It’s sad to say goodbye. Goodbye to the Summer, goodbye to carefree days and nights, goodbye to sun and sand. But, life is unavoidable so it’s good to make the best of it. Nothing says RESPONSABILITIES like the Ground Control Back to School Guide. Not because we’re not fun, but because we’re trying to BRING fun to the new school year. You’ll see some old favorites and, luckily, some surprises this year in the guide. We’ve never steered you wrong, and we’re not about to now. This year guide, as always, is full of fun suggestions and must-haves for the school year. You can have a productive year without these, but why would you want to? So! Here it is! The Ground Control Back to School guide for 2025! We’re proud of this one! Let’s live like kings!
Manscaped
Grooming is not just for gals anymore. You can now be a well-groomed man and be proud of it! My point is, body maintenance should be for everyone, not just one group of people, and Manscaped has got you covered for all those grooming needs. We covered them (and loved them) “back in the day” and boy, have they grown (no pun intended).
Yes, you can always get your facial and nether regions taken care of with their products, but Manscaped now also offers all sorts of goodies. For example, they have body soaps and washes that give you that thorough cleaning you need but also leave you smelling fresh. As far as actual grooming is concerned, they have top notch beard trimmers, nail trimmers, and electric shavers that are powerful, portable, and practical. I’ve been using their products for years and enjoy having them in my daily routine and the effect they have on myself and those around me. I’m a sweaty stinky man, and I don’t feel that way when I’m cleaning and grooming with Manscaped.
Top it all off with one of their boxer briefs to know what true comfort feels like. If I could, that’s all I’d wear. Manscaped has the perfect gift for that special someone in your life, even if that special someone is yourself.
Teenage Engineering
Teenage Engineering has turned into much more than programmers, mixers, and pocket operators (it’s been 10 years of POs! Unbelievable!). They offer a variety of speakers, microphones, samplers and soon they’re even going to have scooters. What a time to be alive.
What’s cool about Teenage Engineering, not just because they offer cool and functional electronics and instruments, is that they’re portable and easy to learn. You can really take it with you or hunker down in your room and get in the zone no matter the time or place. Just a couple of hours and you’ll be able to work and create beats, melodies, or full songs with their Pocket Operators. And, if you can work one, you can work all of them. It’s about functionality and creativity with them.
There is no reason why you shouldn’t be making your own music. I know the current state of popular music is to divide the haves from the have-nots. Like you’re supposed to be some superstar, god, or magician to make great music. Look at the most popular artists or tours, they’re headed by “artists” who are portrayed as having some unspeakable gift in order to make their music. Well, I have news for you, jack. You’re every bit as talented as any of those people, and it’s time you proved it.
Homage Clothing
I’m turning into a sports fan. I never thought I would but there you have it. At least basketball. Baseball is cool, but maybe a little too slow. It’s definitely the most distinguished of the sports. Football is not for me. But yeah, I’m into basketball, and living in Boston, there’s a temptation to wear sports gear. Especially when it comes to the Celtics, who’ve had a tragic year. There’s never been a better time to support them!
I’m glad Homage exists, not just because they’re an American company (based in Ohio, hooray!), but also because they’ve got the licenses for some very cool IPs and you can get your sports gear organically and ethically sourced. Just browse through their catalog and you can get shirts, socks, shorts, sweatpants, sweaters, hoodies, and jackets with your favorite NBA, MLB, NFL, Star Wars (old school posters!), superheros and Simpsons designs with some sweet references. They’ve got adult and kids sizes too, and my toddler doesn’t want to take his Celtics shirt off! It’s all printed on quality gear, 50/50 cotton poly blend, emblazoned with that cool Homage H on the sleeve. Some of these items are DTG printed, but I also got some screen-printed stuff, which I prefer. So, keep that in mind if printing method is something that matters to you.
I’m excited to rock these new sweaters and shirts, and next time I’m at a Celtics game, my son and I will be proudly donning our shirts. There’s no way the Celtics can lose!
Nakatomi Inc Posters
Let me tell you a story about how Tim Doyle’s art made an impact on me. Austin Texas is one of the great cities in the US, it’s both incredibly fun and incredibly hot. I’ve always wanted to visit but never had a chance until a friend there decided to get married, so off I went on a direct flight from Boston to Austin. If it’s one thing that’s fun about Austin, in addition to the food and alcohol, is the emporium shops where you can find anything from vintage cowboy boots to home made beer soap. One of these shops had a Tim Doyle poster for his Wes Anderson series and it immediately caught my eye.
I remembered that poster when I came back from my trip and went on an internet search trying to find it. And what leads did I have? The words “Wes Anderson” “Print” and “Austin.” At about the 10th page of images search, there it was, the poster I was looking for, and the artist name. I’ve been a fan of Tim Doyle ever since.
One look at his art and you know why it stands out: beautifully recreated pop culture scenery with only minor references. Yes, unfortunately, a lot of pop culture art these days is lacking in subtlety which makes it almost impossible to display, but Tim Doyle seems to have figured out this simple equation. It’s hard not to love art that references the Simpsons, King of the Hill, Miyazaki, and Wes Anderson, and lucky for us, all of these hand screen prints are available from Nakatomi Inc. There’s art that looks nice, and art you NEED.
Buy it from the Nakatomi Inc website, who are an art collective and not mindless robots. You’ll be doing the right thing.
Baxter of California
We love Baxter of California and by now we’re sure you know that. They’ve been there for us since the beginning offering the best in shaving products. The best blades, the best razors, the best everything. So you know they deliver on that front. But did you know that Baxter of California also makes some damn fine bathing and grooming products?
It’s true! This time around we wanted to focus on the softer side of Baxter of California. Let me just start off by talking about their awesome Invigorating body wash. And I mean for the WHOLE body. This is the kind of body wash for guys like me who want one thing to do the job right and for your no-nonsense bathing needs. I even take mine to the gym to reduce the clutter. It’ll get you the kind of clean you want and leave you smelling great.
And when you’re done with your shower, try out some of their bar soaps which make such a lather that you will use it on your entire body, including on your head, as a shampoo. When you’re done top if off with one of their excellent candles. Still the best stuff out there.
https://baxterofcalifornia.com
Super7 Action Figures
It’s the age of the action figure and Super7 is one of the most recognizable names in action figure-dom. They have a wide range of IPs that, somehow, keeps expanding. Punk rock, rap, classic TV shows, cult movies, horror movies! You name it, they’ve got it. And they don’t just do your standard reanimation figure, they’ve also got deluxe action figures, with more detail, points of articulation, and accessories. Think of them as a bigger, meatier, larger action figure, you’ll actually want to take out of its box and display for ages to come. Hey, your kid might even want to take it out for a spin!
Super7 doesn’t just have the IPs you know and love, but they’ve also expanded into their own IP: meaning, they’ve created action figures of characters from their own lines. I’m talking about the Weirdest line, of course, featuring such characters as Mummy’s Hand (my favorite), Zombeef, and Thrashquatch. Don’t bother looking them up, because you won’t find them anywhere else! And that’s the whole point. There are those who are passionate in recreating the things we love and those who actually create for its own sake. Admirable, to say the least.
And you don’t just have to rock Super7 on your shelf, you can also do it on your body with their clothing lines of screen printed shirts, from Peanuts to your favorite Horror Classic. Super7 has got you covered!
Feels So Good Clothing and Record Shop
You know these guys used to be a whole different FSG, right? They’re based in Texas, which is the cool state these days, as far as music is concerned. Die Spitz, I’m looking at you. I can always browse the FSG catalog to find my favorite music/pop culture mashup shirt. They’ve got you from Repo Man, to Tori Amos, to David Lynch, to Kids in the Hall, to Bernie Sanders, to cooky, mysterious, and spooky. Oh, and all these shirts are of the highest quality, screen printed with love. It’s what you would expect from a small operation that runs on the good stuff.
This is all well and good, but another thing people forget is that FSG is also a kickass record store. They don’t just have the classics (like Radiohead and Waylon Jennings), they also have the cool new stuff like Ty Segall and OSEES. Yes, get yourself some cool shirts, and be more than a poseur by also having some music to go with it. This isn’t Coachella or Budokan!
FSG is a one-stop-shop for fashion (they’re also a vintage shop!) and freshness. Their clothes will keep you moving (did you know they also PRINT shirts? Oh yeah!) and their music will keep you grooving. Nothing but the best – the finest and best…of the south!
Supergoop!
I had a rude awakening when I visited my dermatologist last year. As a pale man (and sometimes, THE pale man), I need to start wearing sunscreen. Otherwise, as he said, “that mole on your forehead is going to start getting bigger.” My biggest issue with wearing sunscreen is that I don’t like having sticky goop on my face. My dermatologist recommended Supergoop! by name. I tried it and it’s a lifesaver.
There are cheaper sunscreens out there, of course, but so far I haven’t found a facial sunscreen that goes on smooth and doesn’t feel oily or gooey when you put it on. I just can’t stand that stuff. As a greasy guy, I try to keep my face as clear as possible. Supergoop! allows me to do that while still getting the protection I need. Meaning, it’s worth the price.
Supergoop! has it all from face creams, to all-day everywhere creams, to application bars. Whatever format you need, they’ve got it, and you’re getting that same high-quality no-slimy-residue product that will go on smooth and dry clear. The sun is fun but is also an evil mistress. You need to stay protected. Safety is no joke. Supergoop! has you covered! Go on, bruv!
Crumbl Cookies
This one came out of left field, didn’t it? Well, the thing is, we’re not exactly foodies here on GC, but we DO love food, and Crumbl Cookies is a special case. I have quite the sweet tooth. It’ll be my downfall one day, as even my doctor is advising me to lay off the sweets. So, when I DO indulge, I make sure it’s special. And Crumbl has been on a special journey.
They started as over-the-top cookies, but over the past year, they’ve pivoted a little more to specialized weekly flavors. Meaning, every week you’ll get a whole new set of cookies (usually 6) that are all over the map. And this is important to note, because we all have our ideal cookie. Case in point, when I order a set of 6 cookies, you can bet there will be three I’ll adore, and three I’m not a fan of. My kids and wife will have their own unique set of three, and they do not overlap. This is just another way of saying: Crumbl will most certainly have something that the whole crowd will enjoy. Don’t be a monster and share your batch of cookies, which you can order in-house, or have delivered to you! Keep those sugar levels high and make sure you make a party out of it!
