Gear Patrol

The charitable and on-trend team at Warby Parker have partnered with The Standard hotel to create a limited edition pair of their Winston shades in a classic striped ale colorway. Blending 60s styling with a dose of modern confidence, they’re a steal for $95, even if your days by the pool are still months away. Plus, they ship with a special orange lens cloth designed by artist Jeff Canham that we know you’ll lose in a week. Like all Warby specs, purchasing this pair will also send a pair of optical glasses to someone in need. Look for them at The Standard hotels in the company’s new “Readery” kiosks (also developed in collaboration with Warby Parker) or purchase them directly online via the link below.

So you managed to score that shiny new iPad Mini. Next step: a case. We’ve saved you hours of SafeSearch Googling by rounding up 30 of the best iPad Mini cases at a variety of price points to help get your new Cupertino buddy from birthday suit to warm and cozy. Whether you prioritize looks, function or insurance for your butterfingers, each of these iPad Mini cases has a forte — and a price. We’ve ordered our selections starting with the most affordable and will update this article as better entries come along. So peruse, hone in, and for god’s sake, cover your shame man.

It’s hard to comprehend, but there are people out there in this great land of ours who don’t have high-speed internet access. Some, by choice (like your grandfather, who asked you to explain what Facebook is) and others by lack of choice, hamstrung by providers that ignore less populated areas due to high installation and…

Even if your daily commute doesn’t vary with job sites, the Kaufmann Mercantile Nickel-Plated Aluminum Lunch Box ($79) should make you envious as a hungry kid in a cafeteria. The box is built to protect your kelp chips bag of cool ranch Doritos and alfalfa sprouts beef & cheese sandwich in a large bottom compartment, while your beverage of choice (Highlife?) stays secure in an upper mesh wire.

Though we’re pretty sure the Tour De France now needs a bit more polishing than its excellent NoMo Design posters could possibly provide, the company’s efforts are never wasted. Such is clearly the case with their new Racetrack Series Posters ($26). NoMo covers eight legendary racetracks — Talladega, Daytona, Laguna Seca, Suzuka, Indianapolis, Monaco, Silverstone…

Cryo means “icy cold” in Greek; while it may call to mind a faint glimmer of hope that Walt Disney’s body is stored somewhere beneath Adventureland just waiting to be thawed, we’re mostly certain that in the Kershaw Cryo pocket knife($50) it simply means “cool”. Famed tactical knife maker Rick Hinderer, whose creations normally go…

There’s a reason the term “cold feet” is synonymous with apprehension and doubt in our vernacular. It’s a miserable physical experience that will drive even the most dedicated to question moving forward.

Famed director Christopher Nolan’s directorial breakthrough, Following ($32), has just been inducted into the Criterion Collection, and we couldn’t be more excited to watch it. The 16mm black and white film, re-released by Criterion on special edition Blu-ray, is about a voyeuristic novelist who follows strangers on the streets of London, searching for a muse….

The typical Mac user’s desktop setup is a uniform of brushed aluminum, displayed with pride and reverence. Many accessory makers have tried break into the clique with lures of enhancements — but few take the bait, for fear of marring their Cupertino livery.

Bearings Guide — the ever-tasteful email newsletter for Southern gents looking to improve their lives — recently launched a new shop stocked with a series of men’s-club-approved letterpress prints ($35). All are made in Atlanta, Georgia from original sketches created by the Bearings team, translated to custom plates and then individually rolled on all-cotton paper….

“Black Thumb” is a dramatic label that was probably dreamed-up by regimental types to keep their absent-minded counterparts (like us) feeling incompetent. Take back your dignity and add some life to your residence with the Joey Roth Self-Watering Planter ($45). The understated 8-inch pot, made from terracotta and zisha, was inspired by an ancient irrigation…

Vinyl-loving hipsters (redundant!) looking for a healthy dose of self-fulfilled prophecy, take heed: 101 Essential Rock Records ($40) is the perfect opportunity to simultaneously read up on your favorite retro music format and eschew the mainstream e-book fad. Gracing 260 pages, this compendium’s 300 record cover illustrations chronicle the “Golden Age” of vinyl — that…

One day, we may all look back at today’s digital gadgets with loving fondness. Call it a hunch, but we’re pretty certain a 3rd generation iPod Nano won’t quite conjure up quite the same nostalgia that vinyl does today. Digital treasures do exist though, and here in its latest guise, the quintessential HP 12c 30th…

These days, fame increasingly comes with the chance to delve into product development. Jordan transfered his ups into sneakers; Dre’s cashed in his booth skills on headphones; Beckham shills underwear — these all make perfect sense. Former New Zealand cricket star Dion Nash turned his right-armed bowling skills into… a men’s grooming line. It seems…

There’s a coffee table book for everything these days, so we’re a little surprised it’s taken this long to address a topic so near and dear to anyone with even a scrap of inner childhood left kicking around: tree houses. Maybe we’re just rusty on our Swiss Family Robinson. Taschen’s Tree Houses: Fairy Tale Castles…

The plastic pitcher currently filtering water in your fridge is a far greener way to stay hydrated than pounding down bottles, but it stills leaves plenty to be desired — both in terms of form and function. Its tupperware aesthetic isn’t exactly ready for the bright lights of the dinner table, and if you fill…

Our neighbors to the north, unjustly the target of crude jokes involving backwardness, snow and a strange dialect, have another reason for national pride. Whistlepig Straight Rye Whiskey ($70), though distributed by a Vermont label, uses 100% made-in-Canada rye whiskey. Whistlepig departs from the usual American experience of rye as the dominant but not sole…

Backpacks are ubiquitous, and sometimes too many pockets just means… too many pockets. In the case of the Marmot Urban Hauler ($50), less is more. Based on a centuries-old Japanese fishing bag, the Urban Hauler is as simple as a pack can get, short of a brown grocery bag and duct tape. Made of UpCycled…

Your dog shreds his toys like Lindsay Lohan shreds career opportunities. No more. The Varsity Ball ($40) is a dog toy seemingly built by the makers of the M1 Abrams tank. Designed for active dogs (Bassett Hounds will probably just stare at it), the Varsity Ball is large enough to escape your dog’s hungry jaws,…

If you’ve ever tried to free-hand paint a straight edge after a four-shot Americano, you’ve most likely failed. But even without the caffeine hit, you know it’s no easy task; painter’s tape sometimes makes things even worse. With the Black & Decker EasyEdge Powered Paint Edger ($35), your molding, windows and door edges will be…

Think about how much joy your pooch brings to your life (except for that time he chewed up your bespoke wing tips — that was bad). Well, there’s a way to pamper him that doesn’t involve dressing him up like Beverly Hills poodle. The Mountainsmith K-9 Cube ($60) makes the perfect holiday gift for your…

From the men that brought you the hardcore rucksack comes the first, yup, military-grade tie. Shrugging off the worst any properly bedecked man is likely to encounter, The Man Tie ($65) is made from the same 1000d Cordura material as their rucks — and built with durability in its details. Two variants (narrow or classic)…

The Zerocaster ($26 each) was designed by a bona fide rocket scientist in a space lab to transform your office chariot into a veritable Ferrari, especially in the black and red color schema. Their axle-less, precision ABEC ball bearings and poly-urethane design draw inspiration from a traditional skateboard wheels, allowing desk chair modders to silently…

After a rough day of solo backpacking and exploration, nothing rejuvenates like a good meal. Unfortunately, going it alone out in the field doesn’t always lend to the best of creature comforts. The Snow Peak Ozen Solo Table ($50) provides a level surface on the ground or in your tent and should at least make…

If we hear one more story about an impending zombie apocalypse, we’re packing up our stuff and humping it to the upper reaches of Canada. Our supplies? A crapload of MREs, an accompanying supply of Pepto, several crates of whisky and The Cell Machined Survival Kit ($75+). The minds behind this baton-like kit are looking…

As thoughts of crackling fires, the laughter (and possibly screaming) of little children and more than your fair share of gingerbread descend upon you in the coming weeks, you might need some holiday cheer to get yourself through it all. What better time to start planning for the requisite imbibing by picking up some Crown…

Your four-legged best friend has borne witness to a lot in your life — new jobs, ex-girlfriends and the like — so the least you can do is repay your pal with some decent doggy gear. The Stunt Puppy Go Dog Glo Collar ($25) hits a good place to start: safety and security. Made of…

Seems like you can customize just about anything these days. From kicks to cars, people want to be their own clever, intellectual, trendy (or not), unique snowflake — just like everyone else. Which is why we’re shocked someone didn’t think of the Dodo Case Customizer Tool ($80+) sooner. Fueling your one-off narcissism, Dodo Case enables…

Camping is one of America’s great pastimes, and some die-hards do it through all four seasons. But whether it’s 90 degrees and swampy or so cold the lining of your nose freezes, you’ll always need some good light shed on the situation. The L.L. Bean Lighthouse 30-Day Camp Lantern ($60) won’t just brighten things up…

Standing in your front yard with a severe case of bed head while wearing stained overalls and whacking away at your rather overgrown landscaping with a machete just might scare the neighbors. Clean yourself up and then break out the rather benign-looking but highly effective Bahco Swedish Brush Axe ($54). Designed to clear both brush…