~Finally~ there are house slippers for sneakerheads! Well, they’ve actually been around a few years now, but SoleSlip’s sneaker slippers are rather new to me, and maybe they are to you too.

They’re made to look like Jordans except big and fluffy, and man are they comfortable. You might think to buy them as a laugh, but put them on and you’ll quickly realize just how soft, plush, and warm they really are on your feet. You’ll want to wear them everywhere.

These cozy kicks come in a few different styles:

• White + red ($29)
• Black + red ($29)
• Blue ($23)
• “Modern” ($20)

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We’ve always loved the aesthetic of messenger bags, but since they’re often designed to carry a whole lot of stuff at once (including large laptops and cameras), they do tend to be on the bulkier side. If your mobile work setup is slimmer and more iPad-oriented, you’ll appreciate the Shinjuku messenger by WaterField Designs.

Named for the famously bustling Tokyo district + travel hub, this agile and unobtrusive messenger bag is perfect for navigating crowded city streets and packed commuter trains. And yet, despite its compact form, it doesn’t compromise on style or functionality whatsoever.

The Shinjuku comes in two sizes:

1. Compact ($229) — Fits an iPad up to 11″.
2. Full ($239) — Fits an iPad up to 12.9″ and a MacBook Air up to 15″.

Both sizes come in your choice of traditional or X-Pac waxed canvas — each paired with a premium full-grain leather front flap — with the latter option being a high-performance fabric that manages to combine durability with water-resistance while remaining lightweight.

In addition to the built-in padded sleeves for the devices listed above, you also get ample storage space for all your daily essentials, with a variety of pockets inside and out that offer easy access to oft-reached-for items like your phone, transit pass, AirPods, and more.

The front flap, secured by strong magnets, includes a zippered pocket for items you need to grab quickly. Inside, you’ll find a main compartment with additional pockets, a key hook, and a stretchy water bottle pocket that retracts when not in use, striking a balance between space and organization that many larger bags miss.

In short, the Shinjuku messenger is a compact yet capable everyday bag that’s versatile enough to handle all your commuting, city exploring, and weekend errand-running needs. Check out all your buying options at sfbags.com.

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Every home should have at least one full-length mirror somewhere, so you can check out your entire ‘fit before you head out the door. If placed correctly, it can also make a given room/space (bedroom, living room, entryway, hallway, etc) feel naturally larger.

If your place doesn’t already have one, you might pick up this arched mirror from BEAUTYPEAK. You can lean it against a wall, use the built-in U-shaped floor stand to set it up wherever you like, or hang it on a wall or door. Wherever you put it, you’ll have a great view of your whole self so you can more easily make any necessary style adjustments.

As I write this on July 18th, 2024, the 24″ x 65″ mirror with black aluminum alloy frame is on sale for $90 on Amazon (down from $130). They do have some other sizes and frame options to choose from though, so definitely have a look at those as well.

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Losing or breaking one of those cheapy little drugstore hair ties might feel like no big deal, because you can just get a whole new pack for a buck or two. But have you thought about what actually happens to those things once they’re out of your life and floating around in the environment?

The unfortunate answer is that each of those hair ties being lost or tossed into landfills — and there are countless of them around the world every single day — will sit there for 500+ years before their synthetic materials even begin to break down. All the while, they could be mistakenly consumed by marine life or land animals. Feels bad to know that.

Thankfully, there are companies trying to solve this problem by developing eco-conscious hair ties. For example, Terra Ties look just like the ones you’ve been buying for years, but they’re a plastic-free alternative made instead from organic cotton and natural rubber, and colored with natural dyes. Even the packaging is made from 100% recycled materials.

Now you can style your hair without making the environment suffer, and the cotton material has this super soft, natural feel that the cheap plastic ones can never match. Combine this with the fact that they’re also slightly longer/wider than typical ties, and you’ll find you can wear one on your wrist all day without any discomfort. They’re pretty awesome all around.

Get a pack of 27 Terra Ties for $15 on Amazon.

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High Tech, Low Life — that’s how cyberpunk is typically defined, but the EDC items below are anything but “low life.” No, this collection is simply about decking yourself out with futuristic vibes because it looks cool. No dystopian dehumanization required.

 

1. Aulumu A15 Magnetic TPU Case for iPhone 15 Series ($40)

   In addition to being ultra slim and compatible with MagSafe chargers, this futuristic and functional soft-touch case adds a sweet cyberpunk aesthetic to your iPhone, and even has CPU cooling holes for heat dissipation. It also sports a 0.5mm aluminum camera ring for added rear protection, along with independent aluminum buttons that offer excellent tactile feel with every press.

     + Best paired with these wallpapers by Liam Wong.

2. UGREEN “Nexode RobotGaN” 30W USB-C Wall Charger Block ($26)

   We’ve covered a number of wall chargers over the years, but none have fit the cyberpunk aesthetic as much as the Nexode RobotGaN by UGREEN.

   This little guy (or gal) looks like a fun micro-robot toy, but remove its feet and you’ll find hidden wall prongs, along with a USB-C port on the top of its “headphones” that you can hook your iPhone or other device into. When you plug it into an outlet, the face lights up with one of three faces depending on if it’s currently charging, finished charging, or in standby mode.

3. Audio-Technica ATH-M50X Headphones ($149) with Wicked Cushions “Speed Racer” Earpads ($27)

   These critically acclaimed studio monitor headphones have already been long sought after by casual listeners and studio pros alike, and these glitchy-looking replacement earpads add a futuristic splash of color while being arguably more comfortable than the original ones.

4. TG Dual-Arc Plasma Lighter ($10)

   Rather than producing an open flame or requiring fuel refills, this rechargeable lighter passes an electrical current between diodes to generate a small dual-arc of high-voltage plasma that can’t be blown out by the wind or doused by water. No bothersome wheel-flicking required either — just flip the cap open and push a button.

5. Spigen “Zero One” Ultra Hybrid Case for Apple AirPods Pro 2 ($27)

   Released as part of their “Zero One” lineup of device-teardown cases, this Ultra Hybrid case lends your second-gen AirPods Pro that same see-through futuristic aesthetic while offering a good deal of drop and scratch protection.

   Although it’s a bit on the thicker side, the case was made with successful MagSafe charging in mind, thanks to six embedded magnets for a solid charging connection.

For more everyday carry inspiration, check out the rest of our EDC guides here.

Aulumu is an up-and-coming gadget accessory company with an emphasis on futuristic-looking designs that are still functional in today’s world. Take their A15 iPhone case, for example:

In addition to being ultra slim and compatible with MagSafe chargers and such, this soft-touch case adds a sweet cyberpunk aesthetic to your device, and even has CPU cooling holes for heat dissipation you don’t often get from other cases.

To bring the quality up yet another notch, the case sports an aluminum camera ring (0.5mm thick) for added rear protection, along with independent aluminum buttons that offer excellent tactile feel with every press.

The Aulumu A15 case is $40 on Amazon and comes in sizes to fit each of the iPhone 15 models:

• iPhone 15
• iPhone 15 Plus
• iPhone 15 Pro
• iPhone 15 Pro Max

And if you like this case style, you’ll also appreciate the company’s A04 vegan leather case that has a slightly different yet equally cool aesthetic:

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Remember those guitar string rings I wrote about back in 2019? It has come to my attention that the studio behind them has since rebranded as Thorum and continues to handmake those same kinds of rings along with a bunch of other styles.

(If you watch the D&D show Critical Role, you’ve probably heard the company’s name come up in several sponsor reads over the past couple years.)

Their rings come in a bunch of different materials, including titanium, tungsten carbide, damascus steel, ceramic, and carbon fiber. Things get even more interesting with the inlay materials though, with available options like meteorite, desert ironwood, whiskey barrel, Arizona turquoise, and actual dinosaur bone.

Give the rings as gifts, use one as your personal wedding ring, or simply wear one for style points. You can’t go wrong, really.

Now, while this isn’t a sponsored post or anything — I just think these guys make really cool stuff and wanted to share it again — they reached out to me after publication and were nice enough to give our readers an exclusive discount. Enter promo code TOOLS at checkout for 15% off the order!

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Switzerland’s TAG Heuer isn’t the only luxury watch company with a love of vintage motorsports. NOMOS Glashütte of Germany has also gotten in on the game with releases like the striking Autobahn Neomatik.

Created in collaboration with renowned Berlin-based interior designer Werner Aisslinger, the Autobahn watch is inspired by classic sports cars, featuring an eye-catching dial that curves gently upward along its outer edge, à la the outside lane of a racetrack.

The sub-seconds dial below the main hands similarly curves downward except in miniature, and the three-day date window itself dips down below that, altogether creating a great deal of visual depth despite the watch’s slender 41mm-thin case.

The Autobahn is powered by an in-house automatic movement with a power reserve of up to 42 hours, and they designed it to have water resistance up to 100 meters, making it nicely suited for swimming with.

Also on the dial is a ring of large superluminova fields that, when paired with the equally luminous hour hand, will not only allow you to tell the time at night, but also gives the watch a speedometer-like appearance:

Why is this watch called Autobahn? — It’s dashing, sporty, a powerful machine—without being brash or loud. Autobahn reminds me of a vintage sports car. There are definitely more contemporary modes of transport, but old automobiles, their form and finishing, fascinate me.

—Werner Aisslinger, designer

As far as I’m concerned, the Nomos Autobahn is German engineering personified, and it comes in three beautiful colorways:

1. White
2. Midnight Blue
3. Sports Gray

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I’m not normally in the habit of writing about expensive luxury watches, but the TAG Heuer Monaco is a timepiece I’ll make an exception for.

Most noted for its appearance on actor Steve McQueen’s wrist in the classic race film Le Mans, the Monaco not only has a deep-rooted connection to the golden age of motorsports, but is also a boldly designed precision instrument that’s as practical as it is stylish.

The Monaco sports a distinctive 39mm square steel case that was groundbreaking at the time of its original design — and still stands out today, IMO — with water resistance up to 100 meters (330 feet) depth.

It features a blue dial with horizontal steel indexes, two silver chronograph sub-dials (for minutes and hours, respectively), a date display at 6 o’clock, and red accents on the hands and elsewhere to give it that timelessly cool racing look.

The chronograph timing functions are controlled by two pushers on the right side — the top one starts/stops the chronograph, while the bottom one resets it. Whether you’re timing laps on the racetrack or tracking personal records, you can count on this watch’s Swiss-made precision and reliability.

Perhaps its most signature feature is the placement of the crown on the case’s left side rather than the more traditional right side, which their original advertising claimed was a way of showing that manual winding was no longer necessary. Whether that’s the actual reason or not, it certainly gives the Monaco a unique flair.

To cap things off, the calfskin leather strap features a special finish inspired by racetrack asphalt, so the spirit of racing history is imbued at every level.

The TAG Heuer Monaco is more than just a watch — it’s a timeless symbol of speed, style, and daredevil spirit. I can’t think of a more bold statement to wear on your wrist. ️⌚️

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I’m a big fan of the vibrant retro style of Cotopaxi’s products, and their Fuego Hooded Down Jacket offers those same colorful vibes in a versatile and reliable outerwear package.

Offering the perfect blend of warmth, style, and sustainability, this jacket is made with responsibly sourced 800-fill down that provides unparalleled warmth without adding unnecessary bulk. This fill is surrounded by a shell fabric made from recycled polyester ripstop, offering durability and water resistance while minimizing environmental impact.

Basically, you can feel good about staying comfy and cozy while doing your part to protect the planet.

Left: Black + Pacific Stripes // Right: Maritime + Sunset

With its modern design and slim fit silhouette, the Fuego Hooded Down Jacket transitions seamlessly from outdoor adventures to everyday wear. The hood adds extra protection against the elements, while practical features like zippered hand pockets and adjustable-elastic cuffs ensure a comfortable and secure fit.

Left: Burgundy Stripes // Right: The same Maritime + Sunset as above, packed into its internal pocket

Whether you’re hitting the trails on a chilly morning hike or braving the urban jungle on a crisp fall day, this eco-friendly jacket has you covered. It’s available in a range of eye-catching color options, each costing around $295.

All links and images thus far have been for the men’s line, but fear not, because there’s also a complete line for women as well, with its own unique colorways to choose from.

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Bulova’s collection of Men’s Classic watches all seamlessly blend classic elegance and style with contemporary design and functionality. They’re meant to be statement-making timepieces for the discerning wearer who appreciates refined excellence.

If I had to choose just one however, my vote would go to this four-hand, two-tone “Sutton” model they released last September.

Featuring a stainless steel case + bracelet with gold tones and a black textured dial also accented with gold, this beautifully crafted watch incorporates a Japan-made self-winding movement powered by your own body movements, eliminating the need for batteries (as long as you wear it every day) while ensuring a smooth and continuous flow of time.

In addition to telling the current time, you also get two subdials for respectively tracking seconds and hours throughout the day, along with apertures on the front and back that show off the watch’s heartbeat-like inner workings.

I could stare at that smooth, uninterrupted ticking for hours.

Whether you’re dressing up for a special occasion or just want to step up your everyday attire, the Bulova Sutton two-tone is here to keep you both punctual and well-styled. ⌚✨

Get it for $439 on Amazon.

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While we’ve written about all kinds of wallet styles over the years, not many of them stand out half as much as the “Hempster” bifold from Dime Bags.

The exterior of this wallet is made from a blend of 70% hemp and 30% recycled polyester, while the interior is 100% organic cotton. Blending the hemp and polyester makes the wallet material far more durable than pure hemp would be alone, and it allows them to play with bright color schemes like the “Rasta” colorway pictured here.

If your first thought is, “That huge brand label is a bit much, isn’t it?”, you don’t have to worry because it’s actually a totally removable (and even interchangable!) velcro patch.

Pictured here is the reverse side, but it at least gives you an idea what the wallet can look like with the patch removed.

The Hempster bifold has 1 main cash slot, 5 card slots, a see-through ID slot, and makes use of RFID-blocking technology to keep your data safe from scammers.

Take your wallet style up a notch by picking up the Hempster Bi-Fold for $33 on Amazon.

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Following a crowdsourcing campaign they ran last November, Audio-Technica has released the 2023 limited-edition “Ice Blue” colorway for their critically acclaimed wired ATH-M50x ($149) and wireless ATH-M50xBT2 ($197) studio monitor headphones.

Each of the Ice Blue variants costs about $20 more than their base model counterparts:

1. ATH-M50xIB ($169) — Wired
2. ATH-M50xBT2IB ($219) — Wireless/Bluetooth, up to 50 hours per battery charge

In both cases, the new color scheme adds an eyecatching *pop* that stands out in a sea of mostly black or white headphones. You still get the same exceptional listening experience that makes the M50x models such sought-after cans — by casual listeners and studio pros alike — along with the collapsible design that makes them so easy to transport.

You can shop the wired and wireless headphones to find out more before buying, and maybe take a look at some aftermarket earpads if you want even more of a custom style.

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This is going to sound stupid, but ever since I was a kid (about my son’s age right now, come to think of it) and the Gold Ranger first appeared on Power Rangers Zeo, I’ve loved the color combination of black and gold. I can’t explain why really, I just thought it was cool as heck at the time and that feeling never went away.

Which is all to say that I’m super into this matte black and rose gold Apple Watch band from Bestig. It’s got that classy, understated style that’s absolutely suitable for fancy occasions or dressing up your everyday ‘fit a little, without the high price tag you might expect.

As shown by this Amazon reviewer and others, the band pairs especially well with a gold Apple Watch case, but it’s certainly not a requirement.

You can get this elegant yet affordable Apple Watch band in one of two sizes for $19 on Amazon. Comes with a link removal tool to ensure the best fit either way you go.

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Ever wish your nice high-end headphones had a bit more style? Then you should take a look at Wicked Cushions, a small company that makes aftermarket earpads for a bunch of big-name headphone brands like Bose, Audio-Technica, Sony, Beats by Dre, and many more.

So just for example, if you own a pair of ATH-M50X’s (or their Bluetooth-enabled counterpart) that you love but want to add a splash of color to, they’ve got you covered there.

In fact, those particular earpads I just linked happen to have a dual-layer of cooling gel beneath the breathable fabric to keep your ears from overheating during longer listening/gaming sessions.

A lot of the earpads in their product lineup are capable of matching with a variety of headphone models, but some are pretty specific to one model, like these ones designed only for the Bose 700s.

Check out their store page to find the earpads best suited for your headphones. Depending on the ones you choose, you can expect to pay anywhere from $18 to $30 per pair.

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