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.
Bluffworks Packing Cubes
These new Bluff packing cubes ($38 per set) are designed to save space, but also be more durable than others on the market. The Bluff cubes will come in two fabrics: Pro (a lightweight brushed ripstop nylon) and Sport (an ultralight ripstop nylon). The cube is designed to allow you to compress gear at any size, no matter what’s on your packing list.
Thousand Chapter Helmet
Thousand‘s latest creation, the Chapter Helmet, prioritizes safety for cyclists. The Chapter Helmet ($135) has MIPS technology, ventilation channels, a one-handed magnetic fastener, and an integrated visor. But the coolest part is the magnetic light — which attaches to the helmet and automatically illuminates. The light also comes with an adapter to attach to the rear of your bike. It’s a pricey investment, but the light system is unique and works super well.
HOKA ONE ONE Clifton 7
The latest iteration of HOKA’s Clifton road running shoe has some pretty big updates — namely, a new upper design. The Clifton 7 ($130) has the same soft, lightweight midsole and outsole of the 6, but with a new open-engineered “sandwich” mesh on the upper. The new upper provides weight reduction and a more comfortable fit. The shoes also have a new vertical pull tab on the heel.
Wahoo Fitness KICKR Trainer
Wahoo Fitness’ KICKR trainer is a go-to choice for many cyclists. And after lots of feedback, the brand has finally given it a big upgrade. The fifth version of the smart KICKR trainer ($1,200) improves accuracy down to a range of +/- 1%. The new KICKR also has new flexible, tunable AXIS Feet to mimic a more realistic riding feel. The device also auto-calibrates for better accuracy.
BOLT One Lock
This product is a little bit of reverse engineering — instead of designing a key for each lock, BOLT has designed a lock for any key. Specifically, your key. The BOLT lets you use one key to lock everything. Here’s how the BOLT One Lock (from $22) works: Insert your vehicle’s key into the lock, turn it once, and the six-plate tumbler lock permanently learns the key code. BOLT makes hitch locks, receiver locks, cable locks, and more.
Volcanxx Volcano Sand Shirt
This Kickstarted shirt is made from a totally new material aimed at better temperature regulation: volcanic sand. The Volcanxx shirt (now $55) — similar to but possibly better than wool — offers cooling and warmth, breathability, odor control, and quick-drying properties. The shirts are made by embedding the volcanic sand particles into a durable polyester thread.
Vivewear Exum Shocking Socks
The Exum Crew Compression socks ($24), created by an orthopedic surgeon, use a combination of silver and copper nanoparticles to create a microcurrent of over 10-20 mV that will deliver a shock when activated by natural foot perspiration. The brand claims the microcurrents help contract muscles to improve motor function and increase circulation. The socks are made of baby alpaca and merino wool.
KEEN x Jerry Garcia Activism Sandals
KEEN partnered with the Jerry Garcia family to design these limited-edition sandals. The KEEN Newport Sandals ($150) — and a few other styles — have a high-traction rubber sole and Garcia’s New York at Night art. A portion of sales from the collection will go to HeadCount, a nonprofit organization that uses the power of music to register voters and promote participation in democracy.
Nalgene Sustain Bottle
Nalgene’s new Sustain bottles are made from 50% certified recycled waste material called Tritan Renew. The “Renew” technology turns single-use plastic materials from landfills into reusable consumer goods. Each Sustain bottle is made with the equivalent of eight single-use plastic bottles. Best of all, they come in seven colors and are only $15.
Origami Paddler
Tim Niemier started Ocean Kayak Inc. in 1971. Now, he’s redesigned the first hardshell folding paddleboard and kayak combo. The Origami Paddler ($329) is made of recycled plastic, folds open quickly, and is 9 feet long. It has kayak features like footwells and an adjustable seat, plus paddleboard elements like tracking fins and a compact design.
