Getting me to change my shave routine is not easy. You can talk all you want about the benefits skin-conditioning Kukui Nut Oil or Organic Jojoba, but at 6AM when I’m gazing bleary-eyed into my medicine cabinet, I like to reach for something familiar. So… when the folks at Origins sent me some samples of their shave products, I was reluctant to try them. For the sake of the GP readers though I thought the products deserved a thorough review. That’s why I’m here one week later minus my beard; sporting a chin that belongs to an adolescent choir boy.

The short and long story/review after the jump.

What this means to you: If you’re looking for some new shave products these are the ones to try. The three products together form the perfect trifecta of shaving.

Cost: Easy Slider Pre Shave Oil: $18.50 | Blade Runner Energizing Shave Cream: $14.00 | Fire Fighter: $15.00 @ Origins

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Don’t forget that Gear Patrol is giving away two passes to the Johnson Club Room at Nat Sherman.

To win one of two free passes to The Johnson Club Room at Nat Sherman simply email giveaway@gearpatrol.com (email link) with the name of your favorite cigar and name. A winner will be chosen randomly at the end of the week tonight.

We’ve heard some great responses ranging from Monte Cristo Joyitas to Rocky Patels. Keep ‘em coming gents.

We’ve got two free passes to The Johnson Club Room to giveaway to GP readers. Details on how to win them at the end of Marc’s review.

There are few places more enjoyable than a cigar lounge. The sweet aroma of tobacco, the soothing jazz carrying throughout, and your hand alternating between your cigar and scotch of choice (neat of course)… are bar none.

If you live in New York City or have visited any of NY’s many cigar lounges, you most likely envisioned all that the Johnson Club Room at Nat Sherman embodies. The Johnson Club Room is the quintessential New York cigar lounge and here’s why…

Read Marc’s full review and additional images after the jump.

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Men don’t usually think about diamonds. When we do it usually means we’re about to do something obtuse (think marriage), or we need to make up for something even more obtuse (think Kobe Bryant). But diamonds don’t just have to be a gift for that special someone. Men can sport diamonds too. No, I’m not talking about iced out grilles or blinged out chains. I’m talking about raw diamond cufflinks; the kind of cufflinks that that exude subtle sophistication; the kind of cufflinks that set you apart from every other suit in the room.

Since 1992, Todd Reed has specialized in raw diamond jewelry and now his collection includes cufflinks. Each cufflink is hand made in Todd’s Colorado studio, where he and his nine employees set raw diamonds in recycled gold or oxidized sterling silver. The diamonds are sourced from reputable vendors locally and from around the world.

The raw diamond look lets you standout without being flashy. Or as Todd Reed says, “Our raw look creates a very masculine jewel for even the most understated gentleman.” So forget all you know about the four C’s of diamond buying, and get yourself a pair.

(ED: The pictures don’t do these cufflinks justice. I’ve seen several pairs in person, and it took a lot of will not to run out the door with them)

Cost: $6,000+ @ Todd Reed

My last post may have nearly been my last post forever.

This past weekend I went out surfing for the first time since last Fall. The 47 degree water temps warranted a wet suit and gloves. The conditions were perfect for a relatively newcomer to surfing and the waves were about 2.5 to 3 feet high at about 8 seconds apart. There was a nice offshore breeze, and the air temps were in the mid 70’s. Aside from a handful of locals on the shore I was alone in the water. This became a problem when I got caught in a rip..

(read on for the rest of Marc’s near-final post)

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“Once it hits your lips it’s so good…”

In my college days, I did a fair amount of keg stands and Frank the Tank impersonations, but since then I’ve out grown keg parties and Will Ferrell quotes (well kind of) and I’ve graduated to beers that taste less like water and more like beer. In my search for good beer, I stumbled upon Innis and Gunn Original. This beer is aged 77 days in oak barrels that were used to mature bourbon. This process imparts an incredibly complex flavor characteristic that’s comparable to fine scotch or wine. I mostly tasted butterscotch and caramel, but Innis and Gunn say it has notes of vanilla, rose, and coconut as well. In fact, the brewers have gone as far as to provide a spidergram of flavors. But beyond the fancy flavor diagrams, the beer just tastes good; damn good. On a side note, it tastes even better with a medium-rare steak. Trust me I had the pair for dinner last night.

What this means to you: It’s good beer. Need I say more?

Cost: $5 per bottle