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.

January 29th. 2018

Monday, January 22nd

Kammok Camping Accessories
Kammok’s latest collection of camping accessories is devised to make life in the woods more convenient. New from the Austin, Texas brand is the Joey, a hammock-like gear sling designed to keep your stuff off the ground, the Pika Pack, a lightweight hip pack meant for quick jaunts and an entire line of organizing stuff sacks called Burro Bags. Everything is designed with weather repellant ripstop nylon and packs down small to fit inside a backpack. — Tanner Bowden

In a Galaxy Far, Far Away: A New York Times Book
This book “contains all the important Times articles about the films and their legacy, including reviews…graphics, photos, obituaries and behind-the-scenes exclusives. If you’re looking for a (fictionalized) chronicle of an evil empire and the folks fighting it, this book is your only hope. Buy it you must. — Nick Caruso

Lenovo 100e Laptop
Microsoft announced its latest lineup of education-focused laptops — the most notable of the bunch is the $189 Lenovo 100e. The 100e’s specs won’t blow you away, as you’d expect for that price. It’s has a hardy, but plastic design. Its only “glamorous” feature is that its screen can be pushed back 180-degrees so that the laptop lies completely flat. The 100e also packs Intel’s new Celeron Apollo Lake processor (which we assume is decently powerful). This is Microsoft’s and Lenovo’s most extreme competitor to a Chromebook, and they’re hoping school systems will want to adapt it. Release date info is unknown at this time. — Tucker Bowe

Joshu + Vela Zip Briefcase
This hard-wearing briefcase from San Francisco-based Joshu + Vela is the perfect option for your daily driver. It’s made from durable materials that are guaranteed to age beautifully. The body of the bag is cut from 18-ounce cotton twill and features American-sourced bridle leather handles and a solid brass zipper. The interior has numerous pockets for organization including a laptop sleeve. It’s a great alternative to Filson’s ubiquitous briefcase and is offered in tan, natural and black colorways. — John Zientek

Omega Olympic Games Seamasters
In anticipation of the 2018 Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, Omega has released two new special editions of the Seamster. The new Olympic Games Collection is comprised of the burly Seamster Professional ($6,950) and the more everyday Aqua Terra ($6,400). Both get new blue dials and accents like a red bezel on the Professional and “Peyongchang 2018” lettering on the Olympic colors on the Aqua Terra. Omega will only be making 2,018 examples of each. — Andrew Connor

Vans Versa Hoodie DX
Built with skateboarders in mind, this hoodie is breathable, durable and water repellent. It’s made from a heavyweight fleece that has a hydrophobic shield, and features reflective details on the pocket, hood and lower back. A hidden media pocket allows the wearer to secure their phone during periods of extended activity. Available on January 20, the Versa Hoodie DX comes in cement heather, old gold and classic black colors and retails for $95. — John Zientek

Tuesday, January 23rd

Nova Ultralight LED Athletic Jacket
Presented by NOVA: The NOVA athletic jacket is powered by LED, so there’s never a doubt about being seen on early mornings or late night runs. It’s lightweight and breathable and with a 450-foot range of visibility and three lighting modes (high, low and flashing), cars, cyclists and other runners are bound to keep you in sight. Powered by a small rechargeable battery that’s all filled up in just 30 minutes, the jacket stays lit for up to 8 hours. NOVA has all the essentials you need in an active jacket: it’s water and wind resistant, has thumb holes, pockets for everything from your phone to your headphones, and a hood. Plus the fabric is stretchable, comfortable and machine washable — just don’t forget to remove the battery. And, if you pre-order now, you’ll save 39%. — Gear Patrol

Acer Chromebook Spin 11
Last year, Acer announced a 2-in-1 laptop called the Chromebook Spin 11, but only school systems were able to buy it. Now, the company announced that the same laptop (with a few design tweaks) will be available for consumers this March. Starting at $349, the Chromebook Spin 11 has a 11.6-inch touchscreen display, two USB-C and two USB 3.0 ports, and boasts 10 hours of battery life. You can customize it with various RAM and storage options, along with Intel’s Pentium or Celeron quad-core processor. — Tucker Bowe

Mr. Leight Sunglasses
Years in the making, Mr. Leight is a collaboration between Garrett Leight (whose eponymous brand has ridden a wave of success in recent years) and his father Larry Leight (the founder of iconic brand Oliver Peoples). Mr. Leight offers a range of Japanese-made sunglasses that are unabashedly luxurious. The platinum plated titanium frames feature numerous tasteful acetate details and gradient lens options abound. Check out the brand’s take on the avaitor ($795) and round-lens style ($845). It’s a strong showing from eyewear’s top father-son duo. — John Zientek

Viberg Service Boot English Tan Dublin
The latest version of Viberg’s classic Service Boot is available in English Tan Dublin leather. Sourced from Horween, this unique waxed leather is made from full grain cowhide that utilizes the same extracts used to tan shell cordovan. The boot, based on the 1931 design of Edwin Viberg, features a brogue toe-cap, blind eyelets, stitchdown construction and a Dainite sole. It’s a pricey boot, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find higher quality options. — John Zientek

Roros Tweed Throws
Ahh, Norway. Know for beautiful sights and the best kind of people; the country is adding tweed throws to its repertoire. Featuring designs by multiple different artists, these throws are woven by Roros Tweed, who has been around since 1940 and uses only Norwegian sheep. — Nick Caruso

Wednesday, January 24th

Mercedes-Benz G-Class Night Package
The made-to-measure ‘designo manufaktur’ at Mercedes-Benz has come up with a stylish way to get a murdered-out look on your brightly colored G-Class. Mercedes now lets you select the Night Package when optioning your G-Wagen to give it a roof, exterior mirrors, bumpers and flared wheel arches finished in obsidian black and wheels painted in high-gloss black. You can also opt for the dark-tinted glass and exterior accents that come with black inlays.
— Bryan Campbell

Allen Edmonds Whitney Collection
The Whitney collection from Allen Edmonds takes everything that made the Wisconsin company synonymous with American business and updates it into a series of three fashion-forward bluchers. The classic 65 last (think: Park Avenue Oxford) has been widened at the ball and toe on each model, while enlarged brogueing details boast an air of casual polish. — Henry Phillips

Samsung 860 Pro and 860 Evo SSDs
If you were thinking about upgrading your computer from a hard drive to an SSD, you probably were considering one of Samsung’s 850 SSDs. They’re fast and dependable, and because of that, they’re also really popular. Now, Samsung just released the next gen of those SSDs: the new 860 series. Consisting of the 860 Pro and 860 Evo (the latter being the budget option), both SSDs boast more consistent performance (due to their 64-layer 3D NAND as opposed to the 850 line’s 48-layer 3D NAND). The main difference between the 860 Pro and 860 Evo is that the former offers faster transfer speeds (due to its 3-bit MLC technology, versus the Evo’s 2-bit MLC). The 860 SSDs start at $95 (Evo) and $140 (Pro) and will be available this month. — Tucker Bowe

Heymat Designer Industrial Doormats
It’s difficult to hype up a doormat, honestly. They’re seen when you enter and leave a home, and that’s about it — but that could make an important impression on guests. If you’re in the market for one, however, we recommend these doormats by Heymat. They’re beautiful, designed in Norway, and they’re durable enough to handle a lot of foot traffic. Plus, if they get too dirty, you can just toss them in the wash. — Tucker Bowe

Nike Epic React
Nike launches its newest running shoe, the Epic React, with its softest, most responsive foam yet, that’s been years in the making. Tested over 17,000 miles by elites, the newly developed foam is lightweight, durable and still looks good. Everything you’d expect from a Nike shoe. For all your friends who continue to run in Nike Frees, the time has come for them to upgrade their cushion. Look for them on sale Feb 22 for $150. — Meg Lappe

Thursday, January 25th

Barbour Lightweight Jackets
Barbour just launched its new line of Lightweight waxed cotton jackets. The new outerwear line still holds true to the classic Barbour design and performance, but they sport a four-ounce waxed cotton blend and a lighter, cotton lining that’s better suited for milder weather. — Bryan Campbell

Oakley Harmony Fade Collection
Ahead of the Olympics, Oakley has released a special edition eyewear collection that’ll be worn by all its Team Oakley athletes, including Mikaela Shiffrin, Ståle Sandbech and Chloe Kim. The Harmony Fade collection consists of both goggles and performance sunglasses and features the company’s Oakley Prizm lens technology. The collection is available now and runs between $173 and $250.
— Tucker Bowe

Astell&Kern ACRO L1000 Desktop Headphone Amplifier
The ACRO L1000 was one of GP’s favorite products from CES 2018. The all-in-one desktop amplifier, headphone amp and DAC is Astell&Kern’s first desktop audio product. It can play hi-res audio files (without downsampling) and supports native DSD playback. If you’re looking for statement piece — just look at that volume wheel! — Tucker Bowe

Ray-Ban Colonel Sunglasses
Ray-Ban just released a new frame style that modernizes its military-inspired General frame. The Colonel features a flat double-bridge and a square-edge silhouette. It’s available in gold, black silver and gunmetal colors and ranges in price from $163 to $178. It blends Top Gun and rockstar elements into a frame that’ll look good, no matter your penchant for high-adrenaline activities. — John Zientek

Mountainsmith Scream Series Ultralight Backpacks
Mountainsmith updated its collection of ultralight backpacks, the Scream Series, with new materials and features for 2018. As part of the overhaul, Mountainsmith also introduced an entirely new bag, the Scream 20, which is a minimalist, lightweight summit pack that opens wide with one central zipper and doubles as a compression sack. — Tanner Bowden

Ashley Watson Hockliffe Overshirt
New from Ashley Watson is the Hockliffe Overshirt. It’s not just a wool overshirt though. Made with a Melton Wool shell, reinforced Dyneema panels and D30 back, shoulder and elbow armor, it’s certified to help keep you safe when you’re on two wheels. The Hockliffe is as functional as it is fashionable. — Bryan Campbell

Friday, January 26th

Hinoki S1 Gyuto Chef’s Knife
Japan is known worldwide for its bladesmiths and the master bladesmiths at Hinoki are carrying that tradition with its new Chef’s knife. Crafted in Sakai, Osaka, the Hinoki S1 Gyuto uses the purest form of carbon for the blade, White Steel #1 — a similar metal used in forging swords, that Hinoki then applies a “jealously guarded technique” to render the blade black. This pristine blade is combined with a choice of walnut or oak for the handle. Order one and you’ll want to stare at it in admiration just as much as you’ll want to put it to use. — Bryan Campbell

Apolis Nylon Quilted Reversible Bomber Jacket
Apolis seems to magically strike the balance between technical wear and style, and now they’ve introduced a jacket that’s a massive bang for your buck. One side is navy, the other black — it’s quilted and features plenty of pockets. — Nick Caruso

Crane & Canopy Dual-Zone Comforter
If you and your partner (yes, dogs count) prefer different sleep temperatures and find yourself fighting over the nighttime thermostat and/or engage in nocturnal bed linens tug of war, consider this an well-needed olive branch. The comforter is split in half and filled with down alternative filling, and one side is warmer than the other. It’s…kind of brilliant. — Nick Caruso

The Flat Head x Corlection Mini Cowhide Wallet
Made in Japan by The Flat Head, this wallet features nine card slots and one compartment for cash. It is cut from 3mm-thick vegetable tanned and black leathers that have gone through a three-month tanning process. Available in tan, black, tan-body contrast and black-body contrast colorways, this unique wallet will age beautifully over decades of use. — John Zientek

Adidas Adicolor Collection
The newest athleisure adicolor collection drops today. Its filled with all the bold colors Adidas originals is famous for — vibrant red, green, yellow and blue — in re-imagined fabrics and updated styles. The Trefoil logo pops on tees and sweatshirts, and the classic stripes decorate track pants and jackets offered in slimmer and more modern cuts. Prices range from $24 for a relaxed hat to $100 for a robe embroidered with, what else, the trefoil. — Meg Lappe

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