LOCAL Houston | The City Guide OCTOBER 2015 | Page 72

TOOLS+GADGETS
SWISS ARMY KNIFE EXPEDITION KIT
As a former Boy Scout I know the value of being prepared. I rarely travel without my
trusty knife that also serves as a can opener, nail file and scissors. Newer versions
of this classic tool from Victorinox make it a must-have utensil.
The Expedition version has the typical red form factor as iconic gadget. Along with
the standard knife and screwdriver, you will find over 40 useful instruments to get
you out of any jam. These include a wire clipper, corkscrew, metal saw, chisel and
an all-important digital clock. This LED display also houses an altimeter, barometer,
thermometer and an alarm. The full kit includes a leather pouch, ruler and magnifying
glass. $200 www.swiss-knife.com

SPECK® MIGHTYPACK PLUS
Men have lots of gear. Expensive gear. From cell phones to video cameras (see
below), we need to protect these high-end toys so choose your luggage wisely.
The MightyPack Plus from Speck is my backpack of choice as it not only has
pockets for everything, it has some of the most padding in the industry. The
top compartment has a protective feature called the Tech Locker, a hard-shell
guard with molded EVA foam. The base is triple-padded to cushion your laptop
from impact.
Several smart compartments flex to fit small or large accessories with breathable pockets for mobile batteries and external hard drives.
A pass-through for cables allows easy charging between compartments.
$100 www.speckproducts.com

GOPRO HERO 4 SESSION
Sales of video cameras have greatly declined over the past
decade due to the built-in cameras on our cell phones. But
small, rugged cameras have been taking off thanks to the
unique perspective they shoot in most all conditions. And that
pretty much describes GoPro.
The most recent version of this category-killing product is the
Hero 4 Session. Instead of the typical rectangle shape like its
predecessors, this device is a 1.5-inch cube, small enough to
mount anywhere.
It’s waterproof without a case and comes with two mounts
which allows the camera to be placed most anywhere.
$400 www.shop.gopro.com
by Michael Garfield | www.hightechtexan.com
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L O C A L

| october 15