Gear Patrol

When it comes to style, nobody rivals the Italians and when it comes to cycling, the same holds true. Where the two overlap though goes back to the days of the debonair campione, Fausto Coppi, laboring over the Alps on his Bianchi in a collared wool jersey and immaculate hair. While modern cycling is all…

Taking a swim sounds nice this summer, but only if you’re a safe and willing participant. Patagonia River Crampons ($200) are the latest invention in “don’t tumble into fast-moving water” technology, and if you’re a serious fisherman they’re a worthy purchase. The crampons strap over your wading boots using a simple harness system and are…

If you’ve ever been nailed in the shins by a pair of ill-meaning soccer cleats, you know that the pain is enough to bring a grown man to tears. Plus, the resulting wounds can be pretty unsightly. Shinguards have been around for a while, but they’ve essentially given stand-alone safety — until now. The Storelli…

Baseball is remarkable and unlike any other sport in the world. It’s our nation’s past-time for Pete’s (Rose’s) sake, and what’s more, it’s provided one of the most prolific male head wear items ever. As summer goes into full-swing and we dust off the old sweaty ball cap from past years, maybe it’s time to…

Love yourself some Batman but can’t stoop to wearing a cape tomorrow night? Sporting Under Armor’s new legit line of Gotham City Rogues jerseys, t-shirts, hoodies, jackets and hats will still maintain your cult credentials, without shaming your date into sitting a row over. Sure, after catching the team’s biggest and final highlight in the…

The CamelBak Molokai ($100) has been designed specifically with water in mind, and that’s not just in reference to what it hauls. Stand up paddleboarders, especially, will rejoice at the thought that the company has designed its latest edition with details specific to their sport. Made entirely out of quick-drying material, the vest will feel…

Gore Bike Wear’s Fusion GT AS ($280) might be the only jacket cyclists need all year. Whether you’re on the trail, on tour under the hot sun, or battling the freezing rain — the lightweight and extremely breathable Gore-Tex engineered shell provides protection from the wind and water, while still remaining comfortable. It’s nearly mountain-bike…

The next time you find yourself 90 yards out, in the pines, with no line of sight to the green; open your club face and sneak a peek at your wrist. If you were wearing the new Garmin Approach S3 Golf Watch ($350), the fear of carpet bombing your score card would be lessened considerably….

Two questions. First: have you ever run a marathon at the North Pole? Second: have you ever spent nearly $2,000 on a running jacket? If you answered “yes” to either question, then read on. Taking extreme technical wear to, well, the extreme the UVU Cold Race Jacket 01 (£1,200) is built from the ground-up for…

Constructed from the same synthetic material found on whitewater rafts (vessels that deals with no shortage of nasty, wet conditions), the Korkers Chrome Fishing Wading Boot ($199+) can take on nearly any surface, thanks to a blend of clever features, including an interchangeable sole system called OmniTrax. Swap in the rubber sole for normal conditions,…

GoPro may be the leading provider of tag-a-long video equipment when crazy adventures call, but that doesn’t mean their solution is the only way to let your body be the camera man. Pivothead is peddling a new line of video recording eyewear. At the moment, four styles of glasses are available, all of which look…

Around the time when Samurai warriors last used metal armor in battle during the Satsuma Rebellion of 1877, an entrepreneurial Norwegian fisherman named Helly Juell Hansen was busy creating another form of armor — oilskin jackets, trousers, sou’westers and tarpaulins to protect sailors from the cold and wet. Developed at first using coarse linen soaked…

Barefoot running is the “Bieber fever” of sports at the moment, and nearly every major athletic footwear brand out there has produced some form of barefoot running-style shoe to capitalize on the trend. The Swiss Barefoot company rides the same bandwagon with a slightly different twist. Their ultra-tough socks are made from a blend of…

At the start of the last century, mountain climbers wore what essentially amounted to wooden clogs on their feet. Soon, the first “tricounis” climbing shoe was developed, which featured a leather sole outfitted with steel cleats that improved traction on ice, but did little for rock climbers. To learn about how Vibram changed the footwear…

Seasons are something you can take for granted when you live in LA — I do — rarely giving you an opportunity to truly test cold weather gear. Granted our desert climate can create temps in the high 30s on winter nights, but it’s still not the right environment for challenging the winter gear that…

Nonetheless Garments is a new Chicago clothing brand dedicated to creating stylish menswear that can also withstand the fluctuating weather conditions of commuting. The magic all starts with using advanced materials like Polartec NeoShell, which has twice the airflow of comparable waterproof materials, without looking like it was shorn from a Paratrooper. Like any good…

If you’re looking for a solid technical mid-layer fleece that stands apart from the rest, take a look at the Helly Hansen Swift Fleece ($130). We tried one on for ourselves this winter and found it easily more than capable for cold-weather activities and casual goings on, as well. The body is slimmer than most…

Taking the road less more traveled, Adidas Outdoor (think: an athletic approach to getting outside) has unveiled a lineup of gear for 2012 that has us ready to shed the parkas and hit the trails. Namely, the Terrex Fast R Hiking Boot ($195). Featuring a high-tech Traxion sole developed in conjunction with Continental — yup,…

Most people who spend time in the high latitudes own some sort of insulated jacket or vest. And most of these ubiquitous puffy garments are filled with goose down, the undisputed king of insulation. But while it’s true that down has the best warmth to weight ratio of any batting, fall through the ice and…

Speed or power? That’s the decision you’ll need to make before you don a pair of Nike Zoom Kobe VII System Supreme ($140-$180, Dec. 22). Two interchangeable inserts provide either full-length Cushlon midsole and ankle cuff for a power bias, or a Phylon midsole with Nike Zoom units and a low-cut power-stretch cuff for aiding…

Outdoor activity is unpleasant when: A). you are wet; B). your pack is too heavy; or C) when you are not wearing and Outdoor Research Axiom Jacket with Gore-Tex Active Shell (which, conveniently, solves all of these problems). Gore-Tex –- a name that needs no introduction — recently unveiled the latest advancement in its long…

Leather usually doesn’t hold up well when Ol’ Man Winter puts on the hurtin’. Our recent tests with Helly Hansen’s Leather Gloves ($100) proved they are an exception, even in wet weather. Armed with Primaloft insulation, Helly Tech Protection fabric and rich goatskin leather, these durable mitts warm up quickly and keep moisture out. Don’t…

We’re long overdue for a breakdown so what better candidate for a part-by-part analysis than the GR TAC ($35) — the new tactical hat from the deft hands of GORUCK. It’s quite possibly the last hat you’ll ever need or want. Hit the jump for our breakdown.

Looking like the long haired hippy twin of the Ranger Hoodie LT the Shag Master adds Polartec Thermal Pro High Loft fleece to the already excellent Ranger. As such, it has ergonomically placed chest and arm pockets, integrated thumbholes, aero hood, as well as a cut that provides superior mobility. The high loft Polartec fleece…

Working in the city and working in an office doesn’t give a man myriad outerwear options that look just as good on casual Friday as they do during the rest of the week, especially when the thermometer starts to drop well below seersucker weather. And wearing your double-breasted black wool overcoat doesn’t work everywhere, pal….

Light is good. Light, warm and water-repellent are just that much better, especially when it comes to outerwear. No doubt this fall will bring the kind of weather where you want to be prepared yet mobile and versatile. The new Patagonia Ultralight Down Jacket ($279) will allow you to do just that with its lightweight…

Totally waterproof and completely tailored, the Nau Down Load ($440) packs a one-two style/utlity punch. Just in time for your dashing fall wardrobe. The weather-resistant shell features premium touches including taped seams, mini-storm skirt, removable hood, ribbed wool cuffs, breathable laminate exterior, and a warm yet breathable interior comprised of bulk-free 650-fill down. A bounty…

Judging by how quickly terms like “smartphone” and “smartTV” steamrolled into our vernacular, we may soon be uttering “smartcleats” (or smartboots for readers across the pond) if Adidas has their way. The first generation Adidas Adizero f50s made a splash earlier in 2011 by weighing a mere 5.1 ounces and claiming the title as the…

The Fitbit Ultra ($100) sits in an interesting spot on the competitive spectrum of workout computers. The original was essentially a pedometer for the 21st century, and recorded users steps to calculate distance traveled and calories burned over a day. This new incarnation provides the same features and adds the ability to distinguish other calorie…

Fleece has a tendency to be clammy against the skin when it gets wet, but wool’s natural properties prevent that not-so-pleasant feeling by keeping moisture away from your skin. If you’re searching for a full zip secondary layer that’s both protective and comfortable, look no further than the Icebreaker Sierra Hood ($200), which we had…