First It Was Silver. Then Gold. Now Coffee.

During the next restocking of your bar make sure to leave room in your arsenal for Patron XO Café. Yes, we know the stereotypes about flavored alcohol, but you’ll never find this sneaked into a slumber party. Trust us.

Patron XO Café is a meld of ultra premium tequila and coffee essence. It tastes drier and less sweet than most coffee flavored liqueurs (a good thing), plus at 70 proof it packs as much punch as its standard tequila brethren (a good thing).

Not sure how to use it? Check out the cocktail list on Patron’s website for ideas. There you’ll find plenty of ways to expand your mixing prowess.

Editors Note: This does not give you permission to spike the coffee machine at work.

Cost: $15-$30 @ Your Local Store

Guaranteed Topic Of Discussion For Your Fellow Imbibers

Even though our Man Poll showed beer is your beverage of choice, perhaps you should consider taking a break from your gridiron standby.

Instead serve libations with class in these hand blown stunners. As a stylish twist on traditional drinking ware, the negative space of each glass reveals its intended purpose–especially when full. So whether it’s celebratory bubbly, demure liqueur, or the quintessential martini, picking up a set of each will guarantee you’re prepared to handle all of the serving demands of the cocktail elite. That is if you can afford to fill to them…

Cost: $48-$60 @ Charles & Marie

Notice anything different about the lower right side of Gear Patrol? Yeah, that little black box with pictures and titles kind of saying “yo, bub.”

That’s right we’ve joined the shameless widget bandwagon. Why’d we do it you ask? Err, let me just refer to the speech our chief marketing officer put together here, ahem:

“So you can a bring GP content anywhere else you happen to haunt on the web. Sure you may get the GP Dispatch delivered every day to your inbox already, but who wants to wait when you can see what’s new on Gear Patrol the moment it’s published? Plus embedding the widget on your favorite sites like Facebook, MySpace, or your own personal blog, makes your site just a little more like ours. Manly. Not to mention spreading the word about GP’s sheer awesomeness.”

Ok so maybe I added in that last line about awesomeness, but somebody has to say it. Now start adding it to wherever the hell your heart desires. Do it with impunity and gusto and don’t be surprised if doing it comes up in future contests…

Knock Knock. Who’s There? G1, Yo.

The speculation has ceased, the first Google powered cell phone has finally arrived. Dubbed the T-Mobile G1, this new open source (think: not Apple) rebel will hit retail stores October 22 and cost a reasonable $179 with a two year voice and data agreement. This compared to Apple’s $199 entry fee.

Sporting features such as full touch-screen functionality in addition to a sliding QWERTY keyboard and built in trackball for one handed navigation, the G1, built by HTC, appears to have borrowed functionality from across all of its current smart phone competitors and combined them into one relatively slick package. Other bells and whistles include: a 3 megapixel camera (compared to iPhone’s 2), a music player with access to Amazon’s DRM-free MP3 store, built in wi-fi, and GPS support.

Finally, if that’s not enough to convince you of Google’s smartphone conquering intentions, the G1 will also offer access to the Android Market which serves a similar function to that of Apple’s application store. Let the inevitable iPhone versus G1 battles begin.

Cost: $179 @ T-Mobile

Wireless Speaker Solution that Finally Lives Up To Its Promise

[click to enlarge image]

One disadvantage of having a gadget and gear addiction is that eventually you find little impresses you. So it goes without saying that I had my doubts when the decision was made to test the unit during our last Gear Patrol outdoor soiree.

Lifting the speaker out of its packaging was my first hint that the Outcast was of a different vain than previous wireless speaker solutions I’d encountered. My lower back can attest.

The unit’s build is solid, sporting a downward facing 8-inch subwoofer, and 4 3-inch high/mid range omni-directional drivers; all of which served as a fine teaser for hooking up the wireless transmitter (Icast) and blasting *cough* playing some music.

Unfortunately, I never tested the Icast’s purpoted broadcast range of 350 feet as that would have put us smack in the middle of a Midtown Manhattan theater. Though at 100 feet we didn’t experience any sound quality degradation from the wireless transmission. Power wasn’t an issue either, which we learned from a not so happy neighbor in the adjacent building the following morning. Apparently the speaker produced loud and clear music for all six hours of the party. Don’t bother asking why we couldn’t remember that fact on our own.

Review continues after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Benefits Of A Home Phone On Your Cell Phone

Technology promises to solve many of the world’s major problems and plenty of its small ones. Take for example, the act of using your cell phone as a main phone line at home, which I know many guys do. Unfortunately, the sleek and compact traits that make your cell phone perfect on the go simply don’t translate to a good experience at home during longer conversations or when you just want to pick up the phone and dial.

If you’re a guy that loves shooting the shit on a home phone, but wants to still use your mobile as your main line then pick up the Panasonic KX-TH1211B. It links up with your mobile phone to make calls via bluetooth while still giving you the convenience of a handheld. The Panasonic telly sports features like dual cell support, vocal caller id, and a super simple setup. Talk all you want and still give your mobile a much needed charge.

Oh, and a land line can also be connected for those of you that just can’t let go, and expansion headsets when it’s time to upgrade your crib.

Cost: $73 @ Amazon

Serious Water Footwear for the Boating Professional

Men’s Submersible Boot

Sure, we shot this in a bathtub, but one wear and you might start wearing it in the tub too.

For the serious sailor or kayaker, footwear doesn’t get any better than this. In fact these submersible boots, made of genuine quick drying neoprene, were designed in conjunction with the US Sailing Team. Critical features include internal toe post and toe wrap for added balance and stability, and a non marking rubber outsole, making sure your swashbucklery leaves your deck still gleaming.

In terms of comfort, all I will divulge is that our resident Sports and Fitness guru Patrick Tuttle was caught wearing the Submersible Boots around in his living room, absorbed in an intense round of GTA IV. A disturbing yet somewhat appropriate scene, to say the least.

Figawi Rubber Boot

No amount of water shall stop ye.

Despite mimicking the traditional style of a rain boot, thanks to its non-marking super-tack rubber outsole with quadro-grip traction, you’re guaranteed sure footing even in the most precarious of conditions. The Figawi Rubber Boots are also designed to maintain warmth and from our tests on and off the water are quite comfortable, to boot. The traditional styling of navy color with white trim excudes a classic persona perfect for this Fall’s wardrobe. Inclement weather be dammed.

Cost: Submersible Boot ($70) | Figawi Rubber Boot @ $60

Also See: Sperry Original Top-Sider Boat Shoes

Just Add… Anything

With Fall now quickly approaching, temperatures can start to vary wildly as the day progresses. On your next outdoor expedition (or hike) be prepared for anything with the Merrel Gatherer Jacket.

Designed with the hikers and climbers in mind, the jacket packs light while still giving the wearer the flexibility to use any form of insulation they can put there hands on to add warmth. So whether it’s leaves on the trail or that pair of underwear you had on the day before, you’re assured complete control of your comfort anywhere, any time. Just remember the jacket’s semi-transparent, so choose used clothing with care. [via Popular Mechanics]

Cost: $99 @ Merrell

47 Inches Of Football Watching Splendor

Gear Patrol already established that it’s football season and asked whether you follow NFL or College football. We showed you that subscribing to DirecTV NFL Sunday Ticket will advance your football consumption to dangerous awesome levels and winning a Titlecraft Fantasy Football Trophy is one of the best rewards for your virtual gridiron.

But we have yet to discuss the most important part of the in-home football experience. Your massive wall-hugging liquid crystal high definition television. The centerpiece of any football viewing endeavor. GP’s decided to equip our office (perks!) with the Vizio XVT we told you about two months ago.

[Click Image To Enlarge]

Well, the XVT is finally on the market and we’ve thown down our 1400 bucks for the 47 inch VIZIO SV470XVT. Our retinas are eagerly awaiting an assault of retina burning 6,500:1 contrast ratio and ridiculously smooth 120hz refresh and 5ms response rates. Are we showing off? Yes, but it’s for your benefit.

Why? Because, if you haven’t noticed, that flat panel you’ve got hanging on your wall is probably like ours - it’s slow. Ever notice how images kind of ghost when things are moving quickly, like football for instance. That’s called the refresh rate and the new Vizio XVT LCD runs at 120hz, twice that of most flat panel televisions, using a technology called Smooth Motion Video Processing. All we care is that fast-action movies and sports never looked so buttery smooth. Best of all the new lowered price will fit in any mans ‘football budget’. We wouldn’t want you watching football on something subpar now would we?

Cost: $1399 @ Sams Club, Costco | $1899 @ Circuit City

Team Pride Never Felt So Manly

Whatever your team, this is the ultimate grill mark for your meat.

Sometimes things in life are meant to be questioned like why your girlfriend came back from the grocery store with the brand of paper towel that costs $3 more a roll than the kind you buy. Others aren’t.

You don’t question why you need a custom grill grate with your favorite college team’s logo on it. That’s because instinctually we all know that meat just tastes better when it’s grilled with team pride. Never mind the fact that Matt Yarder, the founder of YM sports grates happens to be from the home town of one of our editors and supports the same college team.

So do yourself a favor, measure your grill and get your hands on one. It’s guaranteed to impress your buddies, not to mention make your whole grilling operation look that much more badass. [via Tailgating Ideas]

Cost: $135+ @ YM Custom Grates