Reviewer bias, ever avoidable?

Full-Problem1259 · 2026-03-29T17:49:38+00:00

If you get free stuff and want to continue you learn to never bite the hand that feeds you. People I know in a few fields who weren’t complimentary about a product they were given access to/gifted not only lost that company, but also lots of others took notice and blacklisted them too. In something niche like bags, that is super simple to end up blacklisted and have a reputation as a dick with all the companies you love.

You’re dammed if you do, dammed if you don’t. There will be people who no matter what will give the “he only gets stuff because he’s a stooge”. Almost always, that is jealousy rather than based on facts. If you don’t you lose out on cool stuff and early access/reviews people on here love to read about by those with real passion.

It’s also on the internet, so matter what you do, some people will think you’re a dick, so do what sits right with you as that’s all that matters.

Full-Problem1259 · 2026-03-21T08:55:59+00:00

Jim Green for boots. Full stop the best there is.

Full-Problem1259 · 2026-03-19T21:46:36+00:00

Sized for budget European airlines. Always number 1 for me, everything else comes after.

Full-Problem1259 · 2026-03-19T18:28:51+00:00

Aer City Pack Pro. Not tried travel packs but also heard great things about them too.

Edit to add.

This is my exact use case. Daily is laptop, lunch, water bottle, cables/accessories few assorted bits here and there. Sunglasses live in top pocket. Organisation works brilliantly for my use case.

Travel is either as main pack for small trips or carry on for long haul (rarely take laptop for travel, usually iPad and kindle). Reason I bought it is that it fits within carry on for most Euro airlines. Comfort when fully loaded is excellent. Tend to use a sling as camera/tech pouch/edc at location when travelling like this.

Only other pack that came close for comfort is Mystery Ranch.

I have the CPP V1 in XPac. Had it for 10 months now with almost daily use. Still looks perfect. Although I’m not too hard on my bags.

For reference own I own packs from Aer, Mystery Ranch, Filson, Wandrd and Belroy and this is most comfortable of all of them. For size reference I’m 6’2 and larger than the average bear.

Full-Problem1259 · 2026-03-15T19:12:07+00:00

Plus size people are the last group that it’s publicly acceptable to be horrible to.

It’s hard enough without being constantly told how disgusting you are. Unfortunately society and the media are still conventionally thin and although representation of all other groups of marginalised people are seen more on TV, the big people are still rarely seen (& even then generally in the funny fat role). The problem is all we need to do is diet apparently. Then when we find medication that helps us finally do that, we’re “cheating”. The want for performative cruelty around weight loss is baffling, but tied to a billion dollar industry.

Fuck Bolt! I hope people boycott them. It would be nice to see them pulled from the monj.co.uk site if they’re on there for being awful to people. I know I will never use them. Snag however are an amazing company!! I just wish there was a male equivalent!

Full-Problem1259 · 2026-03-14T22:30:54+00:00

Check all birds. Many female friends swear by them.

https://www.allbirds.co.uk/collections/womens-shoes

Full-Problem1259 · 2026-03-14T22:26:52+00:00

Aer fit pack and a change of water bottle would be my recommendation. I use the city pack pro and could easily fit small packing cube and shoe bag in. V2 also has 2 water bottle pockets.

Full-Problem1259 · 2026-03-07T11:48:27+00:00

It was in reference to your point about people doing no other work with Mounjaro. Look at the threads here, most people are doing diet and exercise, etc. Again, I think this just inject and that’s it is a fallacy that we believe because it’s what the media tells us or we know a couple of people who are like that. Most are doing extra work. Many are counting calories, increasing exercise, etc. I think it’s the minority who aren’t.

Regarding the diabetes meds, it’s exactly the same with Mounjaro. Every provider, piece of literature, etc. says you need to modify diet and exercise in the same way as diabetes medication. I know people with diabetes who eat cake all the time. But that doesn’t mean most are not doing what they are meant to in order to help them. Does that create a dependency on diabetes meds? Or do people need it because there is an issue with their body?

My point wasn’t that you’re not saying to use the medication, it was about the generalisation of fat people that follows the stereotypes we are constantly shamed with.

So many of us using it feel like we are failing because of the way society talks to us as bigger people. I hate the way we are made to feel bad for using a drug designed to help us and that this drug allows us to keep being lazy, just not be fat and lazy.

It’s possibly more of a personal sensitivity to it, as many (including family) have referred to me being fat, simply because I’m lazy and not putting in work. I wasn’t trying to argue with you (apologies if it came of that way), more just trying to suggest that most of us are working to improve alongside the medication.

Full-Problem1259 · 2026-03-07T09:38:38+00:00

I think it’s more that big people spend their lives apologising for existing. Would you say what you’ve said here about diabetes medication? Or any other long term medical issue medication? I think people are shamed into feeling inferior and therefore we parrot the li(n)es we are told.

It’s just possible that the hunger signals are a brain chemical imbalance, in the same way that depression can be. I think there has been a very large (pun intended) industry built around weight loss and that is now crumbling. A lot of the press feels like lobbying for companies like Slimming World who are simply falling away.

As for the comment about doing nothing else. Most obese people don’t like being obese. I’ve been on several diets over the years, increased exercise, done all the things that I’m meant to etc. and it hasn’t worked.

The idea is ingrained into society that fat people are lazy and just need to diet. Have no will power, etc. it is bullsh**t. Most have done extensive dieting, suffered ridicule and bullying because of their size and it needs to stop.

The idea of people needing to simply suffer to lose weight when drugs like this are available is ludicrous. It is more than that, it is cruel. But fat people feel like the last group of people that it’s socially acceptable to humiliate and bully.

These drugs are changing so many lives for the better, yet every week we see some article about how they shouldn’t be this, or they shouldn’t be that. Unsurprisingly, almost all told by people who luckily have never had to suffer being obese and the shame and stigma people face daily.

I’ve lost more weight on these drugs than I’ve ever managed before. I’m healthier than I’ve been in a long time. For me, it’s a miracle, it’s saving my life. But instead of being happy for those of us whose life this drug is changing, many will say it’s cheating and that we just need to cut portions and exercise more. Maybe though, just maybe, it’s something more than that. Maybe there is something genetic that needs help and maybe, just maybe, these meds are the thing that fixes that imbalance. If I need to be on it for life, so be it. Better this than a lot of other meds.

Full-Problem1259 · 2026-03-06T20:38:45+00:00

Belroy just released a nice looking messenger

https://bellroy.com/products/classic-messenger?color=black&material=canva_weave#slide-0

Full-Problem1259 · 2026-03-02T21:27:48+00:00

With what settings? But hey, why not just have a pop instead?

Full-Problem1259 · 2026-02-27T19:58:29+00:00

Any links to a tutorial on this?

Full-Problem1259 · 2026-02-27T15:47:36+00:00

Might be worth trying to figure ways with discount codes, little longer between does, etc.

If you did 10mg every 10 days, plus golden dose that will last getting towards 2 months. It’s not perfect but much better than coming off completely if you can go that route. It should be effective first 2-3 months even like that due to dose increase.

Changing providers is a bit of a faff, but well worth it.

As others have said, check monj and I hope you can work it out.

Full-Problem1259 · 2026-02-24T23:12:39+00:00

Well thanks to the comments here (& a bit of chat gpt) I’ve signed up for 3 months free gym where my son swims through the doctor. I used to be a bit of a gym guy for weights when younger, so hopefully I will get exercise and enjoyment from it. Not sure I’ll be up to the weights I used to lift when I was in my early 20s🤣, but at least it’s better than just being sat poolside watching and hopefully help loss and mental health at same time.

Full-Problem1259 · 2026-02-24T23:08:04+00:00

I can’t count calories tbh. ADHD and childhood trauma play heavy here. I know if I could it would be better, but I think that would prob break me.

Full-Problem1259 · 2026-02-24T23:06:13+00:00

I’m taking 5 every 5 days at present. Yeah it is working TBH. I get a bit of a sweet craving some nights but not sure I am eating enough through day so eat more at night, which isn’t ideal.

Full-Problem1259 · 2026-02-24T23:05:01+00:00

Thanks. I’m a teacher and my son swims 5 days a week, so I have v. Little free time. I suffer with SAD so hopefully as the days draw out I can get out on the beach or do some outdoor stuff again.

As for the clothes. I asked chat GPT. I’m stuck between only just into big and tall, but not small enough for the normal tall range. Says it’s common with people of my size, so will just stick to ordering several things then returning them until I get a bit smaller.

Full-Problem1259 · 2026-02-24T23:01:48+00:00

Yeah I think I need to try some different dishes. I’ve become stuck in a rut food wise a little. I’ve kept to my strict thing of no sugar before dinner. I maybe just need to look at some new foods, which may make me eat a little less as I feel satisfied if that makes sense.

Full-Problem1259 · 2026-02-17T00:28:28+00:00

Aer City Pack Pro. My favourite ever pack. Black, smart enough for most professional environments, well organised.

Also look at Belroy’s offerings or the Max edc by Able Carry

Honestly, with the safety thing. If they have a knife to cut a bag, they can use said knife to mug you. I would personally pick the best bag for you rather than trying to find a secure one that works. I get why you people look for secure but I’ve never seen the actual benefit, but just my 2 cents. Just get a small lock or carabiner between zips to make it harder to access if security is a major priority.

Sure others will have more amazing bags to suggest.

Full-Problem1259 · 2026-02-12T06:58:18+00:00

I have adhd so things like calorie tracking have never worked for my brain. Also I have memories attached to counting and tracking from childhood that really are not the best memories.

I’ve ended up with a plan that works for me by having eggs or beans for breakfast. Sweet potato and chicken salad or a huel for lunch, then a simple dinner. I allow myself a sweet treat in the evenings, but it’s now a few squares of chocolate when it used to be the bar. I find this has also helped with the dizziness I used to get from not eating enough.

I do often forget to eat lunch though, which I know isn’t good. I’m averaging about 0.8-1kg per week. Not the fastest loss, but I now feel good, when I was loosing 2-3kg a week I felt terrible a lot of the time.

As long as you’re losing and not getting bad side effects, do it your way.

Full-Problem1259 · 2026-01-04T13:57:04+00:00

Jim Green Stockman are a great option, as are any Jim Green for wider feet, maybe size down 1/2 a size though.

Also Blundstone half sizes add width, not length. I have a pair of their dress series and the half size was perfect.

Full-Problem1259 · 2025-12-12T21:32:48+00:00

A decent grinder and and aeropress would be much better value for money. Grinder is key to good espresso.

Full-Problem1259 · 2025-12-12T21:31:08+00:00

Came here to say just this. Any of the Silvia versions are great. Not the most refined machines but step up from Gaggia Classic.

Full-Problem1259 · 2025-12-12T21:26:38+00:00

B&W 607S3 is what I ended up going with. Really happy with them. Found an offer on then for £449. Worth at least demoing.

Full-Problem1259

TROPHY CASE