NIKE Body Mapping Polo
As much as you might worry about staying dry when the weather is hot, it’s even more important when the weather is cool. Wetness wicks away body heat, and it’s a short trip from a little damp to a case of hypothermia.

So Nike’s Body Mapping system in a long sleeve polo makes a lot of sense. The shirt uses strategically placed ventilation to increase airflow and keep you nice and dry. And warm.

adidas ClimaWarm Interlock Mock

Cold weather is coming.

Green Friendly Golf Men’s Classic Series Belt

Grade: A
Teacher’s Comments: A brilliant idea

I received a Green Friendly golf belt in the mail the other day and was immediately impressed by the design and engineering. From first appearances just another fine quality leather belt, the Green Friendly Belt hides a clever secret.

As shown in the photo at left, the metal tip of the belt slides out to reveal a forked ball mark tool. On the reverse side of the tool is a small, magnetic ball marker.

It’s a wonderful idea, beautifully executed. Leaving my mark tool and ball marker behind in the car now is a thing of the past. I just make sure that I’m wearing the belt before heading to the course. It also helps keep a pointy tool from sticking me in the leg when I swing.

If there’s one concern that I have, it’s with the ball marker. It’s very small, and I’m not convinced that—over the long haul—it will stay on the back of the metal tip. It would have been much better, I think, to have figured out a way to move it to a position where it stays inside the belt until needed. I"m afraid that, as I walk about, the tip will flop and the marker will come off. It hasn’t happened yet, but ...

The Green Friendly Golf Belt would make a great gift for the golfer in your life.

LIFE IS GOOD Drive Time T-Shirt

The creator of the Life is Good series really has it good. He’s built a fortune on a stick figure that looks exactly like those my six year old produces.

TAYLORMADE Business Backpack

Grade: A

As a teacher, I’ve always got batches of paper to grade and books to read. And for years, I’ve lugged them around in a briefcase. But last spring, my student teacher convinced me that it’d all be easier to schlep with a backpack. So I bought one of these TaylorMade business backpacks.

My student teacher was right. The pack makes a whole lot more sense than a briefcase.

The TaylorMade backpack is very sturdily constructed. Every day this past spring, I stuffed it with six classes worth of papers, a textbook, my laptop, my MP3 player (I listen during my planning period), a digital camera, assorted pencils and pens, my Palm Pilot and more.  I also stuffed it full of “boy stuff” for our recent family vacation to San Diego. And in spite of all that weight, airport abuse and six months of use, it shows absolutely no sign of wear.

The thing I like most about the pack is the plethora of pockets. Inside, there’s a padded divider for the laptop and a pocket for the MP3 player. A small hole lets you pull a set of headphones through the exterior.

On the exterior, there’s a large pocket that I use to store larger loose items, and a smaller zip pocket with slots for pens and an internal zippered valuables pocket. There also are mesh pockets on the side.

I had first thought that $60 for a backpack was a lot of money, but after pricing packs for my boys for school this fall, I’ve changed my mind. The TaylorMade business pack is no more expensive, and a lot better built than most of those out there.