A peek at emerging products from the sometimes cutting-edge, sometimes quirky world of gear design.
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Aventure eBike
Ride from pavement to gravel with the “SUV of e-bikes.” The Delite by Riese & Muller has two batteries powering a Bosch drive. The system allows increased range and up to 300-percent pedaling assistance. Full suspension and a carbon belt drive round out its off-road nature. The Delite not only acts like an SUV, it costs almost as much as a used one, starting at $5,300.
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Tactical Kilt
Run, jump, crouch, and sit with almost frightening breathability. Back by popular demand, 5.11 re-launches its Tactical Duty Kilt for a limited release. It’s no joke, the $80 kilt, which was originally an April Fool’s gag in 2012, garnered such acclaim that the brand actually developed it. It’s made of ripstop fabric, has slanted and cargo pockets, mounted D-rings, and belt loops. Not suitable for handstands.
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Ultimate Shock Absorber
Tackle uncomfortable rides with an installable spring under your seat. The Rinsten Spring is single steel coil that sits between your saddle and the seat post. The result is a buffer between road vibrations and your bum. The Rinsten claims it installs in less than a minute and is live on Kickstarter now — starting at $31.
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Adult Drink Box
Feel like a kid again! The Drink In The Box UNIQUE by Precidio Design is a rectangular, BPA-free, 12-oz. water bottle that’s meant to stand out from the round-fad. It sports a snap-shut, leak-proof lid that can be operated with one hand. And, despite its shape, the manufacturer assures it fits in cup holders. Available on Amazon for $15.
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Fitness Testing Watch
The exercise-tracking smart watch market gets a little bigger today. Polar launches the $240 M430, which tracks heart rate, monitors calories burned, offers training programs, and even has a five-minute fitness test to measure your baseline and progress. The waterproof watch uses GPS and weighs 51g.
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Survival Machete
Palawan Blade’s TrailBlade machete purports to be “the ultimate outdoors and survival tool.” Its 14.8″ straight S35VN steel blade extends from a canvas micarta handle. The full 20.4″ machete weighs 21 ounces. It’s live on Kickstarter, but S35VN steel doesn’t come cheap: Early bird prices start at $400.
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Hang-Anywhere Lights
Hang on your neck, wrap around your head, tie it to trees, or slap on the fridge — VALO lights are meant to shine anywhere. The 29g lights are waterproof and shine 50 lumens bright. It’s not overwhelming, but the small, square-shaped lights are a versatile option for basic light on the go. VALO is live on Kickstarter, starting at $31.
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Bike Blinkers
Help motorists see you and let them know when you’re braking and turning. Swiss-based Velohub launches the “smart blinker.” The blinkers attach to the bike magnetically and have 20 hours of battery life. Turn signals respond to handlebar-mounted controls, and brake lights engage automatically when the bike decelerates quickly. At night, a laser projects a half circle to help cars pass safely. Live on Indiegogo now, the Velohub blinkers will retail for $184.
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Pocket Charging Station
Keep an emergency phone or camera charge in your coat pocket. BioLite releases the Charge series of portable power, including the Charge 10 (pictured). In that 4″, 4.2-oz. stick is 2600 mAh of power. The Charge 10 can withstand spills and rain, and costs $25.
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Modern Rucksack
A new take an old design, Repelica’s 22-liter Rucksack aims to align a basic pack with today’s needs. It’s made of water-resistant 1680D Cordura and tarpaulin base, and sports microfiber laptop compartment, interior organization pockets, and an EVA back panel. The $265 Rucksack weighs 2.5 lbs.
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Breakaway Running Short
No frills, no hype, Olivers presents a dressed-down running short. The Breakaway shorts have a 5″ inseam, with no stripes, flashy colors, or brand logos. It’s made of four-way stretch fabric with DWR treatment and forgoes side pockets in favor of one zippered back pocket. The simple shorts retail for $78.
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Any Size Bike Rack
Head out to the trails and mount a fat bike, 29er, road ride, or kid’s bike with Rhino-Rack’s Hybrid Bike Carrier. The $249 roof-mount system allows users to mount a range of bikes without removing the front wheel. The aluminum rack has a ratcheting locking arm for the front wheel and straps to tie down the rest of the bike. The design means the bike frame never touches the car, rack, or arm.
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All-Sport Sunglasses
Eight lens options, adjustable nose pads, and patented temple grips aim to make Adidas Horizor glasses the right fit for a range of activities. The unisex frames are oversized for increased range of vision and sport quick-release hinges on ear pieces to help prevent permanent damage. Available now, starting at $99.
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Patagonia’s Fair Trade Surfwear
Hang 10 and feel good about the board shorts or swimsuit you brought to the swell. Patagonia now offers a fully Fair Trade-certified line of surf and swimwear for men and women. This means the brand pays a premium wage to foreign manufacturers and verifies working conditions abroad are held to U.S. safety standards.
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Cannondale Bad Boy
Redesigned for 2017, Cannondale built the Bad Boy for the concrete jungle. All models have a new one-piece Lefty rigid fork. The Bad Boy 1 and 2 have an integrated micro-USB rechargeable LED light strip for visibility. The 1 and 2 models also have lights in the seatpost. The headtube and downtube are 3D-forged from a single block of aluminum. The 650b wheels, when paired with big tires, should blast over cobbles or down pot-hole riddled streets.
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