Today in Gear: The Full List of 2019’s Best Bourbon Whiskeys, Our Take on Apple’s New AirPods & More

The best way to catch up on the day’s most important product releases and stories.

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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

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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.

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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.

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Orient Has Released a New Affordable Dive Watch

Japanese Orient releases an all-new line among their popular automatic dive watches, and it is handsome, solid, and packed with value as ever.

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These Sneakers Are Made with a Wildly Innovative Leather

A Dyneema bonded leather called Hyperlapse.

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The Powerbeats Pro Promise to Be the Best Wireless Headphones for Working Out

Love your iPhone but AirPods don’t fit in your ears? Get these.

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Rhone’s New Board Shorts Are Perfect For Beach Adventures

It’s time to start planning for summer vacation.

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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.

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Reviewers Hate the Palm Phone. That Could Change with These New Updates

The Palm phone’s updates promise a longer battery life, snappier performance and better image capture through the phone’s 12-megapixel rear camera.

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Nike Just Put Its Top Tech in a Trail Running Shoe

Nike’s first trail running shoe to feature its React foam is the Terra Kiger 5.

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This Automotive-Inspired Watch Just Got an Awesome Upgrade

Autodromo teamed up with Worn & Wound on a special edition of the Group B Series II, one of our favorite automotive watches.


Fresh Deals

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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

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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

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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

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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


Today on Gear Patrol

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Apple AirPods 2 Review: Subtle Improvements but a Worthy Upgrade

The look and feel are the same. With the new AirPods, the big differences are all on the inside.

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How to Run Faster: Start With One of These Six Apps

These six apps will help you go full throttle on your next 5K.

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This $2,350 Mercedes-Benz Wagon Is the Ultimate Classic Daily Driver

When car enthusiasts talk about old Mercedes-Benzes, they tend to do so with a twinkle in their eye, and for good reason.

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Meet the Man Behind Some of the Best Modern Military-Inspired Watches

Mk. II makes modern versions of classic military watches long since unavailable. We speak to Bill Yao about his brand and his journey.

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Forget the Tailor and Just Buy Better-Fitting Garments

Peter Manning NYC designs and develops garments for the not-so-tall guy by focusing on proper proportions without sacrificing style.

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