Gear Patrol | Spirit of Adventure, Passion for Gear

Always Analog

The Pelle Leather Journal ($30) is another worthy addition to your analog record keeping repertoire. Inspired by the hard to find and broadly loved Midori Traveler’s Notebook, it features a sturdy leather cover with elastic retainer band and the ability to hold up to three different notebooks in one cover. The covers are made in the [...]

Powering your lifeline

One of the few knocks on the iPhone 4S has been its battery life. While our own iPhone doesn’t seem to be plagued with any battery-sucking gnomes, having a longer battery life, when you need it, is never a bad thing. PowerSkin makes a number of cases for major mobile phones (ahem, your iPhone) that [...]

Hammer of dawn

If Commissioner Gordon happens to be looking for an upgraded and portable Bat Signal, we’d say the Surefire UB3T Invictus ($695) could be easily retrofitted to light the Gotham night. Machined from hardened aerospace aluminum and anodized in matte black with tempered glass window it’s tactical excess in its most beautiful form. It features multiple [...]

Tie one on

Bow ties are a nice sartorial addition to any wardrobe. When used correctly they can project confidence and a tad of stylistic swagger sure to earn you compliments. If you’re looking to start a collection of bow ties or add to a pre-existing stable, give Boston based OoOtie a look. They offer short limited edition [...]

There's an artisan for that

We have a hefty amount of respect for good writing instruments here at Gear Patrol. The No. 2 pencil holds a place near and dear to our hearts (nod to the Dixon Ticonderoga) both for its functional excellence and standardized testing nostalgia — fact: there are now three sections to the SAT’s. So, when we [...]

Hat Trick

After closing up his former shop (RIP Freeman Transport), Ben Ferencz decided it was time for reflection. He took some time traveling around between his home in the Montana mountains and New York City. Spent time with good friends. Did a few collaboration one-offs with the likes of Hickorees Hard Goods and Jack Spade. Realizing [...]

While its name may be a mouth full, Left Field’s new crew neck sweatshirts are hardly over done. A must have for the cold months of the year, the knits are cut and sewn in the US from 16 oz of cotton ring spun terry. Inspired by 1950′s Champion sweatshirts they feature a v-neck stitch with [...]

Hot pocket

After a long wait and numerous teaser posts, GORUCK Field Pockets ($85-$110) are finally up for grabs. While there are plenty of excellent MOLLE pouch options out there, we’ve been holding out for GR’s option, and it’s been worth the wait. In the lineup are three pockets of varying sizes from 1.6L to 4.2L, each [...]

Covert Currency

If you have secrets you prefer remain that way, or just feel like reliving the rush of Cold War espionage (nuclear fallout notwithstanding), then the Spy Coin Edition ITS Challenge Coin ($30) is for you. For this variant, ITS and Spy Coins began with a nickel plated solid brass coin, then hollowed it out to [...]

Shagtastic

Looking like the long haired hippy twin of the Ranger Hoodie LT the Shag Master adds Polartec Thermal Pro High Loft fleece to the already excellent Ranger. As such, it has ergonomically placed chest and arm pockets, integrated thumbholes, aero hood, as well as a cut that provides superior mobility. The high loft Polartec fleece [...]

Who you calling Micro?

In the last few years a new breed of camera has stormed the digital photography world. Known as mirrorless or interchangeable lens cameras, they forgo the mirror of a DSLR (or SLR) for a smaller, lighter, and more portable package. They’ve grown in leaps and bounds by providing amateurs an opportunity to upgrade from a [...]

Moveableing Type

Yes, that’s actual type scanned from the Olympia. More photos and type text after the jump.

Let it...

The pursuit of the perfect key chain is a frustrating one. Keys seem to constantly sneak onto your carefully selected fob, threatening to blow out your pockets and give your pants that non-flattering bulge. The Keyport Slide ($40+) provides an elegant solution to this conundrum. Looking much like the fancy multifunction key fobs from the [...]

Force Factor

Buying a great pair of headphones is a big first step in upping your audiophile cred. Many of the models we’ve covered before can be an ear opening experience to what music is meant to sound like. That said, most of us listen to music in digital format these days, whether it be from out laptop, [...]

Writing Off the Wall

Since 1883 Kaweco of Germany has been applying their company motto “small in the pocket, great in the hand” in their efforts to produce high end writing implements. Case in point: the AC Sport Carbon Fiber Fountain Pen ($112), which embodies the company motto right down the last dotted ‘I’ and crossed ‘T’. The pen is [...]