Here at ܳٲ,we tend to geek out over the latest, greatest gear. But there are some classic productsthat will always have a place in our sheds. Thesedesigns range from the stunninglybeautiful to the plain utilitarian, and they don't needupdating. Here’s a listof our favorite gear withhistory.
Brooks Equinox Fusion Shoes ($115, shown above)
Before Christopher McDougal torpedoed the traditional running shoe design withBorn to Run, silhouettes like theFusion(chunky soles, air or gel in the heel) were the industry standard. Nowadays, the design lives on as a lifestyle shoe that we wear all day for comfy feet at work.
KletterwerksFlip Backpack ($200)
Kletterwerks, founded by legendary packmaker Dana Gleasonin 1975, was revivedas a wing of Gleason'snew company,Mystery Ranch. Itnowproducesclassic bags with some clevermodern updates. Our favorite: Theiconic Flip, which was built as a climbing pack but now pulls double duty as an urban commuter.It’s made from bomber 1000-denierCordura (because why not?)with retrozipper pullsand a slicklaptop sleeve.
Vuarnet03 Sunglasses (From $215)
This French eyewear maker (established in 1957) was wildly popular in the U.S. back in the1980s. Everyone from Miles Davis toMickJaggersported their shades. But then they lost U.S. distribution and mostly disappeared from the country,minus a brief cameo in the The BigLebowski. Thankfully,they’re back in the U.S,and gaining traction quickly. We like the 03s because of theirchunky, aviator-styleframewith itsremovable bridge piece.
Timex Ironman Sleek 50 Full-Size Watch ($80)
Timex has plenty of modern watches,but we still love its simpleIronmanSleek 50. You can’t track your route on this timepiece, but you can time your splits and the battery lasts forever. To celebrate the Ironman's30-year anniversary, the company just released a new colors collection with several new designs that pop.
United by Blue Hektor Vest ($130)
There’s nothing special about this classic two-tone vest. And that’s why we like it. United By Blue’s version has a recycled polyester shell, organic cotton chambray lining, and PrimaLoft Eco Recycled Fiber Fill insulation that'smade from recycledplastic bottles.
Master & DynamicMH40Over-Ear Headphones ($400)
The brushed steel and light brown leather take us back to the1960sand shag carpets, but the sound of these headphones is totally 21stcentury. Large 45-millimeter neodymium drivers make vinyl or iTunes sound alotbetter than your normalearbuds, and the lambskin-and-memory foampadsare comfy for hours at a time.
Nalgene Silo Water Bottle ($12)
Remember when Nalgenes first came on the scene? Fast forward to 2016, and the brand now has lots of competitors, but we still love these classic bottles for their clear plastic, wide-mouth design. And they still look great covered in stickers.
Blowfish Designs Hats (From $28)
Blowfishtakes thetrucker hat and ballcapback to the days when you could actually find unique, boutiquedesigns. It ordersblank caps from China, then hand-stitchesswaths of fabrics onto the crowns. There’s about a billionpatterns to choose from, so give yourself some time to browse the company'ssite.
MiirPayette Bicycle ($500)
The Payette is nocarbon-fiber thingamajig. It's just a simple, old-school bike. Thesteel frame, single-speed flip-flop hub, and faux-leather saddle will get you to and from work, andas a modern add-on,Miirgives a bike to someone in need every time a customer hits buy.
Superdry Retro Chevron Hooded Puffer Jacket ($135)
If you’re going for that old-school, hot-doggin'ski look, you can either dig through thrift-store bins or get a jacket from Japan'sSuperdry. The companymakes lots of high-performance ski jackets, but it'salso carved out a niche for the nostalgicwith its vintage pieces. We dig the Retro Chevron, with itsclassic color blocking paired with now-common modern features like pit zips, a snow skirt, and lift-pass pocket.
Chubbies Gulfstreams Shorts ($60)
You don’t need to own a yacht to sport these shorts, but it wouldn’t hurt. We pair them with a lightweight button-down top and would proudly wear them beachside or just out moving the lawn. Is it summer yet?