Holiday gifts for gearheads, Part 2
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
This time around, the spotlight is on items that mere mortals can afford. Phones and MP3 players come and go, but some of the gadgets mentioned below have more staying power, just because they’re so darn useful. The first two are positively iconic. A future post will feature more expensive (or expansive) ideas.
Swiss Army Knife
It has seen duty on the space shuttle, performed surgery in the field, fixed all kinds of things from spectacles to saxophones -- the Swiss Army Knife is a must-have item. And the fact that it can carry so many attachments makes it pretty cool.
From $19
www.swissarmy.com
Maglite
The Rolls-Royce of flashlights, made in Ontario, Calif. -- tough enough to survive life on an oceangoing vessel or being run over by an SUV. Great looking, and it’s worth keeping one in the car and one in the home (put it with the earthquake survival kit).
From $6
www.maglite.com
LifeHammer
This will break a car’s side windows and has a blade sharp enough to cut through a seat belt. Designed for someone trapped in a car after an accident, this thing could really save lives.
From $14.99
www.lifehammer.com
Piloti driving shoes
Driving shoes have a stigma similar to that of driving gloves and don’t make a particularly flattering statement about their wearers. But Piloti shoes come in a variety of cool styles and can be worn on the street, making a refreshing change from the usual Nike/Adidas/Reebok ubiquity.
From $75
www.piloti.com
Sony PlayStation 3
This is worth getting if only for one reason: ‘Gran Turismo 5.’ Past versions of ‘GT’ have pretty much been the best driving games, and the fifth generation’s graphics and features look amazing. It’s the next best thing to driving a real Porsche 911 Turbo around the Nürburgring. Just one hitch: ‘GT5’ won’t be out until sometime in 2008. So your grateful recipient will have to play ‘Guitar Hero’ in the meantime.
From $399.99
www.us.playstation.com
iRobot Roomba
Time spent playing video games (or any other pleasurable pursuit) means time not spent doing the housework. Hey, that’s what robots are for. The Roomba vacuum cleaner recognizes hard and soft surfaces and knows to avoid stairs.
From $119.99
www.irobot.com
Monaco Grand Prix posters
Moving from the artful to the arty, reproduction vintage posters for the world’s sexiest motor race are rich in Art Deco style and would look great hanging in a den.
From $21.99
www.allposters.com
BMW art cars
With paint jobs by artists such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, the real BMW art cars are now serious museum pieces. But these 1:18-scale replicas might well become collectors’ items in their own right.
$127
www.bmw-online.com
-- Colin Ryan