We’re publishing Today in Gear a little later today to make sure we capture all of today’s news coverage — and so that you don’t miss a thing. Any questions, comments or concerns? We’d love to hear from you. Reach out at tig@gearpatrol.com.
Holzkern Watches
Most individual watches are made to look identical to the others manufactured as that watch model. That’s what we pay for, to know exactly what we’re getting. Sometimes, though, it’s nice to wear a watch that’s unlike anything else.
Austrian watch brand Holzkern creates unique timepieces that differ from one to the next by using materials with distinct textures, such as hardwood and stone, ensuring that no two watches are alike. By bringing earthly elements onto the wrist, Holzkern watches reference picturesque landscapes and notable urban spaces. The modern style and natural aesthetic in collections like the Cross Country and the Skyline make these timepieces reminders of the world around us. If you are looking for a watch that is made with alternative materials, is sporty yet still noble, Holzkern Watches will serve you well. Both the Skyline and Cross Country collections offer incredible quality and start at affordable price points.
Use the code PATROL at check out to receive a $15 discount.
New & Noteworthy Releases
Can Amazon’s FireTV Recast Keep the DVR Relevant?
This box can beam shows from your antenna to wherever.
Echo Auto Is a Plug-In Amazon Device That Turns Any Car Into a Voice-Controlled Futuremobile
While it won’t grant you access to HOV lanes, Amazon Auto allows you to take Alexa with you on the road.
Amazon Adds Smart Functionality to an Otherwise Classic Wall Clock
This fairly simple device should be a valuable tool for busy home cooks.
Alexa Can Now Help Guard Your Home, Lock Your Doors, Link to Security Cameras and More
As Amazon’s presenter said at the company event today, no one is going to complain about having a safer home in 10 years.
Why Amazon’s New $60 Microwave Matters, Even Though You Might Not Buy One
Amazon’s latest product release is an exceptionally boring microwave with one very promising feature.
Make Your Home Audio Setup Smarter with Amazon’s New Echo Dot and Input
Amazon’s new and updated devices promise to bring even more consumers into their Alexa echosystem.
The 2019 VW GTI Will Give You More For Your Money
Volkswagen just announced the changes for the 2019 Golf GTI and even though there’s a price hike, the little hot hatch will still be a performance bargain.
Anker’s Robot Vacuums Are Half the Price of Roombas and Can Be Controlled by Google and Alexa
The robo-vacuum market is weirdly confusing.
You Have Less Than a Day to Get Peak Design’s Newest Bags
Peak Design just revealed two new travel duffels but with less than 12 hours in its Kickstarter campaign, you’ll have to move fast to get them.
Audi’s New SUV Delivers Maximum Torque in 250 Milliseconds
As far as its contemporaries go, the e-tron is right in the middle, larger than the Jaguar I-Pace yet smaller than the Tesla Model X.
Update Your Old (or New) Apple Watch with a Handsome Leather Strap
Give your tech-packed timepiece some old-school charm.
Gap’s New Athleisure Brand Is More Interesting Than You Think
Gap’s new performance brand, Hill City, comes off as standard-issue athleisure. Take a closer look and you’ll see that it blends the performance-casual apparel you’d expect with items inspired by the outdoor industry.
These Are the Whiskeys Collectors Will Be Hunting for This Fall
If you find these bottles at their $99 SRP, buy them immediately.
Fresh Deals
H by Hudson Crepe-Sole Shoes
Save up to 64%: In recent years, an increasing number of footwear brands have utilized crepe soles on shoes and boots. Commonly associated with Clarks Desert Boots, the soles are made from textured sheets of coagulated latex, a material that offers noticeable flexibility and cushioning. The proliferation of stacked-crepe soles coincides with the footwear industry trending towards chunkier more substantial soles across the board. It’s the opposite of a sleek, polished-leather sole dress shoe; it’s casual, comfortable and versatile.
If that sounds like something you’d like on your feet, head over to Nordstrom Rack. Currently, you can save up to 64 percent on a range crepe-sole shoes from H by Hudson. Prices are $70 or less and styles include derbies, loafers and chukkas, among others. — John Zientek
Yamazaki Home
Save up to 20%: Though it’s not super well-known upon our shores, Yamazaki is a respected producer of home furniture and organizers with a decades-long history. Better yet, Yamazaki has a penchant for pricing its various tables and racks very accessibly, but now Huckberry is marking down a selection of the brand’s products up to 20 percent. Choose between side tables, key hooks, towers and racks to keep your various home goods in their place. — Andrew Connor 
Alpinestars Rideout Scion 2L Waterproof Jacket
Save 48%: Going from riding a motorcycle to casually hanging out with friends in town is more of a balancing act than you might think when it comes to gear. You want to make sure you’re safe for the ride and not head out in a t-shirt and tattered jeans, but if you show up in full race leathers or a full-body high-vis riding suit, you’re going to garner some looks. The Alpinestars Rideout Scion 2L Waterproof Jacket lands in between those to extremes, albeit closer to the more relaxed side of the spectrum. — Bryan Campbell 
Newest Carry-On Suitcase
Save $100s: It’s hard not to love the look of Rimowa suitcases. They’re tough and industrial while somehow also being something close to elegant. A big downside, of course, is their sky-high price.
Not so with this look-alike from Newest. The suitcase – which comes in sizes ranging from 20 to 29-inches and colors like black, red, rose gold and silver – has a cease-and-desist worthy resemblance to the famed German luggage producer. We can’t vouch for this suitcase’s quality, but for the price, it’s hard not to want to take a gamble on it. Get one before LVMH’s lawyers find out.
— JD DiGiovanni
Essential Daypacks from Patagonia, The North Face and More
Save up to 70%: Even if you’re not carrying textbooks anymore, and even if it’s been a few years since your last trail hike or camping trip, there’s nothing like a great mid-sized pack to get you through a day when you have to tackle, well, a little bit of everything.
This big sale from Mountain Steals has great daypacks from Mystery Ranch, The North Face, Patagonia and more, meaning whether you need waterproofing, external straps, a laptop sleeve or anything else, you’ll be able to find it here.
— Andy Frakes
Today on Gear Patrol
7 Small-Scale Backpack Makers You Need to Know About
If you look beyond the big brands, you’ll find a number of small makers who work by hand to make some of the best outdoor backpacks available.
3 of the Most Stylish Guys We Know Explain Fall’s Key Trends
Insight from Bruce Pask, Jacob Gallagher and Erick DeLeon.
6 Designers Name Their Favorite Everyday Pens and Pencils
Take it from people working in one of the few industries people still regularly use and abuse writing tools.
Everything You Need to Know Before Buying the Unloved Porsche 911
Everyone seems to hate the 911 that ushered in water-cooling, but its one of the best of the breed.
The One Thing Your Fitness Routine Is Missing? Sleep.
If you really want to see performance gains, get more fit and live better overall, the answer, according to experts, is better sleep.
Honda Introduces a Day-Trip Adventure Motorcycle Built on High Performance
Honda jumps into the middleweight dual-sport category with a bike born from a purpose-built race bike.
Amazon’s New Flagship Echo Device Blurs the Line Between TV and Tablet
The first Alexa device to feature an integrated screen has received some major upgrades.
Amazon Is Officially Going After Audiophiles (And Taking On Sonos)
Amazon announced three high-end audio products: the Echo Link and Echo Link Amp, which are two stereo amplifiers, and the Echo sub, its first wireless subwoofer.