Dapper Scout – A lifestyle web magazine for men

The editors at DS often get asked for a good watch recommendation at a reasonable price.  Though we feel this market continues to be underserved, there are a handful of watch brands that manage to deliver both quality and design without becoming the one outlier of a credit card charge on your billing statement.  We’ve always been fans of Timex with their history of producing durable and dependable watches, and with the launch of the TX line in particular, they’ve further enhanced the styling and engineering behind their timepieces without unreasonably elevating their price point.  And with the two Timex watches below, you could probably buy one with the cash in your pocket, while the other would be on par with the cost of your bar tab from a couple weekend’s worth of shenanigans.

Item A.

Timex Camper (available at Timex for $35): with a nylon strap, luminescent hands/markers and water resistance up to 30 meters, the Timex Camper is direct, rugged, takes a licking, and keeps on…you get the picture.

Item B.

TX 730 Series Classic Fly-Back Chronograph (available at Timex for $550): on somewhat of the opposite end of the design spectrum, the TX 730 Series features multifunctional movement with a compass, tachymeter, date and four-hour fly-back chronograph functionality, housed in a slick aviation-inspired case (and the fact that it’s blacked out certainly doesn’t hurt either). 

Adventure, Gear, Outdoors, Watches

When you hear the term “light SUV,” images of the suburban doldrums typically come to mind: errands, grocery shopping, carpooling, etc.  With the Brabus GLK V12 (available from Brabus for approximately $540,000), any proconceived notion you may have held in your fragile mind regarding that classification gets permanently obliterated.  With a 12 cylinder twin turbo engine churning out 750 hp, the Brabus GLK V12 hits 60 mph in just 4.2 seconds and tops out at 211 mph, making it the fastest street-legal SUV in the world.  With specialized modifications to the front and rear fascia, the addition of fender flares, custom-tailored rocker panels with LED lights as well as a coilover sport suspension, high-performance brakes and fully leather interior, the Brabus GLK V12 is more than just a tuner SUV—it’s the singular embodiment of unadulterated power and strategic engineering.  One look and it’s readily apparent that this sleek, yet absolute beast of a vehicle is meant for anything but the carpool lane.

Automobiles, Gear, Trucks

We love our modified Holga camera and all the anticipation that comes with developing a roll of film in the hopes of having taken unexpectedly striking photographs.  That said, we can appreciate the same type of highly contrasted color and pleasantly unpredictable image quality that’s captured with the immediacy of digital technology by the Superheadz Digital Harinezumi Still/Video Camera 2.0 (available at Freestyle Photographic Supplies for $170).  With a live-view approach to shooting photography and video, the Digital Harinezumi reawakens your ability to recognize and react to your environment as you document images on a still life basis or with movement and sound.  The Harinezumi’s video quality is particularly evocative given its resemblance to Super 8 movies (think of the opening credit scenes from The Wonder Years).  And as the Digital Harinezumi is especially compact (9cm x 3cm x 3.5cm), for those of you who have to have a camera/video camera wherever you go, there’s no reason you should leave home without one.

Cameras, Gear, Video Cameras

There’s nothing quite like owning (and driving) a Porsche.  But until that elusive convergence of a serious bonus and promotion comes through, we’ll be more than happy daydreaming about one, as the Etón Porsche Design P’9120 Tabletop Stereo System (available at Saks Fifth Avenue for $800) fills our room with the sounds of solace.  Embodying Etón’s technical expertise with the engineering prowess and powerful design statement reminiscent of its four-wheeled cousins, the Etón Porsche Design P’9120 is the tabletop stereo system that does a little bit of everything.  Both a radio (AM/FM/shortwave/XM Satellite-ready) and an iPod dock, the P’9120 channels your music with clarity and power through its three full-range speakers and subwoofer.  An OLED display keeps you informed of what setting you’re on, whether you’re making adjustments using the manual dials (placed around the three speakers) or the remote control.  Though it may not take you from 0 to 60 mph in 4 seconds, this Etón Porsche Design stereo system will immediately move you in many other ways (just while stationary for the most part).

Electronics, Gear, iPod Accessories, Loft, Music System

Sure, we’ve seen a few nooks and Kindles here and there.  But we’re anticipating things will be quite different once the Apple iPad (available at Apple starting from $499) begins shipping in March.  With the iPad, you not only get to choose from almost 140,000 apps, including the iBooks app (which lets you read and buy books), but you also have access to features such as the web, email, music (iTunes and the iPod app), photos and video, resulting in an experience that no eBook reader could hope to match.  With its high-resolution, 9.7-inch LED-backlit IPS display, the iPad delivers an amazingly clear picture with a wide 178° viewing angle and brilliant color contrast.  The Multi-Touch technology has been updated for the larger surface area to ensure accuracy and responsiveness while the iPad itself is exceptionally light and portable, weighing just 1.5 lbs and measuring 0.5 inch thin.  Available in both a wireless and 3G model, the iPad enables you to take full advantage of every feature and app available with a battery life of up to 10 hours (while in use).  Nobody has yet to experience life with an iPad but we can just imagine that very few of us are going to be able to live without one.

Books, Electronics, Gear

There’s something about the glossy, monolith-like aesthetic of the Parrot Zikmu Wireless Speakers by Philippe Starck (available at Saks Fifth Avenue for $1,600) that brings to mind Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey.  Granted, the resemblance to the 2001 monolith only extends about halfway down the speakers before they fluidly extend into a striking base that appears to float above ground.  Like all of Philippe Starck’s innovative endeavors, the Parrot Zikmu Wireless Speakers are incredibly executed and defy the typical convention of speaker design in both form and function.  Using NXT technology to deliver 360° room-filling sound, the Parrot Zikmu is able to adapt to the individual acoustics of any room, regardless of size, as it delivers stunningly clear sound.  While you can use the iPod/iPhone dock directly, the Parrot Zikmu’s wireless capabilities also let you stream music from your PC using Wi-Fi technology or from your Mac using Bluetooth technology.  Whichever means you choose, when it comes to seamlessly and consummately experiencing your music from any point in your room, the Parrot Zikmu is the evocative choice for design fanatics and audiophiles alike.

Electronics, Gear, iPhone Accessories, iPod Accessories, Music System

The hat trick.  The trifecta.  The trinity.  There’s always been something sublime and utterly complete about things that come in threes.  With the Suunto Elementum (price TBA), you’re able to choose from three separate watch lines that equip you to handle the elements while exploring: Aqua (for diving), Terra (for outdoor expedition) and Ventus (for sailing).  All three share a ruggedly modern aesthetic and a bevy of features specifically designed to ensure your safety and survival, whether measuring dive depth, reading barometric pressure and trend, or providing 3D compass directions.  In addition, every Elementum is made of corrosion-resistant stainless steel and has a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective coating, while being water resistant from 100m to 200m, depending on the model.  You can also choose from steel, leather, and rubber straps in various colors, allowing you to personalize your Elementum to fit your sense of style while roughing it in the great outdoors.

Adventure, Gear, Outdoors, Watches

It’s hard to improve upon near-perfection.  But the Aston Martin Carbon Black Special Editions (i.e. the V12 Vantage, pictured, and the DBS) compellingly prove it can be done.  It starts with a custom Carbon Black metallic paint that has a depth of color that’s both aqueous and luminous at the same time.  The carbon theme extends beyond the finish as side strakes, anodized black tread plates and sill plaques all share a common carbon bond.  Even the seats are constructed from Carbon Fiber and Kevlar for a combination of lightness and strength, while the interior is swathed in the aptly named Obsidian Black leather, which is further accented by hand-sewn silver stitches.  10 spoke diamond-turned alloy wheels round out the myriad trims and options available, making either of the two Carbon Black Special Editions, the Aston Martin of choice for those who value the inimitable aesthetic power of black carbon.

Automobiles, Gear, Sports Cars

Whether its signature form reminds you of the famed airship it’s named after or the head of a certain baby on a Fox animated series, there’s no question that the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin iPod Speaker (available at Saks Fifth Avenue for $600) is nonpareil in its design.  Using the same technology standards as the audio equipment found in premier recording studios, the Zeppelin exhibits uncompromised form and function in one  iPod speaker whose performance is just as stunning as its appearance.  Every aspect of the Zeppelin reflects a dedication to design with purpose, from the spring-loaded docking port that allows the user to grasp the iPod in hand, to the placement of the tweeters on the narrow ends of the speaker to maximize the dispersion of the tiny high-frequency waves.  And with three high-quality amplifiers and an internal subwoofer driver, the Zeppelin iPod Speaker generates an acoustic performance that not only surpasses what most iPod docks are capable of, but also rivals what you’d hear from high-end component systems with an experience you can see, hear and feel.

Electronics, Gear, iPod Accessories, Music System

There’s only one thing that drives you these days and it has little to do with advancing your career, being a better man or losing that extra weight you’ve put on these past few years.  Let’s face it—it’s all about golf.  You read about it.  You watch it.  You play it with a passion that borders on obsession.  Every vacation you plan is predicated on whether there’s a course nearby you haven’t played yet.  Whether the playing conditions are idyllic or life-threatening, your single-minded focus on improving your game pushes you to lengths that leave most fair-weather golfers indoors and complacent.  And if there’s one tool you need to get your golf swing back on track and elevate your game, it’s the iSwing iPhone App (available on the iTunes App Store for $5).

The iSwing is the simple but highly innovative swing analyzer you can take with you wherever you go (as long as you’ve got an iPhone).  With its built-in recorder, the iSwing records your golf swing and allows you to play it back frame-by-frame, in slow motion, in a repeated playback loop or in the newly released Motion Echo setting.  You can also draw in lines over your swing to check the angle of your swing plane, and the iSwing lets you share a frame-by-frame sequence photo via Facebook Connect and E-mail as well as store your recordings/sequences in a diary by date and time.  Whether you’re a novice or scratch golfer, the iSwing can help you analyze, refine and adjust your swing (on the go) in ways like never before.

Gear, iPhone App, Leisure