While we might not know exactly what seven functions the sleek Gerber Shard ($8) will provide, we know enough to know we'll be on the pre-order list as soon as it's available. The lightweight, airline-safe keychain tool offers at the minimum a bottle opener, screwdriver, and nail puller, with a titanium nitride coating for corrosion resistance.
Tackle the great outdoors -- or just yard work -- in the coldest of weather in the Timberland Utility Jacket ($150). With straightforward looks, it's not exactly a flashy piece of outerwear, but it does the job, with a rugged cotton twill outer, nylon polin and polyester fleece lining, a front zipper with button flap cover for added wind protection, dual snap-close side pockets and two cargo-style chest pockets, slightly distressed details for a worn-in look, and stitched down shoulder epaulettes.
Terrorism. Murder. Blood. Bullets. Darkness. This is the G.I. Joe cartoon you've been waiting 25 years for. G.I. Joe: Resolute ($14) is a new animated mini-series featuring classic Joes and Cobra operatives that's sure to make the live action movie look even more like a turd. Aimed at older viewers, and garnering standing ovations at JoeCon Comic-Con, Resolute consists of 11 episodes (ten 5-minute episodes and one 10-minute finale) totaling 60 minutes. We won't tell you the plot, but let's just say Cobra Commander goes totally apocalyptic on Moscow. In the first four minutes. Can someone please start a petition to turn this into a regular weekly series? Oh, and don't forget the toys.
What good is a portable hard drive if you're afraid to take it anywhere? With the Hitachi SimpleTough Hard Drive ($100-$135), you simply grab your data and go. Featuring a rugged body with grippy rubber sides and a smooth rubber body, the SimpleTough can withstand drops of up to 7 feet and also offers underside lighting and an integrated USB cable, giving you one less thing to remember when packing for your next spy mission.
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Having a big-ass tool set is all well and good, but when you can have the most popular sockets on hand in just one tool, why bother? The Black & Decker Ready Wrench ($30) offers exactly that, with 16 of the most popular sockets — in both standard and metric — on rotating heads on either end of the tool, ready to replace both one- and two-inch deep sockets. With a rubber grip for added comfort, it'll let you save the big tool set for those really tough jobs — like assembling Ikea furniture.
Simplify the process of installing the apps you want on your Windows machine with Ninite. This awesome free service lets you choose from a range of applications, plug-ins, utilities, and other goodies that might normally take hours to download separately, with a "Get Installer" button at the bottom that will do all the heavy lifting for you, creating a simple, one-step app that will install all of the software you chose in one fell swoop. Good for Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7.
We've seen plenty of not-so-hot iPhone cases that have tried to tack wallets on as an afterthought, but this is the first time we know of it's been done the other way around. The Hard Graft Phone Card Wallet (€79; $120) is a slim, front-pocket style credit card wallet that's built with such strong elastic tape that it can also hold a phone inside for a decidedly less-slim solution. Other features include grey vegetable tan leather construction, seven card slots, and measurements that happen to hold an iPhone perfectly.
Infinity pools have been around for a while, so it only makes sense someone would apply the same idea to another home-sized water feature: the aquarium. ZeroEdge Aquariums ($600 and up) do exactly that, providing overflowing aquatic environments for all types of fish and sea creatures in a variety of styles and shapes, ensuring you can find one that's right for your home or office. Just remember: no edge equals no lid, so be sure to keep the Darla-types away. [Thanks, Brian]
If you're into gadgets, and if you're reading this that's highly likely, then you no doubt have several SD and/or microSD cards laying around — so turn them into USB drives using the LaCie DataShare ($13). The DataShare breaks into two halves — red for SD and white for microSD — that fit together to form one solid, easily-portable storage solution.
We're quite used to seeing tons of tools crammed into a pocket knife-sized package, but it's not everyday you see the same thing done to an axe. The Brook & Hunter Mo-Tool Axe ($40) brings the handyman heat with a capable axe blade and hand-crafted red oak wood inlay handle, plus a hammer head, screwdrivers, knives, a can opener, wire cutter, file, pliers, and a wrench.
Inspired by the classic military duffel bags referred to the servicemen of the day as "AWOL bags", the Duluth AWOL Bag ($200) is a modern take on the rugged weekender. It's made from oiled, full-grade cowhide, with a patina that only gets better the longer you have it — at least, according to Uncrate reader Brendan Ruane — and also features carry-on friendly dimensions, brass hardware and a YKK nylon zipper, cloth lining, and a single inner document pocket that's perfect for stashing your passport, cash, and other small travel essentials.
With all the laid-back attitude of the originals, the Converse All Star Rain Boots ($80) are the first we'd actually consider wearing in inclement weather. Staying true to their roots with a simple lace-up design and Chuck Taylor insignias, these rain boots feature a green rubber upper, attached tongue to prevent water from seeping in, corded laces, a reinforced toe, and a durable, grippy sole.
Keep your hands free and your eyes on the well-illuminated job with the Stanley Heavy Duty Clamp Light ($30). This 80 lumen flood light features a 350-degree rotational head to let you aim the light where you need it, the ability to run off either 2 or 4 C-cell batteries — for 15 or 30 hours of run time, respectively — and a strong clamp that opens up to 3.5-inches wide for gripping onto beams, joists, table tops, or basically any other stable surface.
We're not ever going to be proponents of leaving your robot ear Bluetooth headset in at all times, but the Jabra Stone ($130) is the first to even tempt us. Featuring a terrific new shape, the Stone curves around the back of your ear, and fits into the included charger to create a solid stone-like shape. Other niceties include Noise Blackout Extreme technology that uses dual mics to reduce background noise, soft rubber padding for added comfort, and touch volume controls.
Wiring your entire home for sound can be a huge pain — especially if you're working on a historic or otherwise pre-existing residence — which is why we're intrigued by the Sony Altus ($50-$700) system. Utilizing 2.4GHz wireless technology, the Altus system can push audio from the source of your choice, be it a stereo, TV, or iPod, to a maximum of eight separate speakers around your house, letting you "Party in the USA" no matter where you are. If that sounds a bit rich for your blood, there's always the Rocketfish system, which also uses a 2.4GHz wireless audio standard but runs from $60-$200. [Thanks, Todd]
