Take a peek at emerging products from the sometimes cutting-edge, sometimes quirky world of gear design. Explore the grid or click through for a slideshow.
QUOC Gran Tourer II Shoe
QUOC’s new Gran Tourer II Dial Gravel Shoe ($265) takes the popular silhouette of QUOC’s best-selling lace gravel shoe, and combines it with a stiffer sole, upgraded, all-weather microfiber, and in-house custom dial system. The Gran Tourer II also has a nylon composite midsole, GravelGrip rubber compound outsole, and vibration-absorbing insole. The Gran Tourer II is available now for preorder on quoc.cc in four colors starting on April 29.
Paka Traceable Alpaca Sweater
Paka is launching the “first-ever traceable alpaca sweater.” About the sweater: the Paka Oat Hoodie ($129) features a triple panel hood, V neckline, and flexible slit on both sides of the sweater for breathability and stretch. So, how do you trace its origin? It’s as simple as scanning the QR code on the garment, following the link to see the location of its origin, and learning about the farm and alpacas. Paka also lets you print off an Origin Certificate (certified through the Asociación Internacional de la Alpaca). That’s it! Certified, traceable alpaca awesomeness.
Oxo Kitchen Prep Set
Calling REI members: This car camping suite of kitchen goodies is available to you and you alone. Available for preorder now, the Oxo Kitchen Prep set has all the cooking and grilling essentials you’ll need for a meal done right. The kit includes a cutting board, stainless steel can and bottle opener, two leakproof squeeze bottles for condiments, a 5.5-inch chef’s knife, 10.5-inch tongs, tool rest, and silicone spatula and serving spoon. All this for under $100.
Teva Zymic Sandal
Teva’s newest sandal, the Zymic ($80), is finally here. The Zymic sandal blends diverse functionality with sustainable materials — a 100% recycled plastic cushioned mesh upper, 30% recycled EVA midsole, injection-molded 20% recycled EVA outsole — and sports-ready straps for a secure and adjustable fit. The Zymic comes in five colors for men and women, and it’s recyclable through the Teva Forever recycling program.
Daehlie North Jacket
Daehlie, founded by Norwegian XC skier Bjorn Daehlie himself, knows what it’s doing when it comes to layers. The Jacket North ($150) is a hooded cross-country jacket for moderate-intensity training. It’s a wind- and water-repellent three-layer softshell with extra insulation on the front. (We’ve tried it and it’s great against the wind!) It has 100% recycled fiber, mesh panels below the arms for ventilation, and a really lightweight hood. But the coolest part of this jacket is the temperature-sensitive Bionic Finish Eco technology on the fabric: when the digits drop below 32 Fahrenheit, a hidden pattern appears. Why? Partly to let you know it’s cold, partly just for a cool factor. Both men’s and women’s styles are available.
ROAMING: Roark's Adventure Atlas
Part coffee table book, part adventure manual, “ROAMING: Roark’s Adventure Atlas: Surfing, Skating, Riding, and Climbing Around the World” ($45) is filled with gorgeous photos from Chris Burkhard, Dylan Gordon, Drew Smith, and more. It also contains travel hacks and adventurous itineraries for destinations around the world. Fans of skateboarding, surfing, snowboarding, climbing, and trail running will find travel inspiration within its pages.
Ride Concepts Flume Women's MTB Shoe
Flat, clip, BOA, or lace — Ride Concepts’ Flume line offers it all. Designed specifically for women riders, the upper boasts stitch-free, fully welded CORDURA upper with TPU hits to resist splashes, water, and mud. D30 High Impact Zone Technology works to absorb the worst of the trail and prevent foot fatigue. And we’ve tried the brand’s MAX GRIP rubber outsole and can confirm it sticks like the best of them! Available at Ride Concepts starting at $160.
Stone Glacier Terminus 7000 Backpack
Stone Glacier claims this 7,000-cubic-inch TERMINUS 7000 backpack can carry 150+ pounds. Now wrap your head around this: It weighs just 3 pounds, 15 ounces! Designed for backcountry hunters pursuing game in big mountains, this backpack should raise eyebrows among the general backpacking community. Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene should give this workhorse pack a very long lifespan, and the X-Pac frame and suspension are among the best heavy-load haulers we’ve tested. It comes with a hefty price tag of $650.
Polar Pacer Pro Watch
Today, Polar launched the Polar Pacer and Polar Pacer Pro: two new-generation running watches. Both the Polar Pacer ($199) and Polar Pacer Pro ($299) are equipped with a variety of functions: GPS and a MIP (memory in pixel) display, the ability to measure VO2 Max and HR, as well as tracking functions for training, sleep, and recovery. The Pro version also has a SHIFT adapter to customize the band.
Fin-Nor Performance Fishing Sunglasses
Check out a host of performance shades to take with you on the water — Fin-Nor releases 20 new frames and styles. Available online now and hitting retailers in May, each pair of sunglasses offers glass or polycarbonate lenses, rubber temple and nose pads, and various tints to combat full sun or variable light on or off shore. Choose from sporty frames like the Hells Bay (pictured), a large-lens frame like the Big Pine, or an aviator style like the Surf Candy. Check out the entire line at Fin-Nor.
