Gear Patrol

When’s the last time you tried out a new grooming product you didn’t swipe from a hotel? Now eliminate the items your better half brought home. That’s what we thought. Just because it’s what your dad or your roommate in college used, doesn’t mean it’s the right thing for you. Luckily for your too-busy-to-possibly-stumble-into-a-drug-store self, Birchbox Man is a service that’s designed to take the hassle out of finding your next go-to grooming supplies and tools. Learn more by clicking into the post, or join now below.

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Tired of feeling like they were “paying a tax on razors imported from the future”, the smart gentlemen behind Harry’s (Warby Parker co-founder, Jeff Raider, and his partner, Andy Katz-Mayfield) set out to make a well-groomed face affordable. What they’ve created is much better than a disposable and much (much!) cheaper than said “future” razors.

Look on your bookshelf, in your armoire, wherever you stash your toiletries. We’d bet a shiny buffalo nickel you’ve got one bottle of cologne there, maybe a second collecting dust. That one you’ve got smells like getting socked with a powdery diaper, but the the packaging made you think of white sand, bracing saltwater and azure skies. What happened? More to the point, how did you end up with that bottle? For all the energy men expend making decisions about what to buy (we should know), we put comparatively little effort into cologne. That changes now. We’re going to take some of the guesswork out by testing men’s cologne here at GP, starting with a look at five men’s fragrances from niche brands we like.

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.

We’d like to regale you with stories of the good old days, when men would go down to the local soapmaker’s shop to refill their scuttle with something fresh and handmade and honest. But we’ll do you one better: Get ye to New York’s Hudson Valley — or at least to the Hudson Made website…

“Backpacker’s Cologne” sounds more like a euphemism for “smells like you haven’t showered in a while” than a natural fragrance made using pre-industrial perfume techniques — but that’s just what it is, camper. Juniper Ridge harvests wild plants from seven locations in the Pacific Northwest, Northern California and the Desert Southwest, extracting the essential oils…

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…

Is treating your face well too effeminate for you? Get over yourself. Unless you’ve got the symmetry of Matt Bomer or go by first name “Tom”, last name “Hardy”, there’s no good reason to glorify skin like a catcher’s mitt. Ursa Major Fortifying Face Balm ($36) is a great option for topical care this summer….

You’re well-dressed and fit, you drive a nice car and even your girlfriend is easy on the eyes. But you still park your face under the hot sun, thinking that you’re invincible. If you don’t want to resemble a baseball glove twenty years from now, you should be wary of sun damage to both your…

Are you the misinformed-type who thinks a “little” sunburn builds a base tan? Soothe your peeling skin with C.O. Bigelow Lotio Mentholus No. 002 ($25), a natural topical analgesic of .1% camphor, suspended in lemon, lavender, peppermint and rosemary oil, designed to pamper your epidermis without leaving you smelling like a high school locker room….

We all know that wearing jeans just once out of the washer isn’t enough, unless you’re one of those unfortunate souls looking to revive the acid-washed glory days of the 80s. Two times maybe. Three times…well, that’s when they just start to stretch in all the right places, sag nicely, and feel great. Things only…

After months of holing ourselves up during winter, the sun is finally making a warm comeback, and unless you have dedicated your life to playing World of Warcraft, you’ll be outside soaking up some vitamin D. Thankfully, we all know what The Situation doesn’t seem to understand — that intense exposure to the sun is…

The next time you’re in need of lip protection, stop stealing the cherry gloss from your better half’s purse, and grab some Sierra Nevada Natural lip balm ($1). It’s made from cascade hop oils and other all-natural ingredients, for a hint a Sierra Nevada flavor, minus the 5.6% ABV buzz. Keep a stick in your…

Few things pillage your wallet in such shocking fashion like re-upping your razor blade stash. Michael Durbin, CEO and founder of Dollarshaveclub.com was fed up with the price gouging going on in today’s $2.6 billion grooming market, and set out to change the game. As the name implies, for as low as $1 a month…

Imperial Barber Products is a new grooming brand, inspired by the founding team’s collective 26 years of experience in the LA and NYC barbershop scene. The made in the U.S.A. line started off with the classic pomade, which the brand boasts is the strongest water-based pomade in the country, and should be good for those…

We can deal with the TSA airport security shuffle but the frenzy to keep grooming items down to the correct but annoyingly small 3 ounces is all but intolerable. To cut back on some of that hassle, consider using the cool and amazingly convenient Travelon Toiletry Sheets ($5). Each small plastic travel pack holds 50…

You work your ass off to get ahead in everything. You rise early and go to bed late. You eat well, exercise, and spend time with those you love. And everyone can tell you live life to the fullest, not from the pep in your step, or the smile on your face, but from the…

The first in a series of new technical pieces called the Advanced Projects Series, Mission Workshop has infused the classic military field jacket with their thoughtful, modern touch as well as a heavy dose of the murdered out look we can’t get enough of right now. Made from Swiss fabric called Schoeller c_change, the Eiger…

Prospector Co. is an independent men’s grooming brand that channels a similar vibe to the Portland General Store. All of their hand-blended, small batch products feature purely natural ingredients and are designed for those who care just as much about what goes on their skin as what they drive, eat, wear, or watch. Distinctive combinations…

Admit it, you’ve been caught by your wife/girlfriend washing your face with bar soap or whatever suds-creating substance is next to the sink. Embarrassing, isn’t it? What’s worse, that method isn’t doing your skin any favors. Time to upgrade several notches by using Ursa Major Fantastic Face Wash ($26), a blend of natural and organic…

The popular direct-mail startup Birchbox has officially launched a one time edition of their subscription commerce service geared towards men. The limited edition box is filled with a trove of grooming finds from brand’s we’ve covered on site before including: Anthony logistics lip balm and shave cream, Jack Black moisturizer, Bvlgari eau de toilette, Supersmile…

Hard Graft’s Driftwood Dopp Kitt ($204) is just as style focused as the goods it’s meant to contain. The exterior is crafted from a combination of Italian suede and vegetable tanned leather, while the interior sports a water resistant, wipe clean lining. A double zipper opening makes packing bigger items like that mega can of…

Smelling like a bottle of gin at one point was a bad thing in proper society. Now it seems the tides have changed for fans of the quintessential British spirit. Juniper Sling ($160) is a new fragrance from Penhaligon’s — a boutique brand that has held its own in the men’s grooming world across the…

Few boutique grooming brands understand how to catch our eye like The Portland General Store. Lisa Brodar and Troy Tyler’s latest creation is called Hunting Camp Soap ($13). Thanks to bold ingredients such as pumice, sandalwood powder, activated charcoal, frankincense powder, spikenard powder, and moisturizers, the soap is tailored to manhandle the grime and stench…

While the big name brands dream up gimmick after gimmick to differentiate their own bristle sticks from the rest of the pack, Yumaki takes a much more focused approach. Style, simple design, and quality construction are the name of their oral hygiene game — which is exactly what we’d expect from a company seeking to…

Coffee and a hot shower form a one-two punch that gets many of us out of the house and ready to work. Short of bringing your mug in the shower, Wash With Joe ($24) is the best way we know of to combine these two daily steps. Packed with a healthy helping of Arabica coffee…

An excellent collaboration from one of our favorite men’s print publications and world renowned Italian clothier Barena. The jacket’s unstructured tailoring, patch pockets and button closure on the collar make it ideal for travel — whether your final destination happens to be the cobblestone streets of Florence or not. $524 | Barenavenezia.com

Allsorts liquor soap ($5+) is probably the first good thing born from a bar and bathroom. Each of the four available scents pays homage to classic cocktails like the Gin & Tonic, Whisky Sour, Spiced Rum, and Screwdriver — and serve as the perfect solution for stretching that weekend attitude straight through the work week….

Spending time hunting down the best grooming products ranks right above watching paint dry on our list of priorities. That said a man’s grooming practices should be just as tailored as his suits. For $12, a month, a new service called Black Box will ship you products that are hand picked for your individual skin…

Collaborating with man on the street Scott Schuman of The Sartorialist, Kiehl’s has put together a limited edition dopp kit ($86) just in time for that one day dad kinda expects a halfway decent gift. The simple kit includes the necessities, face wash, moisturizer, eye de-puffer, no-shine lip balm, soap scrub and of course a…