Why I’m Obsessed with Good Gear (And You Probably Are Too)

Being Enthusiastic About Enthusiasm

By Michael Jason Pascual

One of the quirkier things about me—and maybe one of the quiet cornerstones of this whole Skwally thing—is that I really love gear.

Like, I really love it.

Not in the flexy, influencer, show-it-off-on-social kind of way. I mean it in the way you might get lost in a Home Depot aisle when you only came in for lightbulbs. Or how you might spot a Ryobi catalog at the oil change place and think, "Yeah, I'm taking that home."

That's me. I scroll tool apps like others scroll Instagram. I read product descriptions the way some folks read poetry. I pay attention to hinge mechanisms, case finishes, motor torque specs—not because I need to, but because it scratches some deep inner itch that's always been there.

I don't think I'm the only one. It's not about impressing anyone. I don't care if someone notices my gear. I care if I notice it.

It's not even always about owning the thing—it's about knowing it exists. Savoring it through detail. Appreciating that someone built it with care. That it has a purpose. That it was engineered thoughtfully. That it fits.

It's a kind of enthusiasm I've had since I was young. Now that I'm older, I see it differently.

And lately, I've realized: there's joy in simply being enthusiastic about enthusiasm.

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The People I'm Drawn To

When I look at the people I respect most—my close friends, my mentors—they've all got that same spark.

They get excited over things most people would consider overkill.

They have preferences. They care about the feel of a tool handle, the cut of a jacket, the way a chord's tone matches an exhaust note.

They don't need a crowd to appreciate what they appreciate. They just... appreciate.

Whether it's a watch, a pair of boots, a clean car interior, or a bag of roasted coffee beans—it's never just about the product.

It's about being connected to something done with care.

And honestly, I think that's part of what makes life good—finding little things worth noticing.

If you're reading this, chances are you know exactly what I'm talking about.

You've got your thing too—something you study, something you get excited about that most people would scroll past without a second glance.

So if you're particular, if you tinker, if you go deep on stuff most people overlook—welcome.

You're not alone.

– Skwally