A peek at emerging products from the sometimes cutting-edge, sometimes quirky world of gear design. Explore the grid below or click through for a slideshow.
Duluth Pack x Merrell Moab Boots
Merrell’s latest collaboration with Duluth Pack brings us two new shoes: a steel-toe or soft-toe Moab work boot. The steel-toe version ($190) is a rugged design built for maximum protection, and the soft-toe style ($180) is a durable hiking shoe built for any type of outdoor enthusiast. Each pair has Duluth Pack’s iconic drab olive canvas and is finished with a custom brown leather logo. The exclusive boots can be purchased on Merrell’s and Duluth’s websites.
BE Outfitter 'The Campo'
This versatile piece of gear functions as a 4-in-1 poncho, hammock, ground cover, and shelter. The Campo ($119 MSRP) is made of 70-denier ripstop nylon with a DWR finish. Poncho features include snaps and hood cinch straps; shelter and hammock features include utility loops, carabiners, and hanging accessories. The Campo packs into a stuff sack and is lightweight at just over one pound.
UNIT 1 Headphone Snowsport Helmet
Finally, a comfortable and safe way to listen to music while skiing or riding. Introducing the UNIT 1, a helmet with high-quality, detachable, over-ear headphones. The heart of the design is a studio-quality sound inside a pair of normal headphones. The headphones attach inside the helmet and have a glove-compatible interface (with Siri compatibility) so you can be in full control of your tunes. The UNIT 1 helmet system will retail for $299.
Topo Designs x New Balance Quick Pack
Topo Designs is partnering up with New Balance to bring us an array of new products this week, from packs to shoes. The duo’s Quick Pack ($89) is the coolest product in the series. The 7.3L pack can be worn any way you like: with the detachable shoulder strap, across the body, or strapped to a bike. The bag is made from 420-denier nylon and a combination of cotton duck canvas and New Balance suede. It’s sleek, casual, and great for everyday use.
Carhartt Camo Quilted Flannel Active Jac
Carhartt’s newest Active Jac is out with new colors and styles, like this Camo Quilted Flannel ($109). The jacket would be a great choice for a cold morning in a deer stand or on an extended hunting trip. It’s made of water-repellent and wind-resistant cotton duck canvas, and the body and hood are lined with quilted flannel for extra (and much-needed) warmth. See Carhartt’s entire new fall collection here.
Oakley Clifden Sunglasses
Oakley is shaking up the market this week with its first-ever mountaineering sunglasses. The Clifden sunglasses ($196) use Prizm lenses paired with matte frames, side shields, and bridge blockers for eye protection. The lenses have light transmission rates from 6 to 17 percent, meant for providing increased contrast and visibility in snowy, brightly lit conditions.
NordicTrack Percussion Massager
Revitalize your recovery routine with this percussion gun massager from NordicTrack. Break up muscle tightness or give yourself a post-workout deep-tissue massage with one of the three interchangeable massage heads. The massager has three speeds and is cordless and rechargeable. Best of all? The price. The NordicTrack massager sells for just $99.
Snow Peak Dog Pullover
Japanese apparel brand Snow Peak is out with its newest line of apparel — for Fido, not you. The quick-drying dog pullovers are constructed with a blend of polyester, polyurethane, and cotton. We like the camping graphic, but there are three styles to choose from. The dog pullovers retail for $35.
686 Moonlight Insulated Jacket – B4BC Edition
Calling all female skiers and riders: If you like to ride hard and rep for a good cause, this insulated jacket is for you. 686 has partnered up with Boarding for Breast Cancer, an organization that hosts boarding and shredding events to raise awareness and educate, for a new print on its Moonlight Jacket ($360). What do we love about this jacket? It’s made with a two-layer GORE-TEX fabric for serious performance on the mountain. Plus, it’s got underarm vents, a merino wool collar, and pass-through pocket — and it’s not solid pink.
LaMere eSummit Electric Fat Bike
Fat-bike fanatics at LaMere decided to create a full-carbon, full-suspension fat e-bike for those of us who want to crush trails in the winter and summer. The bike can fit 27.5-inch wheel size and 4- to 5-inch-wide tires. The eSummit has a Shimano E8000 mid-drive motor, Shimano 11 speed shifter, 36V Darfon battery, and 4-inch Terrene Cake Eater fat tires. Preorder for $8,000 or buy later for $8,900 MSRP.
Follow Hollow Alpaca Performance Socks
Tired of stinky socks or socks that don’t live up to your active lifestyle? Follow Hollow’s Alpaca fiber socks may be the solution. The socks are made with 80-percent baby alpaca fibers, a soft, hollow-fiber material with great temperature-regulating and moisture-wicking abilities. They also contain 5 percent spandex. We haven’t tried them yet, but we definitely will once they hit the market.
Kynsho Crossover Cowl Waterproof Scarf
Kynsho’s newest venture is something I never thought I’d need, but it sounds awesome: a waterproof scarf. The Crossover Cowl ($85) is a snap-closure scarf made with layers of wool, weft, and polar fleece. The Crossover comes in two models: an everyday wool model and an outdoor-friendly, water-repellent, poly-woven cowl. It’s stylish, easy to wrap and wear, and, most importantly, functional in undesirable weather.
SNAP Mount Magnetic Camera Mount
A crowd-funded campaign aims to give enthusiasts a new mount for their action cameras. The SNAP mount is a magnetic adapter that can snap onto any vest, jacket, pack strap, or PFD. The mount fits all GoPro and DJI, and three-prong cameras. The SNAP itself is military-grade thermoplastic with an aluminum thumbscrew and comes with a magnetic lanyard. The SNAP mount will retail for $40.
Polaris RZR Pro XP 4
A new class of four-seater off-road travel is here with Polaris’ RZR Pro XP 4. The RZR Pro XP 4 is equal parts performance, strength, and style, with three trim level options. Each RZR Pro has front and rear half-doors, adjustable sliding driver and passenger seats, a dash, and rear storage. The RZR is no joke — with 181 horsepower and expanded fuel capacity for drivers who long for the open, unexplored road. Models start at $25,699.
Astral HaleStorm Hemp Hiking Boots
Astral’s latest hiking boot combines an unlikely material pair: a rugged, Trail Grip outsole with a hemp canvas upper. The lower boot is protective against rain, slush, or snow when hiking, while the soft, 77-percent hemp upper provides a unique look. The medium-arch, unisex shoe is comfort, functionality, and sustainability wrapped into one. The Astral HaleStorm retails for $140.
BMC Switzerland URS Gravel Bike
The URS aims to please all kinds of riders: gravel racers, high-mileage cyclists, and adventure riders. Each of the four build options starts with a premium 01 carbon frame and a micro-travel technology suspension system. Other features of the new models include SRAM Apex or Shimano derailleur and shifters, integrated cockpit design, and DT Swiss hubs and rims. The URS gravel bike models range in price from $3,199 to $9,499 depending on how you like your ride.
