Gear Patrol | Spirit of Adventure, Passion for Gear

100% pure natural juice

We’ve seen the light. Solar power is not only awesome for outdoor, gadget powering duties, but it seems like every month we’re encountering a better, more innovative solution like the Joos Orange ($149). The Joos not only offers up durable, waterproof design that can withstand a bullet, but it does so without the special ops [...]

Her Majesty’s woolen

Now that the holidays are long over and Apple products are filling pockets and bags by the tree-full, it’s time to worry about protecting them. We particularly like the Rickshaw Bagworks Performance Tweed laptop sleeve ($50). As always, Rickshaw manufactures to-order and their products are customizable, but we are sold on the classic Performance Tweed. [...]

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 [...]

Minimal Magnetism

Simple, elegant, purposeful — those adjectives are just as applicable to the iPad 2, as they are to the Magnus iPad 2 stand ($50) by Ten One Design. The pure aluminum base is machine-crafted and equipped with customized magnets to hold Apple’s latest tablet firmly in place. While thicker cases won’t work with the stand, [...]

Keep your creature comforts

Plenty of brands sell solar panels to help adventurers keep their gadgets charged no matter how far they wander off the trail. The HiLight (~$257) from Swedish company HiNation provides the same charging convenience for USB or Micro USB devices, while also serving as an LED lantern. Ten hours of sunlight charging can power the [...]

Cutting-edge indeed

So-called “cloud services” hope to make transferring digital data via physical devices akin to cave painting in the near future. That hasn’t stopped pocket-tool legend Victorinox from evolving the classic Swiss Army Knife to house the latest SSDs and transfer protocols. Their new solid state drive line features a special single connector that’s compatible with [...]

Gadget guardian angel

The long standing feud between your precious gadgets and their arch-nemesis, water, may be officially called off thanks to Liquipel. What is Liquipel exactly? It’s a potent combination of witchcraft and voodoo, or at least that was our first reaction after watching the demo video, which we’ve convienently embedded for you after the break along [...]

The DODOcase has been a favorite accessory for iPad users looking to add an old school literary feel to their cutting edge gadget. While this isn’t the first collaboration by DODO that we’ve seen, this iteration created in partnership with eco-conscious upstart Vicarious by Nature still deserves a mention since it does a fine job [...]

Shooter Insurance

The Cam Crate is the latest Kickstarter project to catch our eye, mainly because it’s dedicated to protecting something near and dear to our gear-loving hearts. Designer Matthew Geyster was inspired to create a waterproof, mudproof, crushproof, and shockproof case for his DSLR after his fear of damaging his camera caused him to miss more [...]

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 [...]

Roll up and roll out

Highlighting electronics accessories from a company like Restoration Hardware will always be a little difficult for us, since making furniture that both Dr. Evil and Dr. Jones could feel comfortable decorating their offices with is clearly their main focus. Still, this tasteful roll up travel charger ($50) packs too much convenience in such a classic-looking [...]

Experience that shows

HoldFast is a new brand born from the passion of professional photographer and long time Gear Patrol reader Matthew Swaggert. After years of being frustrated with the overly complex, uncomfortable, and militia-styled gear that flooded the photography market, he decided to channel his experience and love of American heritage to create something better. The HoldFast [...]

Got my eye on you

It may look like another plastic iPhone dock, but the Swivl ($160) is anything but. Pairing a motorized base and wearable marker the Swivl can pivot, turn and tilt a cradled iOS device to follow a subject — keeping subjects within its field of view — using motion tracking technology. That means, video chats, sports, [...]

Double Duty

The third rule of Roadgo Dynamics dictates that the more gadgets you own, the more power cables you’re saddled with when it’s time to travel. Upon your arrival, finding enough available wall outlets is then about as easy as telling your better half she’s gained weight. The fine mac accessory makers at Twelve South have [...]

Sound Footing

Full-sized, over-the-ear headphones (known as Circumaural cans to you purists) typically provide a level of audio fidelity that measly earbuds can’t match. The trouble is they don’t exactly store nicely when not in use on your desk. These Woo Audio Aluminum Headphone stands ($60-$75) can help remove clutter from your workspace or listening station by [...]