Converse’s New Chucks Pair Subtle Style with Rugged Cold-Weather Comfort

With their all-black upper (including the logo) and brass eyelets, these are some of the best-looking Chucks of the last year (or perhaps longer). However, solid styling isn’t all they have to offer. They also feature a heavy-duty upper paired with a faux fur-lined interior, making these a sneakily rugged and capable cold-weather footwear option. Even the tongue and collar are padded for extra comfort, and they feature OrthoLite underfoot cushioning for light, impact-absorbing comfort. As if that’s not enough, they’re also quite affordable.

50 years after the debut of the Lotus Esprit, a British automotive upstart by the name of Encor is building a series of 50 limited-run restomods based on the Series 1. Refined with a full carbon fiber body, enhanced aerodynamics and a refreshed V8 engine, each example will also boast modern creature comforts such as Apple CarPlay, LED lighting and climate control. They’ll be priced at £430,000.

Hublot massively expands one of its most impressive watch collections by introducing colored ceramics to the Spirit of Big Bang Tourbillon 5-Day Power Reserve. The extreme sports watch, which is powered by the brand’s manual-winding, skeletonized in-house Cal. HUB6020 movement boasting a tourbillon and at least 115 hours of power when fully wound, had previously only been available in carbon or white ceramic, but now Hublot has tripled the available options by introducing four new ceramic versions in Yellow Magic, Red Magic, Black Magic and Sky Blue.

NYC’s belt drive bicycle kings get all sendy with this ambitious MTB, which is still shrouded in mystery. What we do know is that it’s powered by the patent-pending Stillpoint High Pivot Platform, which features suspension points positioned along a hitherto unattainable line, providing, Priority says, unprecedented control, stability and speed. Meanwhile, the Pinion gearbox teams with the Gates Belt Drive for smooth power transfer without the fuss of chains or even a derailleur. Named for a winged underworld spirit from Etruscan mythology, the Vanth launches on Halloween, but you can sign up now for updates along the way.

Stay visible on dusk and dawn runs with Ciele’s hard-working new reflective sweatshirt, part of its Nite Rite Collection. Built with a cozy combination of diamond grid recycled polyester pile fleece matched with embedded carbon, the VLVHalfzip brings temperature control, breathability and warmth to another level. Reflective details in various strategic positions across the back and sides are the literal star of the show, illuminating runners in low-light conditions. The half-zip allows for venting and versatility, while a large side pocket, internal phone pocket and oversized cuffs add functionality and utility to the equation.

The Google Home Speaker is the company’s next-gen $100 smart home speaker. Google redesigned it both inside and out so that it looks very similar to Apple’s HomePod mini, thanks to its rounded design and 3D knit fabric covering, and improved its 360-degree sound. Most notably, the speaker is integrated with Gemini for Home and a new service (Google Home Premium) that’s powered by Google’s Gemini AI. This means that, in a nutshell, the smart assistant should be way more conversational (and smart) than Apple’s Siri. The speaker will come in four different colors (Jade, Berry, Porcelain, and Haze), but you’ll have to wait to buy — it won’t be available until “spring 2026.”