A peek at emerging products from the sometimes cutting-edge, sometimes quirky world of gear design.
Analog Bike Gauge
Free yourself from touchscreens and digital displays. The OMATA One cycling computer presents speed, distance, elapsed time, and climb with four analog hands on a round gauge. We previewed the Kickstarter last year, and now the OMATA One is live for $550.
Klymit's First Hammock
Sleeping pads, sleeping bags, and now a hammock. Klymit, the brand built on campsite slumber gear launches its first hanging option, the Traverse Double Hammock. It weighs under 2 lbs. and touts a “unique, diagonal, seamless” design that prevents sagging and supports where the body naturally rests. Available now for $90.
Stylish Smartwatch
Class when you want it, technology when you need it. The $200 Garmin Vivomove HR has standard hands and a flip-through touchscreen display. It monitors heart rate, tracks stress, and has alerts for emails, texts, and social media.
Bluetooth Bike Pump
Take the guesswork out of roadside repairs. The Silca Tattico mini-pump pairs with an app, so you can see the tire pressure as you pump. The $120 pump launches today and carries a 120 psi rating.
Soft-Side Pelican
Waterproof, leakproof, and built-in bottle openers. Pelican launches into the soft-side cooler category with the $280, 24-can capacity cooler. The Elite soft cooler claims to keep drinks cold up to 48 hours. Pelican announced it will add 12- and 48-can coolers to its soft-side line soon.
Gold Shoes
Send glamorously in these shameless gold climbers. The 2020 Gold by So iLL uses the same last as The Street shoe, but with a very limited style that “will not be restocked.” The $149 2020 Gold sports a thin midsole for greater foot sensitivity, and a sticky “Dark Matter” sole originally designed for the U.S. Navy.
Pedal Power Meter
Measure and track power output, balance, cadence, and more from your pedals. With the Vector 3/3S, Garmin redesigned its pedal power meter to install like a normal pedal that can transfer easily between bikes.
Fitness Age Tracker
Make yourself younger, sort of. TomTom launches two new features for its Spark 3 and Adventurer devices. The Fitness Age feature measures VO2 Max and compares it to global averages to give an “age” based on athletic health. The Personalized Workouts feature lets you set fitness goals and adhere to pre-loaded workouts that will help turn back your fitness clock.
Stretchy Down Jackets
Stay warmer and more flexible with Mountain Hardwear’s Stretch Down jackets. Made in men’s and women’s styles, the Stretch Down has welded channels that provide more movement. It also has water-repellent down. Both styles cost $340 and weigh about one pound.
Glacier Aviators
Part Everest, part Top Gun, Julbo relaunches its aviator style glacier glasses from 1977. The leather-sided Cham shades won’t be available until November, but they will come as category 3 for everyday use ($170) and category 4 for mountaineering ($180).
Gitzo Backpack
Protect your gear and get it quickly, that’s the purpose behind Gitzo’s Century Backpack. The $300 pack has interchangeable dividers to organize your camera equipment, offers side access for gear, and a front panel for a tripod. It has water-repellent construction and rain cover to keep everything dry.
Adjustable Dumbbells
Blast your biceps, tone your tris, and shred your shoulders with one set of weights. The NordicTrack Select-A-Weight dumbbells let you choose the weight, from 10 lbs. up to 55, each. Each $300 pair of dumbbells offers 30 different weight combinations.
Vans Hikers
Hit the trails with confidence in a pair of… Vans? The street-shoe brand goes off-road with the UltraRange hiker. The $90 Vans have aggressive lugs and a seamless liner sock.
Titanium Cookware
Grill better with tougher, cleaner tools. Feastform launches a set of titanium spatulas and tongs that borrow from origami styling. Because it’s titanium, the tools are strong, resist corrosion, and weigh less than a Clif bar. Live on Kickstarter with discounts on the $119 retail price.
Biodegradable Jade Track Jacket
Don’t let the style fool you, this jacket by ONU isn’t what you expect. The Slim-Fit Track Jacket uses jade particles that help it dry fast, and a biodegradable, UV-protective fiber that’s held together with fish scales. This out-of-the-ordinary coat costs $375.
Copper Socks
Stay warm, stay dry, and smell good too. The $20 Thorlos Outdoor Fanatic Adventure socks use PrimaLoft laced with copper yarns that provide warmth, wicking, and anti-odor/anti-fungal protection.
