Welcome to Gear Patrol Redux. Here you’ll find a living list of the products we recommend most, from all our areas of greatest expertise. If you’re looking to invest in the best of something, this is the place to learn what that best option is, why it’s the best, and maybe even how we figured all that out.
Because the gear and product landscape is ever-evolving, our team will keep this list up to date when we find new products to include (or when better versions come out). So please do check back in before you kit up for a summer camping trip, outfit a new kitchen or dive into holiday shopping — it’s what we’re here for.
Motoring
AGV AX9
Best Motorcycle Helmet: The AGV AX9 is the Italian brand’s new flagship adventure riding helmet and a serious step up from its predecessor, the AX8. The AX9 is a versatile multi-season motorcycle helmet and can be customized for different riding environments with a removable, visor, shield and chin vent. Read more here.
Aether Ramble
Best Motorcycle Pants: Aether Ramble Not many adventure riding motorcycle jackets can pull double duty as a casual everyday jacket, but the Aether Mojave gets the job done. There are interior pockets at the elbows, shoulders and back to hold armor to make it road-worthy and safe, but the minimalist style and design allow the Mojave to look appropriate almost anywhere.
Aether Mojave Jacket
Best Motorcycle Jacket:
The Ramble Pants are further proof Aether is a master at blending form and function and coming up with an incredibly versatile product. Like the rest of Aether’s moto line, the Ramble Pants are capable of having D3O armor at the knees for protection when riding, but they work just as well as casual pants around town. Read more here.
REV’IT! Bastille Gloves
Best Motorcycle Gloves: Rev’It made its name on perfectly over-engineered motorcycle gear for hard riding. But, when it tries its hand at a more subtle, less tactical style, like with the Bastille gloves, Rev’It still knocks it out of the park. The goatskin gloves are more at home on a cafe racer than an adventure bike, but you can rest easy, knowing Rev’It puts just as much energy into there gear, regardless of where the rider takes it.
Velomacchi 28L Speedway Backpack
Best Motorcycle Bag: Not many backpacks can claim the same durability and functionality as the Velomacchi 28L Speedway. Using materials designed for special forces and the coast guard, Velomacchi built a bag made to take the abuse of almost any motorcycle ride, regardless of the elements. Where the 28L Speedway, stands out, though, like all of Velomachi’s products, is there isn’t anything on the bag that doesn’t have a function or works to keep you comfortable, even at highway speeds. Read more here.
Husqvarna 701 Enduro
Best Motorcycle: The Husqvarna 701 Enduro proves an adventure motorcycle doesn’t have to be a massive, two-wheeled tank. Throw on a pair of saddlebags, a dry bag on the tail and a tank bag up front and you’ve got yourself a full-stocked lightweight ADV ready to tackle tight single track as soon as you set up camp. Read more here.
2018 Toyota Corolla XSE Hatchback
Best Car: Toyota pulled a fast one on everybody with the 2018 Toyota Corolla XSE Hatchback. Instead of making another mundane econo-car, it injected some real performance into the approachable little city car. Read more here.
2019 Ford Ranger
Best Truck: The overland and adventure lifestyle worlds are rapidly growing in size and scope and Ford positioned the 2019 Ranger to be right in the thick of it, stepping on the Toyota Tacoma’s toes. Perfectly sized for trail rides, either in open desert or tighter mountain fire roads, and capable of being outfitted with over two-dozen Yakima camping upgrades, the new Ford Ranger is a major player in the adventure industry for 2019. Read more here.
2018 Mazda MX-5
Best Sports Car: When Mazda came out with the latest generation MX-5, it was almost perfect. At 155 horsepower, the featherweight roadster handles itself elegantly on tight twisty roads, but runs out of steam on faster roads and the highway, when it’s near its top end. For 2018, Mazda addressed this flaw and bumped the power up to 187hp. Now the Miata is one of the most complete sports cars on the market — it’s expertly balanced in corners and for the price, its performance is difficult to beat. Read more here.
2018 Cake Kalk
Best Electric Motorcycle: There’s no denying the inevitable rise of all-electric motorcycles. The compact, lightweight architecture, lends itself beautifully to the technology and propulsion systems — the trick is trying to convince today’s and tomorrow’s riders of the gospel. The Cake Kalk is one of the first steps in showing new riders what the future of motorcycles might look like, with a fun, approachable, well-designed motorcycle with real-world performance and functionality. Read more here.
Style
Everlane Cashmere Crew
Best Cashmere Sweater: A cashmere sweater is always welcome in the cooler months, but the price of traditional styles can be prohibitive. Everlane’s style offers a Grad-A cashmere in a classic silhouette for just $100 — hard to beat that.
Read more here.
Wahl Beard Trimmer
Best Beard Trimmer: Made in the USA, this stainless steel beard trimmer features a Lithium ion battery that delivers hours of performance on with one charge. The Model 9818 comes with four attachments and 12 T-Blade guide combs to achieve different length trims. Read more here.
Outerknown S.E.A Jeans
Best Jeans: These jeans have a slim silhouette that sits at the waist and is slim through the thigh and down the leg. The 12-ounce organic cotton denim is sourced from the Candiani mill in Italy and the jeans are sewn at the industry-leading Saitex factory in Vietnam. Read more here.
Red Wing Heritage Iron Ranger
Best Boots: Originally designed for iron miners in Minnesota’s Mesabi Range, this boot features a double layered toe to protect worker’s feet around heavy machinery. Made with a oil-resistant outer sole and speed lacing hooks, the Iron Ranger can be rebuilt after years of wear. Read more here.
Harry’s Body Wash
Best Body Wash: This affordable body wash come in three scents: shiso, stone and fig. Formulated to cleanse without drying, it is free of sulfates, parabens and dyes. Read more here.
Ray-Ban Aviator Sunglasses
Best Sunglasses: Originally design for military pilots, the Ray-Ban aviator features teardrop lenses and lightweight metal frames. And what’s more, the polarized green G-15 lenses are one of the best values on the market. Read more here.
Brooks Brothers Regent Fitted Shirt
Best Shirt: Brooks Brothers iconic button-down shirt features a signature rolled collar, mother-of-pearl buttons and gusseted side seams. Made from American-grown Supima cotton, it is available in sizes 14.5 to 18 in four different silhouettes. Read more here.
Lady White T-Shirts
Best T-Shirt: Lady White Co. shirts have premium details like tubular construction and double-needle binded collars. Made from American cotton, they are cut, sewn and knit in Los Angeles. Read more here.
Schott Perfect Jacket
Best Jacket: This iconic motorcycle jacket is made from drum-dyed heavyweight steerhide. The style features an asymmetrical front zipper, belt snap-down lapels and zippered cuffs. Read more here.
Away Aluminum Edition
Best Luggage: This durable aluminum suitcase is designed to fit in the overhead bin of most airlines and is guaranteed to last a lifetime. Featuring spinner wheels, a leather-wrapped handles and an interior compression system, it is one of the best values in hard-shell luggage.
Read more here.
Home
Breville Precision Brewer
Best Coffee Maker: Breville’s drip coffee brewer is consistent, programmable and customizable. It can brew both filtered drip coffee or, with an attachment, pour-over coffee. It’s one of very few brewers to hold a certification badge from the Specialty Coffee Association’s Home Brewer Program. It’s as good as home coffee brewing gets.
Read more here.
Lodge 10.5-Inch Cast-Iron Skillet
Best Cast Iron Skillet: The classic Lodge can be used for steak, cornbread, pies or to build a crispy exterior on just about anything. On top of that, it’s laughably cheap and can be delivered to any home within two days. You could invest more in a pan made with more craftsmanship, or you could start with a Lodge and upgrade from there. Read more here.
Buffalo Trace Bourbon
Best Bourbon: It is ridiculous to say there is just one, all-encompassing, good-for-everything bourbon. There isn’t. But Buffalo Trace is, to our estimation, as close as it gets. Using the famous Buffalo Trace Distillery Mashbill #1, it’s a low-rye, smooth, reasonably aged, slightly hot on the tongue, well-priced bottle. In recent years it’s become a bit harder to track down, but it’s well worth it. Read more here.
Knoll ReGeneration
Best Office Chair: The ReGeneration is the affordable update to Knoll’s legendary Generation chair. ReGeneration adjusts to weight and weird leaning tendencies automatically with up to 270 degrees of posture change. It’s the proud owner of a Good Design Award, a huge 12-year warranty and a fair price tag. Read more here.
Global G-2
Best Kitchen Knife: It’s lightweight, affordable, durable and has soft edges. Its blade is narrow in the Japanese style but the forward-leaning balance splices it with Western knife DNA. Read more here.
Boll & Branch Percale Solid Sheet Set
Best Sheets: There is nothing new about Boll & Branch’s mattress. It blends the best of the spring mattress era with the best of the memory foam mattress era. It comes with a 10-year warranty and every sustainability certification you could ask for. Read more here.
Weber Spirit II
Best Grill: Do all the research you want, there’s not better value than Weber’s OG kettle grill. Sturdy enameled steel, a one-touch cleaning system, wheels that actually work and availability in any size you could want make it the category leader since its 1952 creation. Read more here.
Dyson V8 Animal
Best Vacuum: Buying a brand new Dyson is a good way to burn a hole in your wallet. The V8 features more suction than anyone needs, solid battery life and full-machine HEPA filtration. It’s all you really need. Read more here.
Burrow Sofa
Best Sofa: Burrow’s approach to direct-to-consumer is to make less and better things. Its couch is a manifestation of this — it’s sturdy, customizable, modular and ships within a week. It’s got a subtle mid-century aesthetic that prides itself on blending into your home. Plus, it features a charging cable and very approachable $1,000 starting price point. Read more here.
Founder’s All Day IPA
Best Beer: The session IPA, perfected. No session IPA has come close to challenging All Day’s dominance in the making of a complex, low ABV, light, always available India Pale Ale. Read more here.
Tech
Sony WH1000XM3 Headphones
Best Noise Cancelling Headphones: When it comes to active noise-canceling headphones, the Sony WH-1000XM3 are the total package. They’re comfortable and sound great, and come with a bunch of neat features. Most importantly, they have the best noise-canceling abilities of any headphones we’ve tested. Read more here.
Jabra Elite Active 65t
Best True Wireless Earbuds: While AirPods are great, Jabra’s true wireless earbuds are more versatile. The Elite Active 65t are sweat resistant, unlike Apple’s offerings, so you can comfortably run and workout with. They also deliver the best call experience of any true wireless earbuds. Read more here.
Nikon D850
Best DSLR Camera: The Nikon D850 is still our favorite full-frame DSLR. It combines high frame rate and high megapixels into one robust and reliable package. It’s also weather-sealed and fairly lightweight, making it a great camera for professional and amateur photographers alike. Read more here.
Apple Watch Series 4
Best Smartwatch: The Apple Watch is hands down the best smartwatch for anybody with an iPhone, but that’s been the case for years. The Series 4 differentiates itself with a swath of new fitness and wellness features. It’s also the first Apple Watch in years to have a big hardware redesign in years. Read more here.
KEF LSX Wireless Bookshelf Speakers
Best All-in-One Hi-Fi System: This wireless speaker system is essentially a smaller and more versatile version of KEF’s acclaimed LS50 Wireless. It’s all-in-one hi-fi package that’s super easy to use; it can be connected to your TV or turntable, or stream straight from your smartphone. If you’re great stereo sound, this is what you want. Read more here.
Sonos One
Best Smart Speaker: Sonos’s first smart speaker works great on its own; it’s sort of like a prettier and better-sounding Echo. It really flexes its speaker muscles as part of a larger Sonos system. You can integrate into a multi-room setup or as part of a 5.1 surround sound system. It makes a great gift for anybody who already has a Sonos speaker, or even somebody who doesn’t. Read more here.
Sony Alpha a7 III Mirrorless Camera
Best Mirrorless Camera (Interchangeable): The Sony a7R III is one of the best digital cameras you can buy. It’s also pretty expensive. Released in 2018, the Sony’s a7 III takes most everything that’s great about the a7R III and puts it into a more enthusiast-friendly package. Read more here.
Leica Q
Best Mirrorless Camera (Fixed): The Leica Q is a fixed-lens, full-frame camera and one of our favorite Leica’s ever made. It combines great image quality, autofocus and image stabilization in one immensely stylish package. The Q is expensive — true — but it’s the idea for casual photographers looking to shoot quick, beautiful photos. Read more here.
MacBook Air
Best Lightweight Laptop: Hands down, the MacBook Air is the best lightweight laptop for most people. It’s thin, fast and powerful. Best of all, it has some of the MacBook Pro’s best features, such as Touch ID and a beautiful Retina display. Read more here.
Vizio P-Series (2018)
Best 4K TV Under $1,000: The Vizio P-Series has everything you want in a 4K TV. It produces a beautiful, bright picture with great contrast. It supports the major HDR formats, including HDR10 and Dolby Vision. It has thin bezels. Best of all, its 55- and 65-inch models come in at the sub-$1,000 mark. Read more here.
Watches
Casio G-Shock Classic
Best Outdoor Watch: The G-Shock in its many forms is not only incredibly durable but inexpensive, meaning it is the ultimate go-to watch for outdoor or any physical activities. With a highly accurate Japanese quartz movement, the versions that feature solar charging will be reliable in every situation. It is also a design icon and quite comfortable in the classic square shape that introduced it to the world in 1983.
Read more here.
Worn & Wound Strap Changing Multi-Tool
Best Strap Changing Multi-Tool: This strap-changing tool uses two capped ends that each holds a reversible bit held in place with a gasket — so they are very easy to change and no rethreading is required. You get four tools: a 0.8mm poker, a 1.6mm fork, a 1.4mm flat-head, and a 1.8mm flat-head screwdriver. Each end has a screw-on cap to protect it, obviating the need for a special case.
Read more here.
Maratac Mil-NATO Strap
Best NATO Strap: Maratac’s Mil-NATO straps take the UK Ministry of Defence’s specifications and go a step further. They feature nylon webbing with extra durability features including ultrasonic welding and stitching, as well as ultrasonically drilled holes to prevent any rough spots. It’s all the toughness of mil-spec, but with refinements the picky civilian will appreciate. Read more here.
Worn and Wound EDC Watch Pouch
Best Watch Storage: This is a handy and durable way to carry a watch and keep it safe from scuffs alongside your other gear. Made with 1000D nylon, neoprene, and shock cord it’s got purposeful design livened up with some great-looking color options. Read more here.
Baltic BiCompax 001
Best Vintage-Inspired Watch: There are a lot of vintage-inspired watches out there, but French brand Baltic takes a refreshingly minimalist approach while remaining casual and affordable. The BiCompax 001 is one of their best, with a hand-wound ST1901 chronograph movement and wearable 38mm steel case. You can’t beat its combination of style, quality, and price. Read more here.
Orient Mako II Dive Watch
Best Affordable Dive Watch: There are affordable dive watches, and then there are those with mechanical movements which can often be found for under $150 and yet are truly built to last. The Orinet Mako II is all of that and gives you the (in-house) Orient F6922 automatic movement with hand-winding capability and hacking seconds, a precise 120-click bezel, mineral crystal, 41.5mm steel case on a steel bracelet, and 200m of water resistance. Read more here.
Rolex Submariner
Best Dive Watch: Budget option it is not, but Rolex cuts no corners and builds a better dive watch than about anyone else. There is a reason that a Rolex represents so much more than a watch to so many people, and the Submariner exemplifies the brand like no other. The Submariner has earned its reputation with unparalleled quality and longevity in just about every sense with a 40mm steel case and unbeatable in-house automatic movement. You can actually dive with it, wear it with a suit like James Bond, and pass it on to your offspring. Read more here.
Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch
Best Chronograph Watch: The watch that accompanied the first humans to the Moon in 1969 not only has an unbeatable story, but a totally timeless look. Selected by NASA to withstand the rigors of space travel, it was built to a high standard and has only improved with technological developments in its modern incarnation. While featuring cutting-edge manufacturing techniques, its design, 42mm steel case, and in-house chronograph movement have remained remarkably consistent with the original. Omega’s Moonwatch easily rises above the crowd as an uncontroversially special chronograph watch. Read more here.
Friction Ball Watch Case Opener
Best Case Back Opener: If you need to open the back of a watch, this cheap tool will work for many watches that use a screw-down case back. We don’t recommend doing this yourself without good reason, but if you need to, we do recommend this tool for its cost and ease of use. Read more here.
CREMAX Watch Repair Kit
Best Watch Repair Kit: Changing straps and sizing bracelets are the kind of tinkering that actually adds to the satisfaction of watch ownership, and amateur enthusiasts can easily learn to do it themselves. You just need a few basic tools, and they needn’t be expensive. This kit includes basically all you need — anything more should really be performed by a trained watchmaker anyway — and it comes in a compact and convenient case for hardly a few bucks. Read more here.
Outdoors
The James Brand Ellis
Best Pocket Knife: The Ellis is a multi-tool, but not a 20-plus implement contraption that looks like a brick and weighs heavy in the pocket. It has a partially serrated knife, a scraper, a flathead screwdriver and a bottle opener; and that’s likely all you’ll need. Read more here.
Osprey Stratos 24
Best Dayhike Pack: The Stratos is a Goldilocks-approved daypack: it has enough space for a dusk-to-dawn adventure but isn’t so big that it’s overkill for hour-long hikes. Those include a spacious main compartment, smaller exterior pockets, attachments for trekking poles and an ice axe and an incredibly comfortable mesh back panel that Osprey expertly pulled over from its long-distance backpacking bags. Read more here.
Technica Forge
Best Hiking Boot: By using the same heat-molding technology that it brings to its ski boots, Tecnica has created a hiking boot that’s customizable to any pair of feet. It ensures that the fit is perfect and does away with lengthy (and painful) break-in periods. The only catch? You’ll have to find an authorized dealer to mold it. Read more here.
Patagonia Nano Puff
Best Insulated Coat: Puffy jackets are the Swiss Army Knife of outdoor layers; they’re warm, lightweight and pack down tiny. Patagonia’s Nano Puff is one of the best available — not only does it hit all these targets but it’s also backed by the company’s replace or repair guarantee. Read more here.
Black Diamond Spot 325
Best Headlamp: The Spot headlamp is bright, easily dimmable, includes useful red night vision, strobe and lock modes, and is waterproof in the rain and submersion up to one meter. All that, and it’s only $40 (so you don’t have to coddle it; put it through the wringer). Read more here.
Marmot Eclipse Jacket
Best Rain Jacket: When you need to stay dry on a hike or during your day-to-day, Marmot’s no-frills rain Eclipse is a fully capable jacket. Marmot bonded the waterproofing DWR to the yarn at a molecular level, so it’ll never deteriorate or need to be reapplied. Read more here.
Nemo Equipment Dagger Tent
Best Tent: Somewhere between ultralight and oversized is the Nemo Dagger. It is, technically, a backpacking tent, but Nemo designed it to max out interior volume so that you don’t feel claustrophobic inside. That makes it ideal for casual camping as well as multi-day treks. Read more here.
Helinox Chair One Camp Chair
Best Camp Chair: Even compared to the smallest camp chairs, Helinox’s Chair One masters portability. It weighs less roughly two pounds and packs down smaller than most sleeping bags. Plus, it’s actually comfortable to sit in. Read more here.
Smartwool Merino 150 Base Layer Bottom
Best Baselayer: Baselayers are the foundation of any layering system. Smartwool’s lightweight merino wool bottoms provide year-round versatility; summer or winter, whether you’re hiking or camping, snowboarding or trudging to work in the snow. Read more here.
Yeti Rambler 26oz
Best Water Bottle: There are hundreds of water bottles available today, but we like Yeti’s Rambler because it’s sufficiently rugged, has an oversized loop on its lid to attach to things and keeps drinks cold for longer than necessary. (Plus, the selection of matte colors is good-looking enough to make it hard to choose.) Read more here.
Fitness
Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo
Best Running Shoe: This every day trainer is built for a runner who’s looking for support and speed. The midsole features a combination of ZoomX and Epic react foam from Nike — from the super popular Epic React and Vaporfly 4% shoes. The Pegasus Turbo is the shoe you’ll reach for on tempo days, and for long training runs. It weighs less than nine ounces and feels fast and a look to match, thanks to the zippy racing stripe. Read more here.
Giro Aether MIPS
Best Bike Helmet: As a part of the GP 100, the Giro MIPS Cycling helmet is the best all-around helmet for comfort, weight, ventilation and of course, safety. Giro swapped the single EPS foam shell into two very thin spherical EPS shells, a la ball-and-socket-style. The shells are attached with elastomers and eliminates the need for a liner. While safety comes first, style is an important part of the overall picture, and this one checks all the boxes. Read more here.
Specialized S-Works
Best Bicycle: It’s the most aerodynamic road bike that Specialized has ever created, meaning if you’re planning for a race, this is the one to look at. It’s the third generation of this bike, meaning it handles extremely well with a re-optimized handlebar shape and stem (it’s stiffer and lighter). Afterall, it’s the race day bike of Peter Sagan, one of the best road riders racing today. Read more here.
TriggerPoint Charge Vibe
Best Foam Roller: This vibrating foam roller is essentially two lacrosse balls attached in the middle with a divot between them that’s incredibly helpful along your calves, quads and hamstrings. TriggerPoint is a leader in recovery tools, especially ones that work for a wide range of athletes. With three intensity levels and a weight of just two pounds, it’s easy for anyone to throw in their gym bag or carry-on suitcase to treat themselves to a miniature massage at any point during the day. Read more here.
Suunto 9 GPS
Best GPS Watch: Suunto makes some of the highest quality GPS trackers for endurance athletes, mountaineers and adventurers. The Suunto 9’s unique battery lets you pick from three modes that balance GPS connectivity with battery drain, so you can go for up to 120 hours on a single charge. Plus, you get everything else Suunto is known for like its waterproofing, compass, barometer, multi-sport activity and sleep tracking. Read more here.
Revere Post-Workout Recovery
Best Protein Powder: Protein powders are polarizing — you either use them or you don’t. But once you find one that you like, you’re probably going to stick with it. That’s what happened to our team when we tried Revere’s Post-Workout Recovery. After a long run, mixing this powder into a glass of water or squeezable water bottle is easier than foam rolling and stretching (other post-run necessities). Plus, each packet comes from all-natural ingredients, is diary-, gluten-, soy- and GMO-free. Did we mention that it tastes good, too?
Reebok Crossfit Nano 8 Flexweave
Best Gym Shoe: This is consistently one of the best gym sneakers every year. Reebok continues to update its Crossfit shoe that fills up boxes (Crossfit gyms) nationwide. The Shoe has been around since 2010 and the latest update includes a Flexweave upper that’s breathable, yet sturdy, so you can go from ladders to rope climbs to AMRAP burpees without having to change your shoes.
Lululemon T.H.E. Short
Best Running Short: Whether you prefer a gym short with a liner or no liner, T.H.E. Short is the right pick. Each pair is incredibly lightweight, wicks sweat better than anything else we’ve tried and comes in enough colors that you can hit the gym five days a week and never repeat one pattern. Read more here.
Aer Fit Pack 2
Best Gym Bag: This is the perfect commuter gym bag thanks to its sleek look and plethora of pockets. The 1680 Cordura ballistic nylon exterior is tough enough to handle getting thrown around in addition to looking good in the boardroom. There’s even a separate pocket for your shoes post-HIIT class. Read more here.
Beats by Dre Powerbeats Wireless
Best Earbuds: While expensive, the PowerBeats 3 has a great fit thanks to over the ear buds. The sound quality is a bit heavy on the bass, but overall pretty good for a running headphone. These won’t slip out when you’re racing to catch up with a pacer or when you’re bobbing and weaving through rush hour traffic. Read more here.
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