Today in Gear: Start Your Week with This News

Chances are you (or someone in your household) is wrapped up in an Apple subscription service. Apple Music, Apple TV Plus, Apple News Plus (just to name a few) — there’s no denying that Apple’s moving towards a monthly payment model. Naturally, it appears as if Apple is aiming to move its hardware to a similar model. Of course, Apple already has a hardware- adjacent subscription service, courtesy of its iPhone Upgrade Program, but this would have a slightly larger purview. According to reporting from Bloomberg, this new plan — tied to a specific user’s Apple ID — the monthly service wouldn’t just divide the cost of an iPhone over 12 or 24 months to own it outright, it would charge (an as-of-yet undetermined amount) and give active subscribers a chance to immediately upgrade the moment a new iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch comes out. The link to a user’s Apple ID also opens up more bundling opportunities with the other aforementioned Apple monthly serviced. Long story short, expect Apple’s subscription-model ambitions to extend far beyond media and — more importantly — the iPhone. Today we’re opening with news on an upgraded Citizen Promaster 1977 Challenge Diver, Bestech’s newly-designed tanto blade and the cooler bag you’ll need on spring hiking trips. This is Today in Gear.

Meet the most advanced multitool ever produced.

Citizen

Stacked with 21 different tools, the P4 is a step up from Leatherman’s beloved P2 in just about every way. The most notable change in the P4 is the inclusion of a blade-sized saw and 420HC serrated knife. This is on top of all the P4’s other functionalities, which range from a pair of needle-nose pliers to an extra-small screwdriver (plus plenty in between). Perhaps the most impressive detail is that all of the P4’s functionality packs into a shape that’s just 4.25 inches long when closed and weighs a super-light 8.6 ounces in total.

Citizen Promaster Upgrades the 1977 Challenge Diver with “Super Titanium.”

Citizen

When a barnacle-covered Challenge Diver was discovered along Australia’s Long Reef Beach back in 1983, the movement was still ticking even after being submerged long enough for barnacles to attach to the case. Inspired by that same resilience, this Challenge Diver uses a scratch-resistant “Super Titanium” case, an inset rotating bezel, enhanced magnetic resistance (including 200m of water resistance) with a Cal. 9051 mechanical movement.

Bestech brings in new designer partner to design its latest tanto-like blade.

Bestech

Courtesy of designer Keanu Alfaro, Bestech’s new Titan tanto blade is a balance of both American and Japanese-style tantos. Featuring a 2.94-inch blade, the design uses a straight primary blade with a secondary edge that comes out and to a higher point. Made with D2 steel with a simple flipper opening, the simple handle design with G-10 scales over steel liners) gives the Titan a very incognito profile too.

When the weather heats up, it’s hard to beat this affordable (and compact) cooler.

Able Carry

Listen, we love hyper-techy, carry-the-whole-fridge coolers as much as the next guy, but the simplicity of the Able Carry Cooler is something we can’t ignore. Coming in at just over half a pound (and a refreshing $56), the Able Cooler is designed to hold roughly 2.5L of material, which will stay cold (or hot) for up to six hours thanks to its interior X-Pac shell. Effectively a cooler on a sling, if you’re looking to bring along some drinks or supplies while on a hike — without plans to set up camp — this lightweight option should keep you on the move without having to suffer through overheated hydration.

Winter’s end doesn’t mean you need to shelve your Dr. Martens footwear…

Dr. Martens

Spring showers make Dr. Martens’ 1460 boot a necessity, that’s something we can’t deny. But what happens with the seasonal squalls are over, but you still want something with the brand’s signature footbed support? The Carlson Suede Mule is kind of like the cross between a Dr. Martens boot, a pair of Crocs and a pair of Birkenstock Bostons. Featuring a suede upper, a heel strap (that can be placed against the heel or pushed forward to sit on the upper) and Dr. Martens’ signature stacked, yellow-stitched sole, it’s the hybrid footwear that should do the job… until the weather demands you pull your 1460 boots out of seasonal storage.

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