Today in Gear: December 10, 2014

Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe
Seems BMW was on to something with the X6 after all. Mercedes-Benz has followed suit with the new GLE Coupe — a tighter, less busy package, with sheetmetal that’s C-Class crisp and slim taillights similar to the stunning S Class Coupe. The first iteration is the GLE 450 AMG, with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 good for 362 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque, paired with a brand-new nine-speed automatic and 4Matic all-wheel-drive. Expect news on the full range and pricing shortly after the GLE Coupe’s debut at the Detroit Auto Show. caranddriver.com

Bellroy Elements Phone Pocket
Until phones replace wallets, your best bet is to combine the two. Bellroy, who make some of the finest (in every sense) slim wallets around, are best suited to this task. The new Elements Phone Pocket holds two to eight cards along with your iPhone 5, 5S or 6; a SIM card; keys and coins. $100

Daft Punk Alive 1997 and Alive 2007 Vinyl Reissue
Few people need to be convinced of Daft Punk’s importance in dance and pop music of the past two decades. For those few, the French duo’s two live albums are comprehensive bodies of evidence, documents of the producers’ young, hungry days (Alive 1997) and the world tour in which their vision came to full fruition (Alive 2007). The four-vinyl box set includes a limited-edition Alive 2007 LP-format booklet, an Alive 2007 VIP pass, Alive 1997 stickers and digital bonus content. $124

WhistlePig’s 2014 Boss Hog: Spirit of Mortimer Rye Whiskey Single Barrel
Every year, rye whiskey distiller WhistlePig releases “The Boss Hog”, a unique, hand-selected single barrel whiskey. This year’s Boss hog, the Spirit of Mortimer, spent 13.5 years in four different new American oak and early use bourbon barrels, according to WhistlePig. The result, named after the company’s recently deceased mascot, is cask strength at 117-124 proof, sure to curl your hair like Mortimer’s tail. whistlepigwhiskey.com

Shwood x Widmer Brothers Kit
Admittedly, it takes balls to try and pull off Shwood’s striking skip-sawn oak and birch-bodied shades. Which is perhaps why they decided to pair it with a special brew from fellow Oregonians Widmer Brothers Brewing: the Upheaval IPA, aged in Oregon oak spirals. This box set includes the shades, the brew, and a branded bottle opener and glasses case. $395

BirdieBox Holiday Box
BirdieBox is a subscription-based service delivering customers a monthly box of golf, lifestyle and nutritional products. But you don’t need a subscription for their gift box, which includes a Go-In! belt with a hidden ball marker underneath its buckle, a merino V-neck sweater, golf balls, and a Zero Friction glove (for left- and right-handed golfers). $150

Iffley Road Running Gear
Male joggers wear UnderArmour; female joggers wear Lululemon. No more! says Iffley Road, a new British apparel company specifically for runners, founded by a married couple drawn together by their love of running. The wares — which encompass everything from moisture-wicking tees to zip-up merino sweaters and shorts made from lightweight Italian fabric — have a distinct prep school sensibility. iffleyroad.com

Pro Surfers and the Sport’s Changing Tides
We talked with Kelly Slater, Julian Wilson, Stephanie Gilmore, CJ Hobgood and Coco Ho about the life of a professional surfer amid the sport’s transition towards the World Surf League (WSL) in 2015. Read this story

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