A peek at emerging products from the sometimes cutting-edge, sometimes quirky world of gear design. Explore the grid below or click through for a slideshow.
Salsa 2020 Fat Bike Lineup
Available now at select retailers, the Salsa 2020 Fat Bike line includes a mountain setup, a road race setup, and a pack bike setup, all with customizable options within the named lines. The bikes start at $1,999, and they’re equipped to get you through your winter riding, however you want to tackle it.
Brooks Melt Collection
This week, Brooks released its Melt Collection. I’m kinda loving all these adorable themed releases. And with National Ice Cream Month still in session, Brooks slid this frozen-treat-inspired collection just in time. The sprinkles on the soles add the perfect amount of fun to this colorful limited-edition collection. It’s available now but likely to go as fast as an ice cream cone in the hand of your favorite kiddo.
NEMO x First Lite Field Collection
I’m a big fan of these two brands coming together to meld the outdoor rec and hunting spaces in a way that’s functional, intentional, and, frankly, cool. With a full line of tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and accessories to boot, this collaboration takes the hunt/rec crossover space into a new sphere. All items are available now, just in time for archery season.
ENO Celebrates 20 Years of Hammocks
With 20 years of hanging between trees under its belt, ENO has released a limited-edition DoubleNest Hammock ($80) in a fun, mountain-celebrating design. Released on National Hammock Day, this piece is new to the market this week. Our hammock editor has been using this same hammock for the last few weeks and loves it. It’s the same construction as other DoubleNests, but this print is easily his favorite from the brand. Get it while it’s hot, team.
KEEN Explore Collection
KEEN’s latest Explore Collection adds a new series of both men’s and women’s shoes to a line designed for lightweight hiking. And each shoe in this line represents KEEN’s journey into the “consciously constructed” category. The brand has been working hard to shift its supply chain to more sustainable and eco-conscious practices. It’s something to both support and celebrate. The line has both waterproof and venting sneaks and hikers. And they’re all available now, starting at $110.
Chaco Banded Z/Clouds
Until the Chaco Cloud footbed came along, I was on the fence about Chacos. They just didn’t have enough give for me. But this footbed is a dreamboat. And its new Chaco Banded Z/Clouds for both men and women are an awesomely burly, quietly comfortable sandal that might even convert the anti-sandal guy into letting his toes breathe. These kicks also have an extra strap for more coverage and support. I just like these things. A lot. And I think you will too. They’re available now and well worth the $110.
Salomon Advanced Skin 8 Set
Do you know what I love? When companies remember that even active women can have boobs. And this new running vest from Salomon takes the gals into account. And not only does it give you more room to breathe, but it also comes with a whistle, pockets for days, an ample hydration setup with two 500mL soft flasks, and options for pole carry. Available now for $145.
HOKA XTERRA Torrent
The Torrent is one of our favorite trail-running shoes. Fast and light with moderate protection, they hit a sweet spot as a training shoe or precise trail weapon for tricky footwork. We’ve used them on everything from 5K speed workouts to the Leadville 100. And today, HOKA announced that the Torrent now comes in XTERRA branded colors, which look badass. With a new look that emulates the most dominant off-road triathlon series in the world, this one is worth investigating for trail runners and off-road triathletes.
Bedrock Cairn Geo Sandals
Following that awesome “sustainability in footwear” trend, Bedrock recently released the “eco-groovy” Cairn Geo Sandal. It’s a nice crossover sandal, from looking good in the city to working double-time while playing outside. The straps are made out of recycled REPREVE webbing, made entirely out of recycled plastic bottles. And 30 percent of the exclusive Vibram sole is made out of recycled rubber. Feel good about what’s on your feet. The Cairn Geo Sandals are on.the market now for $110.
Suunto 5 Watch Series
The new Suunto 5 Watch Series ($329) is a beautiful collection. The neutral colors and smooth silhouette combine in a really nice take on a performance watch. And the performance is big time: It’s got intelligent battery operation, GPS compatibility, 24/7 monitoring, athletic enhancement data, and recovery tracking. Not too shabby. Available now.
Sony RX100 Mark VII
Sony releases its latest point-and-shoot, which looks to be a killer piece of machinery. The RX100 Mark VII ($1,198) has a Zeiss 24-200mm f/2.8-f/4.5 zoom lens (drool) and Sony’s slick and easy-to-use backend. And the 20.1MP 1-inch stacked CMOS sensor with DRAM chip ensures that this thing is speedy on that focus. For those of you looking to upgrade from smartphone shooting, here’s your pocket pal.
Drop X-MID 2-Person Tent
The crowdsourcing platform Drop (formerly Massdrop) brings an interesting tent to market this week. The X-MID two-person tent, designed in collaboration with thru-hiker Dan Durston, gives campers a ton of room for two. We checked the trekking pole tent out in person and were impressed with the spacious vestibules and versatile design that allows the fly to pitch with or without the internal bug mesh. At $250, it’s a solid, lightweight option at 2.42 pounds for the fly and inner mesh. For those who don’t need a freestanding tent, it’s worth investigating.
