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.
Giro Sector Mountain Bike Shoe
Giro’s Sector shoe ($225) comes with a high price tag, but that gets you a highly refined off-road cycling shoe. Two BOA L6 dials with steel lace and soft lace guides adjust a one-piece, thermo-bonded, exo-structured upper for a secure fit. A 3D-molded footbed and a rubber outsole with a carbon-composite, two-bolt plate provide a strong connection to the bike. The outsole gives sufficient traction on the trail when needed.
Black Diamond Camalot Z4
Some of Black Diamond’s top trad-climbing athletes helped design this new protection: a single-stem cam that’s both rigid and flexible. The Z4s ($70) are single-stem cams with dual-twisted cables and Black Diamond’s new RigidFlex Stem. The independently floating trigger wires prevent the Z4 from bending while under tension but allow the stem to move once placed. The Z4 won GearJunkie’s Best in Show for the innovation.
Gazelle Ultimate T10+ E-Bike
Building on the base of Dutch brand Gazelle’s T10 bike released last year, this bike kicks things into a higher gear with a new frame and more power. The Gazelle Ultimate T10+ E-Bike ($3,999) has an aluminum frame equipped with a Bosch Performance Line motor with pedal assistance up to 28 mph. It also has hydraulic brakes, a 500Wh battery, and Shimano XT components. The frame comes in high-step and mid-step options. It’s styled for everyday commuting and can travel up to 55 miles on a single full charge.
Limited-Edition BioLite 'Climate Neutral' CampStove 2
BioLite’s CampStove 2 already exists. But the brand just launched a campaign to donate 10% of each sale of the new limited-edition, wood-burning gadget to Climate Neutral. The CampStove 2 Bundle Climate Neutral Edition ($230) comes with everything you’ll ever need to cook off the grid: the camp stove, a 2,600mAh integrated battery for charging without a fire, lightweight aluminum legs, a grill grate, an LED display, a stuff sack, a kettle pot, a firelighter, a camp light, and a USB cord.
Six Moons Designs Daybreaker Pack
Designed with modern lightweight elements, Six Moon Designs’ latest pack has an impressive 25L capacity at a weight of just 20 ounces. The Daybreaker Pack ($120) is ideal for everything from backpacking trips to hut trips, peak-bagging adventures, and more. The pack is made with 210-denier ripstop nylon, is top-loading with a storage brain, and has three deep outside woven-nylon pockets, an interior hydration sleeve, and a removable hip belt.
Thousand Heritage Bike Helmet
This tiny California brand is hitting the market with big ideas. Thousand’s newest bike helmet collection follows the brand’s penchant for simplicity and design with some cool features. The Heritage Helmet ($89) is inspired by moto helmets of the ’50s and ’60s. The urban helmet has a hidden hole through which to lock it, an adjustment dial for the perfect fit, and a pinch-free, one-handed magnetic fastener. And, stay tuned for the Chapter Helmet (with an interchangeable visor feature) coming in June.
CamelBak Horizon Drinkware Collection
CamelBak brought us water reservoirs over 30 years ago, and now it’s bringing us formal outdoor drinkware. The Horizon Collection vacuum-insulated stainless steel tumblers include a rocks tumbler for apres drinks, a 12-ounce on-the-go tumbler, and three tumblers of other sizes for all your camping and backyard beverages. Tumblers start at $19.
Boulder Denim 3.0 Jeans
If you think jeans are for climbing and mountain biking, then with these, you’d be correct. Boulder Denim Company already makes extra-stretchy jeans specifically for these activities but has taken the product up a notch with the Denim Jeans 3.0. The new jeans (on Kickstarter for $108) have 360 degrees of stretch, CORDURA-infused fabric for strength, and reinforced gussets at the crotch and knees. Plus, they’re produced with sustainably sourced materials. We haven’t tested them, but we like the idea.
BodyGlove Stand Up Paddle Suit
Olympic surfer Tati Weston-Webb helped design the BodyGlove Stand Up Paddle Suit ($129) to make sure performance isn’t sacrificed for style. Made from recycled materials, the suit has a wetsuit design, with a long front zipper, flatlock seams, and enough stretch for high-performance activities. As any surfer or paddler knows suits need to stay on while paddling — and this one is built with that function in mind. It also has 50 UPF protection, so you can leave the rash guard at home.
DZR Cove Bike Sneaker
DZR made its newest bike shoes with inspiration from bikepackers. With durability in mind, the DZR Cove Shoes ($99) have a quilted canvas and synthetic upper as well as a traditional gum rubber outsole for maximum traction. The stylish sneak is compatible with Shimano SPD cleats for clip pedal riding. These have bike-specific features like reflective accents and elastic lace catches to keep shoelaces away from your chain.
Light and Motion Vis 360 Pro Lighting
The Light and Motion Vis 360 Pro Safety System ($130) attaches to a helmet to give a rider 360 degrees of visibility. The Vis Pro 360 includes front and rear lights at a powerful max of 600 lumens, amber side lighting, a charging cord, and a universal mounting system. It’s also waterproof and will cost you $130.
Ruffwear Pack-Out Bag
Be a better human and don’t leave poop bags on the side of the trail. Ruffwear has a solution for anyone who hikes with a dog: a pack-out poop bag. The Pack Out Bag ($35) has separate compartments: one to carry a supply of clean bags and one to carry full bags of waste. It has a waterproof shell, an odor-blocking zipper, and an adjustable, removable waist belt.
