Gear Patrol

Call it the “Goldilocks of Bags” if you like, though sometimes it seems like more of a “Unicorn of Bags”: the perfectly sized and properly priced duffel can be elusive (hell, brands can’t even decide one way to spell it). When the occasion calls for light packing in something that’ll easily fit in the back seat or sling comfortably over your shoulder there are myriad options, but how many of them can be considered worth a buy? What follows are 30 of the best duffel bags to fit every budget. These represent a vast array of materials, styles, colors and purposes, but suffice it to say each of these duffels is just right.

Summer Fridays are a thing to be put on a pedestal, the ultimate luxury for 9-to-5, Monday to Friday working stiffs. They’re a chance to bug out as soon as possible, to hit the road or jump a train to the beach, a cabin in the woods or some other resplendent getaway. In any case, we can’t just go into a summer Friday unprepared, men. We cannot go silently into that good mini vacation. What we need is a kit — the perfect gear for the perfect summer Friday getaway.

Doppelganger Turn Signal Gloves Two things tempt cyclists the world over: (1) back-handing car drivers and (2) flashing car drivers. With the click of a button, the flashers on the back of these cycling gloves blink to indicate a turn or can flash continuously to simply alert other road-goers to the presence of a bike….

Two prominent names in mens style come together to bring you a line of smart-looking waxed cotton bags and coats. Barbour, the British company that forged a tradition over almost 120 years, joins with Jack Spade, the Manhattan upstart 100 years junior. The younger clothier has been making inroads with the British Empire — a…

Nice reds and blues, done in a classic check pattern, from a staple brand known for having their pulse on wardrobe needs of today’s upstanding male citizens. Too bad the 4th is still five months away. $185 | jackspade.com

The person who coined the phrase “getting there is half the fun”, clearly never had to travel by air, train, bus, or car during the holiday season. No amount of planning can ever guarantee a smooth journey, but having the “right tools for the job”, as they say, will go a long way towards making…

$325 | Jack Spade.com Made from densely woven 450-gram cotton canvas that has been salt water washed. The salt water gives the canvas a beached look and textured hand. Detailed with saddle leather trim, custom die-cast Jack Spade hardware in an antique brass finished, natural webbing with blue ticking stripes and a polyurethane-backed cotton twill…

$35 | jackspade.com

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…

Known for his unique bag designs created with the sophisticated urban dwelling guy in mind, Jack Spade’s Latest Navy Waxwear Collection ($145-$495) is a clean combination of classic man-approved colors and sleek, yet durable material. So what exactly is Waxwear, you ask? In a nutshell, it’s waterproofed cotton that’s been soaked in paraffin formulas to…

Growing up, one thing I could always count on was my father having a handkerchief. His habit of carrying one was clearly generational and sadly it’s fallen out of practice with the modern day man. That doesn’t necessarily mean it was a bad idea, as a matter of fact its the opposite. Though there are…

As the holiday season nears so does the travel planning. Weekend getaways, quick trips home, holiday visits… Vegas. Get your gear in order and get it packed in this duffle from Jack Spade. It’s made of weatherproofed cotton soaked in paraffin formulas for strength and abrasion resistance. Termed ‘Waxwear’, it combines the durability of nylon…

In the heat of the summer the last thing you want is a bulging wallet weighing you down. As a matter of fact, this should be a year round notion. Take a moment and par down your wallet to an ID, a credit card / ATM card, 2 business cards and a couple of bills….