Gallery: Things We Loved This Month: Behold October's Must-Have Gear
01FIREWIRE-SURFBOARD-[AZ]
One of the best parts of our jobs here at WIRED is that we get to test all the new things as soon as they come out. But we often only get a few days to play with something before having to write about it. That's difficult -- getting a clear assessment about an object's worth when you have to crank out a written review in less than a week. There are some products that don't show their true colors until we've had several weeks, months, or years to experience them, live with them, play with them, and wear them. That's what we've rounded up here -- things we've been testing and love, or the stuff from our lives that we own and never want to let go. This is the gear we want to take everywhere. This is the stuff we want to cook breakfast for. These are the things we love. *__Above:__* Firewire ADDvance Surfboard ---------------------------  Going from a longboard to anything smaller can be challenging -- especially when you're shaving off a good 10 inches. The 6'10" [Firewire ADDvance](http://www.firewiresurfboards.com/surfboards.php?boardid=addvance) splits the difference between a longboard and short board and makes the transition a lot easier. I wasn't really even ready to try anything smaller. In fact, I was thinking about going for more length than my 7'9" Craigslist-purchased board, but I always like a challenge. I also really liked the idea of sliding my board into the car rather than strapping the thing onto the roof and hoping it wouldn't fly off. So I decided to just go for it and try the ADDvance. The board is much wider than I'm used to (22 5/8"), and it was a little tough to carry because my arm length just gets my fingers around the edge. It's also a lot lighter and more buoyant, which was immediately apparent the first day I slid the board into the choppy water. I found I needed to be super centered to make the board move straight in the direction I wanted. My second day out was far more successful. I dropped in on a small wave and the board moved fast and smooth. I rode it all the way in. I've been surfing at Linda Mar for a year now, and riding that wave on the Firewire ADDvance was by far the best surfing experience I've had here in California. The board gives me the confidence to keep pushing to surf better. And it doesn't hurt that it's absolutely gorgeous, with bamboo wood grain in the center, outlined with a thin black line and a white underside. *--Kristen Fortier* *Photos: Ariel Zambelich/WIRED*
02Lacie Porsche Design Thumbdrive. Photo: Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
LaCie and Porsche Design USB Key -------------------------------- Do you like *The Wire*? Then you're in luck, because you can carry every single episode with you on this impossibly small thumb drive. This [32 GB USB 3.0 stick](http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?id=10617) is the latest PC accessory to come out of the partnership between French hard drive manufacturer LaCie and the German Porsche Design Group. The two companies have been making visually beautiful, well-built, and annoyingly expensive external storage devices for years. The trend continues: The brushed stainless steel skin on this little guy is gorgeous, and there's a square-shaped hole for attaching it to your keys. Seeing how very, very tiny it is, hooking it onto a keychain is your best option for not losing it. It measures 2 inches long, a half-inch wide, and just a hair over 1/8 inches thick. That's about half the size of my other favorite USB 3.0 stick, the SanDisk Extreme. Unfortunately, the LaCie is only half as fast: 95 MB per second, while the SanDisk rates at 190 MB per second. It's more expensive too, around $50 for the 32GB, where most 32 GB sticks are closer to $40. But the extra $10 for the super-compact size is worth it. I wear skinny jeans all the time (even though I'm 10 years and 25 pounds over the edge of acceptability for that look), so pocket real estate is at a premium for me. And who cares about the extra few seconds it takes to transfer those DVD rips when your USB stick looks *this* good? *-- Michael Calore* *Photo: Josh Valcarcel/WIRED*
0320131025-2013-27IN-IMAC-017edit[AZ]
2013 27-Inch iMac ----------------- For a powerful, high-performance workstation that doesn’t skimp on style, the [2013 27-inch iMac](http://www.apple.com/imac/) is where it's at. It shares the same super svelte industrial design as [last year's model](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2013/01/apple-imac-2012/), but inside, it's been improved with a 3.4 GHz quad-core i5 processor, 8 GB of RAM, and a 1 TB Fusion Drive (a hybrid drive with 128 GB of Flash and an HDD). No amount of multitasking or general CPU abuse could make this thing stutter, but should you decide you need to beef up your machine’s memory after purchase, the 27-inch version does have user-accessible RAM. Did I mention it's easy on the eyes? The display is bright, with rich colors that appear to sit on the screen rather than behind layers of glass. It's not Retina, but your face isn't as close to the screen as it would be with an iOS device or notebook, so it’s not a major bummer. The iMac comes prepackaged with an Apple wireless keyboard and either a Magic Trackpad or Magic Mouse. And at 21 pounds, it's actually light enough to lug home from the Apple Store without a dolly. *--Christina Bonnington* *Photo: Ariel Zambelich/WIRED*
0420131024-GALAXY-NOTE-10-1-011edit[AZ]
Galaxy Note 10.1 ---------------- There's something nice, and natural, about pulling out a stylus and doodling on a slate -- jotting down some quick notes, sketching out an idea. The original Galaxy Note 10.1 was meh, but [the second iteration of Samsung's stylus-equipped Note tablet](http://www.samsung.com/us/topic/galaxy-note-10-1-2014-edition) is much less awkward, more useful, and more user friendly. A feature called Air Command makes it a snap to create a quick memo or draw on the tablet's display thanks to a circular menu that pops up when you hover the Note's S-pen near the surface of the tablet. That also gives you access to a cool multitasking feature that lets you draw a box on the screen with the S-pen and launch one of 8 apps in that space. Since its S-pen lodges securely in a slot within the tablet, you don't have to worry about misplacing it like a third-party stylus. The Galaxy Note's battery performs admirably, with over 7 hours of life at full brightness (and the 2,560 x 1,600 resolution LCD display is pleasingly vibrant). With casual use a few hours a day, you only need to charge the tablet about twice a week. Industrial design-wise, the faux leather texture on the back is a little weird (Stitching? Really?). Still, it seems durable and has a nice texture. And the metallic bezel reminds me of Luke's X34 Landspeeder in *A New Hope*, so that's rad. *--Christina Bonnington*  *Photos: Ariel Zambelich/WIRED*
0520131023-MISSION-WORKSHOP-BAG-007edit[AZ]
Mission Workshop Vandal ----------------------- I'm a portage freak. No two ways about it. Messenger bags, backpacks, rucksacks -- if it lets you carry stuff, I'm interested. And like anyone who loves a particular Thing, whether it be denim, or headphones, or espresso, I'm always on the hunt for the Holy Grail of bags -- that magical look-no-further solution that blows all its competitors out of the water. The problem with looking for that in a bag is that the amount of stuff I carry around every day varies. A lot. At bare minimum, we're talking about a Nalgene, a big-ass coffee thermos, bike tools and locks, an e-reader, some magazines, and sadly, inevitably, a few work folders. That's small-backpack territory, right? But on any given day, there could be a change of clothes, groceries, or something sizable I need to bring between home and the office. So two or three times a week I'd move everything from one bag to another bag, invariably leaving behind some charging cable or device that would of course turn out to be the very thing I needed that day. After a while, I'd resigned myself to the fact that there's no one-size-fits all solution. And then I found the [Vandal](http://missionworkshop.com/products/bags/backpacks/roll_top/large_vandal.php). The bag really should have been called the Optimus Prime, but I'll leave it up to Mission Workshop's marketing department to handle that change. In its default state, it's roomy but streamlined, with a buckle-down top flap that covers a main compartment and a couple of zippered front pockets that can handle laptops and other low-profile items. But when you unzip and expand a hidden middle section -- oh, that sweet middle section -- the Vandal transforms into a 65-liter rolltop beast that can swallow a week's worth of groceries or a few good-sized cardboard boxes, with retention straps to make sure things don't get any bulkier than they need to. While there's an optional waistbelt you can buy for heavy loads, the load distribution is remarkably good for a non-backcountry pack; the only time I've needed to employ the chest strap is when things get over 50 pounds. Like most of Mission Workshop's other bags, it's weatherproof and made in the USA, with a lifetime warranty that dares me to put this thing through its paces daily. And if Megatron ever comes around, I'll be ready. *--Peter Rubin* *Photo: Ariel Zambelich/WIRED*
06Bluelounge Kii. Photo: Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
Bluelounge Kii -------------- There was a glorious time about a year ago, at the end of the venerable 30-pin Apple connector's life, where you could be reasonably sure if you were at someone's house they'd have one of the spare cables laying around for a quick charge up. Then the iPhone 5 came out and everything went to hell. If you had Apple's latest and greatest, you suddenly needed a rare and expensive cord to charge up your phone. And if you left it at home, well, tough luck. That's when I started to carry around a lightning cord in my backpack. But most of the time when I'd run out of battery it was night and I was probably out and about -- so no backpack, and no power either. A year into the great 30-Pin-to-Lightning cable transition, and there's still plenty of charger uncertainty. I've tried to roll up a lightning cable and stick it in my pocket (it tangled with my earphones and was eventually lost), I tried ChargeCard (made my wallet too fat), so eventually I settled on [the Bluelounge Kii](http://www.bluelounge.com/products/kii/). It's a tiny Lightning (with MicroUSB and 30-pin versions) connector in an aluminum casing that’s supposed to go on your keychain. There's no power adapter, but it's relatively easy to find a USB port. The Kii’s build quality is excellent -- I’m a fan of the little lock mechanism that prevents the cord from falling out. And I carry it around whenever I have my keys, so basically always. Plus, now people ask *me* for a top-off. *--Kif Leswing*  *Photos: Josh Valcarcel/WIRED*
07INTUOS-CREATIVE-STYLUS-[JV]
Intuos Creative Stylus ---------------------- Apple wants you to use your fingers to navigate the iPad. They insist the stylus is passé. Well we stopped drawing with our fingers in Kindergarten. Since those simpler times, we've graduated to pens and brushes to mark up paper in a fashion that produces (sometimes beautiful) works of art. The [Intuos Creative Stylus](http://intuoscreativestylus.wacom.com/en/) recreates those tried-and-true drawing instruments, replacing the less-than-optimal finger as a tool. The Wacom stylus from the makers of the Intuos and Bamboo tablet line uses a bulbous squishy tip instead of the hard tip found on styli that come with the company's drawing tablets. Initially, it's a bit odd drawing with a blob at the end of a pen. But, after a few minutes of acclimating yourself with the tip, the Creative Stylus becomes the go-to pen for any iPad artist. With 2,014 levels of pressure sensitivity, you can consistently draw lines of varying thickness. The stylus uses Bluetooth to talk to your iPad. To get the full drawing experience you'll need to download one of 11 apps optimized to work with the pen's functions. But once you dive into these Wacom-approved apps you'll wonder how you ever drew on the iPad before. *--Roberto Baldwin* *Photo: Josh Valcarcel/WIRED*
08LOGIC-PRO-X-[JV]
Logic Pro X ----------- Creating music and being in a band is great. But as you get older, finding a group of individuals with the time and patience to practice can be difficult. When it's time to actually record, getting everyone together for a few days is nearly impossible. That's where [the Logic Pro X](http://www.apple.com/logic-pro/) comes in. Apple's music production application takes some of the headache out of recording and creating music. While nothing will replace an actual drummer, the Drummer feature, with samples of actual studio drummers, will give your recordings a richer sound until you can get your own drummer into the studio. While the Track Stacks feature helps tame the 60 tracks you recorded of your guitars into a single easy-to-manage stack. And it all costs only $200. That's cheaper than most of your pedals. *--Roberto Baldwin* *Photo: Josh Valcarcel/WIRED*
09131025-beatsheadphones-[JV]
Beats Studio Headphones ----------------------- For most, Beats by Dre conjure up thoughts of bass-centric headphones. It's a completely justified association as the headphones were heavily marketed toward fans of hip-hop and dance music -- genre's steeped in the low-end of the frequency range. Beats were great for listening to new Kanye albums. Less so for Arcade Fire. But that's changed with their [latest set of headphones](http://www.beatsbydre.com/headphones/studio/beats-beatsstudio.html). Instead of just pummeling you with bass at the expense of the rest of the frequency range, these more studio-like headphones are happy to share the whole spectrum. The result is richer sound and a new noise-canceling feature kills any unwanted noises the outside world may present. While the $300 price tag could induce a spit-take, the headphones are incredibly comfortable to wear. The biggest downer is that if the battery dies, so does the music. Fortunately, they'll keep the music coming for about a week of bus commuting. *--Roberto Baldwin* *Photo: Josh Valcarcel/WIRED*
10Chrome, Chrome Cast, television, google, dongle, Photo: Alex Washburn / Wired
Google Chromecast ----------------- The best $35 I've spent all year was, well, it was on a growler of beer. I won't lie. But, the *second* best $35 I've spent this year was on the Google Chromecast, a USB-powered dongle that jacks into the HDMI port on the back of your TV. It takes all of about five minutes to set up, and I've subsequently watched a shameful number of hours of Internet video on my TV with it. Right now, the only apps that support it are YouTube, Netflix, Google Play Movies & TV, and Hulu Plus. And while that's a lot of video -- a whole lot of video -- one of my favorite things about the Chromecast is that you can also sling content from a Chrome browser tab. So, for example, I went to HBOGo.com and have started watching season one of the Sopranos, slung directly to my TV. It's also how you can [watch torrented content](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gadgetlab/2013/07/how-to-play-torrents-on-your-new-chromecast/) that might not be (\*ahem\*) available in your area. Just drag and drop what you want to watch in your browser, and presto, it's on your TV. *--Mat Honan* *Photo: Alex Washburn/WIRED*
1120131023-TEGADERM-029edit-[AZ]
3M Tegaderm Transparent Dressing -------------------------------- I was only 15 miles into the ride when I crashed on the way down Wildcat Canyon Road. This was both really embarrassing and really painful. Thankfully, both my bike and I were banged up in non-internal and non-breaky ways, so I regrouped with the rest of the pack and rode the last 50 miles in mostly fine shape. Then I got home, and tried to take off my jersey and shorts. "Road rash" is the quaint euphemism that's often used to describe what happens to the parts of your body that skid along the ground in a bike crash. But it's not as accurate as "raw steak," which is what my shoulder and hip looked like. Miraculously, both areas were covered, so the wounds hadn't gotten gravel or dirt embedded in them. I cleaned them in the shower, disinfected them with Bactine, screamed loudly ("non-sting" my ass, Bactine!), made sure they were dry, and covered both with [3M's Tegaderm](http://www.3m.com/product/information/Nexcare-Tegaderm-Transparent-Dressing.html), a shrinkwrap-like material that replaces the usual bandages-and-ointment routine for severe abrasions. Tegaderm is waterproof and breathable, so there was no need to change it. For a week, I just left it on, showering and dressing as normal. I'd never used it before, so I had no idea what to expect. Would it bond to the wound? Would new skin grow over the hair on my shoulder? (Yes, the hair. Let's not dwell on it.) Because it's transparent, I could watch the healing as it happened. It was a little gross; there were…fluids. But each day, the road rash looked better and better, and when I peeled it off after seven days, I was amazed: No scabbing, no scarring, just young skin. Four weeks after the crash, my shoulder looks completely healed, while my hip only has some mild discoloration from the new skin. But I was back on the bike in a week, and a Tegaderm customer for life. Here's hoping you never need it, but if you do, don't think twice. *--Peter Rubin* *Photo: Ariel Zambelich/WIRED*
Jakob Schiller12Black Diamond Dirt Bag gloves and the Stihl Farm Boss chainsaw.
Black Diamond Dirt Bag gloves ----------------------------- Black Diamond's [Dirt Bag gloves](http://blackdiamondequipment.com/en/ski-gloves/dirt-bag-glove-BD801857NTRLXS_1.html) have zero bells and whistles. There's no waterproof/breathable membrane, no built in heater, nothing. It's just goat leather on the outside and fleece on the inside, and these things are awesome. You can do just about anything with these things. This fall I've been using the gloves to chop wood and rake leaves on cold days. This winter, the Dirt Bags will be a permanent fixture in my truck because they're perfect for putting chains on in a snowstorm or scraping ice off the windshield in the morning. They're also built for backcountry skiing because they’re warm but won’t make your hands overheat as you climb toward that stash of fresh pow. Because they’re made out of leather they’ll also last forever. I’ve beat the shit out of mine already and barely made a scratch. *--Jakob Schiller* *Photo: Jakob Schiller/WIRED*
13Black Diamond Dirt Bag gloves and the Stihl Farm Boss chainsaw.
Stihl Farm Boss Chain Saw ------------------------- Every fall growing up in rural northern New Mexico my dad and I used to spend our weekends cutting wood in the national forest. Like most people in the area, a wood stove was our only heat source. One time my dad was limbing a tree and the chain saw bucked and gave him an eight-inch gash right above his knee. What I remember most about the accident was that as I was loading him into the truck he wasn't screaming about the pain. Instead he was screaming at me to remember the chain saw before we drove off toward the hospital. That chain saw was a Stihl MS 290 Farm Boss and we still have it. I used it two weeks ago to cut wood for my mom who still lives in the same house (my dad has since passed away). Despite being more than a decade old, it still runs like new. The thing will sit for months without being used but always starts up after a few pulls. Sharpen the chain and keep it filled with gas and bar oil and you can cut all day. Nearly everyone in northern New Mexico uses a Stihl, and they're also the saw of choice for many wildland firefighters who battle blazes across the west each summer. The Granite Mountain Hotshots, the wildland crew that died this past summer during a fire in Arizona, were using Stihl chainsaws when I photographed them on a different fire in New Mexico two summers ago. A while back I also bought my own Farm Boss. Since my dad is gone I’m in charge of the wood gathering, so nowadays a couple friends and I try and get it done in one weekend. More saws running means more wood at the end of the day. *--Jakob Schiller* *Photo: Jakob Schiller/WIRED*
