Emerging gear — the bleeding edge of outdoor industry tech, where innovation and creativity meet the always adventurous needs of GearJunkies worldwide. I’ll be your guide through this edition, which includes bespoke ski goggles, rowdy all-mountain skis, ultralight paddle shafts, no fewer than two steezy watches, and the latest from the maniacs at Vollebak.
Buckle in, compadres. Emerging gear waits for no one.
Werner Stealth 1-Piece Straight Shaft
Werner’s new paddle shaft — which the brand designed in collaboration with Dane Jackson — is all about silence and speed. The brand says the shaft “combines our blade forward, buoyant profile, with slender edges, reducing resistance during entry and exit.”
Starting at $469, the Stealth isn’t a paddle shaft aimed at beginners or even intermediate paddles. Werner designed it for maximum lightness and aggressive race-style paddling. This is a paddle for experts only. But if you do happen to shred on the whitewater, give the Stealth 1-Piece Straight Shaft some consideration. It might just be what you need to take your paddling to the next level.
Tiburón Automatic 44mm Synthetic Rubber Strap Watch
Timex packed a lot of watch into the Tiburón Automatic 44mm for just shy of $350. The stainless steel case provides up to 200m of water resistance, while the sapphire crystal adds additional protection and scratch resistance to the rugged build. The face itself is clear, easy to read, and striking, while the exposition case offers a peak at the Japanese automatic mechanisms running the show inside.
As a final nod to the Tiburón’s intended aquatic use cases, Timex included a slip-through sport closure on the synthetic band for maximum comfort over a wet suit or rash guard.
Paka PAKACLOUD Fleece
PAKA’s been making this column a lot recently thanks to its innovative use of alpaca fiber in insulative garments. Now the midlayer madness continues with the brand’s PAKACLOUD fleece. It’s a synthetic/natural blend meant to merge the warmth and breathability of a fleece with the sustainability of natural fiber.
The brand settled on a blend composed of 35% baby alpaca, 29% recycled polyester, 18% merino wool, and 18% recycled nylon. PAKA claims the resulting garment is softer than cashmere but has a higher warmth-to-weight ratio than fully synthetic fleece.
Flatlock seams and elasticized cuffs and neck round out the features. PAKA also says the PAKACLOUD has an 8% water retention rate, making it fast-drying to boot. Your current “active insulation” garment may have just met its match.
Kane Footwear x Matt Choi Revive Active Recovery Shoe
Kane’s Limited Edition Matt Choi Revive Active Recovery Shoe is emblazoned with the word “Limitless.” That’s a fitting sentiment, seeing as Choi is a sub-3-hour marathoner. His goal with the collaboration was to remind athletes that they sometimes have to unlearn negative thought patterns to reach new heights of performance.
To that end, the Revive is designed to baby your feet when you aren’t pounding the pavement. Injection-molded from sugarcane-based EVA foam, the Revive cuddles and coddles your piggies in those rare moments when they aren’t crammed into running shoes.
A hanging loop provides a storage solution beyond the floor of your closet. Plenty of ventilation holes means your feet can breathe in addition to relaxing. Are they worth it at $85? Well, Choi certainly thinks so! And if anyone knows the value of good foot care, it’s marathon runners like him.
Zodiac x Rowing Blazers Super Sea Wolf GMT World Time Automatic Watch
Zodiac’s latest Super Sea Wolf iteration is, for some reason, inspired by a watch in the 1983 comedy “Trading Places.” Why turn to a 40-year-old Dan Aykroyd/Eddie Murphy vehicle for inspiration? You’ll have to ask Zodiac and self-described “preppy” apparel brand Rowing Blazers. But the result is a fine-looking watch that can tell time in a multitude of cities thanks to a world-time rotating bezel.
The white hand on the black face makes for a crisp, clean presentation. And the automatic motion means you’ll never be stuck when someone says, “Hey, what time is it in Monte Carlo?”
Smith Squad Imprint 3D Goggle
Smith is in the process of ending imperfect goggle fits thanks to its custom-made Imprint 3D line. The tech uses a Smith app and the camera in your phone to take a scan of your face. It then transforms that scan into a 3D-printed goggle that matches your mug marvelously. Now Smith has added its popular Squad goggles to the program.
A custom Squad runs $250. But that gets you the Squad’s semi-rimless, well-vented design and cylindrical, wide-field-of-view lens in a bespoke fit. You can choose from six ChromaPop lenses for bright conditions plus a bonus lens optimized for cloudy days.
Romp Oso 105 Skis
Like to shred aggressively on off-piste adventures? Romp’s Oso 105 skis might be for you. The sticks are a redesign of the Oso 106, meant to keep that model’s hard-charging character but with some added playfulness, according to the Romp.
To do that, the brand started with an ash/aspen core, and then increased the rocker and taper from the 106. The result, Romp says, is a ski that can “bounce around in tight chutes.” And a 20m sidecut radius means it can still maintain stability when you decide to point it. All that plus additional damping material makes for a super-solid and predictable on-snow experience.
For $849, you get the Oso 105’s high-speed confidence. And it’s got a classic look, to boot. The understated wooden top sheet is emblazoned with a topographic map of the Crested Butte, Colo., area, where Romp’s custom ski factory calls home.
Vollebak 100 Year Field Jacket
Vollebak’s 100 Year Field Jacket ($1,000) is made from a blend of materials that the brand claims can stand up to a “high-velocity encounter with the tarmac.”
You may find this hard to believe. But the price, overbuilt construction, and breathless copywriting are somewhat toned down from Vollebak’s usual fare. Stopping just shy of making a jacket capable of surviving a nuclear explosion, the brand settled on building a windproof, waterproof, abrasion-resistant number in classy, simple black. Pockets abound, as do solid, heavy-duty metal details. Vollebak achieves that durability with a blend of synthetic fabrics first developed for motorcycle racing.
The result is a surprisingly restrained garment perfect for moto enthusiasts who also happen to dig Vollebak’s “billionaires facing the apocalypse” vibe.
Mavic Logoline Collection
Mavic is best known for its wheels and expanding lineup of shoes and other kit. But the brand’s recently launched Logoline lifestyle collection channels a century of history into casual apparel that looks just as good off the bike as on it.
I particularly like this Heritage V Tee, a 100% cotton crew-neck number in Mavic yellow. The hem, cuffs, and collar are ribbed for comfort, while the prominent logo hearkens all the way back to a design used in 1923. That’s a lot of heritage and history for only $47.
Can’d Aid 20” Bike Give One Get One Program
While not exactly an emerging product, Can’d Aid’s Give One Get One Program is worth a mention simply on the strength of its good vibes.
The Can’d Aid 20″ Bike only costs $225 and fits riders ages 6 to 8. The geometry is dialed for the comfort of emerging riders, while the cherry red finish is sure to catch the eye of any bike-loving kiddo. A coaster-brake system further simplifies matters, while BMX-style tires offer versatility and grip on a range of suburban surfaces. And don’t worry — a sturdy steel-frame construction can stand up to the wipeouts your little one is sure to put the new ride through.
But the best part is that every purchase of a Can’d Aid 20″ Bike enables Can’d Aid to donate a bike to a child in need through its Treads + Trails program. So not only is it a great gift, but you can also feel good about buying it, too.
