Gear Patrol

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…

There are times when your casual gym duffel bag just won’t do. Weekend getaways and overnight soirees come to mind. Enter the Acne Everest, a stylish and functional shoulder bag that’s part of Acne’s Spring/Summer 2012 collection. The canvas bag is fitted with sturdy leather straps to ensure a solid handle on your belongings, and…

Do any amount of traveling and see the poor luggage choices people make. Too big, too small, nondescript, completely impractical… they run the gamut. Preferring our travel light and agile, but prepared, this traveler prefers a bag provides key travel functions, flexibility and bombproof construction.We recently went in-depth with the excellent Osprey Meridian 22 ($300)…

A gentleman will go portable with his drink via flask, not beer hat. And his drink of choice will probably fall into the category of whiskey or whisky. Cheap, logo’d flasks are a dime a dozen and will class you up about as much as eating your porterhouse with a spork. Turn to the Wentworth…

One of our favorite camera accessory companies Holdfast, started by professional photographer and GP reader Matthew Swaggert, has just released the perfect piece of gear for managing your memory cards and money. The 4.35″ Indispensable Photographer’s Wallet ($45+) features a foldable design with three pockets. The exterior slide pocket holds IDs and the various other…

Menswear accessory designer Alexander Olch has released a new line of spring scarves for the first time. Like popular ties and pocket squares, all of the scarves are designed in handmade in NYC. Pair one with a blazer in a couple of weeks to differentiate your look, and perhaps the added insulation will let you…

The best luggage is that which you don’t notice. You know those bags where the wheels stop spinning, the handle gets loose and the zippers break at the worst possible time? Well this wheeled duffle from Dakine isn’t one of those bags. This is a bag you can stuff full of gear, drag across inhospitable…

While we prefer the warmer, sockless months, the colder ones are just a fact of life. And as such, the right socks are critical. You want to look good, maybe show some ankle flair, and most importantly keep your feet dry. Wicking moisture away from your feet actually keeps them warm in the winter, or…

Travel enough and you come to appreciate the advantages of hard-shell luggage. Their no-nonsense design, impact-resistance and durability go hand-in-hand with the frequent traveler routine. The problem is, hard-shell cases often weigh more than their soft-shelled counterparts. Tumi aims to change all that with their new line of Tegra-Lite ($595-$795) luggage. Made from an armor-like…

The fine gents at Put This On have put together what may be the coolest style subscription yet. It’s called The Gentlemen’s Association. The goal: dress you like a proper man, one square at a time. Traveling the world, editor Jesse Thorn hand picks fabrics — some vintage, some rare, all unique — which are…

One of the drawbacks to being a modern, on-the-go guy is carrying around all that gear and gadgets. Streamlining your accessories into one portable pack is the JanSport Pleasanton ($250), a waxed cotton twill and leather bag with dedicated compartments for all your stuff. Stow your laptop in the 15-inch quick-access sleeve and your iPad…

Need proof that the fashion world is cyclical? The fact that esteemed eyewear brand Persol reintroduced clip-ons last year is all the evidence you should need. While traditionally synonymous with bad taste, the PO 3007 V and 3002 V frames make a strikingly good case for the design’s revival, especially considering their price and convenience…

Bringing their subtle Italian style from leather goods to two-wheel motion, Travelteq has collaborated with Milan based Cicli Maestro to create the Traveler Bike (~$1120). For the record, we haven’t decided whether or not to categorize it as a style accessory or simply a stylish bicycle, but we’re leaning toward the former. The single speed…

At CES, we eyeballed an expansion on the HEX bag we wrote about a few months ago. They have introduced a neat new line of carry gear for the urban man with a subtle nautical touch. We love the streamlined but stylish look of the HEX Fleet Sonic Backpack ($100). With its dressy but understated…

Sunglasses aren’t just for the summer vacation months, especially when you’re driving. And it’s not just about looking good, though you should certainly avoid ill-fitting and overly trendy sunspecs, for personal dignity reasons, naturally. For a masculine look with some of the best optics around, look no farther than the Serengeti Riano ($219). We got…

Ready for your Friday presentation in Palo Alto and Saturday in Seattle, the Cambridge serves double duty as both a commuter and overnight bag. Lo & Sons, a family operation, has infused the bag with plenty of conveniences and features learned from their own travel-heavy lifestyle. Inside the bag offers enough room for a 15″…

Ever clever bag brand Killspencer has just released this nifty accessory that’s designed to tote your toiletries like any other dopp kit to your destination, without ruining your luggage thanks to a waterproof white tarpaulin lining. Once you’ve unpacked, the bag can then easily fold flat to become a document/tablet portfolio for your jaunts on…

Just because an everyday carry (EDC) is all about necessity, doesn’t mean it can’t or shouldn’t have a bit of custom flair. The G. Wiseman Sodbuster Pocket Knife ($330), exclusive to Kaufmann Mercantile could be that special something in your pocket (cough). This “as good as they get” pocket knife is made by hand by…

Our ever-tasteful friends at Cool Hunting brought this new travel accessory from one of our favorite notebook brands to our attention. Much to our pleasure, these 3.75 x 2.25 pay direct homage to the company’s classic hard cover journals and feature rounded edges along with a matching elastic closure. Available in four color ways, the…

The DODOcase has been a favorite accessory for iPad users looking to add an old school literary feel to their cutting edge gadget. While this isn’t the first collaboration by DODO that we’ve seen, this iteration created in partnership with eco-conscious upstart Vicarious by Nature still deserves a mention since it does a fine job…

This winter offering from Japanese clothing brand Deluxe combines the looks of a higher end silk scarf with the comfort and price point of 100% cotton. The small white polka dot pattern can look casual or elegant depending on how you wear it. Available colors include Navy, Black, and Olive. ~$121 | deluxe.jp

Abbeyhorn shoe horns are all hand carved from Oxen horn to create a one of a kind shoe accessory. The stag shoehorn (top) features an integrated stag antler as a handle for a solid grip. While these finely crafted accessories are undoubtedly a luxury, using them regularly with your treasured shoes will definitely extend their…

After closing up his former shop (RIP Freeman Transport), Ben Ferencz decided it was time for reflection. He took some time traveling around between his home in the Montana mountains and New York City. Spent time with good friends. Did a few collaboration one-offs with the likes of Hickorees Hard Goods and Jack Spade. Realizing…

Unless you happen to live right above a New York based GANT store, you may have missed a new collection of small leather goods that launched today. Each piece is crafted by Tärnsjö, a family operated tannery just outside of Sweden, renowned for their leather (you’ve seen them before on Brooks saddles). Here, the collection…

The Merchant & Mills Oilskin Bag Kit ($88) is the perfect solution for the truly independent man, or anyone who values being unique above anything else. If you’re not familiar with the Merchant and Mills brand, all you need to know is that their mission is to teach the world to sew. Along those lines,…

Experiment with your sound by giving these Corter natural leather guitar picks ($10) a strum. Besides looking great, this creative use of American certified vegetable tanned leather scraps provides a little more give compared to the traditional plastic variety, resulting in a slightly warmer play tone. Like any other faithful leather product, repeated use will…

Here’s a secret — you don’t need a technical bag to carry technical things. Upstart brand Seventy Eight Percent clearly understands this, offering a wide range of great looking accessories for the modern day commuter. We had the opportunity to go hands on with a variety of their classically-styled bags, as well as their Agnetha…

We see just about every size and shape of bag — no complaints here — but we’ve grown fond of the proficient carries from Topo Designs. Blame it on a blend of proficient design and great prices. And of course, the fact that each bag is made in the Colorado Rockies. As a follow-up to…

After a long wait and numerous teaser posts, GORUCK Field Pockets ($85-$110) are finally up for grabs. While there are plenty of excellent MOLLE pouch options out there, we’ve been holding out for GR’s option, and it’s been worth the wait. In the lineup are three pockets of varying sizes from 1.6L to 4.2L, each…

The dapper folks at Por Homme brought this winter accessory to our attention earlier this week. The 55% Cotton / 45% Acrylic blend scarf features a rich-looking jacquard pattern that belies the item’s reasonable $50 price tag. While the navy and white “peacoat” edition is the most appealing color combination in our book, caviar and…