Buck Knives Stowaway Kit
For all of you who've arrived at your destination only to discover you forgot the knife or the cutting board, we bring you the Buck Knives Stowaway Kit ($60). This smart set includes a spreader with a roughly five-inch serrated steel blade that works great for slicing, chopping, or spreading, as well as a dishwasher-safe, eco-friendly 6" x 10" paper stone cutting board. What makes the set unique, however, is the recess in the bottom of the board that's custom-designed to fit the included knife, and the magnet that holds it in place. Now all you have to do is make sure you don't forget the whole damn thing.
S'more to Love
It's not summer without a few s'mores, and there's no better — or easier — way to cook up a bunch than with the S'more to Love S'more Maker ($15). This metal kitchen/campfire/grilling tool lets you make six treats at a time by locking them into place in individual holders. With metal legs, it's possible to use it not just over a fire, but in the oven, in a toaster oven, or even on the grill.
The Cocktail Chart of Film & Literature
If you keep track of your movies and books by making a mental note of who drank what, then you're sure to love The Cocktail Chart of Film & Literature ($22). This 18" x 24" print features 49 drinks taken from classics like Casino Royale, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, The Great Gatsby, and even The Godfather Part II. Each drink is listed with its name, the name of the character who drank it, the appropriate serving glass, and the recipe. As an added bonus, the first run is limited to just 500 prints, each of which will be signed and numbered by the artists themselves.
Bacon Press
We've all had it happen: your bacon curls as it fries, leaving you with scorched valleys and none-too-crispy peaks. If you want to alleviate this but keep that fried bacon taste, you need a Bacon Press ($12-$14). These two options from Nopro are made from sturdy, heavy cast iron, feature large press surfaces for handling multiple slices at once, sport wooden handles that won't get hot, and also work great for sandwiches, burgers, or anything else you want to cook evenly and don't mind getting a little squished.
Timberland Earthkeepers Casco Bay Canvas Shoe
Prepare for casual summer days with Timberland's® Earthkeepers® Casco Bay Canvas Shoe. These lightweight, laid-back kicks will add a stylish pop of color to any no-sock, warm-weather look. Choose either a fun slip-on style or the one-eye moccasin style, with a choice of four colorways ranging from blueberry to poppy. See the entire collection here.
Portland Press
The Mason jar: an iconic drinking vessel in much of the South, and at the very least a reliable form of food storage everywhere else. Now the Portland Press ($100) is here to turn the Mason jar into something else: a French Press. Made in Oregon from US-sourced materials, the Press includes a 24-oz. Mason jar, a wooden lid and handle, metal and plastic interior components, a custom grey felt cozy, and a lifetime warranty. We must admit — the cozy's are quite handsome, so much so that we'd consider ponying up the extra $50 to score two 12-oz. versions for use on our normal Mason jars.
Yankee Man Candles II
Remember Yankee's line of masculine candles, meant to liberate your man cave from the oppression of your significant other's preferred floral scents? Well, they're back, and better than ever. Yankee Man Candles II ($18-28) keeps the grassy Riding Mower, the leathery First Down, and the musky Man Town from the original series, while replacing the 2x4 scent — honestly, we suspect it probably just smelled kinda like the lumber department at Lowe's, which is to say like sweat, bratwurst, and cedar — with the far more mouthwatering Mmm, Bacon! and the buttered popcorn-inspired Movie Night.
Vitsoe 620 Chair Program by Dieter Rams
They've been on the market since 1962, but the Vitsoe 620 Chair Program by Dieter Rams ($3,350 and up) is hardly the same product you could buy over 50 years ago. Completely re-engineered — with help from Rams himself — the chair is both elegant and comfortable, and like most Rams designs, a little bit clever. Thanks to its unique design, both the standard and high-back versions can be purchased as a single chair, and then expanded out to become two-, three-, four-, or even many-seat sofas in the future. The best part is that thanks to the superior craftsmanship, you'll have decades to work on building your dream sofa out.
Kevo
We've seen add-ons for locks to try and make them smarter, but it's about time the locks themselves gained some intelligence. Kevo ($TBA) is the first we've seen. This smart deadbolt uses Bluetooth 4.0, your iPhone, and a companion app to let you open your door using nothing but your finger. A ring around the lock lights up blue when it senses your presense, and turns to green once you've unlocked your door. The set also includes a wireless keyfob that offers the same functionality, and should you need to resort to old-school ways, it'll still open with a standard key, as well. Coming this summer.
Chillsner
If you looked at the title and thought "Chillsner? Sounds kinda like pilsner." then you're on the right track. The Chillsner ($30) is a new beer-chilling gadget that promises to keep your drink cold from the first beer to the last. To use it, you simply throw it in the freezer, and once it's good and cold, crack open your beer and put it down inside. Thanks to openings in the top, you can drink straight through it, or use it to chill your beer as you pour it into your favorite mug. Either way, it sure beats watering down your suds with ice.
SerpentSea Rope Mats
Worried that your mats can stand up to the daily abuse you put out? You need not worry if you've got some of these SerpentSea Rope Mats ($250-$1500). Handwoven from reclaimed sailing ropes, they come in four different styles — Bonny, Drake, Morgan, and Killigrew — named after four of the most infamous pirates of the 17th century. All four also happen to be traditional knots that have been tied by sailors for centuries for both practical purposes and decor, and all four rugs are designed to be used indoors or out — just like the rope from which they're made.
HG One Grinder
Can your grinder really make that big of a difference in the quality of your coffee or espresso? Ask an owner of the HG One Grinder ($900), and they'll likely tell you "Yes." Designed to rival the quality of a commercial grinder in a hand-powered, household-friendly format, it features conical burr grinders that transform whole beans into an elegantly balanced blend of large and fine granules. And thanks to precise engineering, it should outlast your coffee maker for sure, and possibly even you.
Sasquatch Cocktail Shaker
There's an old adage that says you should never drink alone. With the Sasquatch Cocktail Shaker ($50), that shouldn't be a problem. This massive 110 oz. shaker is made from food-grade stainless steel, stands over 15" tall, and features a built-in strainer. Considering that 110 oz. is enough to make oversized drinks for over ten people, you'd better not be caught drinking alone with this thing — or people will think you're the one with the problem.
