$300 OR UNDER

Fri, Dec 18, 2009

Big Sound, Little ‘Phones

The new Beats by Dre Solo: same thick bass, sonic clarity, and smooth style as the originals, but in a smaller, more portable package. [$200; beatsbydre.com]

The Fix is In

The Brooks Tool Roll has barely changed since its debut in 1914 — it’s everything a bicyclist needs to tune his ride, in vegetable-tanned bovine hide. [$186; brooksengland.com]

Baby Seat

That slot in the Watershed-leather surface of the Selle An-Atomica Titanico LD saddle reduces pressure on the perineal nerves, facilitating a comfortable riding position, as well as procreation. [$180; selleanatomica.com]-

Style for Miles

For the cyclist who rides in bad weather, the Rapha Bomber jacket is key: Its tailored torso is made of Schoeller 3xDry, which blocks rain and cold wind while wicking away sweat. [$290; rapha.cc]

Mobile Library

Why the Sony Reader Pocket Edition over the connected Kindle? It’s cheaper, smaller, and easily integrates with Overdrive.com (for borrowing e-books from your local library). [$200; sonystyle.com]

Goggles That Save Face

A skeletal frame in the Oakley Simon Dumont Splice goggles takes pressure off the bridge of the nose and distributes it across the face. No more slope-induced headaches. [$160; oakley.com]

Custom Chopper

The hand-painted Tennessee hickory handles on Best Made Co. axes appeal to the man who likes his plaid shirt with a tailored fit. [from $250; bestmadeco.com]

Cook’s Kit

The Indigofera Selvage Apron’s raw denim will look even better with steak-juice stains. [$117; caliroots.com] Made from 64 layers of stainless nickel steel, the Shun Bob Kramer Meiji 6-inch knife is a kitchen scalpel. [$250; williams-sonoma.com] The John Boos Octagonal Culinary Block’s end-grain construction won’t dull pricey knives. [$199; johnboos.com]

Rainy-Day Style

The cailux linen–covered wood case and monochromatic panache of the Dal Negro Backgammon Set is a reminder that board games are much more than child’s play. [$220; zontikgames.com]