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.
Haswell Survival Knife
Never be afraid to venture into the woods again with this knife by your side. The Haswell hand-forged, 4.5-inch, one-bevel blade (starting at $75) is perfect for any camping adventure, especially one that might involve bushwhacking or building shelter. It uses easily sharpened 1095 high-carbon steel for a reliable bushcrafting knife. Oh, and the sheath is handcrafted from high-quality raw leather that would look badass on any belt.
BioLite Preparedness Kits
Whether you’re a doomsday prepper or just trying to ride out the most recent hurricane, BioLite’s newest prep kits are sure to come in handy. Each kit (family, apartment, or solo size) contains a solar grid or power bank, a LifeStraw, light-diffusing stuff sacks, lantern-converting headlamps, and solar-powered lights. Kit prices range from $130 to $460, and with these prep tools, you’ll never be stuck in the dark again.
KEEN x Innate Sherpa Boot
I’m barely over summer, but I’m already crushing on this collaboration boot between Sherpa and KEEN ($160). The midrise hiking shoe has an endless knot design embossed in the leather as a tribute to Nepal, although the multicolored prayer flag accents on the laces is an even cooler touch. The boot has a breathable, waterproof membrane, meaning the shoes will last on rocky, wet, and muddy trails. A portion of each shoe sale ($160) will go to promote child literacy in Nepal.
Snow Peak Indigo C/N Apparel
Snow Peak’s new winter line is already making me long for cozy winters. The trendy collar has practicality in mind with its open-neck zip option for ventilation. And the Japanese-made jacket is designed with both city strolling and camping in mind. Plus, the soft-lined pockets will keep your hands warm all day long. It’s pricey at $710, but it’s probably the most stylish jacket I could ever own.
mountainFLOW Eco Ski Wax
It’s almost time to hit the slopes, which means giving the bottom of your skis (or board) some love. But petroleum-based ski waxes eventually wear off and leave traces in the environment. Colorado-based mountainFLOW offers a variety of antistick sprays, ski wax, and skin wax ($14-20), which work on alpine, nordic, or backcountry setups. With zero petroleum and 100-percent biodegradable ingredients, this product is 200-percent awesome.
Trek Supercaliber
Trek’s spiffy new Supercaliber bike brings together the best of both worlds: hardtail and full-suspension. The cross-country model is a perfect combo of efficiency, durability, and speed (with prices ranging from $4,800 to $11,000). Each Supercaliber is equipped with a carbon frame, carbon wheels, and IsoStrut frame-integrated shock system. Even with Trek’s latest bells and whistles, it weighs in at under 26 pounds.
Morrison Outdoors Little Mo Baby Sleeping Bag
Getting a good night’s sleep while camping isn’t easy in the first place, but it’s even harder with a small child. Morrison Outdoors’ newest item ($85) is filling a gap in the market with its 800-fill down safety-rated bag. A fleece collar keeps their upper half snug, and the bag’s footbox keeps their lower extremities warm. The bag even zips open from beneath for quick diaper-changing to make the whole baby-camping experience as easy as possible.
Ontario K-9 Bootlicker
In celebration of National Dog Day, Merrell has partnered with BARK to create a shoe chew toy. With any Ontario boot purchase ($65-200), you’ll get a bonus pair for your beloved hiking buddy. The plush toy has two stuffed and embroidered shoes tethered together by a durable chew rope. Finally, a proper pair of shoes for your dog to sink their teeth into.
Wolf and Grizzly Fire Safe
This portable camp cooker folds to slimmer than 1 inch and looks even cooler than we imagined. The Fire Safe (starting at $80) can burn charcoal or wood, and its ingenious folding insert means using less fuel per surface area. Plus, its existence means you’ll never complain about carrying a full-size fire pit into the backcountry again.
YETI Crossroads Backpack 23
Travel gear nerds unite: YETI’s newest Crossroads Tote and Backpack are here. The Crossroads backpack has an articulated back panel for ultimate comfort. And it still has room for the necessary laptop pocket, two exterior pockets with magnetic closures, and a top pocket for easy access to a phone or travel charger. The two Crossroads bags were designed to be equally comfortable and durable whether you commute by bike, train, or foot. Available in standard black, charcoal, or a gorgeous slate-blue for $200.
Nikon D6 Digital SLR Camera
The newest D-series camera from Nikon is ready to impress professional photographers and amateurs alike. The D6 DSLR camera will have even more advanced features than the D5’s 20.8-megapixel full-frame sensor, ultrawide ISO range, and high-tech video capabilities. Nikon has not yet announced the cost on this bad boy, but we’re guessing it’ll hurt your wallet.
Orvis Comfortfill Eco Dog Bed
Introducing a dog bed made of recycled bottles. Over 140 bottles go into each bed, along with Orvis’ Comfortfill fiber fill to help your pup drift off to dreamland. The eco-friendly beds (starting at $100) come in several styles — couch, platform, or wraparound — and also uses machine-washable material. We give it two paws up.
SND-Ray Bone-Conduction Sunglasses
Each year, gadgets get smaller. This year, with the help of SND-Ray’s bone-conduction technology, audio waves can permeate your skull through a four-speaker system installed in a sweet pair of shades (starting around $89). Listen to music without anyone else hearing, meaning you can crank your favorite tunes as loud as you want while also blocking out the sun.
Filson x Danner Grouse Bottomland Boot
Made to get outside and get dirty, these durable hunting boots are made of full-grain leather. They’re also debuting in a new camouflage pattern just in time for hunting season. The Filson x Danner Grouse Bottomland Boot ($395) boasts GORE-TEX liners, sturdy outsoles, and waterproof cloth uppers ready to face anything the weather brings.
