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 We Love This Deal
REI is amid its annual Holiday Sale, and it features tons of seasonal gear from brands like The North Face, Fjallraven, Osprey, and dozens of others that normally don't see a discount. Yet, the one product, in our minds, that everybody should be looking at comes from REI's own house brand. It's a simple, UPF-protective adventure hoodie, and it's under $40 until the sale ends on Nov. 24.
REI Co-op's Sahara Shade Hoodie is on sale for an astoundingly affordable $35, which is 30% off the normal $50 price. These protective layers have quickly earned the admiration of REI fans, who have given them over 700 five-star ratings after using them for everything from ridge walks to day-long fishing trips, and also just to travel comfortably. These hoodies are available in eight colors and come in sizes small through 3XL, with some tall sizes available.
REI Co-op Sahara Shade Hoodie in Saragasso Sea, $35 (was $50) at REI
Special Features: Moisture-wicking, quick-drying, thumbholes
Best For: Hiking, base layering, water sports, fishing, travel
This hoodie is part of REI Co-op's Sahara collection, which features styles specifically designed to breathe, shield skin from the sun, and keep you comfortable in warm temperatures.
What makes this piece so important is the material. It's made from a blend of polyester and spandex that's UPF 50+ protective against harmful UV rays while maintaining optimal ventilation, wicking away sweat, and providing ample stretch for an enhanced range of motion. That means you can wear it as your sole top, even on full-day excursions, and stay mobile, shaded, and dry at the same time, even if you're sweating.
It has a three-panel hood that easily fits over a cap and thumbholes to keep the sleeves comfortably over your hands so they don't burn.
There's so much to love about this hoodie, but the most captivating comments came from one shopper who spends most of their days outside, where you'd least expect.
"I am a professional guide and wear it almost every day," they began. "It looks great, doesn’t smell bad very fast, and most importantly, keeps the sun off you. I work on a glacier many days, and the sun can reflect, making it very easy to get burned. So far, I haven’t been burned yet! The hoodie is also very comfy and acts as a great base layer. The hood can be a little finicky, but overall this is an amazing piece of gear."
There are hundreds of phenomenal gear deals featured during REI's Holiday Sale, but the Sahara Shade Hoodie is one of the best in both performance and price. Grab one for yourself and maybe some as gifts for adventurers before the price goes back up on Nov. 24.
It's that time of year again, when everyone wants to watch a Christmas movie, but you're craving something with a little more kick. The debate about whether or not Die Hardis or is not a Christmas movie has gotten pretty old by this point, because clearly, it's an action movie that happens on Christmas Eve and that people watch during the holiday season.
But what else? What are the best Christmas action movies that aren't Die Hard? Here are 15 great action movies, which we think count as Christmas movies to varying degrees. Don't fight us on these selections, just enjoy.
15. Violent Night (2022)
It's sort of impossible to make a list like this one and not include the recent David Harbour romp, Violent Night. Is Santa cooler when he's an undying Viking? Maybe. But if you need a movie that clearly combines Christmas with lots of fighting and blood, Violent Night fits the bill.
Okay, so we're cheating a little bit already with the whole "No Die Hard" thing. And yet, Die Hard 2, like the previous film, also takes place on Christmas Eve. And, because so much of the movie is about family and, oddly, difficult travel around the holidays, there's something even more relatable about this Bruce Willis classic than the original.
The fight between Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) and Drago (Dolph Lundgren) literally takes place on Christmas Day. Plus, Rocky does a ton of his training in the snow, like a regular boxing version of Santa Claus.
Rocky IV is available to rent on Prime Video, Fandango, and elsewhere.
The excellent and memorable crime thriller The Long Kiss Goodnight features Samuel L. Jackson and Geena Davis in a story of memory loss and nearly non-stop action. Like many Shane Black-directed action films (including the next one on the list), the story takes place at Christmastime.
The Long Kiss Goodnight streams on Tubi.
11. Iron Man 3 (2010)
Yep! You forgot that Iron Man 3 takes place around Christmastime! There are Christmas decorations everywhere, and Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is doing a lot of soul-searching, not unlike a Marvel Universe version of Scrooge.
As action flicks from the early 2000s go, Reindeer Games might be one that feels the most like a '90s movie. Starring Ben Affleck as an ex-con trying to make it home for Christmas, it's hard not to love the audacity of this one. An early Charlize Theron action flick, which makes a good case for some of her bigger and more badass movies in the future.
Reindeer Games streams on Pluto TV and Paramount+.
9. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
Wow! It's another Shane Black movie! (And another one with Robert Downey Jr.!) This 2005 crime thriller also stars Val Kilmer and is perhaps the funniest film (funnier than Home Alone?) on this list. Yes, it takes place at Christmastime, and yes, it's just as good as it was twenty years ago.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang streams on the Roku Channel
8. Star Trek Generations (1994)
Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) has a Christmas moment.
Released just before Thanksgiving in 1994, Star Trek Generations was a crossover event that found Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Captain Kirk (William Shatner) crossing time and space to stop a mad scientist. Along the way, Picard slipped into a dimension called the Nexus, which gave him the nicest and strangest Christmas ever.
Star TrekGenerations streams on Paramount+.
7. Batman Returns (1992)
This one isn't even a little bit debatable. Batman Returns clearly takes place at Christmastime; there's a massive tree, snow, and candy canes everywhere. Is it the darkest Christmas action movie? Well, probably not, but both in 1992 and now, it's a gothic, almost twisted Dickens vibe, certainly makes it unforgettable.
Batman Returns streams on HBO Max.
6. The World Is Not Enough (1999)
Bond (Pierce Brosnan) and Christmas (Denise Richards) in 'The World Is Not Enough'
Look, there's a character literally named Christmas Jones (Denise Richards), and Bond (Pierce Brosnan) even makes a pun about her name. The movie seems to end on New Year's Eve, implying that the rest of the action of the movie took place around Christmastime.
The World Is Not Enough streams on Prime Video.
5. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
Yep, we're putting two Home Alones on this list, back-to-back. Technically, you could say Lost in New York is a family movie, but the amount of chase scenes alone makes it an action movie.
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York streams on Disney+.
4. Home Alone (1990)
Yes, the original, and the best, perhaps the best contribution that Home Alone gave to the action movie genre is the mobster movie watched by Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin). This famous black-and-white movie, Angels with Filthy Souls, was not, in fact, an actual classic mobster film, but instead, a movie created for Home Alone, specifically. Home Alone gave us much, but the line "Keep the change, you filthy animal," may be its greatest gift to the world.
Home Alone streams on Disney+.
3. Ghostbusters II (1989)
Columbia/Sony
Forget the conventional wisdom that Ghostbusters II is somehow bad because it's not better than the 1984 original. Ghostbusters II has a hilarious premise, a fantastic soundtrack, and some unforgettable one-liners. ("Everything you're doing is bad, I want you to know this.") The film takes place around Christmastime and ends on New Year's Eve. What else could you want?
Ghostbusters II is available to rent on Amazon, Fandango, and elsewhere.
2. Silent Night (2023)
This Joel Kinnaman-led movie is a bloody and deeply dark revenge movie. Directed by action legend John Woo, the stylised violence of Silent Night is one of a kind. And, as a one-man arsenal, Kinnaman is incredible.
The late Robert Redford has never been better than in the spy thriller Three Days of the Condor. Taking place at Christmastime in New York City, Redford's character, codename Condor, is on the run, trying to figure out who betrayed him and whom he can trust. Faye Dunaway becomes his unwitting companion, as the pair tries to save themselves from the clutches of, well, everyone. In this wonderful, and sometimes romantic film, the true meaning of Christmas is the spy friends we made along the way.
One of my favorite things to do during the holiday season is pop into small, one-off gift shops to snatch up a few eccentric, unorthodox gifts to give to friends and family. If not for someone specific, I like to use the gifts for white elephant or secret Santa exchanges just to throw people off and make them guess.
Grillo's, the quirky, cult-favorite refrigerated pickle brand, is bringing a new product to its collection—only this time it's not edible. In perfect timing for gift-giving season, it's dropped a "fun, weird and wildly crowd-pleasing" pickle-scented soy candle. This limited-edition candle captures Grillo's signature briny aroma in an unexpected way, and will be the conversation starter you need at your next holiday party.
The candle was created in a collaboration with P.F. Candle Co. and Grillo's to celebrate National Pickle Day earlier this month, inspired by Grillo's 100-year-old pickle recipe. According to the description, the candle is "mouth-watering, nose-pleasing and designed for chilling out, this scent is crisp, fresh and vegetal with an herbacious tang." It has a blend of dill, lemon, cucumber, parsley, bell pepper and mint, "elevated by a whisper of dewy green florals."
The candle is sold in a 7.2-ounce standard size of 3.5 by 2.9-inches with a 40-50 hour burntime. It comes packaged in green glass vessels with kelly green lids printed with kraft paper labels. The image shows Grillo's mascot Sam-Sam the Pickle Man lounging in a lawn chair with a baseball cap on his head. According to the specs, it was hand-poured in Los Angeles by the P.F. Candle Co. team.
One fan left a playful review on the candle. "Attn: pickle lovers, this candle smells exactly like a pickle. Like, suspiciously accurate with this little sweet whisper at the end that somehow makes it addictive. My only regret? Not buying more. Panic ordering three more before my house starts smelling like anything other than a deli!"
The candle retails for $28 and can be ordered on P.F. Candle Co.'s website with free shipping on orders over $75. Grillo's is also selling a limited-edition lighter in collaboration with Zippo that can be purchased on Grillo's website for $45. It's a windproof lighter that looks like a jar of Grillo's hot spears that adorns the words "chill out eat a pickle." Both would make great gifts for the pickle lover in your life.
South Indian Food: Craving something spicy and scrumptious on cold evenings? If you want truly indulgent dishes, explore these South Indian chicken treats packed with flavour.
from NDTV News Search Records Found 1000 https://ift.tt/eoPHSNW
Cardio doesn’t kill your gains. In fact, you need some form of it in your weekly routine if you want a strong heart, better endurance, and easier fat loss. And while some people are born into families that love running holiday 5Ks, the rest of us want our cardio to be fast, efficient, and over with. That’s exactly why trainer Bobby Maximus put together a quick, no-nonsense bike workout that gets the job done.
Stationary bikes are one of the easiest ways to boost your fitness. They’re affordable, low-impact, and perfect for getting in a sweat session while you zone out to your favorite show. And if you’re not ready to buy one yet, nearly every gym has plenty of bikes ready and waiting, no reservation required.
If you’re looking for a straightforward way to burn fat without aimlessly spending an hour on a treadmill, Maximus shared a 20-minute bike workout you can do anywhere.
5-Minute Warmup
Don't skip your warmup, as your body performs better once it's primed. Start with an easy spin for five minutes. Keep the resistance low and aim for roughly 80 RPMs or whatever steady pace gets you warm. The important thing is that you can maintain the speed for the duration. By the end, you should break a light sweat.
10 Minutes of 30/30 Intervals
Welcome to the show. We've only got 20 minutes, so there's no time to coast. The bulk of the workout features interval training. Start by pushing for 30 seconds at a close to all-out effort. Then, take a 30-second active recovery.
On the working intervals, push your RPMs north of 100. The resistance should be light while still keeping your hips supported in the saddle. You can also flip this around and go high resistance with slower RPMs, or stand up for a few rounds.
5-Minute Cooldown
No need to rush off the bike. Spin easy again for five minutes. The cooldown helps flush the legs, bring down your heart rate, and makes for a better recovery. Plus, you can reflect on the brutal workout you just conquered.
Breweries across the country have been struggling since the pandemic shut down businesses. And while many have managed to find their way back, others have been forced to shut down for good.
Such is the case for Oregon's Rogue Ales and Spirits, a brewery best known for its Dead Guy Ale, which, just days ago, was forced to abruptly shut down all of its operations after 37 years in business.
According to The Oregonian, Rogue closed its massive 47,000-square-foot brewery, warehouse, and restaurant. The brewery also shut down its 4,800-square-foot distillery.
What's more, Rogue shut down four pubs it owns throughout the state.
The News Came as a Shock
According to multiple reports, employees were taken completely by surprise by the sudden closure. Reports say that no employees were given a heads-up that Friday, Nov. 14, would be their last day at the brewery.
Rogue's closure sent shock waves across the industry, particularly because it became one of the first small-brand breweries to achieve distribution in all 50 states.
This Was an Inevitable Outcome
The Oregonian reports that Rogue was forced to close its doors after the company fell behind in rent and back taxes.
The outlet reports that Rogue owed more than $500,000 in rent and some $30,000 in back taxes.
As for the salary in a job listing soliciting an IT manager, Rogue stated that "this is not a $50+k position" and that "if you need that kind of money, PLEASE don't apply, as that'll waste a lot of time. You will not convince us."
Interestingly, the job listing also noted that Rogue does "not plan, budget, forecast, or waste time on getting bigger."
Craft Breweries Struggling
The move comes amidst a wave of craft brewery closings and consolidations across the country as the United States' craft beer boom runs out of gas. Some experts have called the closure of Rogue the biggest craft beer company bust since Anchor Brewing—at the time the country's oldest craft beer outfit—closed in 2023 after 127 years in business. Rogue first opened in 1988. According to the brand's website, it offered its products in all 50 states as well as 50 countries across the globe.
A New York Times report from earlier this year revealed that craft beer sales had fallen by four percent in 2024. More brewery closings than openings had occurred over each of the previous 18 months, for the first time in 20 years. And some major beer companies have even begun selling off smaller brands purchased during the craft beer boom.
