Gear Patrol

You’ll see them, you’ll want them, but you better hurry up and grab’em because these gorgeous Stalward Ltd. Neckties ($64) won’t be around much longer. The New York based company is serious about adding a touch of fun to modern aesthetics and their summer 2012 collection is carefully handmade by a family-owned factory in Chicago…

We can’t count the number of times we’ve lugged brew or beef to a party and couldn’t find a practical and stylish way to bring over the goods. Somehow a heavy hard-sided cooler or the all-embarrassing plastic grocery bag just don’t cut the mustard. The DQM Chinook Cooler Bag holds a six twelve-pack of suds…

The chaos of flying hither and yon on short trips for business or pleasure can add stress to an otherwise bucolic lifestyle. With the Unit Portables Unit 05-08 kit, you get an entire travel system to bring order to your universe. This overnight bag and accompanying pouch system is the product of a team of…

Who writes anymore? Well, if you’re still a believer in the hand-written thank you note or letter, you’re in our camp. Nothing says class like a well-written (and legible) note to say you’re not just going to send an email that takes 30 seconds to type. And what more motivation do you need than to…

Packing camera gear for travel usually requires making compromises. Including that extra zoom lens means something gets left behind, whether it’s an extra pair of socks or a guidebook. Take two bags and you run afoul of stingy airline carry-on requirements. So a good camera bag is worth its weight in gold. While there are…

We already know retro glasses are in. But thick frames don’t work for everyone, especially if you’re a one-frame kind of guy and are even remotely active. Anyone who’s interested in a minimalist frame that stands up to active use should give the Smith Optics Vapor 2 ($179) (which we recently put to the test)…

Given the amount of time and money you spent painstakingly selecting the perfect pair of frames — protecting (and not losing) your favorite summer accessory should be a top priority. The fine leather craftsmen (some say magicians) at Makr obsess over every detail when it comes to the creation of their leather goods, and their…

Whether credit goes to Don Draper or not, there’s no denying the current popularity of aviator sunglasses. And while there is no shortage of brands to choose from, if you want the original, there’s only one choice: American Optical. The US military started issuing AO Aviator sunglasses to its pilots, sailors and soldiers way back…

Tumi breaks the mold of sleek modern bags with its new and unconventional iteration of the rugged rucksack. The Travis Backpack ($395) combines the versatility of their normal bags and luggage with the rough hewn look of a military pack. It also houses enough stowage options for even the most demanding pack animals: external zip…

You don’t have to have a job in emergency services to appreciate a good rescue knife. The blunt-tip style makes the rescue knife an excellent tool when looking for versatility and safety in a pinch. The Spyderco Assist Black Blade certainly looks pretty intimidating for a non-combat knife. In fact, the anti-reflective black carbon nitride…

Whether it was his ability to translate experience into Nobel Prize winning prose or the way he went about his exploits in our world, few names stir the spirit of adventure like Hemingway. While labeling luggage after the intrepid traveller may sound good in Monday morning marketing circles, the bag better be able to survive…

Sleeping under the stars on a summer camping trip sounds like a good idea until the sun goes down and the mosquito dinner bell rings. You can flee for the stuffy tent, slather yourself with chemicals or slip into a Cocoon CoolMax Travel Sheet. These thin sleep sacks, available in silk, cotton or microfiber CoolMax…

Whether you’re bike commuting in Seattle, doing a surf photo shoot in Maui or boarding a dive boat in Fiji, you’re going to need to keep your gear dry. The trick is to find a waterproof bag that holds all your stuff but doesn’t feel like a potato sack on your back. The Dakine Cyclone…

While we love a good weekender or duffle, there are times where several days worth of gear necessitate a hard side carryon with wheels. The thing is, a great hard side case (like those from Tumi or Rimowa) don’t come cheap. Enter a surprisingly achievable solution. The in-house line of Exo Hardside Spinner Carry-on from…

In the ongoing struggle to carry gear without looking like an overstuffed Sherpa, all-around black-bag purveyor Ignoble has tossed in a solution in the form of the Ignoble Lorna Case Backpack ($300). At 25 liters, made from black ballistic nylon, and sporting padded shoulder straps, obligatory sternum strap, and airmesh back, the Lorna functions as…

The best way we can sum up the Travelteq Voyager ($770) is to label it FTBT (for travelers by travelers). Yes, we just made that up, but that’s exactly what this bag is all about. Combining the attention to details commonly found in tier one bags with the no-nonsense functionality of a duffel bag, the…

Cuisse de Grenouille, which stands for frog leg in French, is a new Parisian fashion company that loves fiddling with details. To celebrate the coming of summer, no facet was ignored in the making of their “Laine Tressée” Belt ($96) collection. These bold “ceintures” brilliantly borrow from the expertise of three countries and combine Italian…

Not long ago, we highlighted a very rare and extinct pen called the Rotring 600 Trio. Combining two pens and a pencil, the Rotring Trio became a personal favorite. Discontinued a number of years ago, the pen still commands a staggering price on eBay. Both times we’ve featured the pen, we’ve received a number of…

With the recent success of Space X Dragon, the first private spacecraft to launch and connect with the international space station, there’s been a renewed attention to aeronautics and space travel. 50 years ago and for only the second time in history, astronaut Scott Carpenter strapped on a Breitling Navitimer chronograph and orbited the earth…

Finding interesting ways to carry around our camera gear never gets old. ONA’s useful camera bag inserts are a great item for casual photographers looking for the best way to stash a camera in their luggage. The brand’s new Camps Bay ($430) backpack, however, is a full-service camera and laptop carrier geared toward the pros….

World-renowned Ritz-Carlton has teamed up with beachwear shop Onia to create a killer summer accessory for those with a penchant for luxury. The Onia-Ritz-Carlton Beach Towel ($75) is hand-made with Spanish cotton on one side, and fast-drying, soft, and highly absorbent terry cloth on the other. So even if you can’t return from the beach…

We’ve written about GORUCK and their tactically inspired gear a number of times. Made in the USA, bomb proof, with a life time guarantee, they’re the kind of company we love to support. Enough said. But one of the best things about a GORUCK product is how they’re set up for you to make your…

Scoff all you want at the dandy-esque ways of the handkerchief carrier — that is, until the fair lady between the two of you at the bar accidentally spills her drink and all you’ve got is a paper napkin. Make no mistake; the charms of a freshly laundered pocket square aren’t lost on a damsel…

Keep all your plastic together with the Arizona Arena Bifold Picker’s Wallet ($36). The 100% full-grain leather wallet is lined in pigskin for durability and contains a cash compartment, 4 slots for cards and a plectrum pouch for your picker du jour. Perfect if you consider yourself a serious guitar player — or just happen…

Over the years, we’ve raved about Billykirk’s products and founders, and their latest laptop sleeves ($219+) reaffirms our love. It’s a classic Billykirk piece – blending chic with toughness, and elegance with durability. Featuring hand-stitched Horween leather, a Chicago asset since 1905, this sleeve exudes rugged class. In any boardroom or meeting it sends a…

Let’s face it, times are tough and it’s not just European governments that are implementing austerity measures. A lot of guys can’t squeeze a new watch into their 2012 budgets. But don’t despair, there’s an affordable way to get a fresh look for your existing watch – change the strap. You might be surprised at…

Spring time always holds a particular soft spot for fashionistas. After long months spent covering up in warm attire, the change in season is duly celebrated with a liberating explosion of style. Not to be outdone, social fashion enterprise Apolis presents its line of naturally produced and locally crafted organic hand dyed linen ties. Each…

Some call it a science, some call it an art. Regardless of how you choose to define it, in the process of wallet making, two elements are absolutely essential — functionality and form. The folks at Feit have brought these two universal principles face to face in the 2012 Spring Hand Sewn Collection. Their Handmade…

Incase continues their love affair with cyclists with the release of their new collection, Range. Created with two-wheeled travelers in mind, the Range series figures that if it can stand up to the beating of a bike messenger whipping through New York’s Lower East Side, it can probably do just fine lugging your books or…

Ugh. Another pair of sunglasses. Really? Well, until you actually try on the Bolle Rainier, like we did, you wouldn’t know that they are supremely comfortable and have what Bolle calls Thermogrip technology to keep the specs on your face. Consider them like tropical frog fingers for your face, providing a great fit and allowing…