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Contrary to popular belief, there are in fact at least two rhymes for "orange". Don't believe us? Watch this. But we are unconcerned with such wordplay.
We've been hunting for the very finest citrus-hued gear worthy of those looking to brighten their lives and shun the standard tech palette of black and white (or, of course, any readers hailing from The Netherlands). So, whether you are looking for the ideal beginner surfboard, the perfect carry-on or a set of the iconic speakers from the Maxell cassette advert, welcome to our very own house of orange.
A welcome antidote to the mass of functional but uninspiring wheelie bags on the market, Floyd’s hard-shell suitcase straddles the nostalgia of 70’s skateboarding with the need for superlight, ultra-packable, carry-on compatibility. This 42-litre polycarbonate option comes with replaceable polyurethane wheels, each with decent bearings, to ensure a wobble-free, super-smooth ride across Duty Free carpets and polished hotel lobbies. We also love the fact that it has a separate laptop sleeve to minimise the need for carrying an extra bag.
If you aren’t feeling any of the standard-issue Apple straps, consider one that’s definitely made to be noticed (for stealthier types, it also comes in all-black and dark grey camo). Constructed from a high-strength nylon weave and stainless-steel custom-cast hardware, this rugged strap will survive generations of Apple Watch updates, and is available to fit both the 44/42mm and 40/38mm size devices. Your smartwatch might object to being scraped along rough surfaces, but this strap will stay firm whatever the activity.
Sony headphone designers have been enjoying something of a purple patch – OK, orange in this particular instance – with best-in-class noise cancelling and hugely enjoyable sound quality across much of its range. And while these are far from flagship, they still boast dual noise-cancelling mics for peace and quiet, a 35-hour battery life, 25mm drivers that easily sound twice the size, and Digital Sound Enhancement Engine HX (DSEE HX) that fills in the detail left out by your lossless music streaming files.
When launched in 1970, the 64cm tall L100 becoming the best-selling speaker in JBL’s history, helped in no small way by the fact they were used in the famous "sofa hurricane" Maxell cassette advert. Not one for the kids then, but this reissue has been updated with all new components, so there’s a one-inch titanium dome tweeter, a five-inch pure-pulp midrange driver, and a 12-inch woofer with a bass-reflex enclosure all providing startling sound quality, whichever generation you identify with.
Price: £3,999 | Audio Visual | Peter Tyson
When WIRED thinks "orange tech" we think of Neil Poulton’s rugged, rubberised, indestructible hard drives. Since launch they’ve sold more than six million since 2005, and over the years they’ve been continually improved. The latest designs have USB-C connectivity, IP67 water resistance, three-metre-drop and car-crush resistance - and, if you spec-high enough, the ability to transfer and edit RAW 4K video with speeds of up to 950 MB/s. Lacie also offer a five-year rescue data-recovery services if disaster does occur.
Price: From £190 | Data Stores | Amazon
Designed by Barber & Osgerby for Emeco, the On & On chair is an impressive example of sustainable, closed-loop design in action, in a chair that actually works. Surprisingly lightweight, elegantly stackable and reassuringly rigid, the design is an update to the classic bistro chair, but is made using 70 per cent recycled PET - or waste plastic bottles if you prefer - mixed with colour pigment and glass fibre for strength. Available in six tones, the chair is suitable for both indoor and outdoor spaces.
Price: £TBC | Emeco
If six weeks in Bali taught WIRED anything, it’s that surfing is so much harder than it looks. If only the Surftech Softop boards had been available on the beaches of Kuta in the late 90s, we may have progressed faster. Designed to be the best possible tool to learn with, these boards will progress with you and, in stark contrast to most "learner" designs, are lightweight and maneuverable thanks to the hard bottom. Available from 1.67m to 3m in Length.
Price: $699 | Surftech
CNC tooling at its most efficient, the designers of this all-metal spork have managed to squeeze in three wrench sizes (10 mm, 8 mm and 6 mm), a flat-head screwdriver blade that’ll also take the top of tins, and an invaluable bottle opener. The perfect tool for anyone who finds themselves hungry, thirsty and sat at a wobbly table.
Price: £16.15 | Amazon
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
