We’ve made some new adjustments to Today in Gear, including a new publishing time of 4 p.m. in order to capture all the day’s new stories. Comments or concerns? We’d love to hear from you at tig@gearpatrol.com.
Fin isn’t like Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant. Instead of asking questions about the weather or songs or telling it to control your smart home, Fin can carry out specific and way more sophisticated tasks for you, like scheduling appointments, researching things online, booking vacations and purchasing gifts. It can even help you coordinate multiple tasks at once to help you plan get together or build a website.
The secret is that Fin is part virtual assistant and part human assistant. Each request gets sent out answered by a combination of AI bots and human operators. Most of your requests will be get completed by Fin immediately, but those that are more complex — like, “Hey Fin, tell me the differences between these three wines that I took photos of” — take a little longer. You can check on each of these requests to see their progress in the app. Afterward, the app will give you a detailed statement of exactly what it did to find your answers. And the more you use the app, it’ll get smarter and faster to use. It remembers your payment information, online passwords, frequently used addresses and stuff like that.
Fin was founded by Andrew Kortina, the co-founder of Venmo, and Sam Lessin, the former VP product at FB and Partner at Slow Ventures; and, after years of refining its technology, it’s now ripe for ready for anybody to use. Fin is a pay-as-you-go or subscription service. Monthly subscriptions start at $20 (up to $2,500), but if you use the below code, it waives our normal $20 monthly minimum so the service is entirely pay as you go. Try it out. It’s like having your own personal assistant, like Kim Kardashian or Chris Hemsworth (I assume), but way way cheaper.
New & Noteworthy Releases
These American-Made Whiskey Glasses Are Molded from Actual Oak
They call back to how whiskey is made.
This $35 Accessory Lets You Turn Your Tablet Into a $160 Smart Speaker
The Amazon Echo Show used to cost $230, and now this charging dock can make your tablet function just like it.
Designed with the Military in Mind, This Cooler Can Take on Pretty Much Anything
A rotomolded cooler that actually has a feature to accommodate a parachute landing.
Why This New Parka Makes Good Summer Outerwear
Parkas are a cold weather apparel staple, but do they make sense to wear during the summer too? Outlier just released a new one that has us questioning the matter.
Fresh Deals
Ray-Ban Wayfarer Polarized Sunglasses
Save 57%: In the world of sunglasses, it doesn’t get much more iconic than a pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarers. First introduced in 1956, the design hasn’t changed that much in over half a century. If you’ve been wanting the style, but the list price is more than you want to spend, Nordstrom Rack has you covered. You can get a pair of $188 Wayfarers in a Light Havana colorway for just $80. What’s more, these Italian-made shades also come with polarized lenses to protect your eyes all summer long — hard to beat that. — John Zientek
Nemo Equipment Stargaze Recliner
Save 25%: Camp chairs often mean compromise. How do you get seating to fit into a backpack? Usually, it involves trading in comfort for lightweight portability, or vice versa. Even the bigger chairs that are common at tailgates and cookouts often don’t supply the long-term support that they promise. Enter Nemo Equipment’s Stargaze Recliner, a new, free-swinging camp chair that balances comfort and packability.
The Stargaze, unlike the outdoor chairs the keep sitters close to the ground, has its seat suspended between a set of lightweight aluminum poles. The construction creates an experiential cross between a hammock and a rocking chair and maintains essential features including an integrated pocket (for a book, phone or keys) and a cup holder (what’s a camp chair without one?).
The Stargaze weighs just under six pounds, so it’s not the ideal choice for backpacking but is more than suitable for car camping and boating. Nobody would blame you for giving the chair a semi-permanent spot in your backyard either. You can pick one up right now for 25 percent off at Backcountry’s massive gear sale. If you’re planning on hosting a Fourth of July gathering and need additional seating, the Stargaze Recliner is a good option that you can stash away after the party’s over. — Tanner Bowden
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Jacket
Save 35%: While you might not think of summer as the perfect time to wear an insulated jacket, we beg to differ. Mountain Hardwear’s Ghost Whisperer Hooded Jacket is lightweight and easily adjustable thanks to a toggle hem, and will keep you warm, even in the rain. Use code SUMMERSAVE at checkout to get an additional 20 percent off — and snatch this jacket up for year-round use for just under $200. — Meg Lappe
Summer Swimwear From Need Supply
Save Up To 70%: July 4th is less than a week away, and the hottest months of the year are about to steamroll all of us. If you plan to avoid public pools and crowded beaches, we can’t exactly blame you — but you’d be better off embracing the season you’re in. Pick up a great new pair of trunks, for example, and get after that sun-kissed complexion (plus, like, maybe a few daiquiris).
Need Supply’s summer sale is chock full of kick-ass deals, and one thing you can find far cheaper than usual is some stylish swimwear. Save up to 70 percent on shorts from Saturdays NYC, Dries Van Noten and more. — Andy Frakes
Saturdays Summer Sale
Save 40%: Is your wardrobe feeling a little stale? If so, take this mid-point of the year to invest in some new well-made basics; adding to the core of your wardrobe will give your style a fresh perspective heading into the second half of the year. If you’re looking for a range of options that are relatively affordable, head over to Saturdays and save up to 40 percent on a range of garments. Currently, SS18 and PS18 collections are reduced and you can pick from tees, sweatshirts, shorts and more. Explore a few of our favorites below to jumpstart your wardrobe refresh. — John Zientek
Dyson Ball Animal Upright Vacuum
Save $159: As part of today’s exclusive deals, Amazon is selling one of Dyson’s best-selling upright vacuums, the Dyson Ball Animal $389 $230, which is an older model of the Dyson Ball Animal 2 ($500 $393), for pretty cheap. The vacuum comes with a range of cleaning accessories, and it’s great for cleaning both carpets and hardwoods. The on-sale model is certified refurbished, granted, but it still comes with Dyson’s 6-month warranty so we feel it’s still a pretty safe purchase. — Tucker Bowe
Withings Activité
Save $55: For $75 you can go and pick up, say, a quartz Timex. It’ll look nice, and it’ll tell the time accurately, and that’s pretty much it. Now consider the Withings Activité. It too is powered by quartz, and it too has a handsome design, but since it’s a “hybrid smartwatch” it’ll also hook up to your phone via Bluetooth. It’ll track your steps, your calories burned, you sleep cycles and you can even use it for swim training. And you can get it right now for $75. — Andrew Connor
Columbia Watertight II Jacket
Save 25%: Columbia needs no introduction. It has been one of the brands at the top of the outdoor gear totem pole for decades, and for a good reason. Name a season, name a layer and Columbia has you covered. So, as far as summer rains are concerned, you need not worry because the Watertight II Jacket is the protection from the elements you want. The nylon Omni-Tech outer shell is not only seamless and watertight (it’s in the name), it also blocks any wind — it’s essentially stormproof. Another neat feature is it’s self-storing and packs up into its own pocket. Today, you can get the Watertight II Jacket for 25% off at just $45. That’s a pretty good deal for something that should be standard issue for on-scene weather reporters. — Bryan Campbell
Bell Moto III
Save 28%: I don’t exactly know when or where the Bell Moto III becsme my go-to motorcycle helmet, but I just recently, realized I keep picking it up over the others, time and time again. It might be Bell Helmet’s most iconic lid, which explains why they brought the design back into production. Simple styling mid-century styling, modern protection, no frills — what more could you ask for? And today it’s on sale at only $210. — Bryan Campbell
Today on Gear Patrol
The Porsche Panamera Executive Successfully Competes With the Big Boys
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The EDC Items We Can’t Live Without
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These Are the Best Board Shorts Money Can Buy
Designed by 11-time surfing world champion Kelly Slater.
Gear to Make Your Backyard a Weekend Oasis
The Thermacell Radius Zone Mosquito Repellent can help create a mosquito protection zone to make your backyard a better place to be this summer.
The Six Watches Our Staff Is Obsessing Over Now
This week, we’re flipping our lids over a vintage Rolex, a Yema dive watch, a Bulova chronograph and more.
How to Run Commute to Work According to Five Real People
Run commuting can be a tricky concept to wrap your head around. These five men share the kits and gear that make it happen.
The Best Outdoor Furniture for Your Patio, Balcony or Backyard
From Ikea to Herman Miller, this is your survey of the best outdoor and patio furniture at every price point.
The Best Waterproof Bluetooth Speakers for Any Budget
Looking for a portable speaker to take to the beach, park or backyard barbecue?
Zodiac’s Legacy Watches Are Born-Again with American Sensibility
We spent a day in New York with Zodiac’s Swiss Group Manager for Product Development and Texas-based Brand Director to chat about the Zodiac archive and what’s to come for this beloved brand.