Gear Patrol

In the constant pursuit of a high-quality, stylish lifestyle, it’s understandable that we men may stray from the path a time or two — a truck stop frozen burrito here, a discount-grade pair of white socks there. Most times, though, we regret purchasing shoddy products. Owen & Fred, The Store For Men is a response to just such disappointing gimmickry, providing the superbly crafted choice for everything from dopp kits to ties to kitchen accessories and all the rest.

There are more inefficient and grosser routines in life, but washing and drying our hands has that certain je ne sais quoi — the feeling that there must be a more sensible, genius solution on tap somewhere. The genius solution comes courtesy of the folks at Dyson; their Occam’s Razor solution is the new Dyson Airblade Tap (call to discuss pricing), a hyper-efficient washer/dryer faucet combo.

You lean on him all year-round to assist, assemble and install everything from kitchen cabinetry to those amazing Patagonian rosewood floors you love so much. He tirelessly tackles the disparate demands of Honey-Do lists and familial fixes without so much as a peep. And yet, of all the men featured in our 12 Guys of…

GEAR PATROL SPONSORED POST You’re constantly searching for the latest and greatest in personal technology to improve some aspect of your life — be it connectivity, entertainment or productivity. So why are you still sticking with a manual toothbrush, with a basic design that was conceived over 5,000 years ago? Philips has set the bar…

If you’re the type who showers until even the lukewarm water is gone, it’s time you broadened your bathing horizons. Similar to the outdoor rinse station at your beach house, the Oborain Outdoor Shower ($3,700+) gives your washing experience an interesting twist — whether it’s for rinsing off after a swim in the pool, soaking…

A good blanket is an unsung hero both at home and in the field. The OFS Limited Edition Military Blanket by Faribault Woolen Mills ($170) is the latest addition to our Linus-like arsenal. Faribault Mills is the oldest manufacturing facility in Minnesota (we hear it gets pretty cold up there), having been around since 1865….

We’ve all been there — the reeking gym bag, the musty sweater drawer — you can’t escape the stink. That is until Fresh Threads ($8) came out with their specially portable clothing fresheners. Available in three different scents of subtle citrus, soft amber and classic clean, these fresheners can fit anywhere you keep your clothes….

If you’ve ever wanted to know what it feels like to sleep one off in the streets of London but can’t leave your Hoboken homestead, you can trust an architect from the other side of Manhattan to have you covered — literally. City Quilts ($219+) are ever-so-soft road maps blankets from Brooklyn based Haptic Labs….

Preparing for the worst is especially trendy now. Whether you believe nuclear war is about to break out, a zombie infestation is inevitable, or think the Mayans really had the inside scoop on the apocalypse – many individuals across the country have taken a liking to ‘prepping’. And, as with any trend, style and aesthetics…

Hot steamy nights are the stuff dreams are made of, but when it’s time to lay your head down for the sleep portion of the evening, it’d be nice to cool off with a pillow that doesn’t keep you sweating until dawn. And with the summer months coming up quickly, the timing couldn’t be better…

Walk into any fraternity house bathroom and you may begin to understand the accidental genius behind Restoration Hardware’s 1930s Stainless Steel Laboratory Collection. Obviously made with more refined guys in mind, the bathroom collection of vanities and storage cabinets boasts zinc hardware and rounded finishes throughout, as well as customizable Italian marble tops and beveled…

Wine is a subject we prefer studying with a glass, friends, and a good meal. However, if you’re looking to read up on the subject, Matt Kramer on Wine: A Matchless Collection of Columns, Essays, and Observations by America’s Most Original and Lucid Wine Writer ($12) is a great resource. The title is a little…

It may look like something snagged for three cents out of the bottom of a bargain bin, but bedroom style is a necessary bedside sacrifice for a particular type of sleeper. You know — the kind who could doze through a taser to the jugular. The Thunderclap Alarm’s 113-decibel ringer provides the same get-the-hell-up-and-go drive…

The Mood Rocking Bed ($3,000) is creative a project from Etsy seller Shinerinternational. Founder Joe Manus got his start making furniture for high-end nightspots using a mixture of landfill-destined materials, and those origins are clearly visible in the mood bed’s whimsical style. Frankly, the curved carbon steel frame combined with a mix of pine, oak,…

Shaving is making a comeback. Good shaving, that is. The use of bargain shave gels and foams is taking a back seat to more sophisticated products that are also better for your skin. Okay, so you don’t have time every day to lather up with a badger hair and ceramic brush, but you do have…

You may not be able to do anything on mankind’s modern-day reliance on pills, but that doesn’t mean you’re helpless to its tired packaging ways. Transforming the design of a classic test tube, the Pill Tube ($150) uses a solid copper (or silver) mirror-polished surface that’s purposely non-lacquered to allow it to develop a natural…

If you’re celebrating 180 years of service as a perennial favorite, you must be doing something right. Woolrich’s combination of quality, great customer service and unique products keep us coming back for more and this time it’s for their Civil War Cavalry Blanket ($120). Woolrich supplied these same blankets to the troops from 1861-1865 and…

Plenty of gadgets get the sexy factor right, but in all of our product trawlin’ years we’ve never seen a humidifier look this good. Built like the lovechild of K.I.T.T. and a high-end subwoofer, the William Ultrasonic Humidifier’s ($230) 1.5 gallon tank can fill rooms up to 1,000 sq ft in size while measuring an…

Rough isn’t an adjective one likes seeing associated with bedding, but in the case of Tricia Rose’s work will cut her some slack. Through her time spent in abroad, Rose was inspired by the land and vintage textiles she later discovered in France and London’s fine fabric houses. After years of searching, she eventually came…

We know sofa beds aren’t the sexiest of products, but for those really short on space sometimes they just make sense. The Dile Sofa Bed ($5,760) in particular is one of the most attractive solutions we’ve ever seen and seems perfect for studio dwellers looking for seating and a place to sleep. Alternatively it could…

You won’t catch us driving solar powered scooters or living cut off from the energy grid, but we at Gear Patrol do appreciate an occasional nod to the environment. Especially when it’s a brilliant, simple idea and only costs $7.99 The Rethink Hanger by Chinese designer Xuan Yu is essentially a hook that old plastic…

Leaving that nice new razor on the bathroom counter, or worse, exposing the blades to the counter surface, is contradictory to a clutter-free bathroom (you have a clutter-free bathroom, right?). Problem is, the options at Bed Bath & Beyond aren’t just dime-a-dozen, they’re also painfully absent of good design. The Kontextür Viktor Razor Holders ($45)…

There are three things that every man dreams of doing at least once in his lifetime. One is to play major league baseball, two is to bathe in beer, and the third is probably better off left unsaid. Dogfish Head brewery in Delaware is doing their best to make one of those dreams become a…

Bedding may not excite you as much as say our coverage of the 2011 porsche 911 GT2, but what you sleep in does convey a lot about your personality. Especially to those you decide to bring home to the magic room from time to time. So if you’re ashamed of the old Ninja Turtle bed…

The 8-Bit Hanger is certainly an item that separates a man in control of his decor from one whipped into submission by his throw pillow-obsessed domestic partner. Nothing screams “Welcome to Level One” quite like a coat hanger made to resemble the pointer we have all come to know and love (except for when it…

Recalling the look of vintage steamer trunks from back when traveling glamorously meant whittling away the time in lavish passenger liners’ suites playing cards with a drink in hand, this beautiful dresser is aimed at those with cash to burn and a love of adventure. Constructed of a solid wood frame covered with handmade distressed…

Those in the market for upgrading their sleeping lair can’t go wrong with the Architecture bed from Room&Board. Designed to command presence in any setting, its handmade steel frame exudes masculinity while providing enough compromise to get the nod of approval from your partner. Made in Minnesota and hand-welded for extra structural stability, the Architecture…

Made here in the USA for Restoration Hardware, these Industrial Utility Laundry Carts by Dandux are the same carts that hotels, restaurants, and the US government have been using since the early 20th century. As you can tell, they exude industrial chic with their steel frame, heavy-duty canvas, snap-in divider for laundry separation, wood base,…

The notion of a worthwhile investment is something we men often struggle with, and it typically varies quite wildly from guy to guy based on personal preferences. One thing every man probably has spent money on at some point, however, is dress clothing. Not all of us may have skipped to the cash register to…

By Gear Patrol reader Jason Friedman WIN Green Sport Detergent is the best way to green your workout and preserve the life of your sweat-wicking athletic gear, all while being environmentally responsible. WIN Green is a new eco-friendly sport detergent that is completely biodegradable, in that all of the ingredients used are sourced from natural,…