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.
Yamaha F335 Acoustic Guitar
“I made a New Year’s resolution to get back into guitar playing after a long multi-decade absence, and just needed a solid entry-level setup to help get me back on my feet. Seeking something affordable that plays as good as it looks, I settled on this sleek black acoustic number from Yamaha which seems to check all my boxes nicely. Is it the greatest guitar in the world? No. Is it more than enough to make my embarrassingly rudimentary skills sound at least somewhat passable? Yes. And that, alone, is worth the price of admission.” Buy: $190
– Jay Gentile, Sales Director
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Link Mesh Wi-Fi Extender
“I have been dealing with dead spots and lagging internet in my house for a while now. (My main living area is in my basement, not ideal for wifi.) I finally broke down and did something about it over the holidays. This Wi-Fi extender did the trick. I can even pick up the signal from my neighbor’s basement now.” Buy: $70
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Ridge Rings
“Used to be when I was married, that was when you wore a ring. Today, a ring is as much a part of a fashion statement as a watch. They are a cool and stylish way to express yourself. Our favorite wallet maker Ridge is now making rings just as stylish and tough. The Ridge bevel ring set comes in a whole bunch of different styles and colors. I’m keen on the alpine navy version, and it’s a great conversation starter. I suggest you turn a few heads and get one here.” Buy: $175
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X-TALKER Two-Way Radio
“We needed some small two-way radios for skiing over the holiday, and these brightly colored and right sized T10s were perfect. They’re small enough to stow in a ski-shell pocket and powerful enough to transmit over a 20-mile range. They also provide NOAA Weather Alerts, ideal for knowing when to close up shop. Transmission was crystal clear, and the green, orange, and blue colors made them super-fun.” Buy: $50
– Amos Kwon, Auto/Watches Editor
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Nooka 'Designing Time' Book
“We’ve been big fans of creative Matthew Waldman and his now defunct brand Nooka for more than a decade. Whether you’re talking about their incredible timekeeping devices like the Zex Watch, ZIZM Watch, or the Nooka Wall Clock–or their Strip Belt or Fragrance–everything Nooka has always been a little quirky, over-designed, outlandish and, most importantly, fun. Nooka is back with the new Designing Time book that chronicles the story of the brand in a way no other book has. I went Behind the Scenes at Nooka ages ago and even I have a lot to learn from this incredibly rendered, illustrated, and narrated tale.” Buy: $27+
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Conserva Porrón with Walnut Stopper
“If you’re not familiar with Spain’s infamously communal drinking culture, you’re missing out. And the epitome of how Spaniards imbibe and share beverages is captured in the Porrón. Part art piece, part functional drinking vessel, a Porrón is all about the shared experience of drinking. Fill the Porrón like you would a decanter with your favorite Basque cider or table wine (or whatever you’re feeling really) and pass it around the table to drink directly from the spout. There is a bit of an art-form to properly catching the waterfall of wine without spilling but with practice you’ll get the hang of it. Break out the Porrón for your next dinner party.” Buy: $59
– John A. Paradiso, Managing Editor
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Hermès Agenda Refill
“I recently launched a new Substack and have used that as an excuse to buy a new notebook. I opted for this Hermès one to keep my thoughts organized and to write down what caught my eye throughout the week to include in the newsletter. It’s a great size (3.3″ x 4.9″) to tuck into my bag and the paper quality is great for fountain pens, which are my preferred writing utensil. But, really, let’s be honest. I was most excited that I could buy something from the legendary (and notoriously expensive) French brand for $35. And it came in that fancy orange box.” Buy: $35
– Brett Braley-Palko, Style Editor
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Kodak M35 35mm Film Camera
“I’ve played around with expensive cameras, have invested in my fair share of quality lenses, and worked with photographers who only use their phone to make incredible images. And yet there’s still something endearing to me about a disposable film camera. Kodak’s M35 is like a disposable without all the waste. I could go into the basic details (1/120 shutter speed, F10, built-in flash, etc.), but all you really need to know is that it’s fun to play around with and delivers that easy classic disposable camera look without the need for buying camera after camera or messing with editing filters that never quite deliver. Don’t forget to add some rechargeable AAA batteries to your cart.” Buy: $23
– Nickolaus Hines, Features Editor
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