Last week, we reported on Nike’s acquisition of RTFKT — a move that signals the Swoosh’s faith in the rapidly expanding NFT and “metaverse” market. Its main competitor, German sportswear giant adidas, has already dove headfirst into the burgeoning space, launching collaborations with well-known entities like Bored Ape Yacht Club. According to reports, it looks like that bet is paying off for everyone involved. The Three Stripes’ recent “Into the Metaverse” — which featured Bored Ape Yacht Club, NFT collector gmoney and crypto-media group Punks — raked in 5,924 ETH (about $23 million) across both an “Early Access” and open public periods, back on December 17. With 30,000 new NFTs minted, the whole event is a clear boon no matter how you slice it: adidas gains a relevant foothold among a new demographic in a new technology, while also legitimizing the work of NFT artists and entities like Bored Ape Yacht Club with a more conventionally corporate seal of approval. Long story short, expect more NFT drops to happen in the future, especially those with the blessing of a globally relevant brand. Like them or not, NFTs aren’t going anywhere. For those of us who aren’t interested in NFTs, we’ve got a few more products we want to shine a light on. From Snow Peak’s craft beer-ready portable barrel to Crown Royal’s new 18-year blended whiskey and LG’s first-ever gaming laptop, this is Today in Gear.
Today in Gear is our daily roundup of all the latest product announcements, drops and news. Want your question featured in our weekly “Ask an Expert” column? Send your most pressing product questions to [email protected].
Bring the party with you wherever you go with Snow Peak’s nearly 5L Shimo Barrel.
Snow PeakWe love Snow Peak for its modern design aesthetic, Japanese sensibilities and the intelligent utility embedded into all of its products. The brand’s Shimo Barrel — set to drop in 2022 — is an elegant way to bring the party with you wherever you go. Designed to hold 160oz (4.7L) of liquid (like, say, craft beer), the Shimo Barrel is vacuum-insulated, like other products in the Shimo line, and features a design that allows it to be laid down on its side and/or used with one hand — all for easy pouring potential.
