Jo Totes Camera HandbagThere's no doubt that, practicalities aside, there are some who take a particular pride in hefting around their DSLR cameras and assorted lenses in unrelentingly macho, multi-zippered, ballistic-black camera bags. Mostly guys it seems.
Perhaps it’s the fact that women are often already pre-loaded with a handbag that makes them less inclined to take on a second one. Thanks to Jo Totes, they won’t have to.
It has a range of apparent handbags, with rosette and pleat details, but which are in fact well-designed camera bags too.
The vintage styling of their Rose handbag, which comes in a juicy selection of colours, belies the 12mm foam protection all round inside, plus four Velcro-adjustable panels to customise the layout. This is on top of a couple of internal pockets and an outer one too.
So more than enough room for the make-up, phone, keys and whatever other mysteries populate the average handbag as well as your camera kit. Certainly plenty of space to trigger a rummage.
It comes with a strong cross-body strap and regular handles.
- Cost $89 (€63),from jototes.com.
Children's Waterski TrainerThere are a few similar products on the internet, but this seems to be the most robust of them. It's an inflatable waterski trainer that gets kids used to the basic concepts in a safe way. And great fun too.
Of course, anyone who’s brought children boarding, skating or skiing will know just how annoyingly fast they pick it up. Fearless, flexible and a low centre of gravity means they are soon zipping around with an enviable natural ease as quickly as you can say, “Put on that helmet!”
The inflatable trainer takes the uncertainty out of one of the trickier aspects to waterskiing: getting started and up. The wide, jet-ski shape here lets them settle down from the boat into a sitting position to begin with and then stand up when they’re going. Easy. Soon they’ll be cutting water like a veteran and demanding you speed it up.
The trainer has a wooden skimmer with an 800 denier inflatable top, so it’s very stable and it’s the only youth trainer approved by US Water Ski. And no, they’re only for kids.
- Cost$170 (€120), from hammacher.com.
The North Face Maya JacketMore outdoor-spec gear that's covering its tracks. This time from The North Face (oh how tempting it is to drop that definitive article). The Maya is a trench coat built for the wilds, styled for the streets.
Made out of TNF’s waterproof, breathable HyVent fabric, the sort you usually only find in their technical shells, this is a proper outdoor parka. It’s even got sealed seams and a detachable hood.
But all carried off with a flattering silhouette, trench-coat belt, storm flaps and a double-breasted front.
Not all that it seems though, as it’s actually got a heavy-duty zipper behind there to keep you dry and warm.
While the catwalk meets the forest trail with the Maya, it’s not going to signal the end of the practical, anorak-architecture of most outdoor gear: it may just mean drier shopping.
In a range of colours.
- Cost €200,from Great Outdoors and The North Face store.