Gear: Park Tool's SA-3 Heavy-Duty Shop Apron

VITALS Park SA-3 Heavy-Duty Shop Apron Cost: $36 Phone: 651-777-6868 Web site: www.parktool.com

Let's face it: Some mechanics just have that strange light around them that lets everyone know they aren't going to get so much as a drop of lube on them. Unfortunately, most of us aren't blessed with such karma. Lucky for the rest of us, there is the Park SA-3 Heavy-Duty Shop Apron. Made from 10-ounce cotton canvas (the standard apron uses 7-ounce), it forms an impenetrable barrier between you and the muck.

A nice thing about the SA-3 is the plentitude of pockets for keeping your favorite tools close to home and away from those with their hands out to "borrow" a tool. Those held at chest level can either be snapped into position or left to swing from their top anchor points, so your Allen wrench doesn't come rocketing out when you bend over your machine, resulting in a nice paint chip on the toptube. Much like a woman's bra, this apron employs a cross-your-back design that makes for greater comfort and eliminates neck irritation from traditionally routed aprons. Don't worry, though -- it comes with a quick-release buckle, so removal will be easy.

If you find the full 35 inches to be a bit too much, the bottom 7 inches can be snapped up. The beauty is that when the sun goes down, it can be let back out for a more formal evening look. Speaking of fashion, this garment is available in black and black only. Any other color is just plain wrong in the world of shop aprons.

So is it worth the $36? You bet. The first time you don't wear it, you'll get grease on your favorite jeans and be bummed for a long time. What's that? You'd never wear your favorite jeans when working on your bike? Yeah, I used to say the same thing till it happened.