A peek at emerging products, culled from crowd-source sites like Kickstarter, PR campaigns, and industry scoops on the sometimes cutting-edge, sometimes quirky world of gear design.
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Tour de France Helmet
POC unveiled its “anniversary collection” at the Tour de France this month. The “Unobtanium Yellow” version of the POC Octal helmet (with Do Half Blades sunglasses) was seen at the start of the first stage of the 2016 race on Team Cannondale-Drapac. Get yours here for $270.
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Uber-Flashlight (Plus Power)
The 1K Flashlight costs $85 and provides light and power, all in a waterproof, rugged aluminum case. It shines at a max beam with about 1,000 lumens of brightness and it has an integrated battery that can charge a phone 1.5 times (USB port included). It weighs 6.3 ounces and works as a lantern in camp or a night-piercing handheld torch.
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‘World’s Fastest Portable Cooler’
That is the claim of this strange Finnish device, called the HyperCool ($79). A frozen insert interfaces with spinning cans, cooling room-temperature beverages to ice-cold drinks in 90 seconds, the company touts.
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Scuba-Built Camera
Made with anodized aluminum and polycarbonate, the easy-to-use (two-button design) Octospot Dive Camera ($349) has the ability to record at a purported incredible depth of up to 656 feet. Shoots high resolution 4K HD and slow-motion in 4K. Ready to mount and then dive deep.
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Old World E-Bike
It looks old-school and classic, and it has a stealthy e-bike motor for help powering you along. Velocipede-Fogliaverde, a Swiss brand, touts its E-Smart City Bikes ($3,500 and up) as “probably the lightest” electric bikes on the market at about 41 pounds fully equipped.
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Top-Secret Bike Helmet
Team LottoNL-Jumbo riders have stared the Tour de France in a new high-end road helmet from Bell. The company hinted that it will announce more details at forthcoming bicycle industry trade shows this summer, leading us to believe this is a new product available for 2017. This new model is “the most advanced Bell road helmet yet and will incorporate several new technical elements,” the brand stated. That’s all we know for now.
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‘Girl Gang’ Bikewear
The Bande de Filles line (translation: “girl gang”) is a collection of women’s cycling gear that includes requisite compression lycra, silicon grippers, and ergonomic fit, all with the added upgrades of odor-fighting silver yarn, 50+ UV protection, and a one-of-a-kind aesthetic. $25 – $189, depending on product.
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Gear Kit For Festival Campers
Launched this year, Equippr spotted a niche market left largely underserved by the outdoor industry: festival campers. We tried out the Summit Festival Survival Kit at Bonnaroo this year – a hodgepodge of toiletries, first aid supplies, and basic utilities like bungee cords and zip ties. While the company is still developing a kit for “serious” campers, this simple pack will save first-timers a shopping trip and some of the sting of roughing it. $40-$70; free shipping.
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Solar-Power Trailer Mount
The marriage of Goal Zero solar technology and SylvanSport trailers, the Sunny Side Up kit integrates a Yeti 400 solar generator into a GO pull-behind camper. The kit is a retro fit, mounting two solar panels onto the GO’s crossbars with quick-release brackets, providing energy through two USB ports, two AC outlets, and a 12-volt plugin. $1,300.
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Wall Map Of California Trails
The “first statewide trail map of California” met its Kickstarter goal, and the California Hiking Map is available for sale now at $20. The 40 x 60-inch relief features California’s longest hiking trails, bike paths, fire roads closed to vehicles, and historical routes.
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Outdoor Sports Weather And Conditions App
Branded as “Waze for outdoor sports,” goFlow (free) provides real-time, crowd-sourced information on weather and conditions for 10 activities: surfing, boating, cycling, diving, fishing, golfing, kitesurfing, paddleboarding, skateboarding, and snowsports. In June, the app launched an “on-demand booking service” for training sessions and guided outdoor experiences for Los Angeles residents, which it says will hit major cities around the world soon.
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Redux: ‘Grandpa’s Old Camp Cup’
Miir has a new take on an old-school design with its Camp Cup ($19.95). Instead of enamel, the company uses medical-grade stainless steel and double-wall construction to retain liquid heat without burning your hands.
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‘Ultimate Survival Tool’
That is the claim with the Timahawk, an axe-based tool for camping and off-grid activities where you need a crowbar, tomahawk, hammer, hoe, and breaching tool, all in one. Made in America and priced at $239.
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