We were lucky enough to test a pair of Rockport x Barbour limited edition collaboration boots in the Break Trail Cap Toe design. The line will launch December 2011 as this is Rockport’s second collaboration with Barbour for footwear (they did their first collaboration last Fall 2010 season) and they expanded their collaboration to include three styles in multiple colorways.

– Break Trail Cap Toe in polar/sage colorway (Jake Gyllenhaal was recently pictured wearing the Rockport x Barbour Breaktrail Cap Toe)
– Day to Night Buckle Hi Boot in raize/sage and camel/muted tartan colorways

These are great gifts for the style conscious guy this holiday season as they can be worn to parties or outdoors. They are really that versatile! Along with the upscale design, Rockport added adiPRENE by adidas to create a stylish yet completely walkable boot. For this special collection, they also used suede leather from CF Stead which is one of the most respected tanners of suede leather in the world. Get them on your shopping list now as these Rockport x Barbour designs can be found at Bloomingdale’s, Paragon Sports (NY), The Tannery (Boston), Zappos.com and many other specialty retailers around the US.

Lugz sent us a pair of their new Broadway SR boots just in time for the winter season. Lugz has just released this new line called “The Elite Collection” that is “built for the streets.”

The rugged and stylish boots are very comfortable with a cushioned insole and padded leather tongue. The boots feature leather uppers and slip-resistant rubber soles for superior grip,and we liked the all-black look. They’re great for everyday use and you can wear them out as well with jeans. At $69.99 the boots are also a great value.

Check out the Lugz page on Facebook as Lugz is giving some away.

Guys appreciate cool gadgets, regardless of what they’re used for. Dyson has revolutionized vacuum cleaners, and now the company has an amazing portable heater that’s perfect for that cold room in your house or even your man cave.

Dyson sent us the Dyson HOT AM04, and as you can see from the photo above, this heater/fan doesn’t look like anything else on the market. The sleek design is perfect for any room in your house.

This heater/fan incorporates Air Multiplier technology by drawing in surrounding air to heat or cool a room faster than any other heater. It’s great for rooms of all sizes from dorm rooms to great rooms and you can select target temperature to the degree. It has a long range heat projection feature that let’s you feel direct heat throughout the room. Safety features include tip-over automatic cut out, and you don’t have to worry about any kind of burning smell.

It also works great as a fan when you want to cool of as it generates high airflow and velocity to cool you down.

We tried this unit in hot and cold rooms and loved it. With the holidays coming up it also make a great gift as well.

School season is in full gear, but backpacks are always a great gift idea for students of all ages. They’re also great for traveling as they can often be much more comfortable and convenient than a briefcase.

We checked out the new Expat Nylon Backpack from Incipio and were impressed. The black backpack is much more sleek and compact than some of the bulkier backpacks out there and it’s efficiently designed to take full advantage of the available space. The black nylon also gives it a more understated and professional look as well, so it’s great for students along with any professionals going to a business meeting.

The backpack is designed for laptops and getting through airport security should be very easy with the Expat. You simply unzip the back compartment, open the Velcro at the top of the padded built-in sleeve and then slide out your laptop. The internal sleeve holds up to a 15″ device.

We also liked the small zippered pocket that the top of the pack that gives you a handy spot for your smartphone. It’s lined with faux fur as well for protection, and it has a rubber pass through for headphones for easy listening or talking while you’re walking. The backpack has a ton of sleeves and compartments to carry water bottles and other stuff.

The ergonomic shoulder straps are padded and very comfortable. We loaded up the bag and it still felt great.

Overall, this backpack is both stylish and practical, and it’s a great option if you’re looking for something for yourself or as a gift this holiday season.

Of all the gadgets we’ve tested recently, the WOWee ONE Slim Portable Speaker is one of our favorites. This portable speaker works with all sorts of phones and gadgets, from iPhones and iPads to other MP3 players. It’s about the size of a deck of cards and easily plugs into any device with an audio jack. All of a sudden you can have a party.

It’s amazing how much sound can be pumped out of such a small device. The WOWee turns flat, solid surfaces like tables, counters, bumpers, hoods and truck beds into bass-filled sound systems using patented gel technology. The sound changes depending on the type of surface and you can really feel the base on some surfaces. Try it on different surfaces and see which sounds best.

It’s perfect for events like tailgates as it provides about 10 hours of tunes and can turn your grill/cooler/hood into a high-end sound system for the whole parking lot. It’s also great for impromptu parties as it can fit in your pocket, computer bag or glove compartment. Take it on a trip and have parties in your hotel room or by the pool. The possibilities are endless.

We tested the Slim Power Base version and loved the sound. You can get it at Amazon for $79.99, and other versions are even less expensive. This makes a great gift for the holidays and we highly recommend it!