For anything from unexpected bug attacks to providing entertainment on long trips, men need to be prepared.  Whether you spend your time being the reliable computer “fix-it” saviour or the smooth debonair date, there are tools that can make life a little easier. Whether you are the suave, young professional, the friendly neighbourhood “good guy”, the uber-cool geek gamer, or the bohemian artiste / hippie,  every guy needs gear.

As mature men, we need a Bruce Wayne style of sophistication, aesthetics and design. Our gear should be as invisible as it is functional, and portable as it is powerful. Check out the following list to get some ideas on the gear that is best for you:

Personal Media Players

Going on a long trip and need a time-filler?  Why not watch a movie or get some work done? These gadgets will eat those hours quickly and efficiently. 

The Young Professional
If you need to merge business with pleasure, then the Palm’s LifeDrive should be perfect for you.  Acting as part secretary and part multimedia centre, the LifeDrive and its 4GB hard drive can store Word documents and PDF files and can also play movies and music.

It can easily surf the internet via WiFi and Bluetooth and can also sync up with your PC. With a whole host of programs and add-ons, this little machine is an office and a living room rolled into one.

The All Around Guy
Playing movies with the Sony PSP can be expensive, as each UMD can cost as much as a regular DVD. The portable, 4.3 inch, 16:9 widescreen TFT LCD provides the same ease and functionality.

It can also function as an mp3 player with the option of massive memory upgrades. With a little bit of freeware you can unlock the downloading potential of your PSP.

Other features include the ability to store pictures as well as connecting to the internet. A slew of upcoming downloadable services  will provide unlimited potential.

There is also going to be seamless interactivity between the PSP and the PS3, so you know the hand-held will be around for a while.

The Geek Gamer
There is really only one suggestion for this type: the soon-to-be-released Nintendo DS Lite.  This redesigned dual-screened, stylus-enabled gaming machine has the look of an Apple product with all the fun of Nintendo.

The Nintendo DS is backwards compatible with the Gameboy Advance, giving it a huge library of game titles.  The DS’s two screens and a stylus pen is home to game ideas that are fresh, exciting, and simply fun. The battery power on the DS Lite can last anywhere between 5 and 20 hours, depending on the brightness level of the screens. Easy and addictive, anyone can play the games—check out Nintendogs and Brain Age.

The Bohemian Artiste
If you can entertain yourself and your friends with your poetry and pictures, then check out the Mulberry and Aspinal lines of journals and daybooks. These are gorgeous and sturdy books that are great for long trips.

Pocket Multi-tools

Whether you need to do an impromptu repair on a computer, clean up for a business presentation, or open a bottle of fine wine, there is a pocket-sized multi-tool out there for you. Multi-tools are an  extension on the classic Swiss Army knife and are handy in all sorts of situations. 

The Young Professional
You have an important business presentation in 5 minutes and you notice that there is dirt under your fingernail–what do you do? Flip open your wallet and pull out your trusty SwissCard. The Victorinox SwissCard features tweezers, a nail file, a toothpick, a ball point pen and even scissors! All the items you need to make sure you look as professional as you feel.

The All Around Guy
Need to tighten some loose screws? The Voyager Lite is your top choice for a multi-tool. The Voyager Lite has all the standard functions of the classic Swiss Army knife, but includes a corkscrew, a digital alarm and a light for finding fallen car keys.

The Geek Gamer
Whether you need to bust into your computer or do a file swap at your girlfriend’s place, there are two multi-tools to help you out.

The SwissMemory is a multi-tool that features a 1 GB USB key. It also has an LED light and a basic compliment of Swiss Army functions.

The other choice for the Geek Gamer is the Cybertool 41, which includes all the features  you could possibly need to do some rearranging on the inside of your computer. It includes the notorious hex sockets and torx bits,This tool also comes with the hygiene add-ons and a corkscrew. 

The Bohemian Artiste
You shun society and its practices while also being its unacknowledged legislator. The timekeeper features a good mix of classic styling with a bevy of features.

The most important feature is the Swiss-made watch to make sure that you are never late for a gallery opening or a meeting with a publisher. Notable features include a ball point pen and a corkscrew.