Every week there are dozens of new and exciting pieces of gear. But are they actually worth buying? Trust the team at Cool Material to help you find the latest and greatest releases in a recurring column: What We’re Buying.
BioLite AlpenGlow 500
“I needed a new camping lantern for our annual summer trip, so I picked up the all-new Biolite Alpenglow 500. I had no idea I would end up using this USB-rechargeable 500-lumen wonder for camping, night-time reading with the kids, and home improvement projects. The fact that it’s dimmable, IPX4-rated, and can deliver single or blended hues makes it seriously versatile and crazy fun.” Buy: $80
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Billy Reid Long Sleeve Pensacola Polo
“Two things are dangerous for me when mixed together – downtime and the Huckberry site. I’m like a kid in a candy store there. I can see my wife literally trying to shut off the computer. So you can imagine my excitement when I found Billy Reid there. I scooped up the Long Sleeve Pensacola Polo and have added a new staple to my closet. It’s super soft, slim-fitting, and will be an ideal layering piece when the weather cools off. I’m already dreaming up the combinations. And, well, it’s Billy Reid so you really can’t go wrong.” Buy: $98
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Shoeuzi Justice Please Sculpture
“I’m very new to the art toy scene, but it definitely became a very addicting hobby very quickly. If you’ve ever browsed Instagram or Pinterest for apartment inspo, you’ve probably seen Be@rbricks or KAWS pieces scattered along people’s floors or on top of bookshelves. But, the real fun comes from snagging the pieces that haven’t quite become household names yet. Hence, Shoeuzi and his collection of colorful and eclectic sculptures (shoe + uzi, get it??). I missed out on the first drop because I had my timezones mixed up (¯\_(ツ)_/¯), but, luckily, Shoeuzi took pity on people like me and released a 2nd drop shortly afterward. This piece, Justice Please (a combination of his trademark uzi and the Cactus Plant Flea Market x Wmns Air VaporMax 2019s), has already hit the resale market, so strike now while the price is low!” Buy: $160
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Bellroy Dopp Kit
“I’ve started planning some relatively small trips for this fall and decided it was time to upgrade some of my travel gear. And my grimy toiletry kit that I’ve had for years was the first to go. I’ve been a big fan of Bellroy’s products for a while now so it was a no-brainer to pick up their Dopp Kit. It features water-resistant lining and enough room for all my toiletries. But I was really sold on the separate toothbrush sleeve with a magnetic closure. That’s a game-changer.” Buy: $55
– John A. Paradiso, Managing Editor
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Alex Crane Playa Shirt
“I’ve been on the search for the perfect black linen button-down for a few weeks now. Most of what I found was either too stiff, too fancy, too heavy, or too fitted. The Alex Crane Playa Shirt is none of those and exactly what I was looking for. Looking forward to wearing this for years to come.” Buy: $145
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Vacu Vin Wine Saver Pump
“Outside of straight-up dropping a bottle or leaving it exposed to crazy amounts of sunlight, nothing does more damage to a good bottle of booze or vino than oxygen. Protect your precious bottles—while still enjoying them when the mood strikes—with the Vacu Vin Wine Saver Pump. With a few quick pulls and clicks using the specialized pump you can preserve your favorite bougier bottles for far longer than they’d last with the corks they came with. It might not be quite as effective as a nitrogen preservation solution, but it’s a helluva lot cheaper and way more fun.” Buy: $22
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