Journal Bandolier:There's been something of a move back to paper diaries and journals from smartphone digital organisers.
Even meaningless doodlings in a notebook might suggest something of merit being recorded, whereas as peering into one’s Blackberry or iPhone can somehow hint at the life-wasting distractions of an addict.
The Journal Bandolier is about as old-school as you can get for travels with your notepad. Made with reclaimed rubber and elastic, it’s simple and nerdishly practical. With seven loops for your full range of coloured pens and different softnesses of pencil, it’s geek chic for 2012.
The standard version is made for the mid-sized Moleskin, the gold standard for notebooks, but will fit larger, and there’s another option with Velcro fastening if you’re looking for a custom solution. Of course, you could embrace the back-to-basics ethos entirely and fashion your own.
€15 from etsy.com
Steelcase Walkstation
This will be the week to test all our well-intentioned vows to get more exercise. Steelcase has a mad answer: walk at work with its Walkstation.
It’s a standing workstation with an integrated treadmill. Oh yes, and I share that vision of the hamster pedalling away furiously and going nowhere fast.
The treadmill here is calibrated to go only at low speeds, with a maximum of two miles per hour (compared to a comfortable regular walking speed of about 3mph/5kph). The motor is “whisper-quiet”, but it doesn’t mention anything about panting or under-breath cursing. The profanity might be louder at the price, given you could have five years’ gym membership for just one Walkstation.
$4,500 from details-worktools.com
Kahuna Snow Stick
With a name like Kahuna, it’s no surprise that this idea comes from Hawaii, where the company is an innovator in surfing technology. A couple of years ago, it went all land-lubber with the launch of a skateboard and long paddle pole combination, that let you punt and push your way along terra firma. Now it is introducing one for snowboarders.
The Snow Stick is an adjustable pole based on the stand-up surf paddle. This one’s blade is a polycarbonate grip paddle with a series of teeth. The pole itself is aluminium. The Snow Stick allows you to go cross-country on horizontal terrain where there’s not enough slope to board, with an action like a snow-bound gondolier. Kahuna claims it’ll also make it easier for beginners to get started and to carve deeper if you’re an old boot on a board. Needless to say, members of the die-hard skiing fraternity who wouldn’t touch a snow board with a barge pole are already fretting that this is like arming the enemy.
Kahuna Snow Stick, $119 from kahunacreations.com