As the year comes to an end, thoughts of Christmas come to mind. In short, I start thinking about spending money on material possessions (as always). If you’re like me, you are looking at items to buy (mostly for you). Or for someone. You are imagining how cool you’ll look. You think about the marginal gains you will acquire. You imagine all the fake likes you will get. You envision your growth in your continually evolving personality. You base your identity on that sweet new item you’ve just purchased. It’s going to change your life. Or that’s what you’ve been manipulated to think through psychological marketing experts. Just kidding, sort of. Oh wait, I completely forgot. This is a gift for someone else, not you.
This article will introduce some items that have piqued my interest for 2025. The goal of this article is to reveal items that you may not have known existed. The items are also from brands I like, styles I want, and what makes my personality. I love reading a brand’s mission statement. I love reading their back story, and I especially enjoy it when I can relate to the brand’s values. Of course, it actually has to help me or the product is useless to me. If you’ve visited my website or watched my YouTube videos, we probably share similar tastes and I hope you are filled with newfound knowledge. Let’s do this.
1. POC PROCEN AIR ROAD HELMET & SMITH JETSTREAM TT MIPS HELMET
image taken from Smith’s website
Helmets are cool. TT/Aero Helmets are even cooler. They protect your head and give you those sweet marginal gains that you need. Instead of losing that weight, you put those bad boys on and you’re flying. The problem with TT/aero helmets is that they can get warm quickly due to their design (minimal ventilation). For examaple, I was gifted a Project RUDY helmet. I noticed how hot it got during a 20-minute ride.
image taken from POC’s website
There are two TT/aero helmets that interest me. The POC Procen Air Road Cycling Helmet and The Smith Jetstream TT MIPS helmet. I’m hoping to pick one up during a sale. This item may interest you, or it might not. Acquiring it is not high on my priority list. It is low-key cool (debating on who you ask). I do triathlons, and the helmet caters to my needs but I don’t see it as a must have. What really caught my attention was seeing Lachlan win Dirty Kanza with POC’s Procen air helmet. The dude wore a TT helmet in a hard-core gravel race. That’s super cool.
2. MAAP & côte & ciel Saru BACKPACK
MAAP is probably my favorite cycling brand. I love their well-fitted kits and tested durability, as evidenced by my carefully selected minimal pieces I own. My abusive lifestyle makes clothes have a limited time on this earth. MAAP can handle my abuse and increase the age. Additionally, their collaborations with other brands are always exciting and provide a unique hypebeast type approach. They recently collaborated with cote & ciel, a backpack company I love. I fell in love with the brand years ago for their ISAR Obisidian and Nile Obisidian backpacks. One of my favourite YouTubers talked about it. Another cool review.
I was casually looking on MAAP’s site and saw this beauty, the Saru. I would love to buy this, but I already own enough backpacks. If it goes on sale, maybe i’ll get it. I can only justify this if I become a permanent commuter by cycling to work. I have tons of backpacks already and can use the money in other areas. I still want it.
Late November 2025 update: I’m going to get it but I will reach out to maap for a discount. Looking at the size, it’s a little small for my liking.
3. SPEEDLAN RUNNING SHOE: GS:TMT
Image taken from SPeedland’s website
Look at that beauty. A shoe that looks different, looks super comfortable, has a sweet design, and uses the BOA locking system. The downside is that the shoe is very expensive. It is difficult for me to make this purchase (especially after buying Solomon’s Ultra Dust). To the best of my knowledge, it is also a brand that lacks significant recognition. I’ve heard about it but not to the point where it is a giant like Nike or Hoka.
In contrast to what I said, I’m all for being an early adopter. I haven’t read many reviews on it but the shoe just looks so slick. It is hard to not like the shoe. Their shoes also seem to sellout too. I also love looking at brands that get very specific. This brand does that. You know that’s their main focus and therefore there’s attention to detail. This brand feels so right. Their story is also impressive and puts in strength to what they are selling. A $275.00 American dollar shoe is nothing to laugh at though.
4. Oakley Kato
I saw this while watching GerritKnein’s YouTube video, check him out. This is the coolest pair of shades I’ve seen. After losing my Stussy shades while on a bike ride, I’ve been contemplating on buying a new pair of high end shades. I’d have to try these before buying though.
At this time, this is all I have on my radar, I might update this before the end of the year.