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.
Veltra Bamboo Bike
Veltra claims to be the first laminated bamboo bike in the world — using sustainable materials in the construction instead of harmful chemicals. The single-speed Veltra bike ($1,324) is made with bamboo wood — which acts as a shock-absorber — a carbon fork, Shimano brakes, and Michelin sport tires. Due to the bamboo, it’s also very lightweight at around 20 pounds for the complete bike.
Black Diamond Crack Gloves
A much-awaited technology in the crack climbing world, reusable crack gloves are finally here. Black Diamond Crack Gloves’ ($40) white color reduces heat uptake during pitches in desert environments and mimics the classic tape glove construction we all know (and may or may not love). The gloves are made from synthetic suede with 3D patterning, rubber adhesive, and a Hypalon strap. They come in five different sizes.
Cairn Subscription Box Obsidian Bundle
Cairn is a monthly and quarterly subscription service that sends a bundle of outdoor products straight to your doorstep. The new Spring Obsidian bundle ($250) includes over $340 worth of gear, including items from BioLite, Matador, and Flowfold. Plus, subscribe and use the code BONUS to get an extra bundle of gear for free. (We’re eyeing the bonus Eagle Creek packing cubes and Skratch Labs mixes.)
Topo Designs Wind Jacket Sport
The Topo Designs new spring Wind Jacket Sport ($129) takes a break from the brand’s extra-bold colors to focus on performance. The Wind Jacket is made for undesirable weather (wind, rain, or clouds) with its polyester fabric, DWR finish, and four-way-stretch construction. The jacket packs into its front pocket and has unique features like a keyring hang and a ventilated back. It’s available now for men and women.
Klymit Klymaloft Sleeping Pad
Sleeping on the ground isn’t always comfortable, but modern-day sleeping pads have made it infinitely better. Klymit’s new Klymaloft pad ($150) has a patent-pending foam and air design. The plush foam topper conforms to support the body while the more standard air chambers underneath create loft and stabilize the sleeping pad. While $150 is steep for a pad, we know it should deliver on comfort for that price. It’s compatible with air and electric pumps.
Snow Peak Tsuzumi Bottle
The Tsuzumi Bottle ($70) is a double-walled, stainless steel mug with an ergonomic and miniature (350mL) design so it can travel with you anywhere. The mug has a sealing cap and can keep liquids hot (or cold) for up to 6 hours. While the design is cool, $70 is pretty steep for drinkware.
Mountain Hardwear Exposure/2 Jacket
The Exposure/2 GORE-TEX jacket ($300) has a 2.5-layer waterproof-breathable fabric with fully sealed seams, a cinching hood and hem, and harness-compatible pockets. Besides all that, the GORE-TEX and Paclite Plus fabric makes the jacket lightweight — around 9 ounces. You can find the women’s jacket here and the matching Exposure/2 pant here.
Dark Energy Poseidon Pro
Way back in 2015, our staff tested the original Dark Energy Poseidon power pack. Version 2 is finally here with some crazy updates. The previous version of this armored, waterproof power bank could charge a phone 1.5 times faster than a charger, and the Poseidon Pro charges 2.5 times faster. It also has enough juice to charge a laptop for hours. The Pro has a built-in flashlight and SOS flash mode and comes with a multitool carabiner, which has a blade, glass-breaker, and more. Get it for $100 if you preorder.
Victorinox Swiss Army FieldForce Sport GMT Watch
Victorinox took one of its most popular watches and revamped it with a sporty look and new features. The FieldForce Sport GMT ($425) has a 42mm stainless steel case, a triple-coated and anti-reflective sapphire crystal, and is water-resistant to 100 m. The watch face has LumiNova-lit hands and numerals and a date calendar as well. The new FieldForce Sport also has a durable rubber strap and an added GMT function that allows for a second time zone.
Rapha Lightweight Backpack
The Pro Team Lightweight Backpack ($115) is a 10L pack made for storage on your ride that won’t weigh you down. The backpack’s design means it’s positioned high on your back, out of the way of jersey pockets. It has waterproof fabric, two wide and adjustable chest straps, a phone pocket, a low profile, and reflective paneling. Best of all, it’s only $115.
North Sails America's Cup San Diego Jacket — Men's
The North Sails San Diego Jacket is part of this Italian brand’s exclusive America’s Cup Collection. The collection consists of pieces for both men and women made solely from recycled materials. The men’s San Diego Jacket ($275) is a triple-layer, recycled polyester, soft shell with a wind-blocking drawstring hood, zippered pockets. And, of course, it has a limited-edition design printed in the regatta’s traditional colors.
Endura Pro SL Bibshorts — Men's
Bike shorts with lumbar support? You betcha. The fully redesigned men’s Endura Pro SL Bibshort ($195) has bibshort padding that contours to body pressure points. Especially if you’re now doing longer rides indoors, the Pro SL bibshorts are something to consider. They’re made with a blend of Lycra, polyester, and elastane and have stretchy power straps and 50 UPF protection.
HiMo Folding Portable Bike
The HiMo Folding Bike (now $469) is ultra-packable — so it can even fit in a backpack. The HiMo is an e-bike that has digital brakes, an LED display, a removable battery, and LED headlights. It has a max speed of 18 mph and weighs 32 pounds. Check out the crowd-funded campaign for more info.
ROTO-Q 360 Self-Rotating Rotisserie
This may not seem like outdoor gear, but because it doesn’t require electricity, batteries, fuel, or cords, it’s perfect for creating epic meals while camping. The self-rotating ROTO-Q 360 ($59 if you preorder) operates using a knob that stores kinetic energy so it can auto-rotate to cook your food of choice. The ROTO-Q folds down to the size of a large pan for easy packing. If you’re interested, grab one now, because this will soon retail for $105.
