Good morning, and welcome to the latest edition of This Week in Gear — your single-shot serving of an entire week’s worth of killer new gear pulled from our weekday editions of Today in Gear. Bookmark it to peruse over Sunday football and start your Monday completely up to speed. Here’s to another fantastic week.
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Due to the increasing strictness of European emissions laws, every manufacturer seems to be downsizing their engines and slapping on turbos. Ferrari is no exception. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The new Ferrari 488 GTB is an evolution of the 458 Italia in both looks and performance. The 488 GTB’s smaller 3.9-liter twin turbo V8 gets better mileage and churns out a total of 660 horsepower and 560 lb-ft of torque. ferrari.com
Blazers aren’t just for dinner parties anymore. But looking dapper 24/7 doesn’t need to be a chore. Everlane Luxe Merino Blazer is an extraordinary knit blazer for ordinary life. With clean construction and overlocking stitch detail, the Luxe Merino Blazer fits true-to-size in the shoulder and slim around the torso.
$165
Because of its lightweight mid-engine layout, the Cayman is regarded as one of Porsche’s best-handling cars. Ever. But when specs are compared, it’s clear Porsche made sure the Cayman never stepped on the iconic 911’s toes. Stuttgart couldn’t hold back any longer and developed the Cayman GT4. With a 385 horsepower flat-six from the Carrera S as well as other shared components, the Cayman GT4 is essentially a mid-engined 911. $85,500
Denim is one of the toughest materials that’s worn on a regular basis. Jeans, jackets, blankets, anything made out of the stuff seemingly lasts forever. So when Brooks England made the new Cambium C17 upholstered in denim, it not only made sense fashion-wise, but for durability and functionality as well. brooksengland.com
Despite Ford being an American company, they’ve felt the need to withhold their hottest hatch from our shores for years. But now, thankfully, Ford is focusing on being one global company, and that means bringing the Ford Focus RS to the US market. It gets the same 3.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder from the new Mustang and finally comes with an AWD system. autoblog.com
In the wireless age that we live in, anything that has you tethered to something is only holding you back. The Plattan ADV Wireless headphones are the first Bluetooth headphones from Urbanears. The machine-washable headphones also include a built-in microphone to take phone calls and an equalizer. maxborgesagency.com
Most people don’t brush their teeth like they should: they don’t brush long enough and use the same toothbrush for too long. Quip’s brush is designed to fix these bad habits. Its bristles pulsate every 30 seconds so you don’t linger in one area too long, the brush vibrates for the entire 2 minutes of brushing time, and Quip sends a new brush head every 3 months so you won’t forget to to switch the old one out. And at just $25, it’s way less expensive than other electronic brushes on the market. $25
Huez makes a sportswear line specifically geared towards cyclists, ranging from intense racers to casual riders. Their line covers jackets, shorts and jerseys, each featuring technology specific to cycling. Their Starman Storm jacket is breathable, water resistant, reflective and boasts Eschler E1 sweat absorption fabric. huez.co.uk
These Converse sneakers look just like the brand’s classic All-Stars, but they’re not. Each shoe has 18 updated features, including a 2-ply duck canvas, a streamlined toecap, a lightweight herringbone outsole and a signature 2-piece Jack Purcell smile construction. So lace up in the spirit of old, but walk around in the comfort of the new. $95
Designed with the brand’s patented unbreakable technology, this Willet Hammer comes with a no-slip grip, an anti-vibrating neck and a lifetime warranty. And with its lime green color, finding it in the mess that is your toolbox shouldn’t be an issue. $37
It’s been proven that working at a standing desk can lower your chances of getting heart disease, diabetes and depression. And Stir’s Kenetic Desk is the gold standard of standing desks. It links up with the user’s smartphone, can rise and fall on command and can function as a sitting desk for people who get tired. It encourages people to stand by keeping track of their calories burned and the time they’re standing versus sitting. It’ll help office dwellers get healthier, if they can afford it. $2,990
A versatile commuting companion, the Route Nine Convertible can easily be worn as pannier or a one-strap backpack. The 3-pound bag has a waterproof drop liner and side pockets with large reflectors. If the price tag doesn’t scare you away, it’s a great way to stand out from the Jansport-rocking masses. $228 (★)
Tokyobike’s new lightweight city bike was designed for New Balance to go with the launch of their new C-Series shoes. With smaller 650c wheels and a 23.8-pound body, the ride is comfortable and quick with an 8-speed gear. It’s available in either matte blue or mustard, with silver rims and ivory side wall tires. Preorder it today to receive it in March. $925
Here are the sneakers to wear while riding that new Tokyobike. Designed by design manager Shugo Moritani in his Tokyo studio, they shoes are a combination of cycling innovation and street style with slip-on construction, reflective neoprene, and cork footbeds to absorb moisture. And after all of that, they still have that classic New Balance silhouette. $120
No one from the Northwest may want to think about throwing a football after the Super Bowl, but this football may change their tune. Shinola, the Detroit-based company known for watches and leather goods, says these leather footballs are built to be used. They’re hand cut and sewn with polyester thread in Glen Rock, NJ. Grab yours today so you can try what you might have done on the second yard line. $135
This iPhone dock is made from steel and wood, and comes in at a hefty 3 pounds; this means you can plug and unplug your phone one-handed without moving the dock. Both the domestically sourced walnut and machined steel come from Oregon, where the product is finished. The ergonomics are complemented by a hidden channel in the dock that directs ringtone and other audio through the front of the dock. $99
Part of Tumi’s new Tegra-lite collection, this suitcase‘s thermoplastic composite material is made to protect your gear. It’s strong and streamlined, so your camera will be safe on that flight to Scotland or sandwiched between those wine bottles from Italy. It’s 21.75 x 15.75 x 7.9 inches, and comes in at 7.9 pounds. Some notable features include swivel wheels, lined pockets with tie-down straps, integrated locks, and a bottom grab handle for carrying. $595
American Giant is known for their durable and comfortable fleece — the two things you want out of a hoodie. This new version includes 4-inch-long cuffs, ribbing at the waist and wrists and a pass-through pocket. It’s made in the USA and comes in black or gray; in short, this hoodie gets the job done. $79
The team behind Bond aims to bridge a gap between old and new with their handwritten stationary. Their difference: all notes are drafted by automated machines. Type up your message and a robot puts it on paper with a pen in any number of different styles, including a custom-tailored handwriting based on your own. hellobond.com
Based in Portland, Oregon, Shwood Eyewear makes sunglasses from a variety of unique premium hardwoods. The rectangular Haystack frames from their Spring 2015 Collection come in regular or dark walnut, fitted with premium Carl Zeiss lenses. $149+
Conceived from a Kickstarter campaign, Bull & Stash make refillable notebooks meant to last a lifetime. Encased in thick leather, each holds roughly 30 pages of quality paper at a time, all bound by sturdy metal hardware. The company’s web store launches in February. bullandstash.com
Constructed from authentic Pendleton wool, one of the most trusted materials in textile manufacturing, the limited-edition Icon Shirt from Kitsbow also features Shoeller 3X Dry panels on the elbows and shoulders for abrasion resistance. Perforated gussets at the shoulder make activity more comfortable by increasing mobility and ventilation. $195
Two-time NBA All-Star Stephen Curry is set to get his very own line of basketball shoes, the Curry One, thanks to Under Armour. The shoe will feature a responsive cushioning system with both EVA foam and mesh, along with an external heel counter to help support the foot. Retailing for $120, the first colorways hit stores February 13. underarmour.com
Available in two different sizes, these hanging lanterns are screen-printed with luminous blue ink that charges throughout the day for up to eight hours of soft light that glows in a geometric pattern throughout the night. ~$89
After what seems like a forever-long wait (but’s really only been a few years) Canon has introduced a new pro full-frame DSLR and it has gone big. Inside the nearly unchanged body sits a massive 50.6 megapixel sensor, dual Digic 6 processors and the excellent smart viewfinder and AE sensor from the 7D Mark II. The “R” variant ditches the Anti Aliasing filter for maximum sharpness (and a bit more post processing). This latest salvo in the megapixel wars will be available in June. $3,699+
Just five days away from hitting the market, adidas’s new Ultra Boost Shoes will be a clutch Valentine’s gift if your partner is of an athletic persuasion. An update to adidas’s Boost line, this women’s shoe uses an assortment of meshes in strategic areas around the foot, working in conjunction with a bootie construction, a synthetic midfoot overlay and a molded heel counter for a comfortable and empowering fit. Nothing says love like grueling aerobic exercise. $180
Once you’ve both got new kicks, here’s one way you and your partner can motivate each other to follow through with jogging more often: Motigo, a new app that lets family and friends pre-record motivational messages that will be played automatically over the course of your workout. You can also record your own words of encouragement. Just don’t be too hard on yourself. getmotigo.com
Just in time for your uncle’s birthday, Atlantic Records has re-pressed the classic Led Zeppelin IV and (slightly) less classic Houses of the Holy on vinyl, remastered by Jimmy Page himself. Each record comes with unreleased outtakes and an 80-page hardcover of concert photos and art. $108 (Led Zeppelin IV) $105 (Houses of the Holy) (★)
Does your friend with a sleep disorder also happen to be a vinyl snob? Tell that friend to ditch the white noise machine. Designer and musician Kouichi Okamoto’s Endless Rain Record features a lengthy recording of summer rain in two versions on either side of the disc (“rain” and “drop”, denoted by their respective Japanese characters). The “rain” side contains the 10-minute recording, while the “drop” side features a circular groove rather than the spiraled groove typical of a vinyl, allowing the rain to loop endlessly. $50 (★)
Whether you’re mellowing out to “The Rain Song” or pretending the rain is coming down, make sure you’re listening in proper high definition. Audio Technica’s first pair of professional-grade open-back reference headphones, the ATH-R70x, will do the trick. Lightweight at 7.4 ounces, these carbon-composite cans sound as good as they feel over the ears with a frequency response of 5-40,000Hz, 470 ohms of impedance and a sensitivity of 99 decibels. audio-technica.com
Alternatively, you can fill a room with sound courtesy of Dayton’s affordable and functional B452 shelf speakers. A mere 5.5 x 6 inches, these compact speakers sport potent 4.5-inch polypropylene woofers and 0.6-inch polycarbonate tweeters, and their built-in keyhole brackets make them a cinch to mount on a wall. daytonaudio.com
