A peek at emerging products from the sometimes cutting-edge, sometimes quirky world of gear design.
Treeless Hammock
Set up the Mock ONE on the beach or in a meadow thanks to its folding design. The package folds down to 35 x 12 x 9 inches and doesn’t require trees to hang. Plus, Mock ONE offers shade, top quilt, tarp, and mosquito net attachments. The Mock ONE is on Kickstarter now for $150 early bird.
Safest Climbing Rope?
Typical climbing rope consists of a sheath, which can stand up to rock abrasions, and a core, which holds the bulk of a climber’s weight during a fall. Maxim introduces the first rope to connect the core and cover with its Platinum rope. By weaving the sheath and the core yarns at fixed intervals, Maxim is able to eliminate sheath slippage and create increased levels of safety, durability, and redundancy. Maxim Platinum rope is available for $324 at REI in 9.8 mm x 70 m dry.
Stable Fishing SUP
Cast with confidence from the Flycraft 10-foot inflatable fishing standup paddle board. Flycraft makes the SUP with drop-stitched Aircore PVC for a solid and lightweight platform. This lets you move around the board and cast from a stable surface. It also doubles as a great platform for yoga. Plus, the Flycraft’s “Gravity Fin” pops up when it hits rocks, grass, mud, or other obstacles, allowing the fisher access to shallow spots.The Flycraft SUP weighs 25 pounds and is available now for $1,295.
Adjustable-Width Handlebars
Ibis adds an attachment to its handlebars that let you change their length. With its adjustable-width inserts, you can extend your handlebar from 750 to 800 mm. The inserts work on Ibis’ Hi-Fi and Lo-Fi handlebars and cost $170 (bar and inserts).
Tesla Surfboard
Tesla made a splash this week with its latest branded release, a surfboard. Crafted in partnership with Matt Biolos, the surfboard shaper from Lost Surfboards, all 200 of these made-to-order $1,500 surfboards sold out the day they launched. Tesla claimed the 6-foot 8-inch carbon fiber board can fit in its S, X, and 3 models and is made from the same matte and gloss finish the brand uses on its cars. Good luck finding one of the 200!
Sugar Sandals
From Allbirds, the brand that brought you shoes made from wool and eucalyptus, comes a sandal made of sugar. The Sugar Zeffer sandal is made from sugar cane and uses the world’s first “green-EVA” sole. The bouncy and cushiony sole, SweetFoam, conforms to your foot on the first wear. Allbirds seeks to effect systemic change in the footwear industry by crafting sandals typically made from cheap plastic. Sugar Zeffers are available now for $35.
Gerber Fixed Blades
Gerber introduces two fixed blades in the Spine and Vertebrae. The knives feature thick nylon sheaths for handling and 7Cr17MoV steel. Gerber intends the knives to function for outdoor adventures, whether they’re making kindling, batoning wood, or cooking dinner. These burly-looking knives should withstand a beating. The Spine and Vertebrae are available now for $40 and $31, respectively.
Lightest Sunglasses
The Roka SL-1X frames weigh only 23 grams! What the brand calls the lightest and most advanced eyewear on the market, the SL-1X frames are part of the brand’s ultralight Apex collection. The glasses use Zeiss lenses and Roka’s GEKO technology for retention. Roka offers the SL-1X in a variety of lenses for $180-190.
Rugged Camper
Head off road with the trailer attached with Airstream’s Basecamp X package. Basecamp X builds off the brand’s Basecamp trailer for offroad capability. The standard Basecamp offers livable space in an extremely lightweight camper. But with the “Basecamp X” package, the trailer gets a 3-inch lift kit, Goodyear Wrangler all-terrain tires, a stainless steel front stone guard, and window protection. The Basecamp X is available now for $39,600.
Danner Adrika
Tackle rocky trails in the Danner Adrika and fit in around town. Danner built the Adrika for women, and it features a suede upper, waterproof lining, and a cushiony footbed. The multidirectional lug pattern on the outsole is lightweight and grippy. And like all Danner products, the brand put durability at the forefront. The Adrika is available in three colors for $160.
Tarp Meets Rumpl
On one side of the Ground Cover is a soft fabric for lounging; on the other is a durable, waterproof nylon. Rumpl launches the Ground Cover, a blanket that brings the toughness of a tarp and the comfort of a Rumpl. The brand imagines it’s great for the beach, dogs, or your pickup bed. The Ground Cover is available now for $89.
Stink-Free Packing
Stuff your smelly gym shoes in the Pack-It bags from Eagle Creek and don’t fear the accursed plume of stink when you open them up again. Eagle Creek integrated anti-microbial treatment into the bag to limit odors, making the bags a great option for sweaty, wet, or stinky gear. The Pack-It line comes in a duffel, roll-top sac, and cube from $15 to $30.
KEEN Pants
KEEN Footwear launches five styles of pants for outdoor activities. The pants range from heavyweight canvas, great for tough chores, to lightweight nylon, great for hiking. For workwear, KEEN’s Newport Pants have double-layered reinforced knees, double-bound pocket openings, and are gusseted for freedom of movement. On the other end of KEEN’s pants spectrum is the North Country Pants. With a DWR coating and quick-to-dry fabric, the North Country Pants are made for exploring outdoors. KEEN’s pants range from $75 to $115 and are available now.
Western Opinel
Opinel’s classic No. 8 knife gets a facelift courtesy of Sam Larson. The Opinel x WYLDER No. 8 folding knife features western designs by Larson. Opinel uses 12C27 stainless steel in its No. 8, which has an excellent cutting edge. WYLDER Goods is the exclusive provider of the Opinel X WYLDER No. 8 knife for $30, available now.
