Gear Patrol | Spirit of Adventure, Passion for Gear

Good Design Unleashed

It’s amazing how much we take the basic designs of products for granted. Case in point, after seeing the Quirky-developed Kosoku, we’re now questioning why dog leashes have taken this long to evolve. The Kosoku Dog Leash ($40) features a fully retractable 6-foot leash, reflective tape for extra visibility at night, an ergonomic handle for [...]

Mouse Freely

Home theater computer owners take note. If you haven’t already figured out how to turn your smartphone into touch pad mouse, the Logitech Couch Mouse M515 ($50) may be your best back-saving alternative. That’s because it’s designed to work on all manner of surfaces including blankets, cushions, carpets — or even the back of your [...]

A Tribute to Ping-Pong

Ping pong or Table Tennis for you highbrow types triggers memories for different people (Bangkok’s “ping-pong shows” not withstanding). Famous fans of the sport include everyone from Fidel Castro, Sasha and Malia Obama, to Henry Miller, and anyone who can recall a middle school history class should remember the term “ping-pong politics”. For the authors [...]

Win(sn)o(w)

An excellent glass of wine after a long day of skiing is often just what the doctor ordered, particularly when your quads start to remind you how long you’ve been off the slopes. This Ski Rack Wine ($700) could be symbolic of that partnership, or just clever decoration for a chalet. In either case it’s [...]

Take bedding (too?) seriously

Updated: Consider this. You spend a third of your life sleeping and how you spend that time has a real impact on your health, your mood, your work and your performance (both in bed and out). You may think the firmness of your mattress and the right pillows make all the difference. But what about [...]

Nice adze

You may not be planning to do any log grooving, boat building, or wood sculpting this weekend, but that doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate the rustic beauty of the Gränsfors Bruks Gutter Adze ($310). The Swedish company, famous for their luxurious roughhewn hand tools outdoes themselves with the small form-factor bowl shaped adze designed for [...]

For those delicate lawn pirouettes

The Craftsman YT 4500 54” Lawn Tractor ($2,000) is the company’s top-of-the-line residential mower for 2011. Sporting a 26 hp Kohler Courage V-Twin engine, a premium hydrostatic automatic transmission, and 54-inch cutting base, it’s got everything you’ll need to fight back suburbia. Its real game-changing feature, though, is Turn Tight technology. If the name didn’t [...]

Where Grilling Meets German Efficiency

Meat searing monuments like the Weber Ranch Kettle charcoal grill will always hold a special place in our carnivore hearts, but there’s something strangely attractive about the idyllic vision of grilling painted by the Holzpellet grill from Bob Grillson ($7,470). Ok, so maybe it’s just this German beauty’s magnetizing lines. Or maybe it’s just Bob’s [...]

What if there was no future?

Following up his head spinning, stomach churning debut novel, The Breach, author Patrick Lee has once again turned our world on its ear. The clandestine group known only as Tangent has a device of ah, “unknown origin” that opens a portal to the future. Problem is, all of humanity has been wiped out. Now it’s [...]

So good, you forget about Ferrari World

A. Smart: Steering wheel mounted Manettino to adjust F1-Trac high-performance traction control system, suspension and E-diff settings B. Symphonic: Intentional removal of the audio system so you can hear the sonorous V8 and listen to yourself scream with joy C. Sleek: Formula 1 aerodynamics to decrease lift and increase downforce and cooling. More traction, less [...]

Dry-Style

We’ve always admired Outlier’s unique blend of style and functionality, and their new Storm King Shell Parka ($650) seems to follow the same great formula. Made from 100% Supermarine cotton, it’s designed to be a highly water resistant and breathable alternative to synthetics like Gore-Tex. Like most of Outlier’s tops, four-way arm construction is also [...]

Old school 'em in style

With the preponderance of e-devices, from smartphones to tablets and who-knows-what’s-next, writing and writing well seem to be a lost art. So, when you find yourself inspired to write something creative or heartfelt (like a real thank you note), try using something truly special, like the newly released limited edition Montblanc Writers Edition Mark Twain [...]

One Route to a Better Connection

Wireless router. Now that’s a pair of words completely devoid of sex appeal. Still, that hasn’t stopped Linksys from pushing the design envelope with its dual-band E4200 ($180) wireless router. In fact, on looks alone we’d expect its slick black silhouette to blast out beats from our iPhone. Its real purpose, however, is to deliver [...]

Poseidon's timepiece

Stainless steel. Gold. Rose gold. Bronze. Bronze? Yes, brushed bronze to be exact. That’s what you’ll find encasing Panerai’s striking new 47mm Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days Automatic ($10,100). Featuring Panerai’s own P.9000 calibre automatic 3-day movement, the watch blends Panerai’s submersible and heritage styles with a hallmark look that combines a bronze case, rotating [...]

Ditch the roller bags

The Patagonia Black Hole Duffel ($130), as its name suggests, is a cavernous deposit for all of your gear. This ultra-tough bag is constructed with waterproof fabric and water-resistant zippers and seams. Padded on the bottom to protect your breakables, the Black Hole Duffel features a u-shaped lid for easy access to the main compartment. [...]