This Gear News You Need to Know This Week

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Monday, November 13th

Onsen Towels
Sponsored Item: It shouldn’t be so hard to make a quality towel. So why do so many towels lose their softness and absorbency so quickly? The problem: most towel makers use a chemical process to produce a superficial, fleeting softness to enhance the inferior cotton being used. Onsen’s answer is to use extra-long-staple Supima cotton instead, (grown in the U.S.) which is among the finest in the world. Each Onsen towel is garment-washed multiple times to bring out its natural softness, without any of the chemical trickery. All of this means that you end up with a lusciously lightweight and resilient towel that only gets softer with time.

Ember Ceramic Mug
Ember, which built its brand on a smart temperature-controlled travel mug, released a mug for home use. Developed by industrial designer Robert Brunner, the Ceramic Mug allows users the ability to control the exact temperature of a beverage via an app. — Jack Seemer

2018 Corvette ZR1
Chevrolet has taken the wraps off the inevitable ZR1 iteration of the C7 Corvette, and the result is the fastest, most powerful and most bonkers Corvette produced yet. Under the hood lies a hand-assembled, 6.2-liter small block V8 boasting a bigger supercharger, bigger throttle bodies and an upgraded fuel injection system resulting in a whopping 750 horsepower and 715 lb-ft of torque. It also include the most aggressive aero kit seen on a ‘Vette short of the LeMans racer. — Andrew Connor

Rapha Pro Team Arenberg Glasses
When it comes to cycling, the widely accepted ideology is that lighter is better, period. Rapha has always championed this viewpoint, but when its riders returned with feedback saying that the 0.9-ounce Pro Team Flyweight Glasses were in fact too light, it beefed things up a bit. The new Arenberg Glasses feature the same, gorgeously retro lens shape as the Flyweights and are dirt, oil and UV resistant, but they’re constructed with a low-profile frame to make things just a tad heavier — eight grams, or about a quarter ounce, to be exact. — Tanner Bowden

Ginew Crow Wing Jean
After the recent news that the White Oak plant in North Carolina will be closing, American selvedge denim will soon be a thing of the past. If you want to invest in a pair now, Oregon-based Ginew just released a new jean that is completely sourced and constructed in America. Each pair features 2017 Cone Mills White Oak 13.75 ounce selvedge denim, custom hardware, and a hunter deerskin patch. — John Zientek

HANDOUT

The Story Behind the $2,500 Japanese Armchair in Apple’s New Cafe

There are a million and one amazing design details inside Apple’s new campus. One of our favorites sits in the new cafe.

Tuesday, November 14th

Bespoke Post
Sponsored Item: The search for quality, unique products that match your taste and personality doesn’t have to absorb your weekends. Bespoke Post is well versed in unique gear, and they’ll do all the heavy lifting to send you a box of cool, interesting products every month. And, yes, their product and brand suggestions are great — we know from experience — but they make it an even better, more customizable experience by letting you enhance your box with equally cool products from their online shop. For example, let’s say you select that you like EDC gear on your profile, they’ll send you a box with a stainless steel money clip, flashlight, and durable pocket knife–you can then add a wallet, watch or anything else to the box and it all ships for free. Most importantly, if you don’t like something they’ve sent, you can swap it for another box, skip that month’s box, or mail it back for a full refund.

Leatherman Signal
Loyal fans wanted a sleeker version of the Signal, one of Leatherman’s best-selling multi-tools. And Leatherman delivered. New to the Leatherman line-up is the all-black Signal, loaded with 19 tools: pliers, hammer, ferro rod, diamond-coated knife sharpener, and more. — Michael Finn

Topo Athletic Magnifly 2 Running Shoe
All activities are subject to trends and running is by no means immune. Two of the sport’s most popular movements — low-drop and maximalism — are mashed together in Topo Athletic’s latest road running shoe. The Magnifly 2 features the wide toe box that has become Topo’s hallmark as well as a zero-drop stack height for more natural running, but it also comes with 25mm of cushioning for runners that want to nullify some of the impact. — Tanner Bowden

Master & Dynamic “The Greene Street Collection”
Special for the holidays, Master & Dynamic’s The Greene Street Collection features some the company’s over-ear and on-ear headphones in new camo, black and olive colorways. Personally, I like the MW60 wireless over-ear ($549) headphones in camo. Others in the collection include the MW50 wireless on-ear($449) and the MH40 over-ear ($399) headphones.— Tucker Bowe

Retro Patents Music Prints
Retro Patents had previously featured posters of iconic gadgets, like the first iPod, Gameboy and DSLR camera, but have now expanded its selection with “Music Prints.” You can get patents of the first headphones, record player, boombox, and more. — Tucker Bowe

Buck Mason Five Gauge Fisherman Rib Sweater
California-based Buck Mason offers a range of classic sweaters for the cooler weather. A standout is the Fisherman Rib Sweater, a 100 percent wool piece with a traditional design. Unlike many fisherman-style sweaters, this has a lighter gauge which makes it a great layering piece for the winter months. The sweater is made overseas, but it still has the quality and price-point associated with the brand. — John Zientek

This $1 App Fixes the iPhone X’s $1,100 Problem

A simple software “fix.”

Shinola’s First-Ever Headphones Are Made of Leather and Steel, and Sound Like a Dream

The Canfield Headphone Collection consists of four pairs of headphones.

Wednesday, November 15th

Toad&Co Malamute Quarter Zip Sweater
Sponsored Item: You know what bad sweaters are like — scratchy, stuffy looking and either too thick or too thin for swings in temperatures. Toad&Co’s Malamute Quarter Zip solves all of these common layering issues. It’s made from super fine, non-mulesed Lambswool, knitted in a nubby blackberry stitch. The combination is soft, incredibly textured and maximizes all of the temperature regulating benefits of natural wool. It’s also warm enough to wear on its own but still slim enough to layer under a jacket. Choose from three available in color options of charcoal heather, deep navy, or jeep heather. Our favorite touch? The color matched elbow patches.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Limited Edition
Ahead of SIHH 2018, Audemars Piguet has rolled out a new limited edition of the Royal Oak Offshore for the model’s 25th anniversary. The new reference is meant to be a recreation of the 1993 original: it has the same stainless steel case design, a “Petite Tapisserie” blue dial and matching blue pushers and crown — all nearly identical to the original. — Andrew Connor

The Hudson Backpack by ONA
This sophisticated backpack is an amalgamation of leather, waxed canvas, and brass. It has a sleeve for a 13-inch laptop and a removable padded compartment for your DSLR. And, it’s damn pretty. — Tucker Bowe

Ray-Bans Aviator 1937
Ray-Bans newest limited edition looks to bring back the details of its first aviator sunglasses, launched way back in the 1930s. It includes vintage-inspired details like the original drop-shaped green crystal G-15 lenses set against gold-tone frames, as well as mother of pearl accents on the nose pads and temple tips. — Andrew Connor

Bose Noise-Making Sleepbuds
These are Bose’s first pair of wireless earbuds designed to help you sleep. They have the same noise-isolating eartips found in Bose’s other earphones, like the QC30s ($300), and combine that with a sound-masking technology; it’s noise-canceling, but instead of working with your music Bose says it works with sounds specifically engineered to “sooth” you. The Sleepbuds work with Bose Sleep App, which will ensure that you still hear alarms. The product is being crowdfunded right now, but you can expect to it be available in early(ish) 2018. — Tucker Bowe

The Perfect Porsche Does Exist and It Wasn’t Even Built in Germany

This may be Singer Vehicle Design’s crowning achievement.

Thursday, November 16th

Batch Commander Shirt
Sponsored Item: The Commander Shirt is equal parts utility and authority. It’s a classic oxford — mid-weight cotton, subdued colors, Mother of Pearl buttons — but with the modern roll and shoulder tabs, it’s something more. It speaks softly, but carries a big stick. And, true to Batch’s name, it’s made only in small batches to ensure the absolute highest quality and attention to detail.

BioLite SolarHome 620
In addition to creating gadget charging camp stoves and color changing lanterns, BioLite manufactures a whole line of products behind the scenes. These items help accomplish the brand’s founding mission: to bring safe, reliable and renewable energy to people living in developing nations. The first of those products to become available to the everyday consumer is the SolarHome 620, a fully-equipped solar-powered home lighting kit that’s ideal for backyard sheds, backcountry huts and Sprinter vans. — Tanner Bowden

Vuarnet Ice Sunglasses
Vuarnet’s latest frame is yet another fantastic modern take on the glacier goggle, a classic eyewear piece that’s made quite a comeback in recent months. The Ice’s nylon frame is built for all kinds of active pursuits, the stainless steel hinges are spring-loaded, and the side shields easily remove. It comes in seven colors; some are polarized, some are not. — Michael Finn

Mountain Standard Utility Glove and Mitt
Colorado-based Mountain Standard launched durable gloves and mittens made with premium goat leather. Each pair contains Primaloft Gold Insulation for supreme warmth as well as a waterproof liner, just in case. The gloves and mitts also have accents for durability such as foam pads on the backs of the hands, and all the stitching is done with kevlar fibers. — Tanner Bowden

McIntosh MC1.25KW Quad Balanced Power Amplifier
McIntosh Labs announced its most potent single-chassis monoblock amplifier ever, the MC1.25KW. The 1,200 watt, 158-pound behemoth is designed to give an audiophile’s home sound system more bass than they could even imagine; McIntosh says it’s enhanced with 50-percent more filter capacity than its predecessor, the MC1.2KW amplifier. You can preorder the MC1.25KW now through Authorized McIntosh dealers. It’ll ship later in November. — Tucker Bowe

Marco Zamponi – www.zamponi.net

TFT Displays Are the Next Motorcycle Technology Trend

TFT displays are Gaining popularity among motorcycle manufacturers, but have yet to be used to their full capacity.

15 Years After Its Death, an Original Colorado Outdoor Brand Is Reborn

Madden Equipment was dead for ten years. Now it lives again, and it’s producing some of the finest USA-made backpacks money can buy.

Friday, November 17th

Thursday Boot Co. Captain
Sponsored Item: When it comes to high-quality, handcrafted leather boots, you have the pick of the litter these days — but not many that come in under $200. Finding top-tier boots at fair and honest pricing is a tough task. The Captain from Thursday Boot Company delivers just that: handcrafted natural Horween leather, a Goodyear Welt construction and a full glove leather interior lining for comfort. The Captain Boot checks all the right boxes and for a steal. — Gear Patrol

OnePlus 5T
The OnePlus 5T is the company’s new flagship smartphone. It looks similar to the OnePlus 5 that was released only a few months ago in June, the main difference being that the 5T has a full 6-inch OLED display. Yep, almost zero bezels. The fingerprint sensor has been moved to the back of the phone, similar to one the Google Pixel or LG V30. It also boasts an impressive dual camera system, a supposedly faster face unlock than Face ID (although it’s unclear how secure it is right now) and, yes, it still has a headphone jack. Essentially, it’s a full-screen smartphone with high-end specs that only costs $499, making it a supreme rival to the Essential Phone. — Tucker Bowe

Autodromo GT Endurance Chronograph
In partnership with Ford Motor Company, Autodromo has released a new collection celebrating the modern GT supercar and original GT40, both Le Mans-winning legends. The new chronograph comes in five different designs and is now Autodromo’s most affordable watch available. — Bryan Campbell

Olivers Apparel Porter Hoodie
This ain’t your ordinary cotton hoodie. This is a handsome, athletic-cut, versatile hoodie made of superfine Australian merino wool. It’s odor- and water-resistant, temperature-regulating, and has just the right amount of stretch. Can your cotton hoodie do that? — Michael Finn

Shimoda Designs Adventure Camera Bags
The population of Instagram-famous adventure photographers has surged over the past few years, and the number of backpacks designed for hauling camera gear into the outdoors has gone up along with it. Shimoda Designs, helmed by F-stop Gear’s former Director of Development, Ian Millar, is entering the space with a just-launched Kickstarter campaign and a full range of products that includes two backpacks, a rolling duffel and a range of organizers and cases. Each item is designed with rugged utility in mind, featuring smart concepts like a height adjustable torso, and is already backed by a group of proven photogs. — Tanner Bowden

Learn More: Here

The New Tesla Roadster Could Be King of the Supercars If It Actually Gets Made

A claimed 0 to 60 mph time of 1.9 seconds would be unmatched.

Taking a Hint from Nike, Black Diamond Releases a New Shoe Built for the Future of Rock Climbing

Inside the creation of Black Diamond’s first-ever climbing shoe.

Our Latest Roundups and Buying Guides

24 Jackets and Coats for Every Type of Weather

Six types of outerwear, four choices each.

These Are Six of the Best Watches to Come out in 2017

Six of our favorite winners from the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genéve.

Staff Picks: Megan Billings, Deputy Editor, Gear Patrol Studios

An Italian coffee maker, a bamboo whisk, a gym membership and more.

5 Fresh Fragrances That Showcase the Versatility of Citrus

Citrus is a winter fruit. Don’t believe us? Smell for yourself.

Ready for Your First Mechanical Watch? Start Here

Ten watches that combine style, affordability and mechanical movements.

This $1 App Fixes the iPhone X’s $1,100 Problem

A simple software “fix.”

Staff Picks: Andrew Haynes, Senior Art Director

A waxed jacket, Titleist irons, a Rimowa roller and more.

25 Perfect Gifts for the Dapper Man

Timex’s Bauhaus-inspired chronograph, sustainable blue jeans, a versatile pocket square and more.

25 Perfect Gifts for the Outdoorsman

Iconic hiking boots, Yeti’s latest duffel, a new action camera from GoPro and more.

Essential Motorcycle Gear For the Perfect Autumn Ride

The days may be shorter but this season offers up some of the best opportunities for getting out on two wheels.

Staff Picks: AJ Powell, Assistant Editor

Austrian soda, the perfect weekend getaway, a forbidden BMW and more.

5 Great Canvas Sneakers to Refresh Your Casual Footwear Game

Step up your wardrobe staples.

25 Perfect Gifts for the Mediaphile

Movie Pass, an Alexa-enabled Sonos, the most powerful gaming console ever and more.

25 Perfect Gifts for the Designer

A Jasper Morrison chair, a pair of boots from Thursday Boot Co., a Japanese notebook and more.

25 Perfect Gifts for the Adventurer

Leather work boots, an ergonomic pocket knife, Stanley’s compact camp cookware set and more.

25 Perfect Gifts for the Driver

A waxed canvas motorcycle jacket by Ashley Watson, a subscription to Iron & Air Magazine, a Candy Lab Racer and much more.

Staff Picks: Nick Caruso, Associate Editor

A Lotuff weekender, ceramic coffee dripper, Kindle Paperwhite and more.

Gear Patrol

The 11 Best Down Jackets of Winter 2018

These top picks for lightweight, innovative down jackets will keep you warm from when the leaves fly until the snow melts next spring.

Found: 5 Vintage Off-Roaders in Honor of the 50th Baja 1000

This year, the Baja 1000 is celebrating its 50th anniversary so we thought it fitting to go in search some vintage off-roaders.

25 Perfect Gifts for the Mixologist

A hardwood muddler, the best whisky glasses available, non-alcoholic spirits and more.

25 Perfect Gifts for the Athlete

Lululemon’s technical joggers, wireless headphones from Bose, Apple’s latest watch and more.

Our Latest Reviews

The New Harley-Davidson Fat Bob Takes a Step in the Right Direction

Over the next decade, Harley-Davidson is looking to draw in two million new riders — this is the first tactical offensive.

Essential Phone Review: A Titanium and Ceramic Smartphone, $250+ Less Than Its Google and Samsung Rivals

It’s all about design. And the screen. Maybe not the camera.

Jarry Truong, Nick Caruso, Hunter Kelley

McLaren 570S Spider Review: Here’s Why It’s an Outstanding Everyday Sports Car

You’re either on display or laughing like an idiot behind the wheel.

Bryan Campbell / Ducati

The 2018 Ducati Monster 821 Gets the High-Tech Touches it Deserves

Ducati brought its iconic, entry-level roadster into the modern era, with an incredibly minimalistic approach.

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