Today in Gear: 5 Products You Need to Know

There’s a joke that in some major cities, there’s a Starbucks on every corner. If you’re someone who has an electric vehicle, that may be a good thing. As reported in Fast Company, in a pilot program rolling out this year, Starbucks is teaming up with Volvo and Chargepoint to install EV chargers — following the 1,350-mile route from Denver to Starbuck’s hometown of Seattle. Tapping into the fact that the route is, as Starbucks’ Chief Sustainability Officer Michael Kobori said, a “charging desert,” the move dovetails with a simple need for those on long or all-day car rides: the need to stay energized and awake. “If you’re on a trip, you’re gonna stop in in the morning anyway to get your Starbucks, to get your beverage, to get your breakfast,” Kobori said. “And as you’re sitting there, getting ready for the day and planning out your route and checking out, your car is just charging.” Starbucks will be testing the usage during on the route during this initial pilot program, with a possibility to roll out the initiative nationwide. Starbuck’s electric vehicle ambitions aside, we’re doing details on Serica new “Tuxedo” timepiece, the new Smith sunglasses that you need to add to your fishing kit and a whiskey that blends Irish and American traditions into a whole new style. This is Today in Gear.

Keeper’s Heart Irish + American Whiskey is the perfect compliment to St. Patrick’s Day.

Keeper’s Heart

Informed by both American and Irish distilling traditions, the label’s flagship bottle blends the know-how and technique of two of the world’s most important whiskey-producing nations. Keeper’s Heart Irish + American blended whiskey is a combination of Irish Triple Distilled Pot Still Whiskey, Irish Grain Whiskey, and American Rye. Fans of whiskey on both sides of the Atlantic will note Irish whiskey’s signature baking spice profile mixed with American whiskey’s distinctly sweet, oaky palate.

Serica spruces up the 4512 California watch with tuxedo dial.

Serica

Serica’s 4512 was already a solid, accessibly priced watch, thanks to its unique combination of Roman and Arabic numerals,. 200 meters of water resistance and Swiss SuperLuminova hands. This dressed up “Tuxedo” variation incorporates a black and white enamel sector dial for peak flexibility whether you’re dressing it up or using it as a sleek every day watch. Powered by a Soprod P24 manual movement, it’s hard to top this upscale take on a W.W.W. timepiece.

1More drops some truly tiny wireless earbuds designed for an “invisible” fit.

1MORE

In the event you’re not in the market for Apple’s AirPods, 1More makes a case for its own wireless ANC earbuds, the ComfoBuds Mini. Coming in at staggeringly light 3.7 grams, the “extra mini size” should provide an nearly (as 1More describes it) “invisible” fit. Using the brand’s proprietary QuietMax tech, the earbuds deliver up to 40dB noise cancellation with multiple different modes. This is all on top of the tightly tuned sound and EQs — courtesy of 1More’s SoundID — which can be tweaked based on eartip fit and personal sound balance preferences.

Heading out or staying in, Snow Peak’s Home & Camp Lantern is worth a spotlight.

Snow Peak

Just because Snow Peak is a label that has a rich history in enjoying the outdoors doesn’t mean that its products are only useful when setting up camp. The Home & Camp Lantern is case-in-point when it comes to Snow Peak’s crossover appeal. Designed to be carried or placed on a shelf or flat surface (when resting on the charging stand), the LED light within the lantern is rechargeable and dimmable. In three neutral colors, the lantern should blend in whether it’s being used inside or out, and its just-over-1.5 pound build should make it an easy addition to any camping kit.

With proprietary ChromaPop lenses, Smith’s all-new Spinner shades are perfect life on the water.

Smith Optics

With spring effectively in full swing, we know we’re not the only ones itching to get back outdoors. If you’re planning on setting up your first fishing trip of the season, we recommend adding Smith’s new Spinner sunglasses to your kit. Incorporating the brand’s proprietary ChromaPop lenses (which cut glare, increase contrast and boost color definition), the Spinner delivers temple-to-temple coverage so you can keep a clear eye on what’s going on above — and, more importantly, below — the water.

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