Secret Wash Shirts in Navy + Blue + White = $46.50 FINAL w/ WEEKEND ($98)

These are a bit buried in J. Crew’s Buy 3 get 70% off Final Sale section, but once you find them and pick the “right” colors, you can end up getting three of their bestselling Secret Wash shirts for $15.50 per shirt when you apply the code WEEKEND:

Combo shown = $46.50 total when you apply the additional 70% off promo. NOTE: If you decided to go with three white shirts, or one white shirt and two “waterfall” (lighter) blue, then obviously the total will be higher as the shirts are all priced differently.

But one white, one light blue, and one darker blue seems to be about as versatile as it gets.

Remember, final means final, so no returns or exchanges. No mediums available at post time on the slim white and light blues, but large and small are available. And there are mediums available on the navy and some other colors/fits. Available in slim, classic, tall, and untucked fits.

Outbound shipping should be free for their Passport Rewards club members.

That’s all.

Carry on.

MacAlister Boots in Leather – $71.20 FINAL w/ SHOPSALE ($198)

NOTE: At post time sizes left include 8, 8.5, 9, 10, and 11.5. That could change fast though.

Not bad considering these are one of their items that got hit hardest by the (industry wide) price hikes we’ve seen this year, and during much of 2025 J. Crew seemed hesitant to put them on significant sale.

They’re a bestseller which J. Crew has been making for years. English leather uppers, natural crepe rubber sole, unstructured and casual without looking sloppy.

They’re still made in Italy (as of the personal pair ordered a couple months ago,) and they’re a real favorite for many of us.

There’s two catches though:

1. They’re final sale. No returns or exchanges. Thankfully the MacAlister has fit true to size since what feels like the beginning of time. The 10.5 pair seen at the very top of this post were ordered in September, and they fit my normally 10.5 D width feet just fine out of the box.
2. Crepe soles can slip easily on wet, slick surfaces. The texture & material combination seems to lead to surprise hydroplaning. Not just on MacAlisters, but most desert boots with natural crepe rubber soles. Not always, but sometimes. Winter just isn’t the best time of year for desert boots. Which isn’t surprising, as they’re called “desert” boots.

Full review here if you’d like it.

Code SHOPSALE is good for an additional 40% or 60% off final sale items (MacAlisters are getting the addit 60% off,) and it’s set to expire on Wednesday.

Sizes appear to be selling quick, but it appears they also went through a recent restock. It might be worth keeping an eye on if your size is sold out at post time, as it looks like this is all in flux as they (possibly?) get holiday returns in.

That’s all.

Carry on.

Christopher Ward: New and “Nearly New” Sale Event

Christopher Ward is known for maximizing the bang-for-the-buck thing in the watchmaking world. Swiss made. Incredible craftsmanship. Terrific designs. They are not cheap, but they’re still thousands upon thousands less than a Rolex or Omega.

And they just launched one of their semi-annual sale events.

• 42mm Black C60 Trident Pro 300 – Nearly New – $1004 ($1255) also shown very top of post
• 41mm C65 Super Compressor – Nearly New – $1,304 ($1630)
• 38mm C65 Dune GMT – Nearly New – $1,092 ($1,560)
• 39mm C63 Sealander – Nearly New – $798 ($1,140)
• 40mm Black C60 Trident Pro 300 – Nearly New – $836 ($1045)

Know that watches in these Christopher Ward sales usually sell extraordinarily fast.

Most if not all of the on-sale watches are “nearly new” (meaning they’re open box models/returns). Yet BOTH “nearly new” and “new-new” watches come with the same 60 day returns worldwide + 60 month movement guarantee. And although the brand got smacked, hard, by tariffs this year and the sunsetting of the De Minimis exemption, they’ve bounced back and have navigated it comparably well.

Full Terms and Conditions of the sale can be found here.

Got all that? Lot of info there.

Sale is set to go live to the public on Thursday 1/8/26. But again, expect a lot of these models to be long gone by that time.

That’s all. Carry on.

Y’know what’s a terrible idea?

Sh*tty AI chatbot pop-ups asking “DO YOU NEED HELP SHOPPING” like they’re some sort of annoying in-store salesperson even though you’re specifically avoiding that annoyance by shopping online?

Good point.

You were saying?

Final sale shoes bought online, sight unseen. Those are also a terrible idea.

Indeed. Because if they fit poorly, there’s nothing a tailor can do to fix that. And as they’re final sale, you can’t return or exchange them.

They’re an awful choice.

Especially if it’s a pair of shoes or boots with a known fit issue.

…… HOOOOOOLLLLD MY BEER!

J. Crew Goodyear Welted Field Boots in English Leather – $122.40 FINAL w/ SALETIME + addit. 10% off members deal ($378)

Allegedly, these have historically run on the small side. So if you’re gonna take this insane gamble, consider sizing up by half before you risk lighting your almost $123 of hard earned money on fire.

See our shoe expert’s review of last year’s suede version here.

Here be the many deals that are happening, all at once, and stacking on these boots:

• They’re on (final) sale
• They’re getting an extra 60% off with the SALETIME code
• If you log into a passport rewards members account and tick the box at checkout, you’ll get an additional 10% off:

But again, they’re final sale.

And while they’ve historically run small with many recent customer reviews seemingly confirming that, some other reviewers say they run true to size. While others say they run big. (The hell?)

So, yeah.

What could possibly go wrong?

That’s all.

Carry on.

Also related: 25 Signs you really SHOULDN’T buy that thing you really want to buy

The glaring signals that you should really put your wallet back in your pocket.

Huckberry: Free Shipping No Min. (ends Sun.)

Anyone who has been to the post office lately knows shipping around the holidays isn’t easy. Nor is it cheap. So it’s a minor miracle that Huckberry’s normal, flat-rate base-shipping fee is $4.99. YET! Five bucks is five bucks. (Profound analysis!) And since free (U.S. contiguous) shipping with Huckberry doesn’t usually kick in until you hit $98, this free shipping no minimum promo means anything under $98 is presently & effectively on sale for just about five dollars off.

Also know that their shipping rates start to creep up come Monday. Bottom line: It’s go-time.

Y’know what feels good? Getting stuff done with time to spare. Let’s get some things done. All picks below are under $98:

PROOF 72-Hour Merino Blend T-Shirts – $78

No better time than now to see what all the fuss is about. They really are perfect for travel, or even every-day wear if you’re the type who doesn’t love how regular cotton t-shirts feel and hold onto sweat. These breathe, wick, and since they’re merino wool based, they’re naturally anti-microbial. You can wear one for three days straight without feeling or smelling like you should be confined to quarters for lacking proper hygiene. Machine wash cold, tumble dry low. Just know they could shrink a little after the first wash. Enough so that most will want to consider sizing up in the performance “slim” fit. I’m usually a medium in most t-shirts, but with the 72-hour line a size LARGE fits my 5’10″/180 perfectly after it’s been washed and dried the first time.

72-Hour Merino Polo Shirts – $70 ($88)

And the polos. Only gripe is the collars don’t really have enough structure (or a button down style collar) for wearing with a blazer or sportcoat unless you button the top button. But the polo + sportcoat/swazer look isn’t everyone’s particular cup of style tea, so these are still very much worth a mention. And they’re on sale for less than the t-shirts. Black and stone black have lots of sizes. Other colors are picked over at post time.

Walden Airman Sunglasses – $49 FINAL ($99)

In case you got the red pair (as featured here) like a lot of us did and want to pick up a second color. They’re certainly stylish and stand out a little bit, yet they’re not silly, oversized, or droopy like many other aviation inspired sunglasses. Final sale on these. No returns or exchanges.

Aged & Ore Travel Decanter – $68

Because the hotel room mini bar is expensive. Too expensive. Always has been. Jerks.

GORUCK Packable Bullet – $75

From the very smart designers at GORUCK, this is a super light weight daypack which smushes down into an 8″ x 7″ x 3″ pouch for easy packing. Because dragging your wheelie carry-on up those foothills when going for a quick hike on your next trip probably isn’t the best idea.

Craighill PVD Coated Titanium Money Clip – $35

Black PVD coated titanium. So it’s nice and lightweight. Looks “the business” and then some. Go ahead and throw a fiver in there, just as a reminder for the $4.99 you didn’t pay for shipping today.

Mexico 1492 Hand Blown Agave Decanter – $60

Holy smokes that thing is beautiful. Makes even the most ardent, non tequila/mescal drinker reconsider those libations (*remembers that one tequila soaked night*) …uh …nah. Incredible decanter though.

Flint & Tinder 365 Pants in Evergreen – $70 – $86 ($108)

• Straight fit = $70
• Athletic Tapered = $86

On sale only in the dark evergreen shade. Which luckily is perfect for this time of year, and also appears to be muted enough for use during the non holiday months.

Huckberry Made in Japan Acrylic, Wool, Nylon, Spandex Beanie – $30

These hats are terrific. Japanese fabric is just the right weight. Knit feels good and strong too. Sometimes beanies can look good but then slouch and/or shrink. Not these things. 10 colors to pick from.

Made in the USA Flint and Tinder 365 Belt – $85

Available in dark brown, chestnut, tan, or black. They’re what you’d expect. Meaning: nice leather, versatile good looks (casual to smart casual use), and should last and last. Solid brass hardware.

Made in the USA Flint and Tinder 365 Roughout Belt – $85

Roughout suede. Made in the USA. Just two colors (black and tan). Fingers crossed they eventually make these in something a little more versatile, like a medium brown.

USA Made Concrete Soda Can Vase – $45

Somewhere there’s a craft beer drinker with a green thumb who’s gonna love that. Made in Houston.

USA Made Flint and Tinder Vintage Soft Wash T-Shirts – $38 or 3 for $96.90 ($118)

For those who truly try to buy American Made when they can. Thirty eight bucks for a basic tee is obviously steep, but Flint and Tinder really cares about their goods, and their USA Made stuff has plenty of happy customers. (See their bestselling waxed trucker jacket.) Also, you can save a bit more by bundling and buying three at once. The 3-for-$96.90 deal will save you $17 most days… but that $96 bundle price is just under the usual free shipping threshold of $98. Yet with today’s free shipping deal, that’s another $4.99 you’ll save on top of the $17 by way of bundling. Still works out to $32.30 a shirt. Which is way too much for those who are just fine with picking up a $10 tee at Target. And that’s totally understood.

The Pathfinder N/A Spirit – $40

Dry January is approaching fast. This is the best non-alcoholic “spirit” on the market. And it’s not close. Acts much, much closer to a rich, full bodied, distilled spirit with a long finish. Try it and you might find yourself hooked. Which is a funny thing to say about a booze-free bottle of “booze.” Dark in color and full/complex in taste, it doesn’t try to replicate whiskey or rum or Scotch, but is more of a digestif bitter style. Still has some sweetness but isn’t overly sugary. Mixes great for mocktails or easing off the gas for lower ABV cocktails. And unlike other NA spirits, you can absolutely sip and enjoy this stuff on the rocks or neat.

Made in the USA Waxed Canvas Apron – $79

For the grillers, the cooks, the woodworkers, and the crafters of all kinds. 7oz. Martexin Original Waxed Sailcloth from New Jersey. Cut and sewn here in the United States. Will wear in over time like, oh I dunno, a favorite waxed trucker.

Something for her out of their Gift Guide for Women

• j.bee Good Luck Charm Necklace (four leaf clover, horseshoe, wishbone) – $80
• Viska Women’s Vilja Glove – $90
• Julia Szendrei Ruby Huggie Earrings – $48
• Stanley The IceFlow 50 oz Aerolight Bottle Fast Flow – $44 ($55)

Time’s running short. And if you’ve got a gal on your list whom you’d love to give a gift to this holiday season, then try not to panic. The Huckberry Gift Guide for Her really is a nice resource. At the very least, it’s full of idea starters. (Shameless plug for one of our recent posts: We made a gift guide for her too. Check that out here.)

The Huckberry Free Shipping No Minimum event ends this Sunday, 12/14. And know that Monday is when shipping rates go up due to the holiday rush. So, there’s that.

Timex: 30% off select w/ ELF30

Tuesday 12/9 Update: This got extended one more day, and it now ends tonight.

Wednesday 12/10 Update: Good grief does someone at Timex need to hit a revenue goal? They’ve extended this thing, again, and it now runs through Thursday.

Has Timex somehow become the BR Factory of wristwatches? Weird analogy, but they both used to be flimsy afterthoughts, yet somehow developed into sources of high value & solid style. Look, not all of their offerings are home runs. Far from it. But both BRF and Timex have a handful of items that are downright… awesome? Items which punch well above their weight (think BRF’s traveler jeans).

Gotta play the sale game though. That’s another thing they have in common.

Thankfully, Timex is doing another 1-day flash sale, this time with a few more of those awesome-looking pieces included, with a discount that’s the very same as their Black Friday offer.

Code ELF30 ends tonight. Off we go with the picks.

Q Timex 39mm Continental Day/Date Quartz – $118.30 ($169)

Inexpensive, GADA style, well proportioned 39mm case, and the H-link bracelet is quite nice. Won’t be everyone’s cup of Earl Grey, but if you’re looking for an affordable integrated bracelet sports watch which can also be dressed up, then this one is pretty darn good for ~$120 with the ELF30 code.

Waterbury Heritage Chronograph 39mm w/ Fabric Strap – $209.30 ($299)

A perfect example of what Timex is doing which other brands aren’t. They’re responding to what customers want. Like a panda chronograph with classy branding in a sub 40mm diameter. This model is supposedly sold only on their website.

Waterbury Heritage Chronograph 39mm w/ Fabric Strap – $209.30 ($299)

And the black dial, “reverse panda” option as shown at the very top of the post.

Deepwater Reef 200 Titanium Automatic – $384.30 ($549)

If you’ve got a hankerin’ for titanium, specifically a dive watch with an automatic movement, those can be tough to find at a reasonable price. 41mm case diameter, Miyota 8215 21-jewel Japanese automatic movement, sapphire crystal, Super-Luminova, and 200m of water resistance. That thing would look pretty great on a NATO strap.

Marlin Jet Quartz Chrono – $188.30 ($269)

Builds off their retro-future “Jet” line, this time with a quartz chrono movement & smart dress style.

Marlin Jet Quartz 38mm  – $153.30 ($219)

And the non-chrono version. Shown above in green. Also available in white or blue. Fun. Interesting. Easy to tone down by putting it on an aftermarket brown or black leather strap.

Waterbury Metropolitan Automatic 41mm – $230.30 ($329)

21 jewel Miyota automatic movement, leather strap with deployant clasp, and smart looks. It’s certainly not a cheap Timex, but it does look like a watch which should cost a lot more.

Waterbury Metropolitan Automatic 41mm – $230.30 ($329)

The black dial version. Worth noting is that these come with quick release spring bars in the strap. So it’s easy to swap out the stock black-croc version for brown when you need it to match brown shoes and a brown belt.

Expedition 39mm Automatic – $224 ($320)

Shades of a Hamilton field/mountaineering styled watch? They claim the bracelet has quick release pins, which is ideal as that’d look great on a NATO or leather strap too, yet the pics online don’t seem to show that. Timex has had issues with image continuity this past year or two. They seem to upload pics of pre-production prototypes, which somehow then get blended into their media libraries of true-production models. It can be hard to tell just what you’re getting sometimes.

1972 World Time Quartz Tropic Dial – $139.30 ($199)

Interesting case shape and tropic brown dial. 70s style without looking costume-y. Just under $140 with the discount.

The Timex 30% off select with code ELF30 event is set to expire at 3am ET on Tuesday 12/9/25 Wednesday 12/10/25 Friday 12/12/25. 

Spier 100% Merino Shawl Collar Cardigans – $141 ($188)

Buried deep in a 25% off select Pre-Black-Friday event, these sweaters are the real deal. And even though with the discount they’re still $141, 25% off is a true steal.

100% Australian merino wool in a chunky knit. Double-knit collar for that extra “hug” around your traps. Not a cheap sweater by any stretch. They’re a splurge for sure. But they don’t go on sale that often, and Spier doesn’t mega-discount like some other brands. 25% off is significant for them. Especially when it’s on a best seller like the chunky shawl collar cardigan.

They’re handsome. They’re also cozy. And FWIW, the one I (the Joe guy) picked up during the pandemic has held up remarkably well despite seeing immense amounts of use during fall, winter, and spring.

No code needed. 25% off should happen once you put one of these in your cart. Sale ends Tuesday night.

That’s all. Carry on.

P.S. The size shown at the very top of the post is a medium on 5’10″/185.
P.P.S. Don’t hang your sweaters. Spier has them on hangers in some of their product shots, but that’s probably just because they look better on the screen that way. Fold them. Gravity is undefeated, and will stretch them out over time if you put it on a hanger.

Macy’s: 15% off select watches w/ FRIEND

Somebody might want to tell Macy’s their Timex watch pricing appears to be at least somewhat out of date…

Waterbury Chronograph Panda Dial – $220.15 w/ FRIEND ($259)

Current price at Timex direct = $299 (and o.o.s.)

A “Newman” on a budget. Wait, so… this Newman then? Okay, bad metaphor. Great looking watch though. Panda dial, motorsport inspired strap, and a pleasant to many not oversized 39mm case diameter.

Waterbury Metropolitan Automatic 41mm – $254.15 w/ FRIEND ($299)

Current price at Timex direct = $329 

21 jewel Miyota automatic movement, leather strap with deployant clasp, and smart looks. It’s certainly not a cheap Timex, but it does look like a watch which should cost a lot more. Worth noting is that these come with quick release spring bars in the strap. So it’s easy to swap out the stock black-croc version for brown when you need it to match brown shoes and a brown belt.

Waterbury Metropolitan Chronograph 41mm – $169.15 w/ FRIEND ($199)

Current price at Timex direct = $219 (and o.o.s.)

Full review here. A new favorite design of theirs. Cream, layered dial. Chronograph quartz movement. Antiqued-leather strap with deployant clasp. Also comes with quick release pins for easy strap swap outs.

MK1 Automatic 40mm – $220.15 w/ FRIEND ($259)

Current price at Timex direct = $299 (and o.o.s.)

Hamilton Field Mechanical looks at a more palatable price. Japanese automatic movement. Priced less than the Hamilton quartz.

The Macy’s 15% off select watches code FRIEND runs through November 4th.

That’s all.

Carry on.

P.S.

There are more brands on sale than just Timex, although it appears that Timex is the one notable suffering from “pre-recent-price-raise-itis.” The other makes have full MSRPs in line with what’s showing on their brand websites. But know code FRIEND is working on select Mido, Citizen, Spinnaker, and yes Seiko watches too (although the Seikos were a few dollars cheaper last week)…

• Mido Swiss Automatic Ocean Star Captain 39mm – $1062 ($1,250)
• Citizen Eco-Drive Garrison Titanium 42mm – $344.25 ($450)
• Mido Swiss Automatic Belluna Royal 41mm – $807.50 ($950)
• Spinnaker Spence 300 Automatic 40mm – $552.50 ($650)

Kinda tough to get a deal on a Swiss watch these days, so the Midos are worth a specific call out. No Hamilton watches are getting the 15% off though. Those have been excluded from Macy’s deals for some years now. Best bet for some savings on Hamilton may be their storefront on Amazon. Oddly enough they have some models over there marked down by $50ish.

Okay, NOW carry on.

Spier 100% Merino Shawl Collar Cardigans – $159.80 ($188)

To say prices are on the rise in the style world would be an understatement.

YET… last year Spier’s famous all merino chunky shawl collar cardigans had a full MSRP of $198.

This year, they’re $188.

And through today they’re 15% off during an “up to 20% off” select items fall sale.

100% Australian merino wool in a chunky knit. Double-knit collar for that extra “hug” around your traps. Not a cheap sweater by any stretch. They’re a splurge for sure. But they don’t go on sale that often, and thus, they’re still very much worth a steal alert. Because they’re that good.

They’re handsome. They’re also cozy. And FWIW, the one I (the Joe guy) picked up during the pandemic has held up remarkably well despite seeing immense amounts of use during fall, winter, and spring. I never put it in storage, and will sometimes even wear it on the occasional cool summer night… if one of those actually comes to be.

No code needed. 15% off should happen once you put one of these in your cart.

That’s all. Carry on.

P.S. The size shown at the very top of the post is a medium on 5’10″/185.
P.P.S. Don’t hang your sweaters. Spier has them on hangers in some of their product shots, but that’s probably just because they look better on the screen that way. Fold them. Gravity will stretch them out over time if you put it on a hanger.

Macy’s: 25% off select Seikos (& more)

A normal discount for these Seiko watches at Macy’s is (sticks finger in air, reads sheep’s entrails, recalibrates dowsing rod) …20%. Sometimes 15% is all you’ll get. And with tariffs and price increases hitting the watch world especially hard, often they’re just stuck to full price.

So yes, Virginia, 25% off ain’t half bad.

Macy’s is obviously an authorized dealer. So unlike gray market sellers, you’ll get the full factory warranty with these. And that’s true peace of mind. Take it from a guy who just dropped off a Seiko for some servicing and got quoted $500 + a 6 month wait. Bought that thing second hand, so, no warranty for me. Having a factory warranty sure woulda been nice.

Anyway, no code necessary for the savings at Macy’s. Off we go with the picks…

Seiko 5 Sports Dive Style Automatic – $262.50 ($350)

Full review can be found here, and you can see it featured in our double time series here as well as here. The Seiko 5 Sports dive-style is basically a baby Planet Ocean for a measly ~3.2% of the P.O.’s price. It’s easy to read, it feels rugged and well built, and the 42.5mm case brings some tool-watch “presence,” yet should wear great for most. The exhibition caseback shows off the hacking, hand-winding, Japanese-made 4R36 movement. Bracelet is terrific with its comfortable brushed links (just the edges are polished,) which avoids the jangly/overly-intricate/shiny “jewelry” look. 100m resistance is plenty, and while the crown doesn’t screw down, it feels incredibly solid.

Seiko “Cocktail Time” Automatic – $337.50 ($450)

A favorite of watch aficionados, this is the one with an almost iridescent blueish-silver dial. Case size is a pleasing for many 40.5mm, and the movement hacks and hand winds. The hands and indices look razor sharp, the case back is an exhibition style showing off the 23-jewel movement, and the slightly tapered crown has a classically styled Seiko “S” etched into it. But it’s the band that’s a deal breaker for some of us. Sure it’s pliable leather with a soft underside, and the blue accent stitching is neat, but the topside is a glossy almost patent leather. It’s easy to see what they’re going for here, but it just doesn’t do the piece justice. Looks cheap. Yet a strap change-out is simple enough. Go with a black croc style embossed instead.

Seiko 5 40mm SRPE55 Automatic – $236.25 ($295)

Basically Seiko’s version of that luxury “crown” brand’s Explorer model. Sporty enough to be worn with a t-shirt and jeans, yet refined enough to be worn with a suit and tie when needed. Specs from the brand are 40mm in diameter and 11.5mm thick. Wears pleasantly mid-sized. Feels great, looks great, and for a price that’s ~3% of that previously mentioned luxury brand.

Seiko GMT Auto 5 Sports in Blue/Black or Black/Gray– $363.38 ($475)

Full review here. These are the watches which a few years back poured jet-fuel on Seiko’s already solid reputation for being high-bang for the buck. The Seiko 5 Sports GMT is rugged, fun, and a bit different than a normal diver thanks to the GMT function.

Seiko Speedtimer SSC813 – $543.75 ($725)

Full review here. Panda-dial racing good looks. Dependable, super accurate, solar-powered quartz movement. Build quality is really impressive. It just feels good on your wrist. Not flimsy. Not rickety. It’s solid. Also looks great on a leather strap. (Standard, perforated rally, “bund” strap, etc.)

Seiko 41mm Solar Speedtimer 911 – $562.50 ($750)

Note that this is not the 39mm White/Black panda just mentioned. It’s a bit different. The 911 is 41mm in diameter, the dial is a silver sun-ray instead of white, and it has a two-tone black and gray tachymeter bezel. It also has a different hands-set which includes a red chronograph seconds hand, as well as a red hand on the power reserve sub dial at six o’clock. Full details/specs/ can be found over at Seiko, where they’re obviously nailed, epoxied, and welded to the full MSRP of $750.

The 25% off select Seiko (and other brands) watches sale at Macy’s is set to expire this Sunday, 10/26.

That’s all.

Carry on.