A peek at emerging products from the sometimes cutting-edge, sometimes quirky world of gear design.
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Smart Insole
Measure steps, calories burned, and distance all from your insole. Insole-maker MEGAComfort launches Energysole, a smart insole that pairs with an app to track your activity. The brand makes the insoles from memory foam and promises unrivaled step count accuracy and comfort.
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Backpack Made From Seatbelt, Airbag
Stow gear in a backpack made from car parts. Two airbags, a seatbelt, and seatbelt buckle form the Airpaq, an up-cycled roll-top daypack. The 21-liter bag has one main storage compartment, a padded laptop sleeve, and four interior compartments. Find it live on Kickstarter now.
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Rainbow Sandals Founders Edition
Classic wooden speedboats inspired the newest design from Rainbow, the Founder’s Edition. Jay “Sparky” Longley founder of Rainbow Sandals and Brian Curin, founder of Flip Flop Shops, designed the flip flops together, a collaboration nine years in the making. For those new to Rainbow, the leather sandals form to your foot for a comfy and perfect fit. Available exclusively at Flip Flop Shops for $60.
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Snow Peak Mini Solo Combo 2
Cook your dinner with less weight. The Mini Solo Combo 2.0 from Snow Peak upgrades a classic. The upgrades include a silicone tab to open the pot, a cup with twice the volume as the original, and streamlined handles. The titanium cook set weighs a scant 5.5 oz, and allows 110-g fuel canisters to fit within.
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Precision Hunting Razors
Have a razor-sharp blade for every cut. CRKT released the P.D.K. (Precision Disposable Kit) today. CRKT makes the disposable kit “to be thrown into a hunting pack and forgotten about – until you drop that 8 pointer.” Each kit has four blades, a handle, and a pair of black nitrile disposable gloves.
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Timbuk2 Modern Duffel
The Quest Duffel, new to Timbuk2’s 2017 fall collection, is made of water resistant 420 denier ripstop. It has an internal mesh wall pocket, a large exterior pocket for shoes, and accommodates backpack, shoulder, and hand carrying styles. Available in three sizes, the 30L, 48L, and 66L packs run $100, $129, and $149 respectively.
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Linen Injected Parka
For a breezy summer jacket, Outlier launches its experimental Injected Linen Sun Parka. Linen is “injected” into the polyester for an elegant and expensive feel. The $425 parka, expected next week, is made of 59 percent linen, 41 percent polyester, taped seams, and has two front pockets. “In summertime, this is pretty damn close to magic,” said the brand.
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Portable Speaker Without Bluetooth
Drop your phone onto the stand and let Trippy’s magnets transmit sound, no syncing or pairing needed. Trippy works through four magnet induction sensors that pick up electromagnetic fields generated by your phone’s speaker. The music is then pumped through Trippy’s sound system. The result is a portable speaker that works without Bluetooth. It’s live on Kickstarter now.
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Stylish Cycling Helmet
Ride safely in style with the villager helmet. Available in three colors, red, white, and black, the minimal aesthetic harkens to old-school bike caps. Three magnetic visors come with the helmet and thin air vents line the top. For early backers, $90 gets you the helmet, although it’s just a draft in Kickstarter now.
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Most Functional Travel Jacket
Multi-Purpose is an understatement in XY37’s Light Speed Jacket. The brand from American-Hong Kong introduces a $150 waterproof travel jacket with built in travel pillow and sleep mask. Some other notable features are its integrated heating system, fingerless gloves, and bottle opener zipper. On top of everything, two buckles line the back of the jacket and fit sleeping pads and other camping gear. See it to believe it on Kickstarter.
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Off-Grid Communication Device
Track and message up to 30 travelers with radio waves instead of cell service. Sounds a lot like GoTenna! Similarly, the device pairs with other goTele devices to send messages, alerts, and location. You can even create a geofence to alert you when your dog runs beyond the boundary. Live on Indiegogo now. It claims a delivery date of September, but we’ve seen similar products face significant delays.
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Plant Based Protein Bar
You won’t find any animal byproduct in this plant-packed bar from PowerBar. The $2.40 Plant Protein Bars include 10g of protein and are made from pea powder for its protein boost. According to the brand, plant-based proteins will help you live longer and are more affordable.
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Commuter Bike For Train Users
There’s no better time to start bike commuting to work than when your train route undergoes repairs. Brilliant Bikes, a brand run by Priority Bikes, launches its first model, the L Train. Named after the Brooklyn subway that is shut down, the commuter bike has a Gates Carbon Drive belt instead of chain, Shimano brakes, and steel frame. Get it for $650 on Brilliant’s website.
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Light Up Exercise Staff
Use the force…err know how much force you deliver with the Axon Training Staff. Pressure sensors at the end of the staff measure your output so you know how much force you exert from rep to rep. The staff only works with one end pressing against something, so exercises compatible with the staff are limited. The staff is live on Kickstarter and retail for $300.
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Customizable Student Pack
Express yourself with the host of modular options on the Lincoln Backpack from Barker. Designed for students, the slender pack fits a 15″ laptop, and has a large main storage. You can select the handle colors and mix and match the outside with a removable top zip pocket, or removable front zip pocket.
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