Gear Patrol | Spirit of Adventure, Passion for Gear

Ditch the Daypack

Reality check: chances are you’ll never pull a Sebastian Junger and embed with the armed forces in Agfhanistan. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t at least look the part while you sip espresso at an Eastern European city center cafe planning the route to that spelunking expedition by wearing the Orvis Ultimate Travel Jacket ($325). [...]

Say no to white

Just like the original, but now for a secound round with the iPad 2, with or without those clever Smart Covers. The Killspencer iPad 2 Case ($189) continues the Pasadena based workshop’s awesome murdered out aesthete complete with premium black leather, soft covered neoprene lining, shoulder strap and RIRI Aquazip waterproof zippers. You’ll also find [...]

Four Loco? More like pour Stumpco.

We’ve been fans of Stumptown coffee ever since we first encountered the Portland, Oregon brewer a few years back. Since then, the brand has gained notoriety, even opening an outpost in NYC at the trendsetting Ace Hotel. Recently, Stumptown launched a new line, bringing the fantastic taste of cold brewed coffee to the masses. It’s [...]

Well designed weekend

A five-star hotel it may not be, but in our book Ten Broeck Cottage is even better. Nestled on 8 acres of apple orchard in Hudson, New York (two hours north of the city) the 3 bedroom cottage is a blend of historical and modern amenities. Exposed beams and 15″ wide plank flooring are juxtaposed [...]

Spruce Up for Spring

Treat your inner dandy to some new flair in the form of these J. Crew Spring 2011 Collection Pocket Squares ($40). Each option in the set is distinctively masculine (re: no paisley) while still adding a bit more pop than your classic Don Draper white. There’s even a couple produced by Hill-Side. Add one to [...]

Three wheels to the wind

Riding an adult trike sounds about as exciting as a trip to the dollar store with your grandparents. KMX aims to change all that with their Cobra Mountain Trike ($1,549), a three-wheeled wonder that keeps your center of gravity low for good balance and excellent handling. Using TIG welded Chromoly steel and aluminum for the [...]

Awww Shucks

A few beers, a bucket, and one of these RH Forschner by Victorinox Oyster Knifes ($11) can make for a great night given the right company. Each knife features a high carbon steel blade with an ergonomic, and slip resistant supergrip handle — ideal for prying open even the toughest fruit of the sea. Sold [...]

Our photos of a timeless pairing: cars and women

A fan after Q's own heart

Stadler Form has a knack for making ordinary household objects look like museum pieces. The Q fan is part air blower and part letter, which happens to be the trademark of Swiss designer Carlo Borer. Made from a combination of aluminum and stainless steel, it weighs roughly 8.8 pounds, has three speed levels, and slurps [...]

A grid you'll want to get caught in

Marmot has married robust knowledge of waterproofing and outdoor gear with a modern European design aesthetic in the Grid 2P ($379). Perfect for a couple or outdoor duo, the Grid 2P continues the Euro-focused camping (fog, rain) but adds heavy-duty additions for harsh conditions including a hydrostatic fly and floor and a clever storm-pitch assembly [...]

Loggin' in a better average

Baseball has been an American standard since… well, since old George W (the original) caused a ruckus in a certain British colony. During the intervening time, baseball equipment hasn’t changed much – leather skinned ball, three bases, sunflower seeds in the dugout – until the Baden Axe Pro Bat ($45). Woodsman, meet baseman. Rather than [...]

Game Over Hangover?

Many products claim they can prevent hangovers. It’s been our experience though that none of these concoctions actually thwart nature’s way of saying you Sheened like a pro. The folks over at Sloshed, may turn us into believers based on their thorough evaluation of Last Round Hangover Support ($3). According to their tests, which involved [...]

Regulators, light up.

Weighing in at just 2.6 oz, the lightweight Soto OD-1R ($70) packs a heavyweight punch. Using a combination of small but handy features make this more than just a ruggedized Bunsen: a small fuel regulator ensures steady flow of gas, a micro regulator provides consistent flame and a Piezo igniter cleverly mounted through the stove’s [...]

It's About Time

American motorcycles and British wristwatches. Not an engineering combination you’d think of right off the bat. But now, thanks to Harley-Davidson and Bell & Ross, the two great tastes show that they can indeed taste great together. Leading UK dealer, Shaw Harley-Davidson (the current champs of modified Hogs) approached Bell & Ross watches with the [...]

Music was his religion.

Elaborate box sets for many rock and roll legends boil down to repackaging the same music you already own. West Coast Seattle Boy ($55) doesn’t suffer from the same shortcomings, since it isn’t a collection of existing albums at all. Instead, fans of Jimi will discover 45 previously unreleased live studio recordings that include demo [...]