After being told he needed a license to sell his personal Land Rover Defender 90 to friends, Matthew Perlman decided to go all in for his passion. His company, West Coast Defender, brings 21st century updates — refinished exteriors, heated seats, power locking and other modern amenities — to classic machines.
When it’s time to make tracks — whether you’re escaping the daily grind or heading to the next adventure — few things will make or break your time on the open road more than the vehicle you’re piloting. Sometimes it’s best to tailor your ride to the destination; sometimes, the car itself should play more of a starring role in your road trip story than your map waypoints do.
With age comes the ability to do a long highway cruise better than we ever could as a youngster. Summer’s right around the corner, so we’ve compiled above all the gear you’ll need to make new memories on the road.
It’s got to be slog (a once-in-a-lifetime slog) to travel through an entire country in just two weeks. But to pare your footage from those two weeks into a three-minute video?
Defy Bags Defender Workcase Made (in the U.S.A.) from military canvas, reclaimed truck tarps and leather, the bag is sealed shut by kickass buckles; inside is a protective computer pocket. The modern workplace equivalent of a handcuffed-to-the-bad-guy briefcase, which is completely awesome.
KitchenAid Pro Line 16-cup Food Processor Tiny little cubes are tough to come by in the kitchen, especially when you’ve got to chop through a load of produce. This little wizard does the dirty work for you, magically achieving that elusive perfect dice every time.
The summer of 2012 was one of the hottest seasons ever throughout the United States. Whether we face the same braising this year remains to be seen, but we plan on being prepared.
“WARNING: Use Only In Case of Real Emergency.” These words are engraved on the caseback of the new Breitling Emergency 2, and you’d better take heed. Pull out the antenna to impress your buddies at your backyard barbecue and two things will happen: (1) a helicopter will land on your patio, and (2) you’ll pay an unpleasant fine for setting off a false search and rescue mission.
Classified Moto Honda CB “SuperStrada” This custom job by Classified Moto involved a donor 1980 Honda CB750F Super Sport, a front end from a Yamaha YZF-R6 sportbike, some nice Ducati bits and more than two years of work. The result?
It’s hard to believe how different a hot commute in hair-pulling traffic can be from a balmy mid-afternoon drive on an open road in the countryside — both in the same car. Nothing brings back the freedom of summer like a great drive, and unless you’re cursed with a 36-month lease of a kiddie-hauler that now smells like sour milk, it’s high time you planned just such a trip.
One of only three people to have skied solo to the North Pole — the youngest to do so by over a decade — Ben Saunders is also an avid cyclist, Twitter presence and Land Rover enthusiast.
Back safely in the U.S., I removed the cacao ball from my running shoe. I unwound the plastic wrap from the dark brown orb and sniffed it.
Spot Global Phone Made for the rugged outdoorsman, this satellite phone handles text messaging, voice calling, voicemail and emergency calls the world over. An available data kit allows a computer to jump aboard the uplink, and up to four hours of talk time means you’ll never miss a call.
The sixth installment of our Staff Favorites series features Mr. Chris Wright.
In the States, we know that size still matters. And just like dinner portions, Americans love their bigger cars and trucks.
The iPad’s extreme portability is simultaneously glaringly obvious and overlooked in favor of its flashier tech wonders. The take-it-anywhere-ness of the iPad is also perhaps its biggest downside: we tend to treat it like the things it replaced, the books and magazines that we could toss without a care.
Warm weather: we can’t say enough good things about it. There’s something noble about putting on cold weather gear and sticking it out all winter, but running in the summer, sweat pouring off your brow, hat and clothing looking like the Bonneville salt flats, the first sip of Heed after a 20 miles in the scorching heat, runner babes in short shorts — this is pure, unadulterated sport pleasure.
If you’re like us, you have a long list of gear you’d love to own. But reality (almost) always steps in, along with bank accounts and eagle-eyed spouses, and your gadget desires remain unfulfilled.
Canadian-born Steve Dubbeldam, founder of Wilderness Collective, has been described as a “serial entrepreneur”, having begun multiple fashion collections and co-created an online magazine with his wife. His latest venture is Wilderness Collective, supplier of “Legendary Adventures for Men”.
Crosskix Hybrid EVA Footwear They look like your kid’s favorite playground footwear mated with a Pininfarina-designed body builder: lightweight, EVA construction; adjustable straps; drainage holes. The Kickstarter is ultra funded, so gird your feet for some fancy foam fun.