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.
Allied Cycle Works Echo Bike
Allied Cycle Works’ latest bike is built to “go everywhere.” The Shimano component-laden Echo bike is designed to transform from road racer to gravel hound, courtesy of “flip chips” in front that allow the rider to change the geometry. It also has an integrated stem system to change stem lengths, and it can clear 700x30mm or 40mm tires. The Echo starts at $6,000, and you can fully customize your build.
LIVSN Flex Canvas Shorts
LIVSN’s new Flex Canvas Shorts ($75) follow closely with the design and quality of the popular Flex Canvas Pants. True to LIVSN’s approach to making versatile apparel, the Flex Canvas Shorts are made with LIVSN’s 7.3-ounce EcoFlex Canvas, built to excel in the outdoors and on the streets. The shorts have an 8.5-inch inseam and come in two colors.
Dickies Pride Workwear Collection
In honor of Pride Month, Dickies has launched Uniquely Yours, a workwear collection designed by two artists in the LGBTQ+ community: LA-based Amber Ibarreche and London-based Rene Matic. Ibarreche collaborated with Dickies on the Work of Art Bib Overalls ($100) and a patch collection. “When we embrace uniqueness, it becomes a superpower,” said Ibarreche. “My contribution to this collection celebrates that ethos and will hopefully inspire our community.” Matic designed the collection’s Yours, Ours T-shirt ($25), dedicating it to the Black Queer community. Dickies will donate $10 for every shirt and overalls sold to The Trevor Project (North America) and Switchboard (Europe) LGBTQ+ hotlines.
Dr. Bronner’s All-One Chocolate
That’s right, your favorite castile soap brand now makes chocolate. Dr. Bronner’s new Magic All-One Chocolate ($5 per bar) is an organic, fair trade, and vegan chocolate. The brand wanted to make the most ethical chocolate possible — so it partnered with farmers in Eastern Ghana who use dynamic agroforestry, a practice that integrates complementary trees and other crops to create biodiversity and avoid the use of chemicals. Flavors will include Crunchy Hazelnut Butter, Salted Almond, Salted Dark Chocolate, Coconut Praline, and more. Look for it this summer.
5.11 PT-R Line and Weight Kits
5.11 is moving from the tactical to fitness with its new PT-R (Physical Training-Ready) line. And it offers versatile solutions for fitness training, especially when you’re without a gym. The Weight Kits ($140 and up) are an especially cool offering, coming in 50-pound or 100-pound versions. They’re made with durable 1050-denier nylon, weight liners with roll-top closures to hold sand or other weight, and reinforced nonslip handles.
Swiftwick National Parks Socks
Swiftwick’s newest Vision Six Socks feature five more prints inspired by U.S National Parks. The Vision Six National Park Socks ($20) — made with a nylon/polyester blend with medium cushioning in a crew length — will feature Joshua Tree, Rocky Mountain, Grand Teton, Arches, and Denali National Parks. The new prints will be available Monday.
Six Moon Designs Owyhee Tarp
The Owyhee Tarp ($295) is an ultralight, two-person tarp that also has a cool giveback component. It follows Six Moon’s Wild Owyhee tarp design but instead is made with Sil-Nylon, a full mosquito perimeter and vent netting, and 50 square feet of headspace. It weighs 24.6 ounces and “packs down to the size of a cantaloupe,” the brand claims. It’s named after Oregon’s Owyhee Canyonlands, and $10 from every sale will go to ONDA to protect public lands and waterways in Oregon’s deserts.
Eukarya Origin 2.0 Headlamp
Eukarya finally has a second-gen of what may be the first wooden headlamp. The Origin 2 headlamp ($130, no price change!) has upgrades like USB-C charging, increased battery capacity, water resistance, and an LED charging indicator light. The headlamp is made from renewable and FSC-certified wood, aluminum, and tempered glass — no plastic. And to be more sustainable, Eukarya makes a donation to reforestation nonprofits to plant a tree for each sold. It also now buys back old products in an effort to be zero-waste. Read our original review of the Origin headlamp.
KUIU Gila Series
Meet KUIU’s new sun-protective Gila Series. The Gila Long Sleeve Hoodie ($69) has a UPF 50+ rating, weighs 6.7 ounces, and is designed for “the hottest environments.” The hoodie also has extended cuffs, thumbholes, flatlock seams, and comes in sizes XS-3XL, along with your choice of color or camo.
Gerber Ayako Flipper
Gerber’s Ayako Flipper ($31) has just the right balance of function and style. This friction flipper has a black oxide-coated 7Cr17MoV blade, and two deployment options: a front flip and nail nick hole. It comes in a green or new eye-catching silver handle. And, it’s an awesome price.
Victorinox Classic Colors Limited Edition Knives
It all started with the Swiss Officer’s Knife. And more than a century later, Victorinox is still making these classic pocket tools. Now, though, the Swiss Army Knife ($18 and up) — and all its iconic functionality — is available in 30 new colors. The limited-edition knives will come in Alox scale and SD models.
Greens Gone Wild Protein Bars
A new player on the market, Colorado-based Greens Gone Wild ($39/12 bars on presale) is packing its bars with fruits, nuts, and spinach to keep you fueled out on the trails. The bars come in fun flavors like Blueberry Coconut (spot-on in taste testing) and a more standard bar flavor of Peanut Butter Banana. They are vegan, gluten-free, and have no added sugars. They are also dense, but then again, so are Clif bars. Dense, and delicious.
