We Talked To Todd Snyder About His New L.L.Bean Collection, the Perfect Partnership for Fall 2020

There are few brands more quintessentially American than L.L.Bean. The Maine-based outdoor recreation brand is known for its incredible catalog, cozy fleeces, iconic duck boots, and for otherwise being an institution when it comes to outfitting people for Mother Nature’s worst (and best). As great of a heritage brand as it is, L.L. Bean might not be the first retailer you’d expect to be part of a hot new designer collaboration, and yet, that didn’t stop New York City designer Todd Snyder from diving in with both feet.

L.L.Bean opened its historic archive to Snyder, who then reimagined some of the brand’s most iconic designs for modern times. Released on October 30, some of our favorite looks from the collection are already selling out. (You can shop the whole line at Todd Snyder.)

“It’s a big deal for me,” Snyder told SPY over email. “I think like most people, I’ve been a fan of L.L.Bean for my whole life. I could have never imagined that I would be here now, that I would be allowed to visit the archives, that’s insane!”

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The Best Nintendo Switch Carrying Cases to Keep Your Console Secure on the Road

The Nintendo Switch is probably my favorite game console on the market right now. Between the first-party exclusives, wonderful indies, and the ability to take a console with me on the go, the system has been my travel buddy time and time again. But with a system that nice and handy, you’ll want to be sure to protect it from the rough and tumble conditions of traveling, which is why investing in a Nintendo Switch carrying case is key.

Ideally constructed out of durable material (EVA foam, leather, or otherwise) with room for accessories and a few games, most carrying cases are pretty straight forward. It mostly comes down to what you’re looking for on the exterior and how much interior space you want to carry other things. However, we’ve rounded up nine different options for you to make gaming on the go even easier.

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Make Quick Work of Fall Mess With These 8 Leaf Vacuums

Fall, for all its beauty, is a real pain if you have a yard. All those leaves are certainly gorgeous to look at but decidedly less so if they’re covering your yard and preventing grass from growing effectively. Sure, you can use a blower to push them into piles, but you still have to dispose of them one way or another. And cleaning them up by hand can take forever, which is where a leaf vacuum can be a huge time saver.

As evidenced by its name, leaf vacuums suck up all those leaves into a bag to make disposal even easier. Some leaf vacuums also include a blower and shredder functionality. You can switch between to make the entire clean-up process move much faster. All of our selections are electric, which means you don’t need to worry about getting gas to fill it up or bother with extra weight. Instead, get an extension cord or charge a battery pack, and you’ll be all set. Here are eight of our favorites to help you clean up your yard in no time and get back to enjoying the beauty of fall.

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The Best 4K Blu-Ray Players for Your Favorite Physical Media

As great as streaming services are, there’s still a time and a place for physical media in 2020. Whether you’re collecting the Criterion Collection, have a robust Steelbook compilation, or want to make sure you can watch your favorite TV show without worrying about whether or not it’s on Netflix, investing in a physical media player is essential. And the best of the best is a 4K player.

You might know that Blu-ray players are high-definition media players, but a 4K player is a step above HD. In fact, 4K is also known as Ultra High Definition (UHD) and provides more clarity, more color, and an overall better quality image for your favorite piece of media. If you have or are planning to get a 4K TV, this is the physical player you’ll need to purchase to get the most out of your TV.

The desire for physical media is decreasing, so there aren’t as many companies making 4K players as there once was for DVD players. You’ll see a few brands repeated here, but each fulfills a specific need. With all that said, here are the seven best 4K Blu-Ray players to buy right now.

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10 of 2020’s Best Fleece Jackets to Curl Up In This Winter

Fleece jackets are kind of like a cheat code for winter weather. A longstanding stalwart of the outdoor world, fleeces are decidedly comfy, staggeringly warm, and full of character, making them great to wear while in the great outdoors. They’ve found a function outside of the woods, as the inherent technical nature of fleece makes them great for kicking it around town as well.

Fleece is made from finely woven polyester fibers into a light fabric that’s then brushed to give it both thickness and texture. The result is unparalleled warmth and that overall cozy feel. Entirely synthetic, it also has a bit of moisture-wicking properties, which make it great for variable weather conditions.

Regardless of whether you’re on the trail or just hanging on the sofa, you’ll want to do it in a fleece this winter. Here are 10 of our favorites to buy now.

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Your Pup Deserves a Comfy Bed, too — These Are the Best Dog Beds to Get

If there’s one thing dog owners love more than their dogs, it’s spoiling them whenever possible. And one of the most important ways to do that is by getting a really nice dog bed.

Sure, you could let your dog sleep on the floor or the couch but providing a safe and cushioned place for your pup is just as critical as it is for you to sleep in a bed. Plus, making sure they’ve got the proper cushion and support, especially as they age, is absolutely critical.

With all this in mind, we’ve found 10 of the best dog beds on the market to ensure your dog has the best bed available. Here are our favorites from lounge beds for aging dogs to big splurges and even easy to travel with beds.

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Winter Weather Will Never Be a Problem With These 10 Snow Boots

When you were a kid, you prayed for a snow day so you could toss on your snow boots and go sledding. As an adult you pray there isn’t a snowmageddon heading your way as you try to make it to work. Clunking around in snow boots while commuting or shoveling the walk isn’t fun. When you’re shopping for men’s snow boots, it seems that you must sacrifice warmth for waterproofines, or vice versa. Not anymore. We’ve done a ton of research and found quality snow boots, the best snow boots for men as a matter of fact, that will keep your feet warm, dry, and as comfortable as your favorite plaid shirt.

While these boots won’t make you as nimble as a mountain goat leaping across alpine crevasses, they do provide grip so that you won’t fall on your butt if it’s icy out. And these snow boots for men are ruggedly stylish; they’ll look awesome when worn with cords or jeans. We’ve rounded up our 10 favorite men’s snow boots that’ll last from this winter to the next one. Scroll on through to find the best snow boots for any winter terrain.

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Tracksmith’s Fall 2020 Collection Will Help You Conquer the Elements

There are a lot of benefits to running outside. Whether it’s just to get away from the monotonous nature of treadmill running or to just (literally) have a change of scenery, a good jog in the fresh air can do wonders for changing up the routine of a run. Yet with the great outdoors comes the unpredictability of Mother Nature, which means you’ll need clothes to match.

Running brand Tracksmith is looking to help you push past nature’s worst with their new Off Roads collection for fall and winter. While the collection was geared around trail running, there’s still plenty of great pieces to help you make the most of your run even when the weather is at its worst. Tracksmith has already created some highly technical pieces for the average run, but Off Roads sees them elevate their game once more.

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