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.
Material The reBoard
“While my wife and I have managed to amass quite the collection of beautiful wood cutting boards — perfect for aesthetically pleasing cheese and snack boards — we somehow had exactly zero plastic cutting boards. I had heard great things about the kitchen goods from Material and their colorful reBoard has been highly praised. It’s simple and effective but the splash of color and durable feel make this a great addition to our kitchen.” Buy: $35
Range Master Barbecue Caddy
“If your summer has gone anything like mine so far, you’ve spent as much time behind the grill as any other outdoor activity. The Range Master Barbecue Caddy (that’s the Aldi name, but it’s also available from Bed Bath & Beyond under the Our Table moniker) simplifies the entire grilling/griddling process by making it easy to transport your essentials from inside to outside and back in one trip. You get access to your tongs, spatulas, paper towels, oils, sauces, scrapers, and all the other essentials–without leaving the sliding door open to let flies in. If you spend any amount of time cooking outside, this is the best fifteen bucks you’ll ever invest.” Buy: $15
MLS Jersey
“I really didn’t appreciate the ‘kit’ as an everyday wear option until I moved to a true MLS city (shoutout Austin FC). But I’m so glad I have because it’s truly the perfect summer shirt, and I’m disappointed that we still have yet to completely embrace it stateside. Colorful, breathable, and nicely fitted, they will make you look good and feel good no matter your shape, size, or climate. The only drawback is trying to work around that crappily designed corporate logo emblazoned on your chest, but I’ll let y’all worry about that as I’m *literally* sitting pretty (shoutout Yeti).” Buy: $16+
Twelve South AirFly Pro
“I love watching movies on airplanes, except for when it comes to needing wired headphones. I always inevitably resort to the free headphones handed out on a long flight that feel like they were made for Walkman cassette players. Recently, I was turned on to the TwelveSouth AirFly Pro. The Bluetooth adaptor allows you to use your wireless headphones for the headrest screen — meaning no more tangled wire issues and no more dealing with the subpar freebies. Even if everything else goes wrong during this crazy time to fly, at least I will finally be able to watch my airplane movies with the freedom of wireless headphones.” Buy: $33
– Nickolaus Hines, Features Editor
Hostage Tape Starter Kit
“For the past several months, I have been mouth taping to reduce snoring, dry mouth, etc. It works, but the medical tape route has been only partially successful due to its narrow width. I recently picked up a tin of Hostage Tape, and it has worked wonders thanks to its excellent size, just-right adhesive, and slight elasticity. It’s easy to apply and remove, and it has improved the quality of my sleep tremendously. The black ovular patch scared my youngest son, and my daughter thought I had grown a thick mustache overnight, so there’s some entertainment value, as well.” Buy: $25
Flat Track Champs Crewneck Sweatshirt
“After spending a few days with the Harley-Davidson team (more on this in an upcoming article!), I’ve been feeling drawn to the Americana aesthetics the brand represents. Imagine my surprise to see one of my favorite designers, Todd Snyder, seems to have been, too. His collection with the historic brand has now been bookmarked for the past two weeks on my phone. I’m eyeing up this vintage-inspired crewneck which uses the 1950’s heritage checkered logo. It’s timeless and subtle, which is the line I like to toe in any of my menswear.” Buy: $148
