Today in Gear is our daily roundup of all the latest product announcements, drops and deals. Comments or concerns? We’d love to hear from you at [email protected].
New & Noteworthy Releases
These Are the Best Bourbon Whiskeys of the Year, According to More than 40 Judges
Every year, a team of more than 40 spirits experts tries, compares and ultimately judges hundreds of bourbon whiskeys. These are their picks for 2019.
If You Want a Deal On a New Luxury Car, Start With These
If you want a luxury car, have a desire to save a heap of cash and don’t mind an already slightly broken-in driver’s seat, this is list is the right place to start shopping.
Volvo Is Hot-Rodding Its Most Practical Car with Hybrid Power
Polestar Engineered cars will add some more heat to the Volvo’s lineup, and next up in the pipeline are hotrod versions of the XC60 compact SUV and V60 wagon.
Peak Design Travel Bundle Save $50: We had a chance to review the Travel Backpack early on, and our reviewer concluded that it’s “a great bag that can legitimately tote both camera gear and travel essentials… you can go around the world with just this pack on your back.” The brilliance of the bag is in its design — it has access points on the back, sides and top, handles for carrying on every side, and shoulder straps and a hipbelt that tuck away. Some of the smaller highlights include theft-deterrent zippers, a concealed passport stash pocket, a soft sunglasses pocket and a compression snap system that brings that allows the bag to go from 45 to 35 liters.
If you’re familiar with Peak Design, then you’d expect this level of consideration in the bag. But the smaller items in the collection are treated equally — the Dopp kit and tech organizer are best in class with features we haven’t seen anywhere else (like an easy-to-clean toothbrush compartment). — Tanner Bowden
Citizen Promaster Diver Save 58%: For its sub-$300 price tag, the Citizen Promaster offers up a lot of watch: a solar-powered movement, an ISO-compliant 200-meter depth rating and a refined profile. No wonder it’s one of our favorite entry-level dive watches. Right now, though, Amazon has given the watch its biggest markdown yet — 58 percent off its $295 MSRP — making this an astoundingly affordable timekeeping option. — Oren Hartov
Patagonia Daypack Sale Save $100: Just in time for spring to kick it into high gear, Patagonia’s Nine Trails 36-liter backpack is 50 percent off. Whether you have a few summer camping trips planned already or are ready to upgrade your pack, this deal is hard to beat. The rugged 210D Cordura exterior fabric holds its weight against branches and scratches that are hard to avoid during some rock scrambles. A 36-liter main compartment has enough space for everything you’ll need out on the trail — snacks, water, extra layers and more. Top that off with a padded shoulder harness and a breathable mesh back panel, both of which make carrying the pack all day comfortable. We love the easy-access pockets for snacks and sunscreen, meaning there’s no need to take off your bag. Right now, the red backpack is $100 off on Backcountry. — Meg Lappe
Cheap Outdoor Furniture Save Up to 70%: Just in time for warmer weather, Wayfair’s Outdoor Sale is upon us. Hundreds of patio sets, weatherproof chaise lounges, fire pits, porch swings and more are marked down up to 70 percent off sticker prices. Highlights include a $1,600 aluminum dining set for just over $400, an8-person seating setup for under $700 and a sizable selection of half-priced grills. If your patio is in need of a quick and cheap glow-up, Wayfair’s Outdoor Sale is worth checking out. — Will Price