Loopwheels
Shocks can only get you so far — if you're looking for ultimate comfort on your bike, you need to add suspension to the wheels themselves. That's exactly what Loopwheels (£500; roughly $775) do. These 20" bicycle wheels use conventional hubs with hub brakes and hub wheels, but with a spring system replacing the spokes, providing an unparalleled riding experience by cushioning you from bumps and potholes. Shipping in August.
Swami's Surfboards
Every once in a while you find a piece of sporting equipment so beautiful, you wonder if it even functions. But make no mistake about it — Swami's Surfboards (£800-£3,600; roughly $1,250-$5,600) are perfectly usable. The question is whether you'll want to. With highly-polished resin finishes, a multitude of different sizes and shapes, and a few limited-edition collaborations with 20Ltd and Paul Smith, there's sure to be a board for you — whether you plan to ride it or just hang it on your wall.
Balcony Grill
Think your tiny apartment balcony precludes you from getting your grill on this summer? Think again. The Balcony Grill (€60; roughly $80) is designed to hang on common flowerpot supports, clearing way for chairs, tables, or just more people. It's crafted from stainless steel, and features a sleek black paint job and a cooking area of roughly 161 square inches.
Max ATVs
Forget four wheels — if you want a vehicle that can go wherever is necessary, you need six. Max ATVs ($9,500 and up) have been tearing through the wilderness since 1969, utilizing their six-wheel drive systems and amphibious capabilities to get wherever their owners needed to go. Built in Buffalo, NY, they come in three models — the Max II, which holds two passengers plus cargo, the Max IV, which can hold up to four passengers and slightly less cargo, and the Buffalo, the world's first amphibious dump truck. They may not be as pretty as a new four-wheeler, but when your four-wheeling buddy is stuck on the other side of the creek, you won't care a bit. [Scouted by Ryan]
Made-to-order Timepieces by Refined Hardware
The Los Angeles based craftsmen at Refined Hardware have finally released their second edition of luxury timepieces. These industrial conceptions are the ideal extension for the modern man, and follow the highly sought after, and sold-out, 'P1' edition. The 'P2' will showcase a flying tourbillon movement encased in your choice of billet stainless steel, PVD black steel, or a hand-finished bronze. A necessity for any connoisseur, only 33 pieces of each variant will be crafted so you better order yours today.
Meat Shredders
Add to your summertime grilling tool arsenal with a set of these Meat Shredders ($15). Sporting sharp stainless-steel tines, these rugged claws are ideal for shredding larger pieces of meat — pork, roasts, and chicken in particular — into bite-sized chunks. As an added bonus, they also work great for moving larger pieces of meat to, from, and around on the grill.
Bohemian Oil Can Guitars
Tired of playing the same old axes as everyone else? Consider pickup up one of these Bohemian Oil Can Guitars ($250-$350). They're available in two styles — Boho and Vintage — with the former featuring new parts, and the latter born from antique oil cans and lunchboxes, with parts sourced from used instruments. As you might imagine, the Vintage series tends to be the more interesting, as each piece is unique and one-of-a-kind. No matter which you choose, you'll end up with a fully-functional electric guitar that's far more interesting than your average Strat knockoff.
Koko Charcoal
Preserve the flavor of your summer foods by switching your grill over to Koko Charcoal ($60/24 lbs.). Made from 100% coconut fiber, Koko is fifty percent more efficient than standard briquettes — it burns cleaner, burns hotter, and burns longer — while maintaining 100% natural status. In other words, there's little reason not to give it a shot — even if you're a lifelong Kingsford fan.
Sony DEV-50V DVR Binoculars
If you're in a situation where you need to use binoculars, you might as well give yourself the option of taking some pictures or video while you're at it. These Sony DEV-50V DVR Binoculars ($2,000) can do so with aplomb. The splash- and dust-resistant digital binoculars offer a huge 0.8x to 25x magnification range, XGA OLED electronic viewfinders, Exmor R CMOS sensors, Bionz image processors, Optical SteadyShot image stabilization, the ability to grab 20.4 megapixel still photos and 2D or 3D video, HDMI output, and built-in GPS for geotagging. Arriving in June.
Stuff-A-Burger Press
Stuffed burgers can certainly be delicious — but if you've ever tried making them, you probably know they can be a little difficult to build. The Stuff-A-Burger Press ($12) makes it easy. This plastic burger press comes with plates that help you create half-pound or three-quarter-pound stuffed burgers with ease. Of course, you still need a way to keep them together once they hit the grill — so if you don't already have a grilling basket, you might want to order the complete set ($24) that includes both the press and the basket, giving you everything you need to become the neighborhood's burger champ.
PG BlackBraid Bike
If you're looking for a lightweight two-wheeled ride, the PG BlackBraid Bike ($TBA) should be on your list. Featuring an innovative full-carbon frame made from braided carbon fiber, it's available in two versions — the urban-commuter Fixie and the distance-ready Touring. It also offers a SLR Tekno saddle, Conti 4000s tires, and Speedplay Nanogram Zero pedals. No matter what model you choose, you'll be getting an all-black ride that's sure to turn heads, whether it's around the neighborhood or out on the road.
Bushnell Tour V3 Rangefinder
Unless you're playing the same course over, and over, and over — and where's the fun in that? — odds are you could use some help making sure you've got just the right club for your next shot. The Bushnell Tour V3 Rangefinder ($300) can certainly provide some. Featuring a one-hand-friendly design and 5x magnification, it uses the company's Pin Seeker and Jolt technologies to can find targets as close as 10 yards or as far away as 1,000, and can give you flag positions up to 300 yards away within a single yard of accuracy. It's also legal for tournament play, so you won't have to worry about having to give it up when you need it the most.
Makr Sketchbooks
We're not saying they're better than Moleskines, but they're certainly a tempting alternative. Makr Sketchbooks ($40) feature soft-touch, water-resistant covers, plain interior pages that are good for writing or sketching, and an angled elastic closure that's designed to hold your pen or pencil in place on the end of the book. At 5" x 8", it's plenty large enough to capture big ideas while still small enough to fit in a small bag, and it's available for pre-order now in six premium colorways.
