Gear Patrol

In the great Patagonian outdoors, does looking good in the rain take precedence over surviving the elements — price be damned? Then the Coated Cotton Parka from Band of Outsider ($870) certainly fits that description. Made in Italy out of 58% cotton and 42% Poliamide, it rivals the classic Burberry trench for style in a…

Down vests are the duck-billed platypuses of the clothing world. You know their sleeveless design evolved for some reason, but that original purpose has long since been lost in a foppish undertow. For that reason, we appreciate this Lacoste Puffer Jacket with Removable Sleeves ($325), because it appeases our stylish sensibility while still making our…

Fresh off the newly launched Perfecto collection designed by Greg Chapman, the Deck Hand Toggle Coat ($450) wipes all of the jean jacket’s previous fashion transgressions clean in our book. The coat is made in Schott’s Jersey factory and features a selvedge denim exterior with chambray lining and contrasting stitching. Thanks to a slim cut…

With record snows hitting many parts of the country, there’s no better time to suit up and face the harsh elements in a heavy-duty winter parka. From our cold weather experts up North, Canada Goose is a well-known name when it comes to keep you warm in extreme weather. Designed as much for hitting the…

We’ve always admired Outlier’s unique blend of style and functionality, and their new Storm King Shell Parka ($650) seems to follow the same great formula. Made from 100% Supermarine cotton, it’s designed to be a highly water resistant and breathable alternative to synthetics like Gore-Tex. Like most of Outlier’s tops, four-way arm construction is also…

Sunny Sports is a West Coast-inspired Japanese clothing brand focused on producing timeless pieces designed to look good today and for years to come. Like many Japanese brands, they also value production quality above all else and subsequently produce their entire line in either the US or Japan. The Anchor Jacket ($300) embodies both of…

Barbour recently announced that Mr. Steve McQueen (a.k.a cool personified) himself is the inspiration behind their 75th anniversary line. Details of whats to come are slim, but the line will feature knitwear, tee’s, and a special Steve McQueen version of the 75th Anniversary Barbour International Jacket. The most unique elements are the American flag lining…

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…

Not quite a jacket, and a little more than a shirt, this Knitted Shirt ($188) from Scotch and Soda is a unique winter wardrobe addition that’s bound to attract attention. Details we especially like are the double breasted pockets and checked shoulder patches which are definitely reminiscent of Penfield gear. Made from a wool nylon…

For every job, there’s the right tool. When it comes to outerwear, there’s always an ideal jacket to suit your conditions. As the name would suggest, the Mammut Brisk ($179) is designed to keep you active while and warm. Constructed from lightweight Gore Windstopper, the Mammut Brisk provides a barrier against wind while remaining breathable,…

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…

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…

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…

Every man should own a quality grey blazer for the winter season and we’ve recently been on the hunt to find a few we like. This Burberry Two Button Sportcoat ($595) first grabbed our attention off the rack thanks to its more casual cut, darker herringbone gray coloring, and black elbow patches. Discovering it has…

Sometime in the 1980s, clothing companies discovered that plastic fibers could be spun to look like wool fleece. This polyester fleece had many of the same properties as wool but lacked the itchiness of wool. The rest is history and we’ve endured (and enjoyed) thirty years of fluffy jackets, many in garish colors, that have…

There’s something very special about fall golf. Perhaps it’s witnessing nature’s annual change and getting out of the summer heat. Maybe it’s because we know our time on the course is limited. Either way, being prepared to play in cooler conditions is a key to shooting good scores. That being said, the right layering is…

A perpetual conundrum facing stylish men is the ability to look good without seeming dressed-up. While there are many techniques to walking this fine line, owning fashionable and purposeful outerwear that looks great without appearing like you just came from the office can help tremendously. Hlaska’s Surly Navigator blazer/jacket ($375) is a great example that…

The motorcycles we cover have one thing in common. They are all awesome… from the staid and versatile BMW R1200 GS to the steampunk-esque and apocalyptic Confederate P120 Fighter. But the speed, power and liberation these two-wheelers can provide may also lead to unpredictable dangers including wheel-swallowing potholes, road debris, and soccer moms in titanic…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

When it comes to staying warm in the winter, nothing beats goose down – end of discussion. So, with the weather in New England starting to resemble Hoth, we decided it was time to put a down jacket through its paces, Gear Patrol style. The object of our testing was the GoLite Roan Plateau Hoodie….

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…

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…

It’s no secret that we at Gear Patrol have a fondness for Nau gear. Several of our crewmen have purchased their garments in the past, and it’s about time we share with you one of our favored go-tos, the Nau Modus Trench. The Modus Trench is a three-layer, waterproof, windproof jacket that has two feet…

Layering is one of the single greatest fashion opportunities found in the cooler seasons, and a great shell should fit as well over a single oxford as it should a sweater, serving its function as protection from the elements. Last year, we first learned of the Aether brand and checked out the Aether Summit Jacket…

For those of you living on the half of our planet situated above the equator, fall is here; about this there can be no doubt. Some of us revel in the cool, damp mornings and crisp evenings that autumn brings. Whether or not you love the weather that comes with this season, you can’t deny…

With Fall just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about about cool weather looks. Vince, a high end manufacturer of sweaters and jackets, has always produced quality fall/winter wear with style in mind. This year’s lineup is no exception, emphasizing classic cuts and neutral color palates with a subtle tweaks to make them…