A Look Back at the New Gear We Discovered This Week

Good morning, and welcome to the latest edition of This Week in Gear — your single-shot serving of an entire week’s worth of the best new gear pulled from our weekday editions of Today in Gear. Bookmark it to peruse over a cup of coffee or before you soak up the last of your weekend freedom, then start your Monday completely up to speed. Here’s to another fantastic week.

Tuesday, January 2

Zero Halliburton 20-Inch International Carry-On in Camo
Zero Halliburton, one of the early pioneers of aluminum hard-side luggage a la Rimowa, released its lightweight polycarbonate carry-on in a limited-edition camo color-way. It features a removable mesh divider and weighs just five pounds. — Jack Seemer

LG SK10Y Soundbar
LG and Meridian Audio announced a partnership at the tail end of 2017, and the first product to come to fruition is the LG SK10Y soundbar. It uses Meridian’s Bass and Space technology to create a more immersive listening experience from any seat in the room. (It’s similar to the 180-degree sound technology that’s in the Q Acoustics M2 Soundbase). It’s compatible with Dolby Atmos and has Google Chromecast built in, so you can give it “OK Google” commands or partner it with your Google Home. The soundbar also comes with a wireless subwoofer. The release date and price of the SK10Y have yet to be announced. — Tucker Bowe

180mph, 2700 Hp 2015 MTI Racing Boat
Note that despite being listed as a ‘racing boat,’ the 2015 MTI straddles the line of luxury as well. An Italian leather and Alcantara interior, suspension seats, a 40,000-watt interior and exterior stereo, five video entertainment monitors and a Garmin 8200 Series navigation system will accompany you on your way to the boat’s 180 mph top speed with a little help from the two 1350hp QC4V Mercury Racing engines. The superlative speed boat goes up for sale at the Barret Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona January 113-21. — Bryan Campbell

Quiksilver x Pacsafe Travel Bags
Even if you don’t go bungee jumping or attempt to scale an impossibly-tall mountain, global travel isn’t without its perils. Theft is a big one; it’s prevalent in every locale, and travelers make conspicuous targets. Pacsafe’s solution is a collection of travel bags equipped with built-in security features like locking zippers and knife-proof mesh. Its latest collaboration with boardsports brand Quiksilver yields a carry-on size travel pack with a removable dry bag and a smaller everyday rucksack with all the organizing essentials for life at home and abroad. — Tanner Bowden

Wednesday, January 3

Samsung NW700 Soundbar Sound+
This wall mounted soundbar is 41 percent slimmer than Samsung’s previous Sound+ soundbar (the MS650 Sound+) and a stylish solution for wall mounting. Like that predecessor, the NW700 has a built-in subwoofer and distortion-canceling drivers. It also has a smart mode where the soundbar automatically adjusts the volume and the effects, like surround sound, depending on if you’re watching the news, a sporting event or a movie. Pricing and availability are still TBD. — Tucker Bowe

The Classic by Neo & Sons
It’s not very often that you see a motorcycle helmet bag that blends equal parts style and ingenious functionality. The Classic, the first product from Neo & Sons, is a minimalist take on the riding accessory that’s beautifully made with Italian leather and waxed canvas.
But the clever part of the bag is the double-zipper pocket on the back of the bag that makes the otherwise empty-space inside your stored helmet easily-accessible. Perfect for stowing your wallet, phone, EDC or anything else you can’t wait to get out of your pockets when you’re in the saddle. — Bryan Campbell

Converse All Star Chuck ’70 Hi and Ox
This Converse release is a throwback to a version of the iconic sneaker originally released in the 70s. The high top version is available in black or red, while the low version is available in navy and khaki. Every iteration includes vintage call backs like a slightly yellowed sole with red and blue piping. — Meg Lappe

Mophie Powerstation AC
Mophie’s a new massive 22,000mAh power bank can output 100W, meaning it has enough juice to double the battery life of your new MacBook Pro. It also features an integrated AC output so you can plug your MacBook Pro’s wall charger directly into it. Other notable upgrades include a USB-C port (with 30W USB-PD charging technology) and a USB-A port. The downside? It costs $200. — Tucker Bowe

Wahoo TICKR FIT Heart Rate Monitor
Like it or not, twenty-first-century fitness is irreversibly linked to technology. There are a gadget and app for every activity, but unfortunately, comfort isn’t inherent in every device capable of measuring a heartbeat. Wahoo aims to change that: it’s latest heart rate monitor, the TICKR FIT, promises the accuracy of its trusted chest strap monitors but operates from a more agreeable forearm strap. — Tanner Bowden

Thursday, January 4

Adidas Ultraboost Laceless LTD Shoes
The latest update on Adidas’ ever-popular Ultraboost shoes are these laceless reflective kicks. The Primeknit upper eliminates the need for laces thanks to a sock-like feel and reflects light for early morning or evening runs. The continental sole means you’ll still have traction, no matter the running conditions. Available in Europe as of Jan. 1 and in the U.S. starting February 1. — Meg Lappe

2018 Dell XPS 13 Laptop
Dell hasn’t massively redesigned its XPS 13 laptop for a few years and, on the surface, the 2018 edition doesn’t appear to have bucked that trend. It’s slightly thinner and lighter than past models. It’s faster, too, able to be configured with Intel’s 8th-gen i7 processor. But the real difference is that it’s adopted the 2-in-1 and touchscreen design of last year’s well-reviewed Dell XPS 13 2-in-1. — Tucker Bowe

TaylorMade M3 and M4 Drivers
For years, there’s been conventional roundedness to the bulge of golf drivers. (The idea was that the shape of the club face would change the spin of a golf ball to compensate for any off-center strikes.) But now, thanks to lots of data and serious engineering, TaylorMade is challenging that convention with its latest collection of woods. The M3 and M4 drivers are each unique, but share a new club face feature called Twist Face, which adjusts the curvature of the club in an entirely new way. The technology is based on a study of hundreds of thousands of shots made by players at all levels and is designed to increase shot accuracy. — Tanner Bowden

Hive View
The Hive View is a new stylish smart security camera, designed by Yves Béhar, who also designed the August Home Smart Lock. The camera has a unique stand and is available in colors like “white and champagne gold” or “black and brushed copper.” It’s detachable with a built-in lithium ion battery, in case you want to temporarily move the camera around your house. (The battery only lasts about 90 minutes.) As for specs, the Hive View has 130-degree wide angle lens; it’s capable of 1080p live-streaming; and it can see in the dark for a distance of up to 16 feet. — Tucker Bowe

Heddles Denim Wash
Heddles recently launched a new denim detergent that’s perfect for jean freaks. Its a mild, plant-based formula that won’t affect your fades when used in a gentle, cold water wash, meaning there’s no need to go to extremes to keep those jeans clean and intact. — Andrew Connor

Friday, January 5

LG’s first 4K UHD Projector
Even though CES 2018 hasn’t officially kicked off yet, Innovation Awards are already being handed out to worthy products. One of those awards has gone to LG’s first ever 4K UHD projector, the HU80KA. It’s a small and portable projector, which is also the brightest that LG has ever made (2,500 lumens), that’s capable of creating a 150-inch screen. — Tucker Bowe

Hive View
Discouraged by the number on the scale? This smart scale with no display shows you colors instead of pounds to keep you motivated on your weight loss journey. It’s natural to have your weight fluctuate, so this scale (and corresponding app) focus on giving you more feedback that’s appropriate for your set goals. Pick from four colors: cherry, oak, black, or orange to get started. — Meg Lappe

Klemens Schillinger Substitute Phones
You’ve been trained so well by your new master, the smartphone. It’s addictive, the incessant scrolling, the pinching-to-zoom; at least your thumb is in good shape. We modern humans are a fidgety bunch, and if you’re like to keep your fingers moving without staring at a dumb screen — especially if you enjoy great, cheeky design — these are for you. Substitute phones are shaped like your pocket device, but function like fidget spinners for adults.And they never run out of battery. — Nick Caruso

Hults Bruk Arvika Five Star Axe
The Five Star has already proven itself; it’s been in production by Swedish axe maker Hults Bruk for 50 years, but now it makes its USA debut. The 32-inch two-handed axe is designed to make fast work of even the hardest woods, thanks to a 5.5-inch steel head hand-forged in a foundry that’s been in operation since the 17th century, and a shapely hickory handle. — Tanner Bowden

New Prints From Boiling Point Creative at Petrolicious
Boiling Point Creative has come up with an new set of beautifully minimalistic prints of car representing nations from arounfd the world. The C2 Corvette, the Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale, the BMW M1, the Aston Martin DBR1, the Alpine A110, and the Toyota 2000 GT all make ambassadorial appearances. — Bryan Campbell

LifeStraw Universal Water Filter
LifeStraw is known for creating the minimalist water filter that lets campers and explorers safely drink straight from streams (even if they’re murky and contaminated). Its latest product, the LifeStraw Universal, takes the drinking off hands and knees. The Universal takes LifeStraw’s powerful filtering system — it removes “99.999999% of bacteria including E. coli, and 99.999% of protozoa” — and adapts it to fit inside any water bottle thanks to a variety of included caps and mouthpieces. — Tanner Bowden

The Buffy Comforter
Buffy is a New York-based bedding company that specializes in comforters made with eucalyptus fibers, which it claims to be the lightest fibers on earth (seven times finer than an eyelash). Skeptical? The brand will let you sleep with a comforter for 30 days before charging your card. — Jack Seemer

Lum-Tec Super Combat B4 GMT
Ohio-based watch brand Lum-Tec has just released its latest watch: a limited edition variant (100 pieces will be made) of it’s Combat B field watch. The Super Combat B4 GMT comes rocking a bold 45mm case made from titanium and runs a mechanical GMT movement from Swiss ebauche maker ETA. The dial comes in black and grey to compliment the stealthy dark hue of the case and is adorned with beige lume markers that add a bit of vintage flair. Its $1,695 MSRP is pretty reasonable given the titanium build and mechanical GMT movement, but if you pre-order now you’ll get a sweet 15 percent discount. — Andrew Connor

Standard Wines
Have you ever opened a bottle of wine and wished the format catered more to individuals, rather than groups? Meet Standard. The newly launched company offers two types of wine — red and white —- each housed in single-serving bottles designed by Karim Rashid. One gripe: You have to buy in bulk for $8 per serving. — Jack Seemer

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