A peek at emerging products from the sometimes cutting-edge, sometimes quirky world of gear design.
Posture Assist Yoga Pants
Woven inside the Nadi X Yoga Pants are sensors that track your form. Lean too far out of a given position, and the pants vibrate to nudge you in the right direction. The tech woven into the fibers around the hips, knees, and ankles pairs with a small vibrating device called the Pulse behind the knee. Nadi X comes in four styles for men and women, available on Kickstarter now for $229 super early bird.
Intelligent, Ultra-Compact Drone
The Mark Drone learns its surroundings with a built-in mapping module. This lets the intelligent drone memorize trajectories, launch and land with voice control, track subjects, and take photos with user gestures. With a 4K fisheye lens, it can adjust its position based on what it sees. When not in use, the Mark folds down to fit in small bags and costs $239. It’s on Kickstarter now.
Silent Yacht
Cruise on the lake, listen to the birds, and hear fish splash aboard with the Q30 Yacht silent motor. Dubbed the future of electric boating, the Q30 uses a zero-emission Oceanvolt AXC20 motor previously found on sailboats. It leaves little wake, is simple to operate, and has a minimal build. According to the brand, the Q30 is the smoothest, quietest boat on the market. This all-electric Yacht is available later this year and will likely cost a fortune.
OtterBox Duffle
Cell-phone case and cooler manufacturer OtterBox enters the waterproof duffel market with the Yampa. A low-density, open-cell foam exoskeleton gives the Otterbox Yampa its distinct look. That foam, combined with neoprene pads, provides comfortable carrying and additional airflow. The duffle uses puncture-proof, TPU-coated nylon, waterproof zippers, and sealed seams to keep water out. OtterBox launched the Yampa this week for $250.
Coin Knife
With a quarter’s size and a razor’s bite, the Eclipse is not your average folding knife. The Eclipse is a 6-mm-thick EDC tool that folds out for cutting tasks. It uses 440C stainless steel, folds up to a coin shape, and can clip onto keys for easy carry. When closed up, the Eclipse also functions as a bottle opener. Available on Kickstarter now, this tiny knife costs $39 early bird.
Roomy Tent and Tarp
Snow Peak expands in the camping market with the Entry Pack Tent and Tarp. A roomy four-person option with a huge tarp, the Entry Pack appears ideal for lengthy car camping or setting up a basecamp. Snow Peak made the tent out of 75-denier polyester taffeta with a PU coating for water resistance. The tent weighs 17.4 pounds and packs down to 24 x 9 x 9 inches. The Entry Pack Tent and Tarp are sold together for $660, available now.
'Solution-Dyed' Packs
Patagonia’s Arbor Pack Collection gets its color from solution dyeing, a process that saves a half-gallon of water per bag and produces 96 percent less carbon dioxide than conventional methods. Keeping with the Patagonia ethos, the Arbor Collection uses 100 percent recycled materials. Included in the line is Arbor Market Pack 15L, the Arbor Day Pack 20L, the Arbor Classic Pack 25L, and the Arbor Grande Pack 28L.
Epic Specialized MTB
Specialized releases two new Epic EVO models for XC mountain bike racers. Stock dropper posts, a longer (120-mm) travel fork, wider bars, Fast Trak tires, and a RockShox Brain 2.0 Rear Shock give the Epic a super-fast build. The Expert Evo has a full carbon frame and a FOX Stepcast 34 Performance series fork with Open, Medium, and Firm modes for different terrain. Specialized releases the Epic Expert Evo Carbon for $5,800 in July and the Epic Comp Evo Alloy for $3,200 in August.
GU Energy Chai Latte
Sip a chai latte on the trail for a boost of energy with GU Energy’s latest flavor. A part of the brand’s Roctane series for high-intensity and long-duration activites, the Chai Latte flavor boasts 100 calories with carbs that maximize absorption while diminishing stomach distress. It also has 35 mg of caffeine and branch-chain amino acids to prevent mental fatigue. Available now, Chai Latte comes in a box of 24 for $60.
Sensitive Fishing Line
Debuted at this year’s ICAST trade show, Rapala released a slew of new products. Among the most innovative from the brand is its Sufix Advance Mono line. The line essentially functions like a braid or superline. Rapala claims it’s incredibly strong, durable, and abrasion resistant compared to other mono lines on the market. It boasts 50 percent less stretch and UV absorption than standard monofilament. The Sufix Advance Monofilament is available now for $13.
Custom Midsoles
Scan your foot shape with ViscoTec sensors, and ECCO churns out custom midsoles built into a pair of its Flexure shoes. With 3D-printing technology, ECCO can optimize a customer’s shoes at the midsole, designed to be more comfortable. The printed silicone midsoles are currently in the pilot testing stage at ECCO’s W-21 concept store in Amsterdam.
Photography Jacket
Hidden inside the weather-resistant Langly Field Jacket is a host of photography accessories designed to make shooting in the field easier. In addition to four large external pockets, the jacket has designed-for-photography features like a lens filter holder, film and battery pouch, memory card wallet, and lens/sunglass wipe. The brand’s proprietary Weather-Shield technology boasts 20,000K waterproofing and breathability for when the weather turns. The Langly Field Jacket is available on Kickstarter now for $310 early bird.
