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.
Salewa Ortles Couloir Boot
Think ultralight mountaineering boots don’t exist? Think again. The new crampon-compatible Salewa Ortles Couloir boot ($970) has a narrow toebox, lightweight yet strong carbon fiber frame, Kevlar inserts, stretch cuffs, and thermo felt lining. At the heart of its construction is a hinged joint that connects the frame to the boot. The Ortles Couloirs weigh just 725 g per pair, more than 2 pounds lighter than many competitors on market. The shoes will be available soon.
Wahoo Fitness KICKR Direct Connect
Wahoo Fitness’s KICKR Direct Connect Accessory ($100) lets you create a direct, wired connection between KICKR and your router, ensuring a more stable riding experience. The accessory is available for the latest generation of the KICKR trainer and is compatible with a host of virtual cycling platforms. Wahoo is now the only trainer brand to offer a wired connection.
Nite Ize G-Series Carabiners
Nite Ize just debuted its next series of convenient micro carabiners: the G-Series ($3-5). Similar to Nite Ize’s popular S-Series, the G-Series offers a dual-chamber carabiner made from stainless steel with wire gate closures. The G-Series comes in four sizes and has room to hold keys, EDC tools, tags, a flashlight, and more. The brand claims the G design prevents accidental gate disengagement and key loss.
Alpine Start With Benefits
Alpine Start Coffee just launched its first Kickstarter product. The new Alpine Start Benefits collection blends superfood goodies like vitamins, adaptogens, and MCTs with instant coffee and, a new option from Alpine Start, matcha tea. Plus, Alpine Start partnered with elite athletes Emily Harrington and Adrian Ballinger to offer a wild backer perk: a day of climbing with the duo. (Note, it’ll require a big buy-in, $4,000, to earn this perk.)
State Bicycle Co. NASA Space Colletion
Calling all space nerds: State Bicycle Co. wants you to channel your dreams of flying through space to flying downhill with its latest Astronaut collection. The NASA Atmosphere Jersey ($80) is adorned with a large NASA logo, U.S. flag-printed patch, gradient space colors, and the latitude and longitude coordinates of the Kennedy Space Center.
Rugged Camp Portable Camp Table
Rugged Camp’s latest product is its affordable Portable Camp Table ($30-40). The table is made with a light aluminum frame and a paneled folding tabletop with sturdy connection grooves. The table comes with a carrying bag and requires no tool assembly. The table comes in three sizes, ranging from 3.2 to just 1.8 pounds — ideal for car camping and backpacking alike.
The North Face Flight VECTIV
This week, The North Face announced one of its biggest new footwear technologies: the VECTIV series. In 2020, 14 TNF athletes broke 17 different FKTs and other records running in the Flight VECTIV Shoe ($199). The shoe has a carbon fiber plate, polyamide-blend 3D-knit upper, and 3.5mm lugs. In addition to the Flight, there’s also the VECTIV Infinite and Enduris (light hikers), and more VECTIV models coming soon. Read our full review here.
Sitka Nodak Jacket and Bib
Sitka’s waterfowl product manager teamed up with GORE’s experts to understand how waterfowl see, specifically on the UV light spectrum. They measured the UV reflectance profile of snow goose feathers, decoys, and other materials found in the field. The result? The waterfowl whites Sitka Nodak Kit ($299 for each piece) jacket and pants, which are made with GORE-TEX 3 fabric, and have features like zipper flaps and an articulated fit.
NearZero Labs Camera Backpack
“Many camera backpacks are heavier than the cameras photographers carry,” NearZero Labs’ founders noted. So they created the Whitney Camera Backpack ($229), taking inspiration from packs from Hyperlite Mountain Gear and Mountainsmith. The Whitney is made with laminate fabrics, a roll-top design, and rear and top access points. It has a 1-pound 11-ounce base weight, 50% lighter than competing camera bags, the brand claims.
VSSL Java Coffee Grinder
The VSSL Java ($145) has stainless steel burr blades and 50 distinct burr settings to get that optimal grind. Like its other products, VSSL uses aircraft-grade aluminum in the Java’s construction. The rugged grinder is finished with a “clip and flip” carabiner handle capable of withstanding loads up to 200 pounds (that extends out into the hand crank). The brand claims it’s an “unbreakable hand coffee grinder.” Read out full review.
Victorinox I.N.O.X. V Watch
Developed with work-from-home style in mind, Victorinox’s latest I.N.O.X. Collection V Watch (from $495) is a lighter and more feminine timepiece design, with a triple-coated anti-reflective sapphire crystal and stainless steel case and bezel. The watch was also updated with a paracord strap with a new closing system. It comes in gray, white, black, navy, or rose gold.
'73 Originals Venice Tote Backpack
’73 Originals aims to catch some attention with its latest backpack capsule. The lineup of bags, duffels, travel essentials, and more comes in well under most competitors’ prices. The Venice Tote Backpack ($60) can be carried as a backpack or tote bag and includes a front removable pouch for ultimate versatility. It’s made with an impressive 915-denier CORDURA fabric and has a laptop compartment, card slots, lots of pockets, and more.
Grounds & Hounds Coffee
Buy coffee, help rescue pups in need — that’s about as win-win as it gets. Grounds & Hounds Coffee Co. set out to pair great coffee with a great cause, so it donates 20% of all profits to canine rescue organizations and initiatives nationwide. Today, Grounds & Hounds begins its monthlong partnership with Beagle Freedom Project to help end lab testing on beagle pups. And Grounds & Hounds has a wide array of specialty-grade arabica coffee — single-origin and blends — to kickstart chilly camp mornings or lazy at-home weekends.
Oakley x Turtle Beach Metalink Glasses
Oakley just announced its partnership with leading gaming brand Turtle Beach. Turtle Beach creates glasses-friendly gaming headsets and, with Oakley, is launching optimized gaming-quality glasses. The Oakley x Turtle Beach Collection, including the Metalink Glasses ($219), has Oakley’s Prizm Gaming Lens Technology that delivers next-level performance benefits for digital gaming by reducing eye strain and fatigue.
Nathan Run Safe Face Mask
Going for a run in a crowded city or park? Don’t leave without a mask. Nathan’s new Run Safe Face Mask ($20) is made with a quick-drying, stain-resistant, antimicrobial two-layer material and has an extra unique feature for runners and cyclists. The Quick-Flip opening allows users to eat or drink without removing the mask or touching your face. It comes in three bold colors and has a 50 UPF rating.
Toadfish Non-Tipping Dog Bowl
Charleston, South Carolina-based brand Toadfish just released its inventive Non-Tipping Dog Bowl ($48). The bowl uses a grippy suction technology that prevents your dog from scratching, bumping, or tipping their bowl but also allows you to pick it up and move it easily. The bowl is double-wall stainless steel and comes with a storage lid.
