About

Welcome to Rugged Rookie

It all started in 2020 with a pair of Red Wings. Quiet boots, built for weekdays, the weekend and the long haul. Then 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 years (or five decades, if you’re into mothballs).

Back then, I had no idea where I slotted into the menswear galaxy. But those first pieces? They stuck. Rugged style slipped into my life like that one mate who always seems to have a bottle opener handy—not loud, just always there when you need it.

I started off sharing photos and a few lines on Instagram. Nothing fancy. Folks noticed. Some were barely getting started; others, you could tell their faded jeans had been through a lot. 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 doesn’t posture. 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 where anyone who appreciates lasting gear (and the tales it collects) is welcome.

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.