Hello There!
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My name is u/houseofcards32 and welcome to airsoft! This thread was created to help beginners and newer players out there. I hope you will get something out of this post, as it contains almost every bit of information you need to get started. This thread gets updated every year with new information and sections, so assume the 2019/2020 guides are out of date. This thread will be automatically updated on January 1st, 2022. At the bottom of this thread will include all of the guides I have created so far, if you are looking for something that is not in here, I would look there first.
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This thread also has a video for each section created by me. Don't want to read the massive wall of text that follows? No worries! Sit back and watch the short 1-3 minute videos on the topic.
Consider liking and subscribing to my youtube channel, cards32 , as I don't make money off of these, but I do make it for beginners/newcomers benefit. Under each section will be a video for that specific section.
How to start airsoft in 2020
Battery Guide (LiPo vs nImh)
Stick with an M4/AK if you are an airsoft beginner
Lancer Tactical is bad
2021 Beginner Thread video playlist (in order)
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Are you looking to start airsoft? Do you need information about the basics? Well look no further! This guide will have 15 sections:
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1. Basic Information
2. How much does airsoft cost?
3. The best beginner rifles (AK/M4 variants) for $100-250
4. Things to generally avoid when playing
5. What should you bring to your first airsoft game
6. What weight bb should I be using?
7. Can I start airsoft as a sniper?
8. What eyepro/lower face projection should I invest in?
9. What is a "MED"?
10. What is a GBBR?
11. The Search bar
12. Orange tips and their legality
13. Airsoft youtubers
14. MSW (MilSim West)
15. What are some cheap gear brands to get as a beginner?
16. Lancer Tactical
17. What airsoft shops should I buy from?
18. Don't go out and spend $1000 before playing
19. Comparing paintball and airsoft is like comparing apples to oranges
20. What are the most common gearboxes?
21. Other guides that may be useful

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Section 1: Basic Information
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Your first airsoft guns is one of the most important purchases you will make while playing airsoft. As your first gun, it should be reliable, affordable, versatile, easy to work on (V2/V3), high performance, and compatible with as many upgrades and accessories as possible. This means buying and AEG, or Automatic electric gun or Sub-Machine gun (also known as an SMG). Forget about buying sniper rifles, pistols, gas guns, and other exotic airsoft guns until you have more experience, money, and at least one backup weapon.
To play airsoft it is HIGHLY recommended that you have the following items:

• An AEG (NOT A LPAEG)
• Magazines (high capacity magazines are recommended, which holds around 300+ bb's)
• Some batteries
• A charger

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All airsoft AEG's come with a magazine out of the box (sometimes a mid cap), but is highly recommended that you have 2-3 of these while you are playing. Eye protection is the most important thing in airsoft. All airsoft fields/sites require you to wear goggles/masks while playing. For more information check section 8.
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Section 2: How much does airsoft cost?
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Although airsoft is markedly cheaper than other shooting sports, it's still an expensive hobby. Site fees vary greatly but will typically exceed $25 for a day's play. It is reasonably common to spend in excess of $400 buying, upgrading and accessorizing a single airsoft gun. Gear and clothing can be similarly expensive. It is possible to play airsoft very successfully with just basic equipment, but even the cheapest possible equipment required to play airsoft safely will still cost you a minimum of $100. If you want a competitive advantage, or to play more advanced simulation games, you should expect significant additional expenditure.
It is common for users to approach airsoft with unrealistically low budgets. If you have less than $100-150 to spend, you are not realistically in a position to play airsoft. We will not compromise your safety by recommending you skimp on personal protective equipment. We refuse to recommend Low Power Electric Guns ('LPAEGs'), spring pistols and other ultra-low-budget airsoft guns because their performance is so poor, and their life expectancy so short, that they represent a false economy. You may still be able to afford to rent gear at an organized airsoft site, but not for more than a handful of games at most.
FAQs:
1. ⁠I think I can afford to play. What's the next step?
If you haven't already,read the rest of this guide.
2. Why are you lying to me? I can easily find airsoft guns that cost less than $100.
In airsoft, as in most aspects of life, there is a minimum price below which a product cannot be made fit for purpose. It is possible to buy something approximately gun-shaped for less than $100. Do not confuse this with the ability to buy a gun that will be sufficiently powerful, reliable and long-lived enough to play airsoft with. LPEGs, spring pistols and ultra-low-budget airsoft guns are utterly inadequate for airsoft play and will break rapidly, at which point you will be back to having no gun and will also have lost whatever you spent. In addition, you still need to buy suitable Personal Protective Equipment ('PPE'), which is an absolute prerequisite of play and not free. THE ONLY EXCEPTION to this rule is spring shotguns. The tri-Shot ones. They shoot anywhere from 3-6 bb’s at a time and most shells hold about 30 rounds. These shotguns are only optimal for CQB arenas and highly urban fields. They have extremely limited range so keep that in mind.
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3. The best beginner rifles (AK/M4 variants) for $100-250
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To get into the hobby of airsoft, you will need to have a decent budget. Most beginneintermediate guns cost anywhere from $100-250, but that cost does not include bb's, magazines, batteries, and a charger. Some guns come with a wall charger and a battery, but most users (including myself) recommend throwing the wall chargers away. This is simply because the wall chargers are normally very low quality. Most players recommend starting airsoft with an M4 or AK style variant AEG. Please note that Lancer Tactical rifles are NOT included in this guide, please check section 16 for more information on this topic. Note that the current Covid-19 pandemic is still ongoing, so things might read out of stock on the websites listed. I would check other websites if the items listed are not shown. Commonly recommended choices are:
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• CYMA AK Series -$130 - CM028, CMO40, CM045, CM048, and CMO28S) are clones of the original TM AK-47’s and AKS-47’s , and they include a high cap magazine (500-600 rounds). These are the cheapest AEG we recommend, and are generally considered reliable, upgradeable, and reasonably versatile. However, their all-Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene ('ABS') plastic construction makes them relatively fragile. For improved robustness we strongly recommend spending slightly more to purchase a Glass-Filled Nylon Polymer ('GFP') AR-15 or a steel AK.
• CYMA Platinum M4 Series -$250 - CYMA's newest addition to the intermediate M4 world, with these being one of the most recommended beginner guns of 2020. With updated internals, great trigger response, and a strong gearbox shell being the highlights of this rifle. Note that these go on sale quite often and the price drops around $240-250.
• CYMA Sport M4 Series -$185 - CYMA's solution to "budget" airsoft guns that have good internals and can be had for a decent price. Not as many features as the plat's, but have completely over hauled internals, as shown in Negative Airsoft's video.
• ICS Sportline -$180-200 - ICS' Sportline AR-15s are effectively a re-shell of their excellent regular guns in a GFP receiver. They retain the convenient split gearbox system of the regular guns. Note that most of ICS's rifles are slightly proprietary in their gearboxes, so keep this in mind.
• Maple Armories Marauder -$180 - Made from high density polymer but has an excellent set of internals which has been proven to be better than the Guay Guay lineup. This weapon series is on the more expensive side but has comparible internals to the VFC Avalon series.
• E and C MK18 Series -$162 - These are not really common in the US, but are popular in places like Canada and the EU. The internals on these have been quite good and QC has been almost top notch for something that is under 200. There are other models available in the US, but are way more expensive.
• Arcturus M4 Series -$161 -Arcturus is a relatively new brand in the airsoft market, but has come out the gate strong with their M4 series. This series has a microswtich installed, which is uncommon for other models in this price range excluding Classic Army. It also comes with 2 magazines which is great for beginners.
• APEX Skirmish Series -$95-100 - OEM'd by Classic Army, Apex's Fast Attack AR-15s are a relatively new entry to the market, and are equivalent to Guay Guay's CM16s. Versions with GFP and metal receivers are available. An intermediate equivalent of these would be a GP or ICS AR-15.
• Guay Guay G2 Combat Machines -$207 - Guay Guay has recently come out with a more updated version of their "Golden standard" AEGS. These are still relatively new and have had reports of poor quality mosfets. But other than that, the Gen2's are a superior upgrade to their Gen1 counterparts. Gen1's have been removed from this guide simply due to more updated rifles being out. Upgraded internals, and a better exterior allow for a better quality AEG. An intermediate/high end equivalent of these would be a VFC or a Krytac. These are not as outdated as the gen 1’s, but they still are classified as outdated when it comes to performance.
• Classic Army Skirmish Series -$180-200 - Classic Army's AR-15s are a relatively new entry to the market, and are equivalent to a slightly upmarket version of Guay Guay's CM16s. An intermediate equivalent of these would be a G P or ICS AR-15. These feature a mosfet that allows you to switch to 3 round burst or 5 rebound burst.
• Specna Arms Core Series -$120 -Specna Arms's CORE series of AEG's were removed from last year's guide due to QC issues, but with the issues mostly being fixed in the later end of 2020, they are being readded for their great price, and overall decent internals. Note that all the CORE series of AEG's have the same internals, just different externals, which are polymer to keep cost down.
• Specna Arms EDGE Series -$220 -Another Specna model, with this being similar to the CORE series, but having a GATE X-ASR mosfet, the newer orion gearbox, and an aluminum receiver instead of polymer. Also features a quick change spring system for easier fps changes.
• EMG Helios CORE/EDGE Series -$220-280 -Features the same specna internals, with the EDGE having the mosfet, and an aluminum body, whilst the core has a polymer.
• EMG Helios Umbrella Corp Series -$220-250 -Features the same internals as the CYMA plat's. Just a different body and externals. Normally on sale for $220.

4. Things to generally avoid when playing
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Airsoft is an honor sport, when you get hit, raise your hand high and display your dead rag. Also yell “HIT” as loud as you can so the other player who is shooting you knows that you are dead. Not displaying your dead rag can lead to being shot more than you want to. Calling someone else’s hits are normally frowned upon as you’re going to cause problems on the field and airsoft drama is not worth it. If someone is suspected of cheating, call a ref/marshal over to observe the player. When you are in the field/game area, DO NOT TAKE OFF YOUR EYEPRO!! EYEPRO is the #1 important thing in airsoft. If a bb hits your eye, you more than likely will be blind. Keep your EYEPRO on at all times while in the field. If you are fogging up, walk off the field. Avoid overshooting other players, once you see a dead rag or a red rag come up, or hear “HIT” stop shooting them. Dead men tell no tales! If you are dead, and a teammate asks where you got shot from, simply say: “dead men don’t talk” and walk back to your respawn.
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5. What should you bring to your first airsoft game
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So you’ve finally bought your gun and gear and you’re heading out to your first game. As mentioned previously, you want to make sure you come prepared. As well as your AEG, you want to make sure your batteries are charged and you brought an extra magazine or two. You also want to bring WATER! Staying hydrated is one of the most important things you need to do in airsoft. Being dehydrated will ruin your day and cause problems for you. Also make sure to have a good amount of bb’s for the day. it is highly advised that you wear boots while playing, running shoes can get dirty easily and there will be mud somewhere on the field that you will end up stepping on and getting wet. An extra pair of socks is also a good idea!
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1. What weight bb should I be using?

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This question is very common with a lot of newer players. LPAEG’s (Löw powered Airsoft guns) and Walmart airsoft guns use .12 gram bb’s. DO NOT RUN THESE IN AN AEG! This bb’s are cheap and will break the internals of your rifle. You don’t want to throw your money away do you? I didn’t think so. The lowest weight you can use in your replica is .20 gram bb’s. There are a lot of brands out there for bb’s: Elite Force, BLS,, HPA, KWA and so on. All of them are good brands to buy from. If you are planning on playing indoor, most users will recommend .2-.28 bb’s for the best range and efficiency. If you are planning on playing outdoor, using .28’s and higher is optimal for the best range. Just keep this in mind: the heavier weight, the slower the bb travels.
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1. Can I start airsoft as a sniper?

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It's not recommended no. You can do whatever you want, but sniping is not beginner friendly. Sniping is an expensive virtue and will take a lot of money and time for you to get a rifle that shoots far. Buying a stock sniper will mean you have to put money and parts into it, as the only “good” stock sniper rifle is the SSG24, and the Silverback SRS. The popular airsoft youtuber, Novritsch, has made sniping extremely popular with noobs as he shows a lot of action and gameplay with his guns. Keep in mind that being a sniper is not all action and takes patience and time. His videos are short for a reason. You do the math.
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1. What eyepro/lower face projection should I invest in?

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Eyepro is the most important thing in airsoft. Airsoft is a sport that requires you to have eye protection on at all times while on the field. Lower face protection is required for most players under the age of 18 in most American fields. Anyone over the age of 18 can normally just get away with goggles, but you don't want to have to go to the dentist do you? Didn't think so. There are different types of eye protection for airsoft, ranging from basic shooting goggles, to face masks that protect your face. There are a lot of different goggles and masks out there, but here are some of the most populamost recommended items. Any eye protection you use MUST BE ANSI 787.1+, otherwise you cannot use them! DO NOT USE MESK EYE PROTECTION UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES! They are not anzi rated, and their have been hundreds of cases where someone will shoot someone with mesk eye pro, and the bb will explore on the outside of the google, allowing the bb fragments to get inside an eye.

• Pyramex I-Forces (Slim) -20$ - These goggles are one of the most common eye protection recommended because they are really hard to fog. They are also the cheapest eye protection that this list will have, but these are really amazing goggles. These are full seal but these are not as big and bulky as some others.
• Revison Desert Locusts -$30 - These are another amazing choice when it comes to eye protection. A little more pricer than the I Forces, but provides more protection around the face. Has fine lens curvature and the lenses adjust automatically to shifting or variable light conditions. Please note you can buy these new on their website/evike, but they cost 50-60$ new.
• ESS Land Ops -$85 - Issued by the U.S Army, these goggles are another excellent choice. Features exceptional fog resistance, particle filtration, and comfort. These can also be found on eBay and military surplus stores for cheaper, but keep in mind of scratching.
• Smith Optics OTW -$180 -These no doubt are the most expensive goggle on this list, but these goggles feature a fan inside of the goggle, which allows for no fog at all. The low profile housing of the fan does not interfere with the brim of a helmet. If you want something really good, \*buy once, cry once.\*
• Dye i4/i5 -$100-250 - These are the best option when it comes to full face protection. This was originally designed for paintball, but has been adopted by airsofters as well. The special venting and google coating allows for zero fog. I have had one for 8 months and I have yet to deal with any problems. The prices vary depending on color, but you can find one used for roughly 60-70$. There is an updated mask, the Dye i5, which has an updated back strap and different colors.
• Oakley M-Frames -$120-130 - These are often used by milsimmers as these offer great eye protection in a minimalist setup. Often used by the US military, these offer great non-fogging and are super lightweight.
• ESS Crossbows -$40-80 - The ESS Crossbow Suppressor is the first spectacle frame designed for use with ear cup hearing protection and communications devices. Featuring Z-Bend Geometry, the frame's ultra-thin temple arms help keep noise out by minimizing the effect on the padded seal of ear cups. The slim temples eliminate the hot spots and pressure points that commonly occur when normal eyewear is worn under ear cups.
• OneTigris Mesh Mask -$15-20 - The most common mesh mask in the market, and the most affordable one also. Made out of steel and nylon, this mask allows for maximum comfort as it is has nylon fabric cheek sides.

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9. What is a "MED"?
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If you’ve played airsoft before or are just hearing about this for the first time, a “MED” or minimum engagement distance is utilized in airsoft. Most airsoft guns have semi, and fully automatic. Most fields in the US, do NOT allow full auto within 40-50 feet. Imagine coming around a corner and getting shot with 10 bb’s because the person around the corner didn’t switch to semi. This isn’t Call of Duty, spraying your bb’s all over the place will achieve very little, if not anything. When you get closer than 40-50 feet, switch your AEG to semi. Airsoft, for the most part doesn’t hurt, but getting shot 10-20 times in a row certainly will. Don’t be that guy who full autos people from 10 feet away! It’s being an asshat, and will probably get you kicked out!
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1. What is a GBBR?

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GBBR(Gas Blow-Back Rifles) are the hyper-realistic guns. If you have a larger budget and would like a more realistic experience these are the guns for you. Not usually recommended as starter guns because of the cost of gas and accessories, but not to be entirely ruled out for a select group of people. These guns require maintenance, but most would consider the work to be put to the background in the face of the utter satisfaction of using one of these guns. Check out GasBlowBack for more information on this topic.
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11. The Search Bar
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The search bar is a tool that is at the top of this sub that is used to search for a post or topic. This feature is not used by any beginners as they will probably ignore this guide and ask the question anyways. Most questions have been asked before and you will find your answer. To use the search bar:
A. Open reddit
B. Click on airsoft
C. Using your eyeballs, look at the top of your screen
D. Using your fingers, type in whatever you are looking for (I.E BEST BEGINNER SETUP)
E. Using your eyeballs, look at the results
F. Realize that most people will just ignore this guide and continue asking the same questions every single day.
G. Profit!
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1. Orange tips and their legality

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Orange tips are required for retailers, but you are more than welcome to take them off after you receive your airsoft gun. Just note by doing so you will void your warranty. Also please do not take your airsoft gun out in public and follow basic gun safety. Please check your local state/county rules before doing this though. Note that random strangers on the internet will NOT know your local rules, so I cannot empathize this enough.
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1. Airsoft youtubers

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A lot of users will watch certain youtubers and get a impression of the hobby that does not exist. Remember: Their job is to get views and entertain you, they cut out the parts that are boring. Clickbait content is what most beginners watch and please note that cheaters in airsoft are not as common at they make them to be. If you are interesting in learning more about clickbait, I made a video breaking down airsoft clickbait on youtube. There is of course great content creators out there that don't just make clickbait and I implore you to go look for them.
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14.MSW (MilSim West)
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MSW is considered the only "true" Milsim in the US. Interesting in going? Read the Tacsop.
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1. What are some cheap gear brands to get as a beginner?

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It is also pretty common for airsofters to think they need to spend a bunch of money on super expensive gear to get started. This couldn't be farther from the truth. Good gear does not equal skill (BY ITSELF), and while having good gear CAN help you play, it won't make you a special operator by itself. Most users are on a budget anyways, and investing in cheap chest rigs is a great option to stay within your budget. Note that most of these recommendations will be chest rigs, simply because of the price and functionally of them. Condor is one of the most budget friendly airsoft gear brands out there, as they will be on this list a bunch. NOTE: THE CHEAP CROSS DRAW VESTS ARE NOT INCLUDED ON THIS LIST SIMPLY BECAUSE FOR THE MOST PART, THEY SUCK. Some good budget options ($0-100) would be:

• Surplus Chicom rig -$12
• AK47 Bandoiler Chest Rig -$15
• Chinese AK47 Chest Rig -$20
• NCSTAR 6 Pouch Chest rig -$27
• Condor Ronin Chest Rig -$32
• Condor Rapid Chest Rig -$32
• Condor Gen 5 Recon Rig -$35
• NCSTAR VISM Chest Rig -$45
• LBX Chest Rig-$65
• LBX Tactical Lock and Load Chest Rig -$101

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1. Lancer Tactical

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So Lancer Tactical is not on this guide for a multitude of reasons. For starters, in 2017, their CEO was arrested at shot show under the pretenses of producing non-anzi rated goggles and advertising as such. They were producing goggles that were direct copies of Revision, and lied about their goggles being rated for airsoft. But the primary reason as to why they are not recommended is that their quality control is fucking horrendous. Lancer has created 2 "generations" of guns, with the 2nd generation "having a different oem" meaning that they were magically fixed. Spoiler alert, the QC is still garbage and even their "prolines" having terrible QC, with Reventian having to be SENT 3 for a review, and his 3rd one died. But if you don't believe me on the QC part, check out a compilation of lancer's breaking in the past year.
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1. What airsoft shops should I buy from?

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Recommended US-Based Retailers
Infantryshopusa
Airsoft GI
Evike
Amped Airsoft
Airsoft Extreme
Airsoft Atlanta
Trinity Airsoft
Gas Blowback Central
JustAirsoftAmmo
InfantryShop
Canada based Retailers
Alberta
007 Airsoft
Badlands Paintball
B2 Airsoft
Buy Airsoft
Capital Airsoft/Force on Force Tactical
Comex Hobby
PM Hobbycraft
British Columbia
Badlands Paintball
Camouflage
Milsig
Phoenix Tactical
Trigger Airsoft
Viper Action-Air Innovations
Manitoba
Badlands Paintball
TBD Airsoft
Xtreme Tactics
Newfoundland
Frontline Paintball
Nova Scotia
Venture Airsoft
Scotia Arms Airsoft
Ontario
Action Air Canada
Airsoft Depot
Badlands Paintball
Blackbiltz Airsoft
Canada Wide Airsoft -No Website.
Challenger Airsoft/My Airsoft -No Website. FB Seems inactive.
Chigun Hobby Store
Daymark WindsoSOAR Hobby
DMZ Airsoft & Paintball
Flagswipe Paintball
Forest City Surplus
Gear Up Airsoft
Hero Outdoors
High Percision Airsoft
Infinity Arms
JS Airsoft
JT Military Surplus -No website.
Maier Action Games
Maple Airsoft Supply
Niagara Quatermaster
Nick Sports Shop & Central Surplus
Platinum Paintball -No Website.
Rapidfire Airsoft -No Website
Toronto Airsoft
Ultimate Airsoft
Prince Edward Island
Andy's Airsoft
Quebec
Aventure Airsoft Lanaudiere
Divison XP
Fighter System
Headshot Airsoft -No Website
Tactical Center
Taktik Airsoft
Saskatchewan
SackSoft Armoury
Online ONLY
Airsoft Parts Canada
Ultimate Airsoft
Replica Airguns
Upper Canada Tactical
Western Canadian Airsoft Supply
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Asian-Based Retailers
Redwolf Airsoft
eHobby Asia
ebAirsoft
WGC Shop
Echigoya - Japanese shop, best source for TM guns
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UK Retailers
Zero One
Action Hobbies
Airsoft World
Land Warrior
Fire Support
Wolf Armouries
JD Airsoft
Combat South
Dave's Custom Airsoft
Bespoke Airsoft
Skirmshop
Patrolbase
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1. Don't go out and spend $1000 before playing

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It is also very common for users to approach airsoft with spending a bunch of money. Please don't do this. It is always recommended to rent before playing. After renting, don't go out and buy a shit ton of geaguns. Stay cheap, and don't go all out. Regardless of what you have seen on youtube, having the best gear does not make you the best player. How stupid would you look if you went out and bought a brand new Umbrella Armory and full Crye's if you don't like the hobby? Simply put, don't go out and buy expensive gear, like said above, stay cheap and go out to have fun.
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1. Comparing paintball and airsoft is like comparing apples to oranges

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Comparing paintball to airsoft would be like comparing apples to oranges. They are two completely different hobbies that are very different. Paintball uses balls of paint that cannot go farther than normally 50-60 feet, whilst airsoft uses more realistic looking markers that can go much farther. If you are a paintballer, no problem, just don't come in here and try to compare the two :)
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1. What are the most common gearboxes?

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The V2 and V3 mechboxes are the most common gearboxes found in M4/AK series AEG'S. If you are more interesting in learning about the V2 gearbox, check out the V2 gearbox guide. V2 gearboxes are found in most M4 series AEG's, while V3'S are found in AK series rifles. The MP5 often uses a modified V2/V3 gearbox, it all depends on the brand. The Airsoft Tech is a great resource if you are looking to expand your knowledge. Negative Airsoft is also another great resource, consider checking him out here.
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1. Other guides that may be useful

• GBB Guide
• Searchbar Guide
• How to/How not to deal with cheaters
• Beginner AEG Guide
• 2020 HPA Guide
• 2020 Ultimate Hopup/Bucking Guide
• 2020 BB Weight Guide
• 2020 BUYING AND SELLING GUIDE
• 2020 Barrel Guide
• 2020 Basic Operations Guide
• Diffrent replica guide

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Changelog:
5/30/19-Fixed Formatting and added suggested eyepro section
6/1/19-small typos fixed and section about MED’s added
12/7/19- reposted for Christmas influx of new gun posts
12/7/19- added section on GBBGBB’s.
12/9/19- added section on searchbar and typos
12/27/19- added how the older guay guay are outdated
1/1/2020- post was unpinned so new thread is made.
1/1/2020- updated part about specna
1/19/2020 - orange tip section added
5/16/2020- removed specna cores from the Recommended list of guns due to bad QC
7/22/2020- reposting thread with more updated links as well as adding E and C to the recommended section
7/22/2020- added sections 13 and 14
7/22/2020- Videos added for each section
7/22/2020 - Added more options for eyepro
7/22/2020 -Fixed AMP AMP AMP issue
12/25/2020 - Added 5 new sections
12/28/2020 - Removed G1 CM"s from the recommended M4's.
12/29/2020 - Added new beginner guns to recommended section
12/30/2020 -Fixed spelling errors and guide overhaul
1/1/2020 - Guide re-published

Ballpark numbers for the manufacturer Kenji manages. In mid-2018, he began subcontracting the majority of his sharpening and polishing labor and changed his product line to use more prefabricated steels. 2020 saw major business interruptions due to the COVID19 crisis. 

Hey, so this is to help you know what's available for official Invader ZIM stuff. There's a crash course on what to know about collecting the comics, and ways to get the original show. There's also a handy list of stores that have a license to sell official merch. I also am including currently available games, the ride that's under repair, the upcoming Invader CON experience at Fan Expo Boston, and other books.
A big reason I wrote this was not just to the benefit of collectors but (unfortunately) sometimes the best way to keep Invader ZIM alive is to vote with your wallet. Everything is broken down in headlines so feel free to skip past parts. Be sure to leave some encouragement, feedback, or criticisms below!~CB Johnny / Tallest Purple
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Invader ZIM comics

_________________________________________

Are they new stories?

Yes! Some parts of the story in issue #1 (The Returnening Part 1) are reinterpreted in the Netflix animated special "Invader ZIM Enter The Florpus". Some issues are akin to "lost episodes" as they were ideas from before the original TV series was cancelled.

Are they canon?

Yes. Some argue that the comics' stories and/or Enter The Florpus take place in an alternate universe due to varying depictions of events first seen in Issue #1 however....
Guys, it's a show where horrible things happen and then it just "gets better" without an explanation. If you try to piece together a comedy series' timeline like it's Metal Gear Solid or The Legend of Zelda then I guarantee you'll get a headache.

How do I get them?

What you'll want to know is that there are two Invader ZIM comics series published by Oni Press.

• The first was a monthly series simply titled Invader ZIM and that ended at its fiftieth issue.
  • There's an "Issue #0" called Invader ZIM: Truth Shrieker Magazine. It's not an actual comic book but it is canon.
• The second is Invader ZIM Quarterly. Issues of Invader ZIM Quarterly are still in production. It's not a sequel and it's not a spinoff. It basically just meant that Invader ZIM stories were being released 4 times a year instead of 12.

They ALL have digital copies through Comixology, but lets talk about physical copies for the monthly series.

• There are ten "trade paperback" volumes.
  • You can order them through OniPress.com or wherever books are sold.
  • Basically vol. 1 is issues 1-5. Vol. 2 is 6-10, and so forth.
• There is also the deluxe hardcover volumes. Hardcovers have ten issues each.
  • They have a bit more content.
    • Each book starts with a brand new Recap Kid page. Who? Oh you'll meet them soon.
    • There's a 'cover art' gallery at the end of each book.
    • Vol. 1 has the special issue #0 "Truth Shrieker Magazine"
  • Lastly, Invader ZIM Quarterly hasn't had enough issues released to really warrant a "volume" release in paperback or hardcover form.
    • There are some 'compilation' style 'best of' trade paperbacks that might be a mix of quarterly and monthly series. I'll need to fact check that.

"Wait. What are variants?"

• Variants refers to the collectible cover art and that is the only difference!
  • Every issue has at least two. Sometimes they're exclusive to certain stores or conventions. Sometimes they are "incentive" covers where a store gets them based on how many of the regular cover they purchase.
    • You can start getting them as an official release through your local comic book shop by placing a subscription for Invader ZIM Quarterly and noting that you want the variant covers.
    • You can also also ask for back issues.
    • Psst. I hear that Aaron Alexovich might have some for sale to autograph on his website ;)
• Oni Press has store exclusive variants for their trade paperbacks and deluxe hardcovers on their website.
  • Their exclusive variants for the hardcovers are pretty stinkin' majestic.
    • Vol. 1 is holographic, vol. 2 is fuzzy, vol. 3 is lenticular, and vol. 4 has little windows cut inside. They look beautiful on a shelf.

If you want individual issues, then contact any store that sells new comic books and collectibles. You can ask them questions about placing a subscription, getting variant issues, or seeing what they have for backlog. No need to be shy as comic book industry isn't doing so hot so if you worry it sounds like a dumb question then it's on them to be nice and understanding or they lose out on a new lifelong customer. ;)

Is the original series still sold on DVD?

Amazon has a license to sell and manufacture DVD-r discs of the show on demand... Honestly, the reviews look pretty bad. People are saying they don't play so well on their DVD players. There is also a DVD set compatible with any region DVD player. Keep in mind, folks, that this is not the Media Blasters DVD set with the commentary tracks, interviews, and other bonus features. That set is out of print and Media Blasters does not have an Invader ZIM licensing deal presently.
PS- While /InvaderZIM has zero tolerance for bootlegging the episodes, movie, or comics... You absolutely are allowed to share bonus feature content from the out of print DVDs. If Nickelodeon reads this entire guide and still has a problem with my policy on out of print content then they can go ahead and waste their money on a C&D. Coulda just released the footage on YouTube with that money.

Does the show still air on TV?

Yes! It is returning to Nicktoons for reruns starting Tuesday the 9th. Cable schedule so far suggests that it might be every Tuesday for roughly 11 episodes from mornings through afternoons.

Where can I digitally stream the show or movie?Does the show still air on TV?

Invader ZIM: Enter the Florpus is a Netflix exclusive.
The original Invader ZIM animated series is streamed on CBS All Access (soon to be renamed 'Paramount+') and Amazon Prime Video's NickHits

Where can I buy Invader ZIM: Enter The Florpus?

It's only available for streaming on Netflix. And their secret computer programs will note how many people watch it and how often. So treat it like GIR watching Intestines Of War. Yell "I'M GONNA WATCH IT AGAIN" and keep on supporting it.

Can't we get Florpus or the show released on blu-ray?

Never say never but keep in mind that Netflix rarely releases their exclusive content on home video. The show or movie would have to be as hugely successful as the likes of, say, Stranger Things for that to happen. I know it's tempting to make your own blu-ray but please understand that we don't know for sure if the movie's doing well enough because Netflix keeps their numbers a secret. Try to just watch it over and over if you can. That would make it easier to get Netflix to produce a sequel.
As for the original series, the picture format is SDTV 480i. So you might get a blu-ray disc but don't hold your breath for 1080p.

Where can I digitally buy episodes of the show to keep?

Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu, iTunes, and Microsoft Store(7806)(1246483)((6fc648e4d017b945d2ad9720b209bfe8)(81561)(2850890)(603eaf9759604a9c80adb36567fe60c3)())(6fc648e4d017b945d2ad9720b209bfe8)&irclickid=_tfxtxkf9a0kftgjfkk0sohzn1n2xsqb91pwg01gi00&activetab=pivot:overviewtab).

What if it's pulled from any of those services?

ReelGood and JustWatch are services designed to help you find your favorite shows online. Sometimes they're a little behind on information if a service is newer. So be nice! They're doing their best.
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How do I get the new Invader ZIM action figures?!

Contact your local stores (try comicshoplocator.com!) and inquire about pre orders.
Here's photos of the toys.
There is also an Invader ZIM diorama slated for Summer.
Keep in mind that it's a safe assumption that the success of the figures we've seen would lead to figures that we have NOT seen.
Tip: ask major brand vendors like Hot Topic if they could get '20th Anniversary Edition' figures. I want to see what happens if enough fans ask. ;)

Are there Invader ZIM books?

Yes. There's an official one The Art of Invader ZIM by Chris McDonnell. Published by Abrams. There's new interviews and never before seen production art.
There's also a pretty-stinkin-majestic near official but not officially official one (my words, not theirs). The Medium-Sized Book of ZIM Scripts Vol. 1: Pigs 'n' Waffles The Stories and the Stories Behind the Stories of Your Favorite Invader by Eric Trueheart. Eric is hilarious and he gives an excellently transparent, yet kindly expressed, perspective on the ups and downs of working on the show. Don't sleep on this one. See if he'll sign it for you. <3
I'm seeing trivia books and coloring books on Barnes & Noble but I cannot speak to the quality. They have the official trademarked Invader ZIM logo- and armchair geek lawyers know that trademarks are heavily guarded unlike regular copyrighted intellectual property. If anyone buys one, lemme know more about them. __________________________________________________________________________________________

What about video games?

Invader ZIM characters have been featured in various 3rd party developer video games where Nicktoons have crossover adventures or party games such as go-karts and baseball. Presently, the only one that isn't out of print is Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2: Grand Prix.
Here's a game by Nick Australia called Invader Zim - The DOOM Game by Art of Play. It's in HTML5 so you can play it on your computer web browser. If you live in Australia or New Zealand then you should be able to also play it on your smart devices as an app.

Is there an Invader ZIM soundtrack?!

Yes. Well. Not exactly. There was a special release of limited tracks in the original DVD bonus set. There was an unofficial limited released of the soundtrack and the ZIM-phony broadcast, too.
What you can do is check out Kevin Manthei's YouTube page. He has uploaded both the entire selections from the Enter the Florpus soundtrack as well as episode suites for FREE.
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UPCOMING INVADER ZIM EXPERIENCES!

Will InvaderCON ever happen again?

Yes, but in a different way from the three events they've had before. There were plans for InvaderCON events within a larger convention called Fan Expo Boston. The idea was that those who were going for InvaderCON programming, they could buy special passes that grant them access to even more Invader ZIM experiences or stuff than if one was to attend as a regular Fan Expo Boston attendee. It was slated for 2020, however, the pandemic has delayed plans. Keep an eye on InvaderCON's Twitter.
Please note: nothing is a guarantee this year for any conventions. I know, I know. It sucks. Be aware that convention organizers have contractual obligations to the venue and are therefore at their mercy (or local government) to shut down without going out of business. The closer we get to August, the closer we'll know where the world stands with the COVID vaccine and the viral spread. I'm hoping that some sort of online experience could take place as a back up. It's a big reason I'm putting together a list of ZIM crew, the world deserves to have a fun little 'artist alley' experience from the comfort of their seats after enjoying a few Zoom panels. But I don't work for Green Mustard soooooo... Just an idea

There's going to be an Invader ZIM amusement park ride?!

There was an Invader ZIM themed version of the Flip Zone ride (originally developed by Amusement Products).
It's called Invader ZIM's Flip 'N' Spin... OF DOOM and it had been in operation briefly at Nickelodeon Universe, an indoor amusement park at the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, NJ.
When the park re-opened after pandemic lockdowns, the ride had been taken down and set aside for repairs. An American Dream Guest Services staff member was gracious enough to give an honest, clear, and optimistic answer. They clearly want this to succeed!

"We do hope to have it open again - but have had some challenges with the reliability as it is a prototype ride. We are working with the manufacturer on bringing it back online. With no firm date, we have decided to remove it from our advertising and delist it. When it is ready to reopen we will add it back online. I know this likely isn't the answer you want to hear - but we want to be upfront with you on when it could resume. Hopefully sooner than later.

(also, can we give a round of applause to them for being honest yet optimistic and forward thinking? I seriously think he deserves a raise. They could have easily ignored us or given a safe non-answer. I'm deeply impressed.)
In the meantime, you can still see some Invader ZIM lovin' at the park when going on the Nickelodeon Skyline Scream. GIR overlooks the rider queue after, uhh, engaging in some (kinda out-of-character) mischief while ZIM, Spongebob, and other Nicktoons await you at the top of the tower.
This is actually the second time that ZIM has made a cameo for an amusement park ride. He was also depicted in the on-ride footage for Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast at Universal Studios
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I can't afford these things or they aren't available in my country. What do you suggest I do?

Economically, lots of folks are having a hard time. Perhaps paypal's payment plans could help? I really didn't want to drop 50 bucks on stuff so I am paying back Paypal ten bucks or so a week.
If you live outside of the states then you might need to arrange something with a U.S resident. It's tempting to offer for the first 3 people who ask, but guys, I'm an exhausted and busy. Don't expect me to be reliable or timely.

Is there any other way I can help without buying stuff?

Spread word on social media: retweet, reblog, repost announcements from people who make and sell good ZIM stuff. Share this post for other fans (and let me know, for encouragement's sake). Contact vendors and express interest that you'd want ZIM stuff made for the 20th Anniversary.

Can't you help me bootleg the show, movie, or comics?

No, absolutely not. Look, I'm not here to make money for Nick. This is a 'vote with your wallet' guide. So while I understand that money and/or geographical obstacles make things hard for printed physical stuff but you still have digital releases at very least... Please do NOT post episodes and issues for free for strangers to experience en masse. You're making this harder for everyone else.
Morally, I stop caring once the item is out of print: bonus features from the original DVD sets for instance.

Will you list stuff that is not licensed?

If they worked on Invader ZIM, yes. Or if it's professionals looking to get ZIM stuff greenlit, yes.
In fact, I've been putting together a Google Sheet of crew members on the show, books, and film for you to support their craft: some do commissions, some sell autographed ZIM comics, and some have ZIM art or behind scenes content. .... the sheet is coming soon. When I can get to it. Once again, I'm kinda a busy guy.

I saw some stuff on Amazon that might not be licensed. How do I know if it is?

Amazon.com's Invader ZIM selection requires a bit of caution
Keep in mind I have zero problem with unlicensed merchandise sold in good faith

• no spambots, no stolen fanart, no deceitful tactics of any kind
• As of this writing, the "sponsored" items are unlicensed. Are they nice? Sure, but that's not what this guide is for.

Here are the reasonable indicators that you're getting something authentic.

• "Brand: Invader Zim" or "Brand: Nickelodeon" is almost a guarantee of legitimacy
  • don't just click "Brand: Invader ZIM" because it does not account for every department. Invader ZIM brand clothes link will only show clothes. The other departments automatically just show Invader ZIM search results
• Ships from Amazon.com *and* Sold by Amazon.com
  • perhaps unless it's a coloring book /notebook
    • Those just say "copyrighted material" on the top.
• uses the *current* Invader ZIM logo AND *current* Nickelodeon logos
• is a book (comics, art book, script book) or home video (DVDr, Complete Animated Series region 0 boxset, Operation Doom DVD, German SD-blu-ray disc)

What if I buy something that isn't licensed? Is that okay?

• Of course. I'm no stooge to Nick. Believe me.
• I see no harm in buying art and home made crafts from fans on Etsy and at convention artist alleys. That's just not the focus of this guide to voting-with-your-wallets. :)
• Copyright holders don't often care enough either to do much about it. It's when a seller gets a bit too good at what they do that it interferes with Nick's interests enough to send a C&D.
• In fact, I'd love to see avid Invader ZIM fanartists have opportunities to get licenses to sell their stuff.....
• Look at Zen Monkey Studios for an example of passionate fans with entrepreneurial spirit- they are so small yet mighty. People keep mistaking them for bootleggers because they seem too good to be true!
• As for posting on /InvaderZim how to buy unlicensed stuff? We have a rule against it. Thank you for your understanding. If anything- ask me in advance, maybe we can work out an exception.

Okay enough FAQ... Give us that sweet sweet list of Invader ZIM vendors so we can GIVE OUR URTH MONIES TO ZIM!!

Of course! First, here's some of the crew's stuff

Honestly, everything a crew member works on is worthy of a fan's support. I'm going to link to those who are selling some ZIM stuff (prints, autographs, etc), OR do commissioned requests, OR make convention appearances. Their success does not get brought to the attention of Nick's number crunching service drones but your support of the ZIM staff is still a worthy cause. Show up for the ZIM stuff, and stay for the rest of the cool stuff they work on!
It bears repeating that Eric Truehart's book THE MEDIUM-SIZED BOOK OF ZIM SCRIPTS VOL. 1: PIGS 'N' WAFFLES - THE STORIES AND THE STORIES BEHIND THE STORIES OF YOUR FAVORITE INVADER is available in paperback and digital download.
Jhonen has plenty of stuff based on JtHM, Squee, and whatnot. Don't forget the "Grinning Space Jerk" mask and the 'bowels will release' shirt inspired by ZIM and Florpus.
Vol. 7 of the Invader ZIM comic signed by K.C. Green is sold here
This list will expand but for now we've got delightful stuff from:Rikki & Tavisha Simons
Aaron Alexovich
Richard Horvitz (he also does voice acting workshops!)
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Outside of Amazon's stock there's also...................
Amazon.com (see previous sections on how to avoid buying unlicensed goods)
Hot Topic, of course! They have been the most prominent, longest running, and most loyal of vendors in ZIM's twenty year history. Also, I have experienced first hand that they take polite, constructive, courteous, forward thinking feedback into consideration such as in regards to character depictions, design trends, available clothing types, etc... Please be chill if you fill out those feedback forms. I can't emphasize enough to be courteous. Don't let me regret telling you that.
Zen Monkey Studios is a small company that sells amazing Invader ZIM enamel pins. My favorites are the ones based on Florpus and Dark Harvest.
Diamond Select Toys is talked about earlier. Keep your eyes on them.
Zavvi UK & Forbidden Planet sell stuff overseas
Dumbgood recently acquired a merch license. There's designs featuring ZIM and robot GIR. Some argue that these design are a little bit on the pricier side due to manufacturing costs and quality of fabric.
Funko's catalog of Invader ZIM Pop Figures are out of print but keep an eye out for any limited time exclusives especially during events like San Diego Comic Con.
The Nick Box had a GIR plush in their fall edition. There could be Invader ZIM stuff again in the future. Never a guarantee. If you're not a big Nicktoons fan then you might want to pass on this.
Nickelodeon Universe's online shop get the most results when you search 'ZIM' and 'GIR' together
Newbury Comics has stuff. Socks as of this writing. Products subject to change.
Aquarius has a puzzle and playing card set.
Seven Times Six has a shirt license.
FOCO's Eekeez figures include some ZIM and GIR
IDW Games has an Invader ZIM dice game and a Nickelodeon board game featuring Invader ZIM.
My Party Shirt has playing cards.
Ikon Collectables has the lasercut keychains, some resold Funko in stock and other collectibles.
Vision Toys is an overseas vendor for the 3D lasercut keychains.
Giant Kids World sells the Invader ZIM lip gloss made by Boston America.
Invader ZIM Rock 'Em Socks
TheMysteryShack has the Lootcrate DX Enamel Pins among other neat things previously listed.
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Let me know of anything I've missed!

Section 0: Background
Hi everyone! I’m trying to tailor this a bit more to reflect the UK Money Diary style where I give context on the week before and reflect on it after. I also added in some of the questions from the recent thread about what Refinery29 should ask diarists (see here).
I wrote this the week of Thanksgiving; my partner and I stayed in NYC instead of going home to either of our parents’ homes. We wear masks and stay socially distant when we leave the house. I’m thankful that we live close to a park and live on a block where we know and enjoy talking to our neighbors.
This was a relatively normal week for us during a pandemic, save for me spending a bit more than normal and it being Thanksgiving. We’ve both lived in the city since college and have so-so relationships with our families, so we didn’t leave for “home” when the pandemic hit.
I also just named my boyfriend instead of giving him an initial. He’s the only person I actually saw this week, but the initials always throw me off when I read these.
What do money and success mean to you? What are your end goals?
It helps me to see money as a tool. I never resonate with people who say “money doesn’t buy happiness” because to a certain degree, it does. Money enables me to live the life I want.
I’m pursuing FIRE (financial independence, retire early) and hope to be financially independent (able to live off my investments) by my early 30s. To do so, I save 60%+ of my income per month. I want this because working for 40 years isn’t sustainable for me—I have a very cushy tech job and still get anxiety and rage about waking up every morning to work, the rat race, and being paid inequitably to male peers. I’d like to give myself the option to leave this world as soon as possible.
As an alternative, I could see myself successful if I open a product consultancy, where I advise early-stage startups on product management, what to build for their MVP, and product-market fit. I’m really interested in tech ethics and the questionable practices in venture capital, so I’d love to be in a place where I could be picky about what clients I take and help truly mission-driven businesses thrive. I could see this also working as a small business incubator—why not apply what works in startups to small businesses?
I don’t yet have a firm picture of what I’d like my life to look like when I retire. I’m interested in spending a lot of time reading, traveling to new places for extended periods of time, and potentially writing a book. I get extremely interested in niche topics. Right now if I had to guess, I’d be writing a book about the ways multi-level marketing companies (MLMs) manipulate women.
Are you a spender or a saver?
Definitely a saver. My partner is more of a spender, and we’ve influenced each other well. Seeing him spend money on himself for video games helps me realize I can spend more money on myself for things I just want (see my big purchase for myself this week).
In turn, seeing me save a lot of money has motivated him to up his 401k contribution and overall savings. He’s also interested in FIRE, although I’d say my timeline is more aggressive.
If you could go back in time, what's the one piece of financial advice you would give to your past self?
Learn about investing, look up the terms you don’t know, and start doing it as soon as possible. Ask questions to people you know or on the internet.
On to the diary!
​
Section One: Assets and Debt
Investment Balance
$131,175

• Retirement (includes 2 company 401ks and 1 rollover IRA): $55,730
• Brokerage: $27,233
• Roth IRA: $25,439
• Managed account: $17,923
• HSA: $4,850

Equity if you're a homeowner
N/A, I rent in a HCOL city. No plans to own anytime soon
Savings account balance
$10,270
Checking account balance
$3,433 in checking account for bills

• This fluctuates, but I try to invest anything over $2k. I’m pretty conservative with my checking account buffer, and don’t worry much about the interest I’m “losing,” especially because interest rates are so low right now

$2,518 in checking account for rent

• I keep a holdover account that’s connected to Venmo and Zelle to pay rent

Credit card debt
N/A. There’s $1,348 currently on my credit cards, but I pay them all off in full each month. My parents signed me up for a credit card as soon as I was old enough and taught me about how important it was to pay in full. In fact, I think this was so hammered into my brain that doing anything other than that each month was never an option. Because of this, I’ve always thought of credit cards as similar to debit cards—only spend money you have.
Student loan debt (for what degree)
I was fortunate to go to college on a full scholarship, including living expenses. I studied psychology and sociology, and I graduated without any student loan debt.
​
Section Two: Income
Main Job Monthly Take Home: $6,570/month
I maxed out my 401k early this year, so for 8 months I was contributing $2,500/month out of my paychecks. That ended in September, so it changed my monthly take-home from about $4,650 to $6,570/month.
Deductions:

• 401k: $0/month (was $2,500/month)
• Medical: $128/month
• Dental and vision: $11/month

Income Progression

• I started in customer support right out of college, making $40,000/year + overtime, which ended up being about $52,000/year (thanks OT!).
• About a year later, I moved into an entry-level product role at the same company and received a raise to $60,000/year.
• The next year, I moved to a new company for a half-step promotion where I was making $82,000/year + 15% yearly bonus. The bonus was dependable enough that it was assumed as part of our total compensation, so let’s call it $95,000/year.
• Early this year, I switched companies again (noticing a theme?) for a promotion and now make $122,000/year.

I don’t have any other sources of income outside my main job. My partner makes a similar amount to me—about $117,000/year with bonus.
​
Section Three: Expenses
I live with my partner and we don’t have combined finances, but split many expenses 50/50. We use Splitwise to log transactions. He’s more laid-back about being paid back, but I’m much more “I don’t want to owe anyone anything, and I don’t want anyone to owe me anything” (I know, rigid, but I’m working on it!).
Splitwise is nice because it’d be ridiculous to Venmo request each other for a $4 coffee, but we can see how expenses are adding up. If someone has racked up a few hundred dollars of spending for both of us, the other person will cover our expenses for awhile. It works for us!
Rent
$2,200 for a 2 bed, 1 bath apartment in Brooklyn. We split rent 50/50.
Renters insurance
About $7/month for my portion. This covers all our possessions plus my boyfriend’s watches. He pays 75% of it because half of the monthly cost comes from the extra watch overage.
Savings contribution
I try to have about $10,000 sitting in my savings account at any given time, because it makes me feel safe in case of an emergency. I also like the freedom it enables, in case I wanted to leave my job and take a significant amount of time off. This is already at the $10k I want, so I don’t contribute to it monthly.
Investment contribution
It varies but on average I contribute $2,500/month to my brokerage account and Roth IRA (combined).
Donations
I try to donate about $200/month, but it’s pretty sporadic. This month I donated to the Yellowhammer Fund and Northwest Abortion Access Fund. One of my major goals for 2021 is to step up my donations and create an actual strategy around them, potentially involving a donor-advised fund.
Gas/electric
Our gas is $20-25/month and electric is $50/month. I pay gas and Will pays electric, both go in Splitwise. About $37/month total for me.
Wifi
Our wifi is $60/month, which goes into Splitwise—I pay $30/month.
Cellphone
I’m still on my parents’ phone plan—sheesh! This is convincing me that I should Venmo them for it each month.
Subscriptions
I pay for Hulu with ads, $5.99/month. My boyfriend pays for Netflix and we share a Spotify family plan with a couple of his friends, which I chip in $4/month for.
I also pay for the budgeting software YNAB (You Need a Budget) which is $84/year. I only pay it once a year in September.
Medical
I recently had to go to the emergency room for an overnight stay and follow up with some specialists. (I’m okay!) Because of that whole shindig I’m expecting to max out my deductible (and potentially my out-of-pocket-max) right at the end of the year. This will be about $4,000, but none of the claims have come through yet so I’m not sure of the exact total. I have a category in my budget for my deductible, and the rest will come out of my emergency fund.
Physical therapy
This month I’m starting pelvic floor physical therapy for dyspareunia (pain with intercourse).
I’d tried everything the internet suggested (“just relaaaaaax”) before getting the courage to find a new ob-gyn and ask her about it. She had some recommendations, but ultimately physical therapy was the “last resort” option that I’m now exploring.
My new physical therapist comes highly recommended but is out of network with insurance. Each session is $250, and I’ll go once every 2-3 weeks for the next few months as part of treatment. If you’ve worked through this problem (or are experiencing it now!) I’d love to hear your experience.
​
Section Four: Additional Questions
Was there an expectation for you to attend higher education? Did you participate in any form of higher education? If yes, how did you pay for it?
Absolutely. My dad was the first in his family to attend college and my parents made pretty calculated decisions about where they would live so I could go to the absolute best public school possible. Over 90% of students at my high school attend a 4-year college, and we start talking about it freshman year. To say college was encouraged in my environment is an understatement.
Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money? Did your parent/guardian(s) educate you about finances?
My dad has worked in finance since I was about 10. He’s always been really knowledgeable about both higher-level economic concepts and the minutiae of personal finance. My family is frugal, too: we clipped coupons and got clothes on super-sale at Kohl’s and Goodwill. I know there was a period of time when he became self-employed and money got very tight for a few years, but the bulk of those worries were largely kept from me.
Did you worry about money growing up?
Yes. While we were comfortable, we lived in such an affluent place that our family was in “the middle class” of the town and it made me worry more about money than I probably needed to. Think The Stepford Wives for context.
At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself and do you have a financial safety net?
In college, I became maybe 80% financially independent as I had a scholarship and worked part-time during school and over the summer, but I was still on their insurance.
I remember being frustrated in college because even though I knew I was extremely privileged, my friends in college had their parents pay their summer apartment rent and gave them an “allowance” of spending money, and I was “limited” by the options I could afford with the job I had. My dad told me at the time, “This is frustrating but it’s preparing you for actually having to live off the money you make in the near future.” (Great, great advice Dad.)
I’m technically still financially dependent on my parents for my cell phone bill, but otherwise I pay for everything: rent, insurance, utilities, food, therapy, and all wants in the form of clothing, workout classes, etc. I could ask my parents for money if I absolutely needed to, but would use it as a last resort.
Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income? If yes, please explain.
I have an account (mentioned above) that a family friend who’s a hedge fund manager, well, manages. I believe the initial deposit was $1000 over 10 years ago, but that money wasn’t mine either, it’s all a gift. It’s not very liquid—it’d take me several months (and some very good reasoning) to get any of that money withdrawn, since it’s supposed to be for “the future” (which I guess I could argue is now?).
I might receive a small amount of money when my grandmother passes, but it’d probably be around $1-2k, if at all.
​
Day 1 Wednesday, November 25, 2020
8:30am Wake up and shower, take my vitamin C gummies, then make coffee. I wasn’t much of a daily coffee drinker until my offices had it for free, and now I’m definitely addicted. I don’t really care if the coffee is shitty or not, I just put some milk in it and it’s great. Right now I’m trying to drink half or three-quarter cups so I can attempt to pull back my addiction a bit. I log onto work at 9am.
11:30am Eat leftovers from last night for lunch—quesadilla + Spanish rice. There’s an incredible Mexican restaurant by us, and now I am ruined for the tacos, quesadillas and nachos from any other place.
12:30pm Will picks me up in the U-Haul. We’re driving about 20 min away to pick up a butcher block desk he bought off Craigslist, which ends up being from a small office that’s downsizing. The desk is $150 which he pays for. We love the office’s style (and the owner is super nice!) and walk around while he shows us what else he’s trying to get rid of.
We end up buying an extra-large ZZ plant and two side tables from him for an extra $120, way less than we would have paid for the quality elsewhere. My half will be $60, and I’ll split the U-Haul too, $44.51. $82.26
2:45pm That ended up taking a lot longer than we expected! We get back and unload the van, then I bring stuff inside while Will returns the van to the U-Haul location. I jump back onto work—so much for a slow afternoon before Thanksgiving. AWS is down, which powers a lot of our engineering work (and a lot of the internet!) so a lot of our teams are basically twiddling their thumbs. We chat about how to message the outage to customers.
5:45pm Will starts making dinner (braised chicken and veggies) and I sit down to read with a strawberry Chobani, but I end up just reading Reddit and searching for new podcasts to listen to.
7:45pm Dinner was great! Now…ice cream.
9:43pm I remember that my mom sent me ideas for her and my dad’s Christmas presents, so I order on Etsy and Amazon. My dad gets a mug with an Ernest Hemingway quote (“write drunk, edit sober”) ($21.54) and a book on writing ($16.63), and my mom gets this food warming tote contraption she wanted ($43.52). We’ve been paring down Christmases over the years—this year I asked for the Europe version of Ticket to Ride. $81.69
11:15pm I finish up the first episode of Real Housewives of Salt Lake City with some white cheddar Cheez-Its to snack on. After, I start on the dishes from dinner. I listen to the Product Market Misfits podcast while I do dishes—the episode with Kristen Anderson from Catch is great, highly recommend if you’re tired of just hearing stories about stereotypical Silicon Valley tech companies.
Day 1 Total: $166.69
Day 2 Thursday, November 26, 2020
10am Wake up super late since I stayed up scrolling on my phone too late last night. We make coffee and set out for a long walk around 11:15am.
12:05pm At the end of our walk, we swing by our local liquor store and buy 4 bottles of wine (red, white, rose, champagne). Will pays, total is $63.15 for everything. We haven’t had wine in the apartment for ages and I’m excited to have some stocked up. $31.57
12:30pm Get back from the walk, shower, then turn on football. I actually don’t really care about any NFL teams (I like college football a lot more), but it’s such calming background noise for me that I find myself looking for games when I have downtime. We also recently found out that Will’s friends’ dog only has a few months to live, so we order some jerky treats and a squeaky toy for him. $14.07
2:30pm We head out to the restaurant we’re going to for Thanksgiving lunch, a local place a short walk from our apartment. They’re doing a prix fixe menu of the classics—turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, and a phenomenal tarte Tatin with ice cream for dessert.
We eat outside under heat lamps. It’s super cozy. With our bottle of wine and tip the total is $208 (I try to tip over and above the norm because it’s a pandemic and Thanksgiving). My half will be $104.
5:53pm Get back from the restaurant. We have a ton of leftovers which is awesome (I think it’s excessive frugality, but I almost expect to stretch takeout or restaurant meals into two meals). Exchange some texts with my friends about their socially-distant Thanksgiving celebrations.
I turn on the Washington vs. Cowboys game right at the halftime show, which is Kane Brown with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. They’re all wearing masks (except for Kane) and it’s so odd to see them dancing in masks. I mean, I’m glad they’re wearing them, but it just seems like we could have gone without the halftime show this year.
9:21pm I order contacts from Contacts Direct. I got a new prescription but didn’t have a great experience with the eye doctor, so I’m hesitant about this order—only ordered one box of 90 lenses for each eye instead of a year’s worth of lenses. I’ve been getting headaches pretty frequently, so I’m hoping getting a new pair of glasses and alternating those (instead of wearing my contacts for 16 hours a day, every day) will help. $29.98 after insurance benefits
Day 2 Total: $179.62
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Day 3 Friday, November 27
8:56am Wake up super last minute, run to sign onto Slack and then start grinding coffee beans. I’m online and drinking a big mug of coffee by 9:10. (So much for half cups.)
10:45am Come up for air from work and grab the stuff to make a bagel. Everything bagels and plain cream cheese are my go-to combo.
12:03pm I grab a bag of clothes to drop off at the donation bin and a couple library books to return. The library is about a 25 minute walk so it’ll be a nice lunch break diversion.
12:56pm After the library I stop by the grocery store for some paper towels and sponges, since we’re almost out. Total is $22.62, my half is $11.31
1:09pm When I get home I jump back into work and put the USA vs. Netherlands game on my second monitor. By the 75th minute, the US is up by 2 goals so they start putting in some younger players—it’s fun to see Midge Purce and Sophia Smith play! I also throw some bagel bites in the oven for a quick snack and promise myself dinner will be healthier.
4:23pm I zone out of work and start playing Among Us. I end up playing for over two hours. We open a bottle of wine at some point and I get super tipsy.
6:50pm Turn on the tail end of the Notre Dame vs. UNC game. It turns into Jeopardy, which turns into Wheel of Fortune, which I’m not mad about. P isn’t as into the game shows and leaves to microwave a plate of leftovers from Thanksgiving dinner and play video games.
8:40pm Finally getting hungry after my bagel bites and Cheez-Its this afternoon and make a plate of Thanksgiving leftovers—turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans and cauliflower. Yum.
Will and I end up getting in a tiff about the mess in our apartment so we take a break, cool down and talk it through. I watch a couple episodes of Sister Wives and go to bed around 1:30am.
Day 3 Total: $11.31
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Day 4 Saturday, November 28, 2020
10:05am I stayed up late (again) so it’s nice to sleep in. I play Among Us for awhile and have a couple rounds where I’m the impostor and get some great kills and wins. I run out into the living room and celebrate with Will. We laugh because it’s silly how much we love the games we play. Around 10:45 I start making coffee.
11am We desperately need new sheets because our fitted sheet has a huge hole at Will’s feet (and it’s growing). I search a women’s personal finance group I’m in on Facebook for recommendations and we end up buying a queen sheet set from Belk. Total was $100.71 with their sale. $50.35
1pm I was planning on returning a package to the post office today, but forget it closes at 1pm on Saturdays so I decide to run to Target instead. I have a lampshade to return and want to look for a shower caddy as well. I also have an old iPad to return, which Will tells me I can do at Best Buy. He finds an old iPod and flip phone I can take too.
Take the MTA there ($2.75 for a single fare). When I get there, it’s a madhouse and I remember that I have sillily (is this a word?) decided to come on the weekend of Black Friday. I stand in the returns line for about 15 minutes and get $10.89 back, but ditch the idea of trying to look for a shower caddy. The checkout line looks like 100 people long. -$8.14 because of return
Next I go to Best Buy, but who am I kidding—the line to get in the store is even longer than the Target checkout line. I walk back to the subway and get on to go home. $2.75
2:30pm Since Best Buy was a no go, I search for electronic recycling around me on the way home just to see where I could drop off the devices I have. Apparently there’s an EcoATM not too far from my subway stop. It’s more for selling devices, but if they can’t give you money for something, they’ll recycle it, which is exactly what I wanted. I put each of the pieces in the scanner, and end up getting a whopping $2 total (for Will’s old iPod). Still cool because I was just expecting to recycle it all. I’ll give Will the $2.
2:44pm There’s a Dunkin nearby so I pop in to grab a couple donuts ($2.90). There’s a woman outside asking for money, so I give her $5 cash. $7.90
3:00pm Last stop—our favorite deli is nearby and Will mentioned he wanted to get bacon there recently. I get a 1/2 lb and salivate on the way home. This is one of those things I won’t put in Splitwise because it’s small and because it’s fun to get for P as a tiny little present. $3.50
3:45pm Once I’m home I’m super hungry from only eating carbs all morning so I have a snack of carrots, hummus and some pepperoni. I head back out to drop off a bag of clothes and shoes at a drop box a few blocks away. The neighbors are outside at the park near our house so I stop and chat with them for a few minutes. Their kids are the cutest.
6:47pm For dinner I make a ham and cheese sandwich (panini style with rosemary butter) and more carrots and hummus. I put on another episode of Sister Wives. These people are so fascinating to me—first off, I think the husband is completely full of himself. But I’m also so curious about the wives. There are a lot of talking head testimonials where the parents explain that they’re “oppressed” because they’re different and want to go public so the world can see polygamy as a valid family style (I’m only on season 2).
I know they’re probably playing up the “we love our other sister wives and have so much fun together even without Kody” aspect because people expect sister wives to be catty and hate each other, but I can’t help but wonder why they need to be in plural marriage to get the same friendship they seem to value so much. I also doubt they’d extend the same grace and tolerance they want to people who are “different” because they’re LGBTQ, or “different” because they’re in an open relationship or marriage.
9:15pm I mix together oatmeal chocolate chip cookie batter and put some cookies in the oven. While I’m waiting, I browse Zocdoc for well-reviewed providers—I want to make a podiatrist appointment for a lingering toe issue and an audiologist appointment for a routine hearing screening. I got the idea to make these appointments since I’ll hit my out-of-pocket max with the hospital visit, making them free or very discounted. I make two appointments for next week.
I also lust over a Farm Rio puffer jacket that feels overpriced but I just love. Maybe I’ll buy it tomorrow since they’re having a 30% off sale.
Day 4 Total: $64.50
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Day 5 Sunday, November 29
8:58am Wake up and switch between scrolling on Reddit and playing a few Among Us games. After a bit Will gets out of bed and makes coffee for us.
9:45am Will finishes the movie he started last night and we start on breakfast. We’re making the bacon I bought yesterday, breakfast potatoes with onions, and a fried egg for Will (I can’t stand the taste or smell).
11:00am Yum! Breakfast was great. I watch a couple episodes of Sister Wives and mull over buying that ridiculous but amazing puffer jacket from Farm Rio. I’ve still been thinking about it since last night and I might take the plunge.
1:25pm I get a jolt of motivation to work out and do a 20 minute Sydney Cummings video on Youtube. I heard about it from a recent Money Diary posted here! After it’s done I’m so, so tired. I stretch and unpause my episode of Sister Wives.
2:22pm I help Will move the butcher block slab for his desk out to our backyard. We live on the first floor of a single-family home that was converted into apartments, so we get the backyard too—it’s awesome to have outdoor space in the city. P works on sanding it and applying poly for the next couple hours.
5:07pm Will suggests pizza for dinner and I am always, always down for pizza. I order pickup from the spot down the street—one grandma, one cheese and 2 orders of garlic knots come to $38.60. We’ll have leftovers for tomorrow too. $19.30
5:50pm We pick up the pizza and dig in. While we’re eating we turn on the Chiefs vs. Buccaneers game; Will has a few players on his fantasy team in this game.
6:57pm I sign up to write letters to Georgia residents encouraging them to vote in the Senate runoff elections in January. This is through Vote Forward—I did 20 letters for the general election in November and want to participate again. I’ll print the letters at a local coffee shop since we don’t have a printer at home.
Will sends me this Reddit comment about campaign finance since we’ve been talking about it recently. I decide I’m convinced by the argument and set up a $5 monthly donation to Brand New Congress. $5
8:19pm After texting back and forth with my friend all day, I buy the puffer jacket—so excited. She encouraged me to get it and is pumped for me too. $228.64
I also notice my paycheck has started processing in my checking account (I get paid tomorrow), so I enter the amount in YNAB and budget it all. I earmark about $1500 to go into my brokerage account tomorrow. I won’t include it here as “spending” since it’s included in the overview section above.
Day 5 Total: $252.94
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Day 6 Monday, November 30
8:43am Wake up and turn on my Slack. Will started the coffee process and I finish it up by pouring the water into our Chemex and letting it steep (I know there’s a coffee-centric word for this...).
8:56am I check my Citi card and my YouTube TV trial rolled over—I was going to cancel it this morning, which I thought was the last day. I email support to see if they’ll refund me, because (I promise I’m not just saying this!) I did have a pretty bad experience. The Roku app was glitchy for us every time we watched something. Maybe they’ll feel nice today! $64.99
9:35am After responding to a few work messages, I run out the door to the post office to avoid a long package line. I did the Warby Parker 5-day home try on and have to return my box of glasses today. I found a pair I really like and am excited to get in the habit of wearing glasses again, instead of just my contacts.
Thankfully the line is only a few people long. The employees are also super nice every time I go, so I try to be really pleasant too. The lines are usually long and I’ve seen more than one adult have a fit at this post office. It’s rainy today and I couldn’t find our umbrella, so my flimsy rain jacket gets pretty soaked through on the walk back.
11:35am My podiatrist appointment is supposed to be tomorrow morning, and they call me to tell me since I haven’t hit my deductible, I’ll have to pay out of pocket for the visit. I explain that I’m 100% going to hit my deductible, the claims from the hospital just haven’t processed yet. I ask her to bill my insurance first for the visit, then I can pay whatever ends up not being covered (if anything). She agrees!
Maybe this is standard, but I’ve never had it happen before—even if I haven’t hit my deductible, I’ve always been to offices that bill insurance first, then I pay the remaining balance.
1:05pm Lots of meetings today. I break for lunch and heat up the braised chicken with veggies. It’s definitely on its last good day, so I’m glad I used it up. Still yummy!
2:20pm Woohoo! Get an email that my YouTube TV charge was refunded. -$64.99
Will ran to Home Depot today to buy some tools for his desk and also got a shower curtain liner since ours is ripping. I go to put it up in the bathroom but my arms are so sore—like I got my flu shot type of sore.
5:05pm Sign off work after trying to wrangle a supremely frustrating SQL query. I don’t get it but figure I can ask our analyst team for help tomorrow. Will will have a late night working, so pizza and Sister Wives is in my near future.
While watching, I update YNAB to reflect the end-of-month balances for my investment accounts. I get a huge dopamine hit by seeing my net worth number go up. I’m also anticipating it going down a bit next month because of my medical bills, so I relish the moment.
8:09pm It suddenly dawns on me that my arms are sore because I worked out yesterday. It’s so rare now that I literally forget when I do it. Ha!
9:15pm We watch the Eagles vs. Seahawks game and I absentmindedly play Among Us. I end up getting ...bullied by a person playing it? They get mad that I figured out they were the imposter and start saying all these schoolyard-type digs throughout the next couple rounds, but level 100 of cruel.
I’m embarrassed by how sad it makes me but think maybe it’s a good thing I don’t immediately know what to say to bully people back. Such a weird experience. I end up going to bed around 11:30.
Day 6 Total: $0
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Day 7 December 1, 2020
7:07am Wake up late for my alarm at 7. I’m up a lot earlier today because my podiatrist appointment is first thing. I get dressed in the dark, kiss P goodbye, grab my water bottle and run out the door to the subway by 7:30. $2.75
8:10am Get to my stop and swing by Starbucks before the appointment. I get a vanilla latte and the bacon cheddar and egg sandwich. Total is around $10 but I have a gift card loaded onto my Starbucks app.
My spending here went way down when I switched jobs to an office not close to a Starbucks, and then stopped going into an office at all.
8:30am My appointment goes great, if a little painful when she numbs my toe. I had to get an ingrown toenail removed. I danced ballet and pointe for years so I’m (unfortunately) used to them, but this one was terrible. The doctor and I bond over both being dancers with bad feet and they schedule me for a follow up two weeks out.
She actually says there’s been a rise in these procedures because people aren’t getting pedicures since the pandemic and aren’t cutting their toenails well! Wild.
I look silly on the subway in December wearing Birkenstocks and socks with a huge toe bandage. It looks like one of those cartoon characters who stubs their toe and it becomes 10x bigger than their other toes. $2.75
9:40am I get off at the stop before mine to stop at Rite Aid. I grab Neosporin, band-aids and epsom salt and check my notes for anything else she mentioned about caring for my toe. $12.97
10:00am When I get home, I hop into work and working with our engineers on a promotion for the New Year. I also catch up with Will since he stayed up late last night and I got up early for my appointment. He says he ended up staying up until 3:30am (!!) cleaning up his tools, working on his desk and putting up the shower curtain. I’m floored that he is functional right now after waking up at 8.
12:15pm Heat up the last of the pizza for lunch, along with hummus and carrots.
5:20pm Work is average-paced for the rest of the day. Not doing nothing, not totally over my head. Will puts in potatoes for baked potatoes to have later, which we’ll pair with a salad. We’re getting close to needing a grocery run again, so the meals are becoming more of a mishmash.
We listed a couple things on our local Buy Nothing group last week, so a woman comes by to pick up a wifi router we can’t use anymore. Would totally recommend looking up if there’s a group in your area—they’re usually on Facebook.
6:30pm After dinner I watch more Sister Wives and look up RIP Medical Debt, a nonprofit one of my friends shared for Giving Tuesday. They buy unpaid medical debt from collections, so $1 ends up paying off $100 of someone’s medical debt. I give $50 to the Arkansas campaign, which will clear $5,000 of medical debt.
As Will said earlier today, “medical billing in America is a racket” so I really hope this helps clear a burden from an individual or family. Doing this reminds me to check my insurance portal, which is steadily going up as each separate claim comes in. Ahhhh, modern healthcare! $51.49
At the end of each day please tally up your daily expenses. Then at the end of your diary please tally up all expenses in the following categories:
Total: $719.33

• Grocery + Dining Out: $157.77
• Fun + Entertainment: $0
• Home + Health: $164.67
• Clothes + Beauty: $228.64
• Transportation: $11.00
• Gifts + Giving: $157.25

​
Reflection This week felt like a big spending week for me. I checked YNAB and since January, I’ve spent about $1600 per month, not including rent—so about $400/week. That’s why this week’s $719 feels so high!
Writing this diary helped me understand how many things I have going for me. I’ve recently been in a huge funk—about my health, my performance at work and my relationships with family, friends and P. Going to the hospital, needing physical therapy to have sex and being in a pandemic will do that to you.
I was able to zoom out a bit and understand how stable and gratifying my life is. That being said, I’m so glad this community exists. I really love it and learning about all your spending and saving habits. Thanks for being here and sharing :)

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What happens when it is all one big "efficient company?" An insane claim, by the way. There is no reason to think merging all those companies would lead to something efficient, unless you have the absolutely mindblowing belief that government agencies can run these private companies with more success. Can you imagine going to the DMV to ship a package? Can you imagine being told it will cost $500 to ship the package, and then realizing there is no competition available?

"Can you imagine allowing the government to be as corrupt as businesses are?!? (remember insulin?) That would be bad!"
Yeah no shit - that's why it's called "Policy and Regulation" you fucking ignoramus. The exact thing you're advocating against. "But competition means that consumers can go to company that has the lowest prices - meaning, the company that has the least amount of costs vs profit.
Would a regulated, subsidized, non-profit monopolistic business model not provide that for the cheapest physically possible, orrrrr.....?!?! BRUH

[Them] Even if your service starts off in the best way possible in every single way: you get some messiah like selfless person with 180iq to run the operation, and somehow, they manage to combine all these companies into single effective business, and all for minimal pay.

"Minimal pay" and "Adequate pay" are two totally different things. Raising the minimum wage won't raise the price of a burger unless the CEO's choose to take a profit/pay cut.

Let's just say you get that done. What happens after that person retires?!@?!??! What are the odds you can find another one, and another after that, and another after that, who are all incorruptible, greedless, perfect people?

This knuckle-dragger really can't wrap their head around prohibitive policy that cuts down on negative actions, nor the concept that changing the focus in society from "profit" to "purpose" would severely cut down on the average person's corruption. We live in a society that glorifies having more money than you can physically spend - and it purpetuates the people like you who see that as an excuse to exploit others just because you can.
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Why on earth would it be better to have one person take on the management duties of all these companies?

Still can't wrap his head around anything other than social hierarchies.. "WhOs GoNnA bE tHe BoSs?!"
Unless you're asking how they would make it efficient - which of course anyone with half a brain cell would know 1 person managing absolutely everything would be basically impossible - thought it doesn't suprise me you jump to that conclusion with the content of the arguments... You break it up by region, district and subcategorize parts of the company for national, local, or other ranges. You prioritize parts of the business to go from manufactures to retailers, others for deliveries at home - all the "profits" going to adequately paying the employees, research to further streamline and automate the service (as well as help drive costs down further), and back into the economy through a UBI.
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[Them] To be perfectly blunt, I must imagine, and I say this in the politest way possible, that you do not have the faintest clue what it takes to manage a business. It is well outside the scope of this post for me to teach you, but suffice to say it is not such an easy and laid back task, and I think it would be of immense value to your personal development to get some experience.

Imagine saying that to a person that manged 3 headshops across 2 states for several years, generating over a combined 250k every single year. The owner lived in Cali - I live in CT. I had to order new products based on what inventory we had left, profits we had the previous month and projected sales, I had to organize discounts and sales to move old product, manage the schedules and payroll to be sent out, work with the local authorities when it came to signage, zoning and other issues; I had to advertise for the business online (as part of my job description) and submit all of our cost/revenue/profit sheets for each store. I had to be on call whenever the store was open in order to approve discounts asked by my sales teams. If I missed emails - even if I wasn't working - I'd get screamed at - all for $14/hr plus a small percentage of commission on certain items. The kicker? They had stupid shady business practices. I'm talking they've been sued for wage garnishment multiple times, class action lawsuits, copyright infringement.
You see, they secretly owned the glass company that made 75% of their stock. They paid illegal immigrants roughly $10/hr (one of the owners flat out admitted this to me) to copy competitors items exactly. Producing a product that was literally a knock-off of the main retailer (the quality was shit too), but for a fraction of the price. Literally.
So a certain pipe would retail for say, $1,000. Well, it only cost them about $100 to make it at the end of the day - transportation cost them roughly $25 (depending on how many they ship at once), bringing that total to $125 to put it on our shelf. I sell that item for $1,000 - and make $50 commission (if i passed the sales amount required for the day - If we didn't make enough to cover store costs including my pay, I didn't make commission regardless of the item sold).
So for that entire process - the person who made it got roughly $50 for their labor - the materials cost roughly $50 - the concept for the good itself was stolen - I received roughly $64 for the sale (which is fucking insulting to the person who made it) - sales tax is paid by the customer - meaning that there's $811 left over for the owner to take as profit. AH yes - but he's the 20% of the equation - so he deserves the 80% of the profits - right?! That's how that works?!? That's his reward for the risk of paying workers the absolute minimum required by law (and sometimes lower than that), stealing copyrighted material, and exploiting labor - right?! That's what profits are for - legal battles!
I could go into more detail about more fucked-up shit that company did, but something tells me all of these "best self interest" practices are giving you business ideas because you have no comprehension on morality.

[Me] All this with the added focus that we need to make the resources we utilize as renewable as possible, and the jobs we perform as automated as possible.
[Them] And politicans will do a better job of that, if they are in control of every businesses decisions, in your mind? That seems to be the central point of your argument.

Look at him go trying to make me a communist - as again, the only industries I think the government should control are the ones vital to life. Housing, Education, Healthcare, Sustenance, (and at this point) distribution of goods and access to the internet. The internet goes hand-in-hand with education specifically. There should be free and easy access to a reputable educational source. Wikipedia leaves a lot to be desired - due to lack of funding and regulation.

[Them] That the Chosen People will come and lead the way to Efficient Businesses and Lack of Greed. It makes absolutely no sense and seems like a religious cult.

Literally your argument for capitalism - except you expect people whose sole motivator is profit to make the best decisions - where I want adequately educated people saying "No - fuck your profits, this secondary effect is too detrimental for it to be okay." Like you know - the active destruction of our ecosystems and people dying because they can't afford to pay for a drug that only costs $7 to produce.
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[Me] Well for one, some people choose to live that way. Some people just prefer "off the grid" living.
[Them] Way to avoid the question. Do you suppose the people making less than $1 a day farming would be happy to take your resources, or would they reject them? Would they accept the contents of your wallet, your bank account, your cell phone, and your clothes and amenities and technological comforts? Your laptop and jewelry? I bet they would, regardless of their "preference for off grid living." A very yuppie thing to say in regards to people subsistence farming, by the way.

Jesus fucking christ this dude should be dead with how many times he's hit himself in the face with the point. Not to mention he's changing his stance on this issue AGAIN. Remember, this was the original question that I was answering:

How, exactly, do you "fix" the lives of the BILLIONS of people who scratch out a living subsistence farming?

So in the intial question - he frames subsistence farming as a bad thing - and now in his reply, he's going to turn right around and try and make me seem like the bad guy in the scenario for wanting to "fix the issues". Not to mention that me pointing out the nuance that some people literally choose to do this is apparently "Avoiding the question" even though I answered this ages ago with verticle farming.
Then he comes to this jewel:

Do you suppose the people making less than $1 a day farming would be happy to take your resources...I bet they would, regardless of their "preference for off grid living." A very yuppie thing to say in regards to people subsistence farming, by the way.

"Don't you think impoverished people would want the extra resources you have available?! You're such a yuppie for thinking that they wouldn't want to not be impoverished despite choosing to be self-sufficient outside of society because it creates impoverishment to the point of death!"
Like these fucking conservative thunder-cunts can't wrap their heads around the things they say. By his mentality - owners should distribute their resources to the lower classes because workers could use them to not be impoverished despite "choosing" the job they have. Seriously, what the fuck kind of example is this?! "How do you fix the lives of billions who SCRATCH OUT A LIVING subsistence farming?" "HOW DARE YOU LOOK DOWN ON THEM FOR BEING IN THAT POSITION!1!! THEY'RE CAPITALISTS!!!1!!1"
Bruh. You really need to think about the things you say before you say them.

[Me] If the world prioritized ensuring undeveloped countries had the infrastructure and ability to contribute to the world economy - the long term benefits
[Them] This is a statement that means nothing. "The world" is not an entity, unless you are specifically pushing for the creation of a one world government.

Is he really so stupid that he couldn't see this disclaimer:

Also - these sorts of things would have to be implemented worldwide.

AND that he can't wrap his head around the fact that producers in every single country in the world are contributing to the issues we're facing? Seriously. No dude - I'm only going to try and implement this in America - because the pollution from the rest of the world doesn't fucking matter. Dipshit.

[Me] With the focus on producing food wherever its needed (hydroponic facilities and proper farming techniques)
[Them] As we go further in the post your arrogance seems to grow as your thoughts flow more freely. I imagine it is largely coming from your professors, but it is not enviable. How much farming have you done, I wonder, to know exactly which techniques are 'proper' and which are not? You seem to have all the answers, and it all seems so simple. Where can I vote to, quote, "do things properly"? Who would want to do them improperly, after all!

Translation: "These damn universities are indoctrinating people to the left!1!!11!"
You're a truly stupid motherfucker if you can't ulitlize google to do some research on a few things before hand. Verticle farming is incredibly more efficient than other types of farming in several ways - and that's all capitalists care about right? Efficiency? Cost reductions? While it does have its downsides, Water efficiency is 100%, if the power is from sustainable sources the GHG are 20% of those of typical greehouses, and the yields are also more efficient. The only thing that needs to catch up is our power sources and the lighting tech - and it will be hands-down the most efficienct and best way to grow crops. Further improving our lighting tech will also increase the efficiency of our everyday lighting in society, and the power improvements will always better society when we stop dumping stupid amounts of pollution. Additionally, current improvements in automation will make it so that costs are incredibly minimal.
Imagine being so stupid that you just want to let the market innovate and dictate society - and not those actually aducated in their respective fields. Yes - a scientist should have the final say over production of resources - not a farmer that's only looking to maximize his profits. That's how we ended up in the dust bowl.
For as much as you tell me to think of examples in history to support your narrative - you sure do seem to ignore it.
​

[Me] coupled with focus on redistributing resources and wealth where it is needed,
[Them] I'm going to engage directly with your language for a moment. I, too, think redistributing wealth and resources where it is needed is a vital and ongoing function. However, I think it happens naturally in a free market,

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Look at him pivot again. Think back to his "underserving lotter winner" comment here, as well as the pareto principle. 20% of people generate 80% of the income. "The free market naturally redistributes income!" - currently in the worst state of wealth inequality in history due to the free market we currently have.
I swear - conservatives and capitalists suffer from the worst kinds of Dunning-Kruger effects.
​

[Them] and I think unnatural distribution of resources through politicians will simply result in cronyism and corruption, as we have now. Which politican are you so confident in to redistribute wealth and resources "where it is needed?" How can one person, or even a team of people, possibly know whether it is smarter to use a community's money to build a chemical plant to produce medicines or a new surgery wing on the hospital, or a new farm instead?

Simple. Education, you know - the thing you lack?
​

[Them] How will you determine which will have more benefit? Perhaps hours of public testimony? Consulting with other bureaucrats? Will you listen to the testimony of the hungry, and compare that to the testimony of those needing surgery? Will you compare them to those that lack medicine? How will you make this choice?

Imagine being so fucking stupid that you think society with capabilities to launch a fucking car into space - would have to choose between feeding the hungry and caring for the sick - because.... what? They both aren't a priority?
If healthcare was universal it would cost America less overall, anyone who says otherwise is a brainwashed knuckle-dragger. Don't even get me started on our educational system.

[Them] If it sounds impossibly complicated, it is. In reality, the politician and the bureaucrats are swayed by all the listed factors, and most often they will pick the solution that benefits them and their family and friends the most. Perhaps their brother owns the contracting company that will build the hospital, so they pick that option.

"Politicians are corrupt - businesses that charge hundreds of dollars for life saving medication and lie to the public in order to increase profits are not."

[Them] The alternative though, does not rely on the incorruptibility of a man, or even a group of men. The alternative relies simply on competition and market distribution of resources to those that provide the most goods and services to the public.

Here's another fallacy: the market decides the distribution of resources.. Please tell me more about how the market stages coups. And about how the "invisible hand of the market" creates artificial scarcities.

[Them] In a free market, any or all or none of those things could be built, depending on the decisions of individuals. Those individuals can take risks with their own personal lives, time, and savings, and because they are personally involved they have a strong motivator to be efficient and to please consumers.

LOLOLOL "a strong motivator to be efficient and please consumers!" HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Yes lobbying the government to have them lie about nutrition is about about "pleasing the consumer" - and planned obsolecense is also about "pleasing the consumer".
Stop pretending to have any sort of redeemable values.
​

[Them] Politicians have no such risk. By the time the project is even finished, they may be out of office, or have collected their greasy bribes and kickbacks all the same.

"Politicians have no risk because they can get away with sleazy practices just like the rich who I mentioned earlier avoid taxes becasue they can!"
HMMMM, it's almost as if we should address the problem of corruption - and not its symptoms. The source of this problem is societies incessant need to continue prioritizing profits over purpose.

[Them] Your hatred for business owners is replaced by a religious faith in politicians, which is entirely misplaced. It's nice to have something to believe in, but I plead with you, please, consider that you have fallen for a scheme even worse. What if I'm right? What if history backs me up, and every single time this has been tried, it's been a disaster?

"Please- please! Look at history and know (except modern day Europe - don't look there) that this never works! The US will stage a coup, impose sanctions, and cripple your economy before it ever gets off the ground! Besides, the politicians we have now are corrupt and are allowed to be because we don't have policies to restrict them - you can't just give them the power to choose - they'll abuse it and hurt me - the owner who deserves 80% of the profit despite doing less than 20% of the work!!"
Bruh - you put policies in place to stop the actions that enable corruption and greed.
"They're just going to get kickbacks from the businesses that only care about profits to try and sway their choices!! We should just give the power to the businesses that already prove they give no fucks about anything other than profits - and have even less restrictions!"
You aren't a knuckle-dragger, you're an elbow-dragger. Holy shit.
​

5/7
[Me] we need to stop holding countries at gunpoint and forcing them to sell us resources for pennies on the dollar.
[Them] Instead we'll just hold entire populations are gunpoint and tell them exactly how to live their lives, right? Which factories to open, which to close, which people can be successful, which cannot. How many farms to have, and how many chemical plants. How many factories, and how many schools. We will dictate every single aspect of their economy, and if any of them with enough money to make themselves heard or do something about it choose to argue, well, we will send the communist re-education squad over with some AKs to teach them to stop being greedy.

Again - this dude is having flashbacks of the cold war and can't handle his triggered fear.

[Me] And we can argue for days about whether we should focus our efforts "here" or around the world, yatta yatta.
[Them] I was really amazed reading through this, because at so many times you are so close to a real epiphany moment. Yatta yatta indeed. You don't think it a rather important point to have locked down, exactly where all these redistributed resources will be spent?

Imagine being so thick headed that you think the needs of the world will be constant and fixed, not fluid and everchanging. "The free market naturally distributes resources where they're needed!" Please tell me more about how Africa is super developed and advanced - and how companies are making efforts to invest in sustainably solving the problems that they are facing.

[Them] Do you imagine yourself part of some special educated club that can discuss these things while the plebes just go along for the ride? Who determines whether the billions of people who live on less than $2 a day are more worthy than you of some redistributed wealth? If it is you, why is that fair?

Why should 2,153 people be allowed to aquire more wealth than 4.6 BILLION people combined? I think that's a better question - you really think that's indicitive of the free market "naturally redistributing wealth"? If you do I got a bridge to sell you.

[Them] Why should you get any money? You have so much compared to them. Following your logic, should we not liquidate 90% of the wealth of the Western countries and redistribute it to the developing countries? It is of course, "better for the world," as you say.

Imagine not understanding what the difference between equality and equity is, and also not understanding what UBI is, and trying to preach to people about the viabilities of economic systems. And also purposefully twisting my comment which explicitly says:

[Me] If the world prioritized ensuring undeveloped countries had the infrastructure and ability to contribute to the world economy - the long term benefits after doing so would surpass the initial costs of enabling it.

Yet he hears "redistribution of weath" and again - ignorantly thinks of the USSR.

Preface:
This is a new guide from Typical Contents, the “wirecutter for clothes”. It’s by the team behind Epochs, a now defunct menswear blog.
*We’re reviewing categories of clothing in hopes of finding the best item(s) in that category. This post focused on finding the best rain jackets. We tested 8 different rain jackets. 1 of these, the Arcteryx Zeta AR, was provided to us for review. The rest we bought ourselves. This post does not contain affiliate links.
Check out our previous guides on boxer briefs, plain t-shirts, and low top canvas trainers.
It rains in London, a lot. So there is a need for a go anywhere, do everything rain jacket that can live in your rucksack in case of a shower. A traditional mac or parka works if you know you can expect bad weather but if you’re going for a hike or need to run to the shops while it’s pissing rain, a casual zip up rain jacket is your best bet. Like the best camera, the best rain jacket is the one you have with you.
After researching the best mens rain jackets and testing seven leading brands we think the best go anywhere, do anything rain jacket is Norse Project’s Fyn Shell. Lightweight, water and windproof while being surprisingly breathable the Fyn Shell has the impressive technical features that you’d expect of a high-end outdoors jacket but goes above and beyond with its sleekly futurist design details and quality construction. Pricey but worthwhile. If weight, packability and a pricetag under £100 are your main concern our runner up, the RAINS Ultralight Jacket, is also an excellent jacket to have ready-to-go in your bag. Finally, if you’re on a budget you can’t do better for the money than Uniqlo’s BLOCKTECH Parka.
More than any other category we’ve reviewed, you get what you pay for with rain coats. The trade off with any fully wind and waterproof jacket is price. You could put on a garbage bag and be totally waterproof but your sweat would pool on the inside. The magic of GORE-TEX and similar membrane fabrics is they’re waterproof and breathable — this comes at a premium. We figured for our testing that the coat didn’t necessarily need to tolerate more than an hour or so of hard rain as a city jacket, but it would be a bonus if it could double as a light hiking/​outdoors jacket too.

Best overall

Norse Projects Fyn Shell GORE-TEX 2.0
Lightweight, water and windproof while being surprisingly breathable the Fyn Shell has the impressive technical features that you’d expect of a high-end outdoors jacket but goes above and beyond with its sleekly futurist design details and quality construction. Pricey but worthwhile.
$639 from END Clothing (US)
£540 from END Clothing (UK)

It’s hard to sum up what made this jacket stand out so thoroughly from the 7 others I’d reviewed for this article, so maybe I should go with my partner’s comment when I first tried it on: ​“of all these jackets, this is the one that actually made your outfit better.” That was true, but it wasn’t just that it’s subtly futuristic design looked better, it felt better too. The fabric was lightweight enough as to be barely noticeable when walking, the texture had an almost moleskin like brushed cotton effect and was nearly silent as I moved, in comparison to the swishy crinkled sounding textures of some of the competitors. The generous Kangaroo style pockets in the front felt so natural and easy to settle into and when I zipped it up I felt fully cocooned and protected from the elements without the somewhat locked in and stifled feeling some other jackets in this category gave me. I also loved the cut of the Fyn Shell, it hangs fairly loosely from the shoulders with plenty of room through the arms and body (in fact especially under the armpits) so you always feel like you have your full range of movement available to you.
Style wise, you can just see the love that went into this design and credit to the people at Norse Projects. It really feels like everything has been thought through and laboured over (in a way that the photography doesn’t really do justice to). My partner who trained as a menswear designer was especially taken with the clean, pressed seams and bar tack details on the pockets ​“a technical jacket wet dream basically.”
What about the actual function though? Well we decided to get in an expert and asked Jessica Sheil, a raw materials and sustainability specialist who has worked for brands like Primark, Arcteryx and Lululemon to have a look over the Fyn Shell’s specs. Her verdict was positive, with Jess reckoning it had all the high-end wind and water protection you’d expect from a modern GORE-TEX jacket and noted the environmental credentials of it’s water-repellant coating. Many jackets have DWR’s which are essentially the chemical treatments that make water bead up and brush easily from their fabric. Unfortunately, some of these are especially hazardous to the outdoor environment. PFCec free DWR’s on the other hand are treatments with similar water repellency that don’t harm the environment, although they do suffer slightly in performance when it comes to oil repellency around cuffs and collars. We’re willing to sacrifice a little performance for the environment so thought this was a nice touch.
Then there are the pockets. Oh god, the pockets. 8 pockets! It’s got your kangaroo pockets, it’s got your forward facing zip pocket on the breast, it’s got your sealed pockets with no topstitching to easily slide your phone or wallet into on the inside hip, it’s got the three internal zip pockets for anything else you need to squirrel away. This jacket is a pocket utility dream and blows everything else I tested out of the water. While it wasn’t the lightest of our raincoats, I found it folded up into the hood to comfortably fit into the bottom third of my 16L rucksack.
The cuffs were an elegant single snap to tighten the sleeves, which if you are used to velcro or elastic might be annoyingly un-customisable but I found perfectly comfortable. I also liked that there was the option to pair the jacket with their Otto light primaloft liner to make it a properly year round jacket, and the fit left plenty of room for layering. Finally, I found myself happiest with the hood peak of all our tested jackets, it was rigid enough to hold its shape when folded out and provided decent visibility while keeping the rain from my face.

Downsides

So, what are the downsides? Well at £530 this was the most expensive of all the piece I reviewed for this article, and thats to be expected. From my experience in the industry outerwear is just one of those categories in which you get what you pay for on the whole, especially when it comes to high-end technical fabrications like those made from GORE-TEX. On the other hand, it was a similar price to the purely utilitarian Arcteryx Zeta AR that we also tested but with the additional serious style chops. When it comes down to it, if you’re going to pay that kind of money for the fabrication and performance of a jacket in this category, why not have one that looks great too?

What we’d like to see improved

While everything about the jacket itself is near perfect, and nothing stood out to me as being in need of improvement, something like a zip in bag to pack it in when not in use would be a nice touch. The biggest improvement I could think of is actually around the transparency over the production and environmental impact of the jacket. Aside from a product description noting the use of PFCec free DWR there was no information I could find on Norse Projects’ site about the environmental or workplace credentials of the company, and although most of their product is produced in Portugal and the US, their GORE-TEX range is produced in China which if you’re going on recent information is an ethical minefield. A sub-site like those employed by Asket for their products to show the factories used and the impact of production would go a long way towards giving more ethically-minded customers an informed choice, especially at a premium price point.

Conclusion

As far as I’m concerned, the Norse Project Fyn Shell is the best of it’s kind. A near perfect marriage of elegant form and cutting edge function.

Also good

RAINS Ultralight Jacket
For the city commuter who wants a good looking, incredibly light and genuinely waterproof raincoat that won’t cost more than £100. The Rains ultralight is a gem, albeit, one that offers a less breathable and durable fabric than our main pick.
$125 AT RAINS (US)
£89 AT RAINS (UK)

The first impression when I unpacked the RAINS Ultralight Jacket was just awe at the sheer lightness of it, the weight you’d associate with a poplin dress shirt rather than a piece of outerwear. The texture was also much silkier and softer than I was accustomed to with the generally rubbery feeling polyurethene based raincoats that have become popular in the past decade. When worn over a t‑shirt it felt like it was barely there and I enjoyed the slightly loose ​‘90s-esque fit with the elasticated cuff and prominent cord locks on the front of the hood. If you’re looking for a techy bit of kit that doesn’t stray over into cyberpunk nerd territory then this is for you, especially in it’s alternative colourways of camel, olive and light grey.
Styling and extreme lightness aside, it also boasts serious weather protection capabilities: rainproof, windproof and surprisingly breathable for a PU based fabric, albeit, with some sadly tiny vents at the armpits. I did feel like taking it off on London’s incredibly sweaty tube service. Our expert, Jess, noted the wind and waterproofing were lower than what’d you see in high-end GORE-TEX pieces that you’d get from a brand like Arc’teryx but were still more than a match for city wear.
The jacket is so lightweight that I found it could comfortably fold up to fit into all but the smallest cross-body bags and it would fit into the larger front pocket of a rucksack. So if the best rain jacket is the one you have with you, the RAINS ultralight can quite easily be packed away and forgot about until you find you need it. I also appreciated the welted ziphip pockets, handy for a wallet or a phone.

Downsides

Well it’s not really a serious hiking jacket, the fabric is so lightweight that I imagine durability could be a problem with a heavy rucksack. It’s definitely more on the casual end of the styles we tested. I also found that while the hood covered my head snugly the lack of brim meant rain still got into my eyes and face, not the kind of thing you want to wear for hours at a time in a downpour.

Conclusion

The reality is most people don’t need a top of the line jacket to keep the rain and the wind out, especially the casual urban commuter. You need something lightweight to pack when out for a walk with friends or to head into work. You’ll be thankful for how little space the RAINS Ultralight takes up in a rucksack. At £85 it’s also a bargain, only slightly more expensive than our budget pick with better weather proofing credentials and a lighter weight.

Budget pick

Uniqlo BLOCKTECH Parka
Uniqlo have come through with a brilliant all-rounder raincoat at a great price. Looks wise, it compares favourably with our top pick, the trade off is a jacket that doesn’t have the same level of technical performance but does well under commuter conditions.
$79.90 AT UNIQLO (US)
£59.90 AT UNIQLO (UK)

Uniqlo has become something of a running joke among the Typical Contents team for how often it comes up as the best budget pick in our reviews, but really its no surprise. It’s a huge company with a massive team lead by respected designers like Rebekka Bay and Christophe Lemaire. They put all their efforts towards making the best quality affordable basics on the market and not spending much time on the sort of trend-led pieces that their fast-fashion peers thrive on. On it’s own merits the brand is aggressively uncool and basic, only as stylish as the customer can make it — though the brands lifewear magazine, led by Japanese publishing legend Takahiro Kinoshita, has shown the possibilities. There are even amusing guides to ​“look rich wearing only Uniqlo” which I think speaks to what this brand does so well.
Which brings us to the BLOCKTECH parka. As I expected from Uniqlo this is a really good jacket for the money. When I first tried it on my partner even thought I’d gotten back into the Norse Fyn as they shared similar sleek lines and matte, soft-touch fabric. There is a chance that this is even a dupe of the Norse jacket, but whatever the lineage it’s a great looking functional rain jacket at a suprisingly low price. If you’re looking for a casual rain jacket for occasional use and have a sub £100 budget you could do a lot worse.
Our expert, Jess, noted that the BLOCKTECH parka didn’t meet the legal definitions of waterproof but it held up well under our testing in light showers and under an actual shower. During my research I’d also seen it sited on hiking blogs as being a good budget alternative to higher-end outdoors jackets. There were comments about wet-out over time though this isn’t so much of a concern for commuters.
So as usual with Uniqlo, it doesn’t have quite the wow factor of our other top choices, either from a design or performance perspective, but for the money you probably couldn’t do better and I think the brand itself would say: that’s the point.

Why you should trust us

I’m a professional stylist, working in menswear and based in London. I work on both editorial and e‑commerce shoots and generally spend my time surrounded by racks of clothing. I’ve also written extensively about the history of clothing and style at the now defunct epochs​.co and worked previously in fashion retail and visual merchandising.
All clothing was purchased retail* and no gifts or discounts and no preferential treatment was given. I’ve no professional connections with any of the brands we reviewed.
*Arc’teryx were good enough to send us a press sample for review, no favourable treatment or promise of coverage was offered.

How we tested

Researching began online. I checked professional guides, and reviews as well as surveying experts. I hit up our cyclist, runner and outdoors friends for recommendations. I also drew on pieces I had personal experience in and had encountered in my work.
For range I wanted to try different weights and fabrications, largely sticking to more contemporary aesthetics and lighter weights that tended to be synthetic, though I did try a more traditional Stockholm jacket from Stutterheim.
I created a set of criteria that all rain jackets were judged against (see ​“What to look for” below). All purchased jackets were put in rotation for several months and notes taken on first and subsequent wears. I tracked the different pairs, stored notes, and ranked them using a database before finally compiling my findings into this article. We intend to update this page periodically as we try new jackets (keep and eye on our changelog for updates) as there are other jackets we would still like to try.

What to look for

Easy wearability: I wanted a jacket that was easily available in neutral colourways. This might sound small stakes but so much of the outdoors clothing market is dominated by pretty garish coloured and heavily branded items. It was important that this worked with an everyday casual wardrobe and didn’t look too much like GORP cosplay.
Portability: As I referenced in my introduction, the best rain jacket is the one you have with you, so having the ability to pack down easily was essential to finding the best everyday rain jacket.
Breathable: There is always a trade off when you’re looking at synthetic fabrics designed for keeping wind and rain out and generally it’s the breathability of the cloth. Technology has come a long way though and in our top picks we felt the balance between protection and breathability was met.
Hood: I wanted a hood that offered total protection, ideally with a rigid visor to protect from rainfall without too much loss of visibility. I also rated how adjustable the top picks were both with back and front toggles.
Environmental and social impact: Outdoor apparel is probably the most sustainable segment of the clothing industry but the bar is low and there’s still room for improvement with practices like the use of virgin polyester and toxic chemicals. This is changing rapidly with brands like Patagonia at the forefront of the sustainability revolution in clothing but we were conscious of noting what, if anything, the brands are doing to offset their impact on workers and the planet.
Styling: As referenced in our introduction, we’re not looking for the best ever outdoors jacket, there are other specialists who can do that better than we can, but we did want to find the best looking jackets that can get the job done. It had to be jackets that we’d actually want to wear, and not just when it’s raining.
Elemental protection: While we’re focusing on style, we weren’t ignoring function. A raincoat that doesn’t offer decent protection is just a novelty. We wanted something that wouldn’t dissapoint the casual commuter and occasional hiker if they got caught in a downpour, and we think on balance we found them.
Cuffs and collars: We want the cuffs and collars of the rain jackets to be comfortable, adjustable and in the case of the collar to protect the face when the weather takes a turn.
Fit: Nothing too slim or form fitting, this had to be something you could throw over layers and get the most out of throughout the year, but, we also didn’t want anything too shapeless or utilitarian looking. It was about finding a balance. Generally, we went for hip length but we appreciated the designs that had slightly more length, not enough to restrict movement but offering a bit more protection from the elements.
Movement: The ideal lightweight rain jacket would cover you for a daily run or cycle as well as on a walk to the bus or train, so it had to allow for movement and not be too stifling. We wanted something that emphasised flexibility over complete coverage.
Fabric: We wanted a fabric that had an organic and soft hand feel, ideally without the crinkling plastic feel of some outerwear synthetics.

The competition

The Arcteryx Zeta AR was probably the most hardcore outdoors jacket that we tried out and we were really impressed by it’s performance overall — though I now realise I should have tested their lighter weight LT model. Rain beaded instantly, the hood was generous and the style was on the functional end of things but worked well with a variety of outfits. Downsides were the heavy fabric and a fit on the looser end of things, I’m 5’11 and 150 pounds and the medium was pretty roomy on me, I would probably size down to small next time. This jacket is designed for multi-day treks rather than a cycle into work. It’ll appeal to the hardcore hiking fans.
Coming in at a very similar price point to Uniqlo was Muji’s Waterproof hooded jacket. It had a similar level of quality and water resistance but it just lacked the refinement and styling of the Uniqlo option. It felt just a little bit more drab and functional and while I think I’d be perfectly happy with it, there was nothing exceptional about it. If you aren’t keen on the more futurist aesthetic of Uniqlo’s design then this Muji jacket would be a worthy budget alternative.
Patagonia’s Torrentshell 3L was one of those jackets that we loved the look of, consistently came up on lists of the best rain jackets and according to our expert also boasts some impressive environmental credentials — no surprise, the company is known for it. So it was with some disappointment that when I received the jacket and unwrapped it for the first try on, the fabric felt cheap. It had a plasticky texture and crinkled and swished more than any other we tested. It was difficult to pack small, the shape was a bit lumpy and characterless. At one point I realised why it felt so off, it reminded me of exactly the sort of jacket I would have had as a child in the early 1990’s, the older blends of cotton and polyester that had a similar hand feel. A disappointment.
I’ve always been a big fan of Stutterheim. Their original heavyweight Stockholm model is an elegant take on the classic mid-century fishermans raincoat and their’s was the only model to be produced in Europe. The Stockholm LW seems to be an attempt at taking on Rains at the lighter weight, more affordable end of the rain jacket market and in that sense it suceeds but I felt they failed to do anything interesting with it. The pop buttons are a nice touch, the length was nice sitting halfway down the hip but roomy enough to move in. It looked stylish but it sweat like hell in even light activity and didn’t feel particularly functional. A good and fairly lightweight casual rain jacket but not something I could see myself getting excited over.
We also looked at models from K‑Way the original pack-a-mac style raincoat from the ​’70s but I just felt it was a bit redundant at this point and fabric technology had moved on. If your style is a bit more heritage or retro, it could work as a lightweight layer.