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.
Rapha x Geoff McFetridge Cap
Rapha’s latest limited-edition collection brings Geoff McFetridge’s “inimitable and playful aesthetic” to a cycling kit. We like the breathable cotton cycling Cap ($30), but there’s also a jersey, bibs, and a vest featuring McFetridge’s funky prints. The cap has elasticated tape for adjusting fit and an antibacterial treatment for freshness during and after rides.
Luno Air Mattress 2.0
The Luno Air Mattress is designed to make car camping more comfortable and available to more people. The new Air Mattress 2.0 ($229) fits over 1,800 vehicle makes and models. It includes the 4-inch-thick air mattress (rated down to 1 degree F), a nylon topper, and inflatable base extenders to fill the space between rows of seats. The Luno can fit two people up to 6’2″ and works with Subarus, Toyotas, Jeeps, and more.
100% Speedcraft Sunglasses
100% has finally launched a special collection of eye protection for those with smaller faces (including youth). The Speedcraft XS eyewear ($135 and up) has a shorter lens and more compact nose bridge for a lower-profile fit. But it’s also shield-style with wide peripheral vision, interchangeable lenses, and 100% UV protection like the standard Speedcraft. The XS style is available in five colors.
Yamaha Civante Power-Assist Bike
The Civante Power-Assist Bike ($3,399) is Yamaha’s new drop-bar road bike with Class 3 designation. This bike provides higher pedal assist up to 28 mph (an upgrade from the Class 1 models). The Civante has a Yamaha PWSeries SE motor, with a frictionless sensor system to deliver a smoother ride. The bike also reads pedal torque and crank arm cadence to determine the amount of assist to give. It has a built-in LED front headlight, fender kit and rear mounts, and integrated cable routing.
Torch Ring
For evening or late-day winter runs, let the Torch Ring (now starting at $29) light your way. This inventive ring has an attached LED flashlight with 350 max lumens and a weather-resistant exterior. The Torch Ring has low, medium, and high settings, is rechargeable, and also comes with different-sized silicone rings to adjust the fit to your finger size. This ring seems great for both visibility and safety.
Rhone Reign Tech Short Sleeve
The Rhone Reign Tech Short Sleeve ($78) is pricey for a workout tee, but it boasts a lot in terms of material. The new Reign Tech is made with Polartec (a breathable, fast-drying knit fabric) with seamless, body-mapped mesh construction for just the right amount of breathability and stretch during workouts. The short-sleeve comes in eight colors.
State Bicycle x The Notorious B.I.G. Single-Speed Bike
State Bicycle’s summer 2020 release commemorates Biggie’s nomination into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (not cycling-related, but the collection is still cool). The limited-edition, single-speed drop-bar bike is designed after Biggie’s six-time platinum “Ready to Die” album. The fixie Biggie bike ($400) has a steel frame, Deep V wheelset, your choice of handlebars, platform or SPD pedals, and a synthetic leather saddle.
Polar Unite Fitness Watch
This entry-level fitness watch has all the standard features (except GPS) for a great price. The Polar Unite watch ($150) tracks heart rate, mileage, calories burned, and sleep. It’s also equipped with a program called FitSpark that provides personal training at the touch of your wrist. It can connect to an app and your phone’s GPS. Wristband choices include recycled PET yarn, leather, or silicone bands. The watch comes in two sizes.
Freestone Equipment Love Handle
The Love Handle ($25) is a 8-inch-long laminated birch plywood handle with a 6mm cord fixed under two cast zinc end caps for racking all your gear. We don’t throw around the word “genius” often, but it’s time someone found a better way for us to organize all our climbing gear. The beauty of the Love Handle is it can carry up to 20 quick-draws, or a double rack of trad gear. Initial users rave about its convenience.
Duck Camp Woodland Camo Hoodie
Duck Camp’s newest print is out on one of its best-selling layers, the Midweight Bamboo Hoodie ($64). The Woodland print hoodie is made with a bamboo-cotton blend to provide softness, sun protection, and maximum concealment for hunters. The woodland print combines late-season and early-season wetland camouflages into one pattern. You can get a Duck Camp neck gaiter in the same print as well.
VALLON Sunglasses
For Plastic Free July, VALLON has introduced its plastic waste-neutral sunglasses. The Ski Aviator sunglasses ($98) are made with a non-petroleum-based material and impact-resistant nylon (polyamide) lenses. The Aviators have mirror-coated category 3 lenses for 100% UV protection. VALLON will partner with Norway’s Empower to recycle a month’s worth of plastic waste for every pair sold.
monopkt Hand-Dyed Climbing Shirts
We applaud small brands that embrace the cultural nuances of climbing — like monopkt. Its Here for the Send T-shirt ($42) was hand-dyed by the brand’s founders and is made of a blend of polyester, breathable ring-spun cotton, and rayon, with a not-too-tight, climbing-compatible fit. The Here for the Send shirt comes in unisex and women’s styles.
