Products of the Week: Yard Boots, Kitchen Knives and Bourbon-Infused Cheese

The 10 best pieces of garb and gear that crossed our desks this week

November 2, 2019 4:57 am
The Yard Boot 365
The Yard Boot 365

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Each week, our inbox runneth over with news of gear, apparel and tech releases from around the world. In this feature, we’ll parse through the best of them. Today: a boot designed by a legendary Apple designer, a collection of essential kitchen knives and cheese infused with Basil Hayden.

Billy Reid Denim Shirt – Exclusive

The only thing we like better than one of our favorite brands releasing a shirt we want to live in 24/7/365 is when two of our favorite brands collaborate on said shirt and come up with something even better than the sum of its parts. Such is the case with the new black denim shirt from menswear savant Billy Reid and the expert gear curators at Huckberry. Most likely, you’ll be reaching for this when you want something easy, comfortable and durable. It’s a little bit Westen, a little but Steve McQueen, but done up to Bill Reid’s impeccable construction standards. 

The Yard Boot 365 by R.M.Williams

If you’re trying to put your finger on what makes this boot special — it’s a classic silhouette, but there’s also something enticingly futuristic about it — it’s because Marc Newson designed it. He helped design the Apple Watch, is a co-founder of the legendary Ikepod watch brand, and has worked with companies ranging from Louis Vuitton to Montblanc. Lucky for us, he has now checked footwear off his list.

Exclusive Timex + Todd Snyder Marlin Watch Navy Dial

When Todd Snyder isn’t busy dropping the hottest, most reasonably priced menswear around, he’s teaming up with Timex on the hottest, most reasonably priced watches. They run the gamut from mod-inspired to mid-century-inspired and sometimes even drawn from the archives. In 2018, our favorite of these was the Marlin, a reissued 1960s timepiece with a hand-wound mechanical movement and refreshing 34mm case (no dinner-plate tickers here). This week, the two brands released a new version of the watch, with a rich blue sunray dial and faux croc strap. 

The Men’s Bison Ultralight

We’ve praised United by Blue’s BisonShield before, an insulation created from American bison fiber that previously ended up in the trash. Here, the material is mixed with wool and put inside a recycled ripstop shell for a supremely warm but impossibly light outer layer.

Pour Me A Slice

Basil Hayden’s is one smooth bourbon. And it pairs really well with cheese — so much so that Utah’s Beehive Cheese actually made a bourbon-infused cheddar that’s sweet, creamy and goes well with bourbon (of course) but also full-bodied red wines. But here’s a secret: Try pairing the company’s Barely Buzzed cheese (rubbed with espresso) with Basil’s Dark Rye, as we did earlier this week. You’ll eat a whole f—— block of it (and drink a fair amount of the bottle, too).

Five Two Essential Knives

Food52’s in-house brand has been on a tear, reengineering basic kitchen items based on the feedback from thousands of users. Now, they’re coming for your cutlery with a three-pack chef’s knife, serrated blade and paring knife.

Noah x Sperry Faux-Croc Embossed Captain’s Oxford

Before Paul Sperry’s debuted the Authentic Original Boat Shoe that’s pretty much become synonymous with the brand, his initial success in the casual shoe market was with The Captain’s Oxford. Made with a higher profile and thicker sole than the Authentic Original, the shoe had the right balance between casual and workwear. And when menswear brand Noah NY set out to give the shoe an update, they kept that line-toeing. Manufactured in Sperry’s USA factory, Noah switched out the classic grip sole for a hardier lug sole from Vibram, added a full leather footbed, rawhide laces, and a croc-embossed upper made from 100% leather. Of course, the pair comes at a premium price, but that’s the cost of quality materials and construction.

The Winter Parka by Askov Finlayson

Askov Finlayson, the acclaimed Minnesota-based menswear and outdoor gear brand, has always been environmentally conscious. But in 2018, they closed their storefront. Why? They didn’t just want to be “eco-friendly,” they wanted to lead the industry. Now, they’re back in a big way as “the world’s first climate positive outerwear” brand, with this parka being the first release.

Shinola The Bronze Monster

Ok, so we must admit, things are getting pretty serious over at Shinola’s watch department these days. Their newest release is the Bronze Monster, a 43mm diver style watch with a bronze case that should develop a nice patina over time. It also features a respectable 200 meters of water resistance, two included quick-release straps (leather and nylon) and, most importantly, an automatic movement, the workhorse Selita SW-201. No word on pricing yet, but we’ll update as soon as it becomes available.

Air Jordan 1 Retro High “Fearless”

The latest installment in the Jordan brand’s “Fearless Ones” is done up half in University Blue, nodding to MJ’s time at North Carolina, and half in Gym Red for his time with the Bulls. The entire upper is constructed of shiny-ass patent leather, which makes this shoe more of a flex than we typically recommend, but what the hell, right? This one goes on sale at 11 AM on Saturday, November 2, and you’re gonna want to act fast, as they’re likely to sell out.

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