From Patrick Tuttle: As you can see from his photo, Dan Finkelstein needs no credit from me to be considered man enough for Gear Patrol. Dan contributes for GP out of Long Beach, CA and, as you will soon read below, has a taste for many of life’s more primal simpler pleasures. An outdoors type, Dan still finds time to entertain friends with his latest culinary masterpieces and hopefully soon share a few with us. Even if some of us prefer purchasing it at the market versus shooting it ourselves.

I feel that I’m a throwback to an earlier generation; a generation where men appreciated the finer things in life.  I shoot guns, camp, hike, and I smoke fine tobacco (from a pipe). I have a certain fondness for the taste of a quality import beer and nothing is more satisfying than sharing a drink amongst friends around a campfire.

Quite often, I find myself behind the lens of a camera attempting to capture those perfect moments in life. I have a nice Canon SLR that I’ve had a lot of fun with, but I find much more enjoyment tinkering with film cameras like the Holga, Lomo, or Diana.

I have a tremendous affinity towards firearms, and many of my hobbies and toys parallel that closely. I’ve built a few rifles in my spare time, and I treat my Colt 1911s (WWII vintage) with love and affection.

I love cooking everything from chicken casseroles to venison and wild boar, hunted by my father. I’m always searching for a new challenge in the kitchen and preparing a large meal for guests brings joy to my life.

I’m constantly looking for the next big adventure in life and writing for Gear Patrol is no exception.

An SUV Worth Its Salt

Lets turn back a little over one decade ago to 1997. A year when men were mired in news about Princess Diana’s passing, cloned sheep, and photos beamed from Mars. Oh, and Land Rover would be forced to stop selling the Land Rover Defender due to airbag regulations.

Most of us remember the Defender 90, the British 4×4 that men gazed upon with unabashed lust - looking past its spotty reliability on-road yet ridiculous prowess, off. California (and the movies) were peppered with Defender 90’s in hues like AA Yellow and Portofino Red while the rest of the U.S. opted for colors such as Beluga Black, Coniston Green and Alpine White (no, I’m not insinuating anything about Gear Patrol’s California based writers/readers).

But do you remember the Defender 90’s bigger brother, the Defender 110 - the four-door-best-case-ever-for-an-SUV? The restoration specialists at East Coast Rover do. East Coast Rover is a team of specialists dedicated to the art of Land Rover restoration, where many-a-men’s dreams are brought to life in ECR’s 10,000 square foot Rockland, Maine facilities.

Here, ECR has restored a 1997 Defender 110 from the ground up with: galvanized frame, 275 horsepower Pursuit Rover v8 engine, automatic gearbox, CD changer, 4 wheel disc brakes, ARB winch bumper with Warn winch, side rock guards, Hella 400 lights and a security system. Unlike other restorations, ECR is reknown for their painstaking restoration process ensuring your restored classic will remain just that. [additional photo after the jump]

Inquire for Price

Also See: 1989 Jeep Grand Wagoneer | Hannibal Rooftop Rack and Tent

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Like A Batcave for Your Gear

I was a book nerd growing up, and most of my reads were about adventure. Louis L’Amour, Jack Higgins, and the Redwall Series, not to mention comic books. As a result, the No. 1870 Strong Box from Colonel Littleton taps directly into my dorky childhood fantasies of the wild west, tales of buried treasure, and secret rooms… you get the picture.

Looking like an heirloom you might find in your grandfather’s attic, the No. 1870 Strong Box will have you channeling your inner Clint Eastwood in no time (badass Outlaw Josey Wales Clint, not senior citizen director Clint). Based on the Wells Fargo Strong Box used in the stagecoach days of the Old West, it’s constructed by hand in Lynneville, TN out of yellow poplar. The Strong Box features iron bands and corners for strength, along with a replica 1870s pad lock.

Appropriately, the crowning achievement of this treasure is a secret chamber under a false bottom that’s accessible only with a special tool. Maybe it’s time to get your valuables out from under your ratty boxers and into this treasure chest befitting a grown man. The only questions are what do you own that deserves to be kept in a secret compartment, and does Mom still have your old cowboy cap-gun hanging around?

Editors Note: This is hardly the only great product from Colonel Littleton — I could easily blow a few paychecks there. So be sure to check out the rest of their products on their website. Also, any suggestions on how to justify my need for one of these to my wife would be welcome.

Cost: $850

Also See: SMC Furnishings SBW Desk | Atocha Record Cabinet

Performance Outdoor Footwear

When it comes to shoes, I’m a minimalist. Trail runners, dress shoes, and sneakers - what more does a guy need? Well, often there comes a need for a shoe that maintains the style and class of a dress shoe, yet provides the comfort and functionality of a sneaker. Kuru bridges the gap perfectly with the Halcyon.

The first thing you’ll notice is the fit; it has support in all the right places. Cleverly camouflaged, the stitched racing stripe along the middle also provides that extra bit of reinforcement. Halcyon combines a tough exterior with a water and stain resistant soft-shelled upper and a cool, comfortable, moisture controlled antibacterial lining.

I’ve spent a fair amount of time wearing the Halcyons around town, as well as a bit on light trails. Kuru has designed a fantastic product that has more than exceeded my expectations for both style and functionality. This hybrid shoe looks great with jeans and a t-shirt, or it can hold its own with a pair of chinos, a button down, and nice coat.

These shoes are a great value for the price and should be a definite addition to your wardrobe.

Cost $115

Also See: Supra Footwear | Vibram Five Fingers | Rakku Shoe Wheel

Ski Conditions? I Got Your Ski Conditions. 7 Days Worth Of ‘Em.

With global warming eroding the once consistent weather forecasts of Old Man Winter, how’s a man to know what to expect on the slopes? Choose the wrong day and the most action you’ll get a forlorn cup of hot cocoa in the lodge. Enter the Ski FX from Bushnell.

With wireless delivery of your 7-day forecast, the Bushnell Ski FX goes a step further giving your favorite slopes’ low down. Besides mountain conditions (current base depth, new accumulation, and surface conditions), the Ski FX also provides slope information (current number of open trails and lifts).

The Ski FX is light-weight, battery powered, and doesn’t require a computer to upload any information. It’s completely self-contained. All you have to do is toss it in your pack for your next ski trip. Simply change the regional setting, and all the mountains in that area populate automatically. Damn, I’m getting excited for ski this weekend just writing about this.

Happy trails.

Cost: $100

Also See: Ruby Mountain Heli-Skiing | Dalbello Proton 12 Ski Boot | Oakley Custom AFrame

Snobbery At Its Finest

The next time you and your railroad baron pals decide to hold a cartel meeting, make sure these are part of your barware collection. Each snifter and accompanying stand is designed with a singular purpose: to make sure that every glass served is warmed to perfection.

Granted, some would argue that a snifter clutched in hand should provide proper warmth for your potable, but since nothing unlocks the character of barrel aged brandy like a little heat, don’t trust your circulatory system alone to get the job done. Especially with the current weather.

Not to mention we all know that your spare hand is better served resting atop a mahogany pimp cane.

[As seen on core77]

Cost: $25

Also See: Cubist Cocktail Set | Crate and Barrel Bar Tool Set