It’s a little too easy (at least for me) to dismiss alarming weather events. But there’s no denying that much of the country is about to get hit by a serious winter storm — and nothing reminds you of the importance of solid gear like a bone-chilling freeze.
With several months of winter still ahead for many of us, it’s not a bad time to check out much of this week’s new gear. Comfy sleeping bags? Check. Down-filled mattresses? Check. Winter Olympics-style accessories? Got it. Cozy alpaca sweaters? Oh yeah, baby.
Find all that and more in this week’s Emerging Gear.
Basecamp Mummy Bag
White Duck Outdoors makes some truly comfortable tents and camping gear. (I was lucky enough to use its tents and cots during a life-changing hunting trip in the fall, and found them thoroughly comfortable.) Now, the brand is expanding into sleeping bags for the first time.
The Slumbernest Sleeping Bag is not for the ultralight crowd. Instead, it’s aimed at car camping and basecamp-style outings. The bag prioritizes comfort, with a rip-resistant outer shell and a flannel lining. It has a contoured shape with room for a pillow, a padded draft collar, and a snag-free zipper that fully converts into a blanket. The new bag is available in 0-degree, 20-degree, 30-degree, and 50-degree F temperature ratings.
Black Crows Powder Hunter
Every year, Chamonix-based ski brand Black Crows shows off its skills with a limited-edition run of extra-sexy skis. This year, it’s The Powder Hunter, a collection with storm-inspired graphics that “celebrates the pursuit of untouched snow,” the brand said.
The centerpiece of the collection is the Nocta Powder Hunter ($1,200), the third generation of the brand’s powder ski. Designed for deep snow and big-mountain adventures, the Nocta has a 122mm waist. It has a camber underfoot combined with long, progressive rockers, as well as semi-cap construction, lightweight paulownia-poplar core, fiberglass reinforcements, and ABS sidewalls. It’s available in 177cm, 185cm, and 190cm versions.
There’s also the Powder Hunter Meta Poles ($100) and the Powder Hunter 3L Ski Suit ($1,250). The collection is available exclusively in Black Crows stores and on the brand’s website.
Skida U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team Collection
Stoked to watch Team USA in the Winter Olympics in 2 weeks? Then check out the latest collection of winter accessories from Vermont brand Skida. For each of the collection’s patterns, Skida’s athlete ambassadors — including Olympians Paula Moltzan, Julia Kern, Ryan Cochran-Seigle, and Gus Shumacher — worked alongside the brand’s design team.
“From the local slopes of the Northeast to the towering glaciers of Alaska, each athlete brings his or her individual style and personality to the collection,” the brand said.
Choose from beanies, neckbands, gaiters, and more from Skida’s U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team Collection. They’re selling out quickly.
Stylish Shoes for MTB
With these kicks, you’ll be the coolest kid on the MTB trail (even if you can’t pull off those Black Diamond jumps). Lems, a family-owned business in Boulder, Colo., just dropped its Trail Thrasher collection of MTB shoes, and they’re both sturdy and stylish.
I started testing these bad boys out on some of the MTB trails around Atlanta over the last month. These zero-drop kicks have proven themselves both grippy and stiff enough to maintain power. I think the blue-brown design of the men’s Trail Thrasher ($155) is quite fetching. You can also snag the Pro version with a Vibram outsole for $175, though those come only in black. Both styles are also available for women.
Helinox Trekking Poles
South Korean brand Helinox has long been a favorite for its ultralight chairs. Now the company is reintroducing a trekking pole line after a long hiatus.
Its new Passport trekking poles ($150) are ultralight and foldable, making them ideal for day hikes, short treks, and trail running, according to the brand. The fixed-length folding design packs down super-compact. For longer treks, you may want the Ridgeline poles ($170), which have a larger diameter for handling heavier loads without flexing.
Alpaca Quarter Zip
I’m a big fan of Paka, and I haven’t heard any complaints from my coworkers who have tried the brand’s blend of alpaca wool and synthetic fibers. It’s a perfect marriage, as 100% alpaca has great thermoregulation (but can feel quite itchy).
The brand continues to diversify its apparel options with a Quarter Zip sweater that’s dropping this week. Moreover, it’s made with traceable alpaca fiber, meaning each piece includes a QR code that lets you see where the fiber originated and follow its journey from the Andes. The sweater sells for $160 and is available in muted colors.
Futon-Inspired Sleep System
A camping mattress and a comfortable one inspired by Japanese futons? That’s the latest idea from Snow Peak, a Japanese brand with an ever-expanding catalog of chic camping gear.
The Ofuton Sleep System includes an adjustable comforter and mattress setup aimed at “elevated comfort in camp,” the brand said. Both come in two sizes (Slim and Wide) as well as two fill options (synthetic or down). As usual for Snow Peak, the gear looks luxurious — but doesn’t come cheap, either. The Down System Ofuton & Slim Mat costs $365 (or $375 for Wide). The synthetic version is significantly cheaper at $210 for Wide or $200 for Slim.
Modular Field System
Backpack obsessives may have a new fix with this Kickstarter campaign for the Modular Field System. The campaign offers three variations of uber-durable packs made by Rhino Rdy, a favorite among shoppers of crowdfunded products.
“Disaster never asks if you’re ready,” the campaign’s video narrator asks beneath sad choral singing that would fit perfectly in the 28 Years Later franchise. “What if your gear already is?”
Pack options include the Hydra, the Sentry, and Fury, which all look sufficiently badass for the tactical crowd or extreme adventurers. With 93 backers committing more than $43,000 on Friday, it’s already well past the funding goal.
SPIbelt
The running belts from Austin, Texas–based SPIbelt are colorful, reliable, and surprisingly helpful for runners — especially if you have a big ol’ phone.
New arrivals include the SPIbelt Clear Crossbody ($25), a larger, roomier bag that the brand recommends for live events. It has two outside zipper pockets with mesh dividers. There’s also the SPIbelt Tandem ($40), apparently designed in collaboration with Austin meteorologist and runner Chikage Windler. It accommodates larger smartphones such as the iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S20+.
