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Buyer's Guide 2003
Gear of the Year
Sunglasses, electronics, and optics

Sunglasses

Kaenon Polarized Kore $180
Plastic can't get more drastic than Kaenon's spectacular next-gen hard-resin lenses. Why It's Cool: The view is ab-fab through polarized lenses that wrap wide to the sides and protect against wind. >> The Kore's copperish tint, lightly mirrored, shines in tough in-between conditions, such as the shadow-and-dazzle of a wooded trail, but it also performs in full sun. >> Acuity is on a par with the very best glass. >> Clever indents at the bottom of the lenses follow the contour of cheekbones but leave a gap for defogging air movement. >> The springy frames, with rubber at the nose and ears, clung tight to my noggin. >> S-M-L sizing triples your chances of finding a fit. (Bravo! Why don't all shades makers do this?) >> The look is original. I get a circa-seventies wife-swapper-moderne vibe here that's sort of funny. But how do you quantify perfection? You gotta wear it. Rx-able? No. Hmmm... The price is painful, but in this case it hurts really good.

Electronics

Suunto X6HR $429
The world's most advanced wrist computer doubles as a portal to a world of fitness geeks. Why It's Cool: Like a physiological dashboard, the X6HR records heart rate, altitude, and split times as well as weather conditions. That's a lot to absorb when you're pounding out the last mile, but Finnish manufacturer Suunto has crafted each screen to give you clear workout data when you need it most. >> Post-event, you can view performance graphs on the watch or on your PC via Suunto's sophisticated software. I quickly became addicted to graphing—and obsessing over—the relationship between my heart rate and altitude. >> The X6HR admits you to a worldwide athletic club at Suuntosports.com, where you can compare notes with similarly equipped boarders, divers, and the like. I swapped workout logs with coaches from California and Colorado as well as a tundra hiker from Lapland named Wiik. Hmmm... If you have more than one workout saved, the X6HR may run out of memory, scratching your best efforts. >> There's no Mac version of the software.

Optics

Brunton Epoch 10.5x43 $1,499
The Japanese-built Epoch takes dead aim at high-end German optics-and scores a hit. Why It's Cool: The view through these matches any binoculars I've used, with no distortion or color aberration whatsoever. >> With help from big, bright, 43-millimeter objective lenses, I easily tracked a backyard bobcat on a full-moon night and even differentiated warblers in deep shade. >> A progressive-speed focusing system—the world's first—sharpened the image from my toes out to infinity with a mere finger flick. >> By using a magnesium chassis, Brunton made the waterproof Epoch incredibly light for its size—just 24 ounces, a good six ounces lighter than some competitors. >> Eyeglasses wearers enjoy a full view, thanks to 17 millimeters of relief. >> An optional eyepiece adaptor ($279) turns one tube into a 21-power spotting scope. >> Should an elephant step on your Epoch in Namibia, Brunton's lifetime guarantee ensures that you'll have a new pair shipped right to your tent flap. Hmmm... The snap-in, flip-open lens and eyepiece covers work well, but are very easy to knock off and lose.

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