If snowboarding is the uncouth yang to skiing’s yin, snowboarders who wear headphones are veritable heathens. Validating every stereotype about ‘boarders not appreciating nature, these “barbarians at the gate” typically have less on-piste etiquette than a Westerner in an Onsen and less control of their whereabouts than a learner driver who just hit a patch of ice.As for the experts, “It’s kind of a fine line,” says Dave Byrd, director of risk and regulatory affairs for the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA), of wearing music while skiing. “If people want to go out by themselves and put on some classical music and ski in a winter wonderland, we want to give them that opportunity – within reason,” Outside once reported him saying.

“We want to reinforce critical safety messages, but at the same time we don’t want to be a bunch of killjoys; there are plenty of people who probably can ski with music in a very controlled manner.”

With that (and my thoroughly average snowboarding level) in mind, I have always been hesitant to don a pair of headphones, lest I mark myself out as a non-community minded savage.The purchase of Bose’s SoundSport wireless headphones changed all that, however, as – for the first time in my life – I became the proud owner of a pair of high-end ($254) sports headphones that don’t have any cables, and can be completely hidden under a beanie. Bought for running, and the gym, I have found them a great urban exercise accessory.RELATED: Best Bluetooth Wireless Earbuds To Buy Right NowWhen I was invited by Club Med Sahoro to come and experience their Hokkaido resort, however, I figured, “Why not try them at 3,000ft?” As it turns out there are a number of major advantages to the Bose SoundSport wireless offering, as well as a significant drawback that may cause many sub-par snowboarders such as myself to crash.So: here’s the cold hard truth about testing Bose’s wireless SoundSport headphones while snowboarding.

The SoundSports are less obtrusive than most headphones

If you’re used to Skullcandy, Apple or any headphones with cables (or, god forbid, big, noise-cancelling beats) the SoundSports are a revelation. Not only do they fit neatly under your beanie (with no protruding wires or boom box vibes), so that judgemental skiers have no (visual) reason to sneer at you in the chair lift queue, but the sound quality is better than Apple Airpods. What’s not to love?

The sound quality is insane

If the bass was any better it would pose an avalanche risk.

The SoundSports will handle a (minor) stack or two

I fell twice with the Soundsports, both times landing on my face, once in powder, the other on a groomed slope. While my pride escaped me the SoundSports did not.

The SoundSports are an invitation to karaoke

Put me in a Gondola for one and call me Bowie.

With the SoundSports, you are at the mercy of the riders above you

Being unable to hear anything behind you, if you choose to ride with any headphones, the SoundSports included, you put yourself more at risk of a collision.

They are tricky to wear with a helmet – but great with a beanie

I found wearing the Bose SoundSports with a ski helmet resulted in them being crushed into my ears rather uncomfortably. This was solved by wearing just a beanie, which actually worked to keep them in perfectly (I would imagine with a major crash though, you could definitely lose them).RELATED: Best Men’s Ski Jackets To Buy In 2020

The SoundSports will make you crash more often

The cold hard truth about snowboarding with the Bose SoundSport headphones is that they are so good that you inevitably get a little overexcited and attempt things you shouldn’t generally, let alone with one of your six senses deaf to the world. But as you fly down the mountain with “Bohemian like you” blasting in your ears, it’s hard not to let loose a little.

Read Next

• We Wore Luxury Wireless Headphones For A Week & This Is What We Discovered
• How Apple’s Most Unattractive Product Became One Of My Favourites

The post The Cold Hard Truth About Snowboarding With Bose's Wireless SoundSport Headphones appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Winter isn’t everyone’s favourite season. To combat nature’s harshest, we often find ourselves stacking on layer upon layer which, oftentimes, becomes rather annoying, especially when you’re coming and going. It’s difficult, however, to find a jacket that will keep you warm enough and yet also looks sharp enough for a nice dinner or work without it becoming overkill. That is, until now. Relwen recently released their ‘Trap Blazer,’ which – on closer inspection – is the perfect blazer for winter.

The jacket is made from a mixture of wool, rayon and polyester and also features a soft interior liner made from cotton woven sateen which more than capable of keeping you nice and warm on a cold winters day meaning you’ll no longer need all of those layers. This blend of materials in combination with a mild stretch, this blazer is also supremely comfortable and durable.

From a style perspective, the Trap Blazer stands out for all the right reasons. Thanks to the unique blend of materials, the blazer has a unique almost tweed texture which works perfectly with the dark brown/green colour tone. The blazer also features a unique lapel design that enables you to wear it like a regular blazer, but when the temperature drops you can also button it up like a shirt jacket to keep you warmer than any other blazer. From a practicality standpoint, the jacket features an array of pockets, inside and out that not only provide you with a place to keep your kit but also look great. 

Consolidating all of these great features into one jacket makes it ultra-versatile, meaning you’re getting a few jackets for the price of one. It can easily be styled with jeans and a t-shirt for a more casual look, but, throw on some khakis and a pair of brown dress shoes and you’ll look ultra dapper for an Autumn or Spring wedding. Really, the possibilities are endless for the blazer. With that in consideration, the $398 price tag is very reasonable.

Shop The Relwen Blazer  $398

Read Next

• This Cool $161 Cashmere Scarf Is A Winter Must Have
• This $379 Military-Inspired Jacket Will Protect You From The Harshest Conditions And Is On Sale

The post This Winter Blazer Is The Perfect Gift For The Rugged Gent appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Love or hate them, Christmas sweaters are a reality of the festive season. Problem is, they’re big-time daggy. Whilst it’s great to get into the ‘Christmas spirit’, no stylish gent wants to look like their uncle who looks like he could still be dressed by his mum. Fear not, there is now a sweater that will show off your Christmas cheer (somewhat), all whilst ensuring you’re the best-dressed man in the room.Made by Bluemint, a British men’s beach and leisurewear brand, the ‘Diego’ sweater treads the line between stylishness and Christmas spirit with aplomb. It’s a simple crew neck sweater with an embroidered polar bear holding a surfboard. Whilst that combination isn’t the first thing that pops into your hear when you think Christmas, it combines the cold Christmas conditions of the northern hemisphere with the summer hemisphere’s warmer Christmas climate. Ultimately it’s one part Christmas, one part style, which – being the dashing gent you are – is an important combination.The detailed and unique embroidery is a cool combination and when on a simple crew-neck sweater isn’t too ‘shouty’ like some Christmas sweaters can be. Bluemint has built a reputation for quality, timeless garments and this is no exception. Priced at $91 and available in either grey or navy, it will serve you well for many Christmas’ to come.Shop Bluemint ‘Diego’ Sweatshirt $91

Read next:

• This Cool $161 Cashmere Scarf Is A Winter Must Have

The post This $91 Sweater Is The Perfect Gift For The Man Who Needs Some Christmas Cheer appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

A naked man slaps himself on the back with a wet towel. Another scrubs himself with soap. A third shivers in a frigid plunge pool. A bunch sweat bullets in the ofuro (soaking hot tub) and a couple prostrate themselves to (the gods of) Laird Hamilton in the sauna. All is well in Onsen World. And then I take off my pants.

My mistake is not that I took them off, but that I was wearing them in the first place. While I knew this beforehand, I had assumed, being in a Club Med (Sahoro Hokkaido, to be exact) there would be a few other tourists who had done the same. Alas, no; the ones there were had followed Onsen etiquette, and my plummeting pants drew some quickly disguised quizzical looks.

Mortifying.

However, most tourists aren’t as ashamed of their ~bodies~ as I am. Which means those flabby paragraphs just served to get you into the right state of mind to be hit with the mistake that (pretty much) every Western tourist makes when visiting a Japanese bathhouse for the first time.

Overcompensating for their awkwardness.

This is a broad faux pas, which can be broken down into four categories of behaviour; making needless conversation; playing it just a little bit too cool; excessively avoiding looking at other people’s genitals and not washing properly before getting in the spa. These are the dead giveaways you are a Japanese hot spa virgin.

 

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A post shared by – 日本旅館 (@nihonryokan) on Nov 28, 2019 at 5:00am PST

Feeling the need to make conversation

Whether it’s to avoid awkwardness with a mate who you’ve never seen naked before or whether it’s to prove to the regulars just how comfortable you are, this one is a killer clue that you are low-key nervous. Like a poorly endowed man with a Ferrari; you have been caught out.

Acting extra aloof

Then we have the other end of the spectrum, where guys act just a tad too cool to be believable. “Hmmm. What was that? Oh yeah, it’s not bad, hey.”

*Conversation drifts off into ill-defined silence*

Other signs of this include leisurely drying every square millimetre of your balls, or brushing your teeth (or drying your hair) naked.

Excessively avoiding eyeballing anyone’s genitals

It’s great you don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable; what’s not so great is that skirting your retinas violently towards the ceiling every time you look at someone is even weirder than accidentally glancing at their ‘undercarriage.’

Not washing properly before you get into the spa

As I looked at the steaming variety of freezing/boiling punishments on offer upon entering the room, I wasn’t sure what everyone was atoning for. What I was (unknowingly) atoning for, however, was the sin of not washing properly before getting in.

Why? Well, I lathered myself like a good little tourist, but in my eagerness to get into the spa so as to not stand out (no-one else was showering at that point) I simply rinsed it off without rubbing myself and thoroughly getting rid of all the suds.

The irony is, I proved exactly why many Western tourists assume the Japanese bathhouses are unhygienic; we judge other cultures by our own standards, ‘knowing’ that you couldn’t trust people to wash properly because, well – I wouldn’t wash properly – if no one was looking.

So take that pool pissing morality and make of it what you will. I’m off for a shower.

Read Next

• Ridiculous Capsule Hotel Reviews Reveal The Big Mistake Tourists Make In Japan
• Kyoto Introduces $130 Fine To Stop Tourists Exploiting Residents’ Goodwill

The post The Embarrassing Mistake Every Tourist Makes In Japan's Bathhouses appeared first on DMARGE.

No doubt you’ve heard of Red Wing Boots and might have even owned some, but you might not have seen these ones… Since 1905, Red Wing Shoes have been making high quality and durable boots out of Minnesota. Whilst their boots are tough, hardy and capable of protecting your feet in any conditions they aren’t famed for being particularly stylish due to their function over form styling. Some might be a fan of this but, there is now a model, the ‘Wacouta‘ that perfectly combines function and form.Made from a combination of brown full-grain leather and American-made waxed canvas which looks much more stylish than their traditional boot offerings. The boots tough-looking sole and cleaner ‘moccasin’ silhouette make for an interesting contrast that allows of the boot to be dressed down or up depending on the scenario.Ultimately, the Wacouta is a modern rendition of Red Wing’s iconic boots that retain the brand’s famous build quality with a more modern, stylish design. Priced at $270, they’re reasonably priced, especially considering their durability, practicality and versatility. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better boot than these.Shop Red Wing Heritage Wacouta $270

Read next:

• These Are The Best Gifts For The Man Who Loves His Watches
• Score This Stylish Ralph Lauren Beanie For A Steal

The post These $270 Red Wing Boots Combine Timeless Style And Practicality appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Over the past two years, SSENSE has built a reputation for two things; stocking creme de la crop designer clothing and epically good sales. For Black Friday this year, they had up to 50% off a selection of grail designer clothing and they’ve just upped the stakes to 60% off.If you subscribe to the train of thought that the only things on sale are items no one wants…I hate to break it to you, but you couldn’t be more wrong. There is a huge range of ultra-desirable designer kit that’s significantly discounted, I’m talking stuff you already want, in your size all for crazy low prices.If you’re in need of a new pair of sneakers you can score yourself a pair of grey Common Project Achilles Low for $495 $327, white Nike Air Force 1’s for $120 $97, triple white Givenchy Sneakers for $495 $322 or 2019 Adidas Ultra Boosts in black and white for $180 $122. If you’re looking for a new black hoodie check out this Balenciaga Black Campaign Logo Hoodie for $650 $416 or this Champion Reverse Weave Black Hoodie for $135 $55. Need a new wallet? Score yourself this classy Saint Laurent cardholder for $255 $201 or this more affordable but equally nice Paul Smith wallet $195 $96.If you’re not in the market for any of those, but love a bargain, the SSENSE’s sale is definitely worth a look. They’re stocking things you’d actually want to buy, in your size all for unheard of prices – it doesn’t get any better than this. Hurry though, these killer deals won’t last long.Shop SSENSE’s 60% Off Sale

Read next:

• These Are The Best Gifts For The Man Who Loves His Watches
• This $161 Cashmere Scarf Is A Must Have This Winter

The post Score Up To 60% Off Designer Items At SSENSE's End Of Year Sale appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

We’re told from an early age that eight hours of sleep is the optimal amount to give us enough energy to get through the next day. But for many of us, achieving this level of slumber can be nigh on impossible.

Whether we have busy work schedules, need to travel a lot, or just enjoy a good few nights out a week, we count ourselves lucky to get twenty winks a night, let alone forty. So how do we maximise the effect of just a few hours of sleep a night, to give us enough energy for the next day?

Scientists think they may have the answer, and it’s to do with boosting our brain waves.

According to the BBC, the brain goes through various stages of sleep each night, but the one that scientists are keen to dissect is ‘slow-wave sleep.’ This is the deepest stage of sleep, where we don’t dream or have any idea what’s going on around us. We’re essentially dead for a few hours.

However, the brain works incredibly hard during this process, as it transfers memories from our short-term to long-term memory, and carries out essential ‘maintenance’ whereby cortisol (stress) levels are lowered and the immune system is repaired. Scientists believe that by enhancing the effect of the slow waves, or at least getting our brain to reach the state of deep sleep quicker, can provide numerous energetic benefits.

One scientist, Jan Born, has previously conducted an experiment that saw some participants wear a headset during their sleep that delivered stimulating sounds, and some who received “sham stimulation,” once deep-sleep was achieved. The results found that participants who received genuine stimulation showed increased memory retention and lower stress levels than those who didn’t, suggesting our brain can, in fact, benefit from souped-up slow waves.

 

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A post shared by Dreem (@dreem.sleep) on May 10, 2019 at 8:50am PDT

But not all of us can be called up to take part in scientific studies, which is where companies such as French start-up Dreem, and Japanese tech giant Philips come in. They have both made headsets designed to be worn at night that deliver similar sound stimulation, or “pink noise,” with the aim of improving the quality of sleep.

Dreem launched its second-generation headset last month in the US, complete with companion smartphone that can give you a detailed report of the previous night’s sleep and what you can do next time you shut your eyes to reap greater benefits.

Philips’ chief scientific officer David White says his company’s headband can’t replicate a full night of good sleep, but it can at least maximise the effect of the sleep people do get, because “it is notoriously hard to convince sleep-deprived people to make the necessary lifestyle changes.”

Alternatively, Aurore Perrault from Concordia University in Montréal says we could all learn a thing or two from the way babies sleep. Newborns are often placed in beds that gently rock them off to the land of nod, so Perrault suggests us adults could benefit from the same rocking motion and has previously carried out a study that supports her hypothesis.

So while strapping on a pair of headphones and playing some Mozart might not be the best way to keep the brain ticking at night, playing something such as the sound of waterfalls could be your ticket to a more spritely tomorrow.

Read Next:

• Fitness Coach Reveals Sleeping Pattern That Could Significantly Increase Your Gains
• I Asked A Sleep Doctor What I’m Doing Wrong; Here’s What I Discovered

The post New Technology Could Give You More Energy From Less Sleep appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The modern man is constantly on the move, his routine is comprised of more than a simple commute to and from work, he’s away on the weekends, at a friends house during the week and he takes holidays abroad. One thing that’s always on the move with him is his toiletries. Gone are the days when a man’s toiletry kit comprised of soap, toothpaste, a toothbrush and some deodorant; these days men use an array of grooming products to ensure they’re looking sharp and keeping their body in good shape. The perfect and easiest gift you can get any man these days is, therefore, a quality toiletries bag and Flint & Tinder’s Leather Dopp Kit is the perfect example.

Made from black full-grain German leather it’s sophisticated and understated, a quality product that doesn’t need to scream and shout. Made in the USA from quality materials, it will faithfully serve any owner for many years to come. Not only will it hold all of the products your man needs for his grooming routine but it will look refined and stylish in any hotel bathroom or weekender bag. Priced at $68, it’s a very affordable toiletries bag, especially considering it’s made in the US from German leather. If you’re concerned about your present actually getting used, this is one present you really won’t need to worry about.

Shop Flint & Tinder Leather Dopp Kit $68 

Read next:

• These Are The Best Gifts For The Man Who Loves His Watches
• Score This Stylish Ralph Lauren Beanie For A Steal

The post This $68 Dopp Kit Is The Perfect Gift For The Traveller In Your Life appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

There’s a reason cruise ships are associated with sex. Free-flowing tipples. Sun-kissed bods. Friends you’ll never see again. So don’t ask why people feel the need to make the ‘wild’ most of their holiday tan but how. The real query is why your grandparents are so embezzled by The Cruise Sensation, but we’ll leave that for another day.

Today is about the wildest things seen at sea, revealed by industry insiders who have done their time and no longer wish to keep their secrets to themselves. That’s right; the craziest stories any aspiring cruiser (or nostalgic boozer) needs to know.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Virgin Voyages (@virginvoyages) on Dec 9, 2019 at 12:13pm PST

As reported in October by Express, many cruise ships possess a “hidden area” where staff indulge in parties “wilder than Vegas.” And guests have no idea.

This comes from an American man, Brian David Bruns, a former cruise ship crew member and author of the Cruise Confidential book series. Teasing digital news outlet Express about the wilder parts of the ship guests couldn’t access (presumably in a bid to sell his book), Brian went on to spill some info.

“Crew bars vary widely, depending upon the layout of the ship and where they’re located… In the case of one Royal Caribbean ship, the entire back deck near the waterline was open to the air… just off the extensive dining area for the crew was an expansive, teak-planked open-air patio spanning the entire width of the ship.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Virgin Voyages (@virginvoyages) on Oct 28, 2019 at 12:57pm PDT

“Most crew bars have minimal dance floor space, however. They aren’t nightclubs, so much as a neighbourhood dive,” he added. “They’re loaded with chrome and shiny baubles, with thumping music.”

Another contributing factor to the wild behaviour is the crew’s ease of access to alcohol: “Crew have access to cheap liquor in other ways, too… We can enjoy duty-free stuff from port, for example. Passengers have to wait until they get home to open such goodies. But for the crew the ship is home.”

Intriguing.

However, despite the hair raising headlines, when you think about it, it’s only natural this ‘live by the sword, die by daquiri’ mindset should develop. As Anthony Bourdain once pointed out, put a bunch of people in a pressure cooker together, and they will become unnervingly close.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Virgin Voyages (@virginvoyages) on Nov 9, 2019 at 11:31am PST

“Professional cooks belong to a secret society whose ancient rituals derive from the principles of stoicism in the face of humiliation, injury, fatigue, and the threat of illness… The members of a tight, well-greased kitchen staff are a lot like a submarine crew,” he wrote for The New Yorker.

“Confined for most of their waking hours in hot, airless spaces, and ruled by despotic leaders, they often acquire the characteristics of the poor saps who were press-ganged into the royal navies of Napoleonic times – superstition, a contempt for outsiders, and a loyalty to no flag but their own.”

Sound familiar?

A Reddit thread entitled, “Cruise ship crews of reddit, what’s it really like to work and live on a cruise ship??” suggests yes, with the top voted comment being, “Every night is a Friday night and every morning is a Monday morning. Every day is ground hogs day.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Days Of Summer Cruise (@daysofsummercruise) on Jul 30, 2019 at 1:05pm PDT

Reddit user ‘MirtaGev’ added: “Everyone sleeps with everyone,” while JMPBass elaborated, writing, “Remember high school, where everyone knew everything about everyone’s business? Who was macking whom, cheating on so-and-so, doing this-and-that, being a such-and-such? Well, that’s ship life in a nutshell.”

“The bar is where we all congregate, it’s where we all commiserate and it’s our only meat market option.”

Classy.

Another user summed it up exquisitely, explaining how cruise ship life makes Sartre’s ‘No Exit‘ look like a cakewalk: “You will never be alone. Relationships happen really fast. Your body clock changes. Grudges can fester. Everyone higher rank than you is an idiot. If you have a solo room then you might as well write a blank booty cheque.”

Another user agreed, writing: “You [will] burn your self out and collapse in a heap…. I worked 10 hours per day every day for 4 months but the social life was enough to keep you going.”

“My first trip was largely uneventful however as I spent my time focused on work as I wanted to make a good impression but in my last month… I went from [a] shy 20-year-old to an absolute w*****.”

“I’m not bad looking either so that helped me a bit.”

“The travelling was fantastic,” he continued, “and I travelled the world. My favourite part being the very north of Norway where in the summer the sun didn’t set and there was sunlight all day long.”

“Alcohol (including spirits with my company) was very cheap and you would often find your self buying drinks for an entire room of people for very little cost.”

However, “it’s a hard lifestyle to maintain,” he concludes, “and sleep is limited if you’re social and want to go ashore at the same time.”

“But in my opinion, totally worth it. For a few years in any case.”

Oh, and one final aside – it’s not just staff. As respondents revealed in a poll conducted by cruise company Royal Caribbean, cruise-goers are just as apt to indulge, with 99% of the 1,000 people surveyed saying sex was their favourite cruise activity, 62% saying they had better sex at sea, and 52% saying they were more likely to have sex on a cruise ship than on land.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Virgin Voyages (@virginvoyages) on Oct 2, 2019 at 12:29pm PDT

One user’s comment in the Reddit community r/cruise supports this thesis, with the user admitting: “We have had sex on the balcony of our cabin, during the day and at night, at sea, and at ports. Anybody could see us if they really looked.”

“Now, where did we have sex outside of the cabin? The theaters when there are no-shows, certain lounges, family bathrooms (can be found in the hallways where the cabins are), and our personal favorite, these egg-shaped bed/chair things at the very front of the ship.”

“Nobody ever goes out this far, and if you push the furniture closer to the glass, nobody will walk in front of it,” the frequent cruise goer finished.

Read Next

• The Ugly Truth About Virgin Voyages’ Adults Only Cruise 
• Cruise Ship Industry Finds Bizarre New Way To Make You Regret Your Holiday Fling

The post Cruise Ship Staff Reveal The Wildest Things They’ve Seen Onboard appeared first on DMARGE Australia.