Gear Patrol | Spirit of Adventure, Passion for Gear

A primitive step for trail running

The barefoot running revolution is headed off-road and companies are scrambling for a foothold. The New Balance Minimus Trail or MT10 ($105) is just as the name suggests: minimal. As in only a 4mm drop from heel to toe; a traditional running shoe by comparison is about three times that. The Vibram designed outsole means [...]

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 [...]

Nice reds and blues, done in a classic check pattern, from a staple brand known for having their pulse on wardrobe needs of today’s upstanding male citizens. Too bad the 4th is still five months away. $185 | jackspade.com

An accessory for your accessories

One of the drawbacks to being a modern, on-the-go guy is carrying around all that gear and gadgets. Streamlining your accessories into one portable pack is the JanSport Pleasanton ($250), a waxed cotton twill and leather bag with dedicated compartments for all your stuff. Stow your laptop in the 15-inch quick-access sleeve and your iPad [...]

Originally conceived in 1978 as a multi-season coat, Eddie Bauer re-introduces the Mountain Parka today as the Heritage Mountain Parka. More casual than technical, many of the original parka’s details remain including cotton/nylon fabric, trim, hardware and colors (brilliant blue, ivy, olive, black) and a throwback price. $149 | eddiebauer.com

Heat your meals, charge your phone

They say you can’t teach old dogs new tricks — but the same axiom apparently isn’t true for the wood burning camp stove — the oldest camping gear dog of all. Like any other timber burnin’ stove, the BioLite CampStove is great for cooking, since there’s no risk of fire-starting chemicals flavoring your grub. Lugging [...]

Need proof that the fashion world is cyclical? The fact that esteemed eyewear brand Persol reintroduced clip-ons last year is all the evidence you should need. While traditionally synonymous with bad taste, the PO 3007 V and 3002 V frames make a strikingly good case for the design’s revival, especially considering their price and convenience [...]

One star resort

Part childhood camp, part adult retreat, all neo-luddite, Camp Wandawega proves relaxation doesn’t have to involve iPads and DVRs. In lieu of technology, Wandawega’s camp counselors — oh yes, there are counselors — are happy to point you to activities like lake fishing, archery, various court sports, or one of the many other non-internet-connected activities [...]

Rip yourself up, not your equipment

Sandbag training provides plenty of benefits for athletes of all stripes compared to routines centered only around formal weight lifting. Their awkward shape, along with the slight movements of the sand inside, provides an added endurance challenge, forcing users to constantly adjust to the weight. The no-handled variety are excellent for increasing grip strength too. [...]

No Drafting

It’s quite satisfying when you find quality bike wear that not only offers up the right functionality, but also looks downright fashionable. We recently tested the Icebreaker Commute Jacket ($230) and fell in love with it — a trend these days with Icebreaker gear. The 84% Merino wool Ponte 355 fabric is both soft and [...]

Forget one-size-fits-all

Typically, buying a set of custom molded earbuds from brands like Ultimate Ears (now a subsidiary of Logitech) or Etymotic can take months. That’s because consumers must first visit the Audiologist to have inner-ear molds made, which are then shipped to the headphone company for production. Sonomax’s Sculpture Eers Custom Molded Headphones ($199+) ship with [...]

Lite a fire

For grilling in the great outdoors, lightweight construction and portability are a must, but without durability and a flexibility, there’s really not much point (or culinary joy) in lugging one around. Oddly, there aren’t that many great options out there. Newcomer SlatGrill ($110), designed by Chris Weyandt of St. Paul Minnesota, offers up a solution [...]

Speedway

When you hear the words “larger” and “curves” used to to describe something, a golf club isn’t exactly the first thing that springs to mind. At 9% larger than last year’s F11, the 2012 Adams Speedline Fast 12 Driver ($349) was designed with aerodynamics in mind. Featuring their Airfoil technology, the F12 has a few [...]

Monitor your movements, compete against the world

Nike has finally decided to compete directly with startups like Fitbit to help consumers keep track of how much energy they’re burning throughout the day. To do it, the sports leviathan first had to develop a consistent measuring stick for comparing various activities (and people) head to head. So-called NikeFuel is the metric they came [...]

Simply visionary

Sunglasses aren’t just for the summer vacation months, especially when you’re driving. And it’s not just about looking good, though you should certainly avoid ill-fitting and overly trendy sunspecs, for personal dignity reasons, naturally. For a masculine look with some of the best optics around, look no farther than the Serengeti Riano ($219). We got [...]