Oh! Gizmo

By Andrew Liszewski

If you’re tired of the console wars and wished that all the players could just get along, this hoodie from Fifty24SF will show people it is possible. The design features a veritable melting pot of current and past game controllers all living in harmony against a white background.

But something tells me this particular hoodie was designed well before the final version of the PS3 was released or even unveiled because it still seems to include the old boomerang style controller. Also there appears to be no love for the original XBox or the 360 while the Nintendo is represented with 6 different controller designs. So I take back my original statements since it seems like this hoodie might actually spark a new console war.

You can get it from Upper Playground in XX-Large only for $90.

[ Fifty24SF Controller Hoodie ] VIA [ technabob ]

By Andrew Liszewski

I for one am more than happy to see all tape based formats eventually go the way of the Dodo. We’re not there quite yet, but we’ve made important strides towards ensuring their extinction. But if for some reason you really miss audio cassettes, wearing this tie will remind everyone who sees it that you’re not willing to let the 80’s go, and that you have terrible taste in ties.

It’s made of 100% silk and only comes in black with a pattern of small white audio cassettes all over it. You can get it from House Of Cassette for $103. You may also want to keep an eye out for the upcoming 8-Track tie, the MiniDisc tie and of course the HD-DVD aka ‘obvious joke’ tie.

[ Cassette Tie ] VIA [ Cool Hunting ]

By Luke Anderson

Are you one of those people that must always be listening to your iPod? I’m horrible about using mine, I always think that I’ll use it, but I rarely find the need. I’m usually in my car or at my desk, both of which have an ample supply of music. However, for those that are outdoors a lot, possibly walking or jogging, you’ll love this Tooks Beanie which features a built-in headset.

The beanie looks rather normal, except for the two circles for the speakers, and the cord running down the back. I probably wouldn’t wear this if I were just going out somewhere, but those that like to exercise in the cold might get some use out of it. The Took Beanie comes in six different colors and will set you back $25.

[ EpicOutfit ] VIA [ ChipChick ]

By Andrew Liszewski

There’s no reason anyone should be ashamed of playing video games, but at the same time you can be too enthusiastic about your hobby. Gaming themed t-shirts are ok, but I’m not sure who’d you be impressing by wearing a pair of Space Invaders themed briefs.

They’re made from 95% cotton with 5% elastane, are machine washable and are available in about 5 or 6 different sizes up to a 38-40 waist. So every armchair athlete who sits around in their undies all day playing video games should be glad to know there’s now an official uniform for their sport. (Even though they’ll have to stitch their own name and number on the back.)

They’re available at Ted Baker which is a UK based department store that also has an online store. The Space Invaders themed ‘Stalite’ underpants will set you back about $35.

[ Ted Baker Stalite ] VIA [ Wonderland ]

By Andrew Liszewski

If you’ve ever taken apart a clock because you were curious as to what made it tick, then you’ll probably be just as fascinated with these mechanical luxury belt buckles from designer Roland Iten. The buckles are made in Switzerland the same way a high quality watch is produced, and the manufacturing process can take anywhere from 9-18 months.

As a result the solid gold version pictured on the left will set you back $25,000 while a steel and gold version, pictured in the close-ups on the right is a bit more affordable at $15,000. If you’ve got the money and a pair of pants that won’t stay up the full collection will be launched in April of this year according to Born Rich.

[ Roland Iten’s Complicated Mechanical Belt Buckle ] VIA [ Born Rich ]

By Andrew Liszewski

While they might look like they came from a grade 6 science fair project, the Z-CoiL line of shoes are apparently very real. Their most striking feature, the Z-CoiL itself, is made of steel and serves two purposes. First, it slows the rate of impact experienced by the body when taking a step, since it absorbs a lot of that energy as the coil is compressed. Then as the foot moves forward to take the next step that energy in the coil is released, giving you a small boost.

Unfortunately the shoes just look plain ridiculous, and I’d gladly choose to live with any pain if the alternative involved me wearing these things in public. Maybe the running shoe version could be useful as a way to intimidate another athlete, since they look like they enhance your jumping ability about 100 fold, but if you walk into a job interview wearing the dress shoe version, you’re walking out unemployed.

The Z-CoiL equipped shoes are available directly from the company’s stores, and you’re looking at about $200 for running shoes, $220 for dress shoes and $190 for sandals. I would probably recommend the Titanium Spring Insoles from Hammacher Schlemmer as a cheaper alternative.

[ Z-CoiL Shoes ] VIA [ Geekologie ]

By Andrew Liszewski

New Era has definitely found a profitable market when it comes to sports fans or urban fashion, but it’s hard to ignore the ridiculous amounts of money being spent on video games every year. So the company is introducing a series of classic-gaming themed caps that I’m sure I’ll be seeing on the heads of hipsters all around town. The Pacman series features Pacman himself, a red cherry or 3 ghosts while the Space Invaders series includes the iconic aliens.

You can find them all here for about $55 each, and if you buy one just do me a favor and take off that ridiculous gold sticker before you wear it. (It’s not actually real gold.)

[ New Era Pacman & Space Invaders Caps ] VIA [ ALBOTAS ]

By Andrew Liszewski

A while ago I wrote about a Hip and Shoulder Holster that provided an alternative way to carry a small collection of gadgets and other accessories without your pockets bulging. Well it’s been brought to my attention that there’s an even better, if slightly less subtle solution called the Grabit Pack. It uses a belt like a fanny pack (and yes, I’m familiar with the other uses of the term ‘fanny’) but hangs down the side of your leg instead. And for added security and to prevent it from bouncing around, it actually attaches to your thigh with another smaller belt.

I’ll be quite honest that I would never use something like this for my day to day misadventures, but I can see many opportunities where it could be quite handy. Specifically when it comes to physical activities where a backpack would be too cumbersome, but there’s still the risk of things falling out of your pocket. And because of where the Grabit Pack sits, it doesn’t interfere with something like a tool belt if you’re a carpenter, and actually makes it easier to access its contents. In fact, dare I say it seems like the perfect accessory for wandering around the CES show floor keeping your phone, camera and other gadgets easily accessible.

The Grabit Pack is available directly from the company’s website for just $23. Unfortunately at the moment the right side version is sold out, which is actually good news for south paws.

[ Grabit Pack ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Here’s the perfect way to blow all that money you got for Christmas, stay warm, and make all of your Nintendo fanboy friends jealous. This 1-UP Mushroom Scarf is hand crocheted by someone calling themselves ‘UrbanPrincess’ on Etsy and is actually available for sale on a made-to-order basis.

The scarf is 5 1/2 inches wide and over 6 feet long, giving you a healthy chain of extra lives in case something were to happen. And since each one is made-to-order, you can actually request a different color mushroom if extra lives aren’t your thing. Just keep in mind this is a hand-made item that takes a long time to make, which is reflected in the price. While the scarves were originally sold at an introductory price of $95, they have since gone up to $150.

[ Custom 1-UP Mushroom Crochet Scarf ] VIA [ DS Fanboy ]

By Luke Anderson

I’ve never been a military guy, though several of my family members have served their time in the line of fire. Apparently one of the biggest causes for death on the battlefield comes from blood loss occurring from an injury. Tourniquets are a huge help in this department, but they aren’t always readily available, and if the soldier is alone, it can be difficult to administer depending on the injury. However, these new Tourniquet Pants could save countless lives with their unique way of storing them.

These pants, along with the matching top each feature four separate tourniquets which are strategically located to maximize their potential. The tourniquets can be constricted immediately with only the use of a single hand. The pants aren’t cheap, coming in at around $200, but in the line of duty, money really doesn’t much matter.

[ Blackhawk ] VIA [ Crave ]