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

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

And An Expert’s Advice on How to Use It

Thanks to Mother Nature, man is genetically equipped with many of the fundamental skills required for survival. Unfortunately, unless Mike Tyson happens to be your role model, you’ll never successfully navigate modern social obligations on baser instincts alone.

Take throwing your upcoming holiday cocktail party. Ignore the voice in your gut telling you a case of Natty Light and a 5th of Thunderbird is all it’ll take to pull it off. Obeying it will ensure you’ll never see a cocktail dress again.

Instead, add sophistication to your festive shindig with cheese. Your guests will appreciate having food around to balance their drinking, and if chosen correctly, the mix of flavors should make everyone’s palate appreciative of that extra coin you shelled out for classy drinks.

Wondering how to serve it? We suggest the Metrokane Complete Cheese Service (pictured above). For less than $40, this classic bamboo tray provides enough real estate for all manner of nibbles while conveniently storing its included serving utensils underneath.

When it comes to choosing what to serve though, we’ll always defer to the experts. So to help us out, we sat down to talk with Christine Hyatt founder of Cheese Chick, member of the Board of Directors of the American Cheese Society, and monthly columnist for the Oregon Wine Press.

Find out what we learned after the jump.

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Now You Know… And Knowing Is Half The Battle

Being the savvy, well-educated Gear Patrol technophile that you are, you’ve certainly noticed that one of the most consistent wallet wasting trends of recent months has been the steady increase in energy costs across virtually all geographies and power utilities.

Whereas this lowly commentator prefers to deliver only good news to his dear readers in this case, he cannot. Sadly, my prediction is that the cost curve will continue to skew upwards. (Ed: Especially with Eric’s propensity for purchasing plasma TV’s.) As such, we consumers must conspire to outsmart these dastardly rate hikes, if we would continue to feed the kilowatt needs of our favorite gadgetry. Enter the Black & Decker Power Monitor.

You may not know this, but by day this Gear Patrol Game Guru actually serves the construction industry as an Energy Efficiency Guru. Each and every day I encounter folks who are blowing money on poorly constructed homes, inefficient appliances, and poorly sealed or insulated buildings. Identifying problem areas and strategizing to consciously conserve power doesn’t just make you green, it saves you green.

Learn how after the jump.

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Don’t Throw Away That Water Bottle Just Yet

If you do a fair share of traveling you probably know that staying hydrated is important. Outside of Las Vegas, you’re probably not staying in any hotels that take room humidity into factor, an important part of better sleep and avoiding dry/flaky skin.

The Air-O-Swiss Travel Ultrasonic Humidifier allows you to bring along a high quality Swiss humidifier wherever you go by just adding your own water bottle. It uses high-frequency vibrations to generate a micro-fine cool mist that is blown into the room. It’s transcontinental AC adapter and exchangeable plugs ensure you’ll be able to use it in any country.

Editor’s Note: Also works great in the office.

Cost: $60

Also See: Voltaic Solar Backpack | Tumi Packing Cubes | Priority Pass

Throw Down Anytime, Anywhere

A man’s college years are crucial testing grounds for good and bad ideas. Hindsight shows downing six shots of whiskey and streaking the dean’s lawn was a bad idea. Kissing your best friend’s girl afterwards probably was too. On the other hand, filling cups with beer and tossing ping pong balls in them, now that was brilliant.

That’s why the guys over at Pong A Long created the 8 foot portable beer pong table. This 8 foot regulation sized table collapses to become a 2×2 briefcase perfect for toting to your next party or event. So you’ll never miss an opportunity to brush up on your game.

We gave ours a thorough testing at the Far Hills Downs Steeple Chase a couple of weeks back and were pleased as punch. It did reveal though that Patrick’s skills have clearly faded since his school days in the 1940’s.

Next year’s tailgating will prove if an old dog can learn new tricks. Check out a shot of our own table after the jump.

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