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.
Portland Design Works Tube Taco
Whether you ride your bike on rugged gravel or smooth city streets, it pays to be prepared for a little roadside maintenance. The Portland Design Works Tube Taco ($25) is a handy tool and gear hauler that straps directly to your frame. It weighs less than 2 ounces, and it comes with dedicated elastic loops for mini pumps, tire levers, and CO2 canisters. For long-term durability, the Taco is built from truck tarp material and CORDURA.
Orca Tango Surfing Wet Suit
Orca has been making technical swimwear for over 25 years. Now, the brand drops the Tango — its first-ever wet suit for surfers. The Tango is made from 100% Yamamoto neoprene, a unique material derived from limestone and widely recognized as the lightest and warmest neoprene on the market. A compression inner lining aims to prevent the ingress of water and the formation of air pockets in the suit. Men’s and women’s styles are available in two thickness options.
Garmin Delta SE Dog Trainer
The new Delta SE from Garmin is a lightweight, screen-free dog training device. A tactile dial allows the user to quickly switch between 10 different stimulation levels, plus vibration and tone, to match the dog’s temperament and training situation. Garmin designed the Delta SE to fit into a broad range of training functions, from hunting preparation to everyday household behavior. According to Garmin, the unit lasts up to 70 hours on a single charge and weighs just 3 ounces.
Blix Dubbel E-Bike
Designed to haul “all your stuff plus passengers,” the Blix Dubbel ($1,899) is a moto-inspired utility e-bike with a sleek design and modular feature set. Complete with a rear rack and a step-through frame, this bike is geared toward in-town functionality and everyday commutes. The single 48V battery version of the Dubbel has a 40-mile range. A two-battery 80-mile option is also available.
Bajío Balam Coral Reef Frames
First and foremost, Bajío sunglasses are made for fishing — but the Balam Coral Reef shades would also be at home on the beach and beyond. Six glass ($249) and seven polycarbonate ($199) lens colors are available, all of which are polarized and equipped with blue-blocking LAPIS technology. As part of the brand’s Temples of Change program, every pair of Coral Reef glasses sold will support coral restoration in Xcalak, Mexico, along the Mesoamerican Reef.
Janji 'Naturaleza' AFO Middle Shorts
The print of these new running shorts ($62-68) from Janji is a “portal into the mysteriousness of other lifeforms.” Chilean artist Yaikel designed the Natualeza color scheme, which arrives as part of the brand’s Fall/Winter Chile Collection. A built-in brief liner and breathable waistband aim to maximize comfort and minimize chafing on long runs. Janji gives back 2% of the proceeds from every purchase to the Amulén Foundation, an organization working to ensure that rural schools throughout Chile have access to reliable, safe drinking water. Men’s and women’s styles are available.
TSL Outdoor Connect Carbon 5 Trekking Poles
For many hikers, backpackers, and alpinists, trekking poles function as an extension of the body. They can assist with balance, speed, and injury prevention, but they need to be well-built and relatively light. TSL Outdoor’s Connect Carbon 5 Trekking Poles have rigid carbon shafts and large EVA handles. They fold down to 16.5 inches and can be stored in most backpacks. The magnetic wrist straps can be removed with the push of a button.
Backside Heated Seat Pads
Warm summer nights are slipping away, but the incoming cold doesn’t need to spell the end of your camping season. The Backside Heated Seatpad ($80+) from Ignik turns any camp chair into a glorious heated throne. Any 12V power source will work with the Seatpad, and a 10-setting controller is included. Two sizes are available, and the larger XL version is big enough for two butts.
Solo Stove Mesa Tabletop Fire Pit
Turn any outdoor tabletop into a cozy fire pit with the Mesa from Solo Stove. At 6.8 inches tall and 5.1 inches wide, the Mesa is a mini stainless steel fire ring that burns wood pellets or small pieces of wood. According to the brand, Mesa’s signature “360º airflow technology” will ignite flames in minutes. Six color options are available.
Velocio CONCEPT Radiator Jersey
A bike jersey that can regulate body heat as you ride. That is the claim with Velocio’s CONCEPT Radiator ($200), a jersey that uses a TENCEL/polyester fabric from Polartec to wick moisture and “actively cool” you via evaporation. The brand touts the top is “cooler than no jersey at all.“ We tried it out and can attest to a cool feeling from the fabric on long rides. Velocio includes UPF 30+ protection on the back to keep you safe from rays on the summer road.
