About 2 months ago, images of the new 2010 Leatherman tools were leaked on the internet. Leatherman quickly got to work and had the images removed from just about every source they could find. Since then, I’ve been waiting on the Leatherman website to feature the new tools. The update has yet to come although the 2010 dealer catalogs do, in fact, feature the new tools.

In any regard, here’s the leaked photos… I am really interested in seeing the “Style CS” tool in person. My sources say that it’s 2.68″ long when closed, features a 1.6″ blade, and weighs in at 1.45 oz.

Enjoy the sneak peek.

On the 1st of March 1965, Omega’s Speedmaster chronograph was “flight-qualified by NASA for all manned space missions.” From that point forward, the Speedmaster became a coveted watch by collectors and watch abusers alike. To put it frank, the Speedmaster is a tool watch with the looks of a highly refined and swiss fashion watch. To me, it’s perfection.

While the general appearance of the Speedmaster has gone unchanged, the movement has gone through a number of revisions. The first series of watches were powered by a work horse manual wind movement while the newer watches are moved by gorgeous automatic units. I’d love to have one from just about any generation, but a beat up early model would suit me just fine.

Of course, money is the issue. New watches are out of this world price-wise, but older units can be had for around $1500 on eBay. In each case, my wallet just isn’t quite fat enough to withstand the pressure. I’ve never jumped on one despite my love…

I have, however, always looked for hommages that cary the same look of the Speedmaster but don’t bring the same price tag. My favorite is the Seiko SND729. This particular Seiko is based off of the company’s 7T92 quartz movement. It’s a quality piece that keeps accurate time and can be cheaply produced. I’ve always felt that automatic watches are more fun to own, but there is also some merit to being able to just grab a watch and go - the SND729 allows you to do that. It’s convenient.

I any case, the SND729 features a 41mm case (43mm with crown) and 21mm lugs (20 or 22mm NATO straps fit just fine thank you). The face isn’t a knock-off of the Speedmaster, but hints at its heritage and is extremely clean and easy to read. And while my thirst for Omega’s finest hasn’t been quenched, this little Seiko has certainly kept me satisfied until my dream can one day be realized.

If you are into the Speedy like me but don’t have the funds, give this little number a shot. They are a bit hard to find in the American market, but if you are patient you can usually pick one up on eBay for less than $150.

During the closing days of the Vietnam war, a new watch was born. Members of the SEALs, Green Berets, and other Special Forces teams were issued what many consider to be the finest military timepiece ever produced. Today, we call it the Benrus Type I watch. The Type I was a very simple dive watch built to be easily readable and absolutely bulletproof. The 42mm steel watch was powered by a very high quality 17 jewel ETA automatic movement - an extremely robust and very accurate machine. Packaged with the simple exterior, this watch quickly became a favorite amongst military folks and collectors alike.

I’ve loved the Benrus Type I since the first time I laid eyes on it and have always wanted one, but the collectors have put this one out of my reach. Often these tool watches are seen up for grabs at well over $1500 and while I consider them to be worth that, I’d be hard pressed to find the expendable income. As such, I started looking for a suitable homage of sorts. Enter the Ollech & Wajs Cobra.

O&W was started in 1956 with an eye on sports watches. Their rugged construction and good looks made them popular with fellas in militaries all over the world. The advent of the cheap quartz movement, however, put them out of business in the 1970’s. In the 1990’s, the company came back under the leadership of family and they’ve been kicking out some pretty impressive tool watches ever since.

The Cobra is a newer watch by O&W and appears to be heavily inspired by the Benrus Type I. It features a 40mm (43mm with the crown) bead blasted case and the honorable ETA 2824-2 automatic movement. For those not in the know, the 2824 is a work horse of a movement proven to be very reliable and flexible. In fact, this very movement can be found in many watches costing thousands of dollars more than the Cobra. Put frankly, it’s a serious selling point.

As for that bead blasted case, it’s simply gorgeous… O&W is quickly becoming one of my favorite brands simply because their attention to detail is so apparent in all of their offerings. Finish is great, the seams are seamless, the lum is respectable, etc… It’s just hard to beat them for the price.

And what about the dough? New Cobras are offered by Gnomon Watches for $440. Certainly, that’s not a price to sniff at… 400 bones is 400 bones and that’s a lot of scratch. However, if you are into the Benrus and find yourself with the need for a super high quality auto, the Cobra is one hell of a value. And if you are patient, you can pick one up on the used market for less than $300. That’s the route I went and I couldn’t be happier.

The best boot I’ve ever owned is a Red Wing 1178. I bought a pair when I was 17 years old. I am now 34 years old and while they’ve been resoled four or five times, I still wear the Red Wings almost every day. However, in the past few months the leather has finally started to give way - my socks are peaking.

As such, I decided it was time for a new boot. In the interest of adventure, I decided to try a pair of the new Wolverine 1ooo Mile Boots (Burton). Essentially, these boots were manufactured using the same patterns and materials that Wolverine used in the early 1900’s. They are spendy and a bit trendy (ironically), but the marketing got me.

I received the boots three days ago and was immediately impressed by the quality. My favorite Red Wings are affordable and made for hard work. As such, the attention to detail isn’t significant - they are brute over fancy. These Wolverines were built with love and it’s obvious - the stitching is gorgeous, the leather is simple amazingly, and even the laces are waxed to perfection. They look and feel handmade.

Comfort? Again, unbelievable… Typically, it takes a few weeks to break in a boot. These are cush right out of the box and completely wearable all day long.

The question of “staying power” remains… I hesitate to think these could outlast my venerable 1178’s, but I’m gonna give it a shot.

Editor’s note: If you are in Austin, you can check out a pair in person at The Luther Store.

Check this craziness out… It’s the world’s first multi-tool created by Romans in 200AD. It’s made from silver, but has an iron blade and features a spoon, fork, spike, spatula, and a small tooth-pick. The clever litte device was extracted from the Mediterranean about 20 years ago and now resides in a museum.

As you all know, I’m a watch freak. Mostly, I’m into both modern and vintage military watches. The great thing about vintage military watches is the feeling they give on the wrist - you are wearing history. Of course, some of those watches just don’t keep on tickin…

The great thing about modern military watches is that some of them are absolutely indestructible. Sure, they don’t give the same feeling of history as a vintage watch and some of them look a little too gadgety to my eye, but their functionality is hard to beat.

Enter Mk II watches. Essentially, these guys custom build watches to your order using a menu based system. They feature vintage inspired cases and modern movements. I’m in love with the Blackwater pictured above. Maybe you can find something you dig.

Check them out.

I admit it, I was skeptical… The whole idea behind the Amazon Kindle seems kind of “before its time” to me. Serious reading from a gadget? I bought one anyway…

Mine arrived about three weeks ago and since then I’ve read three books on it. The shape and form is amazingly comfortable in your hand. No more do you have to worry about what side of the book your reading and how to adjust your body to compensate. It’s sized perfectly (although Amazon does offer the larger DX) and it’s balanced thoughtfully.

As for the “amazing screen” that Amazon touts, it is just that. Typically, I can read a couple of hours before my eyes begin to strain. That limit has been lengthened greatly with the Kindle. I can’t put it into words, but somehow this electronic paper technology just works. It’s glorious.

The down side has always been selection… Apparently, that tide is turning. I haven’t found a single book that I’m interested in that’s not available on the Kindle. Maybe I’ve just been lucky.

In any case, this relates to EDC simply. Going on vacation and need five books to keep you company? You can either pack a separate bag just for your reading material or you can bring along your kindle in your carry on. You won’t even  need the charger… The Kindle’s battery is good for over two weeks.

I have an iPhone 3gs and my battery life is acceptable with normal use patterns. However, if I’m on the road and use my browser or check my email more often than normal, it is not uncommon for me to see less than half of my battery life left with more than half a day to go. One solution is the Mophie Juice Pack. Essentially, it’s a case for the iPhone that protects it minimally and also ads a reserve battery that effectively doubles the life of your battery.

Seems pretty smart on paper, but has anyone ever tested it out? What were the results? If no comes forward, I’ll see if I can’t get my hands on one and report back.

Check out the details here.

Looking for something incredibly overpriced, but almost justifiably cool for Christmas? Check out Temple Bags. Essentially, they take vintage WWII military materials and repurpose them into pretty bitchin’ bags, wallets, key chains, etc… Sure, it’s expensive. But damn, it’s cool.

Check it out.

This is bitchin. In 1953, the Central Intelligence Agency contracted illusionist John Mulholland to create a secret dossier of stealth and misdirection to be used by operatives in the field. All copies of the document were believed to have been destroyed in 1973, but a single copy remained… Intelligence historian H. Keith Melton and retired CIA officer Robert Wallace somehow got their mitts on the surviving copy and have reproduced it. You can buy it for about $15. RAD.

Check it out.