Staff Picks: AJ Powell, Assistant Editor

Editor’s Note: As a collective, the Gear Patrol staff is a wealth of knowledge about products. This series is our way of showcasing and sharing our insights and endorsements. Our hope is that you enjoy it all — and perhaps discover something new you’ll love too.

Like many GP staffers, I’m obsessive about products. I’m constantly tweaking and refining which products I own and am always on the hunt for products that simplify my life, make it easier or just flat out more enjoyable. In general, there isn’t much permanence to the products in my life. Those that have become staples in my everyday, transcending the impermanence of most products, have earned a place on this list.

Suarez Family Brewery Look No Further

Dan Suarez recently opened his own brewery located in Livingston, New York. Before opening his own spot, Suarez brewed with world-renowned brewer Shaun Hill of Hill Farmstead. Suarez’s delicate, balanced and highly drinkable beers are just what the craft beer scene needs in the face of a DIPA and imperial stout craze. Oh yeah, and 750-milliliter growler fills are just $10 at the brewery, glass growler included.

Stanley and Sons Canvas Tote

Work bag, weekend bag, grocery bag — this thing does it all simply, beautifully and timelessly.

Scribner’s Catskill Lodge

The perfect distance and layout for a weekend away from the city. In the winter, hit the slopes at Hunter Mountain. In the summer and fall, explore the many miles of hiking trails throughout the Catskills. Pro Tip: the hour drive from the Lodge to Wayside Cider is well worth it.

Böle Card Case

I was given this Card Case by Jan Sandlund, the third generation Sandlund operating the Böle Tannery in Pitea, Sweden. It’s the last spruce bark tannery on the planet and each piece that comes out of the tannery is hand sewn. It has been my wallet ever since. It required slimming down my EDC — but on the flipside, I slimmed down my EDC.

rag & bone Fit 1 Japanese Selvedge Denim

The fit on these is simply perfect. I’ve had my pair for roughly two years and I’m just now getting to the good part. Whiskers, honeycombs, pocket wear, it’s all there. I was never an expensive jean guy; now I’m an expensive jean guy.

Almdudler

Anyone at GP can tell you that I have a bit of a sweet tooth. This stuff isn’t overly sweet and hails from the land of the alps, delicious sausages and, apparently, very tasty alpine herbs. Pro Tip: mix it with a lager or light wheat beer for a next level radler.

Fleetwood Mac Rumours

I recently re-discovered this album. Sure, tracks like “Go Your Own Way” will always get the hype, but “Never Going Back Again” and “Second Hand News” are sleepers. At the least, Rumours is worth a revisit.

Bowers & Wilkins P5 Wireless

Once your eyes ears are opened to hi-fi, there’s no going back. The P5s are great (at least until I splurge for P7s) if not a bit quirky; they go to sleep too quickly and have a pretty mediocre battery life. But once you put them on and crank up your preferred tunes, the P5s are nothing short of bliss.

Tanner Goods Key Ring Lanyard

I used to forget my keys everywhere. Like, literally everywhere. The amount of times I’ve had to go back to the office after going all the way out to my apartment in Brooklyn is troubling. I haven’t forgotten my keys since buying Tanner Goods’s Key Ring Lanyard (knock on wood).

The Grail

BMW E30 325iX Touring 5-Speed Manual in Delphin Gray

Bear with me. Yes, it’s a cliché to pick a car as my grail item. Yes, it’s even more cliché that the car is a BMW. And yes, it’s endlessly cliché to pick a car that was never available new in the U.S. I concede to being a bit cliché at times. But this car is just it. Viscous coupling AWD system, five-speed manual, perfect proportions and enough room for all of my snowboards, bikes, groceries and the occasional piece of furniture. Because it’s a grail, it’s only right to get a bit granular: the color has to be Delphin Gray. While the 325iX Touring had its fair share of funky interior colors, I’m a big fan of the E30 M3 fabric interior and would swap the stock 325iX interior. Over the years I’d probably try to cram an S54 engine in there, but for the time being, stock is just fine.

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