Gear Patrol

Old Navy isn’t a brand we frequently promote — since based on our experience, you often get what you pay for. In some cases though, the brand’s ridiculously low prices are just too good to pass up. Case in point, this men’s hooded twill jacket ($40) is an easy way to capitalize on the military…

Bleu de Paname is a well-respected french company known for their experience with denim. Pyrenex is higher-end french outer wear company with a reputation for producing fashion-forward down winter gear. Their forces and inspiration have clearly combined evenly to produce the amazing vest above. Cut from cotton canvas with a wool outer shell and denim…

The iconic jacket of outdoor Swedish outfitter Fjällräven, the Greenland Jacket ($350) is as versatile as it is enduring. G-1000, the primary material used on the Greenland Jacket is the product of re-engineered fabric originally designed for use on backpacks and tents combined with paraffin and beeswax. As it becomes increasingly damp, G-1000 swells to…

Good jackets are generally one of two breeds: down-filled marshmallow parkas or lightweight cover-ups for a beach barbecue. Rarely does a man cross paths with a perfect autumn jacket that strikes a balance between the two. The Hiker Jacket from Gant Rugger ($285) is quite possibly the best such garment we have ever seen. Not…

Infusing urban wear fit without adjusting the outdoor gear technicals the Patagonia for Apolis Activism ($148) jacket marks another successful Apolis collaboration. Its inspiration: to find the perfect outerwear to stand up to the monsoon weather during their Vietnam expedition. The jacket features a h2no waterproof shell, adjustable hood, microfleece neck and chin, water resistant…

Urban Daddy brand manager and Kempt writer Randy Goldberg alerted us to this great looking fall basic. Available in heathered brown and black colorways, the Life After Denim’s Military Blazer ($138) is surprisingly affordable given its distinct styling. The additional buttons also make it slightly more capable of keeping you warm as the season progresses…

Back in the 1960′s a brand out of Jackson, Wyoming was born. Rocky Mountain Featherbed Company. Its signature piece, a beige cold weather vest with leather yoke. After its cold-weather outfitting heyday, the brand went largely unnoticed the 80′s when it was procured by a Japanese vintage collector. Fast forward to 2005 with a brand…

In the realm of jacket brands vying for your dollars, of which there are plenty, few have such depth of heritage and origin as the Denham LONGSHORE D.G.L Jacket ($780). What makes it utterly unique is that the entire jacket is re-cut from Dutch army blankets and ponchos. The ponchos obviously provide the jacket with…

Riding on the open road with a half-ton piece of metal between your legs demands the proper attire. Problem is, it’s hard to look sharp stepping off a bike and into the bar wearing a ballooning protection jacket. Take a cue from the style icons of yesteryear and lay your eyes on the Belstaff Panther…

High school may not be a time all of us wish to relive. Unless you never left your home town though, there’s no reason everyone has to know you were Jeff Spicoli, when you can dress the part of Charles Jefferson. Ok so maybe simply wearing this varsity shawl collar cardigan ($70) won’t be enough…

GORE-TEX and its analogous water-proof brand-specific variants can be a life saver for camping or just getting to work in a down pour. The downside is that most jackets made using this material look better suited for Everest than the office. Trench coats have been a staple of men’s fashion for decades because they provide…

A wool T-shirt? Wool underwear? Before you think Gear Patrol reviewers are a bunch of masochistic wackos (only some of us are), consider Icebreaker Superfine wool clothing. Icebreaker is a New Zealand clothing company that is trying to convince the world that wool can be cool and comfortable, one pair of briefs at a time….

We realize it’s hard to think about jackets right now, but in the spirit of keeping you prepped for Fall 2010, we had to share these Barbour Tokihito Yoshida Jackets brought to our attention by the fashion focused minds at Swipelife. Representing the second collaboration between the English outerwear legend and the esteemed Japanese designer,…

Upon joining Gear Patrol, I was given the writer mandate: Go forth and find unique and amazing gear. Now, it will vary by writer and reader taste, but a recent find that’s worth your attention is the Rusty’s Wired Series Jacket ($50). This all in one jacket with built-in headphones is worth some attention.

To better balance the slew of clothing options we’ve featured lately that are tailored to slimmer guys, we’ve recently been on the hunt for good looking attire made with more athletic men in mind. Alley Collection fits that bill perfectly. Created by John Robblee, who is a former Bay Area Firefighter, and his partner Laura…

Non New Yorkers may not be familiar with the Supreme brand, but thanks to e-commerce, that doesn’t mean you can’t integrate their clothes to your wardrobe from afar. The Outdoor Parka is a choice piece from their current offerings, and works well as a light weight, stylish shell for weathering summer showers. Made from water-resistant…

British bespoke suit jacket tailoring and biking outerwear. Doesn’t sound like your everyday convergence yet completely intriguing, right? Well, Italian cycling outfitter Rapha has done just that. Commissioning London tailor Timothy Everest, the Rapha Tailored Cycling Jacket ($550, avail May) is constructed of a unique nanotechnology based 100% wool fabric that’s both water/stain resistant and…

Pretty much any dude who has spent even one night outdoors knows of brands like North Face and Patagonia. They have a reputation for making high quality gear that many outdoor enthusiasts swear by (including several of Gear Patrol’s editors). Being the type of men who are always curious to discover new brands though, we…

A few of the major wardrobe staples every man requires: suit, wingtips, crisp white shirt, street shoes, denim, and a hoodie. Problem is most hoodies are too baggy and slouchy to wear anywhere other than the competitive floors or your local club basketball league.

If you hadn’t heard, New England was under water last weekend. We saw torrential rain for over three days, which was awful for people’s finished basements and commuting but it was the perfect proving ground for the Canada Goose Storm Chaser jacket we’d gotten to demo.

After dealing with a heavy winters and snowocalypses, the concept of a spring jacket may cause many of you to scratch your heads in confusion. Not quite warm enough to really withstand any kind of put-hair-on-your-chest weather, but less constricting then that suffocating hand quilted puce “sweater” from your granny, they admittedly fill a small…

Featuring a front button closure with a belted stand collar and side flap pockets, G-Star Raw’s Decoy Garber Trench will keep you protected from the elements in fine European fashion. The G-Star Raw Decoy Garber Trench is form fitting with the button tabs in the back so you won’t look like you’re wearing a poncho…

The Nike Pinnacle Packable M-65 Jacket is the first piece from the 2010 NWP collection that’s available in three colors: light grey, black, and light brown. The slimmer cut Spring jacket is constructed of Nike’s Storm-FIT all-weather material (100% nylon) and features four exterior pockets with internal cord-management for your media player, interior left pocket,…

The best rain jacket is one that you don’t know you’re carrying in your pack and when you’re wearing it, you can’t tell it’s on. The Outdoor Research Helium is one of these jackets, achieving that holy trinity of outdoor gear design – light, minimal and functional.

Don’t let bad weather dampen your look. Made from 100% cotton, OBEY’s unique treatment makes this jacket highly water-resistant while still keeping costs down, which is good news in these tough times. Differentiated by a bold, structured collar, detachable hood, and less technical but more versatile 5 button enclosure, it’s a great jacket for urban…

Made from North Carolina 13 oz raw denim and lined with Portuguese flannel, and sporting a slim motorcycle-inspired cut, the ELC Cody Denim Jacket is a jean jacket that we can get behind. Unlike some of the atrocities you probably wore in elementary school, the Cody is a jacket that will get better as time…

By Guest Writer and Outdoor Enthusiast Sandy Bandu Yes, it’s true – and once you try it you will likely never go back. Forget cotton, forget polyester; lightweight, merino wool is all you need. This writer will go so far as to admit that he has had a hard time peeling this new “second”-Cross Neck…

By Guest Writer and Outdoor Enthusiast Sandy Bandu Patagonia is certainly renowned for their bombproof, outdoor performance gear, but their DAS Parka is nothing short of well-rounded perfection. If you are in the market for a lightweight, synthetic coat (truly a superior material to down, in most situations), this coat provides all the comforts that…

Clearly taking some design cues from the likes of Pennfield’s Rockwool Vest, Patagonia’s Slingshot down vest mixes its tried and true technical appeal with a few key touches of fashion-focused flair. Insulated with 600-fill goose down, like all vests, it’s great for keeping your core toasty while retaining flexibility and movement in your arms. It…

As our man Jon Gaffney explained in his previous coverage of Barbour, this well known English brand has been making the ultimate waterproof outwear since time immemorial. Well, almost. Made from Barbour’s legendary waterproof, wax-treated cotton (100%), the Beaufort epitomizes what Barbour has become famous for and serves as the perfect mid-weight jacket for your…