Cool and colorful is the name of the game this week. About half of this week’s lineup of new gear offers functional outdoor gear in bright tones that reflect the long days of daylight ahead of us.
From dog kennels to portable batteries to sporty sunglasses, there’s something for everyone to use in the outdoors — and look cool doing it. We also have some interesting innovations on hand, like a running vest designed to improve safety and a charger that splits into two batteries. Add in a new book from famed adventurer Jimmy Chin, and you’ve got an extra-fun lineup to peruse.
Find all that and more in this week’s Emerging Gear.
Running Safety Vest
If you worry about safety while running or cycling alone, then this “smart” outdoor vest is aimed at you. RunSafePro, a Netherlands-based startup, just launched a Kickstarter for the RunSafePro smart vest. This techy piece of gear offers rear radar detection, automatic incident detection, accents for 360-degree visibility, and even a panic button for GPS-based emergency alerts.
According to the campaign description, the vest’s built-in radar can detect a vehicle or cyclist approaching from behind and alert the wearer with lights and vibration. Accident detection occurs if the wearer stops moving and doesn’t respond to a check-in on the vest, triggering an automatic SOS and GPS coordinates to pre-selected emergency contacts.
The vest costs about $114 through the Early Bird Pricing. Users must also pay a subscription fee, though it’s currently only $1 a month.
adidas Terrex Freehiker 3
We’ve reviewed two versions of adidas Terrex’s previous Freehiker: the Freehiker 2 Low and the Freehiker 2 GORE-TEX Hiking Boot. Both received positive scores from reviewers, who praised them as flexible outdoor shoes that work for a variety of purposes without necessarily mastering any single one.
Now, the brand has released several new models in the for the Terrex Freehiker 3, including the Freehiker 3 Ultra GTX, the lineup’s “most technical offering,” along with Mid GTX, and Low GTX. There’s also the line’s first-ever Freehiker SL, which brings in the brand’s proprietary Hyperboost and Dreamstrike+ cushioning.
In addition to GORE-TEX protection and Continental rubber outsoles, the shoes aim to deliver “weatherproof durability and reliable traction across all terrain,” the brand said. The various models are priced $150-220, and are available on the adidas Terrex website, as well as REI and Backcountry.
Sharable Charger
What if a single battery charger could be separated into two independent chargers? That’s the gist behind SharePower. The brand, Nimble, claims it’s the world’s first version of this idea. This 10,000mAh compact power bank can magnetically split into two independent 5,000mAh chargers.
Nimble’s design includes PFAS-free and PVC-free materials and supposedly uses more than 90% recycled content. And at only $80, it’s a surprisingly reasonable price. It’s available in white or special-edition colors, including Liquid Crystal Blue and Liquid Crystal Pink.
America 250 Shades
We’re a bit picky about the products we include that celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary. There are many. But these shades from Utah-based Pit Viper are too fun not to mention.
The brand partnered with U.S. Ski Team Alpine Skier Lauren Macuga to launch the Freedom Ring Mooner Sunglasses. This bold color of Pit Viper’s Mooner style is meant to reflect the red, white, and blue of the American flag. Get yours for $80.
GUNNER x Ducks Unlimited
Gunner Kennels do not come cheap, but they are “worth every penny,” according to GearJunkie reviewers.
This week, Gunner launched a new collection of these kennels in partnership with Ducks Unlimited (DU), a nonprofit dedicated to protecting wetlands, which has received $250,000 in donations from Gunner over the last 10 years. To celebrate that partnership, they’re releasing some special-edition kennels in what they’re calling DU Orange.
Offered in both the G1 Kennel and Food Crate sizes, a portion of every purchase of these kennels helps protect the habitats that make waterfowl hunting possible.
Jimmy Chin Book
National Geographic photographer and filmmaker Jimmy Chin has long pushed the limits of outdoor photography, even winning an Oscar for his Free Solo documentary of Alex Honnold.
Now the famed adventurer is releasing a new book: Rules to Live By: How Extraordinary Lives Define What Really Matters. The book is a collection of 10 conversations with 10 different athletes and artists trying to answer a deceptively difficult question: What really matters?
It’s not just the expected interviews like Alex Honnold, Yvon Chouinard, and Kelly Slater. The book’s interviews also include the director Ridley Scott, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and gymnast Simone Biles.
“Putting this book together reminded me how fortunate I’ve been to learn from the people around me — mentors, friends, collaborators, and those willing to ask the hard questions,” Chin wrote about the book. “I hope these conversations make you feel a little less alone, and maybe help you find a few rules to live by.”
Nestout Power Bank Colors
We love the Japanese brand Nestout around here. The company’s super-durable chargers are standbys in our Best Power Banks guide.
Now all three of the popular NESTOUT power banks are available in two new colors: “orange to stand out, and olive green to blend in,” the brand said. Whether you prefer the slim, lightweight 5K charger, the weekend warrior 10K, or the do-it-all workhorse 15K, you can find them in new colors. Given how easily I lose things, it’s not a bad idea to have a charger that’s not the same color as the foliage you’re likely to drop it into.
Tandem Rocker
This one’s for the lovers, I think. GCI Outdoor makes reliable gear for many occasions, and its Tandem Rocker offers a comfy design for two people looking to chill side by side.
This portable 21-pound rocker is ideal for campsites, backyards, or just watching a Little League game from the shade. With the brand’s patented rocking technology, “you’ll enjoy a smooth, soothing motion on grass, gravel, or patio surfaces,” the brand said. It can also fold up into a single-seat rocker and supports a whopping 250 pounds of weight per seat. Not too shabby.
Kelly Slater Summer Apparel
The legendary surfer’s apparel brand, Outerknown, makes clothing that’s easy on the skin and minimizes impact on the environment. We’ve featured the brand for its focus on eco-fashion, especially the swim trunks made from fishnets released last year.
Now Outerknown is releasing several new men’s shirts in time for summer. The highlight is likely the Chroma Blanket Shirt, a garment-dyed version of its bestselling Blanket Shirt (meaning the shirt is made first, and then dyed afterward, resulting in more unique coloring for each shirt). Other new arrivals include short-sleeve button-ups like the BBQ Shirt and Studio Shirt.
For those looking for durable apparel that uses organic cotton and recycled fibers, Outerknown is a solid choice.
Cool Running Shirt
How much cooler can running shirts get? Apparently, a lot — if you punch a bunch of holes in them. That’s the method behind Raide’s new Thermal Dispersion tee, available for men and women.
Constructed from a 115gsm Italian-knit microfiber, the $119 shirt offers four-way stretch, is ultra-lightweight, and is a blend of 85% nylon and 15% elastane. It just launched today and comes with an impressive 5-year warranty.
