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Sport Sunglasses
First Class:
Romeo
You’ll be ready to fight off an army of killer bugs – or even join their ranks
in these badass cyberpunk specs. The Romeos grab the mastoid bone and fully cover the eyes, with no light leakage. They may not be the most lightweight glasses out there, but every joint is padded and articulated, so they’re certainly the most face-friendly.
Romeo: US$250. Oakley: +1 (714) 951 0991.
Business Class:
Skate I
From the eyewear division of high-end clothier Façonnable, the lightweight Skate I glasses fit on even tighter when you sweat. They offer full UV protection, as well as inside antireflective coating. The fenestrated sides cool your face and prevent fogging so you can see while
you ski or cycle.
Skate I: US$89.95. Façonnable: (800) 494 3226.
Coach:
K68
These French-made shades, equal in quality to glasses costing twice as much, are lightweight wraparounds with plastic frames and antiscratch, distortion-free polycarbonate lenses. The K68s are real glasses with full UV protection – not your average drugstore disposables. Just don’t sit on them.
K68: US$29.99. Sunglasses of Aspen: +1 (914) 948 0129. Toasters
First Class:
Dualit Combi 2+2
Need regal toast? You won’t find a lot of bells and whistles on the Dualit Combi 2+2 – just a quintessential bread broiler, hand assembled in the UK. (The Queen of England uses one!) Its retro styling, durability, and simplicity make the Combi the absolute best toaster for bagels, breads, and even sandwiches.
Dualit Combi 2+2: US$439. Williams-Sonoma: (800) 541 2233, +1 (415) 421 7900.
Business Class:
Ultra Power Plus
A marriage of microprocessors and ’60s space-age design, the Power Plus has
a heat sensor inside the toasting cavity for accurate readings and consistent toasting. There’s a Bagel button, as well as a Frozen button, which thaws first, then toasts. A lot of technology went into this bread box, but it’s strictly plug-and-play.
Ultra Power Plus: US$119. KitchenAid: (800) 541 6390, on the Web at www.kitchenaid.com/.
Coach:
Total Touch Electronic CPT-60
This two-slice Cuisinart toasts bread not side by side, but lengthwise in an extra-wide slot. Electronic controls let you select and store ideal toasting levels, and the shade control monitors the temperature for consistent browning. You’ll never burn toast again – unless you like it that way.
Total Touch Electronic CPT-60: US$69.95. Cuisinart: (800) 726 0190, on the Web at www.cuisinart.com/. Digital Voice Recorders
First Class:
VR-2000
The VR-2000 may look as menacing as a stun gun, but it’s really an important business tool. Its 50-minute capacity and ability to upload highly compressed files to your PC allow you to record ideas and memos and then email them as attachments. The gadget’s surprisingly easy to use, too.
VR-2000: US$299. Voice It Worldwide: (800) 478 6423, on the Web at www.voiceit.com/.
Business Class:
ICD-30
The palm-sized Sony is king of the middle of the road, with standard features such as separate voice files and a recording time of 32 minutes. And if you forget to listen to your messages about replacing the battery, its nonvolatile flash memory will hold onto digital sound bites even after the power dies.
ICD-30: US$129. Sony: +1 (941) 768 7669, on the Web at www.sony.com/.
Coach:
VT-90
Call it the Hanson of the digital voice recorder world. This pea-brained unit has only a minute and a half of memory, which is fine if you’re a person of few words – or shallow thoughts. There’s also no volume control and few other features. Just press a button to record those essential insights (or song lyrics).
VT-90: US$34.95. Voice It Worldwide: (800) 478 6423, on the Web at www.voiceit.com/.
This article originally appeared in the February issue of
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