Today in Gear: February 3, 2016

NASA-approved insulant that’s ready to take down down, Casio’s first smartwatch, handy hammers and more.

On the Radar

Reveals, New Launches and Gear

Oros SolarCore Aerogel Apparel

Aerogel, invented by NASA, is carbon or silica gel that is 99 percent air, making it incredibly light and… incredible. Oros uses a new variant, SolarCore aerogel, that doesn’t have to be sealed in a plastic membrane unbefitting of apparel; aerogel in its original form, intended to insulate Mars rovers and other aerospace equipment, rubs off onto skin or fabric. With SolarCore, you get space-age insulant in your hats, gloves and jackets capable of keeping core temperatures of 89 degrees Fahrenheit stable amid -321-degree conditions. Down just got knocked… down… a peg.

Manchester Linen Peacoat

Aerospace-grade insulation may be a bit much in today’s unseasonable warmth; go with ECOSEAM-finished linen, which make this handsome peacoat both eco-friendly and stain resistant.

Casio Outdoor Smartwatch WSD-F10

The first-ever Casio smartwatch is a burly-looking Android Wear number with military-spec shock resistance and specs to match: 50-meter water resistance, a battery mode that keeps the watch alive for a month and plenty more.

AKG N60 Noise-Canceling Headphones

If our own recommendations for active noise-canceling headphones weren’t enough for you, AKG’s latest offering should be: memory foam ear cups and Grammy award-winning sound ensure that you’ll be comfortable and pleased for each and every one of its 30 hours of battery life (with passive cancelation coming into play when those hours are through).

Fiskars IsoCore Hammers

According to Fiskars, this new line of hammers is up to four times as resistant to shock as wooden-handled hammers. Perhaps more importantly, these new hammerheads dampen sound.

Pandora Shipping Container Cabinets

Ever wanted to make your apartment look like Brooklyn Bridge Park? Now you can. These steel cabinets come in four colors, with glass or metal shelves.

Deals of Note

Great Products, Great Prices

How to save on Patagonia’s 3-in-1 Parka, a stylish reading chair and one of Samsung’s most advanced 4K TVs.

Reviews and Buying Guides

Advice from the Crew

Snowsports Innovation and Our 11 Favorite Products from SIA 2016

This year’s SIA Trade Show saw the expansion of backcountry gear in the snowboard space, some innovative new skins from G3, fishtail skis and more. Read the Review

How Kayaking Saved the Los Angeles River

L.A.’s most important waterway was saved by one boater’s bootleg journey. Read the Review

Noteworthy Reads

Reviews and News from around the Web

We love Maine. One reason? Vintage Americana clothes. A Continuous Lean has some fine examples.

Looking forward to Amazon Books? You may be in luck: rumors abound that there’ll be up to 400 of them.

And lastly in giant-tech-oligarch stories: check out this Google mirror, which looks straight out of Minority Report.

Today’s Lunch Brief: Roger Goodell, T.S. Eliot and a Musical Plea for Change

Bite-sized culture news to keep you busy while you scarf down that pastrami on rye. Read it here.

Looking Ahead

What We’re Testing Now

Tip or Submission? Comments or suggestions? Send them to [email protected]. You never know, you might get something in return.

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