All posts in “Gear”

A Non-Boozy Campari Alternative and 6 More Home and Design Releases

Welcome to Window Shopping, a weekly exercise in lusting over home products we want in our homes right the hell now. This week: a coffee to add to your wake and bake routine, the tool you need for perfect at-home pizza and more.

Roborock S7

roborock s7 robot vacuum with sonic mopping

Roborock

Presented by Roborock

Your days of dragging around a wet cloth are over thanks to Roborock’s first sonic robot that vacuums and mops in one fell swoop. Roborock has reinvented the future of clean with VibraRise technology, the world’s first combination of an ultra-fast vibrating sonic mop with automatic mop lifting. It’s designed to transition smoothly over contrasting surfaces, and delivers powerful and convenient cleaning that will simplify your life. The Roborock S7 is available now on Amazon, ready to ship and jumpstart your spring cleaning — your floors will thank you.

Price: $649

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Figlia

figlia non alcoholic aperitif

Figlia

There’s a new non-alcoholic aperitif on the shelves, and it’s born out of tragedy. Figlia, Italian for “daughter,” comes from Lily Geiger, whose father struggled with alcoholism and died when she was 20. While everyone’s experience with sobriety is different, Figlia is a drink that works for those completely cutting alcohol out of their life, as well as those who just want something good to drink that just so happens to be non-alcoholic. The juicy-looking aperitif is a citrusy, gingery and floral concoction that makes for a pleasant sipper or mocktail mixer. Think of it as a zero-proof Campari, minus the cloyingly sweet flavor profile. Besides being an exceptional alternative to booze-filled hangouts, Figlia is helping those struggling with alcoholism through its work with Partnership to End Addiction, which helps families of those with addiction problems.

Price: $43

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Made In Pizza Steel

made in pizza steel

Made In

If you’ve made pizza at home before, you may have noticed its crust was just a little bit lacking. Its too-soft texture is most likely because your oven can’t reach the same temperature as the oven in your favorite pizzeria’s oven. The secret for perfectly crispy at-home pizza is the pizza steel, and Made In made one that’s going to have you breaking up with your local pizzeria. Made from perforated carbon steel, Made In’s pizza steel gets hot as hell, making for a nice crusty pie. And because it’s made of carbon steel instead of cast iron, it’s light so you don’t need to worry about dropping your pizza.

Price: $49

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General Admission x Mister Green x Deadbeat Club Hippie Jump Coffee

general admission x mister green x deadbeat club hippie jump coffee

General Admission

As part of its ongoing collaboration, California streetwear brand General Admission and California lifestyle weed brand Mister Green worked with Deadbeat Club (yet another California brand) on a coffee to wake and bake with. Hippie Jump is a naturally processed Indonesian coffee, with notes of strawberry, dark chocolate and orange creamsicles. It’ll pair perfectly with General Admission’s and Mister Green’s Wake and Bake set.

Price: $20

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Dims. x Dusen Dusen Cleo Chair

dims x dusen dusen cleo chair

Dims.

Designed by Norwegian designer Stine Aas, the Dims. Cleo chair is a perfectly wacky-looking chair (that we love) that gets an even wackier update thanks to Ellen Van Dusen of Dusen Dusen. The colorful brand brought its eye towards eye-popping colors to the Cleo chair, turning it into a multicolored seat to bring out your inner child. The initial run of these chairs was limited to 50 pieces and sold out in less than an hour — but word on Instagram is there’s going to be a reissue soon.

Price: $495

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Ghia Le Spritz

ghia le spritz

Ghia

Ghia’s non-alcoholic, ruby-hued aperitif helped me get through Dry January, my go-to preparation being Ghia mixed with some soda water. Well now, Ghia is going the canned route with its Le Spritz, and I can stop mixing my own spritzes. The eight-ounce cans are a pre-mixed blend of Ghia’s flagship beverage with the addition of rosemary and yuzu. Get this to get the party started without the post-party shutdown.

Price: $18/4-pack

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Anaori Kakugama

anaori

Anaori

This is a pot. Yes, it’s a cube, but it’s essentially a pot. It’s made of carbon graphite, which the brand Anaori touts as a lighter option to cast iron that gets even hotter. Inside the square contraption is a rounded shape that helps to recreate convection heating, and the lid also happens to double as a grill plate. So with the Kakugama, you’re getting a tool that grills, boils, fries and steams — with a $2,490-plus price tag. The piece of cookware does have its backers, including the Michelin-starred chef Fredrik Berselius, who will be highlighting the Kakugama at his restaurant, Aska, as part of the brand’s worldwide tour.

Price: $2,490+

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Good Feals Kit

good feals kit

Good Feals

Alex Iwanchuk co-founded the CBD oil brand Feals to help him find balance amid his mental health struggles. Because May is Mental Health Awareness Month, the brand decided to release a Good Feals Kit, which contains a 600 milligram bottle of Feaks, a 500-piece puzzle from the brand Piecework and a reusable nylon tote from Baggu. All net proceeds from the kit will go towards Painted Brain, which is a Los Angeles-based mental health nonprofit.

Price: $75

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New Balance Tokyo Design Studio Adds a Ripple Sole to the 574

New Balance sneakers attributed to the Tokyo Design Studio are designed by a collective headquartered in Japan. A team of creatives in Tokyo, Taiwan and Boston combine cultures and influences with American-born footwear silhouettes. The resulting styles are innovative and often vastly different than products found in retailers stateside

Altogether, the shoes are representative of the larger company’s newfound commitments to collaboration and innovation. The energy the Tokyo Design Studio team — specifically creative design manager Shugo Moritani — brought to the Boston-based company, we’d argue, forged a path forward in several fledgling, albeit foundational, categories (basketball, streetwear and retail).

nb

New Balance

Typically, the US-based team offers designers and influential figures the opportunity to collaborate on unique color ways, interesting materials or patterns and, in the sole case of Jaden Smith, entirely new silhouettes. (Though newly appointed Creative Director of New Balance Made in USA Teddy Santis is surely next.) As such, the iterations done by the TDS are more limited in quantity but less limited in creative liberties taken.

That being said, they’re still rooted in a rigorous set of design principles — Precision, Nature Tech, Sports Craft, Protection — but are aimed at improving the wearer’s everyday life. On his design process, Moritani-san tells Sabukaru, “It starts from daily life and is completed by daily life. It’s a simple process actually, ‘How can I improve our lifestyle?'”

Courtesy

New Balance 574 by TDS

New Balance newbalance.com

$199.99

For the 574 by TDS, the most notable design decisions are the removal of the embossed “N” logos on both the medial and lateral sides, the reduction of any typeface logo to the TPU heel clip and the addition of a Vibram ripple sole. The latter evokes outdoor gear and more aggressive, functional apparel, but the shoe’s overall tone proves softer and more vintage. (It references an early NB sneaker called the Trackster.)

The toe is rounder, the footprint less curvaceous and the exterior less “puffy.” Constructed with a welted sole, lightweight EVA foam cushion in the midsole and heel, the aforementioned TPU heel clip, an upper comprising pig suede overlays, mesh underlays and reflective accents, the shoes are completed with cotton laces and an embossed suede tag — final touches from a design team that clearly emphasizes process and presentation.

The 574 by TDS will be available on May 7th on New Balance’s site and via select international retailers.

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Extract your shots like a pro with the Flair 58 espresso maker from Flair Espresso

In order to perform efficiently each day, some of us rely on energy drinks to get the job done. The caffeine boost it delivers might be quicker and lasts longer, but there are downsides to its consumption. Studies show these jumpstart juices do more harm in the long run, which is why we recommend you stick to a cup of Joe. For that full-bodied aroma and taste, leave it up to the Flair 58.

The appeal right here is that you have to rely on good old-fashioned elbow grease to extract your shots. The Flair 58 looks like almost every other manual espresso makers out there, but it packs some electronic assistance. Not to worry, as you can still flex to arms to pull down the T-grip handle.

What it takes out of the equation is the preheating cycle for the water. We know that monitoring the temperature religiously is not anyone’s idea of a good time when you crave that jolt. Flair Espresso is engineering the Flair 58 as a lever-type model with a Preheat Temperature Controller.

Basically, it needs to be plugged in so users can toggle the three heat settings. If you prefer to go about it the traditional way, you can still use with without electricity. Just make sure to pay attention to the temperature requirements of the coffee variety you are about to extract.

Likewise, take note that this is one solidly built espresso maker that needs to be bolted down for proper leverage. Choose your spot wisely because it is anything but handy to move around. The brew head, piston, and power cord are removable to make storage easier. The Flair 58 is an outstanding piece of equipment with a modern retro design that would look good in any home.

Buy – $529

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Images courtesy of Flair Espresso

Today’s Best Deals: 15% off an Awesome Office Chair, A Smart Lock Deal & More

Welcome to Deals of Note, where Gear Patrol captures all the best deals of the day. You can also visit GearPatrol.com/Deals for constant updates on the latest deals discovered by our team.

EDITOR’S PICKS

The most rare or exceptional deals picked by Gear Patrol’s product experts.

OUTDOOR DEALS

FITNESS DEALS

STYLE DEALS

TECH DEALS

HOME & KITCHEN DEALS

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20+ AAPI-Owned Home, Food and Drink Brands to Know (and Love) Right Now

gp100 food

Courtesy

It’s a tragic fact that hate crimes against Asian Americans continue to rise in the United States. These injustices are nothing new, but growing anti-Asian sentiment and media attention are shining a light on an issue that’s plagued the Asian American and Pacific Islander community for generations.

Countless crimes against Asian, like the shooting deaths of Asian spa workers in Georgia or the countless attacks on Asian elders, have prompted brands to raise money for the AAPI community. The COVID-19 pandemic already made it hard enough for brands to get by — for many AAPI-owned brands, racism is an everyday struggle when it comes to owning a brick-and-mortar store or online retailer. A report by UCLA’s Asian American Studies Center found that AAPI-owned businesses took a harder hit earlier in the pandemic as compared to other businesses because of “racialized blaming,” further perpetuated by racist terminologies in reference to COVID-19 coined by the former president.

By shopping AAPI-owned brands, consumers can help to dismantle the toxic “model minority” myth that perpetuates the idea of Asian Americans as being considered “others” and “foreign.” Buying things won’t cure xenophobia and racism, but there are brands that could use your support, and shopping from them will mean you get high-quality products while standing in solidarity with the AAPI community.

So in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we rounded up over 20 brands that make home, food and drink products that you should know and support. These are just a handful of AAPI-owned brands out there, and we encourage you to find more and spread the word about shopping from such brands.

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A Good Used Book

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A Good Used Book‘s name is pretty self explanatory — founders Jenny Yang and Chris Capizzi find, grade, clean and sell used books. While the founders couldn’t operate at their pop-up at Melrose Trading Post in West Hollywood because of the pandemic, they did move their operations to social media and online so they could continue to build relationships with their customers.

Bachan’s

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Bachan’s is a family-run business of Japanese barbecue sauces inspired by the condiment made by founder Justin Gill’s grandma (aka banchan), Judy Yokoyama. Enjoy the tangy, sweet and savory sauce as a topper or use it as a marinade to make it feel like banchan is cooking for you.

Driftaway Coffee

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Anu Menon and Suyog Mody founded the coffee subscription brand Driftaway Coffee after leaving their corporate jobs to pursue a career in something they were actually passionate about. Go for the subscription to make sure you get excellent coffee to your door whenever you need it, or go a la carte to tailor your purchase to your taste preferences.

Gr8nola

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Erica Liu Williams founded Gr8nola with the intention to make granola less “granola.” The US Olympic Trials swimmer’s granolas are low in sugar, and made with superfood ingredients like matcha, turmeric, activated charcoal and ashwagandha. No matter which flavor you get, all are made with organic coconut oil, whole grain oats, coconut flakes and sunflower seeds.

Grovemade

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Ken Tomita’s Grovemade is arguably one of the best desk accessories brands on the market. It’s like the Apple of desk organization. Look to the brand to keep your work essentials in order and you’ll fall in love with just how clean, simple and well-made everything is.

Hana Makgeolli

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Makgeolli is an underrated beverage outside of the Korean community, and it deserves to have a bigger audience. Craft makgeolli brewery Hana Makgeolli is making the rice-based drink out of Brooklyn, and it’s like the perfect combination of beer, natural wine and sake.

Hopewell Brewing

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Samantha Lee’s Hopewell Brewing, based out of Chicago, is making exceptional beers with no frills but lots of flavor. Head to its Logan Square taproom to drink what all the fuss is about.

Immi

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Immi is instant ramen for healthy eaters. Founded by Kevin Lee and Kevin Chanthasiriphan, the instant ramen brand blurs the line between convenience and luxury offering restaurant-quality flavors like tom yum and black garlic without all the garbage ingredients (and a lot less sodium).

Lunar

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Hard seltzer didn’t need another brand in an already crowded category, but Lunar is, hands down, better than White Claw. Kevin Wong and Sean Ro make Lunar with Asian flavors like lychee and yuzu, which should really be in a lot more things by now considering how delicious they are.

Material Kitchen

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Material Kitchen, co-founded by Eunice Byun, is a direct-to-consumer cookware brand (with a new tabletop line) that makes hard-working, long-lasting cook and prep tools that just so happens to look really good just sitting in your kitchen.

Lichen

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Jared Blake and Ed Be will forever be linked because of their love of vintage furniture. Blake sold Be a Herman Miller chair, which sparked the idea of Lichen, a Brooklyn-based used furniture store that equal parts store and local gathering spot.

20 Products You Can Buy to Support the Asian American and Pacific Islander Community

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From a mug to all kinds of cool apparel, profits from these items go towards supporting Asian and Asian Americans.

Makku

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Makgeolli is usually sold in large bottles, so Makku switched it up by going with cans. Carol Pak, Makku’s founder, keeps her makgeolli clean and simple without artificial ingredients or boatloads of sugar. Plus, fun flavors like mango make this a party pleaser.

Nguyen Coffee Supply

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The eponymous founder of Nguyen Coffee Supply, Sahra Nguyen, is bringing Vietnamese coffee to the states through direct trade with Mr. Ton, a fourth-generation coffee farmer in Vietnam’s Central Highlands. The brand is redefining robusta coffee (arabica is the prized species of coffee for most), and bringing it to the attention of the specialty coffee community.

O-M Ceramics

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O-M, short for “object-matter,” is a Los Angeles-based design studio that focuses on minimal and contemporary styles. Carrie Lau is the brand’s founder, and her works are marked by playful designs, bright colors and bold shapes.

Omsom

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Sisters Vanessa and Kim Pham founded Omsom as a middle finger to the ethnic food aisles at the grocery store. The Phams make pre-made Asian sauces that don’t dumb down the flavor for western palates. Each packet of sauce is a faithful recreation of the flavors of specific Asian dishes.

Poketo

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Stationery doesn’t have to be boring, and Poketo certainly is not. Husband-and-wife duo Ted Vadakan and Angie Myung founded Poketo for the design-conscious, and the brand makes stationery you’ll actually want to use.

Ramen Hero

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This picture of Ramen Hero is actually what you get in a packet of Ramen Hero. Yes, you get all the toppings and not just the noodles. Founder Hiro Hasegawa is making frozen ramen meal kits that actually taste like what you may find in Hasegawa’s native Tokyo. Shopping the website is like perusing a legit menu, so browse with an open stomach.

Sach

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Jasleen and Tarush Agarwal, lifelong vegetarians, were inspired by their home country of India when they came up with Sach, a line of paneer, or firm, creamy cheeses, that can be eaten as a meal or a snack. They’re high-protein alternatives for those who don’t eat meat — think of it as an alternative for tofu, too.

Sanzo

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Sandro Roco is making sparkling waters infused with the fruit flavors he knows and loves — like calamansi and mango — as a Filipino American. Sanzo is the drink you reach for when you’re done with soda and the seltzer aisle is looking a bit flat.

The Sill

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If you can’t make it to a nursery, The Sill brings the nursery to you. The online marketplace sells everything plant related from live and faux plants to soil and planters. Can’t pick a plant? Let founder Eliza Blank choose for you by going with The Sill’s Plant Parent set.

Sqwishful

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What you clean with is just as important as the cleaning itself. Founder Jenn Tsang founded Sqwishful to make planet-friendly home essentials like sponges and dish brushes that are free of plastic and protect the earth by being biodegradable, compostable and carbon saving.

Umamicart

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Shop your grocery list from the comfort of your sofa with Umamicart, an online grocer that specializes in Asian products. Not sure what to buy? Umamicart makes it easy to shop its website whether or not you know what hoisin sauce is.

Yobo Soju

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Soju, a popular distilled spirit in Korea, is dominated by a few big brands that seem to prioritize getting you drunk over offering a you a pleasant drinking experience. Carolyn Kim’s Yobo Soju is a stateside-crafted drink that puts all others to shame. It’s made in the New York Finger Lakes, and it cuts out the preservatives, additives and sugar that so often accompanies soju.

Tyler Chin is Gear Patrol’s Associate Staff Writer.

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BMW’s Most Powerful Car Ever Sold Could Arrive Next Year

2022 — a.k.a. next year — marks the 50th anniversary of BMW’s M performance division, and it seems the M folks have something wild in mind. According to a new report from Great Britain’s CAR, the M division will celebrate the milestone with its first electric performance car: the iM2. It will be a halo version of the upcoming G42 2 Series….and the specs sound absolutely bananas.

The report says BMW has been developing the project under the codename Project Katharina. The vehicle — again, based on BMW’s subcompact 2 Series — would get a quad-motor system employing BMW’s “most extreme battery technology conceived to date.” It would put out a megawatt of power — which, in America specs, translates to around 1,341 horsepower. That would be a little more than twice the power output of BMW’s current most powerful car, the M5 CS.

The iM2 will allegedly accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in somewhere between 2.0 and 2.5 seconds. The Project Katharina prototype, per the report, has already lapped the Nürbugring’s Nordschleife with a time under seven minutes — a feat only achieved to date by supercars. (To put that in perspective, it beat the BMW M8 Competition around the track by a full 40 seconds.)

CAR says the iM2 should arrive for 2022, though it hedges that the car has not received final approval. Production would be a limited run of cars in stripped-down racing spec, with carbon fiber panels, a rear seat delete and thin-walled glass, among other features. No word on pricing, but since the last generation M2 CS started at $83,000, we can expect it would be expensive.

Here’s hoping it does arrive. If BMW does launch the iM2 next year, it would be hard to conceive a stronger statement that electric power does not mean the end of BMW performance.

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This Discounted Dumbbell Set Is All Your Home Gym Needs

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For many of us, the gym has become a redundancy — between germs and crowds, we just don’t need it. Working out from home is here to stay, so you might as well get set up for all of your favorite workouts. When it comes to a home gym, you only need a few things to do just about any workout: if you’ve got a mat, you can do thousands of bodyweight workouts with that one piece of gear. If bodyweight isn’t enough and you’re looking to add to your routine without breaking the bank on a home workout machine, you should get this discounted dumbbell set from CAP. Right now you can pick it up on Amazon for 31% off, which is over $100 in savings.

It has five sets of weights ranging from 5 to 25 pounds, which, for our money, is everything you need for a solid home setup. If you need to save space, it is small enough to fit in the corner of your apartment and CAP is known for its tough-as-nails construction, so you don’t have to worry about it falling apart.

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How to Factory Reset an Apple AirTag

Welcome to Product Support, a column devoted to helping you get the most out of the gadgets and software you already use.

If you find somebody else’s AirTag, you can’t just steal it, whip its memory and then use it as your own. That’s because Apple baked each AirTag with security features that prevent exactly that. Each AirTag can only be associated with one person’s Apple ID — which, unfortunately, is why you can’t share AirTags with family members — and only that person can factory reset.

If you have an AirTag and you want to give it to a friend or sell it to somebody, you’ll need to factory reset it. This is a pretty easy thing to do if your AirTag is right next to you within Bluetooth range. If so, all you have to do is remove it from your Apple ID.

How to remove AirTag from Apple ID:

  1. Open the Find My app.
  2. Select the AirTag.
  3. Scroll down and select Remove Item.
  4. Select the Remove button.
    1. If somebody finds your AirTag and you don’t want it back, they can factory reset it themselves and use it as their own — but only after you remove it from your Apple ID (following the above steps). After you’ve removed it from your Apple ID, the person will still need to perform the below factory resetting process because the AirTag isn’t in Bluetooth range of its previous owner.

      How to factory reset an AirTag that’s out of Bluetooth range:

      1. Remove it from the previous owner’s Apple ID (follow the above steps).
      2. Remove the AirTags’s battery cover (press down and rotate clockwise).
      3. Remove the battery.
      4. Put the battery back in the AirTag and press down on it until it makes a sound.
      5. When the sound finishes, repeat the process four more times, removing and replacing the battery each time. The battery should make a total of five sounds.
      6. Put the battery cover securely back on the AirTag.
        1. Once done, the AirTag will appear as new. It should be discoverable by placing next to your iPhone or iPad.

          Apple

          Apple AirTags (4-Pack)

          Apple apple.com

          $99.00

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      G-Shock’s First Full-On Smartwatch Is Finally Here

      Let’s face it: a G-Shock smartwatch was inevitable. The new G-Shock Move Pro GSWH1000 combines the full-featured smart functionality of Google’s Wear OS with the Japanese brand’s famous toughness — a merging of brains and braun, if you will. In other words, this is a smartwatch you can beat the hell out of like any other Casio G-Shock, and it makes for a strong proposition even within the competitive fitness-focused wearables market.

      As a G-Shock, the new GSWH1000 brings the suite of features the brand is known for. G-Shock has been building upon its digital tech over the years, offering smartphone connectivity, GPS and other developments that make some models nearly as useful as a full-on smartwatch like the Apple Watch.

      The new watch builds on that by hosting an impressive list of functions and capabilities (as well as near-indestructibility) that could fill an instruction-manual-sized booklet: a heart rate sensor, GPS, Bluetooth, altimeter, barometer, compass and more. In addition to G-Shock’s typical 200m of water resistance, it also offers the world’s first shock- and 200m water-resistant microphone.

      watch

      Courtesy

      All this means you can take your watch more or less anywhere, access the range of features you expect both of smartwatches and of G-Shock watches and not worry about a thing — except charging (which is done via a magnetic port). As a Wear OS-equipped smartwatch, it boasts a familiar range of functionality that’s almost impossible to enumerate, but naturally includes a touchscreen, customizable faces and alerts. Color maps — this is also G-Shock’s first smartwatch with a color display — can be downloaded for offline use.

      The Move Pro GSWH1000 perhaps isn’t a game changer within fitness wearables, but it should make for a strong entrant considering the brand’s street cred for genuine toughness. (It should at least be in the running for “most rugged smartwatch,” and that’s notable in and of itself.) It’s perhaps not the most affordable smartwatch, but at a retail price of $699, it seems like a reasonable investment for those that can put all its features to use.

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      How To Decide If A Smart Home Is Right For You

      Over the past five years or so, you’ve likely heard some rumblings about smart homes. You might have even done some research on the topic but still don’t know if it’s something you need for your home and life. Alternately, you might not know what it’s all about.

      So, what is it you ask? A smart home features devices that automate tasks you or another person in your home would normally manage manually. Some smart devices are built into the home upon construction or added later, and some devices are your own, such as your smartphone or tablet.

      When using your own devices, you can download and use special applications. Regardless of the device, once you’re up and running, you’ll operate your appliances and devices with voice commands, automation, or by using artificial intelligence.

      If that isn’t enough information to help you decide whether you want to make your home a smart one, here are three reasons you might choose smart home automation.

      1. Saves Energy and Money

      Many people are exploring smart home technology options such as smart lighting because it helps save energy and cut costs. It’s actually the driving force for many conservation-minded people today. Smart devices like smart thermostats can help automate your home’s heating and cooling.

      Moreover, it can even find natural set points and maintain that to keep you comfortable and stay energy-efficient at the same time. Even better, you’re likely to see a reduced electric bill.

      2. Makes Life Easier and More Convenient

      In our busy, on-the-go world, it’s nice to have some comforts that make life easier and more convenient. Most of today’s technological advances were designed to create more convenience in people’s daily lives. Even if they weren’t intended to do so, it has frequently turned out that way.

      With smart home designs, including things like a smart light switch, convenience is an essential motivator for designers and those who invest in them. The idea of not having to get up and out of bed to turn the bedroom light on or off is appealing to most people. This makes it an important reason to get upgrades for your residence.

      You can control smart lights through home automation or sensor detection based on a schedule. Additional conveniences include smart plugs, robotic vacuum cleaners, and smart laundry washers that start a dedicated time cycle. In some cases, you can even command your refrigerator to order milk and other essentials online.

      3. Improve Security and Protection

      Going for a home automation not only offers you convenience and savings. Your tech investment offers you a highly effective way to beef up your home’s security and protection with smart door locks and a full system aimed at making your home life safer.

      With reliable smart home security you trust, you can access your home from virtually anywhere in the world. Via the internet, you can remotely control your smart utilities, appliances, and features within your home, including your smart lights, locks, and plugs.

      You’ll always know whether or not you remembered to lock the door or set the security system in your home or apartment, feeling confident that your home and belongings are secure.

      Are You Ready to Smarten Up Your Home Life With Smart Technologies?

      Factors like convenience, energy and financial savings, and security and protection are vital concerns in the modern world. Finally, by investing in smart technology for your home or apartment, you can tackle these concerns efficiently and affordably.

      Batman fans should check out the 1989 Batmobile desk clock from Kross Studio

      Much like the Caped Crusader himself, fans also consider the gadgets and vehicles Bruce Wayne’s crime-fighting alter ego uses just as iconic as himself. Thus, we regularly see these along with action figures as popular collectibles based on the franchise. Kross Studio shows us how to pull off a top-class tribute with its 1989 Batmobile.

      Crafted with the quality and precision expected of the best Swiss watchmaking experts, this is a desk clock you might want to store in a secure display cabinet. Of course, it’s best to show it off exactly in the way it should be. The 1989 Batmobile from Kross Studio measures 11.73 inches long, 4.76 inches wide, and 2.64 inches high.

      Kross Studio believes the premium build quality and attention to detail that goes into each of the 100 limited-edition examples should hopefully justify its luxury-tier $29,900 price point. The 1989 Batmobile desk clock is not your average collector’s item.

      The body is a black aluminum composite that boasts an aeronautical-grade scratch protective coating. Leave it up to the manufacturer’s horologists to come up with an intricate assembly of 512 components.115 of these parts are for the bodywork, while the 397 are all in the movement.

      Time can be viewed on two cylinders within the hood of the 1989 Batmobile. Another visual treat comes from the turbine which houses the vertical regulator. Running the desk clock is Kross Studio’s in-house KS10’000 manual-winding calibre.

      Each of the three barrels packs 10 hours of power for a 30-day total power reserve. The 1989 Batmobile desk clock comes with a Batman logo as the winding key. The box even includes microfiber gloves and a microfiber cloth to prevent smudges.

      Buy – $29,900

      Images courtesy of Kross Studio

      10 Classic Sneakers That Cost Less Than $55

      Ask someone on the street to name the first sneaker brands that come to mind and they’ll start somewhere around Adidas and end near Nike. These brands, while classic and iconic, can often run you over a hundred dollars for their kicks. If you have a thing for exorbitantly priced shoes, keeping them pristine, and collecting/selling them, we salute you. But there’s also a handful of classic alternatives that won’t have you dropping a full paycheck to purchase. These shoes can be had for less than your international roaming charges — $55, tops. And they’re essentials for a reason: despite updates and new colorways, the originals remain in high demand. Grab one, two or three.

      Superga 2750 Cotu Classic

      Courtesy

      2750 Cotu Classic Sneakers

      Superga eastdane.com

      $45.50

      The Italian shoemaker Superga has made the classic casual footwear since 1911. Today, the 2750 Cotu Classic clean canvas sneaker represents the epitome of affordable, lean luxe.

      Saucony Jazz Original

      Jazz Low Pro

      Saucony Originals zappos.com

      $43.52

      Saucony has been around since 1898 and was named after the creek on which the factory resided. Saucony’s self-proclaimed “signature silhouette,” the Jazz, was designed in 1981, and it’s still popular today. It’s comfortable enough for everyday wear, but perfectly suited for activities like hiking.

      PF Flyers Center Hi

      Courtesy

      Center Hi

      PF Flyers amazon.com

      $54.99

      PF Flyers gained popularity in the 1950s with its iconically chunky, rugged sneakers — which are still produced today, and with the same crowd-pleasing Posture Foundation insert that provides ample comfort and support.

      Puma Super Liga OG Retro

      Courtesy

      Super Liga OG Retro Sneakers

      puma puma.com

      $54.99

      Puma began as a small shoe factory and had its first big success providing sneakers to the 1928 Olympic athletes. The Super Liga OG Retro sneaker is an understated-yet-elevated footwear companion.

      Reebok Classic Nylon

      Courtesy

      Royal Nylon Classic Sneaker

      Reebok amazon.com

      $55.00

      $44.23 (20% off)

      The ’80s never die with the shiny nylon on this classic Reebok. It’s tempered by soft suede, which balances out the two-toned body without losing the spirit of the revered and reviled decade.

      Vans Authentic Core Classics

      Courtesy

      Authentic™ Core Classics

      Vans zappos.com

      $49.95

      When the Vans Authentic came out in 1966, only 12 customers bought them directly from the factory. They then became popular within the SoCal skate scene in the 1970s and are now ubiquitous in skate circles.

      New Balance Numeric AM210

      Courtesy

      Numeric AM210

      New Balance zappos.com

      $49.99

      Founded in 1906 as the New Balance Arch Support Company, New Balance mainly sold supports until 1960, when it manufactured the world’s first ripple-sole running shoe. The 574 was introduced in 1988 and quickly became one of the brand’s most popular models. Since then they’ve introduced an endless number of new designs, including skateboard-focused footwear — like the AM210 — under the New Balance Numeric namesake.

      Adidas Samba Classic

      Courtesy

      Samba Classic

      Adidas amazon.com

      $54.00

      Bavaria-born Adidas “started in a washroom and conquered the world.” These iconic sneakers are the standard for indoor soccer and have been so since the 1940s. They also go great with a pair of jeans.

      Keds Champion Originals

      Courtesy

      Unisex Royal Lo

      Keds Royal Lo keds.com

      $49.95

      Keds just turned 100 years old. And while it may not have made America’s first “sneaker,” these were one of the first rubber-soled shoes to carry the name. As with Vans Authentics and Chucks, it’s hard to imagine this silhouette and white colorway going out of style.

      Converse Chuck Taylor All Star

      Courtesy

      Chuck Taylor All Star Low

      Converse zappos.com

      $54.95

      Converse named their rubber, high-top basketball sneaker the “All Star” in 1920. Almost 100 years later, people are still wearing these sneakers. They may have recently received a modern (and more expensive) update, but the originals — including this low top version —will always be on our list of favorites.

      This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

      5 Things You Didn’t Know Google Maps Could Do

      Google Maps is by far the most popular navigation app with millions and millions of active users who love it for its simple-to-use interphase, robust features (such as real-time GPS navigation and integration with public transport schedules, like buses, trains, ferries and subways) and the fact that it works on basically any device you have, be it an iPhone or Android, Mac or PC. And Google added a bunch of new features.

      Here’s what you need to know.

      You can navigate indoors using a 3D Map.

      google maps live

      Courtesy

      Google recently introduced a new feature to Maps called Indoor Live View that essentially works the same way as Street View for outdoor locations (like streets, buildings or intersections), but for well-trafficked indoor locations. When inside the Maps app, you can switch to this Indoor Live View and your 2D map will turn into a 3D map and you’ll be given augmented reality directions to help you stir towards a specific shop in the mall, the baggage claim of an airport, or a specific bus or train terminal. The idea is that you can better find your way while in those crowded and tricky locations.

      Indoor Live View isn’t available in every airport, mall or transit station, but Google has rolled out the feature across select cities, such as Chicago, Long Island, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, San Jose and Seattle.

      LEARN MORE

      Find out your destination’s weather before you get there.

      google maps

      Courtesy

      Google has added two “layers” to Maps that help people better prepare for the location that they are arriving in. First, there’s a new weather layer that, after you set a location, you’ll be able to quickly see the current and forecasted temperatures and weather conditions in that area; this way, you’ll know if it’s going to be raining or really hot before you get there and without having to open a separate app.

      The other layer does the same thing but for air quality. After you set a location, you’ll be able to quickly see how healthy (or unhealthy) the air in that area is. You can use this information to remind yourself to bring a mask or your inhaler, or prevent you from even going to a place if the air quality is so bad.

      Find eco-friendly routes.

      google maps eco friendly

      Courtesy

      Google Maps is introducing a feature that will guide you (when driving) along an eco-friendly route, or a route with the lowest amount of carbon emissions, so long as it doesn’t affect the ETA of your journey too much. This feature will be on by default (although Google isn’t expected to roll it out to all Androids and iPhones until later this year) as its part of Google’s big initiative to fight climate change.

      However, if you’re a speed demon who always wants to get to your location as fast as possible, you’ll have to opt out of it.

      Find eco-friendly restaurants.

      google maps eco restaurants

      Courtesy

      If you’re looking to order from or go out to a restaurant, but you also want to make sure the restaurant is composting, recycling and just proactively being environmentally friendly, Google Maps recently rolled out a feature just for that. When researching a restaurant or shop, you’ll now be able to see an attribute for recycling (just click on the business, go to the About section and scroll down to Recycling).

      If you’re a business, you can add an icon to your profile if you offer recycling (Here’s how). You can even specify which things you recycle, such as plastic bags, plastic household products, glass and even electronics. This way you can ensure that nothing you use at that business will end up in a landfill.

      Find a smoother bike ride.

      google maps bike route

      Courtesy

      You know how ski mountains have different trail markings (like green circle, blue square or black diamond) depending on difficulty? Well, Google is doing something kind of similar for its biking routes. Specifically, after you type in your route, Maps uses machine learning to find you the smoothest route (it basically just takes into account the flatness or steepness of your route). This way, if you’re not a skilled biker or maybe you’re transporting something fragile (like groceries), you can choose the path with the least amount of peril.

      This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

      The 10 Best Chili Crisps to Spice Up Your Sad Desk Lunches

      I have never met a chili crisp I haven’t loved. They’re spicy, savory, crunchy and delicious. As opposed to regular old chili oil, chili crisps feature I higher ratio of, well, crispy bits. Whether it’s fried garlic or peanuts, chili crisps offer a nice bit of texture to whatever you add it to. The difference between chili crisps and chili oil is so minute, however, that you’ll be happy with whichever ends up on top of your meal.

      Chili crisps, in my opinion, are far superior to hot sauces. Using a drizzle of the oil in chili crisps goes further than a dollop of hot sauce, which can often overpower dishes with their sour vinegar base. Like choosing a hot sauce, picking a chili crisp is a wholly personal thing. Blends, ingredients and the oh-so-important crisp-to-oil ratio are at play as to what makes the ideal chili crisp — and none is as perfect as La Gan Ma’s Spicy Chili Crisp, arguably the most famous of chili crisps. It’s under $3 in most supermarkets, and it hits all the right notes from being just the right amount of spicy to nailing the balance between crisp and oil.

      From the gold standard of chili crisps to ones from up-and-coming brands, these are the 10 best chili crisps you need to get into your pantry right now.

      Lao Gan Ma Spicy Chili Crisp

      Courtesy

      Laoganma Spicy Chili Crisp

      Laoganma instacart.com

      $4.09

      Almost everyone’s first experience with chili crisps come courtesy of Lao Gan Ma. The crisps — a blend of chili bits, fermented soybeans, peanuts and garlic — makes up almost 80 percent of the jar, so you always get a bit of stuff when you scoop out a dollop. The brand’s founder, Tao Huabi, created the condiment over 20 years ago for her noodle shop in Guizhou. She started bottling the stuff, and now she’s the most recognizable face in the sauce and condiment aisle.

      The Spicy Mamas The Garlic Chili Oil

      Courtesy

      The Spicy Mamas The Garlic Chili Oil

      The Spicy Mamas thespicymamas.com

      $7.99

      During the pandemic, five members of a Chinese-Cambodian family in the San Gabriel Valley came together to make and bottle their family’s garlic chili oil to share with the public. The result is The Spicy Mamas brand, which makes three versions of its chili oil — Classic Spice for medium heat, Killer Spice for extra spice and Vegan Spice for a vegan medium heat. The Spicy Mamas nail the stuff-to-oil ratio, which is apparent from the jar, and you’re going to want to buy a truckload of this stuff.

      Sze Daddy Chili Sauce

      Courtesy

      Sze Daddy Chili Sauce

      886 eighteightsix.com

      $10.00

      Sze Daddy is courtesy of Eric Sze, the chef and owner of the New York City Taiwanese restaurant 886. His chili sauce is, well, saucier than some other chili crisps still contains some nice texture and mouthfeel. Sze Daddy uses numby sichuan peppercorns and earthy star anise, which pays tribute to Sze’s Sichuan heritage.

      Momofuku Chili Crunch

      Courtesy

      Momofuku Chili Crunch

      Momofuku momofuku.com

      $12.00

      David Chang, whose resume is too long to list here, crafted a chili crisp you’d expect from a world-renowned chef. It boasts three, count ’em, three types of chilis — Puya, Japones and Chili de Arbol, with each adding a depth of flavor and heat that you wouldn’t get from just one variety of chili. While we love MSG in our chili crunch, Chang swaps it out for mushroom powder, yeast extract and seaweed to achieve a similar, if not better, boost of umami. You can learn more about Chang’s process into making Chili Crunch on his podcast, The Dave Chang Show.

      Milu Chili Crisp

      Courtesy

      Milu Chili Crisp

      Milu eatmilu.com

      $12.00

      Milu, a fast-casual Chinese restaurant in New York City, opened to much fanfare back in October 2020. Its founder, Connie Chung, was the culinary director at Michelin-starred restaurants Eleven Madison Park and Nomad, so the praise made a lot of sense. Its house-made chili crisp was especially popular, and even if you’re not in New York, you can still get some of that addictive condiment wherever you are. It’s heavily savory but only lightly spicy, with a nice mix of chili flakes, spices like cumin and cardamom and toasted soy nuts.

      Fly by Jing Sichuan Chili Crisp

      Courtesy

      Fly by Jing Sichuan Chili Crisp

      Fly by Jing umamicart.com

      $15.00

      Fly By Jing’s Sichuan Chili Crisp is sort of like the millennial’s direct response to Lao Gan Ma. Its flavors are inspired by Sichuan, which is also where its founder, Jing Gao, is from. It’s got its crunchies, but it really carves its own niche in the chili crisp world thanks to the addition of three very special ingredients: Erjingtao chilies, a highly popular chili in Sichuan cooking known for its mild heat but incredible fragrance; caiziyou, a roasted rapeseed oil; and the rare Gongjiao, or tribute pepper, which is what gives Fly By Jing’s Sichaun Chili Crisp its citrusy undertones and mouth-tingling abilities.

      Junzi Chili Oil

      Courtesy

      Junzi Chili Oil (2-Pack)

      Junzi

      $13.99

      Lucas Sin, of the chain of fast-casual Chinese restaurants Junzi Kitchen, makes one of the spicier chili condiments out there courtesy of Tianjin chili flakes, Sichuan peppercorns and cayenne peppers. It is market itself as a chili oil and not a chili crisp, so it is heavier on the oil. Those bits on the bottom third of the jar are a wonderful topping for noodles, rice and pretty much everything.

      Boon

      Courtesy

      Boon

      Boon boonsauce.com

      $18.00

      Boon looks like it was made by someone who just really wanted to make their own chili crisp, and that’s sort of what chef Max Boonthanaki did with this. Boonthanaki is the head pastry chef at Bangkok’s Michelin-starred Blue By Alain Ducasse. The chef spent a lot of time cooking in Los Angeles before his move to Thailand, and Boon is still made in the Golden State. The addition of anchovies makes this a worthwhile chili crisp, providing both texture and depth of flavor. Each batch of Boon is made in limited quantities, and as of publishing, it’s on batch number 24.

      Umamei

      Courtesy

      Umamei Chili Oil

      Umamei umamei.com

      $18.00

      “Top Chef” winner Mei Lin started Umamei, which as the name implies, is chock-full of umami. The oil’s blend of chilis is unique to Umamei, and lends a fragrance and heat unlike some other comparable condiments. Umamei features a healthy dose of crunchy and spicy bits, while providing enough oil to make a nice drizzle over anything. Earlier this year, Lin had partnered with the collaboration king of streetwear Kyle Ng of Brain Dead on a special chili oil that sold out quickly.

      Loud Grandma CBD Chili Crisp Oil

      Courtesy

      Loud Grandma CBD Chili Crisp Oil

      Pot d’Huile pdhcbd.com

      $29.00

      Pot d’Huile, a brand of CBD-infused olive oils, partnered with Calvin Eng of Brooklyn’s much-hyped restaurant and bakery Win Son to make this playful and tasty chili crisp. It’s mildly spicy with a bunch of tasty bits like fermented black soybeans and chili flakes, and the addition of tomato paste adds a savory backbone that makes us wonder why more chili oils don’t use it. The eponymous grandma on the jar is a nice homage to the stoic Lao Gan Ma, and Loud Grandma’s edgy appearance really complements the edginess of putting CBD in chili oil.

      The 8 Best Things We Drank in April

      wickedweedbrewing.com

      Wicked Weed Brewing, an exceptional brewery based out of Asheville, is getting into natural wine under the brand Vīdl. And whether or not the transition from beer to wine makes sense to you, the wines coming out of Vīdl are just delightful. They’re bright, alive and refreshing, and it’s hard to do them justice with words. The winery’s lineup includes Sauvignon Blanc ($25), Contact Rosé ($30) and Blaufränkisch ($35), each made with grapes sourced from Yakima Valley, Washington, which is the same place Wicked Weed sources its hops. The wines are only available in North Carolina, which is a damn shame, but if you’re ever in the state, find all three bottles and buy them up. – Tyler Chin, Associate Staff Writer

      2021 Genesis GV80: A Luxury SUV That Should Scare BMW and Audi

      genesis gv80

      Tyler Duffy

      Some cars get you noticed. When you drive a Lamborghini through Manhattan, folks gawk and take pictures. When you drive a vintage VW Bus anywhere, nearly everyone perks up, smiles and waves. What you don’t expect to draw abnormal attention in is a midsize crossover — but that’s what happened to me driving the Genesis GV80 around for a week.

      Part of the interest is that people don’t know what the GV80 is. Genesis — Hyundai’s luxury arm — is a relatively new standalone brand that formed in 2017. The GV80 is their first SUV and has only been out a few months….and perhaps the only time most people have seen one so far is when Tiger Woods crashed a GV80 at the Genesis Open (which, of course, drew attention to the SUV’s IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating).

      The other part? The Genesis GV80 looks distinctive, exotic and expensive, with its bold grille, signature double-lighting and premium materials. If you don’t know quite what you’re looking at it reads sort of like a Bentley, which not coincidentally is where Genesis poached the GV80’s lead designer from. And the GV80 only costs about a third as much as a Bentayga.

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      What makes the Genesis GV80 special?

      Luxury car manufacturers are primarily SUV manufacturers now. Hyundai, a bit curiously, chose to launch Genesis with three sedans; and despite those cars becoming critical successes, the Genesis brand has struggled to break through with buyers. The GV80 is an opportunity for the brand to cement its presence in the American market.

      Midsize SUVs are the cars buyers want, and it seems luxury SUV buyers aren’t as brand snobbish as sedan buyers. Through Q1 of 2021, Genesis is on pace to double its sales from 2020, and the GV80 has outsold its three sedans combined.

      How does the Genesis GV80 drive?

      Quite well. I drove the smaller 2.5-liter-engined AWD version of the GV80, which — like in the G80 sedan the SUV shares a platform with — offers a potent-feeling 300 horsepower. The more powerful 3.5T version is great by all accounts, but taking the cheaper engine won’t leave you feeling short-changed. And while there are sportier options out there, no one does track work in their family SUV.

      The overall impression with the GV80, like other Hyundai group standouts, is that of unrelenting pleasantness. The GV80 is smooth unless you really try to hustle it. It shuts out the noise and the bumps superbly. It’s best suited to drive in comfort mode — where you still get decent tautness and throttle response — and cruise around town.

      What’s the Genesis GV80 interior like?

      Gorgeous and comfortable. I drive my fair share of fancy cars, but it’s not often I stand around with my father-in-law admiring the craftsmanship that went into a car’s door trim. Everything you touch in the GV80 is either cushiony, beveled or wood that warrants respect. Mercedes, BMW and Audi don’t have to blow buyers away with luxury to make their point — but Genesis does. And they manage it without exceeding the boundaries of good taste.

      Admittedly, I had the top-level Prestige trim, but even in stripped-down spec, you still get standard features like the serene 14.5-inch infotainment display, heated seats, and Genesis’s Smart Posture Care seat alignment system. (Apparently, full laid-back dad lean is the way to go for optimal lower back alignment.)

      How much does the GV80 cost?

      The base model RWD GV80 starts at $48,900 — nearly $6,000 cheaper than the equivalent Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class with an added 45 hp. Getting AWD is a big jump to $54,500, but that’s still about $3,000 cheaper than the equivalent GLE. Going Prestige Package with the 2.5T GV80 brings you to a little under $64,000.

      One sticking point will be third-row seating. The GV80 does offer it, but you have to go for the bigger engine 3.5T Prestige Plus Package, which starts at $65,500.

      What are some Genesis GV80 alternatives?

      2021 Genesis GV80 2.5T AWD Prestige

      Powertrain: Turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four; eight-speed automatic, all-wheel-drive

      Horsepower: 300

      Torque: 311 lb-ft

      EPA Fuel Economy: 21 mpg city, 25 mpg highway

      Seats: 5 (7 available)

      LEARN MORE

      These Are the 16 Best Cars to Buy in 2021

      Kelley Blue Book has released their best cars to buy awards for 2021. The results may surprise you.

      LEARN MORE

      This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

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      Hookie Co. Triumph Bobber Orca Black Edition

      Hookie’s muscular Bobber Orca gets a slightly different look thanks to a Black Edition with a black and grey fuel tank cover that matches the rest of the modded Triumph Bobber wonderfully. Of course, as…

      The post Hookie Co. Triumph Bobber Orca Black Edition first appeared on Cool Material.

      You Might Want a Land Cruiser, But This Is the Toyota You Probably Really Need

      toyota sienna woodland edition

      Toyota

      Many of us would absolutely love to have a Land Cruiser parked in our driveway. After all, it’s one of the most iconic off-roaders for good reasons: few vehicles can match its blend of capability, comfort and reliability…and, well, it looks pretty damn good, too.

      But, well, let’s be honest with ourselves for a second: we probably don’t need a Land Cruiser. Sure. we need something with plenty of space for friends, family and gear; something with a bit of ground clearance to help scramble over rutted roads, and some way of driving all four wheels when maximum traction is needed. Something with 2021-spec tech would certainly be nice, too. Low-range 4WD and a thirsty V8, though? Probably not.

      Which is why, for most of us, Toyota’s new outdoors-oriented Sienna Woodland Special Edition might be a better fit than one of those 200-Series Land Cruisers still to be found in showrooms…even if it hurts us to admit it.

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      The Sienna Woodland is made for outdoor fun

      All modern minivans are commodious to a degree that’s hard to imagine until you hop inside and see for yourself. The Sienna, for example, packs 193 cubic feet of interior space — enough for it to qualify as an apartment in some parts of the world.

      Still, that’s not always enough when you’re planning to hit the trails or rivers and need to lug the appropriate toys tools along. So, the Sienna Woodland Special Edition packs a standard trailer hitch and 3,500 pounds of towing capacity, enough to lug along a Sea-Doo, an ATV or a couple of dirt bikes. It also has a standard roof rack with cross rails.

      A little more ground clearance never hurts

      No, this minivan isn’t exactly capable of following its fellow hybrid the Jeep Wrangler 4xe up the Rubicon Trail. It does, however, boast a dash of extra ground clearance over the other 6.4 inches found in other Siennas. Combine that with standard all-wheel-drive, and you have a decent soft-roader capable of navigating the gnarliest roads and a few places that don’t even qualify as such.

      Mixing style with substance inside

      With a 2.5-liter inline-four, a nickel-metal hydride battery pack, a trio of electric motors and a CVT gearbox pushing around more than 4,700 pounds of angular box, the driver’s seat of the Sienna isn’t exactly motoring nirvana. Still, it takes turns better than, say, a 4Runner — and the standard hybrid system means you can comfortably average close to 35 mpg no matter how you drive. And for when you’d rather just cruise, the Woodland Special Edition comes standard with the 12-speaker, 1200-watt JBL stereo found on other upper-trim Siennas.

      The Woodland edition scores special trim

      Black sport-trimmed seats come standard, but you’ll find the ones in the Sienna Woodland Special Edition boast their very own distinct stitch color.

      You want power? You’ve got it

      Anyone sitting in either the front seats or the capacious long-slide second row will find themselves with more USB ports than they know what to do with; there are seven to be found across the interior. Of course, when you’re car camping, sometimes a USB simply won’t cut it; that’s why the Sienna Woodland also packs a 1,500-watt 110-volt power outlet.

      A few little exterior trim tweaks wrap up the package

      Rounding things out, the Sienna Woodland Special Edition boasts special dark chrome trim and a choice of two exterior colors: Midnight Black Metallic and the gray color seen here, which is exclusive to the model. (Somewhat ironically for the Woodland edition, it’s called…Cement.)

      Pricing hasn’t been announced just yet —it hits dealerships this fall — but we’d expect it to slide in below the $50,000 mark. We do know, however, that whatever it costs, $250 will go to the National Environmental Education Foundation.

      LEARN MORE

      The Most Important Pieces of Gear You Need for Car Camping

      Car camping makes getting away easy as pie. These items make it even tastier.

      LEARN MORE

      This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

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      The Etiquette of Watch Collecting

      Being obsessed with wristwatches may seem like a solitary pursuit to the uninitiated, but there’s whole side of the hobby that’s highly social. “Watch guys” bond over shared interest and knowledge, but taking your passion from the internet to in-person encounters isn’t without its pitfalls and potential faux pas.

      Watches can be very expensive and very personal items, so it’s wise to tread lightly and remain respectful. At the end of the day, a lot of it comes down to basic common sense, but whether at a dedicated watch get-together or on the street, here are some quick etiquette guidelines that’ll help you have a positive experience.

      Remark on someone else’s watch with tact.

      gp

      Gear Patrol

      Say, you see someone out in the world with an interesting watch and you’d like to strike up a conversation. Ease into it! Some people might be taken off guard and initially suspicious of a stranger interested in their watch — especially if it’s expensive.

      “Nice El Primero!!” out of nowhere might simply cause confusion (not everyone knows the official name of their watch), so stick to something a little more cautious like “Hey, that’s a cool watch” or similar, followed by something more specific.

      Quickly explaining yourself as a collector (or “watch nut” if you prefer a little more candor) will set the appropriate expectations for any further discussion. Not everyone will be receptive, but it should help diffuse any natural defensiveness.

      Always always ask before you touch.

      gp

      Gear Patrol

      You’ve successfully initiated a watch discussion with a stranger, or maybe you’re happily chatting with fellow nerds at a watch get-together or event.

      These are indeed cool opportunities to see and experience all kinds of watches first-hand, but remember to treat other people’s watches respectfully: Never touch or reach for a watch without asking. You may want to offer your watch first. Even when you have permission to handle someone’s watch, it’s still thoughtful to ask before trying it on your own wrist.

      It should go without saying that you should be careful not to drop a watch or handle it roughly in any way.

      If you’d like to take a photo, ask first and explain how you might use it. If you plan to post it online, make sure they’re comfortable with the info you’ll share. You might also offer to tag or otherwise credit them.

      It’s nice to be nice.

      gp

      Gear Patrol

      Have you spent too much time debating watches online? Well, this is the real world. If someone shows you their beloved personal watch off their wrist, don’t criticize the 4:30 date window design decision or something about the brand that turns you off. Be cool! Often, the owner’s own personality or story about the watch can make you appreciate it in a totally different way than abstractly dissecting online pictures would.

      Maybe you’re new to watches, or maybe you’re a veritable encyclopedia of dates, reference numbers, movement mechanics and horological history — everyone’s tastes, experience level and watches should be welcome and respected. Don’t stand there “educating” your new friends. Asking polite questions, meanwhile, will always meet with good results.

      Don’t just blurt out “How much did you pay?!”

      gp

      Gear Patrol

      Some people want to tell you what they paid for a watch, but others are more cautious. You should be sensitive to this, too, and it’s probably best approached one-on-one rather than in a group. It shouldn’t be the first question nor the focus of the conversation, but it’s not rude to inquire if you do it gently, and acknowledge that they might prefer to not say. “Do you mind if I ask how much you got it for?” is a good approach that leaves plenty of room for a dodge like “It wasn’t cheap” or “I got a good deal!” If you get one of those, it’s best to leave it at that and not press the issue.

      This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

      You need to cop these kicks from the LEGO x Adidas ZX 8000 Bricks Collection

      Among the toys that encourage creativity and teamwork, LEGO it is almost impossible not to think about LEGO. Meanwhile, for sports apparel and footwear, Adidas is one of the world’s top brands. So, what do we get when both parties come together? If you guessed limited-edition kicks, jackpot! This year, we are getting the ZX 8000 Bricks collection, which will be available in six colorways.

      This is a follow-up to the 2020 release of the A-ZX collaboration between the two. While there are a fair share of fans who love the vibrant mix of colors, others find it too obnoxious. For those who side with the latter, there’s no need to worry because Adidas is sticking to a more uniform profile for each of the variants.

      A press release from LEGO reads: “Bringing the globally renowned Danish brand’s signature aesthetics to one of adidas’ most iconic silhouettes, the collection marks the next stage in a partnership inspired by limitless creativity.”

      For its launch, the toy company once again shares a stop-motion video that introduces the ZX 8000 Bricks. In fact, if not for the Adidas elements at the beginning, you could easily mistake it for another sequel to The LEGO Movie.

      It involves another stop-motion clip wherein Minifigures build and paint the silhouette of the shoe. In the end, it passes through a conveyor belt and then through a machine that turns it into a blue version of the ZX 8000 Bricks. You can get it in adult and junior sizing with all six variants based on the primary LEGO colors.

      There’s blue, green, yellow, black, gray, and green. The upper is a mix of mesh textiles and synthetic suede. Adidas says the rest of the materials on the ZX 8000 Bricks are the same as the original release. What makes it unique is the TPU heel counter that bears the shape of the studs on a LEGO brick.

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      Images courtesy of LEGO/Adidas