Gear Patrol | Spirit of Adventure, Passion for Gear

Because dad tells the best stories

Thanks to a practically impenetrable, yet ultra-soft fabric layer called Crypton Super Fabric (seriously, that’s the name), the Read n’ Rock Rocker ($849) will hold up against even the worst chunky eruptions or sippy-cup snafus. Sized for 1.25 people and available in five colors (we like sandstone), the chair should serve nicely both as a laudable man throne for the Palais de Nursery, or simply a place to reminisce with the li’l one about your days of riding uphill, both ways, in a Dodge Caravan, in the snow.

Buy Now: $849

Out, Damn Pots!

Make like Lady MacBeth when you get tagged for KP during your next foray into the “wild” with the Coleman All-in-One Portable Sink ($50). This camp cleaner sports a pressurized spraying system, powered by either the included battery cartridge and four “D” batteries or Coleman’s CPX 6 rechargeable battery pack (sold separately) that provides a continuous stream with a twist of the on/off nozzle. The water tank holds 2.5 gallons and nests two sinks and a drying rack inside when not in use. Once you’re home, pop the whole thing (sans batteries) into the dishwasher for easy clean-up. And if dishpan hands seem unmanly, perhaps it’s time to you learned how to cook, so someone else gets stuck doing the dishes.

Buy Now: $50

Big Pilot, Big Apple

The International Watch Company definitely didn’t pull any punches with the grand opening of their newest flagship boutique in Manhattan last Wednesday, what with the boxing greats, movie stars and supermodels present to help celebrate its long awaited debut, but the real story here lies with the watches, and the novel way that IWC has chosen to present them.

Urban Mario Kart

The 1950s BMW Isetta certainly wouldn’t break any land speed records, especially since it looks like a windowed deep freezer on wheels. But no one can question its success as a practical and inexpensive mode of transporation. Designer Tony Weischelbraun has taken this icon and modernized it with his brilliant eSetta concept. Replacing the original gasoline engine with an electric motor calls for a slight name tweak to reflect the powertrain change, and it fits. Rendered in tasty black and red (oh so Ferrari-esque), the eSetta is intended as an exercise in car sharing where it could be recharged and rented at a myriad of stations, eliminating the need for bigger batteries and longer ranges. Who says you can’t do a cheap autocross that might not thrill spectators but would most certainly entertain.

We’ve got a few more renderings for your viewing pleasure after the break.

Learn More: Here

Docking Statement

There are docking stations and then there are docking statements. In a world wrought with crappy auxiliary plug-ins masquerading as “made for iPod” accessories, this would be the latter. No judgment here if you mistook the Jarre AeroPad Two Dock (~$920) for something out of Gattaca, but we think you’ll find that this device has the sound quality to match the unique looks designed by the creator who’s name it bears – John Michael Jarre. It’s pricey, but before tuning out, consider that the AeroPad Two is wrapped in stainless steel and bamboo, features four amplified 4, 30 watt speakers and a single 80 watt speakers, as well as USB and auxiliary jacks to go with Apple’s 30-pin connector. Say what you will about Ze French and their esoterica, but in the case of Jarre (composer turned performer turned music producer turned docking station designer) we think the result is le magnifique!

Buy Now: ~$920

A megabyte saved is a megabyte earned

In the age of smartphones, data plans are a mobile provider’s ticket to profits and margins. It works because we sign up for generic buckets of bits, without a clue about how much bandwidth we actually blow through in a month. Onavo Extend originally launched back in 2011 for iOS users with the promise of extending the power of typical data plans by up to 500%. It works by channeling a supported device’s data usage through a proxy server or middleman, which then exercises some nifty compression to minimize the size of uploaded and downloaded content. Now, after six months of success, Onavo has just been expanded to Android and CDMA/LTE 4G users — allowing the new iPad and popular Android handsets like the Galaxy Nexus to ride the data frugality train, on both Verizon and AT&T. Onavo Extend also tracks consumption by app and provides monthly usage reports so owners can easily understand, plan, and manage their oversharing habits. The app will even show you how much moolah it’s saved you, which should help offset the biannual phone upgrade cycle created by your butterfingers.

Buy Now: Android Free | iOS Free

Summer Rain

Perfect for remote work sites, camping, a day at the beach, or after muddin’ on your favorite trail, the Nemo Helio Pressure Shower will have you smelling like a rose on your birthday deathbed (end lyrics). The Helio shower boasts an 11 liter (2.9 gal) capacity, good for 5-7 minutes of steady water pressure, and while other camp showers rely solely on a gravity feed, leaving you with a dribble reminiscent of BPH, Nemo includes an easy-to-use foot pump to up the stream from “drizzle” to “torrent”. Fill the dark grey Eco PU coated polyester bladder, set it in the sun and voila: hot shower. Just leave the rubber ducky at home.

Here’s another use to consider. If you’ve ever loaded a wet, muddy/sandy dog into your car after a day at the lake or beach, just wash down Rover with the Helio.

Learn More: Here (Available June, 2012)

Brooklyn Born

We’re suckers for good gin, so when one pops up in our backyard, we uncap some vermouth and chill our martini glasses. Greenhook Ginsmiths American Dry Gin ($30) is a new product from the Greenhook Ginsmiths Distillery in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Led by ginsmith Steven DeAngelo, the distillery utilizes a vacuum method that lowers the atmospheric pressure and temperature in the still, which produces a more flavorful, aromatic spirit.

Aside from the innovative creation process, the artisan recipe consists of juniper, elderflower, chamomile and cinnamon, making it a unique gin that imbues the drinker with more than a London Dry gin’s characteristic juniper-forward flavor profile. It’s light and aromatic, with a flowery nose and flavors ranging from juniper and elderflower to orange peels and ginger. It’s easy to sip straight, if that’s your thing. But its refreshing mesh of flavors can spice up your gin and tonic or pair with fortified wines and aromatic bitters to craft a great cocktail.

If you like the American Dry Gin, keep Greenhook Ginsmiths on your radar. Ever the enterprising bunch, the distillery has already produced a beach plum gin liqueur and has an Old Tom style gin and seasonal gins in the works.

Buy Now: $30

Plop, plop, fizz, fizz

By now if you’re an endurance athlete and you don’t know about the importance of staying hydrated, you probably deserve to become a desiccated roadside carcass. But most smart runners and cyclists know that being hydrated means more than just sucking down liters of water. Your body needs electrolytes, those sugars and salts that keep you energized and thinking clearly two hours into a century ride or half-Ironman. Until now, that has usually meant drinking syrupy sports drinks and dealing with messy powders. But a simpler solution (pardon the pun) comes in the form of Nuun, a dissolvable tablet you drop into your water bottle or hydration bladder.

Nuun tablets come in a variety of flavors, from Lemon Tea to Citrus Fruit to Banana, and is packed in either single serve packets or a small tube so they’re easy to transport to events or while traveling. I tried a variety pack of nuun tablets on several long bike rides this spring and found the flavors refreshingly subtle, not sugary like some other electrolyte drinks. It was enough to make the water tasty without making my mouth (and bottle) sticky. One tablet in a 12 ounce water bottle was sufficient to keep me refreshed on two-hour rides and I found myself adding a tablet to my water bottle at the office to keep my “eight glasses a day” more inviting. Nuun is available at many bike shops and outdoor stores in North America as well as online. Summer’s coming, better stock up.

Buy Now: $24 (four-pack, 12 tablets each)

Fancy Fixie Fixer

The urban cyclists are always in danger of a sudden flat or magically appearing pothole. There are a lot of multifunction bicycle tools to choose from these days, but that doesn’t mean carrying them has become any easier, and when out for a leisurely weekend ride, the last thing you want is to bog yourself down with a cumbersome messenger bag. Etsy seller E.H. Works has solved this problem with their elegant and compact Mopha tool roll, handmade from canvas with beautiful leather accents. When closed, the roll attaches to your bicycle with its own toe strap, and can comfortably hid a well-curated selection of emergency items for the road, including a spare tube, CO2 inflator, tire levers and more. Available in a tasteful olive or black color schemes, this handy device will not only carry your tools, but also ensure you wont look like one.

Buy Now: $44

Black Spin

The right golf ball can make all the difference. Choose poorly and you’ll spend the next 18 holes wondering why you bother playing this game at all. Callaway Golf has taken a bold step to improve the benefits of a ball by combining two into one offering. The Callaway HEX Tour Black golf ball ($46) merges the firmer core of the Tour iZ and the softer, spin friendly cover of the Tour iS. The result? To create a ball with less spin off the driver (i.e. straighter distance) and more spin from a wedge (i.e. short game control). Not an easy feat.

The new ball is a five piece construction with enough rocket science to boggle the mind. Between Suryln ionomers ratios, inner and out mantels and HEX Aerodynamics we went cross-eyed over the tech. For us, the proof arrived on the course.

After a few rounds, we mulled over the results and think Callaway may be on to something. This writer can create a lot of the wrong spin off the tee (I’m sure most of you can relate) and the HEX Black Tour was one of the easier balls to get onto the short grass. Overall distance was good, even on the softer spring fairways. One thing to note, power has been reigned in from the Tour iZ model, and we approve. Getting an extra club out of your irons isn’t nearly as beneficial to better players as added control and shot-making. We also found the ball performed well around the green, on the putting surface and from bunkers. One of the more noticeable benefits is that the HEX Black Tour has a more resilient cover than the Tour iS, so you won’t be digging in your bag for a new ball after every wedge shot.

Buy Now: $46 (dozen)

Tough only to resist

Be honest about it. The last time you had a tender, moist, flavourful, and well-spiced piece of jerky was never. Instead, you almost dislocated your jaw with an endless amount of chewing on what felt, tasted and acted like a piece of salted tire. But fear not, for Krave Jerky has heard your silent plea for wholesome and delicious pieces of dehydrated meat flavored in ways you’ve never imagined. The healthy snack is made entirely out of turkey, beef or pork and is minimally processed. For the detail oriented, that means no nitrates, hormones, artificial flavors, or neon-frilled wrestlers bursting through your dry wall.

Currently Krave Jerky comes in six tasty varieties all priced at $7 each including lemon garlic, sweet honey chipotle, curry gourmet, basil citrus, smoky grilled teriyaki, and chili lime. Moreover, for those who can’t decide on a flavor, the company offers a monthly five choice sampler for $30, dubbed the Krave Klub. Looks like your favorite carnivore snack just graduated from truck stops to granite counter tops.

Buy Now: $7