Letter From the Editor

LOOK FOR something built to last.” The lyrics from a Grateful Dead tune kept buzzing through my head. It may have been the result of spending all day smoking a brisket and drinking beer—a combo that begs for some Dead tunes. (I like them, sue me!)

It felt strangely apropos. My Traeger pellet smoker was a former Gear of the Year winner, and this year’s includes a cool new Wifi version. (Resist, Greg, resist.) Our contributors logged miles, hours, and reps, to make sure all the picks are, well, built to last. And this month, our cover star is too. Remember Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch? Who would have thought back then that Mark Wahlberg would become a global superstar? Work, relationships, gear—we should all just follow that gospel of Jerry...