About

Welcome to Rugged Rookie

It all came full circle in 2020 with a pair of Red Wings. Boots, built for the long haul and then some. After that came the selvedge denim — brutal on day one, but destined for good stories. Jackets followed, not cut for the latest trend but for the next five decades.

Back then, I had no idea where I slotted into the menswear galaxy. But those first rugged pieces? They stuck. Rugged style quietly slipped into my life, bringing with it an endless curiosity — like finding yourself living inside a spangly Christmas tree.

I started off sharing photos and a few lines on Instagram. Nothing fancy. Folks noticed. Some were just getting started; others, you could tell, had been at it morning, noon, and night. The thread holding us together? Respect for things that go the distance. That’s really how the magazine idea landed; not on a board with sticky notes, but as the obvious next step.

Here, rugged style isn’t about posing — it’s about digging deep, leaving no stone unturned. It lingers in shirts that carry yesterday’s woodsmoke, boots with a map of weekend walks etched on the soles. Tired of fashion that dies quicker than a houseplant? You might find you fit in here. Rugged Rookie is the watering hole for anyone who appreciates lasting gear (and the tales it collects).

What’s on Tap at Rugged Rookie

• Advice from the Field: There’s no better style coach than actual wear and tear. We talk about the pieces that couldn’t hack it, just as much as the ones that surprise you.
• Tested by Living: If it’s written up here, it’s seen rain, wind, and at least one hill walk. If a piece gets a nod, it’s because it’s earned it.
• Utility as Style: Around here, good looks follow good function. There’s a certain magic when design just works.
• Stories in the Seams: We’re drawn to the people who build and fix this stuff. Makers, repairers, the hands behind the hardware and the fibre.
• A Place for All: Whether your boots still squeak or you’ve been re-soling yours since the nineties, there’s space at the table. The only rule? Appreciate what’s built to last.

Chasing the “latest thing” isn’t really our bag. You won’t find hype here. We care about things made slow, made right, made for the long story. Rugged style doesn’t need a hype man. It stands for itself.

Welcome to Rugged Rookie. Rugged Style Awaits.

Bit about me? I’m Jeroen Klomp. I built Rugged Rookie from a small village in the Netherlands, where I live with my wife and two kids.