Backpacks

I have been looking into backpacks. Not because I know much about it — I do not. But that is usually the best place to start.

I read through a bunch of notes, found some things worth passing along, plus a few product recommendations, and figured I would share what stood out.

Here is what I found.

Things to Know

• → Dual-zone lunch boxes don’t really work
• → Skip portion guides. Get a compartment box.
• → Skip the bamboo. Steel and glass actually cut plastic waste.
• → The paper towel trick is the real secret
• → Skip the $5 lunch box. Spend it wrong and you’ll buy twice.

Stuff to Buy

• ↗ Lodge 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet — Lasts forever. Gets better with age.
• ↗ Oxo Good Grips Kitchen Shears — You will use these more than any knife.
• ↗ ThermoPro TP20 Digital Meat Thermometer — Remote reading so you don’t have to stand next to the fire.

Archived from the Work Notes Daily Edition — 2026-08-14