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.
MPOWERD Luci Pro Outdoor 2.0 Solar Light
MPOWERD’s latest slew of products includes a pretty spiffy addition to its standard solar light. The Luci Pro Outdoor 2.0 ($40) has 150 lumens and can last over 2 days on a single charge. Even better, the Pro Series Luci light can also charge a device via USB while lighting up your campsite.
Under Armour Trek Collection Polar Fleece Pants
Under Armour made its new collection with the help of Polartec to make fleecy outdoor performance pieces. The UA Polar Fleece pants ($75-85 MSRP) have recycled Polartec Microfleece with thermal air pockets meant to retain warmth. Fleece pants are nothing new, but the added woven panels for durability do seem neat.
Adventure Mate Tool
An Australian camping tool company just launched what may be both the most useful and yet strangest tool we’ve seen in a while. The Adventure Mate ($219 early bird) is a 5-in-1 axe, saw, hammer, hook, and shovel. The updated version uses a camming lever to lock tools into place in the handle. Designed to be a space-saving tool for on-the-go explorers, it’s a cool concept. That being said, we want to learn more about the quality and performance of the detachable tools.
Ross Reels San Miguel Reel
Ross Reels’ newest fly fishing reel is a thing of beauty. The San Miguel reel is an upgrade to the original 1973 San Miguel model. It’s got the same high-gloss black finish on a solid-backed frame, with wide-range adjustable sealed drag. The new version also boasts a canvas Micarta handle to improve grip when wet and premium carbon/stainless steel construction. But it does cost a pretty penny at $595.
Laser Knife Edge Reader
Knife-loving creator Ken Leonard always found it difficult to match the angle of his blade when resharpening knives. So he designed a tool to measure the exact angle of the edge of the knife. The Laser Knife Edge Reader launched on Kickstarter and is already 25 percent funded, much to the excitement of knife connoisseurs looking for their next tool. Prices start at $40.
Vargo Titanium Hinge Wallet
A new minimalist wallet design is hitting the market this week. The Vargo Outdoors Titanium Hinge Wallet ($50) is made from lightweight titanium. The wallet’s two-pocket system aims to make it easier to access cards and cash separately. There’s also a pull tab designed for easy access and a built-in bottle opener for when happy hour comes around.
Monkeylectric Earth Lights
After these custom wheels sold out the first time, Monkeylectric brought back the Earth Light edition. The digital “light art” wheels ($70) are waterproof, powered and rechargeable with a battery, and emit the fun LED Earth pattern in up to 200 lumens of brightness. It’s probably not at the top of your bike gear list, but hey, you never know.
Hobie Mirage 360
Hobie’s latest kayak has a heap of new features, like Mirage Drive 360 technology in the kayak’s pedal units, giving anglers hands-free maneuverability while on the water. The Hobie Mirage Pro Angler also has kick-up retractable fins, six rod holders, an adjustable seat, an extra-wide hull, and more. It’s an angler’s dream. But at $4,599, it’s still a bit steep for a kayak.
Icebug Outrun Running Shoe
Swedish-based Icebug’s Kickstarter launched this week with a goal to create a sustainable but also quality trail-running shoe. According to the company, the Outrun shoes ($118 early bird) are made in a climate-positive factory, have a 100-percent PFC-free DWR treatment, and contain recycled materials and BLOOM algae foam. Icebug also claims the shoe’s material composition in the soles gives 40 percent better traction than other rubber compounds. If true, that would be pretty cool for a shoe made of algae.
Lookstand Phonestand
Our cellphones aren’t just for personal use anymore — we use them for pretty much everything. Lookstand is the latest smartphone gadget hoping to help us crane our necks less in our daily lives. The Lookstand folds down to 7 mm thick but extends up to a full 7-inch height for a more comfortable viewing angle. At just 1.58 ounces and $34 on Kickstarter, this could be a great gadget for those glued to their devices.
Wacaco Pipamoka Hand-Powered Coffee Maker
Coffee on the go may get even easier with this new travel brewer. The Pipamoka uses vacuum pressure to brew coffee straight in the travel bottle. Simply insert ground coffee into the filter basket, add hot water, drop in the filter, and twist. The Pipamoka is on pre-sale now for $40 and will be available in February.
