No matter where you live, it’s likely that temperatures have finally dropped after a hot summer that couldn’t seem to quit. That cold front coincides with a bevy of new gear aimed at staying warm and dry while having fun on colder adventures.
That includes some highly niche shoe for snowsurfing, merino wool ski socks, an affordable fat bike for snowy rides, and an update to The North Face’s classic mountaineering jacket.
Find all that and more right here in Emerging Gear.
Vivobarefoot Snowsurf
Growing up in Texas, I wasn’t familiar “snowsurfing,” which is differs from snowboarding by focusing on more lateral, surf-like movements than long descents.
Vivobarefoot partnered with Japanese outdoor collective Moonlight Gear to create two new boots: one for snowsurfing and another for skateboarding—both inspired by the connection between street skating and snowsurfing.
The collection includes the Gobi Sneaker Skate MLG ($170 for men and women) for skaters and the Tracker Pioneer WP ($270 for men and women) for those snowsurfers “in search of untouched powder.”
Portable Espresso Maker
If you’re a coffee obsessive, then instant coffee just won’t cut it at camp. I’ve known plenty of campers and hikers that will carry a little extra weight just to have a stellar cup of joe in the morning.
Flair 2GO bills itself as the “world’s most compact lever espresso machine.” This manual espresso maker collapses into a custom carrying case, and makes “cafe-quality” brews wherever you’re willing to haul its four pounds of weight. Of course, you’ll have to bring along the grounds, and presumably a cup or two. But hey, you’ll probably also end up the star of your next outdoor trip.
The North Face Summit Nuptse
This one is an update of a genuine classic. The North Face Nuptse jacket was born in 1992 as a technical expedition jacket, named for the Nuptse peak near Everest. It’s become well known among mountaineers and adventurers, and even achieved a certain status as a fashion item.
As The North Face celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, the Nuptse gets updated with improved fabrics, recycled materials, and DWR treatment, the brand said. At $700, this jacket is far from cheap. But that could be said of any quality jacket designed for the extreme weather of the world’s highest peaks. It’s available for both men and women.
Suunto Race 3S
Suunto has added a bunch of new features for its latest watch release, and tacked on a higher price tag to boot.
The latest fitness watch from the Finnish brand, Race 3S sports several major upgrades, including a compact 46 mm case that’s “sized to sit well on smaller
wrists.” It also brings the battery life to a respectable 38 hours of dual-band GPS, sports a nifty 2,000-nit AMOLED display, and can download worldwide offline maps. That’s all in a 56 g package with the brand’s new AI coach for those interested in AI training plans.
Suunto has also raised the cost of this watch to $600, which is a significant increase from the $450 Suunto Race S. But with the new features, it’s still comparable to similarly priced models from Garmin, as well as cheaper ones from Coros.
Mission Workshop Backpack
Several bags from California-based Mission Workshop are getting updated with the brand’s LandSpeeder Attachment System.
The first of the series, the Sanction LS is a popular 18L pack reengineered for LandSpeeder accessories (Folio, Bottle Holder, or Side Pouch). The pack pairs a top-flap design with Fidlock magnetic buckles and a front zip pocket for smaller essentials. There’s an exterior, padded laptop compartment and a false bottom for added protection. It’s available on the LandSpeeder website for $355.
Coors x Seager ‘Protect Our Protectors’ Collab
Show your support for America’s brave wildland firefighters, and pitch in to help those injured in the line of duty, with this classic workwear team-up. Seager Co. and Coors this week launched the Protect Our Protectors collection, a lineup of snapback caps, hoodies, t-shirts, work jacket, and silver belt buckle. Best of all, 6% of sales will benefit the Wildland Firefighter Foundation, which provides financial assistance to injured firefighters and the families of those who lost their lives battling wildfires.
Multi-Tool Solar Light
Keeping phones and devices powered on has become a mainstay of most outdoor preparation. But this budget-friendly gizmo supposedly keeps your devices charged, illuminates your tent or other small space, and can also recharge through solar power.
The WeatherX Solar Power Bank and Light with Wireless Charger ($40) has a 10,000 mAh battery with two USB ports and wireless charging for your phone. It also sports a solar panel or USB-in option for recharging, and an LED flashlight with three lighting options: illuminated, SOS, or flashing.
Zip Running Commute Pack
It’s interesting how honing a design for a very specific purpose can result in an idea so useful it’s reapplied across a market category. Ever since running vests began offering snug fits and tight chest straps for easier movement while carrying weight, more and more packs of all sizes have begun doing the same thing.
Zip Running is the latest example of this fusion, offering a couple of sexy packs that can handle outdoor adventures while retaining enough class for the workplace. It’s aimed at run-commuters, who want to get in some exercise to or from work, but need a pack that’s both mobile and holds what they need.
The Commute Pack ($185) offers the fit of a running vest with the capacity of a 20L day pack. There’s also the smaller version, or FKC ($165).
Check out the whole collection before it sells out.
Ornot Fogeater Jacket
San Francisco’s Ornot makes quality bike gear, and it’s released a new waterproof rain jacket for wet rides. Designed with 3L Pertex Shield fabric, a dropped hem, and PFC-Free DWR treatment, it “keeps you dry on wet rides without using forever chemicals,” the brand said.
It packs into its own pocket, has a 2-way waterproof zipper, and plenty of adjustment and cinch cords. There are also hand pockets for warming up the fingers after a cold ride. It costs $325 for both men and women.
State Bikes Fat Bike
State Bikes updates its fat bike model for the first time since 2016, bringing in a new hydroformed 6061 aluminum frame, modern geometry, and specs ready for both winter or desert riding. The Trail+ Fat Bike v2 also features a 66-degree head tube angle, Carbon Fork Upgrade, and Tektro hydraulic brakes with 180 rotors.
Best of all, the bike is impressively affordable at just $1,200.
Merino Wool Ski Socks
Located in the ski-loving city of Park City, Utah, the brand Le Bent focuses on snow apparel using natural fibers, especially merino wool. Its latest offering is a collab with Norwegian big-mountain skier and filmmaker Nikolai Schirmer.
The Nikolai Schirmer Zero Cushion Pro Series Snow Sock uses Le Bent’s signature fiber blend of merino wool and rayon with bamboo. It’s an all-day ski sock that offers “moisture management, temperature regulation and next-to-skin comfort,” the brand said. There’s a compression-like fit, along with a zero-cushion construction that’s built for technical skiing. It costs $45.
