the human side of whiskey. Fred still enjoys bourbon with a little ice and water, or a cocktail — when someone else makes it. Freddie tests new products at home while cooking dinner, trying to capture real moments, and not just under sensory lab conditions.

The legacy continues, and Freddie is clear about the part he plays in it. “I’m doing what I’m supposed to do as a Beam,” he says. “To continue the legacy and share our whiskey with the world.”

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