I love finding a new cologne … I love the finding, that is, but not the searching. So many promising spritzes which turn into headache-inducing clouds that seem to hang over you for the rest of the day. A few years ago, Danielle gave me a bottle of D&G 6 L’Amoureux, but that particular fragrance is no longer available. So I turned to Messrs. Dolce & Gabbana once again, skipped the search, and found The One – a wonderful combination of cedarwood, ginger, cardamom, and grapefruit.

I started skiing and snowboarding at a time when you rarely saw helmets on groomed slopes. And besides, my descents would never be described as “adventurous” anyway. Luckily, though, society evolves and if there’s something you can do to keep yourself safer, then by all means. I just wanted to avoid massive headgear that made me look like one of the Peanuts kids. That’s why I chose the Electric Mashman, a low-profile helmet “inspired by the counterculture period of the 1960s”. It’s an added bit of protection that makes me feel like Peter Fonda as I easy-ride down the mountain.

This is pure genius – a giant version of the Anglepoise Original 1227 desk lamp. The iconic perfect-balance design, which traces its origins to the 1930s, has graced countless offices, bureaus, and even Roald Dahl’s writing hut. Much too big for even the most ambitious tabletop, this crocodile-tongue-fueled incarnation has a shade diameter of seventeen inches, a maximum reach of almost nine feet, and weighs more than a hundred pounds. It’s even available in an outdoor version … in case you’d like to properly light your next squab caper. (via Gear Patrol)

As I’ve gradually consigned timekeeping duties to Siri and the Mac menu bar, my watch has become more of an accessory than a tool. And so, why not put something more functional on my wrist? The Leatherman Tread is a brilliantly designed stainless-steel cuff which can be customized into a variety of essential combinations, including screwdrivers, wrenches, hex keys, cutting hooks, and bottle openers. An AI personal assistant might be great at finding a nearby beer store, but it’ll be years before it can pop the cap on a cold one.

It might be lingering regret of never owning one of those anorak-style Starter jackets in my younger days why the Patagonia Nano Puff Pullover instantly caught my eye. It’s windproof and water-resistant, with highly-compressible PrimaLoft Gold hydrophobic insulation – which essentially means that it’s capable of trapping warmth even when wet. At just ten ounces, it’s an excellent midlayer on the coldest winter days, and the only thing you need over your shoulders during shoulder season … thankfully, minus a giant Charlotte Hornets logo.

I suspect that when it comes to adult beverages, my tastes tend to run a bit off the beaten path. I’ve never been a fan of hard liquor, my understanding of wine borders on embarrassing, and on the rare occasion that I drink beer, my favourite tastes like it has a shot of espresso in it. That being said, there is something quite lovely about gin – the citrusy undertones, the botanical overtones, the juniper …

Continuing on with this stroll down heresy lane, my pairing of choice isn’t the iconic tonic, but cola instead – one part gin, two parts cola, rocks, and a twist of lemon. (If such a combination doesn’t already have a name, please consider this my official submission for it to be known henceforth as The GregoryWest.)

Now, having gone to the effort of finding that one special gin which grants all of your wishes, you don’t want it sharing a glass with the former inhabitants of 12oz Aluminum or (heaven forbid) 2L Plastic. The more civilized option is Cola Maison – prepared in small batches, entirely of natural ingredients, in beautiful Montréal – a city that knows a thing or two about good taste. (via Uncrate)

Here’s to the Platonic ideal of the weekend. Here’s to getting all your chores and tedious appointments out of the way between Monday and Friday. Here’s to ending the week with sleeping in, lazy breakfasts, and extra cups of coffee … ideally, all in your underwear. And the perfect uniform for such laid-back undertakings? The MeUndies Boxer, made with sustainably sourced MicroModal fabric which more than delivers on its promise of being three times softer than cotton. Throw on a pair of these with a well-worn t-shirt and contemplate the infinite value of doing nothing for a while.

I’m in Montreal this week, and despite El Niño’s best efforts, the weather here is the polar opposite of a day at the beach. Just minutes after stepping off the plane, I heard a word that essentially left my vocabulary since we moved out west more than a decade ago – windchill. This kind of cold makes you appreciate the heartier things in life. Things like wool, and soups you can eat with a fork. And so, as I made my way through a snow storm this evening, I had visions of a kindly St. Bernard coming to my rescue with a small barrel of beef-barley and a pair of Woolrich Eagle boots. (via Freshness)

A few of my favourite things: lazy summer afternoons by the pool, Saturday-morning kayaks, and unnecessarily long showers. One of my least favourite things: a wet iPhone. Enter the UE ROLL – a waterproof Bluetooth speaker that comes with its own inflatable dinghy and a bungee cord on the back for easily attaching to your showerhead. All of a sudden, that extra ten-minute soak in the morning isn’t you postponing the start of the day; it’s being a conscientious citizen and catching up on the latest news before heading out to conquer the world.

As the year comes to a close, best-of lists are being compiled, and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is topping many of them. I’ve never been a big fan of role-playing games, as they tended toward Dungeons & Dragons territory, with the typical lineup of way too much expository conversation, clunky combat mechanics, and more often than not, some type of mage guiding you through endless intricacies of spells and potions. This RPG, however, was refreshingly different right from the start – a beautifully crafted open world, an engaging storyline, and a varied selection of mythical creatures to take down a notch in dynamic sword-to-claw combat.