Post Tagged with: "Gear"

Pack Your Bags

Whether you’re going by plane, train, or automobile, we’ve got the right stuff to help you gear up.
By Deirdre Goldbeck

Pack Your Bags
Orvis luggage tags
Orvis.com • Brass: Set of three $39; Leather: $49 each
Bags need tags if you ever want to see them again. If you go for hardware, Orvis’s set of three brass identification tags are just the ticket. There’s a limit of four lines per tag and 25 characters per line. Each tag measures 2.5 by 1.25 inches, and attaches easily with a spring-operated brass clip. If leather is more your thing, go for a single tag with up to three initials embossed on the outside. Your personal information is inside, revealed only when the tag is unbuckled. They measure 6.5 by 2.5 inches and come in black or orange.
Pack Your Bags
Samsonite Travel Sentry luggage strap
Samsonite.com • $18
There may not be a gorilla manhandling your bags behind the scenes, but why take chances? Zippers can break and seams can bust under stress, but this TSA-approved strap is tough enough to hold everything together, and to keep it locked down with a three-dial combination. The strap is made of sturdy polypropylene and adjusts to fit a bag up to 72 inches. It comes in a variety of colors, from discreet black to several easy-to-ID brights, like neon green.
Pack Your Bags
L.L. Bean travel scale and alarm
LLBean.com • $35
Anything that serves multiple purposes when you travel is a must. This digital scale will let you know if you’re over the airline’s weight limit, so you’ll avoid unpleasant surprises and extra fees at check-in. It displays poundage six seconds after lifting, and registers bag weight up to 88 pounds. Need a wake-up call? It also serves as a travel clock with both an alarm and a snooze option. What makes this item a triple threat is the built-in flashlight. It weighs just under nine ounces, and batteries are included.
Pack Your Bags
AViiQ slim travel adapter
AViiQ.com • $20
If you’re planning a trip across the pond, you won’t want to leave home with one of those bulky, space hogging adapters. AViiQ’s travel adapter is designed to fold flat when not in use, for easy packing. When you’re ready to charge or power up your devices, just flip the ends to release the prongs. It measures roughly 3.5 by 2 by .5 inches and has a 250-volt electrical rating. Everything you pack should be this compact and practical.
Pack Your Bags
VinniBag wine travel bag
VinniBag.com • $28
No matter how much newspaper you’ve used for padding, or how well you think you’ve nestled that bottle of bourbon between your dirty socks, accidents happen. But clumsy bag-handlers and pothole-riddled roads have nothing on this specially designed carrier. It inflates to cushion your hooch or other breakables against impact, and seals to prevent leaks during transit. Best of all, it’s TSA-friendly and reusable.
Pack Your Bags
Clever Travel Companion underwear
CleverTravelCompanion.com
Boxers: $30; T-shirts: $40 Would you hand over your cash and credit cards to a perfect stranger? Probably not. Keep your valuables safe with 100 percent pick pocket proof underwear. Briefs and boxers have two zippered pockets, are made of rayon and spandex, and come in sizes extra small to extra large. Choose black, navy, or dark gray. Cotton T-shirts have a single front pocket, are sized from small to extra large, and come in white or gray. Keep your friends close, and your valuables closer.
Pack Your Bags
Max Mirani MOVE Mobile Closet
MaxMirani.com • $450
If you hate unpacking and repacking for short overnight trips, this bag’s for you. Polycarbonate material makes the carry-on lightweight and durable, and four swivel wheels and a telescoping handle provide easy maneuvering through narrow aisles and crowded airports. Inside, suits fit flat behind the zip-out lining. The lining itself acts as your organizer and wardrobe, with cantilevered shelves for clothing, pockets for toiletries, and removable sections for shoes and laundry. Unpacking can’t get any easier.
Pack Your Bags
Eagle Creek Flashpoint luggage
EagleCreek.com • Conor backpack: $160; ORV Trunk 22 rolling duffle: $325
Let it rain, let it pour—you’ve got luggage that can take it. Durable Bi-Tech material and zippers make these travel pieces tough and weather resistant. The backpack, measuring 14 by 19.5 by 9.5 inches, has a check point friendly butter fly opening that can accommodate a 17-inch laptop, and secure interior pockets with two-way lockable zippers for small electronic devices. The shoulder straps are ergonomically contoured, and the rear slip panel is perfect for stacking the backpack on the Flashpoint ORV Trunk 22’s telescopic handle. This rolling duffle measures 14 by 22 by 9 inches, has an oversize front panel, and additional carry handles on the end, side, and center. Both pieces have reflective accents for visibility, and are backed by Eagle Creek’s “No Matter What” warranty. You just can’t beat that.

Spyware

Seven sexy gadgets that provide a secret service.
By Crispin Boyer

Spyware
Omni 27
HP • $1,200
The Windows-based alternative to Apple’s 27-inch iMac, HP’s Omni 27, is a multimedia PC disguised as a 27-inch HDTV. The baseline model comes with respectable specifications, including the latest Core i5 processor, eight gigabytes of RAM, a DVD/Blu-ray combo drive, and a massive one-terabyte hard drive for media storage. Although it’s powerful enough for productivity and light gaming, it’s really designed as an all-in-one entertainment center for small apartments, dens, or dorms. The 27-inch edge-to-edge display, despite being a smidge less sharp than Apple’s iMac, is more than adequate for streaming flicks or plugging in your Xbox 360.
Spyware
PenCam 4GB
Swann • $50
You could concoct all sorts of legit-sounding excuses to own a video-camera pen (record the boss’s Power-Point presentations, snap photos of your receipts for accurate expense reports). Whatever your real reason for office surveillance, the PenCam will do the job with out raising suspicions. The camera surreptitiously captures 640 by 480 AVI video and photos at 1,280 by 1,024 resolution. The four gigabytes of internal memory hold two hours of video and 18,000 photos, which you transfer to your computer via USB. Just be careful what you upload to YouTube—unless you want to explain yourself to HR.
Spyware
USB cuff links
Ravi Ratan • $250
James Bond might have a car that turns into a submarine and a watch that deflects bullets, but so far he’s been shit out of luck when it comes to ferrying gigabytes of data or shar ing Wi-Fi between gad gets. That’s where this practical gizmo for the black-tie IT guy comes in. The polished-silver set offers a double whammy of data-sharing, with one serving as a two-gigabyte USB drive and the other interfacing with your Windows laptop to create a Wi-Fi hot spot. This high-tech executive bling is avail able from CuffLinks.com, which also offers USB-only versions in a variety of finishes.
Spyware
Coolpix P510
Nikon • $430
This is essential equipment for outdoor surveillance missions, aka ogling babes at the beach. Its wide-angle lens is capable of an astounding 42x optical zoom, while image-stabilization technology locks down every intimate detail on faraway subjects. Lightning-quick autofocus lets you get fast on the trigger, snapping up to five full-resolution shots per second. The P510’s 16.1-megapixel CMOS sensor allows for detailed pics in any lighting condition, and the same goes for recording 1080p movies (complete with stereo sound). A host of automatic features helps newbies make the most of this serious shooter.
Spyware
Freedom Bluetooth wireless headphones
JayBird • $99
Jogging while wearing traditional earbuds is doable but difficult: The wires snag on clothing and slap at your chest, while all that salty sweat eats away at audio components. These sweat-proof headphones are designed specifically for music-motivated fitness freaks. They sync to your iPhone or Android device via Bluetooth. Multiple earbuds and adjustable cushions ensure a snug fit, keeping the earphones locked to your noggin during mad dashes or bumpy bike rides. The right earpiece has a built-in mike—plus volume and playback controls—so you won’t need to fumble for your device to change tracks or take calls.
Spyware
Sportiiiis heads-up display
4iiii • $199
If you can look past its cheesy name (pronounced “sport eyes”), this is actually a handy training tool that just might save cyclists from becoming roadkill. Using a universal mount, the device connects to a pair of sunglasses and links wirelessly to any ANT+ sensors for monitoring heart rate, bike speed, etc. (Eyewear and sensors are sold separately.) A series of lights projected beneath your right eye—along with optional audio cues—help you stay in your target training zone without taking your eyes off the road. You can even program custom training routines with the included smartphone app and PC/Mac software.
Spyware
Smuggler golfbag beer cooler
Bracketron • $25
Despite Rodney Danger field’s beer on-tap example in Caddy shack more than 30 years ago, country clubs still haven’t wised up to the fact that golf is better with a PBR. Fairway lushes will have to rely on the Smuggler, a soft-sided beverage cooler that tucks into a golf bag without leaving telltale beer-can bumps. It’s equipped with a reusable freezable gel pack, and will keep a six-pack of your favorite suds frosty from tee to sweltering tee on hot afternoons. Of course, the Smuggler also chills nonalcoholic canned beverages if you’re not the type to break the rules—or throw off your handicap with beer goggles.

March of Progress

Spring ahead with seven gadgets that will upgrade your life.
By Crispin Boyer

March of ProgressPlayStation 3-D display
Sony • $500
Don’t let its PlayStation branding fool you. This display—ideal for dorm rooms and later-than-early adopters to 3-D—is compatible with any 3-D Blu-ray player, cable box, PC, and even the Xbox 360 via HDMI. It offers a full 1080p, 3-D movie and gaming experience via its included pair of active-shutter 3-D glasses, along with booming sound through a built-in subwoofer. If you buy a second pair of glasses, two players can take advantage of a unique “SimulView” option that broadcasts a separate full-screen (non-3-D) image to each player in compatible games. A lack of remote limits the display’s functionality as a second TV, although you can buy a separate PS3 remote.
March of Progress
Biscotti TV phone
Biscotti • $199
Laptop cameras are crummy for spending quality time with long-distance ladies, and they’re too complex for far-flung family members to figure out. The Biscotti TV phone addresses these shortcomings with its cinch-to-use remote and high-def-quality picture. Just plug the streamlined camera into your HDTV via its HDMI cable and connect it to your house Wi-Fi. You can make unlimited free video calls to other Biscotti units, or to computers, tab lets, and smartphones that support Google voice and video. Incoming calls interrupt shows—and switch on the TV if it’s not in use. Best of all, the camera and microphone capture your entire room, so you can take and make calls without having to get off the couch.
March of Progress
BodyMedia FIT CORE armband
BodyMedia • $180
If you’re going to sweat the details of getting in Spartan-style shape for the summer, you might as well make every calorie count—and no gizmo is better at counting calories than the FIT CORE armband. Its four sensors capture more than 5,000 data points per minute, recording calories burned, steps taken, levels of physical exertion, and even the fat-burning quality of your sleep. Upload the results to your PC and sync it with your daily menu to dial in the most effective diet and exercise plans. The only drawback: You have to wear this thing day and night. Hey, drastic weight loss calls for drastic measures!
March of Progress
Z340 instant digital camera
Polaroid • $300
A flashback with a flash, Polaroid’s 14-megapixel camera duplicates the photo-spewing functionality of its classic predecessor—right down to the white borders around each picture (which can be turned off for full-bleed printing). Instead of film, the Z340 uses an integrated printer that burns images to smudge-proof sheets of three-by-four-inch Polaroid ZINK paper. Colors are heat-activated on the paper itself; no ink cartridges or ribbons are necessary. Before you print photos—a process that takes about 45 seconds—you can edit them on the 2.7-inch LCD. We just wish the camera made the familiar click-whir sound to complete the nostalgic effect.
March of Progress
Bag of Rhythm boom box
House of Marley • $300
Technically, this boom-boxin-a-bag plays all the music on your iPhone or iPod touch, but it almost seems a crime to crank anything but Bob Marley tunes. It’s fashioned from eco-friendly materials and roomy enough for a weekend’s supply of medicinal you-know-what, embracing the reggae principle of sharing the good times wherever you go. Two four-inch speakers, two one-inch tweeters, and a digital-signal processor produce sound as clear as your conscience (proceeds from each bag support causes approved by the Bob Marley estate). A built-in battery in the FM-radio-equipped docking station keeps your iPhone from crapping out after a long weekend of spreading the love.
March of Progress
WiPNET internet ports
Wi3 • $150
These simple-to-install ports spread internet connectivity throughout your house with out you punching holes in the drywall. Each comes in two pieces: a sleeve that replaces coaxial-cable wall plates, and a cart ridge that slips over it depending on the desired connection. Multi media PCs and media streamers, for instance, use a cartridge that delivers fast ethernet while maintaining TV services. Internet dead zones rely on the Wi-Fibroad casting satellite cartridge. Each port gets maximum band width from your connection, and cartridges can be upgraded as wired and wireless technology improves, future proofing your network.
March of Progress
Levitron Revolution display
Fascinations • $100
When it comes to useful desk accessories, this ranks somewhere between one of those drinking birds and Newton’s cradle—but it totally outperforms both of those dust collectors in pure wow factor. Electromagnets in the unit’s base suspend a small disc in the air, upon which you can place any display object. A model jet, an autographed baseball, rubber doggie doo—if it weighs less than 12 ounces, the Revolution will suspend it above your desk. LED lights in the base help you align the support disk, while the electromagnets continuously make corrections to keep your display object from toppling.

Help Yourself

Celebrate your selfish side this Valentine’s Day with seven gadgets that put you first.
By Crispin Boyer

Help Yourself
Tablet P
Sony • Price not available at press time
The last thing gadget hoard ers need is yet another iPad competitor, so it’s a good thing this one offers a design twist: a unique clamshell case. The 5.5-inch touch screens, which boast the same TruBlack tech used in Bravia televisions, can function as one larger display for web browsing and watching TV shows via Sony’s Video Unlimited service, or they’ll take on independent duties for certain apps. PlayStation games, for instance, will use the bottom screen as a controller. In the email app, one screen works as a preview panel. Rotate the Tablet P sideways to read eBooks just like old-timey paper novels. Connectivity is available via AT&T’s 4G network, so begin your bellyaching if you live in an area with spotty coverage.
Help Yourself
MV800 multiview digital camera
Samsung • $280
This is a camera for the Facebook generation, featuring a three-inch LCD that swivels fully forward, taking the guesswork out of snapping self-portraits. Flip the screen out halfway to take low-angle shots of kids and pets, or hold it high to shoot pics and video over the crowd at concerts and sporting events. The touch screen is large and responsive enough to make the most of a suite of pre- and postphoto tools and effects, including a panoramic mode, multiple filters, 3-D effects, plus cropping and touch-up tools. Optional posing guidelines even help you take a less douchey photo than all your Facebook chums.
Help Yourself
Aquos LC-80LE632U 80-inch HDTV
Sharp • $5,500
Certain responsibilities come with owning the world’s largest 1080p LCD. Super Bowl Sunday will henceforth be celebrated at your pad. Neighbors will mooch off your evening viewing. And, of course, you’ll need a cavernous media room to make the most of the monolithic display. At less than four inches thick, the Aquos is a slimmer alternative to rear-projection TVs—not to mention brighter. Its edge-to-edge LED backlighting system offers consistent color and vibrancy even in sunlit rooms. Considered a “budget” LCD despite its titanic size (and price), it lacks 3-D compatibility, but it does come with built-in Wi-Fi for access to Netflix and other streaming services.
Help Yourself
Droid RAZR
Motorola • $300 with a two-year Verizon contract
Yep, it’s a high-tech (and just over a quarter-inch-thick) update to the best-selling Motorola clamshell that was such a status symbol back when “apps” was still short for cheese sticks and blooming onions. Video streamed from your PC, Netflix, or Verizon’s NFL Mobile service plays in full HD resolution on the blur-free 4.3-inch screen, which is more vibrant than most full-size LCD HDTVs. The 1.2-gigahertz dual processor com bines with Verizon’s 4G network to deliver blazing web-browsing speeds, and you can use the phone as a mobile hot spot for up to eight Wi-Fi devices. And since it’s wrought of Kevlar fibers and water-repellant Gorilla glass, it’s as sturdy as it is sleek.
Help Yourself
Brewsees sunglasses
HipVisions • $40
These bona fide beer goggles come with bottle openers integrated into their stylish frames. The aluminum openers stick from the tips of polycarbonate arms sturdy enough to survive the stress of constant cap-prying. The pry tools tuck behind your ears during normal wear, hiding your cappopping superpowers until they’re needed most. With polarized lenses that offer 100 percent UV protection, they’re perfect for beach barbecues, tailgate parties, or any other event with limited access to conventional bottle openers. Don a pair on Super Bowl Sunday, just in case.
Help Yourself
Touch Control beard and stubble trimmer
Remington • $50
In a world of smartphones, smart thermostats, and even smart pens, the concept of a “smart beard trimmer” might sound kind of…stupid. But don’t dismiss this touch-screen-controlled trimmer just because it smacks of gimmickry. The digital controls make it easy to select from 175 motorized length options, which means you’ll leave the bathroom with surgically precise stubble. And the included USB charger for the 40-minute battery means this is the first trimmer you’ll stow in your laptop bag instead of your dopp kit.
Help Yourself
SA-NS500 HomeShare speaker
Sony • $400
It’s fit for double-duty as both a portable speaker and a permanent part of your home-audio system, as the Apple AirPlay–enabled SA-NS500 wirelessly streams tunes from your PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Sony tablet, or compatible Blu-ray system. Its vase-shaped omni-directional design fills the room with sound, and you can carry the speaker anywhere within range of your Wi-Fi network—even outside, thanks to its six-hour rechargeable battery. It comes with its own remote, but you can also control it with your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad by downloading an app. You can also supplement the sound with additional units synchronized throughout your house.

High and Mighty

Winter is coming. Stay frosty with our guide to the ultimate snow-sports gear.
By Crispin Boyer

High and Mighty
Aspect snowshoes
Atlas • $270
Snowboarding boots and hiking shoes will only take you so far out of-bounds before you wind up in over your head. To really explore the backcountry, strap on a pair of snowshoes. The Aspect, which is forged with sawtooth ridges around the perimeter for maximum grip on ice and packed snow, will keep you high and dry with the comfort of a spring loaded suspension. A pop-up heel lift takes the pressure off your ankles while climbing steep grades, making these lightweight shoes the next best thing to a portable chairlift.
High and Mighty
Airbrake goggles
Oakley • From $220
Soupy whiteouts one minute, bedazzling sunshine the next—mountain weather never makes up its damn mind. These multi-lens goggles equip you for Mother Nature’s many moods. They’re the most advanced goggles in their category, and feature an oversize tab atop the frame that ejects the lens in a swift, glove-friendly motion—so easy you can switch lenses while still wearing the goggles. The Airbrake comes with two fog-proof lenses (one for sunny days, one for overcast conditions), and you can purchase additional weather-specific varieties straight from Oakley.
High and Mighty
Happy Hour snowboard
K2 Snowboarding • $460
Expect to get a lot of double takes in the lift line when you strap on this suggestively shaped board, which is built with a pointy nose and tail purely for aesthetic reasons. The board’s funky shape, eye-popping graphics, and ultraflat design hide a high-tech composite core that pops off the mountain when you hit the kickers or ollie onto boxes. Performance rails help you swing around the tail at the speed of thought, while the board’s bottom is coated with a natural base that retains wax long after typical sticks run dry.
High and Mighty
ContourROAM video camera
Contour • $200
Strapping a camera to your winter-sports ensemble is surprisingly empowering: You ride faster, jump higher, and attempt terrain-park stunts that would normally instill paralyzing fear. The ROAM HD video camera is the easiest to operate of the adventure cameras. Just mount its waterproof housing to your helmet and tap its oversize button to power on and begin recording. Onboard image and audio processors automatically compensate for brightness and wind noise, capturing wide-angle photos or video up to 1080p at 30 frames per second. The Contour’s sturdy case can withstand even brutal impacts, so you can ride fast, die young, and leave a beautiful Facebook video.
High and Mighty
Pit Boss pack
CamelBak • $100
Designed for skiers and riders who’d rather choose their own adventures, the Pit Boss offers bottomless storage—and three liters of hydration—for a full day way off-piste. The front pocket is roomy enough for essential emergency gear, including a shovel and an avalanche probe. Carry straps on the back stow your skis or board for hoofing it out-of-bounds. Three glove-friendly zippers grant full access to the pack’s contents, so you’ll spend less time fumbling for your lunch. It’s lightweight but a bit bulky for the chairlift, so skiers and riders keen on groomed runs might prefer CamelBak’s slimmer Tycoon bag.
High and Mighty
Circulator boot dryer
DryGuy • $30
Nothing attracts snow bunnies like a flawless session in the terrain park. And nothing repels them like a fragrant swampfoot affliction from wearing the same sweat-soaked boots day after day. Avoid cultivating new strains of toe jam with portable foot-shaped heaters that use thermal convection to dry fetid ski and snowboard boots in a matter of hours. The quiet and compact Circulator distributes heat throughout your boots, yet doesn’t produce any damaging hot spots. Best of all, you’ll never again subject your feet to soggy boots on a cold morning.
High and Mighty
Mix Master Mitts
Burton • $160
Fiddling with your iPod or iPhone playlist while wearing snow gloves can be frustrating. Doing it while rocketing down a double black diamond could be fatal. A wireless remote embedded in these gloves simplifies the soundtrack-selection process. Control volume, pause the current tune, or switch to the next track all with buttons built into the back of the thumb; your iPod/iPhone can be stored out of reach. Technical gimmickry notwithstanding, the Mix Master Mitts are a nice pair of gloves, sewn of sturdy leather and featuring a water proof membrane that keeps your digits toasty.
High and Mighty
Fire Arrow F1 ski boots
Nordica • $749
These high-performance boots for high-performance shredders were built to take advantage of the broader, more ambitious shape of modern skis. The secret is in the shell design, which offers more lateral precision and ankle articulation. An advanced buckle system locks the heels in tight, creating a more intimate connection between man and mountain. The upshot of all these buzzwords: You expend less energy for increased performance. The Fire Arrow F1s are all-mountain boots, but they’re not suitable for all skill levels. Only experts need apply.
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