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Emerging Gear: Snow Bodyboard, Osprey Rook, Necklace Camera

A peek at emerging products from the sometimes cutting-edge, sometimes quirky world of gear design.

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A peek at emerging products from the sometimes cutting-edge, sometimes quirky world of gear design. Explore the grid below or click through for a slideshow.

4G RV: Airstream Connected

airstream wifi 4g

Access the internet on the go with the Airstream/AT&T connectivity kit. Available for Airstream owners, the brand launched Airstream Connected, a device that sits atop the RV and offers users 4G LTE and Wi-Fi hotspots. It uses a high-gain antenna connected to a power source, which should theoretically enable users to get better service than cellphones. You can add the Airstream Connected on new and old Airstreams. The hardware costs $999, and 4G plans incur additional monthly costs.

Crua Hanging Chair

crua hover chair

Hammocks are out, chairs are in. HoverChair from Crua is a portable and lightweight chair you hang from trees to rival hammocks. Included with the HoverChair is a spreader bar, mesh back, cushiony seat, bottle sleeve, valuables pocket, and an optional footrest. Packed up, it measures 9.8 x 15.7 inches and weighs 3.9 pounds. The Crua HoverChair is on Kickstarter now for $49.

Osprey Rook/Renn Backpacks

osprey renn and rook

Osprey launches a simple backpack for multiday treks with its Rook/Renn series. It uses Osprey comfort technologies, like its AirSpeed suspension and harness, for hip, shoulder, and back comfort. It also has an integrated rain cover and an easy-to-dial fit system. The Renn and Rook are available in 50L and 65L options, from the low price of $155 to $165.

Orvis Recycled Fly Line Dog Leash

orvis recycled fly fishing line

Get a dog leash to match your pet’s inner fish with the Recycled Fly Line Dog Leash from Orvis. The handwoven leash uses recycled fly line for a vibrant color, and a stainless steel clip adds more strength to this already durable dog leash. And just like fly line, this leash is made to withstand water. It measures 6 feet long, is made in the USA, and costs $25.

Snoogee Board Carving Sled

Snoogee Board

Put the Snoogee Board on top of your snowboard and carve powder fields much like a bodyboard in the ocean. Snoogee Sleds introduces a carving sled for a new way to get down the hill. This sled latches onto most snowboards and enables riders to carve, lift the nose, and ride sort of like a snowboard. Videos show the board in use, and it appears to actually work! Snoogee is on Kickstarter now for $199 Super Early Bird.

OPKIXOne Camera

OPKIX Necklace

Wear the OPKIXOne on your sunglasses, necklace, or ring and capture life as it unfolds in front of you. A novel take at portable recording, OPKIXOne is a tiny, wearable video camera. It records with the push of a button at 1080p and then uploads easily with Bluetooth and a paired app. Its intention is to record hands-free so you can experience more life. The OPKIXOne is available now starting at $295.

Six Moon Designs Ultralight Umbrella

silver moon design umbrella

Regular umbrellas are heavy for hiking, which is why Six Moon Designs launched a line of ultralight umbrellas with its Silver Shadow collection. Each of the umbrellas has a reflective silver coating with a 50-plus UPF rating. And the smallest, the Silver Shadow Carbon, has a 24-inch shaft and 37-inch canopy, weighs 6.8 ounces, and costs $45. And for the uninitiated, ultralight umbrellas offer backpackers a lightweight, stowable option for sun protection that’ll help in light rain too.

Air Deck 2.0 Travel Playing Cards

air deck 2.0

Dubbed the “ultimate travel playing cards,” the Air Deck 2.0 is a travel-friendly deck of cards. The deck is lightweight, durable, and waterproof. It takes up hardly any space in your luggage yet uses casino-quality, heavy-duty card construction. The upgrade for this version includes higher durability and scratch-resistant ink. You can see the Air Deck 2.0 on Kickstarter, where a pack costs $10.

Rapha Women's Chamois

women's rapha chamois

Rapha attempts to craft the most comfortable women’s bib shorts with its new line of women’s cycling apparel. It first spent 3 years developing a women’s chamois to ensure optimal distribution of pressure. Then, it created the Souplesse Detachable Bib Shorts and the Cargo Bib Shorts. Each incorporates multi-thickness pads in two sizes and has an antibacterial treatment, seamless construction, and dual-density foam for reduced pressure on the front and support for the sit bones. Shop the new Rapha shorts here, where the cycling gear costs $130 to $270.

Why Cycles Pure Road Bike

why cycles pr

Why Cycles launched the Pure Road bike, the first bike made specifically for wireless SRAM eTap shifting. There aren’t cable entry ports anywhere, resulting in a super-minimal, aerodynamic look. Additionally, this bike is light with its titanium frame, ENVE SES Carbon 4.5 AR Disc wheels, and carbon bar, stem, and seatpost. The SRAM Red eTap AXS 1X ENVE Kit costs $9,499 but should last for a while. In the words of Why Cycles, “This is truly the last road bike you’ll ever need.”

Toadfish Outfitters Coastal Kitchen Collection

coastal outfitters toadfish shuck kit

Toadfish Outfitters combines innovative seafood tools into one set with its Coastal Kitchen Collection. For those who like the taste of the ocean, inside the Coastal Kitchen Collection is a Put ‘Em Back Oyster Knife, Frogmore Shrimp Cleaner, and Toadfish Crab Cutter. You can open oysters, cut crab shells, and peel, devein, and butterfly shrimp. The Coastal Kitchen Collection is available now for $88. And for each product sold, the brand replants 10 square feet of oyster beds.

Trayvax Trek Field Knife

trayvax knife

Multipurpose wallet maker Trayvax steps outside the world of cash for steel with its Trek Field Knife. This is the first knife from Trayvax, which spent more than a year developing the Trek to ensure it’s durable and functional. The Trek Field Knife is a fixed blade with 440C or S35VN steel, a lightweight handle, 3.5-inch blade, and jimping on the top of the knife for thumb grip. The 440C Trek Field Knife is on Kickstarter for $90 Early Bird, and the S35VN costs $120 Early Bird.

OtterBox Trooper 12

otterbox trooper 12

OtterBox expands upon its soft cooler line with the Trooper 12. This 12-quart cooler keeps ice for 3 days and is small enough for day trips to the beach or park. A leakproof seal on top keeps the contents from spilling, and the heavy-duty base is puncture-resistant. And unique to OtterBox soft coolers, you can open the Trooper 12 with one hand. The Trooper 12 is available now for $200.

Toad&Co eCo Line

toad and co eco line

For spring 2019, sustainable brand Toad&Co launched its new collection with exclusive use of sustainable fibers. That means every piece in the spring 2019 product line uses a minimum of 80 percent sustainable fibers or fabrics. This is a first for the brand. The change is different than most brands, which dub clothing “sustainable” with as little as 10 percent sustainable fiber. The brand incorporated hemp and organic cotton into sunny styles, available now on Toad&Co’s site.

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