Editor’s Note: It’s pretty clear that we’re passionate about gear. And with this series, we want to share with you our own personal favorite pieces. Over the next few months, we’ll bring you our staff’s 10 personal favorites — goods we personally own and use. The selection will run the gamut, from heirloom pieces to practical gear that can be easily procured. Last but not least, each will share one “holy grail” item that still remains the stuff of dreams, out of reach, but hopefully only temporarily so.
I spend an obscene amount of time with eyes glued to my devices. It’s not sustainable for the brain or body, so I find it wholly necessary to find moments in between monitoring feeds to unplug and be present. These are the elements that best help me achieve that peace of mind.
BLK DNM Leather Jacket 5 in Emerald Blue
I found this in the last hour of a sample sale for an impossibly low price. It’s my go-to accessory for as long as I can make it work with the temperature, and it’s one less thing I have to think about when getting dressed.
Oliver Peoples Sir O’Malley
Paired with my iPhone’s Night Shift feature, these signal the winding down of my day. Plus, they’re the frames Patrick Bateman wore, which never hurts for a conversation starter.
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream
I go for ice cream year round, with a dedication likened to the postal service creed. While it’s hard to beat a cone from one of the innumerable old-timey, hipster-laden parlors popping up around the country, it’s always best to keep a pint reserve in the freezer. Van Leeuwen is the move.
Grady’s Cold Brew
I also stick to iced coffee year round, and nothing beats Grady’s.
ClassPass
I don’t have much time for exercise, and a trip to the gym can quickly turn into an inefficient zombie-like shuffle from machine to machine, eyes glued to a smartphone. It’s key to find that 45 minutes in the day where I have a singular focus and get in some movement. My standby studios are CityRow, SYNCStudio and New Love City.
Sony a7RII
When not staring at a screen, I like to best see the world through this camera’s viewfinder. The image quality makes me question every other camera I pick up, and its built-in wi-fi is perfect for quick uploads to Instagram.
Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM
My absolute favorite lens. So much so that I’ve even Frankensteined it to make it (slowly and frustratingly) work on my Sony.
You Made It Weird Podcast
Pete Holmes’ podcast regularly makes me laugh out loud inside a disinterested subway car. Beyond that, his interviews always take deep existential dives and get to life’s deeper meanings. The full archive and weekly episodes are available for free.
The Grail
McIntosh Soho I System
After hearing anything played through a McIntosh system, the natural world doesn’t sound as good.
