Rubin Recommends is a blog by Matt Rubin, based in Upstate, NY. He writes about things he'd like to recommend — running gear, home tech, music, movies, art, photography, and people.
From the archive The Weekly Check In. Years ago I used to ask the same set of questions, weekly on Fridays, to creatives, musicians, actors, and people I admired to get their updates and recommendations. This is the archive of those. Browse the archive →
New I've had every version of AirPods since they came out. The new ones feel slightly larger but still comfortable, have volume controls on the buds, and the noise canceling is even better. Awesome upgrade for the base model.
New I've been looking for one of these for a while for my RAV4, but the prices and reviews just didn't seem worth it. This one is only $40, took me 2 minutes to set up, and works great. Highly recommend.
New Post-Punk
Found this randomly last Friday and have listened to it at least 50 times since. Raw yet ethereal blend of emo, post-hardcore, and psychedelia — open guitars, discordant bass riffs, euphoric choruses. For fans of Cola, Preoccupations, and Ought.
Switched over from an Apple Watch Ultra 2 for running and haven't looked back. Simpler, lighter, way better battery life, and it just picked up full maps in beta. It's better at fitness than the Apple Watch, full stop — you just give up the smartwatch stuff, which turned out to be the point.
Jazz
Like everyone says, great for making dinner, sitting outside drinking coffee, or doing the dishes.
Indie
Their newest record, out now. I love this band, and this one's the perfect soundtrack for the end of summer sliding into fall.
Went camping in Montauk and it was mosquito city — this thing saved us. Popped up in seconds, staked it down over the picnic table, and we had a screened-in hangout spot for the whole trip.
Five years in and this bottle goes everywhere with me. Yes, $50+ for a water bottle is sticker shock, but the glass-lined stainless steel keeps tastes and smells away completely. Easy to clean, sturdy, minimal plastic. One of the best.
Hardcore
An awesome 3-song EP released yesterday. Been on repeat. Check out the video for the title track too.
Six months in and it's just perfectly simple. One button, hot water at the right temperature, done. I added a smart plug so it brews before I wake up. What sold me long-term: it's repairable, parts are easy to find, and people are even making non-plastic replacement parts for it.
Indie Rock
Been on repeat. From his new record "Philadelphia's been good to me."
My new go-to, fool-proof pan for a fried egg, an omelet, even a six-egg scramble (I had to try it). I use it daily for breakfast for my wife, my daughter, and me, reheat small portions in it, sauté mushrooms, and even bring it car camping. The curved walls are what make it "the chef" skillet, and I love it.
Classic men's wedding rings, handmade in NYC. For the groom who wants a timeless band without the decision paralysis, good quality, and great customer service. Not sure of your size? They'll send a ring sizer and help you land on the right width and metal.
I've used Monarch for over three years and have never felt more in the know about my money. It's a paid app, so no ads, with the best account connections I've found, custom rules, transaction splitting, and genuinely beautiful reports. Worth every penny.
Never thought I'd be the person saying "Brother printers are the best"... but here we are. The QL-1100 just works, and it's better than any Dymo I've used over the years. I use it for the large shipping labels and it's so easy. (Same goes for the Brother HL-L2305W if you need full-size laser printing.)
Eastern food therapy meets nutritional science for fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum. I witnessed the magic of their offering firsthand after my wife gave birth. Order it for yourself or send it as a gift to a friend who needs nourishment during their journey.
A route planner for running and hiking. The standout is the Apple Watch experience: live maps and turn-by-turn navigation while trail running, so you can focus on the run instead of checking your phone or getting lost. You can import GPX files (like a Strava export) or draw your own routes.
I'd never liked using a shaker bottle. I didn't love the original, and a newer one with the holes in the top wasn't it either. This one is my favorite. No extra parts, awesome engineering, and durable. I have the smaller size and it's great for protein powder. Highly recommended.
My favorite travel and camping coffee maker. So easy to bring everywhere and it makes genuinely good coffee. The travel version comes with its own cup that everything stores in nice and neat (the scoop and stirrer). I've brought it car camping and all the way to New Zealand twice and love it.
Indie
This band sounds like they are from New Zealand but hail from Montreal. A mix of "Teenage Fanclub" and "The Clean" (h/t Ryan McGaffigan for that comparison). I've been listening to this song on repeat.
Though I'd change some things back to how the v4 was, the Rebel v5 still offers that fast but comfortable ride. I'd love a slightly wider toebox, but overall it's a very fun, great everyday shoe if you can only pick one. And like my joy of the new foam tech in the Mount to Coast H1, I wish the Rebel kept its foam as joyful after 100 miles as it is day one.
Sonos's newest portable home speaker with WiFi, Bluetooth, and a wireless charging base. It sits between the Roam and Move. At $299 it's a really amazing offering that can also be added as a stereo pair.
A fun, fast PEBA-style biofoam road shoe (that should last 600 miles without losing its bounce) with traction that can handle light trail — rail trail, nothing technical. They're called "gravel shoes." I love them for 89% of the running I do here on rail trails and road, and I even like the extra traction on road. The 2mm lugs don't annoy me. Feels like the true Swiss Army knife for most of my running and travel.
My new favorite long run water bottle. An interesting thumb hole gives you more movement and a secure hold no matter how much is left, with a quick-snap lid to easily add water. It's never leaked and I love it.
The MVNO that I use with Verizon and AT&T. They support all three carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile), awesome pricing, incredible features (international data roaming up to 20GB/month, the ability to switch carriers without losing billing or features, multi-network, unlimited data, and more). If you're new to the eSIM or MVNO concept, please reach out and I can help guide you.
I use my No. 8 almost every day for our morning eggs. I love the thing. I recently took it car camping and used it for every meal. Cleared it out and kept going because it's truly non-stick if you keep it up!
It's time, you need to get a bidet. They're incredible, you feel great, and they save toilet paper. This one is the easiest quick install (a Phillips screwdriver, that's it) and one of my top picks for getting started — you may never need to upgrade. It sprays cold water from the wall (not the tank — people always say "ewww," but the water isn't as cold as you'd imagine on the initial spray, and it's quite nice in the summer).
The one you want if you're already sold on the idea and willing to pay around $400. I love it so much I wish I could buy everyone I know one. It's a lot more expensive but a lot more luxurious. Still a fairly easy install, but you'll need an outlet to use all its features — check your bathroom for one (or plan to hire an electrician) first.
I've used this face wash for 8 years, and I'm never going back. Clean, simple, smells good. I'd recommend all of the Ursa Major products — I also use their gel moisturizer.
Indie
I watch this at least once a month. The energy and connection between Dijon and Mk.gee, and the set design (spoiler alert), truly inspire me every time.
I did a lot of these things in New Zealand, and this film captures the magic of so much of it. DIRT is made by Huckberry (the outdoors and products retailer) and they do a fantastic job.