We have a few extra-cool gear releases this week aimed squarely at women who love getting outside. That includes a trail shoe inspired by the growing outdoor collective GorpGirls, an ultralight fleece from women’s hiking brand Hikerkind, linen running shirts, and aviator sunglasses named after Ella Fitzgerald (it’s not clear why).
But that’s not all, outdoor lovers. Gear utilitarians will like the chef-focused backpack and Gossamer Gear’s latest tent innovation, while fashionable athletes will appreciate Snoopy apparel from Topo Designs and blinged-out watches from G-SHOCK.
Find all that and more right here in Emerging Gear.
Chef Backpack
Outdoor chefs will have a field day with this one — literally. The limited-edition Chrome x TILIT 29L Chef Pack builds on the popularity of the brands’ previous collaboration: the Chrome x TILIT Kadet Chef Knife Sling.
This new backpack expands the partnership with a larger-format carry solution for “chefs on the move.” The pack combines Chrome’s focus on durable urban carry with TILIT’s understanding of hospitality workwear.
It includes a removable knife case with secure storage for two to five essential knives and tools, a secure blade storage compartment with Velcro straps and protective flaps, and many other storage compartments. It also has a padded U-lock holster for bike commuters. Get yours for $220.
Adjustable Tint Shades
This interesting new release from POVEC Optics offers a pair of shades that lets wearers “shift the lens tint in less than a second” with a simple swipe. It’s not the first of its kind. At first blush, they look similar to the Chamelo Music Shield Sunglasses we reviewed in 2024.
Regardless, the POVEC C1 offers another way for outdoor athletes to have a quiver of lens options in a single package. Moreover, these shades use Ambilight, an automotive innovator that developed solid-state electrochromic technologies for Audi and BYD.
“The technology has been thoroughly tested in the harshest environments and engineered to withstand extreme heat, intense UV rays, constant vibration, and long-term climate exposure,” POVEC said in a news release.
The shades have Dual Manual Tint Modes, including Clear Mode (Category CAT 2 for lower-light/overcast conditions) and Dark Mode (Category CAT 3 for high-glare/bright sunlight). You can snag a pair for $250.
Ultralight Backpacking Tent
Gossamer Gear, based in Austin, Texas, has earned a loyal following among hardcore backpackers. This week, the brand released updated versions of several of its tents, many of them now made with recycled fabric.
But it also debuted The Free, a one-person tent that it’s calling the “lightest double-walled freestanding tent the outdoors has ever seen.” Interestingly, it doesn’t require stakes and weighs an impressively low 29.8 ounces. The tent has integrated poles and is constructed with the same ClearSkies recycled fabric as many of the brand’s other tents. This is also the brand’s first freestanding tent. It’s not cheap at $400, but it’s definitely worth checking out.
GorpGirls Trail Shoe
This one’s just for the ladies. GorpGirls, a female-led outdoor community, partnered with Montana’s Oboz Footwear for this colorful celebration of women on the trail.
The Oboz x GorpGirls Crosscut debuts online today, though it also has a couple of launch events in New York and Los Angeles. Moreover, it’s an early release of Oboz’s Crosscut Low, a new style that won’t fully launch until this fall. The Oboz x Gorp Girls Crosscut has a quick lace system, breathable mesh and leather upper, and a grippy Trail Tread AT outsole. There’s also a Kinertia Energy midsole and O FIT Ortholite insole.
The collab edition is marked by its Brambleberry color, developed jointly by the two brands. The Oboz Crosscut Low x GorpGirls will hit the Oboz website at 11 a.m. Mountain Time. It costs $155.
Women’s Fleece Midlayer
Hikerkind, a women-focused hiking brand that resulted from a chance meeting at a Gucci photo shoot, has become a highly popular outdoor brand. Its latest release is the Ultralight Alpha Midlayer, a hooded fleece midlayer. Made from Polartec Alpha Direct 90 fabric, it’s ultralight, versatile, and travel-friendly, the brand said.
Built for big-mile days and multinight treks, the midlayer weighs just 4.9 ounces. It has crossbody paneling that supposedly adds 1.5 extra layers of warmth to the core, as well as a fitted hood. It also packs down smaller than a 32-ounce Nalgene. Buy yours in white or black for $158.
Brow Bar Aviator
Retro-style aviators are a solid choice from the shades brand Vallon. Its ski aviators received a highly positive review last year from GJ Editorial Director Sean McCoy.
Now Vallon has launched a new brow bar aviator: the Ella (women’s) and Elmore (men’s). They’re named for legendary jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald and blues guitarist Elmore James. I have no idea what those musicians have to do with aviator sunglasses, but as a jazz and blues fan, I’m willing to overlook that for the sake of celebrating a couple of my favorite musicians.
The aviators have a cellulose acetate frame and proprietary V52 polarized lenses. They come in a few color options and cost $170.
Linen Running Shirt
In some ways, it’s hard to beat synthetic fabrics for moisture-wicking and breathability. However, there’s also something to be said for sweating in natural fibers instead of plastic.
That’s why Tracksmith, the popular New England running brand, just debuted some linen running shirts. On the one hand, it’s hard to imagine running in these in the middle of the day. But these shirts are made from “Japanese performance linen” and the brand’s proprietary Coolmax fabric. As someone with sensitive skin who’s forced to wear natural fibers, these certainly look good enough to wear in formal circumstances. So if they work on runs also, that’s just a plus.
Tracksmith’s Run Cannonball Run Linen shirts have a drop-in pocket, center-back box pleat, and traditional barrel cuffs. They come in either pop-over or button-up styles.
Snoopy Apparel Collection
Snoopy is a lot like Smokey Bear — he never really goes out of style. The iconic beagle from Charles Schulz’s Peanuts comics is a perfect pairing with Colorado-based Topo Designs, which has become increasingly popular for its bold, colorful designs.
The brand just dropped its third and final collaboration on Peanuts-themed gear, this time with a collection focused entirely on everyone’s favorite comic dog. This lineup includes vintage-inspired Snoopy graphics T-shirts, trucker hats, socks, and 100%-cotton sweatshirts like a Woodstock Quarter Zip. There’s even a short-sleeve sweatshirt. Check out the full collection on the Topo Designs website.
Lavender Bike Frame
Take it from a guy who frequents social bike rides: There’s something genuinely fun about cruising through town on a colorful bike. And the limited-edition return of Surly Bikes’ Steamroller frameset is a fine-looking example.
The bike frameset returns in what the brand calls “Anxious Lavender.” Steamroller was one of the brand’s first models when it launched back in 2000. It returns with the same 700c x 38mm tire clearance and “street-proof” steel frame. But this time it has cable stops for “cleaner rear brake routing,” the brand said. Get your set for $700 on the Surly Bikes website.
Blingy G-SHOCK
Even as watches become ever smarter thanks to AI, G-SHOCK continues to chug along with new iterations of the classic design that was a staple of my childhood (and many others). This summer, it’s releasing a Camo & Gold Series, a blinged-out, four-watch collection that “reimagines classic military-inspired camouflage through a fashion-forward lens.” I mean, why not, right?
The new lineup includes the GM6900CMG-3, GAV01CMG-3A, DW6900CMG-3, and GA700CMG-3A, each designed with gold-tone dials and a camouflage aesthetic. The collection ranges from $145 to $280.
