The season must be changing — because I’m suddenly seeing three times as many gear releases as just a few weeks ago. There’s the usual rollout of fall apparel collections, of course, but there are also Kickstarter campaigns for innovative gear, affordable offerings from legacy brands, and even a cool new whiskey that will have hunters feeling thirsty.
Whether you’re a cyclist, hiker, angler, or just an outdoor relaxer, there’s something cool to check out this week. Find all that and more in this week’s Emerging Gear.
NetPlus Sunglasses
When picking base materials, many outdoor brands now opt for recycled fishing nets, creating quality gear from the recycled nylon. I had no idea you could turn fishing nets into the frames of sunglasses, but apparently, Costa has been partnering with Bureo, makers of the NetPlus fabric, since 2018 to do exactly that.
Costa just expanded the lineup of its Untangled Collection, which includes its first lineup of apparel made from the old fishing nets, as well as several new models of sunglasses. Five new eyewear styles join the Untangled Collection: San Carlos, Tavi, Mooring, Sunlace, and Rizzler. The new frames are made with at least 75% post-consumer recycled fishing nets, “giving new life to one of the most harmful forms of ocean plastic pollution,” the brand said.
Venison Whiskey
We don’t usually include alcohol in Emerging Gear, but this one is just too interesting. New Hampshire-based Tamworth Distilling has created a whiskey made with actual deer meat.
After several small batches proved highly popular, the Deerslayer Venison Flavored Whiskey is now part of the distillery’s official lineup. On Sept. 15, it became available in a 500mL “buck-sized” bottle for $45. The experimental whiskey is made with smoked red venison, aged rye whiskey, and an array of autumnal botanicals.
“After fermenting overnight to accentuate the venison’s gaminess, the mixture is slow-smoked over seasoned branches from New Hampshire’s boreal forests before its final distillation in a rotary evaporator,” the brand said. “Aged rye whiskey provides a bold, spicy backbone…the resulting whiskey is savory and smoky, with subtle spiced fruit on the palate and a lingering finish.” Sounds delicious to us.
SUV of Carry-On Bags
Air travel seems difficult enough when I’m by myself — so I can’t imagine what it’s like for families. But small travel brand No Reception Club aims to reduce the stress through its lineup of family-centered gear. The latest Kickstarter is the Rollaway, which they’re calling the “SUV of Carry-On Bags.”
The main draw seems to be that this roller bag has wheels on the long side of the bag, making it more stable and capable of supporting more weight without keeling over. Examples in the Kickstarter video include child seats and other child-specific gear.
The pitch for this roller bag has clearly resonated: As of Friday morning, it was fast approaching a cool $1 million in backers, despite only opening up a few days before with a $30,000 goal. With 56 days left to go, the cheapest buy-in at the moment costs $300, which includes the Rollaway and the Cubby, a packing organizer.
Trendy E-Cooler
GearJunkie reviewer Erica Zazo was a pretty big fan of the TRAVOCA Rigel Dual Zone e-cooler, giving it an 8.3/10 in her review. Now the brand is back with the Rigel Single Zone. The newest member in the Rigel family of e-coolers is the result of “industry chats and consumer feedback,” the brand said. You can set any temperature from -4°F to 68°F, and the cooler supposedly cools quickly, from 89°F to 32°F in just 25 minutes. It has 35L of space.
It also costs a pretty penny, given its $550 price tag. That being said, you can get $50 off over the next 13 days.
CJRB Latitude Kickstarter
Instead of creating an entirely new knife for its many loyalists, California-based CJRB decided to take one of its most popular designs (the Latitude) and remake it in five variations. That turned into a Kickstarter that launched today, called “Building the Latitude.”
Fundamentally, the Latitude is a 3.47-inch drop-point blade with a ceramic ball-bearing pivot and Top Liner Lock. The Kickstarter offers “five new interpretations of the Latitude platform” using various materials. The lineup moves from Damascus and titanium through copper, S90V, DLC, Titanium Damascus, and finally a “strictly limited” full Titanium Damascus collector edition.
Waterproof Boots
I’ve become a big fan of Lems. This Boulder-based brand makes a variety of quality outdoor footwear. Many of the brand’s shoes opt for a design aesthetic that balances rugged earth tones with bright colors. But several of its fall release styles opt for a more classic look and feel, like the Primal Zen, a leather lifestyle shoe with a barefoot/minimalist sole.
There’s also the Chelsea Boot Tuff Pro ($205), which now sports a Vibram outsole. It also comes in a waterproof version for $215.
$100 Hiking Pack
Top-shelf gear can be great, but you can often do just fine with an affordable option that still delivers on functionality. That’s the idea behind deuter’s new release: the Telatie pack.
Available in 26L and 24SL (SL= women’s-specific fit), the $100 Telatie is “designed with all the comfort and quality you’ve come to expect from deuter, but without a hefty price tag,” the brand said. Deuter says the Telatie is made for day hikes and “those just starting out in hiking.” It has the brand’s Airstripes back system for ventilation, as well as ergonomic shoulder straps, stabilizer straps, and compression straps.
Finisterre Fall Lineup
I’ve become a fan of Finisterre after testing out one of their backpacking packs. When you want some gear that offers rugged sophistication along with functionality, English brand Finisterre has the goods. I also like that it offers a lot of natural fibers.
Their new autumn collection looks to continue these trends — especially the cozy sweaters. Some highlights include the Amy Powney + Finisterre Women’s Aran Knit Sweater ($280), made from 100% wool, and the Men’s RNLI Polperro Jumper ($220), made from 80% wool and 20% recycled polyamide yarn. Finisterre’s stuff isn’t cheap, but it is classy and durable.
Gym Climbing Rope
While there’s technically no problem using your outdoor climbing rope at an indoor gym, it’s become increasingly common among climbers to have a separate rope just for training sessions. After all, ropes are the most important piece of gear for a climber, and they have a lifespan that requires constant attention to ensure you avoid accidents.
So it’s not a bad idea to invest in a rope just for the gym, and leave your outdoor rope for the weekends at the crag. That’s the idea behind the Metolius Gym Rope, which balances durability, weight, and price. At $170, it won’t break the bank, and its knitted core helps the rope keep a round shape and avoid flattening after use on gym days.
Blood Orange Hydration Powder
Skratch Labs makes some of my favorite trail snacks and hydration powders. Unlike many competitors, their stuff actually tastes fantastic — even when you’re not desperately dehydrated after a summer run. But the worst of the summer temperatures are (hopefully?) behind us now, and the brand is putting out a new fall flavor and bringing back an old one.
There’s the new flavor: Hydration Sport Drink Mix – Blood Orange. And also the returning one: Hydration Sport Drink Mix – Apple Cider. A resealable 20-serving bag costs $24.
