Gear Patrol

Summer is imminent, and we’re already shedding the layers in anticipation of summer Fridays and weekends on the go. Teaming up with Banana Republic, we assembled a series of stylish, versatile warm-weather looks. Who better to try them out than our own Ironman, Jeremy Berger, as he took on a weekend at his favorite NYC haunts. Browse — and shop — the full looks right after the jump.

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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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East meets West — Coast, that is — with Gorjana & Griffin. Offering wares for men on the move (women too) that speak to a bi-coastal lifestyle, Griffin & Gorjana strikes a balance between city and beach, polished and casual, offering up iPad cases, handsome weekenders and everything in between. Spearheaded by husband and wife pair Gorjana and Jason Griffin Reidel, Gorjana & Griffin designs and hand produces offerings entirely in their 6,000-square foot studio based in Laguna Beach, California. Further evidence of good intentions? Gorjana & Griffin backs its social commitment with a charitable foundation to aid a variety of causes, including Southern California’s first Food Truck Festival, which benefits children with cancer. Now that’s something we can get behind — and wear.

Our picks: Marshall Dopp Kit ($115) | West iPad Case ($75) | Stillwell Triple Wrap Bracelet ($65) | West Leather Carabiner Traveler ($94) | Marshall Weekender ($395)

GEAR PATROL SPONSORED POST You’re constantly searching for the latest and greatest in personal technology to improve some aspect of your life — be it connectivity, entertainment or productivity. So why are you still sticking with a manual toothbrush, with a basic design that was conceived over 5,000 years ago? Philips has set the bar…

We see color all around us: on our screens, big and small and in real-life. It’s the norm. Black & white, however, evokes an emotion. With less to consume and consider, we begin to see drama, contrast and subjects. For our fifth Sharp Shooter article, we’re tackling the process of shooting black & white photography….

If you’ve been following our Sharp Shooter series, you’ve already learned about the fundamentals of DSLR photography along with tips to better capture the area you live in, even at night. But how about when you’re camera’s accompanying something like a vacation — or better yet, an adventure? In this fourth installation, we’ve lined up…

GEAR PATROL SPONSORED POST After a successful start as a trusted curator of other brands, JackThreads ventured into the design business with their own private label, dubbed the goodale collection, and hasn’t looked back. Now in its third line, the Fall 2012 collection is built around staples from previous seasons that customer’s loved, encapsulating a…

How far are you willing to go to get something you want? Abe Burmeister’s search for the perfect pair of pants led him to start a new breed of clothing company, despite having no experience in the fashion world. In our final Drafting It interview, we sat down with the Outlier co-founder to talk about…

GEAR PATROL SPONSORED POST It’s the pants that make the man. Isn’t that how the saying goes? Regardless, when’s the last time someone complimented you on the pants you were wearing. Never, you say? It’s time to put a stop to that slack-jawed indifference and graduate to Bonobos. Take one part well-intended gentleman, one-part fashion…

GEAR PATROL SPONSORED POST As running continues to grow in popularity both in the US and worldwide, so too do the variations on it. Marathons, ultra marathons, team relays, obstacle course races, and costumed 5ks are just a few examples. There truly is a run for anyone. One of the simplest and probably the oldest…

Drafting It Series: Seth Rosen of CustomMade | Todd Carmichael of La Colombe | George Vlagos of Oak Street Bootmakers | Abe Burmeister of Outlier A hearty thanks to our friends at Amstel Light for helping make this series possible. Savor complexity. Savor Amstel Light.

GEAR PATROL SPONSORED POST We have a new appreciation for the Windy City for all its history and all that’s fresh and new. From jazz roots and architectural gems to outdoor splendors and new attractions, Chicago is a city that warrants prolonged visits, permanent stays and never-ending wonderment. We engaged Chicago in the comforts of…

GEAR PATROL SPONSORED POST Spend a little bit of time outside Chicago, and you’ll get some much needed nature in, which is exactly what we did on our third time out with the Acura RDX. Last time it was the Green Mill, now it’s the green mile. Water, trees and trails constitute our woodsy backdrop…

GEAR PATROL SPONSORED POST The second time is the charm with the 2013 Acura RDX, as is our second jaunt in this capable midsizer. This time, it’s traversing glorious Lake Shore Drive, along the Windy City Skyline to see some downtown architectural sights that define Chicago… and then off to a jazz club icon, the…

GEAR PATROL SPONSORED POST The 2013 Acura RDX is as all-new as they come. We don’t mean two extra paint colors, miniscule headlight tweaks, and some nifty new wheel designs. We mean all-new from the ground up, rubber to roofline. The 2013 RDX’s sheet metal says modern, urban and sleek — all at once. Plus,…

Uncovering inspired products and far-flung adventures are why we get up in the morning. It’s a terrible job — but hey, somebody’s got to do it, right? All of these things start somewhere, though, and often boil down to one decision from a certain type of individual. The type of person who feels the best…

You like to make your own way and your individualism isn’t the kind that draws throngs of onlookers waiting to witness a monument to poor choices. Derivative themes, styling and the kind of originality that comes out of a copy machine are everywhere. But what if you could set a goal of creating a car…

For our third installment, we step into the dark to shoot a starscape and nature in it’s most dramatic setting. The night: it’s the time when some of us come alive and the world surrounds us in beautiful neon colors perfectly contrasted against a dark background. It delivers a sense of serenity and awe at…

You tried to impress that cute, dazzingly brilliant brunette in high school by attempting to do a hundred pushups. Sadly, you had the gumption but not the chops, having never done more than beginners Pilates. So, what does it mean for a car to stake its claim in the automotive market and prove itself to…

GEAR PATROL SPONSORED POST Our love for apex hitting, rubber roasting and Corinthian leather ensconcing automobiles will never waiver, but we also have a mind for cars that deliver something real-worldy in a way that makes an actual difference. There are a handful of cars that approach their intended purpose with all the focus and…

GEAR PATROL SPONSORED POST In this second installation of Gear Patrol’s tips for more effectively utilizing your Canon DSLR, we’re turning our lenses onto the city. When it comes to urban photography, sometimes the best results come from the less obvious. Follow along as we focus in one of the most architecturally ambitious and colorful…

GEAR PATROL SPONSORED POST It’s really no secret that DSLR cameras are not only incredibly popular but increasingly easier to use. When the Canon AE-1 arrived on the scene many years ago during the film era, consumers were ecstatic at the camera’s excellent build quality, wide availability of creative lenses, and ease of use —…

GEAR PATROL SPONSORED POST If you asked me a few months ago what organizing, insurance and my iPhone had in common I probably wouldn’t have been able to give you a decent answer. But for the past few months, I’ve been using the Allstate Digital Locker app to catalog my belongings and in particular my…

GEAR PATROL SPONSORED POST The classic style of Levi’s products is undeniable. We’re even wearing a pair of 501′s as we type this. Since patenting the first jean for the Gold Rush miners over a hundred years ago, Levi’s denim has continued its reign as an American style icon with unmatched craftsmanship. Originally made for…

GEAR PATROL SPONSORED POST In our third and final segment on the HP TouchSmart, we decided to see how the innovative desktop handled a usual day at the home office editing photos and scouring the web. How much of a difference did ditching the keyboard and mouse make? Hit the jump to read about our…

GEAR PATROL SPONSORED POST After covering the HP Touch Smart’s talents as a bedroom media center, we next put the capable machine to the test in the center of our home, a.k.a. the kitchen. We know –- having a computer there sounds strange, but as we discovered, having a touch-enabled digital communication center that the…

GEAR PATROL SPONSORED POST If the explosion of smartphones and tablets has revealed any universal truth about technology, it’s that touch screens are far more pleasant to work with for most activities compared to mashing buttons. So, how can a touchscreen change the role of the desktop in your home? That’s a question we set…

GEAR PATROL SPONSORED POST A good laptop needs to handle creativity and entertainment to stand out from the pack, but if it’s not up to snuff on the business side, it’ll never win us over. Business clearly means different things to different people, think Kayne West v. Warren Buffet. For the GP crew, though, it…

GEAR PATROL SPONSORED POST As much as we love our home theaters, they don’t exactly pack well. So, in this second part of the My Life on the Go series we decided to test the ASUS U46E’s prowess at handling one of our favorite off-hour diversions — movies.