The Gear Patrol Podcast

Tanner Bowden discusses why vegan shoes aren't sustainable–despite being marketed as such–and explains how eco-conscious shoppers can spot dubious marketing. Episode Navigation: 01:15 – Vegan Shoes ≠ Sustainable Products 03:03 – Vegan Shoes, Plastic, and Harmful Chemicals 06:55 – Olukai's Statement About Vegan Shoes and Sustainability 09:35 – Why Patagonia is a Sustainability Champion 12:21 – Pata...

Kyle Ng of Brain Dead has a philosophy about collaborations: that they should be vehicles for positive change. Links:  This Tee Is Raising Money to Support Black Communities   Why Did the Best Female Rock Climber in the World Team up with a Streetwear Brand?   Introducing Gear Patrol Magazine: Issue Sixteen, The Summer Preview   Virgil Abloh-Designed Furniture and 7 More Home and Design R...

The Pan America, which costs between $17,300 and $20,000 MSRP, is loaded with tech, and enters a segment where competition is fierce. Review: Harley-Davidson's New Adventure Motorcycle Is Truly One of a Kind Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 and 1250 Special ($17,319-$19,999) Rawhyde Adventures Motorcycle Training 9 Fantastic Adventure Motorcycles You Can Buy Right Now The 16 Best Motorcycles fo...

Blame Whiskey Hipsters all you want, but the real culprit here is the Three-Tier System.  Chasing Whiskey: Bourbon Is Becoming Stupid Expensive. Why? One Good Bottle: Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Barrel Proof (~$65) Also mentioned: "Shelf Sleepers" – bottles worth picking up, even after a price hike

The Jeep Wrangler 4xe Review: the Best Wrangler, Whether You Care About Gas MIleage or Not The Hybrid Jeep Wrangler 4xe: What You Need to Know Rivian Will Copy One of Tesla's Smartest Features: Its Charging Network The Jeep Wrangler 4xe (MSRP $47,995)

Summer is coming whether you're ready or not. Wouldn't you like a preview? Annual subscription to Gear Patrol Magazine (now $39) Check out Issue Sixteen: Summer Preview 2021 on its own ($20) Subscribers get a $15 gift voucher to The Gear Patrol Store each year of the subscription, plus early access to each print issue and more. 

Reactions to the biggest announcements from Apple Spring Loaded. Show Notes AirTags, iMac and More: The Biggest News From Apple's Spring Event  The iPhones That AirTags Will (and Won't) Work With  You Don't Need to Buy a New Apple TV to Get Its Best Feature  All the AirTag Accessories You Need to Know About New Apple Products:   The All-New Apple AirTags (from $29; pre-order April)  The All...

The annual Watches & Wonders show was chock-full of huge releases, but two announcements in particular really stood out. Watches and Wonders 2021: All the News in One Place You Can Now Buy a Two-Tone Rolex Explorer The Cartier Tank Is Now More Accessible Than Ever: The New Tank Like All Things in 2021, Rolex (and Your Other Favorite Watch Brands) Is Getting a Little Weird The Patek Philippe Nautil...

Does adding technology improve a product, and if so, to what point? Note from Nick: I didn't acknowledge Tanner Bowden's proper title – he's a Senior Staff Writer at GP, not a Staff Writer as I said in this episode. Sorry, Tanner! Mentioned in this episode: Xupermask by Will.i.am x Honeywell ($299) The Best Face Masks of 2021 First Look: How The North Face [FutureLight] Will Change Everything You...

Tesla vs. other EVs, the Supercharger network, and a rant about April Fool's Jokes. Mentioned in this episode: Mercedes-Benz E63S Wagon Hyundai Sonata N Line Everything You Need to Know About the New Tesla Model S Tesla’s Pickup Truck Is Here, and It’s More Insane Than We Ever Imagined Tesla Has Strange Ideas about How to Shift, and Other News Thinking About Buying an Electric Car? Here's What You...

Reflections on fitness during and after the pandemic, predictions of future fitness trends, headlines, and gear we're obsessed with. Mentioned in this episode: JaxJox DumbbellConnect Peloton vs. Wahoo: Who Makes the Better Stationary Bike? Can New Technology Help You Get Fitter at Home? (Tempo vs Tonal) 7 Awesome Kettlebell Alternatives You Already Have at Home Apple's Fitness+ Is a Breeze to Use...

What the now-discontinued Apple HomePod got right and what it got wrong during its short, three-year run.   Mentioned in this episode: First Look: Apple HomePod $100 Smart Speakers: Which Is Best? The Best Multi-Room Wireless Speakers of 2021 The Complete Sonos Buying Guide How to Use a Pair of HomePod Minis As Computer Speakers Apple's HomePods Make a Sneaky Good Surround Sound System More Gear P...

Gear Patrol CEO and Founder Eric Yang talks about essentialism: "the purposeful decision to have less, and better," and how that idea quickly took over our purchasing habits over the past year of pandemic life. Deputy Editor Jack Seemer reveals his new golf "hobby," and, apparently, Eric has put together 36+ LEGO sets since last March.   As mentioned in this episode; A Year of Pandemic Living Ben'...

Behind every product is a new story. That story could be rooted in the values that drove its creation, or its materials, or origin. Those hidden details are why we're launching the Gear Patrol Podcast, a weekly discussion of not just products, but the ideas and culture that surround them and bring them to life. Join our host Nick Caruso and a rotating cast of Gear Patrol staffers as we have a good...