It’s safe to say that outdoor gear has never been more diverse — and this week’s gear roundup proves it. An affordable camera that’s also built for rugged outdoor use? Check. An electrified wagon for beach days with the whole family? Check. How about a strange new approach to making air travel more comfortable? Yeah, that’s here too.
Find the latest new offerings for outdoor adventure right here in Emerging Gear.
NOCS Provisions Camera
A camera is like a musical instrument or a paintbrush. It empowers us to be creative and stay present. Modern smartphones may take studio-quality images, but they’re also an increasing source of stress. It’s hard to be creative with an iPhone camera while trying to ignore notifications about everything else in our lives.
That’s why NOCS Provisions has released its first-ever camera, and it looks pretty sweet. The Portal AFN7 Adventure Camera ($179) is built for the outdoors. With IP56 weather-sealed armor, the 4.9-ounce camera resists dust, rain, and heavy splashes.
It has a 16MP sensor, 4K UHD video, six “film-inspired” color presets, and high-speed USB-C transfers. And what’s really cool is you can use it with NOCS binoculars and monoculars for a telephoto-style image. As someone who paddles a lot with his iPhone, I think it’s especially useful for water sports where you’d prefer not to lose your $1,000 smartphone by dropping it into a lake.
Olight ArkTac
Olight just announced a new flashlight that’s now available for preorder, in case you, flashlight junkies, want to hop on the bandwagon before it releases later this fall. Olight’s ArkPro is one of Editorial Director Sean McCoy’s favorite flashlights (and he’s tested a lot of them), so we’re excited to try out its latest offering.
The ArkTac is a “tactical” light that’s just 17mm thick, but offers five light sources: flood, spot, red, UV, and green laser. It has 1,800 lumens, a 215m beam, and 10 configurations, built from OAL², which Olight calls its “strongest aluminum yet.” It functions very similarly to the ArkPro line, but offers different mounting options geared toward specific professions, like mechanics and law enforcement.
Preordering also comes with a perk: You get an exclusive Olight EDC pouch and a limited-edition Velcro patch. The light comes in several versions: the ArkTac ($120), ArkTac Ultra ($160), and ArkTac Ultra Premium ($200), which includes a hard case and ArkSnap holster.
Straitjacket for Flights
Lately, it seems like air travel makes many of us feel a little crazy — especially when we’re trying to get comfortable and get some shut-eye on a long flight.
A small brand has created an alternative to neck pillows by designing a jacket with support pockets across the chest to rest your arms. The idea is that this reduces the stress on your upper body, especially your neck. The result resembles the straitjackets of mental hospitals, so the jacket’s creator, Bryson Howell, leaned into the comparison by naming his product the STR-8 Jacket.
The second generation of his idea is live on Kickstarter and over halfway to its funding goal. For frequent fliers still looking for a better sleep solution, who knows? Maybe this invention will finally let you get some rest.
Adidas Mountain Bike Shoes
Call me a fanboy if you like, but I’d consider any piece of cycling gear that was co-developed with a cyclist like Danny MacAskill. He was one of several athletes who helped produce adidas’ new FreeRider mountain bike shoes.
The FreeRider Pro BOA, also available as a clipless shoe, offers the same STEALTH rubber of previous FreeRider models, but now with the increasingly popular BOA tightening system. The new FreeRider range (available for both men and women) starts at $120, with the FreeRider Pro BOA and the FreeRider Pro BOA Clipless priced at $180 and $250, respectively.
Nike Air Zoom HyperSlide
Nike’s new Hyperslides are the second recovery shoe in Nike’s collaboration with Hyperice. The last one was the Hyperboot, which also sports the same technology.
The slides also incorporate heat and vibration across the entire foot via the Hyperslide Pods inserted into the tops of the slippers. They’re evidently best used for recovery after training, sports, or just being on your feet all day. They cost $250, but if you like the idea of heated vibration on your feet after a long day, they might just be worth it.
Electric Beach Wagon
Every time I see a new gear hauler like this, I can’t help but think of the classic, bright-red Radio Flyer wagons from my childhood. Of course, those weren’t electric.
BougeRV just launched a Kickstarter for its DuneRover, which it has dubbed an “electric beach wagon.” It’s made specifically for the beach or other tough-to-haul areas with “dual brushless motors with e-bike-level performance.” The brand claims it will move smoothly “across sand, grass, gravel, and other uneven terrain — even when fully loaded.”
It has room for up to 330 pounds of gear, according to the brand, and DuneRover’s “force-sensing handle” adjusts its electric assistance to match each push or pull. It can also be operated through a detachable remote or the BougeRV app.
Even at the early-bird price, the wagon costs $467. But hey, if you have kids and want to lighten the load on outdoor outings, then this is likely aimed at you.
Hunting Brand Roller Bag
We already know that KUIU makes great hunting apparel. After all, we just lauded the brand’s Attack Pant this week. It’s also featured in our Best Women’s Hunting Pants guide.
But now KUIU has expanded further into the travel category with several roller bags, including the new Hardline Spinner Carry-On ($399). It has a fully molded polycarbonate shell, a highly water-resistant closure to keep contents secure, and an interior layout that maximizes storage, the brand said. You also get Hinomoto 360° spinner wheels for a silent, smooth rolling performance, and a telescoping aluminum handle.
Updated Alpaca Jacket
PAKA has updated its Mayu Ultralight Jacket, and it’s even more sustainably made than before. The jacket still uses a blend of alpaca fiber and synthetic materials, but now the synthetics come from recycled materials.
The shell and lining are now made from NetPlus recycled nylon, which is produced from discarded fishing nets from the coast of South America, the brand said. For the insulation, PAKA uses a proprietary blend of traceable alpaca fiber and recycled polyester, which it calls PAKAFILL. This blend makes for a lightweight, breathable jacket that has less volume of down, and also dries faster and insulates better when wet, according to the brand.
The Mayu Ultralight Collection ($200-300) is available for men and women, and comes in hooded and unhooded versions.
Red Cross Power Stations
This collaboration between power station brand Jackery and the American Red Cross is both innovative and charitable.
Jackety’s HomePower Emergency Pro Series isn’t just another lineup of high-capacity battery backups. They offer two new features for those trying to prepare their homes for emergencies.
The first is the Storm Alert function, which monitors weather via the OpenWeather API for severe weather events. “When inbound severe weather is detected, the unit automatically charges to 100% capacity,” the brand said.
Secondly, the stations have an Emergency Reserve Mode, which “ensures that clean, high-output electricity remains on tap,” even during unexpected emergencies such as earthquakes or flash floods. It works through an in-app configuration that lets users set a preferred threshold — anywhere from 20% to 100% — to lock away for use exclusively during unexpected situations.
The gear drop coincides with Jackery’s “Power The Rescuers” campaign, in which the brand is contributing 10% of profits to support communities by deploying its portable power stations. Jackery’s new lineup includes the HomePower 1000 Plus v2 Red Cross Edition ($750) and HomePower 2000 Plus v2 Red Cross Edition ($1,200), both of which are available to purchase now. There’s also the even larger HomePower 3600 Plus Red Cross Edition ($1,900), which ships in early November.
Mountain Hardwear Winter Layers
Winter is coming, and California’s Mountain Hardwear has a new line of cold-weather layers for the trailhead, campsite, and “everywhere in between,” the brand said.
The Free Element collection features ThermoCloud, the brand’s 100% recycled synthetic insulation. It offers “consistent warmth with a smooth, low-bulk profile for easy layering,” the brand said. The insulation is available in three styles: hooded jacket, jacket, and vest. The Free Element Jacket, shown above, costs $235.
